A comedic romance with maximum vibes and minimum realism.
Two spies go on a chaotic quest in the third novel of this zany Victorian series.
Daniel Bixby and Alice Dearlove are in service. The secret service. But also working undercover as servants to the gentry while spying on various factions of pirates and witches and other dangers to the realm for A.U.N.T—the Agency of Undercover Note Takers. Having met in passing on an earlier mission, the two are now introduced to each other as the most skilled agents in their organization. Their mission: Pose as a married couple to foil an attempt on Queen Victoria’s life. Trained to put duty above all else thanks to a punishing regimen enforced on them by A.U.N.T. as orphaned children, Alice and Bixby (Agents A and B) are astonished that their attraction makes them want to break that rule. As their task to find and neutralize the assassination weapon takes them on a perilous flying journey to a house party of gleefully quarrelsome sky pirates, forced proximity makes them succumb to their feelings. Consummation follows but only after they agree on a stringent contract about consensual pleasure. The third installment of Holton’s series, following The League of Gentlewomen Witches (2022), ratchets the farcical energy even higher than before. The author's delight in witticisms also fills out a frothy plot. While the couple overcomes a lifetime of stoicism, their feelings are personified into comic extended images and similes reminiscent of a mock epic like Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock.” Apart from A.U.N.T.’s allusion to the “Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” the combat episodes call to mind Mr. & Mrs. Smith, while the farcical values of the world evoke Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. If A and B are to overcome the obstacles standing in their way in this free-for-all, they must rely on old friends–cum-employers-cum-enemies to help find their happy-ever-after.
A comedic romance with maximum vibes and minimum realism.Pub Date: April 18, 2023
ISBN: 9780593547267
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
SEEN & HEARD
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