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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love a good secondchance story, especially when it feels authentic and realistic. Thread in a great love story and you have Bait for How to Catch a Tamara. This one is sad and intense, but also witty and hopeful—you’ll laugh, you’ll nod your head in understanding, and you’ll make that universal upside-down smile expression when something one of the characters says rings a little too true. But overall, you’ll bloom with Colton, and that’s what makes this book so captivating.
A crossover from his usual YA novels into a more "Adult" title, although there remains a good part of the book rooted in a high school romance. Colton Gentry has been a football star and lost his chance at college ball to an injury, an up-and-coming country music star who loses his contracts after a pro-gun control rant onstage, and now...what? He's lost his best friend in a mass shooting, his superstar wife to a hockey player, and he's a recovering alcoholic. He moves home to his mom's house and looks for a job despite his lack of marketable skills. Colton's "third act" comes in the form of food-a trendy new farm-to-table restaurant located in the unlikely spot of Venice, Kentucky. Turns out, he and the chef have personal history, and perhaps a future? A feel-good redemption romance, for fans of Nicholas Sparks or Hallmark movies, this book will bring the tears and the swooning! Also, bring your appetite for the most amazing Southern-inspired menus you've EVER read!
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jeff Zentner is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. His characters are witty, flawed, and charming. Zentner has a unique way of inserting serious subject matter without being overly self-righteous. This story dealt with alcoholism, gun violence, and the fall from stardom in a real and tasteful manner. I will say the romance was predictable, but satisfying. It's exactly what I wanted to happen. I will be recommending this to my rom-com loving cohorts.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Grief
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This started off strong and felt like it had serious 5 star potential. So much so that I requested all of his other books from the library.
I really appreciated Colton’s ability to communicate his feelings and seeing his friendship turned brotherhood with Duane. His teenage love story had my heart in my throat.
However, as the book went on it really lost its sparkle for me. The dialogue was so cheesy at times and I couldn’t help but imagine Tow Mater from Cars speaking the lines. As you might imagine m, that was a major buzz kill.
Another buzz kill for me personally? The “oh you’re so perfect and I am a screw up and don’t deserve you so I’ll self-sabotage” theme that showed up time and time. Yuck.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes