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knunderb's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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
3.5
A cute romance for sure. I liked that Georgie realized that she didn't need to change, but rather lean into who she already is. That seemed to be a departure from typical romance scripts for the female love interest. I didn't like how the author used the concept of "blankness" to describe how Georgie viewed herself and her future. It was reminiscent of being on drugs or depressed or something and it didn't seem to accurately describe her inner state. Also, Georgie vaguely referred to something embarrassing or terrible that happened before moving away from Darentville, but that never gets explained.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse
Minor: Vomit
kktaylor11's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don't have a witty or creative opening line because this book was just "good." I enjoyed it, I don't resent the time I spent reading it (which wasn't much - very low reading level vocabulary and predictable plot meant it read very fast.) It's something I'll most likely never think of again, but it was a good escape for a few hours.
General overview? Georgie, the slightly unfocused main character is returning to her home town (where she never felt she fit) when her successful stint as a personal assistant in Hollywood draws to a close and her former boss encourages her to "find herself." She uses the trip home to help her best friend (Bel) adjust to impending motherhood and unpack her house. In the process, Georgie meets Levi, the dark and brooding older brother of her high school crush and essentially falls into immediate lust. Over the course of the expected few highs and lows the two fall in love.
Yes, this plot is pretty generic and nothing unpredictable happens, but there were enough errors or overlooked elements in the book to make it feel even more rushed and "pulp" fiction (push it out fast so it can be consumed fast and forgotten fast.) If you want to read them - here they are:
1) Carlos. For a man who literally saved Levi's life and brought him back from the emotionally and nearly physically dead, he sure is scarce in this book. He is referenced a number of times, but never actually enters the book aside from a BRIEF mention at Levi's party. If someone had really put that much effort and love into someone, they wouldn't disappear at retirement. There would be phone calls, or drop ins, or meeting for coffee -- or at the very least a call for advice at some point. Instead, Levi just "self reflects" and suddenly decides to open up or recognize his weakness and fix it. It's not believable.
2) Remy. So the "forced diversity" in this book bugged me. The use of "them" to indicate Remy is non-binary is literally unnecessary and performative. "Look at me!! I used a very minor non-binary character!!" Same with Levi's rescuer being "Carlos" and Bel marrying "Harry Yoon" -- it's like some editor said "make sure you check all the diversity boxes so we can sell more books" -- yet none of these characters were anything more than a minor supporting character. That's not actually diversity.
3) Parenting. So this is one of the areas I felt like COULD have been developed more to add SOME level of literary depth. It's fairly obvious from the beginning that the author is introducing opposing parenting styles. Georgie's parents are complete hippies - hands off, more her friends than her parents. Zero guidance or leadership -- they want her to just "figure it out" and they seem to happily sit by slightly high while she rises or falls. On the other hand, Levi's father is strict to the point of abusive, with a plethora of rules and expectations for his children. There was SUCH an opportunity here to really drive home how important it is to find a blend of the two for successful parenting, and for the first half of the book it seemed headed there, with both Georgie and Levi struggling to figure out their path and both recognizing the elements of their struggle that stemmed from their parents. But then suddenly, when the kissing on the couch scene happened, the tone changed and Georgie's parents were amazing and perfect and Levi's father was horrible. It was too trite and weak.
4) The Ending. I hate - HATE it when a book just falls apart, and that's what I felt happened here. It was way too easy. Georgie leaves Levi, but three sentences with Olivia and she's ready to go back. Evan walks in from 15 years of estrangement and in one short conversation he understands Levi entirely and things are great. Even the confrontation in the restaurant isn't a confrontation it's barely even a conversation. There was a running hint of environmentalism with Heidl and the water samples and the waterfront where Levi wouldn't build docks...but that just disappears. Bel is just suddenly going to move back to DC because she doesn't like her house. It was just like she ran out of time and said "OK, that's all folks!"
That said, I didn't hate it...It was like watching a cheesy reality TV show: totally scripted, cotton candy light, and an easy way to kill a few hours.
General overview? Georgie, the slightly unfocused main character is returning to her home town (where she never felt she fit) when her successful stint as a personal assistant in Hollywood draws to a close and her former boss encourages her to "find herself." She uses the trip home to help her best friend (Bel) adjust to impending motherhood and unpack her house. In the process, Georgie meets Levi, the dark and brooding older brother of her high school crush and essentially falls into immediate lust. Over the course of the expected few highs and lows the two fall in love.
Yes, this plot is pretty generic and nothing unpredictable happens, but there were enough errors or overlooked elements in the book to make it feel even more rushed and "pulp" fiction (push it out fast so it can be consumed fast and forgotten fast.) If you want to read them - here they are:
1) Carlos. For a man who literally saved Levi's life and brought him back from the emotionally and nearly physically dead, he sure is scarce in this book. He is referenced a number of times, but never actually enters the book aside from a BRIEF mention at Levi's party. If someone had really put that much effort and love into someone, they wouldn't disappear at retirement. There would be phone calls, or drop ins, or meeting for coffee -- or at the very least a call for advice at some point. Instead, Levi just "self reflects" and suddenly decides to open up or recognize his weakness and fix it. It's not believable.
2) Remy. So the "forced diversity" in this book bugged me. The use of "them" to indicate Remy is non-binary is literally unnecessary and performative. "Look at me!! I used a very minor non-binary character!!" Same with Levi's rescuer being "Carlos" and Bel marrying "Harry Yoon" -- it's like some editor said "make sure you check all the diversity boxes so we can sell more books" -- yet none of these characters were anything more than a minor supporting character. That's not actually diversity.
3) Parenting. So this is one of the areas I felt like COULD have been developed more to add SOME level of literary depth. It's fairly obvious from the beginning that the author is introducing opposing parenting styles. Georgie's parents are complete hippies - hands off, more her friends than her parents. Zero guidance or leadership -- they want her to just "figure it out" and they seem to happily sit by slightly high while she rises or falls. On the other hand, Levi's father is strict to the point of abusive, with a plethora of rules and expectations for his children. There was SUCH an opportunity here to really drive home how important it is to find a blend of the two for successful parenting, and for the first half of the book it seemed headed there, with both Georgie and Levi struggling to figure out their path and both recognizing the elements of their struggle that stemmed from their parents. But then suddenly, when the kissing on the couch scene happened, the tone changed and Georgie's parents were amazing and perfect and Levi's father was horrible. It was too trite and weak.
4) The Ending. I hate - HATE it when a book just falls apart, and that's what I felt happened here. It was way too easy. Georgie leaves Levi, but three sentences with Olivia and she's ready to go back. Evan walks in from 15 years of estrangement and in one short conversation he understands Levi entirely and things are great. Even the confrontation in the restaurant isn't a confrontation it's barely even a conversation. There was a running hint of environmentalism with Heidl and the water samples and the waterfront where Levi wouldn't build docks...but that just disappears. Bel is just suddenly going to move back to DC because she doesn't like her house. It was just like she ran out of time and said "OK, that's all folks!"
That said, I didn't hate it...It was like watching a cheesy reality TV show: totally scripted, cotton candy light, and an easy way to kill a few hours.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug use
Levi's stories his childhood include what could be considered verbal abuse, and there is one story that involves a gun (though no gun use in the actual story).
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