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A review by aksmith92
Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.25
Oh, Archer's Voice. Sweet, sweet Archer's Voice. This one might have just been a bit too cheesy for me, but in reality, I secretly enjoyed it.
This novel follows Bree, a recent college grad who fled from her hometown in Ohio after dealing with an incredibly traumatic experience. Rightfully (although maybe she could've used some therapy), she wanted to clear her head somewhere new without the weight of her past. So she settled in Pelion, Maine, where she focused on finding peace in this tiny town. She snagged a cute little cottage on the lake (wouldn't that be the dream) with her cute little dog and met a lovely elderly neighbor, Anne. She began working at the local diner, where she could miraculously fund her rent, food, car, etc. She then randomly stumbled upon Archer Hale, the small-town resident that everyone seemed to shun, and soon realized he was mute. She became a littleobsessive stalkerish in figuring out his story, likely because, from what she had already heard from the town, his past was a bit traumatic too. The story is about them, their friendship, and their love while both try to navigate some harrowing past experiences. The novel navigates from Archer's point of view to Bree's, but it's mostly Bree's.
I must admit, I couldn't put this book down. I started it one day and managed to finish it the next. Mia Sheridan made this book flow. I enjoyed the romance component - getting to know the two main characters, their interactions, and navigating their love, particularly when one of them (Archer) had minimal experience with love. As a recluse and someone who fell into the pattern of being unnoticed, Archer only experienced life through the voices of others in novels.
Things I didn't love:
- Had some Nicholas Sparks vibes.
- Sheridan seemed to spoon-feed a lot of information about Archer through the town's residents - the ones who simply heard so many rumors and let a poor kid believe everyone thought he was "simple." Felt a little off for me.
- I didn't like Bree calling Archer her "silent boy." She also said tummy too many times, lol, and I'm not sure why that bothered me. Either way, some of these writing nuances were a little odd to me.
- Cue cartoon character villains - Victoria and Travis Hale...very one-dimensional characters only meant to cause havoc. I get it is part of the process of a romance, buuuuut it wasn't believable, in my opinion.
- This seemed to be a bit of a savior complex book - Archer automatically "fixing" Bree's VERY traumatic challenges and Bree wanting to do the same thing for Archer. It wasn't a good feeling, although I think this diminished a bit at the end, thankfully.
While there were some things I didn't like, I was still very much engrossed in the story. I was immersed, having a hard time putting this book down.
My last little bit: romance authors: for once, would you just like, please, not have an epiloguefocused on marriage and pregnancy, particularly at like 23?? . I mean, maybe it can be part of the story, but, UGH, not the focus!!! Epilogues always give me angst.
I enjoyed it overall and would recommend it to folks for a decent romance. Although there were some cringe moments, I think it was a decent story!
This novel follows Bree, a recent college grad who fled from her hometown in Ohio after dealing with an incredibly traumatic experience. Rightfully (although maybe she could've used some therapy), she wanted to clear her head somewhere new without the weight of her past. So she settled in Pelion, Maine, where she focused on finding peace in this tiny town. She snagged a cute little cottage on the lake (wouldn't that be the dream) with her cute little dog and met a lovely elderly neighbor, Anne. She began working at the local diner, where she could miraculously fund her rent, food, car, etc. She then randomly stumbled upon Archer Hale, the small-town resident that everyone seemed to shun, and soon realized he was mute. She became a little
I must admit, I couldn't put this book down. I started it one day and managed to finish it the next. Mia Sheridan made this book flow. I enjoyed the romance component - getting to know the two main characters, their interactions, and navigating their love, particularly when one of them (Archer) had minimal experience with love. As a recluse and someone who fell into the pattern of being unnoticed, Archer only experienced life through the voices of others in novels.
Things I didn't love:
- Had some Nicholas Sparks vibes.
- Sheridan seemed to spoon-feed a lot of information about Archer through the town's residents - the ones who simply heard so many rumors and let a poor kid believe everyone thought he was "simple." Felt a little off for me.
- I didn't like Bree calling Archer her "silent boy." She also said tummy too many times, lol, and I'm not sure why that bothered me. Either way, some of these writing nuances were a little odd to me.
- Cue cartoon character villains - Victoria and Travis Hale...very one-dimensional characters only meant to cause havoc. I get it is part of the process of a romance, buuuuut it wasn't believable, in my opinion.
- This seemed to be a bit of a savior complex book - Archer automatically "fixing" Bree's VERY traumatic challenges and Bree wanting to do the same thing for Archer. It wasn't a good feeling, although I think this diminished a bit at the end, thankfully.
While there were some things I didn't like, I was still very much engrossed in the story. I was immersed, having a hard time putting this book down.
My last little bit: romance authors: for once, would you just like, please, not have an epilogue
I enjoyed it overall and would recommend it to folks for a decent romance. Although there were some cringe moments, I think it was a decent story!