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rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Predictable, yet satisfying; then again, that is exactly what I was looking for when I picked this one up.
mischievous_monkey's review
4.0
The road to redemption is traveled in fits and starts. I like to see characters learn from their mistakes and make amends while also getting frustrated and saddened at their lack of progress and the lumps they have to take. Add to that a bakery and restaurant…yummy.
As far as the audiobook goes, the narration was decent. The emotions were well portrayed and the story had a nice flow. Some of the character voices were a bit grating for me though and that made the listen a little less pleasant than it could have been.
As far as the audiobook goes, the narration was decent. The emotions were well portrayed and the story had a nice flow. Some of the character voices were a bit grating for me though and that made the listen a little less pleasant than it could have been.
aliu6's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars
It's been five years since Charlie Stetko allowed a fancy woman and promises of a big-city life lure her away from her then best friend and girlfriend, Emma Grier. Now, Charlie's been dumped by said woman, forcing her to return home to live in her parents' basement. Her new job at the local bakery has Charlie running into Emma, who now runs her own restaurant in town. Emma hasn't forgiven Charlie for shattering her heart, but as the two fall back into their old ways, Emma finds herself asking if people really can change.
This was a really sweet and satisfying read, and not just because of the amazing descriptions of baked goods that Charlie makes. Both Charlie and Emma are really likable. The narration switches between third person limited POVs for Charlie and Emma, and I really enjoyed the inside look into both characters' thought processes, which is clearly laid out for us. Georgia Beers does a great job of articulating their feelings in a totally realistic way. It makes sense that Emma is reserved towards Charlie at the beginning, and Charlie seems truly sorry for her past bad decisions.
I liked the initial tension between Charlie and Emma, although the switch flips pretty suddenly around the halfway mark. After that, everything falls into place quickly, which meant that I never felt the plot dragging, but I do wish I had seen a bit more lead up to them making up (and out).
There was also a lovely cast of side characters, many of whom I would have loved to see more. The only thing was that there were some side characters that we see for a little bit in the first half and then don't see again, and the subplots that they're involved in feel unresolved by the end of the book.
All in all, an engaging read! I would definitely recommend.
*I received an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
It's been five years since Charlie Stetko allowed a fancy woman and promises of a big-city life lure her away from her then best friend and girlfriend, Emma Grier. Now, Charlie's been dumped by said woman, forcing her to return home to live in her parents' basement. Her new job at the local bakery has Charlie running into Emma, who now runs her own restaurant in town. Emma hasn't forgiven Charlie for shattering her heart, but as the two fall back into their old ways, Emma finds herself asking if people really can change.
This was a really sweet and satisfying read, and not just because of the amazing descriptions of baked goods that Charlie makes. Both Charlie and Emma are really likable. The narration switches between third person limited POVs for Charlie and Emma, and I really enjoyed the inside look into both characters' thought processes, which is clearly laid out for us. Georgia Beers does a great job of articulating their feelings in a totally realistic way. It makes sense that Emma is reserved towards Charlie at the beginning, and Charlie seems truly sorry for her past bad decisions.
I liked the initial tension between Charlie and Emma, although the switch flips pretty suddenly around the halfway mark. After that, everything falls into place quickly, which meant that I never felt the plot dragging, but I do wish I had seen a bit more lead up to them making up (and out).
There was also a lovely cast of side characters, many of whom I would have loved to see more. The only thing was that there were some side characters that we see for a little bit in the first half and then don't see again, and the subplots that they're involved in feel unresolved by the end of the book.
All in all, an engaging read! I would definitely recommend.
*I received an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
jsjarvis71's review against another edition
4.0
I love Georgia Beers and have read or listened to almost every one of her books. One of the many things that I like about her work is her characters and the development of them. She does another wonderful job in Flavor of the Month, but this one had a rarity for me. I absolutely disliked the character of Emma. While I understand the hurt that she was going through with Charlie leaving at the beginning, but she carries that grudge for years afterward. She comes across as very vindictive and not a very approachable person. The HEA is there at the end, but I would have been just fine with Charlie leaving again. Emma never indicated that she was willing to forgive.
Overall, the story is very enjoyable and if you have read any of Beers' work before you will enjoy this one as well. While there are a couple of hot sex scenes, the story itself is about Emma and Charlie's relationship and trying to mend fences.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Overall, the story is very enjoyable and if you have read any of Beers' work before you will enjoy this one as well. While there are a couple of hot sex scenes, the story itself is about Emma and Charlie's relationship and trying to mend fences.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
banrions's review
4.0
I enjoyed this one. Listening to Georgia Beers books narrated by Lori Prince always seems to hit right, for me. I enjoyed all of the characters, I loved all of the baking and food, and the narration was stellar. I felt like mayybe it ended a little too abruptly/there were a couple of subplots that I would have liked see rounded out just a bit more (Emma and her mother, even one more maybe with Charlie and her sister) but overall I had a good time.
hsinjulit's review against another edition
3.0
Charlie Stetko and Emma Grier were best friends since they were eight. Later, they were each other's first love and first everything. As Charlie graduated from college, leaving for Manhattan with a successful businesswoman who then became her girlfriend, she subsequently broke off contact with Emma for years, leaving the latter's heart in pieces. Now that Charlie was dumped and broke, she headed back to her hometown Shaker Falls as a last resort. With Charlie working at a bakery across from Emma's restaurant, the pair needed to figure out their own feelings, thoughts, and priorities.
While I wasn't thrilled about some of the questionable and untimely decisions the pair were making, I have to say that Beers sure knew how to build up a solid story. If we free ourselves of judgements on both Charlie and Emma and really experience what they were feeling, it wasn't hard to relate to them. Yes, Charlie made horrible decisions in her early-20s, and yes, Emma had worked so hard to move on with life. But when we follow Beers's words and understand Charlie's rapid growth as well as comb through Emma's conflicting emotions, we can see the complexities of their characters and the plot line. I happen to find the rich taste of a wonderful pie a great analogy for the book.
The stylistic choice of the sex scene was very on point. With long sentences and many commas, Beers delivered brimming feelings while showing desperateness that was almost like gasping. Despite the choice of stylistics being good, the words were not. I have to point out that there was one occurrence of the word 'Eskimo', even though everyone in 2020 should agree not to use it.
Flavor of the Month is a bittersweet book on loss and re-trust. It has mirroring storylines focusing on redemption and facing your past on your own terms. And through this journey, we ultimately see if Charlie's sincerity is enough to redeem herself.
I received an e-ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While I wasn't thrilled about some of the questionable and untimely decisions the pair were making, I have to say that Beers sure knew how to build up a solid story. If we free ourselves of judgements on both Charlie and Emma and really experience what they were feeling, it wasn't hard to relate to them. Yes, Charlie made horrible decisions in her early-20s, and yes, Emma had worked so hard to move on with life. But when we follow Beers's words and understand Charlie's rapid growth as well as comb through Emma's conflicting emotions, we can see the complexities of their characters and the plot line. I happen to find the rich taste of a wonderful pie a great analogy for the book.
The stylistic choice of the sex scene was very on point. With long sentences and many commas, Beers delivered brimming feelings while showing desperateness that was almost like gasping. Despite the choice of stylistics being good, the words were not. I have to point out that there was one occurrence of the word 'Eskimo', even though everyone in 2020 should agree not to use it.
Flavor of the Month is a bittersweet book on loss and re-trust. It has mirroring storylines focusing on redemption and facing your past on your own terms. And through this journey, we ultimately see if Charlie's sincerity is enough to redeem herself.
I received an e-ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
stine_reads's review against another edition
4.0
*free copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Aaaah, I love me some Georgia Beers goodness. Reading her books, this one no exception, feels like coming in from the cold rain, snuggling in front of the fire place. It's relaxing and cozy and just plain awesome. In addition, this book has pies!
The characters are heartbreakingly real and the story is very sweet.
Aaaah, I love me some Georgia Beers goodness. Reading her books, this one no exception, feels like coming in from the cold rain, snuggling in front of the fire place. It's relaxing and cozy and just plain awesome. In addition, this book has pies!
The characters are heartbreakingly real and the story is very sweet.
tonedevoured's review against another edition
3.0
there are some little things i didnt like about this book but i would read it a thousand times just for emma grier
herrityk's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jennabeebs79's review against another edition
4.0
Georgia Beers has created another truly delightful read. This is a second chance lesfic and with so many out there the them tends to get redundant but Ms. Beers does a great job of doing it differently. Charlie selfishly dropped her whole life in Small Town (Shaker Falls), Vermont, when a larger than life woman gives her an offer she can’t refuse. When her world collapse she goes home, defeated. Over time, with the help of her family, and ex she realizes how truly selfish she was. I loved the dynamic between Charlie and Emma. There was drama but not a ton of unnecessary angst. I enjoyed this book and feel other will too!