seldridge 's review for:

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

3.0

emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I was expecting a cute, forced proximity romance (with a hint of enemies to lovers) and I got a heavier version of what felt more like a women’s fiction book with a romance side story. Because Evvie’s backstory was so heavy, there wasn’t enough tension or chemistry built between her and Dean for me to really feel their connection. This book tried to handle WAY too many side stories

(her mom leaving, her feelings with her dad, her late husband’s abuse, baseball, her friendship with Andy and his relationship, and there’s probably even MORE).

It took a week or so to finish, and I just wasn’t in the right headspace for the tone of this book. The premise would’ve been so much better as a cute, lighthearted romance!