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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
I had such high hopes for this book. I requested an arc on Netgalley but was denied. And then the publicist reached out and offered me a digital arc.
I just could not connect with these characters and found myself skimming. There was too much tell and not enough show.
The female MC had a narrative voice that came across as too immature and disingenuous. The plotline was too drawn out and definitely could have used a heavier editing hand to rework some of the awkward pacing.
I do like the male MC, but I don’t understand his attraction to the female MC. It seems to be primarily based on appearance as her character came across as one dimensional to me. His character is a little more layered.
I just could not connect with these characters and found myself skimming. There was too much tell and not enough show.
The female MC had a narrative voice that came across as too immature and disingenuous. The plotline was too drawn out and definitely could have used a heavier editing hand to rework some of the awkward pacing.
I do like the male MC, but I don’t understand his attraction to the female MC. It seems to be primarily based on appearance as her character came across as one dimensional to me. His character is a little more layered.
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2022 seems to be the year where I read books where women decide to drastically change their life to recenter themselves. In this book, you have Ruby Spencer, a burnt-out New Yorker who moves into a rustic cabin in Scotland to write her own cookbook. She found a small village by throwing a dart at a map and will be spending a year there to reset her life. Along the way, she bonds with the Village and falls in love with the town's Handyman.
Overall, this book was cute. Ruby was a fun character to read from, and the village was a great setting. The romance was slower but still good. The ending was positive and overall it was a solid read. I will say, it didn't have a ton of staying power in my brain, nor did it entertain me as much as other books I read with the same premise. I will say I finished it right before Christmas Eve and now it is New Year's Day as I write it, so quite a bit has happened that could be affecting my memory. I can see why this is the most anticipated for a lot of people in 2023, and I do think a lot of people will like the story and the characters. So I do suggest picking this book up when it comes out in February.
2022 seems to be the year where I read books where women decide to drastically change their life to recenter themselves. In this book, you have Ruby Spencer, a burnt-out New Yorker who moves into a rustic cabin in Scotland to write her own cookbook. She found a small village by throwing a dart at a map and will be spending a year there to reset her life. Along the way, she bonds with the Village and falls in love with the town's Handyman.
Overall, this book was cute. Ruby was a fun character to read from, and the village was a great setting. The romance was slower but still good. The ending was positive and overall it was a solid read. I will say, it didn't have a ton of staying power in my brain, nor did it entertain me as much as other books I read with the same premise. I will say I finished it right before Christmas Eve and now it is New Year's Day as I write it, so quite a bit has happened that could be affecting my memory. I can see why this is the most anticipated for a lot of people in 2023, and I do think a lot of people will like the story and the characters. So I do suggest picking this book up when it comes out in February.
challenging
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was cute, fun and a bit more serious than I originally anticipated. Ruby Spencer sells all her belongings, quits her career and heads to Scotland to rent a studio, quaint, cottage for a year to write a cookbook. The village she lands in small and everyone knows everyone's business..so to say she is the hot new item in town is exactly as it sounds.
Enter Brochan, a handsome, quiet man that helps everyone in town and is fiercely protective of Scotland and his village. This book was a slow burn and I ended up falling in love with the village and its people just as much as I did with Ruby & Brochan.
Enter Brochan, a handsome, quiet man that helps everyone in town and is fiercely protective of Scotland and his village. This book was a slow burn and I ended up falling in love with the village and its people just as much as I did with Ruby & Brochan.