Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

I thought there was no way that Astrid would be as lovable if not more than Delilah Green's book. Yet here I am completely dumb struck.

The HGTV vibes of this book were really well done. I was afraid that this was going to be the only thing able to propel this book because of Astrid's personality but woah was I totally wrong. Astrid was so much more than what we got to see in book 1, we get to see just how much her mother and all of the expectations on her actually weigh on her and she doesn't want them. Watching Astrid break free and just be and let her relationships become real was such a fun ride.

Jordan was such a great character to read. She was so relatable in feeling like her life was a mess when in reality she had just had a bunch of crappy things going on in a row. I was invested in what happened to her and her former wife. I was invested in how much the Inn meant to her. Honestly Jordan was a much softer version of Delilah and I absolutely loved it.

The angst and pining in this was top tier. I think that Astrid and Jordan have become my favorite couple in this series. And they may stay that way but I'll have to give Iris a chance.

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fuzzywilson's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

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cass_cgallegos's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Where was bisexual representation like this when I was a closeted teenager? I’ve been out for years but reading this book took me right back to how it felt to fall in love with my queerness. Astrid and Jordan are cute and awkward and frustrating and incredibly perfect. Getting to know Astrid in “Delilah Green Doesn’t Care” and then seeing her truly come to life in this book was such a joy. Wow wow wow. Just wow. I’m so grateful there are stories like this for bi’s like me 🥺

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readwithria's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail is a book for the women who put too much pressure on themselves. It's a book for the women who value everyone else's expectations above their personal happiness. It's for the women who keep doing what they're doing without ever asking if it's actually what they want. Astrid resonated with me so much, and her growth in this book was phenomenal.

With that said, something was missing for me. The main conflict in the second half of the book could have been avoided, or changed, and I felt that way for a large chunk of the book. But then I got to the last couple chapters and I saw the vision for the ending, so while I understand why the book was written the way it was I strongly believe there was another option that would have had better communication and less general lying.

Read this if you love
- baking
- self-discovery
- home renovation and interior design
- queer joy
- opposites attract

I can't wait to read more from Ashley Herring Blake. 4 stars!

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courtneyfalling's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I liked this better than Delilah Green, and also I'll admit my expectations were probably more realistic. At least this one has significantly less cringe scissoring scenes! But genuinely, I am a sucker for millennial girlie struggling with her career and family of origin trying to fall in love and get her shit together books and this is no exception. And I even like Jordan

despite the fact she's kind of whiny and wtf was the sudden reveal that Meredith was actually alive and just a bitch??? Idk I'll give Jordan credit because Meredith is the Big Bad

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imds's review against another edition

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Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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haileyhardcover's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

Ok so these books just don’t miss, huh? The banter, the character development, the spice?! 🌶️😅 Five stars all around.

I love Astrid. I loved her even in the first book when she was cast almost like a villain. She deserves a happy ending (in every sense) and some goddamn joy and FREEDOM. I’m so happy for her! Jordan was a little harder for me to love, probably because the things that I dislike the most about myself, I saw in her 🙃 She is so good for Astrid, though!

Continuing my Enneagram typing of the Bright Falls characters - Jordan gave me major 4w5 vibes. I maintain that Astrid is a 1w9, Claire a 9w1, Delilah an 8w9 and Iris a 8w7.

Really looking forward to jumping into Iris Kelly next, but first I’m off to spend the rest of the evening on Etsy hunting for a very specific type of necklace 😏

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