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A review by aelitareads
The Inn on Harmony Island by Anne-Marie Meyer
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to love this book but honestly? 3 Stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel like it had a lot of potential but it just jumps around way too much.
The FMC (Shelby) is very much a stereotype of a woman who's life goes to shit and she tries to ignore it all rather than going to therapy or talking to someone. The whole story is about her "facing her past" and in the end I don't feel like her past got resolved at all. There's mentions of abusive parents, pregnancy loss, abandonment, and family feuds but the ending of the book (spoiler) is pretty much her just getting with the MMC(Miles) like that'll just fix all of her problems??
Speaking of Miles- picture a Hallmark boyfriend with stereotypical small town energy, an "I'll fix you" attitude, and "fatherhood is my whole life" and you've pretty much got him... He literally catches Shelby watching him work out and flexes for her... I don't know, I guess I'm just more into strong FMCs and MMCs that woo with emotion and words rather than looks.
There were too many plot holes for me to fully enjoy this as a standalone. I feel like if you get one, you're committing to buying the whole series just to fill in the plot holes. There's such an emphasis on Shelby being a wedding planner in the beginning just for nothing to happen with that, the whole side plot with Abigail and her guy(s?), and let's not forget the Feuding Families trope that kinda gets glossed over even though it's one of the top reasons that Shelby even goes to the reading of her grandmothers will.
If you're looking for something angsty and easy, go for it. But maybe just check this one out from your library or Libby instead of buying it.
I feel like it had a lot of potential but it just jumps around way too much.
The FMC (Shelby) is very much a stereotype of a woman who's life goes to shit and she tries to ignore it all rather than going to therapy or talking to someone. The whole story is about her "facing her past" and in the end I don't feel like her past got resolved at all. There's mentions of abusive parents, pregnancy loss, abandonment, and family feuds but the ending of the book (spoiler) is pretty much her just getting with the MMC(Miles) like that'll just fix all of her problems??
Speaking of Miles- picture a Hallmark boyfriend with stereotypical small town energy, an "I'll fix you" attitude, and "fatherhood is my whole life" and you've pretty much got him... He literally catches Shelby watching him work out and flexes for her... I don't know, I guess I'm just more into strong FMCs and MMCs that woo with emotion and words rather than looks.
There were too many plot holes for me to fully enjoy this as a standalone. I feel like if you get one, you're committing to buying the whole series just to fill in the plot holes. There's such an emphasis on Shelby being a wedding planner in the beginning just for nothing to happen with that, the whole side plot with Abigail and her guy(s?), and let's not forget the Feuding Families trope that kinda gets glossed over even though it's one of the top reasons that Shelby even goes to the reading of her grandmothers will.
If you're looking for something angsty and easy, go for it. But maybe just check this one out from your library or Libby instead of buying it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Miscarriage