Scan barcode
mcipher's review against another edition
3.0
Re-read (audio) four years later and it was good but not my favorite of the series. I got annoyed with some of the logistical stuff - look, lady, you have a new car. There’s warranties on that stuff. Take it to the dealership!! And stop coddling your mom and talk some sense into her. You can do it nicely without totally avoiding the issues... - but it was overall cute and funny and I loved the clothes.
taralpittman's review against another edition
4.0
If you've ever read one of Beth Kendrick's books, I'm not going to tell you anything you don't already know: her novels are fun, smile and laugh-producing, and a great break in whatever you have going on (for me, it's government budget time!) from which you can appreciate a brief escape. New Uses for Old Boyfriends is certainly no exception; in fact, it was really fun for me because some of the lovable characters from Cure for the Common Breakup appear again and I felt like I'd picked up right where I'd left off.
Lily returns to Black Dog Bay with her tail between her legs and a really, really large SUV that she purchased just before her soon-to-be ex-husband cleaned out their bank account (she refers to it as the FUV); she's hoping for a respite with her mother, so that she can regroup and figure out what to do next, but she is greeted with one disaster after another. In addition, her old high school sweetheart has also returned to town to assist in his parents' business and her mother is completely hooked by the idea that Lily and Ben are "destined" to rekindle their relationship.
As is her forte, Beth Kendrick provides readers with some pleasantly predictable outcomes via entertaining twists and turns and irresistible characters along the way; certainly not for the high-brow reader, this story is light, funny, definitely suited to women who can relate to unforeseen disaster and a response that is both hilarious and heartfelt. This is a quick read and would be great for picking up with your morning coffee, taking with you on vacation, on your commute or whenever you have a few spare moments and would like to relieve some stress.
Lily returns to Black Dog Bay with her tail between her legs and a really, really large SUV that she purchased just before her soon-to-be ex-husband cleaned out their bank account (she refers to it as the FUV); she's hoping for a respite with her mother, so that she can regroup and figure out what to do next, but she is greeted with one disaster after another. In addition, her old high school sweetheart has also returned to town to assist in his parents' business and her mother is completely hooked by the idea that Lily and Ben are "destined" to rekindle their relationship.
As is her forte, Beth Kendrick provides readers with some pleasantly predictable outcomes via entertaining twists and turns and irresistible characters along the way; certainly not for the high-brow reader, this story is light, funny, definitely suited to women who can relate to unforeseen disaster and a response that is both hilarious and heartfelt. This is a quick read and would be great for picking up with your morning coffee, taking with you on vacation, on your commute or whenever you have a few spare moments and would like to relieve some stress.
lizzielhill's review against another edition
5.0
Hands down my favorite in the Black Dog Bay series! I felt that Lila was a very relatable character and enjoyed reading about the mother-daughter bond and how both women overcame their hardships. I also enjoyed the returning characters from the original BDB book.
bookmarklit's review against another edition
4.0
I'm waffling between 4 and 4.5 stars. Despite its title, this isn't really a romance-driven story. It's mostly about a mom and daughter getting back on their feet and dealing with changes in both of their lives. I loved the whole setup of the story and all the characters, especially the people who were in the previous book. Lila was great, the ex-boyfriends were great, and her mom was... annoying. Some twists I didn't expect toward the end definitely made this less predictable than the first book, but I preferred book one overall! On to the next.
knboereads's review against another edition
5.0
I read this one first (although chronologically 'Cure for the Common Breakfast' is first) and I totally fell in love with Black Dog Bay and the characters.
Despite the fact that some of the men (even the main lead guy) were a little too stereotypical football obsessed, beer swilling, always working out and sweating and being belligerent he-man type, Kendrick also painted them with different characteristics and actual human emotions. I have to say, the guys were still charming even so.
However, it was the women who stole the show. Lila, Daphne, Summer, Ingrid, Jenna, and a host of other colorful and fully realized women are what made this book funny and enjoyable.
Some of the plot devices were a little outlandish, sure (the hot guy who just happens to know how to sew is interested in the woman who just happens to own an vintage dress shop?), but the story was light and fluffy and the outlandishness was part of the fun and just what I needed after too many murder and ghost mysteries. I hope she continues the stories of Black Dog Bay because they are great!
Despite the fact that some of the men (even the main lead guy) were a little too stereotypical football obsessed, beer swilling, always working out and sweating and being belligerent he-man type, Kendrick also painted them with different characteristics and actual human emotions. I have to say, the guys were still charming even so.
However, it was the women who stole the show. Lila, Daphne, Summer, Ingrid, Jenna, and a host of other colorful and fully realized women are what made this book funny and enjoyable.
Some of the plot devices were a little outlandish, sure (the hot guy who just happens to know how to sew is interested in the woman who just happens to own an vintage dress shop?), but the story was light and fluffy and the outlandishness was part of the fun and just what I needed after too many murder and ghost mysteries. I hope she continues the stories of Black Dog Bay because they are great!
shannonreilly215's review against another edition
4.0
I love Beth Kendricks books and this one was no different! It was fun to visit with the characters from Cure for the Common Breakup and meet some new faces.
drey72's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to check out Beth Kendrick's New Uses for Old Boyfriends because the title piqued my interest, and I wondered how the cover fit with it. And I quite enjoyed the story, especially the relationship between Lila and her mother. Change is hard, but a good attitude about it can definitely make it easier to handle.
Not that Lila (or her mother) had much good attitude - at least in the beginning...
This is a story about relationships, set in a small town. I loved the interactions between mother and daughter, society's matriarchs, Lila and her high school first love, and Lila's with her new friends. It was light-hearted and fun, even through the hard get-over-it and starting-over stuff that both Lila and her mother have to face. And I loved that there's a Marine with mad sewing skillz and drool-worthy abs making an appearance. The covert assignations made me giggle!
New Uses for Old Boyfriends is a good one to sit down with a cuppa on a cold weekend afternoon. (There's still plenty of that here!) And I know there are those of you who will definitely enjoy (and maybe even drool over) all the couture strewn throughout. So what's there to do but pick this up? :)
drey’s rating: Excellent!This review was originally posted on drey's library
Not that Lila (or her mother) had much good attitude - at least in the beginning...
This is a story about relationships, set in a small town. I loved the interactions between mother and daughter, society's matriarchs, Lila and her high school first love, and Lila's with her new friends. It was light-hearted and fun, even through the hard get-over-it and starting-over stuff that both Lila and her mother have to face. And I loved that there's a Marine with mad sewing skillz and drool-worthy abs making an appearance. The covert assignations made me giggle!
New Uses for Old Boyfriends is a good one to sit down with a cuppa on a cold weekend afternoon. (There's still plenty of that here!) And I know there are those of you who will definitely enjoy (and maybe even drool over) all the couture strewn throughout. So what's there to do but pick this up? :)
drey’s rating: Excellent!This review was originally posted on drey's library
rebeccaelizabeth94's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
3.5
I loved the first book in this series. Then I read this one. I loved the first 200 pages. The last 95 felt a little rushed to me. I loved that Daphine and Lila were rebuilding their lives and I liked the bit of Summer sprinkled in.
Here’s my issues I didn’t like that Allison came in as a character or how she wanted Rudi the dog. That was far too bold for a newly introduced character. I didn’t mind Lila and Ben’s friendship, I thought it was sweet. I didn’t like that Allison got the dog and her childhood house. It was too much. The. The fire at the store! That broke my heart I loved the store and the growth of the characters there. I was looking forward to it being part of Black Dog Bay like the Whinery.
Here’s my issues
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury