Unnecessary plot twists sink this promising romance.
Two friends become something more after a terrifying car accident puts things into perspective for both of them.
Avery Spark and Declan McCormick have been best friends since college and now live together in a Colorado Springs condo. Avery runs Spark House, an event hotel started by her grandparents, while Declan is a successful financial adviser. Avery is heading to their alma mater for a meeting about hosting events, and Declan is going to drive there with her and watch a soccer game, but after a night of heavy drinking and a one-night stand that hasn't ended by Sunday morning, Declan bails, leaving Avery to make the trip herself. Unfortunately, the forecast calls for heavy rain, and Avery has been an anxious driver since her own parents died in a car accident when she and her sisters were young. History (almost) repeats itself, and Avery is in an accident; she winds up hospitalized, and Declan is wracked with grief. He promises to make it up to her by looking after her recovery once she's released. As Declan cares for Avery, who's healing from many broken bones and bruises, their yearslong friendship gives way to steamy attraction. Things should have ended here, as there is enough material for an emotional and satisfying romantic arc, but Hunting jumps the shark by adding a viral scandal. High on pot brownies, Avery posts a social media rant that jeopardizes Spark House's standing with the public, its sponsors, and its vendors. This wholly unnecessary plot addition weakens Declan and Avery's romantic journey with a large dose of secondhand embarrassment. Still, the cast is lovely; Hunting knows how to throw together a fun group of characters and lay the foundation for potential sequels. Declan is a self-assured man who can admit when he's really messed up. Avery is a wonderful older sister and leader, making those around her feel at ease. The supporting characters—Avery's two sisters and her and Declan's group of friends—make the romance richer. If only the plot were as nuanced.
Unnecessary plot twists sink this promising romance.Pub Date: Sept. 21, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-2506-2470-3
Page Count: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A charming dual-timeline romance about learning from past mistakes.
In Yarros’ latest romance novel, a young woman hires a handsome but infuriating writer to complete her late great-grandmother’s half-finished book.
After her marriage to a Hollywood producer ends in high-profile divorce, 28-year-old Georgia Stanton returns to her childhood home in Colorado. When she arrives at the house where she was raised by her great-grandma—the famous romance author Scarlett Stanton—she finds her mother, Ava, lying in wait. Georgia is in possession of the only unfinished manuscript that her deceased relative left behind, and her own mom wants her to sell the rights so they can get some cash. Georgia succumbs to the pressure and enters a deal in which another author will finish the book’s second half. The manuscript tells Scarlett’s life story, including how she found, and lost, her one true love. Georgia feels strongly that the finished novel must reflect the true events of Scarlett’s life, as difficult as they may have been. Unfortunately, the publishers hire Noah Harrison, a stubborn writer at the height of his career, who has his own fictional vision for the novel’s ending. As Noah and Georgia butt heads, each of them researches Scarlett’s history in England during World War II. As they learn more about Scarlett and Jameson Stanton, the fighter pilot she loved, Georgia and Noah must navigate their own increasingly complicated relationship. With two equally engrossing storylines, this book will draw in even seasoned romance readers. As the story jumps between past and present, the author also alternates present-day perspectives between Georgia and Noah, moving deftly between her characters’ distinct voices. The relationships are well developed, and the love that Scarlett felt for Jameson is especially palpable. Along with the sweetly romantic themes, the book explores several heftier topics, including personal ambition, grief, family discord, and self-esteem. The story has a few digressions that do little to advance the plot, but the main characters are sufficiently engrossing that readers will want to stick with them to the end.
A charming dual-timeline romance about learning from past mistakes.Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68281-566-3
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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