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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
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
Dumond's writing continues to get better with each book. I love the queer small-town setting in a conservative state and the kindness of the townspeople. I also really enjoyed the character arc of Robin from being a "failed" celebrity chef to the progress she makes. I love the artistry of Molly's work. I wish I loved Molly and Robin together, but it just didn't quite land for me. I did appreciate how the book showed the stress of being a couple while doing reno projects or even just trying to live together. It was certainly not all sunshine and daisies for them.
Absolutely will read another of Dumond's books in the future. I recommend this if you like messy Sapphic artistic types and second chance romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Absolutely will read another of Dumond's books in the future. I recommend this if you like messy Sapphic artistic types and second chance romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
adventurous
challenging
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:
Yes
I really enjoyed this, but only once i got about 40-45% in. I did not really like Robin at first and the whole idea of the prank war between them was less pranky, and more actually cruel. Also, Robin just not taking responsibility for anything at first irked me. I do also wish we found out what truly happened between them. Like maybe a dual timeline, or just one flashback chapter for clarity would have been insightful.
This is also such an odd thing to nitpick, I know, but the use of the word “hella” in this just did not do it for me.
I do think Molly and Robin were a cute couple and I love all of the relationships that had with the people in the town. The community was so cute and I loved all the queer and diverse representation! I loved a lot of elements of this but the impact was not there for me. It was very cute tho and the imagery was absolutely beautiful! I would recommend this, especially as a pride month read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the digital ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the digital ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
Molly and Robin return to the Eureka Springs B&B that strained their marriage, vowing to fix it up and sell it so they can finally leave their past behind and get a long-avoided divorce. But as they reexamine the failures of their relationship and their career ambitions, will too many good memories throw their practical plan off the rails? This was a great second chance romance; Molly's reno skills and Robin's culinary chops really were the perfect combo for a queer B&B and I loved the descriptions of their art and food. The characters were loveable, though flawed, and their friends were diverse, warm, and talented. I want to go to the Hummingbird!
I received a free digital copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free digital copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Chronic illness, Slavery, Transphobia, Death of parent
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Paperback for an advanced reader copy of The Bed and Breakup by Susie Durmond in exchange for my honest review. This novel is a queer second chance romance set in the Ozark mountains. Robin and Molly are exes (of course they never sign the divorce papers 😉) who jointly own a bed and breakfast in the quirky small town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. They left to pursue other career paths after their marriage fell apart.
The story picks up 7 years later, and is told in short chapters from their alternating points of view. Robin, a celebrity chef, retreats to the B&B to lick her wounds after 2 of her restaurants failed. Molly is in town after being commissioned to make several stained glass windows for local businesses. They are equally reluctant to be together at the inn, and pull childish pranks to force the other to leave. This felt really toxic, but eventually they decide to renovate the inn together and sell it. I love a great romance, and enjoyed the forced proximity, small town, slow burn, I have insomnia unless we share a bed, let’s just be friends with benefits tropes. However I tend to struggle with second chance romances, and ultimately did not feel that these characters were better off together. 3/5⭐️
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Oh I wanted to love this book so much. It has everything: second-chance romance, small town charm, forced proximity... but somehow it just wasn't enough for me. There was just too much left unsaid (like did Robin actually cheat, or was it just in my head??) and there really wasn't an explanation for why/how things ended the first time; and more importantly, there was no apology for their first breakup. How can two people really give things a second try if they haven't processed the first ending together?
Their romance felt lackluster, and I was never fully invested in them getting back together anyway (maybe it had something to do with the fact I thought Robin was a cheater, but that's besides the point)-- and it's hard to really enjoy a book if you're not rooting for the couple.
I'm certain this will be a lot of people's jam, and I would love to read some of the author's other works because I can tell she's a good writer, but BED AND BREAKUP just wasn't my favorite.
Oh I wanted to love this book so much. It has everything: second-chance romance, small town charm, forced proximity... but somehow it just wasn't enough for me. There was just too much left unsaid (like did Robin actually cheat, or was it just in my head??) and there really wasn't an explanation for why/how things ended the first time; and more importantly, there was no apology for their first breakup. How can two people really give things a second try if they haven't processed the first ending together?
Their romance felt lackluster, and I was never fully invested in them getting back together anyway (maybe it had something to do with the fact I thought Robin was a cheater, but that's besides the point)-- and it's hard to really enjoy a book if you're not rooting for the couple.
I'm certain this will be a lot of people's jam, and I would love to read some of the author's other works because I can tell she's a good writer, but BED AND BREAKUP just wasn't my favorite.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
Seven years after an explosive ending to their marriage, Robin and Molly both end up back in the inn they still co-own. Molly is successful in her career and is in town making stained glass windows for her friend's businesses, while Robin is facing a rough patch with her closed restaurants and cancelled television series. Neither expected to be sharing the space and they definitely aren't excited about it.
This is a second chance romance done well. The two take their time making it back to each other and figuring out their future goals. I loved the setting of Eureka Springs, particularly after learning the author's connection to the town.
Overall, this is a fun romance novel that I would recommend reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the eArc.
This is a second chance romance done well. The two take their time making it back to each other and figuring out their future goals. I loved the setting of Eureka Springs, particularly after learning the author's connection to the town.
Overall, this is a fun romance novel that I would recommend reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the eArc.
emotional
funny
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
Much like I imagine the Hummingbird Inn to be, this story was brimming with charm. I loved both FMCs, but they were (in the best way!) almost outshone by the surrounding characters (Jesse, Keyana, my loves).
A really well done second chance romance full of wit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Marketing for this eARC!
A really well done second chance romance full of wit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Marketing for this eARC!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
Bed and Breakup in a new second-chance romance about two women, who split up 7 years ago, reuniting accidentally at the B&B that they fixed up and ran while together. Neither Molly nor Robin is thrilled about temporarily living with their ex, but each has reasons that keep them in Eureka Springs and at the Hummingbird Inn.
Molly and Robin are really enjoyable and lovable characters. Both main characters also have friends in the town, which gives us plenty of time to get to know each character outside of their tumultuous interactions with each other. Both women are kind and creative, and their friends are also all likeable and diverse. Molly's best friend, Keyana, is a true highlight of the book, and I would love to see a sequel focused on her! Robin's friend and mentee, Jesse (and his partner Caro), is another high point.
As I've said in other reviews, I like the second-chance romance trope when it's done well. When not done well, one (or both) main characters can easily become unlikable, and the romance can leave you rooting against it. Susie Dumond does a great job here, balancing the humor of the women's pettiness towards each other with their continued attraction and lingering feelings. Add in some great character building, some descriptions of delicious-sounding food, and a small town full of delightful side-characters, and you have the recipe for a terrific addition to the genre!
The first half is so fun that I flew through it quickly. I loved their hijinks and couldn't put the book down at times! The second half is a little more introspective as each woman starts thinking about what each wants once the renovation of the Hummingbird Inn is finished. There are some great moments in this part of the book, but it felt a little slow and even repetitive at times. That said, all that introspection brings great character development and relationship growth, and the end makes it all worthwhile.
Bed and Breakup is funny, thoughtful, and full of great characters. The romance is fun, and I had a great time reading it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
BED AND BREAKUP is the first book I've read by Susie Dumond. I will be adding her to my "author to read pile".
While there were absolutely things that I did not care for (Looking at you, Molly for "the leak" and you Robin for cooking in the lobby and not telling the truth), I understand why this had to happen to move the story along from exes to lovers. This is a second chance romance set in a queer friendly town in Arkansas. It is one of those small towns that a whole book series could be written about (I should check and see if it actually is).
Watching the two main characters navigate their way back to where they are meant to be was an enjoyable read and I think the story was overall very likeable.
This story fills a couple of different tropes:
Miscommunication - check
Sapphic - check
Second Chance - check
Small Town Romance - check (I thought there would be more conflict with the queerness as you have to drive through the county that is proud to have founded the KKK to get there. I would say the town is actually a fully fleshed out character itself.)
HEA - check
One of my favorite quotes "she's not full of demons, you are full of sh!t"
Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC.
While there were absolutely things that I did not care for (Looking at you, Molly for "the leak" and you Robin for cooking in the lobby and not telling the truth), I understand why this had to happen to move the story along from exes to lovers. This is a second chance romance set in a queer friendly town in Arkansas. It is one of those small towns that a whole book series could be written about (I should check and see if it actually is).
Watching the two main characters navigate their way back to where they are meant to be was an enjoyable read and I think the story was overall very likeable.
This story fills a couple of different tropes:
Miscommunication - check
Sapphic - check
Second Chance - check
Small Town Romance - check (I thought there would be more conflict with the queerness as you have to drive through the county that is proud to have founded the KKK to get there. I would say the town is actually a fully fleshed out character itself.)
HEA - check
One of my favorite quotes "she's not full of demons, you are full of sh!t"
Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
Great setting. I love the town and all its characters. I was surprised to discover that Eureka Springs, a queer-friendly hippy town in red state Arkansas is a real place!The side characters were memorable. I’d love to see more of them. The inn that is being restored seems amazing. I want to stay there. And the descriptions of the various vegan meals that Robin created made me hungry and I’m not even vegan!
I did sometimes struggle to tell which character was which, even with the dual narrators. The narrators did an excellent job. It wasn’t their fault. But sometimes I couldn’t remember which backstory went with which character.
The second chance storyline was well done. There’s not often that level of animosity between the lovers in a SCR. All that anger and hurt led to some very passionate spice. But it also lent itself to excellent personal and relationship growth.
Thank you to @Netgalley @thedialpress @randomhouse and @prhaudio for the chance to review this ARC.
I did sometimes struggle to tell which character was which, even with the dual narrators. The narrators did an excellent job. It wasn’t their fault. But sometimes I couldn’t remember which backstory went with which character.
The second chance storyline was well done. There’s not often that level of animosity between the lovers in a SCR. All that anger and hurt led to some very passionate spice. But it also lent itself to excellent personal and relationship growth.
Thank you to @Netgalley @thedialpress @randomhouse and @prhaudio for the chance to review this ARC.