A review by shereadstales
The Road Home by Erin Zak

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the digital galley of this book.

Welcome to the latest installment of me catching up on the backlist. Actress Gwendolyn Carter has had a few bit parts over the last few years but hasn’t landed her breakout role yet. Crushed and ready to give up, she’s called home to celebrate her dad’s birthday and to meet her “replacement,” Lila Machowicz, whom her parents have been basically raising since she was a teenager. Lila can do no wrong, and Gwen and her mother have never gotten along. Gwen is only planning on staying a couple of days, but a crushing diagnosis from her mother prompts her to stay a little longer and hopefully repair the rift. As if all of this isn’t enough, she finds herself fighting an attraction to Lila.

I enjoyed this one. It was a nice, emotional story of coming home, repairing rifts, and of course, romance. I liked Gwen’s character arc, even though I found her being really dramatic and childish at times. I guess that goes with the territory as an actress, and it worked pretty well for the story. I liked that Lila wasn’t as one dimensional as Gwen anticipated. She wasn’t the perfect child, but she grew into a mature adult. Zak built the romantic tension well, and Gwen’s prolonged absence left space for a few twists and turns as well as revelations.

Overall, it was really nice to be able to read this during slow work days. It provided a perfect escape from long hours sitting at a desk, waiting to go home. It’s out now, so check it out.