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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall Grade: A-/B+
“We experienced the world and the people in it in different ways.”
Jewel E. Ann's A Good Book delivers substantial emotional depth as the third installment in her Sunday Morning series. Initial concerns about Gabby's characterization proved unfounded, as Ann transforms what appeared to be a somewhat underdeveloped character in the previous volumes, Sunday Morning and The Apple Tree, into a compelling and multifaceted individual worthy of her own narrative arc.
The central premise of A Good Book revolves around the friends to lovers trope, a narrative device that frequently challenges contemporary romance authors. The inherent difficulty lies in establishing believable motivations for characters who have maintained platonic relationships for extended periods. Ann addresses this challenge through Ben, the male main character, who harbors romantic feelings for Gabby while simultaneously pursuing relationships with other women. His willingness to accept Gabby's devotion to Matt simply to maintain proximity creates a potentially frustrating dynamic for readers accustomed to more direct romantic progression.
However, Ann demonstrates considerable narrative skill by revealing that Gabby has been aware of Ben's feelings throughout their friendship, even during her preoccupation with Matt. This revelation transforms what could have been a predictable storyline into something more nuanced and emotionally authentic. The author's ability to execute such narrative turns distinguishes her work within the romance genre and explains her dedicated readership.
The novel explores Gabby's journey through complex themes of sexuality and religion, subjects that Ann examines through careful character development. Particularly noteworthy is the evolution of Gabby's parents, who demonstrate growth in forgiveness and understanding compared to their treatment of Sarah in Sunday Morning and Eve in The Apple Tree. This character development represents one of the strongest elements of the narrative and illustrates Ann's commitment to realistic family dynamics.
Ben emerges as a particularly well crafted character whose patient suffering creates both sympathy and occasional frustration. His constancy throughout the narrative provides emotional weight and demonstrates Ann's skill in developing male characters who possess genuine emotional complexity.
Ann's distinctive voice remains the primary strength of A Good Book. Her approach to contemporary romance differs significantly from genre conventions, as she refuses to provide easy resolutions or straightforward romantic development. Through economical prose, Ann explores fundamental truths about love and grief, themes that consistently appear throughout her contemporary romance catalog. Her willingness to challenge readers rather than simply entertain them elevates her work above typical genre offerings.
The 1980s setting, while accurately detailed and clearly drawn from personal experience, occasionally feels unnecessary to the overall narrative. The cultural references to music, fashion, and the lifestyle of the decade are meticulously researched and authentically presented, yet the temporal placement seems to serve little purpose beyond nostalgic appeal. This represents a minor criticism, as Ann's decision to write from familiar territory rather than attempting to capture contemporary culture through a Generation X perspective demonstrates artistic integrity.
A Good Book succeeds as both a standalone romance and as part of the larger Sunday Morning series. Ann's commitment to emotional authenticity, combined with her distinctive narrative voice, creates a reading experience that is both accessible and intellectually engaging. The novel challenges conventional romance expectations while delivering the emotional satisfaction that genre readers expect.
This reviewer awards A Good Book 4.5 stars and recommends it enthusiastically to readers seeking contemporary romance that offers both entertainment and substance. Ann's work consistently distinguishes itself through its refusal to conform to predictable patterns, making her novels both highly readable and genuinely thought-provoking additions to the romance genre.
“We experienced the world and the people in it in different ways.”
Jewel E. Ann's A Good Book delivers substantial emotional depth as the third installment in her Sunday Morning series. Initial concerns about Gabby's characterization proved unfounded, as Ann transforms what appeared to be a somewhat underdeveloped character in the previous volumes, Sunday Morning and The Apple Tree, into a compelling and multifaceted individual worthy of her own narrative arc.
The central premise of A Good Book revolves around the friends to lovers trope, a narrative device that frequently challenges contemporary romance authors. The inherent difficulty lies in establishing believable motivations for characters who have maintained platonic relationships for extended periods. Ann addresses this challenge through Ben, the male main character, who harbors romantic feelings for Gabby while simultaneously pursuing relationships with other women. His willingness to accept Gabby's devotion to Matt simply to maintain proximity creates a potentially frustrating dynamic for readers accustomed to more direct romantic progression.
However, Ann demonstrates considerable narrative skill by revealing that Gabby has been aware of Ben's feelings throughout their friendship, even during her preoccupation with Matt. This revelation transforms what could have been a predictable storyline into something more nuanced and emotionally authentic. The author's ability to execute such narrative turns distinguishes her work within the romance genre and explains her dedicated readership.
The novel explores Gabby's journey through complex themes of sexuality and religion, subjects that Ann examines through careful character development. Particularly noteworthy is the evolution of Gabby's parents, who demonstrate growth in forgiveness and understanding compared to their treatment of Sarah in Sunday Morning and Eve in The Apple Tree. This character development represents one of the strongest elements of the narrative and illustrates Ann's commitment to realistic family dynamics.
Ben emerges as a particularly well crafted character whose patient suffering creates both sympathy and occasional frustration. His constancy throughout the narrative provides emotional weight and demonstrates Ann's skill in developing male characters who possess genuine emotional complexity.
Ann's distinctive voice remains the primary strength of A Good Book. Her approach to contemporary romance differs significantly from genre conventions, as she refuses to provide easy resolutions or straightforward romantic development. Through economical prose, Ann explores fundamental truths about love and grief, themes that consistently appear throughout her contemporary romance catalog. Her willingness to challenge readers rather than simply entertain them elevates her work above typical genre offerings.
The 1980s setting, while accurately detailed and clearly drawn from personal experience, occasionally feels unnecessary to the overall narrative. The cultural references to music, fashion, and the lifestyle of the decade are meticulously researched and authentically presented, yet the temporal placement seems to serve little purpose beyond nostalgic appeal. This represents a minor criticism, as Ann's decision to write from familiar territory rather than attempting to capture contemporary culture through a Generation X perspective demonstrates artistic integrity.
A Good Book succeeds as both a standalone romance and as part of the larger Sunday Morning series. Ann's commitment to emotional authenticity, combined with her distinctive narrative voice, creates a reading experience that is both accessible and intellectually engaging. The novel challenges conventional romance expectations while delivering the emotional satisfaction that genre readers expect.
This reviewer awards A Good Book 4.5 stars and recommends it enthusiastically to readers seeking contemporary romance that offers both entertainment and substance. Ann's work consistently distinguishes itself through its refusal to conform to predictable patterns, making her novels both highly readable and genuinely thought-provoking additions to the romance genre.
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:
No
reflective
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
A Good Book by Jewel E. Ann is a coming-of-age story with all the emotional twists you’d expect when your best friend becomes something more—and everything else in your life starts spinning.
Gabby’s heading to college with a plan: finally get the guy she’s been crushing on for years (who also happens to be her sister’s ex). Step one? Make him finally see her as a grown up. Step 2? Ask her best friend Ben for kissing tips. What could go wrong? Well… everything, considering Ben’s been in love with her forever and hasn’t said a word.
One kiss turns into two, and suddenly Gabby’s whole plan is falling apart. She’s not just confused about what she wants—she’s also scared of ruining the one person who’s always been there for her. And when Ben is suddenly pulled out of her life, the silence between them says more than any big declaration ever could.
Set in the late ’80s, this book hits on love, loss, growing up, and figuring out what really matters. Ben’s story packs a punch, and his quiet loyalty makes you root for him from the first page. It’s a messy, emotional, and honest look at love that doesn’t follow the script—this book was a great way to wrap up this series. I recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys a coming of age story full of angst, emotion and an HEA!
Thank you @authorjeweleann and @valentine_pr_ for the #gifted ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.
emotional
lighthearted
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
Enjoyable but I preferred the others in the series. I found the pacing to be a bit out so I struggled to connect with it the same way. Ben is such a golden retriever!
“I love you. I think it’s what I do best.”
A Good Book was not what I expected, but when it comes to Jewel, expect the unexpected. Gabby's naivety was entertaining as well as refreshing. Ben, my heart hurts just thinking about him 💔 It was love at first sight when I got to his first chapter, and I just wanted to hold on tight. This was a marvelous end to an even more marvelous series. Each book was so different, but each owned me 100%. Now, I'd just like a chapter of all the sisters together several years later, please 🥹
A Good Book was not what I expected, but when it comes to Jewel, expect the unexpected. Gabby's naivety was entertaining as well as refreshing. Ben, my heart hurts just thinking about him 💔 It was love at first sight when I got to his first chapter, and I just wanted to hold on tight. This was a marvelous end to an even more marvelous series. Each book was so different, but each owned me 100%. Now, I'd just like a chapter of all the sisters together several years later, please 🥹
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-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
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-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:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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