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A review by beate251
The Art of Starting Over by Heidi McLaughlin
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Devorah Campbell sits in the nail salon when her life changes forever. Her BFF Ester posts a video about having fallen in love with her best friend's husband. That would be Chad Campbell, and after this public humiliation, Devy packs her bags and daughter Maren, 9, and moves back to hometown Oyster Bay in Rhode Island, to reconnect with brother Colt and father Father Tremaine "Crow" Crowley, who is the local sheriff.
Hayden McKenna lost his wife Sofia last year in a car accident. He moves back to small-town Oyster Bay with son Connor, also 9, for new beginnings. He used to be in some sort of relationship with Devy when they were teenagers but they never made it official. Now he suddenly stands in front of her again. Can he avoid past mistakes and declare his feelings once and for all?
This is a sweet story about forgiveness, healing and second chances, with blended families and an adorable dog called Cordelia, but it's also predictable, cliché-filled (the men go fishing, the women shopping) and not very memorable. Chad and Ester are caricature villains but everyone else is almost too nice. Still, a nice if not taxing small-town read. The Crafty Cathys were fun.
Hayden McKenna lost his wife Sofia last year in a car accident. He moves back to small-town Oyster Bay with son Connor, also 9, for new beginnings. He used to be in some sort of relationship with Devy when they were teenagers but they never made it official. Now he suddenly stands in front of her again. Can he avoid past mistakes and declare his feelings once and for all?
This is a sweet story about forgiveness, healing and second chances, with blended families and an adorable dog called Cordelia, but it's also predictable, cliché-filled (the men go fishing, the women shopping) and not very memorable. Chad and Ester are caricature villains but everyone else is almost too nice. Still, a nice if not taxing small-town read. The Crafty Cathys were fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol