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kenny_2288's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
purplepenning's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I love a book that brings in elements of various genres, even though it makes it hard to shelve and can invite harsher reviews due to an expectation gap. I rarely write reviews in response to what others are saying about a book, but I feel oddly compelled to clarify: This is decidedly "women's fiction," if that label retains any meaning, and "white women's fiction" at that. But along with the heartwarming, feminist, midlife story of a woman returning home to a small town in Maine to clean out the house after her favorite, never-married, great-aunt dies, there are elements of mystery and romance. It isn't a mystery and it isn't a romance, but it's a story that could appeal to readers of either genre who occasionally dip a toe into general or literary fiction when the right book comes along. I like to dip a toe, especially if it's for the rare general or literary specimen that has hope for a satisfyingly happy ending, like this one.
Things I loved:
Things I loved:
- The friend group. Some reviewers found the dialogue and banter a *bit much* but it's what drew me in and kept me around until the mystery of the duck and deeper personal development kicked in. Yes, the dialogue is a bit more witty and polished than you might get in real life, but these are writers and librarians and long-time friends. I've been in and around such groups often, and it felt spot-on to me. Thoroughly enjoyed eavesdropping on them.
- The journey the duck takes us on. I don't care much about wooden duck decoys and couldn't really engage in the beauty or artistry of it, but of course it's not really about the duck. I enjoyed the heck out of the ride from secret relic to thrilling intrigue to sweet, complicated, empowering truths.
- The uncompromising compromises. Life and personal needs are complicated and sometimes, for the sake of the story or harmony or whatever, those complications are forced into a tidy box, or rolled over with toxicity positivity, or wallowed in for the good misery of it all. That wasn't the approach here. Yes, there was some angst, but complications are allowed to be complicated and solutions are allowed to be creative, and I appreciated it.
- The sexy librarian guy and the friends-to-lovers/second-chance-romance vibes. I'm not understanding any of the hate for the sexy librarian guy. Research is definitely one of my love languages, so Nick is prime book boyfriend material.
- The representation. The non-issue presentation of Laurie as a size 18 was refreshing. And so were the multifaceted, non-infantilizing portrayals of the over-80s characters.
- The whole Scooby gang feel to the investigative/researching/mystery aspects. And every single time Laurie thinks "This f*cking guy."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Infidelity
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Infertility, and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
caseythereader's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Thanks to Random House for the free copy of this book.
- FLYING SOLO is a wonderful exploration of living and loving outside the traditional path. I loved both Laurie and Dot (and Ginger!) and how they forged their own paths, knowing what they liked and didn't like and not letting anyone try to mold them into something else.
- I loved that Laurie knew she liked living alone and doing things just her way. I loved that this book breaks apart the idea that romantic love is worth blowing up your existing life and putting yourself into a life you otherwise did not want.
- The mystery (and small heist!) embedded in this story was great fun, too. I was on the edge of my seat for some scenes!
- FLYING SOLO is a wonderful exploration of living and loving outside the traditional path. I loved both Laurie and Dot (and Ginger!) and how they forged their own paths, knowing what they liked and didn't like and not letting anyone try to mold them into something else.
- I loved that Laurie knew she liked living alone and doing things just her way. I loved that this book breaks apart the idea that romantic love is worth blowing up your existing life and putting yourself into a life you otherwise did not want.
- The mystery (and small heist!) embedded in this story was great fun, too. I was on the edge of my seat for some scenes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Cursing, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Fatphobia
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