Two relatable and funny main characters in desperate need of a more compelling and exciting romance.
A florist and a caterer juggle a high-profile California wedding, their complex connections to the wedding party, and an unexpected romantic attraction.
Elise Ngo has been selected to be a bridesmaid and the florist for three of her close friends' weddings. The business opportunities presented by one are especially important; Rebecca Yu has let her assemblywoman mother hijack the guest list to include some big names in politics. Impressing this crowd could mean bigger and wealthier clients for Elise's floral business and jobs that don't include a friends and family discount. Joining her in the list of wedding vendors as caterer is Rebecca's younger brother, Ben. Quiet and a little prickly, Ben doesn't take kindly to Elise barging into his kitchen to refresh some flowers. Bristling at his rude demand to see her ID, Elise wipes a wet hand across her white tank top and realizes with chagrin that she's inadvertently giving Ben the impression she “was trying to win a spring break wet T-shirt contest.” Their banter cracks and stings, exacerbated by the growing stressors of the impending wedding day. Elise desperately needs the word-of-mouth recommendations and networking Rebecca's wedding and family connections can provide. Ben appears rudderless, trying to find his passion and direction while sidestepping the spotlight as much as possible. The author's decision to use political background material, however, muffles the impact of their developing romance. With nosy reporters and rumors of campaign scandals hanging like a cloud over the wedding, Elise and Ben's chemistry doesn't get a chance to reach anything higher than a simmer. There's little conflict to keep them apart, save for wedding day emergencies, and while those amp up the comedy, they also hamper any sort of will-they-won't-they tension.
Two relatable and funny main characters in desperate need of a more compelling and exciting romance.Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9780063245198
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 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
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
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