Reviews with content warning for Drug use - Georgie, All Along

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.

Content Warnings

oceanwriter's review

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I don't know how I'm feeling about this one. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't like it either.

Georgie finds herself back home and reevaluating her life. Having spent a life of people pleasing, she's ready to start figuring out her own wants and needs after rediscovering a 'friendfic' she wrote as a teenager. An old high school acquaintance, Levi, helps her along on her journey of self-discovery.

The concept of this book is wonderful. I had really high hopes. Unfortunately, it felt like a strange mishmash of genres. The main plot felt like it wanted to be literary, but it was not written in a literary style. The romance plot felt like it wanted to be a romcom, but it wasn't comedic. While I liked the Georgie/Levi pairing, I grew bored of them quickly. I also found some of their romance scenes far too graphic for my taste. Disappointing overall, but ultimately comes down to a matter of preference and wrong assumptions of what the book was going to be.

Content Warnings

meganpbell's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this small town romance between an ex-Hollywood personal assistant who doesn’t know what she wants and a bad boy turned small business owner still struggling with his old reputation. The first spicy scene was fantastic, for one. But the last hour took me forever to read, I was just bored by that point and knew how it would end.

Content Warnings

saliwali's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

sarahsthoughtsonbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Adored this book. Will need to marinate on a review, because I read this book in less than a day (would say one sitting, but I'm too easily distracted.)

But I do love the messiness that is an expensive Georgie, and this is also very much a Levi book.

Plus

Lark's name is dropped at the very end. Could this mean we are closer to a story for her? Am I currently thinking Lark and Evan for no reason at all? Yes, yes I am

Content Warnings

emmas_bookshelf's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I really loved this book! It’s the first one I’ve read by Kate Clayborn and I absolutely loved the two main characters. Going on Georgie’s journey to figure herself out was really satisfying, and Levi is such a sweetheart who deserves all the good things!!!! And Hank! Definitely would recommend! Have the tissues ready though, I cried so much reading this on the plane!

Content Warnings

More...