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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
This was a wonderful novel! It gets five stars because of the ending, and because I didn’t realize that I would get so completely sucked in that I would finish it much sooner than I expected to, and I should have brought another novel to read.
I loved this book! Holmes writes such likable sweet characters with witty dialogue. I loved Laura, Nick, June, and Ginger and wish I had known Dot. Bit of a caper too. Would recommend.
Laurie has just cancelled her wedding, her parents have some health issues and her brothers are all busy with life, so when they receive news that her Aunt Dot has passed away, clearing out the house falls on Laurie. Dot’s house always provided sanctuary for Laurie when she was growing up with 3 noisy brothers and she feels she owes it to Dot to go through all her things before selling, donating or chucking her belongings. Aunt Dot has traveled the world and has nick knacks galore. Laurie finds a small wooden painted duck decoy squirrelled away in a trunk which she finds odd and beautiful. As she continues to sort through the house, she tries to uncover the truth behind the duck, while overcoming a con man, navigating seeing her high school sweet heart and wondering what life has in store for her as she rejects marriage and kids for her future. Great story about life and loss and finding happiness in an adult life away from marriage.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I might have been pre-disposed to like this novel because I adore Linda Holmes’ work at NPR and her first book (Evvie Drake Starts Over). But I truly loved Flying Solo, and not just because I got to hear her talk about the book in person at East City Bookshop on Monday night. I tried to stretch out reading it so I could savor every morsel and made it a whole three days. Read it, it will make you smile and engross you in the story the whole time!
Linds Holmes has crafted a story that respects and celebrates women who forge their own path. This book is beautiful and unique, telling stories of two women who knew they wanted lives different from the expect and who had the enough courage in their own convictions to chase that life.
It's rare to find a book centering a woman who doesn't want kids or doesn't want to get married where her decisions are supported and respected. Holmes has done that twice over. Her characters are honest and relatable and her respect for those characters is refreshing in a world that typically paints women with these desires as defective.
Dot and Laurie live full and rich lives of their own making that brings each of them joy. Representation does matter. In telling this story, Holmes crafts a read that intensly readable and engaging that helps normalize embracing what makes you happy, even if it's unconventional.
It's rare to find a book centering a woman who doesn't want kids or doesn't want to get married where her decisions are supported and respected. Holmes has done that twice over. Her characters are honest and relatable and her respect for those characters is refreshing in a world that typically paints women with these desires as defective.
Dot and Laurie live full and rich lives of their own making that brings each of them joy. Representation does matter. In telling this story, Holmes crafts a read that intensly readable and engaging that helps normalize embracing what makes you happy, even if it's unconventional.
Really stilted dialogue, but overall enjoyed the unique plot and the main character’s subversion and redefinition of the traditional marriage/partnership.
This was the right book at the right time for me. Just the right cozy read for a day where my brain and body were capable of nothing more than staying in bed and taking in a lovely little story. Fun, funny, warm, wise and kinda sexy. Had a great time.
Disappointing compared to how obsessed I am with Evvie Drake. I didn’t connect with anyone and I was somewhat bored by the storyline and didn’t feel like it was really all that exciting or tense. Although Laurie was very confident and self aware, I felt like the romance was so lacking and Nick over comprised on what he wanted just for the chance to be with her. There was nothing completely wrong with this book, it just had no depth compared to the debut.