A review by popthebutterfly
Effie Olsen's Summer Special by Rochelle Bilow

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Effie Olsen’s Summer Special 

 

Author: Rochelle Bilow 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: Sapphic side couple, Mexican side character 

 

Recommended For...: adult book readers, romance, contemporary 

 

Publication Date: April 30, 2024 

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

 

Age Relevance: 18+ (romance, sexual content, harassment, sexual harassment, language, alcohol consumption, COVID) 

 

Explanation of Above: This is an adult romance book, so there is romance and sexual content including sexting and sex scenes. There are mentions and showings of harassment and sexual harassment. There is some strong language. There are scenes of alcohol consumption. There is a mention of COVID. 

 

Spice: 3/5 

 

Publisher: Berkley 

 

Pages: 384 

 

Synopsis: These childhood best friends swore they’d never speak again. But that was before a surprise summer reunion gives them a chance to turn up the heat. Effie Olsen thought she’d never settle down on the tiny Maine island where she grew up, but she’s returning from a whirlwind sixteen years as a professional chef in far-flung countries for one summer and one summer only. Her hometown boasts one of the best restaurants in the US, and lucky for her, Brown Butter needs a sous chef. Effie is eager for a chance at redemption after her last job went up in flames, but reluctant to set down roots in a place that reminds her of the ghosts of her past. Until, that is, she runs into Ernie Callahan, her onetime best friend who now works in the very same restaurant. Early morning swims and late-night games of truth or dare with Ernie remind her of what she’s been missing while traveling the world. He knows her better than anyone, and it doesn’t hurt that his smile lights her up brighter than the lighthouses dotting the craggy coastline. But Brown Butter has a secret that’s bursting at the seams, and if Effie doesn’t keep it, her job will vanish into the foggy Maine air. As summer draws to a close, she realizes a second chance at her dream job and the perfect guy are both within reach. The salty seaside town of Alder Isle is the key to Effie’s sweet ending.... All she has to do now is learn to let her heart lead the way. 

 

Review: Maybe I'm just in a romance mood, but this book was so cute and I liked it a lot. In this book we follow our main character whose name is Effie. Our main character is a professional chef and she has went to a lot of different countries , but she finds herself back home in Maine due to a mysterious reason that the reader finds out along the way. Her plan is to only stay one summer and she plans to work at this restaurant that prides itself on using locally sourced food. There. She reconnects with an old flame and they end up working together but also Effie finds out that locally sourced apparently does not mean local in this restaurant and she ends up investigating what is actually going down in this restaurant. This character is a little older then normal romance books which I really liked. I am in my thirties and while I do love YA and middle grade and the college age crowd, I like seeing myself and my age group in books LOL. I really liked the character development and the story that went along with this book. I like that the romance was there and a focal point at the book but it wasn't the main thing about this book. I also really liked the world building and I would gladly come back to this book world.
 
 The only thing that I found just a little off-putting was a little bit of plot gaps here and there and some pacing issues, but again I had an early ARC so they have probably been resolved. 

 

Verdict: I loved it so much.