A review by carlybomarly
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

It was good enough to make me want to find out the ending but it was so frustrating from 50% on. It felt too insta-love, they rush into hooking up, then the whole second half of the book is the third act breakup and it’s miserable. 

I just felt like I kept listening because I HAD to know WHY he disappeared. Then the reason made me want to scream. The absolute insane level of miscommunication that would lead to that just blew my mind. 

I did enjoy Nora, her life, work, home, and how she makes things work for her family. Leo seemed unrealistic and always gave off a vibe that he was running away from something. The tea house and the sunrises on the porch were beautiful settings for the kinds of talks that they had, but they shouldn’t have been the only place they could communicate like that. 

I will say, there were some great one-liners:

“Inappropriate oozing of sex appeal”

“Stop smoldering the other unsuspecting middle aged ladies around here!”

Unfortunately, this won’t be a book I gush about or recommend to others.