A warm, witty, and absolutely charming seaside holiday that’s perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella.
A woman travels to the Channel Islands to chase down the story behind her parents’ epic romance only to get involved in a complicated love story of her own.
When it comes to romance, Laura knows what she wants: a sweeping, fated love story like the one her parents had. Although her father died when she was young and her mother passed away two years ago, she impulsively pitches a story about their romance to her hard-to-please editor at a lifestyle magazine and gets the go-ahead to travel to Jersey and write about the ultimate feel-good meet-cute. But upon arriving, Laura ends up accidentally taking someone else’s black suitcase off the luggage carousel. It might be a disaster…or it might be fate, given that the suitcase contains a copy of Laura’s favorite book and sheet music for songs by her favorite artist (Phil Collins is an unusual pick for someone in their 20s, but he was Laura's dad's favorite). Maybe the owner of the suitcase is actually her dream man, and maybe this is the real story. But Hot Suitcase Man proves hard to track down, and Laura finds herself spending most of her time with Ted, the gruff cabbie who drives her around the island. Even though she initially nicknames him Beardy McCastaway, he seems more interesting (and attractive) as time goes on. And when she ends up getting to know his family (including his delightful father, Gerry, who has Parkinson’s disease), she feels instantly at ease. Laura must decide what kind of love story she’s really looking for—one that’s written in the stars or one that’s right in front of her. Cousens creates a world full of lovable characters who are all trying their best to be happy despite life’s many obstacles. Laura’s quest to find out more about her parents is compelling, but Ted’s journey to sort out his own life while helping Gerry move into an assisted living facility is equally poignant. Although all the characters are dealing with their own hardships, Cousens imbues the entire story with an uplifting sense of hope. As Laura’s aunt Monica puts it, “Maybe life’s more about carving out happy chapters than finding a single happy ending.” The Jersey setting creates a cozy, wind-swept background to the deliciously slow-burn romance.
A warm, witty, and absolutely charming seaside holiday that’s perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella.Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-33152-1
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 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 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
SEEN & HEARD
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