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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Millennial cringe trying to disguise itself as quirky and fun.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this book because Audible recommended it to me and I liked the voice acting performance, so why not?
Well. I almost DNFed because age gap romances are not my favorite and the ex-boyfriend was clearly sus. But I liked the voice actor and it was a nice background novel as I cleaned my house and worked on some projects this weekend. I did enjoy the Hollywood industry aspects of the book and Kevin the dog. Allen was an interesting character as well.
However, as other reviews have said, the main character wasn’t just frustrating, she’s cringe. Her Midwest naïveté was too much. I couldn’t tell if her character development along with the nice bow everything gets wrapped up with in the end was supposed to be spoofing a “Hollywood ending” or is this really how the book concludes?
I commend Andi Arndt for her performance of this audiobook. Truly saved my weekend.
Well. I almost DNFed because age gap romances are not my favorite and the ex-boyfriend was clearly sus. But I liked the voice actor and it was a nice background novel as I cleaned my house and worked on some projects this weekend. I did enjoy the Hollywood industry aspects of the book and Kevin the dog. Allen was an interesting character as well.
However, as other reviews have said, the main character wasn’t just frustrating, she’s cringe. Her Midwest naïveté was too much. I couldn’t tell if her character development along with the nice bow everything gets wrapped up with in the end was supposed to be spoofing a “Hollywood ending” or is this really how the book concludes?
I commend Andi Arndt for her performance of this audiobook. Truly saved my weekend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism
So many Harry Potter references
How the heck does this have so many 4 and 5 star reviews? I am well in the minority. But this was just a mess. The main character is annoying and unlikeable as are most of the ancillary characters. The story sounds like it would be fun on the surface but turns out to be ridiculous. The only character with any redeeming characteristics is the dog.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for giving my honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed this manuscript. It was really interesting to read a book from the perspective of someone who is-- at her heart-- a normal person. She gets anxious, she makes mistakes, but ultimately she wants what's best for her daughter. It was a really relatable, sweet novel, in this sense.
THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS is about Poppy, a mom from Wisconsin who suddenly finds herself in trouble with the IRS because she hired the wrong person to do her taxes. In the midst of her despair, fate brings her an ex-boyfriend, who offers her a job in LA. Poppy, out of options and on the verge of losing her house, goes to work in wardrobe while her daughter works in New York for the summer. However, upon arriving, Poppy will learn that people-pleasing will only get you so far, and not everyone is how they seem.
I really loved Poppy's dynamics with the various characters she met on set. The author does a great job of building a unique relationship with every person-- and dog-- Poppy meets whether that be acrimonious, friendly, or bloody hilarious.
I also liked Poppy's characterization. I've already mentioned that I found her pretty relatable: she is prone to second-guessing herself and giving into other people's whims. I think that's something everyone struggles with to some degree, and the author did well in exploring these feelings while also having Poppy acknowledge that she needed to change.
That said, there were a couple things that kept me from completely enjoying the novel. Firstly: the old flame. It's absolutely clear from the moment he's first introduced that he's super shady. Who decides to offer a job to someone they dated twenty years ago in the middle of an airport?? I don't *necessarily* mind that Poppy doesn't see that the way he behaves is odd, because the whole point is that he's emotionally manipulative, and she's grown up in a way that she doesn't know how to identify those red flags. I do think that someone who was just tricked by someone who got her in trouble with the IRS would be more careful about stuff like that, but I was kind of willing to let that ago, because again, manipulation. What I do wish is that the author had leaned more into the unreliable narrator aspect of it. It was so obvious to me as the reader that something was going on with her ex that when the main plot started playing out, I wasn't really surprised. While I recognize intellectually why Poppy may not have, his bad intentions were so apparent, I struggled with it at times. So, essentially, I wish that the more emotionally manipulative parts of her ex were introduced more slowly, so that the reader was figuring things out alongside Poppy as opposed to way ahead of her.
The other big thing that bothered me was the IRS subplot. The author basically pulls a deus ex machina (which, if you don't know, is when someone randomly shows up at the end of the story to fix everything). I don't object to deus ex machina as a literary technique-- there are instances where it can be done well-- I just didn't think it quite worked here. It felt a little too out of the blue; Poppy talks a lot about her money troubles, but we rarely saw her actually talking with the IRS, so even though the subplot was there, it didn't feel completely present or focused.
But, overall, this was an enjoyable read. It's one of those books where if you're looking to sit back and just have fun, it's perfect. As a reviewer, it's my job to overanalyze things, but as a reader it's okay to read something and just shut your brain off for a bit. Just feel the feelings.
Overall, I enjoyed this manuscript. It was really interesting to read a book from the perspective of someone who is-- at her heart-- a normal person. She gets anxious, she makes mistakes, but ultimately she wants what's best for her daughter. It was a really relatable, sweet novel, in this sense.
THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS is about Poppy, a mom from Wisconsin who suddenly finds herself in trouble with the IRS because she hired the wrong person to do her taxes. In the midst of her despair, fate brings her an ex-boyfriend, who offers her a job in LA. Poppy, out of options and on the verge of losing her house, goes to work in wardrobe while her daughter works in New York for the summer. However, upon arriving, Poppy will learn that people-pleasing will only get you so far, and not everyone is how they seem.
I really loved Poppy's dynamics with the various characters she met on set. The author does a great job of building a unique relationship with every person-- and dog-- Poppy meets whether that be acrimonious, friendly, or bloody hilarious.
I also liked Poppy's characterization. I've already mentioned that I found her pretty relatable: she is prone to second-guessing herself and giving into other people's whims. I think that's something everyone struggles with to some degree, and the author did well in exploring these feelings while also having Poppy acknowledge that she needed to change.
That said, there were a couple things that kept me from completely enjoying the novel. Firstly: the old flame. It's absolutely clear from the moment he's first introduced that he's super shady. Who decides to offer a job to someone they dated twenty years ago in the middle of an airport?? I don't *necessarily* mind that Poppy doesn't see that the way he behaves is odd, because the whole point is that he's emotionally manipulative, and she's grown up in a way that she doesn't know how to identify those red flags. I do think that someone who was just tricked by someone who got her in trouble with the IRS would be more careful about stuff like that, but I was kind of willing to let that ago, because again, manipulation. What I do wish is that the author had leaned more into the unreliable narrator aspect of it. It was so obvious to me as the reader that something was going on with her ex that when the main plot started playing out, I wasn't really surprised. While I recognize intellectually why Poppy may not have, his bad intentions were so apparent, I struggled with it at times. So, essentially, I wish that the more emotionally manipulative parts of her ex were introduced more slowly, so that the reader was figuring things out alongside Poppy as opposed to way ahead of her.
The other big thing that bothered me was the IRS subplot. The author basically pulls a deus ex machina (which, if you don't know, is when someone randomly shows up at the end of the story to fix everything). I don't object to deus ex machina as a literary technique-- there are instances where it can be done well-- I just didn't think it quite worked here. It felt a little too out of the blue; Poppy talks a lot about her money troubles, but we rarely saw her actually talking with the IRS, so even though the subplot was there, it didn't feel completely present or focused.
But, overall, this was an enjoyable read. It's one of those books where if you're looking to sit back and just have fun, it's perfect. As a reviewer, it's my job to overanalyze things, but as a reader it's okay to read something and just shut your brain off for a bit. Just feel the feelings.
Honestly, for me, 2.5? Maybe 3?
Loved Kevin the dog - he might make it a 3
Loved Kevin the dog - he might make it a 3
I wish this wouldn’t show up on my Read list. This book is bad. I DNFd it in the second chapter - I just couldn’t take it anymore. The FMC is a hot mess that’s trying to be cute but is really just cringy. There are full sentences that don’t even make sense. Some of them I would re-read and eventually realize it’s supposed to be a sarcastic metaphor which is why it made no sense but the delivery was so bad it was just confusing. The book is almost entirely the FMC’s internal monologue and it comes off as trying way too hard to be witty, observant, and yet aloof. I don’t know how this has decent reviews on Amazon’s bookstore, but I’m glad it was a free Prime book of the month and I didn’t waste a cent on it.
I'm not a huge fan of light romance/ women finding themselves at 50 type books... but this one was ok. I finished it. I liked the main character. I especially liked Kevin, the female dog. It was entertaining without making me think too much. I would probably read another by the author on my Kindle before bed.
I really enjoyed listening to this book. It’s about a single middle aged mom from the Midwest who’s fallen on hard times after being conned by a supposed friend for tax fraud, meanwhile trying to figure out how to put her daughter through nursing school and basically how to survive and earn a living. She bumps into an old (younger) flame at the airport after dropping off her daughter who got a summer live in nanny job in NY. This past lover of hers gives her a job as a must hire in California at Universal Studios in wardrobe. She’s the new girl on set and doesn’t know who she can trust and can’t lose this job. I loved her character so much. She was likable and relatable. I felt for her because who hasn’t been the new hire and trying to get the lay of the land and just trying to keep your head above water yet stay under the radar. I’m glad I gave this book a chance! Happily pleased.
