Audiobook Review: Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Better Than Fiction
Author: Alexa Martin
Narrators: Nicole Lewis
Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: November 8, 2022
Print length: 384 pages
Audio length: 8 hours 47 minutes
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Purchased (paperback); library (audiobook)
Rating:

Love isn’t always by the books in this charming romantic comedy about a bookseller discovering how to be the main character in her story.

As a self-proclaimed book hater and a firm believer that the movie is always better, Drew Young didn’t anticipate inheriting her grandma’s bookstore, the Book Nook. She’s in way over her head even before the shop’s resident book club, comprising seven of the naughtiest old ladies ever, begin to do what they do best–meddle.

Bestselling author Jasper Williams is a hopeless romantic. When he meets Drew at his Book Nook signing event, he becomes determined to show her the beauty of reading. He curates a book bucket list in exchange for her help exploring the local Denver scene for his current manuscript. From river rafting to local restaurants, Drew begins to connect with Jasper in a way she only thought happened in fiction.

When messy family ties jeopardize the future of the Book Nook, Drew is caught between a bookshelf and a hard place. She’s reminded that real life isn’t always big dreams and sweeping romance. But Jasper is the plot twist she never saw coming and he’s writing a happily ever after just for them.

When I first encountered a recommendation for Better Than Fiction a couple of years ago, my initial reaction was “hard pass”. Why would I want to read about a main character who hates books? No thanks.

But then, on a recent visit to the Strand bookstore in New York, I gave into temptation and picked this up:

I knew I was taking a risk with a “blind date with a book”, but it was just so cute! And naturally, once I opened the wrapping and discovered that it was a book I didn’t think I wanted to read, I was hesitant… but that’s the thing about blind dates: Sometimes, you just see it through and hope for the best!

In this case, my blind date was a surprisingly great time! (Not that I’ve really been on blind dates IRL, but we all hear the horror stories). Better Than Fiction was a joyful, fast-paced read, and I enjoyed it way more than I expected to.

Because I tend to read romances as audiobooks, I borrowed the audio version of this one from the library, then used my paperback to bookmark and add sticky notes to places I wanted to remember. Win-win!

Okay, so the book itself: A year after her beloved grandmother Alice’s death, Drew has put her own plans and dreams on hold to keep Alice’s legacy alive. While some of Drew’s happiest memories are of time spent in the Book Nook, it was because of Alice and the time they spent together — not from a love of the books themselves

Drew herself is not a reader — from her perspective, why spend time on made-up stories when the real world has so much beauty in it? Her passion is the outdoors and nature photography, and she was just starting to make a name for herself and build her professional career when Alice’s death derailed all her plans. Drew feels an immense responsibility to make sure the Book Nook thrives, but she’s completely cut herself off from photography and her sources of joy in order to make it happen. On top of all that, she’s still reeling from Alice’s death and suffering grief that hasn’t eased with time — and her estranged father (who’s absolutely the worst) is making everything harder for her.

Luckily, Drew has a best friend, Elsie, in her corner, and unexpectedly reunites and forms a bond with her younger half-sister Daisy, who is nothing like her father (thank goodness). And then there’s the Dirty Birds — a group of seven older women whose book group focuses on romance novels, and who like nothing more than watching over Drew and trying to “fix” her life.

When the Dirty Birds arrange for bestselling romance author Jasper Williams to stop by the Book Nook for a signing, Drew is unimpressed… until he walks in the door and they get a good look at one another. Sparks fly. And while Drew isn’t looking for love or any sort of relationship, she and Jasper hit it off and seem drawn to one another right away. They make a deal: Drew will act as tour guide for Jasper, showing him some of her favorite outdoor destinations around Colorado as background for the new book he’s working on, and he’ll put together a list of books for Drew to read, paired with outings tied to the books, to help convince her that this reading thing is worth her time.

There are complications, of course, mainly related to the fate of the Book Nook and whether Jasper has been completely honest with Drew. Drew also learns that Alice’s intentions for her may have been different than what she originally thought, throwing her life plans into serious disarray.

As expected, there’s a third act major breakup, followed by the traditional grand gesture. Honestly, for once I’d like a contemporary romance that doesn’t follow this trajectory… but we have what we have. I thought the reasons for the breakup were a bit flimsy, and could have been worked out with some straightforward communication. (Poor communications in romance novels is a big peeve for me). Still, the grand gesture moment is charming, and there’s a very nice resolution to it all.

My only other real quibble with the book (and it’s fairly minor) is the reliance on slang like “obvi” and “def” (for definitely) that pops up throughout the book as part of Drew’s first-person narration. It may work better on the page, but in the audiobook, it sounds like a jarring wrong note. (Also, in one scene, she uses the word “cosign” — twice! — to mean agreeing with something, as in “‘She’s not wrong,’ Daisy cosigns…”, and I was not a fan!)

I really enjoyed the Colorado travel aspects of the story, and only wish there had been more of this. (Drew and Jasper go on three significant outings — more would have been even better!). Ditto re the reading list. Drew describes one or two of the books Jasper gives her to read (the first one sounds a lot like Daisy Jones & The Six), but doesn’t actually name them. I would have loved seeing Drew’s Reading List as an extra at the back of the book!

Narrator Nicole Lewis does a terrific job with the audiobook, really bringing Drew’s personality to life — from her innate sparkle to her grief and struggles, it all feels real and genuine.

Overall, I really enjoyed Better Than Fiction, which just goes to show that some blind dates can defy expectations and lead to good things!

26Oct2024

Audiobook Review: Lil’s Bus Trip by Judy Leigh

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Lil’s Bus Trip
Author: Judy Leigh
Narrator: Julie Mullen
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Publication date: August 26, 2021
Print length: 350 pages
Audio length: 10 hours 36 minutes
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Purchased
Rating:

From the USA Today bestselling author of Five French Hens and The Old Girls’ Network comes a story of the journey of a lifetime across Europe in pursuit of memories, love, and new adventures. It’s always a good time for a road trip…

When 82-year-old Lil decides to book herself, her 65-year-old daughter, Cassie, and her friend Maggie on a bus trip across Europe, she hopes for a little adventure to counteract the monotony of life.

Along with three members of the Salterley Tennis Club and the Jolly Weaver football team, whose ideas of a good time are rather different to Lil’s and strikingly at odds with each other’s, the merry band of travellers set out on their great adventure.

From moving moments on the beaches of Normandy, outrageous adventures in Amsterdam, to the beauty of Bruges and gastronomic delights of France, the holiday is just the tonic Lil, Maggie and Cassie needed.

And as the time approaches for them to head home, Lil makes an unexpected discovery – even in her advancing years, men are like buses – there isn’t one for ages then two come along at once. Is Lil ready to share her golden years, and can the ladies embrace the fresh starts that the trip has given them. Or is it just too late to change…

Judy Leigh’s books can be counted on to provide cheery scenarios, heart-warming encounters, and memorable (and often feisty) older women as the main characters — and Lil’s Bus Trip is yet another terrific listening experience!

Lil’s life is perfectly nice, if not exceptionally exciting. She lives in a pleasant senior community, has good friends, and is very close to her daughter Cassie, whom she’s raised on her own after becoming unexpectedly pregnant as an unwed teen. But couldn’t they both use a little adventure for a change?

When a friend from the local pub decides to organize and lead a European road trip, Lil decides it’s just what she and Cassie need. What’s more, Lil’s best friend and next-door neighbor Maggie is slowly suffocating from neglect, as her husband mainly ignores her and sits watching TV all day, so Lil practically forces her along as well. Joining them on their trip are a group of younger folks from a local football team, the pub owner and his elderly father, and a trio of snobs from the tennis club who insist they’re only interested in culture and intellectual pursuits.

As the trip gets underway, the group gets to experience both serious moments — such as the beaches of Normandy — as well as silly mishaps… like what happens when the three oldest members of the group order a brownie to go with their coffee in an Amsterdam coffeeshop.

There’s actually not a ton of plot to describe, other than the highlights of the road trip itself. And yet, there’s something so warm and delightful about this audiobook. I was apprehensive at the beginning about there being so many characters, but ultimately, the twelve people on the mini-bus are each developed over the course of the story, so that by the end, it feels like we’ve been hanging out with a group of our own friends.

The adventures on the road are lots of fun, and there are more serious moments too, as the various characters have opportunities to rethink their lives back home and come to terms with what they want (or don’t want). For Lil especially, it’s a chance to look back at a life lived on her own terms, but often lived alone, and consider whether it’s too late to take a chance on loving someone new.

The audiobook narrator rises to the challenge of voicing the twelve travelers, and bringing them all to distinct life… along with several other memorable people they meet along the way. For me, a jarring note was that the narrator adds in the vocal effects described… so if it’s stated that a character laughs, the narrator laughs… or coughs… or takes a deep breath. I find this approach a bit annoying, but I’m sure some listeners like that sort of thing. (Also, Cassie is a singer, and when she performs in the book, the narrator sings Cassie’s songs, rather than just reading the words. Again, whether you’ll enjoy this is a matter of taste and preference. She does a perfectly respectable job with the singing, but it’s not my cup of tea.)

Still, audio/narration preferences aside, I did really have a great time with this sweet story. Listening to Lil’s Bus Trip is the audiobook equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa. It’s comforting and pleasant, not particularly dramatic, but so easy to sink into and enjoy.

This is now my 4th book by Judy Leigh, and it won’t be my last! Fortunately, she has a good-sized backlist for me to dig into while waiting for her next new release!

19Oct2024

Audiobook Review: Life’s Too Short (The Friend Zone, #3) by Abby Jimenez

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Life’s Too Short
Series: The Friend Zone, #2
Author: Abby Jimenez
Narrators: Zachary Webber and Christine Lakin
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: April 6, 2021
Print length: 384 pages
Audio length: 9 hours 6 minutes
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Library
Rating:

A brilliant and touching romantic comedy about two polar opposites, one adorable dog, and living each day to its fullest.

When Vanessa Price quit her job to pursue her dream of traveling the globe, she wasn’t expecting to gain millions of YouTube followers who shared her joy of seizing every moment. For her, living each day to its fullest isn’t just a motto. Her mother and sister never saw the age of 30, and Vanessa doesn’t want to take anything for granted.

But after her half-sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her infant daughter, life goes from “daily adventure” to “next-level bad” (now with bonus baby vomit in hair). The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer or that she’d be spending a whole lot of time with him and his geriatric Chihuahua.

Now she’s feeling things she’s vowed not to feel. Because the only thing worse than falling for Adrian is finding a little hope for a future she may never see.

In Life’s Too Short, a crying baby brings a pair of strangers together in the middle of the night, changing both of their lives.

Vanessa Price has just been handed temporary custody of her troubled half-sister’s newborn baby, and is handling it fine… until the baby simply won’t stop crying. Her next-door neighbor, Adrian Copeland, shows up at her apartment door at 4 am offering to help. She’s suspicious… but she knows him by reputation, and she’s desperate enough to allow him in, hand him baby Grace, and go take a shower to calm down (and get the spit-up out of her hair). Lo and behold, the nonstop crying jag has ended by the time she gets out of the shower. An instant friendship is born.

Adrian is a successful, hard-driving criminal defense attorney who needs to be in control at all times. Vanessa is a free-wheeling YouTuber with a huge following, who’s spent the last few years sharing her worldwide travels. But Vanessa’s live-for-today approach has a darker underlying motivation — her mother and sister both had ALS and died young, and she’s trying to make the most of her own life before ALS catches up with her as well.

Adrian and Vanessa form an instant connection, and within days, they’re constantly in and out of each other’s apartments, sharing food, watching TV, caring for baby Grace, and become besties. Both are very clear that they’re not interested in dating or relationships… but we know where that’s going, right?

As the pair spend time together, they each develop strong feelings — as well as an intense attraction — but both assume that the other person isn’t interested in them that way. There’s a lot of time spent on false assumptions and faulty communication before they finally realize the truth of the matter.

I enjoyed the audiobook of Life’s Too Short, with narrators alternating to read chapters told from each character’s perspective. Both narrators do a great job conveying delivery and personalities, and they’re also terrific at pacing and providing humor.

Overall, though, I didn’t love Life’s Too Short as much as some of the author’s other books. First, there’s the communication issue, already mentioned. This is such a staple of contemporary romance novels, and honestly, it overdone. Adrian and Vanessa are both smart people who communicate for a living — yet they can’t get past their misinterpretations and inability to say what they mean or what they want. The misunderstanding phase of their relationship drags on way too long — and then there’s a phase two, once they’re together, about whether Adrian actually knows Vanessa’s health history and possible prognosis. This second phase of communication blunders leads to the major breakup phase of the book, but to me, it didn’t make sense that they ended up with this huge misunderstanding in the first place.

Second complaint: this book leans heavily into the trauma/drama that’s prevalent in so many of Abby Jimenez’s books. Not only is Vanessa dealing with the threat of ALS, mourning her deceased sister, and caring for an infant, but she’s also trying to deal with a father who’s a hoarder and push her half-sister (the baby’s mother) into rehab for her drug addiction. As for Adrian, his control issues stem from his father’s abandonment of the family when he was a child and the lingering fears and damage that’s caused him. It feels like these aspects overwhelm the love story at times, and could probably have been dialed back without losing the overarching emotional impact of the plot.

Finally, I felt that there was a level of emotional manipulation regarding Vanessa and whether she has the early symptoms of ALS. I won’t go into details, because that would be too spoilery, but by the end I felt very manipulated as a reader.

This may make it sounds like I didn’t enjoy Life’s Too Short at all, and that’s not actually the case. As in all Abby Jimenez books, the writing is crisp and funny and entertaining, and there are plenty of silly moments to lighten the mood. Sure, the male love interest is too perfect to possibly be a real human being, but that’s okay — it’s a nice fantasy to get to know a man who’s gorgeous, amazing with babies, successful, and always picks the perfect gift/date/adventure.

Life’s Too Short is considered the 3rd book in the Friend Zone trilogy, but apart from a very slight connection, it’s really more of a standalone. Adrian was introduced in a very minor way in The Happy Ever After Playlist, and characters from the other books show up briefly in Life’s Too Short — but someone picking up Life’s Too Short on its own would be perfectly fine and would not feel that they were missing anything.

I discovered Abby Jimenez’s books just this year, and have now read them all! While I may have quibbles about plot points and communication styles, overall, her books are zippy, engaging reads that include romance, humor, and deep emotional connection. She’s an excellent storyteller, and creates characters who feel like fully developed, living, breathing people.

The author’s next book, Say You’ll Remember Me, will be released in April 2025 — and I’ll be ready with grabby hands as soon as it’s available!

13Oct2024

Audiobook Review: The Happy Ever After Playlist (The Friend Zone, #2) by Abby Jimenez

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: The Happy Ever After Playlist
Series: The Friend Zone, #1
Author: Abby Jimenez
Narrators: Zachary Webber and Erin Mallon
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: April 14, 2020
Print length: 401 pages
Audio length: 9 hours 17 minutes
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Library
Rating:

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zone comes a fresh romantic comedy full of “fierce humor and fiercer heart” about one trouble-making dog who brings together two perfect strangers. (Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue)

Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can’t seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a “take me home” look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker’s owner reaches out. He’s a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.

Well, Sloan’s not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can’t deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There’s no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?

Dear Romance Writers:

PLEASE STOP MAKING CHARACTERS BREAK UP WITH THE PERSON THEY LOVE FOR THEIR OWN GOOD WITHOUT TELLING THEM WHY.

Phew. Glad I got that off my chest.

Moving on with my review… which includes unavoidable spoilers for The Friend Zone, so proceed with caution.

The Happy Ever After Playlist picks up two years after the events of The Friend Zone, moving the best friend from book #1 to center stage.

Sloan may not seem to be a prime candidate for a romance lead — her story in The Friend Zone (spoiler alert!) was a tragic one. Just one week before her wedding, Sloan’s fiancé was hit by a drunk driver while riding his motorcycle and eventually died.

As The Happy Ever After Playlist opens, Sloan thinks of her life as being in the “in between”. Since Brandon’s death, she’s stopped cooking, stopped painting original pieces (focusing instead on Etsy commissions for pieces such as astronaut cats), and basically just gets by. If not for best friend Kristen and her husband Josh, Sloan would barely even eat.

All that changes when Sloan heads to the cemetery to visit Brandon’s grave, and nearly hits a dog wandering on the road… who then jumps into her car through her sunroof. What’s Sloan to do? She takes him home, tries in vain to contact his owner, and after a couple of weeks, has settled into a happier sort of life with Tucker as company — until Tucker’s owner Jason finally returns Sloan’s many calls.

He’s a musician, has been working in Australia, but is now headed home and wants his dog back. After some initial resistance, Sloan agrees, but only if Jason proves he’s worthy. As Jason and Sloan banter via text and then phone calls, a spark of life comes back to Sloan. She’s having fun, she’s enjoying getting to know this random person, and (after seeing his picture), she thinks she might actually be open to meeting him… although only if they call it an appointment, not a date.

Needless to say, Sloan and Jason have amazing chemistry, and within days, are inseparable. As Sloan works through her complicated feelings about allowing herself to be open to attraction and possibly romance, Jason is beyond perfect, making clear his desire and interest, but only at her own pace and comfort level.

Things become even more complicated once Sloan shows Kristen a picture of Jason… and Kristen freaks out. Does Sloan even know who she’s kinda-sorta dating? That’s Jackson Waters, the recording artist behind the cover of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald**, the song Sloan listened to on repeat during the worst of her days of grief. Jason is poised for stardom, about to leave on tour, with a major record label promoting him and propelling him into the spotlight. But how can Jason leave when things are just getting started with Sloan, and how can Sloan fit into the high-pressure world of a world-famous rock star?

**And believe me, it makes me mad that the Jackson Waters version of this song (and its accompanying claymation music video) does not actually exist!!

The Happy Ever After Playlist is engaging right from the start, although in some ways, it feels like two (or possibly three) different stories smushed into one. At the beginning, it seems to be about Sloan allowing love back into her life, and that’s quite lovely to see. Her cautious first steps toward happiness turn into a running leap, once she and Jason start to connect on a deeper level. They realize almost instantly that what’s between them is the real thing.

Midway through the book, the storyline turns much more into the celebrity romance trope — how can an ordinary person fit into the world of fame and paparazzi and constant scrutiny, much less endless months on the road?

Jason and Sloan are worth rooting for, but it drives me mad (see my declaration at the start of this review) when one romantic partner makes a decision (usually a break-up) for what they perceive to be the good of the other person, without even telling them why or giving them the opportunity to discuss it. Of course, in a romance, this is the 3rd act big blowup when all seems lost, but we know (because romance) that it will all work out, and that there will likely be some amazing, over-the-top big moment to bring it all to a happy ever after. (There is).

I really did enjoy The Happy Ever After Playlist as a whole, but certain fights and then the breakup made me a little batty. If ever a situation calls for couples’ counseling, or at least a neutral third party, this is it. These two characters do not do a great job of talking to one another in crucial moments. Yay, they work it all out eventually, but the pain and suffering before they get there could have been avoided through actual communication.

As in The Friend Zone, the men in this second book are once again very manly indeed. Hunting, home improvement skills, and general outdoorsy-ness abound. Jason is a sensitive singer/songwriter/guitarist, but he’s also great with his hands (in all ways), can fix anything, and goes camping on remote islands for the fun of it.

Overall, The Happy Ever After Playlist is a great audiobook listen. Despite the plot points that bugged me, I never wanted to stop once I started listening, and the narrators do an excellent job bringing the characters to life and conveying their banter, humor, fights, and sorrows.

I will absolutely finish the trilogy, although based on the peek I took at the 3rd book’s synopsis, it seems to only have a very tangential connection to the first and second books. Still, I know what I’ll be listening to next!

5Oct2024

Audiobook Review: Drop Dead by Lily Chu

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Drop Dead
Author: Lily Chu
Narrators: Phillipa Soo & John Cho
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication date: August 1, 2024
Print length: n/a
Audio length: 11 hours 25 minutes
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Audible download
Rating:

One mysterious mansion. Two rival journalists. Three weeks to uncover the story—and love—of a lifetime. Don’t miss this unforgettable romantic comedy performed by Phillipa Soo and John Cho!

Obituary writer Nadine Barbault doesn’t mind being called “Lady Death.” It suits the ice queen persona she’s cultivated to survive the fast-paced Toronto Herald. So when Nadine learns that famous (and reclusive) author Dot Voline has died, she doesn’t hesitate to run the obituary … only to discover that Dot is very much alive.

Nadine’s screw-up has brought Wesley Chen of the rival Spear no end of joy—she’s been a thorn in his extremely ambitious side for years. But the renewed interest in Dot also surfaces chatter about a mysterious past scandal. Intrigued, Wes goes to the source to learn more—only to discover Nadine had the exact same idea … and the infuriating woman isn’t willing to respect dibs. Typical.

At first, Dot refuses to speak to either of the squabbling pair, but then they receive an unusual request—work together, and Dot will share everything. The offer seems too good to be true … and of course, it is: in a bitter twist of irony, Dot dies for real before she can finish recounting her story. Not all is lost, however. The estate’s executor allows Wes and Nadine access to Dot’s sprawling wonderland of a mansion for three weeks to find their answer. That’s three weeks of working together … three weeks of endless sweltering in tight spaces … three weeks of learning there could be something more between them than a desire to win at any cost.

And maybe, just maybe, under the rubble of all those could-have-beens they’ll uncover more than the secret of Dot Voline’s long-ago scandal—and Lady Death will finally embrace what she’s wanted from life all along.

Lily Chu’s Audible Originals have become an annual treat for me. Drop Dead is her fourth audiobook, and once again, it’s a hit!

Smart and entertaining, Drop Dead features main characters who are ambitious rivals forced to work together to solve an irresistible mystery. Nadine and Wes met years ago in college, and since their very first journalism class together, they’ve been fierce competitors.

But now, ten years later, neither has quite the stellar career they’d expected. Nadine was a hotshot political reporter at The Herald, until death threats rattled her enough to make her ask for a safer beat, at least until she gets her nerve back. She’s the recently appointed obituary editor, mainly working from pre-written copy about noteworthy people. It’s not exciting… but it does keep the trolls away.

Meanwhile, Wes longs to join the investigative team over at The Spear, but instead, he’s passed over in favor of an obnoxious bro-type, and writes lifestyle pieces on topics such as perfect picnic pairings. It’s… nice, but definitely not what he wants to do.

After Nadine mistakenly publishes an obit for Dot Voline, a leading light in Canada’s literary world, her credibility is shot and she’s reassigned into an even less challenging position. She’s determined to redeem herself and tries to get an interview with Dot by showing up at her mansion’s gate, only to find Wes there, eager to capitalize on Nadine’s mistake and perhaps find a great story of his own.

Because amidst the furor over the obituary for an author who isn’t actually dead, there’s a tantalizing hint of something more — a few comments on the original obituary wondered why there was no mention of the old scandal tied to Dot’s first book. But neither Nadine nor Wes can find any online references to a scandal, and both sense that this could be the key to a breakout investigative piece with the potential to revitalize their careers.

Dot Valine is in her later years, clearly not well, but without having lost a bit of her eccentricity and flair. She eventually invites them in after a series of challenges and grants them small interviews, always hinting at something more to come. Her mansion is huge and over-the-top, with treasures and collectibles and oddities around every corner. Nadine and Wes plan to take advantage of every moment Dot will grant them, but sadly, after just a few weeks, they’re informed by her nephew that Dot has passed away — for real this time.

Still, their quest for a story isn’t over. Dot has stipulated that they can continue to have access to her home to try to get to the truth. The clock is ticking — the nephew can only give them three weeks, and then the mansion will be sold. To take full advantage of their limited time, Nadine and Wes decide to move into the mansion and work around the clock. Sure, neither loves the idea of having to spend so much time together, but it’s their only shot at uncovering the story that Dot so clearly wanted told.

What ensues is a good old-fashioned treasure hunt, practically a locked room mystery. No, they’re not literally locked in — but to fulfill their quest, they spend every moment in Dot’s mansion, poring through boxes of old papers, closets full of ballgowns, shelves of knickknacks and antiques and old books. They don’t know what they’re looking for, but they hope they’ll recognize what’s important once they find it.

The search is clever and the mystery around Dot’s secrets is intriguing. We don’t truly know what she’s hiding at the start. There are hints of an old political scandal, but nothing in Dot’s online presence or traceable history connects her in any way to politics. Still, she’s a larger than life character, and each new piece of writing that Nadine and Wes discover shows yet another facet of Dot’s personality.

As for Wes and Nadine’s rivalry and surface-level dislike, it’s obviously only a matter of time before the dynamic changes. Because as combative as they are toward one another, there’s also a grudging respect — after all, they were always the top two, battling for number one — as well as an even more reluctant attraction. Working together nonstop in such close proximity, they’re finally forced to hash out their differences and acknowledge that they’re enjoying this joint quest. Eventually, a budding friendship turns into more, and a surprisingly sweet romance begins to blossom.

Drop Dead gets off to a somewhat slow start, as we learn about Nadine and Wes’s stalled careers and challenging family dynamics. Once Dot Voline enters the picture, the plot comes into sharper focus. The search for Dot’s secrets is the driving storyline of this book, with the romantic elements built around the main mystery plotline.

Both elements work well. The deeper Wes and Nadine get into the dusty recesses of Dot’s mansion, the more fun their quest becomes. Clues come in unexpected forms, and seemingly stray notes or old clippings tantalize — Dot has intentionally sprinkled these clues throughout her home without leaving a road map to find them. As the pair unearth more clues, they become even more determined to see Dot’s quest through to the end and bring to light the story she wanted shared upon her death.

The love story is also engaging. Intimate scenes occur off the page, but we do see the flirtation and chemistry build, and it’s clear that the sparks are emotional as well as physical. I really appreciated how the author manages the characters’ realizations about their dynamics, as well as the way they hash out their past differences and figure out how to work together.

Finally, I’ll mention that for Nadine especially, Dot had an important lesson to teach. Through her time with Dot herself and then with the mementos Dot leaves for her to find, Nadine learns to start looking beyond the basics of a bio to understand a person’s impact, and finds purpose in writing stories that truly show who people are and why they matter. This aspect of Drop Dead is heart-warming without becoming saccharine — Nadine’s personal journey over the course of the story is delightful to see.

As with Lily Chu’s previous audiobooks, Drop Dead is narrated by the very talented Phillipa Soo, this time joined by co-narrator John Cho. They’re wonderful at voicing the characters and showing their humor and intelligence, as well as the great banter between them.

Drop Dead is currently available only through Audible. Her three previous novels were released the same way, and then released in paperback about a year later. I’ve loved each of Lily Chu’s audiobooks — The Comeback and The Stand-In are still my favorites, but Drop Dead is terrific as well. Don’t miss it!

29Sep2024

Audiobook Review: The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: The Friend Zone
Series: The Friend Zone, #1
Author: Abby Jimenez
Narrators: Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: June 11, 2019
Print length: 372 pages
Audio length: 9 hours 32 minutes
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Library
Rating:

Kristen Petersen doesn’t do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don’t get her. She’s also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.

Planning her best friend’s wedding is bittersweet for Kristen—especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He’s funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he’d be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it’s harder and harder to keep him at arm’s length.

The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.

After loving Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World trilogy, I knew I needed to go back and read her earlier books. The Friend Zone, the author’s debut novel, is a bit bumpier and less polished than her later books, but it definitely shows the heart and spirit that are such quintessential elements of her writing.

Kristen and Josh have a meet-cute that’s not particularly cute at all: He rear-ends her truck when she hits the brakes without warning. After a contentious exchange, they part ways, never expecting to see one another again… only to come face to face moments later at the fire station where he’s newly stationed.

Josh has moved to LA after a bad break-up back in North Dakota, joining his best friend Brandon at the fire house and hoping to get a fresh start. Brandon’s fiancée Sloan is Kristen’s best friend, so it was inevitable that Kristen and Josh would bump into one another… just maybe not quite so literally.

Putting aside their tension-filled first meeting, Josh ends up taking a temporary job doing carpentry work for Kristen’s home-based doggy supply business. Kristen’s lost-distance boyfriend Tyler is reaching the end of his military service and is due to move in with Kristen once he’s out, but she’s having serious second thoughts. Realizing that Josh is not only fun to be around but also very attractive, Kristen does whatever she can to keep him firmly in the “friend zone”, but there’s no denying that sparks are flying all over the place whenever she and Josh hang out.

Kristen’s life is further complicated by her health. Since her teens, she’s suffered with extreme cramping and heavy, nonstop periods caused by uterine fibroids, and has decided to go ahead with a hysterectomy, scheduled for a few weeks after Sloan and Brandon’s wedding. She knows this is the right choice for her — the only sure way to finally end the constant pain and anemia she’s dealt with for so many years.. But as she and Josh begin to acknowledge their deepening feelings, Kristen’s medical condition gives her yet another source of heartache: Josh comes from a huge family, and has talked frequently of his dream of having a huge family himself. How can she get involved with a man whose dreams so clearly don’t match her reality?

The Friend Zone pulled me in right from the start, although its initial upbeat vibe clashes later with the seriousness of Kristen’s pain and emotional distress. When the plot takes an unexpectedly tragic turn, it feels sort of like two entirely separate books got mashed together.

Parts are very good: I enjoyed the banter and developing connection between Josh and Kristen. Her tactics to keep him in the friend zone are decidedly goofy and quite fun to read about. Flipping between their two perspectives from chapter to chapter gives readers a chance to hear both sides of the story, understand why they act as they do, and see how their decisions and actions affect the other person, whose knowledge in different situations may be limited and missing key information.

Other parts drove me a bit batty. The men in The Friend Zone come across as ultra macho — either military or firefighters, gun owners, hunters, motorcycle riders. There’s a scene where Josh picks Kristen up and carries her over his shoulder to get her to talk to him… and that’s a big no for me.

As for Kristen, I was frustrated by her internalized beliefs. I understand that the author was trying to accurately portray the struggles and emotional distress of what Kristen experiences, but I still found it disturbing to hear Kristen continually think of herself as damaged and less than desirable because of her inability to have children. I might have appreciated hearing this internal dialogue more if it was coupled with therapy or some counterbalance to convey a healthier message. I get that we’re inside Kristen’s head and she’s holding onto unhealthy beliefs about herself, but at the same time, as a reader who’s dealt with fertility challenges, I think seeing Kristen confront these beliefs on the page would present a more well-rounded approach to the issue.

One romance trope that I particularly dislike is when a character makes a decision for the good of their love interest — often, ending a relationship — without actually discussing the situation with their partner. That trope is in full force in The Friend Zone, and it really bothered me. Kristen spends a good portion of the book making decisions that cause deep pain for her and Josh, but never talks with him about what’s going on. So much heartache could have been avoided if she’d been honest with him and trusted him to work through it with her.

Complaints aside, there are also elements that I loved, such as when Josh finally realizes that the way to reach past Kristen’s defenses and get her to hear him is through logic and facts. The way he does this is amazing, and I found it incredibly touching.

Overall, The Friend Zone captured and held my attention, and when the plot takes a turn in the latter part of the book, I could barely catch my breath.

A word to the wise: Proceed with caution if you’re listening to the audiobook! I was on the highway during rush hour when I got to the intensely emotional part of the book, and don’t recommend trying to navigate traffic while choked up and teary-eyed!

As I mentioned, The Friend Zone doesn’t come across as quite as polished as Abby Jimenez’s later books, but it still managed to draw me in and engage my emotions. With her signature mix of humor and traumatic situations and events, it’s a roller coaster ride with a beautiful love story at its heart.

I’m eager to continue the trilogy that starts with The Friend Zone. Next up: The Happy Ever After Playlist.

Caution: DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSIS FOR THE HAPPY EVER AFTER PLAYLIST BEFORE FINISHING THE FRIEND ZONE! I did, unfortunately, and got the spoiler of all spoilers for the major event in the 2nd half of The Friend Zone. Learn from my mistakes!

23Sep2024

Audiobook Review: Close Knit by Jenny Colgan

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Close Knit
Author: Jenny Colgan
Narrator: Eilidh Beaton
Publisher: Avon
Publication date: August 6, 2024
Print length: 318 pages
Audio length: 10 hours, 31 minutes
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Purchased (audiobook); E-book ARC from the publisher/NetGalley
Rating:

Follow Gertie MacIntyre from knitting circle to air stewardess in this glorious and romantic summer novel set in Scotland’s windswept Northern isles, by beloved New York Times bestselling author Jenny Colgan.

In the northernmost reaches of Scotland, where a string of little islands in the North Sea stretches towards Norway, lives Gertie MacIntyre, a proud island girl by birth. Her social circle is small but tight: family and friends, particularly the women in her knitting circle. In the whitewashed cottages of their hometown, everyone knows everyone, and the ladies of the knitting circle know more than most. In a place of long dark winters and geographic isolation, the knitting circle is a precious source of gossip, home, laughter, and comfort for them all. And while she knits, Gertie’s busily plotting what to do with the rest of her life.

When Gertie develops a crush on Callum Frost, who owns the local airline, she dares herself to take a job as an air stewardess on the little plane that serves the local islands. Terrifying at first, the sixteen-seat puddle jumper also offers the first taste of real freedom she’s ever known. Will Gertie’s future lie in the skies? Or will she need to go further afield to find the adventure she craves?

Yet another gem from Jenny Colgan! Her books are opportunities to be swept away to beautiful places and experience lovely communities — but also, to laugh, to be amused, and to see people doing both amazing and silly things.

(Quick note: The synopsis — above — found on Goodreads, NetGalley, Amazon and elsewhere gets the main character’s name wrong! Her name is Gertie Mooney, and she ends up working for MacIntyre Air. Moving on…)

Close Knit takes place in the small town of Carso, located “in the very North of Scotland” on the sea. From Carso, across the water, is a chain of small islands, accessible only by ferry or by air — and MacIntyre Air’s small planes are the primary way the locals and tourists get there, taking off from the tiny airport (really, more like a tin shed) and flown by Morag, her grandfather, or another long-time pilot.

Gertie, born and raised in Carso, lives with her mother and grandmother, and has never flown in an airplane or ventured away from her small community. Her life revolves around her job at the supermarket and knitting — her tiny home is stuffed to the brim with wool and knitwear, and every day, the KCs — the women of the Knitting Circle — come to the Mooney home to knit and gossip, and to tell Gertie what to do with her life.

Gertie is sweet and very shy, and finds comfort in constant daydreaming (and knitting). She dreams of romance, but after one daring attempt to woo an older boy in school (which did not end well), she rarely steps out of her safe routines.

When two girls she remembers from her school days end up in her store, she feels her own sense of inadequacy pop up — they were two years older, and seemed impossibly cool at the time. She doubts they’d even remember her now, but after seeing Gertie kindly take charge of a potentially awkward situation in the store, they make an unexpected offer. The two women are Morag, the pilot, and Nelitha, her very pregnant best friend who works as the airline’s ground crew. They need someone to take over for Nelitha as she starts her maternity leave… and although Gertie has no flight or airline experience, she clearly has a knack for dealing with customers.

The fact that Gertie has recently developed a crush on the man whose larger airline acquired MacIntyre Air is an added enticement — maybe she’ll get to see him regularly, and she can give him some beautiful handmade knitwear, and he’ll realize that this local girl is really the woman of his dreams! Ready to make a change in her life, Gertie accepts the job, as well as the offer of becoming Morag’s roommate… and her entire life changes.

Close Knit is not just Gertie’s story. Through Gertie, we meet a cast of characters that includes the town’s schoolchildren, the women of the KCs, musicians and teachers, airline crew, and a variety of other locals. Morag — introduced in the author’s previous book, The Summer Skies — gets her own chapters, and Gertie’s one-time crush/local schoolteacher Struan is also important to the overall story.

The town, the land and seascapes, and the islands are lovingly drawn, with descriptions so gorgeous that a reader will have a hard time refraining from immediately googling Carso and how to get there. (Sadly, it’s fictional). It’s not just the physical setting that’s wonderful — Jenny Colgan excels at creating a full community, with its quirky characters and habits, idle gossip and town lore, even its best places for coffee, ice cream, or chips. A section of the book set at the town’s cèilidh (dance) is delightfully engaging — and made me want to immediately head out and learn to dance Strip the Willow and The Gay Gordons.

In terms of The Summer Skies, in which Morag is the main character, I’d say Close Knit is more of a companion novel than a sequel. Timewise, it’s set after the events of The Summer Skies, but Close Knit can certainly be read as a stand-alone. The two novels together paint a picture of life in Carso. There’s a continuation of Morag’s story, but a reader picking up Close Knit can very comfortably follow the entire story and never feel lost, even without reading the previous book.

Lest you think that Close Knit is all just lovely people in a lovely place doing lovely things (okay, it is that, but there’s more!), the later part of the book centers around a dangerous situation that requires Morag and Gertie to get involved in a rescue operation. The tension is high and the action is compelling — and it’s an opportunity for the characters to shine, each in their own way. It’s an effective mix of great storytelling and showing the heart and inner strength of the characters, and makes for a completely absorbing reading/listening experience.

Some words on the audiobook itself: Once again, Eilidh Beaton is the narrator, and she is a marvel. She narrates several of Jenny Colgan’s books, and excels at voicing the variety of characters, from sweet Gertie to hesitant children to the suave-but-shallow airline owner, and really, each of the townspeople, older, younger, gruff, or kind. Each is quite distinctive and easily identifiable — and for this American listener, the Scottish accents are delightful to hear.

While Close Knit might be shelved by some readers as a romance, I’d categorize it as contemporary fiction that includes a romantic subplot. Yes, there is a love story in Close Knit, but it’s such a slowly building element of the story that it’s just one piece of the whole. Gertie’s growth and development is the main story here — over the course of the book, she learns to take chances, stop living only in her dreams, and create a new and meaningful life for herself. (As an introvert, I loved seeing such a shy, dreamy girl get a chance to shine!)

Gertie is a wonderful main character, and the town of Carso is a community I hope Jenny Colgan continues to explore in future books. Close Knit is a cozy, sweet, utterly enjoyable book, but that’s really no surprise. This author’s books have become can’t-miss reading experiences for me, and as always, I’ll be waiting for whatever she writes next!

6Jul2024

Audiobook Review: My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: My Oxford Year
Author: Julia Whelan
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication date: April 24, 2018
Print length: 352 pages
Audio length: 9 hours 58 minutes
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Purchased
Rating:

Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of Oxford, this sparkling debut novel tells the unforgettable story about a determined young woman eager to make her mark in the world and the handsome man who introduces her to an incredible love that will irrevocably alter her future—perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks.

American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: Study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.

When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret.

Immediately, Ella is faced with a seemingly impossible decision: turn her back on the man she’s falling in love with to follow her political dreams or be there for him during a trial neither are truly prepared for. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.

Warning: Do not listen to My Oxford Year in public. I can’t be responsible for what happens. (But embarrassing ugly crying is a strong possibility…)

I’m a little baffled as to how to write this review. I had a major plot point spoiled for me ahead of time, and I wish I hadn’t known to expect it. So, on the one hand, I don’t want to give spoilers here… on the other hand, it’ll be hard to discuss this book in any meaningful way without it.

But here goes… I’ll give it a try.

(But first, a further note: The content could be upsetting for someone to encounter without forewarning… so I’m going to put content warnings over on my Goodreads review, under a spoiler blur. Check if out here if you want to know.)

24-year-old Ella Durran heads to Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, something she’s dreamed of all her life. As her magical, longed-for year kicks off — literally as she’s arriving at Heathrow — she’s also offered a dream job opportunity, working as the education consultant for the woman who stands a good chance of becoming the party nominee for President in the next election. Ella’s future lies in political organizing, and while she’ll be studying literature at Oxford, she also has her eye on what happens after Oxford. Ella’s return ticket is already booked for June 11th of the next spring, and she works out a deal with the campaign: She’ll work remotely while at Oxford, then return next June and commit full-time to the race.

Initially, Ella experiences fish-out-of-water mishaps at Oxford — such as nearly getting run over due to looking the wrong way while crossing the street. The “posh prat” at the wheel ends up being Ella’s literature lecturer, and their unfortunate first meeting leads to attraction, and eventually, a no-strings hook-up plan that’s hot, exciting, and low commitment. It’s good for as long as it’s good, and that — they both agree — will be that.

Meanwhile, Ella also settles in, forms a handful of close friendships, and starts to truly relax into and appreciate her Oxford experience. And as things with Jamie continue to be thrilling, Ella’s having the time of her life.

All is not as perfect as it seems, though… and then Ella’s life (and the book) become more intense and complicated. One of Ella’s go to responses is “It’s a plan” as a form of agreeing or making a commitment, but what happens when life gets in the way of well thought-out plans?

I really can’t say more, but trust me when I say this book packs an emotional punch. There were times when I wanted nothing more than to give Ella a good shake, but her visceral responses to certain challenges, as well as her unwillingness or inability to see what’s right in front of her, feel real and true to life. It makes sense that Ella takes so long to acknowledge what she truly wants, or to recognize that having a plan doesn’t mean that the plan is actually the right course of action. As frustrating as she can be, Ella is a character who clicks precisely because she doesn’t always make perfect decisions or react the way we’d want her to react. She’s definitely flawed, and that helps us root for her.

And what can I say about Jamie? He’s sheer perfection, an absolute cupcake, and I challenge any reader not to be absolutely mad about him.

The larger cast of characters is terrific as well, rounding out Ella’s life in a way that gives her experiences more depth and connection. I loved getting to know the various people in her and Jamie’s lives, and seeing each of their journeys as well.

Author Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook. For any audiobook fans, you’ll know that this means the listening experience will be fabulous. Julia Whelan is the queen of audiobook narration, and hearing her narrate her own book is a chance to be transported into the feel of of the story and utterly absorbed.

My Oxford Year puts the reader through the emotional wringer in a way I hadn’t anticipated (until I was told a spoiler). At first, when I thought I was just reading a book about a year in a rarified academic setting, I didn’t feel entirely engaged. Do I care about stuffy universities and lecture halls and dissection of poetry? (Maybe just a smidge…) But when the more personal aspects of the plot kicked in, I was hooked, heart and soul.

I was a mess by the end of this book, but also uplifted and moved and satisfied. My Oxford Year is lovely and powerful, and should not be missed.

PS – My Oxford Year is coming to Netflix! No information yet on exactly when, but a preliminary casting announcement was recently shared… good stuff!

13Jun2024

Audiobook Review: Kilmeny of the Orchard by L. M. Montgomery

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Kilmeny of the Orchard
Author: L. M. Montgomery
Narrator: Grace Conlin
Publisher: n/a – many editions available
Publication date: 1910
Print length: 144 pages
Audio length: 4 hours, 5 minutes
Genre: Classic fiction
Source: Purchased
Rating:

A sweet and moving romance from the author of the beloved Anne of Green Gables series!

Eric Marshall, recent college graduate, has the world at his feet. He’s handsome, popular, wealthy, and surprisingly, single. Living the bachelor lifestyle with his widowed father, he’s never given much thought to romance. When an old school friend asks Eric to substitute teach for him on Prince Edward Island while he recuperates from an illness, Eric thinks, why not? He’s got some time to kill before diving into the family business with his father, and the rustic island may be a good diversion for him.

Eric falls into the easy routine of island life, and his status as eligible bachelor endears him to the locals. Eric is still not thinking of romance, but he’s about to find it in a most unexpected place…

Kilmeny Gordon is sweet and smart and beautiful, perfect in every way but one: she can’t speak. She’s been sheltered all her life due to her disability and the scandal surrounding her birth. She wiles away her hours helping her aunt and uncle on the farm and playing her violin in her favorite secluded spot. When Eric stumbles into her hidden orchard, he brings a whole new world with him, and a friendship that both frightens her and thrills her. As the summer days grow longer and their friendship blossoms, sweet, silent Kilmeny, with her sunny enthusiasm and haunting music, manages to do what neither the co-eds of Queenslea College nor the village lasses of Lindsay have been able to do—capture Eric’s heart.

But Kilmeny knows he’ll soon have to go back to his life on the mainland, a world of business meetings and parties and prejudicial people—a world in which she’ll hold him back and never fit in. None of that matters to Eric, but how can he get her to accept that she’s the only woman he’ll ever love, when she is convinced that the only way to love him is to let him go?

And a shorter synopsis from Audible:

Twenty-four-year-old Eric Marshall arrives on Prince Edward Island to become a substitute schoolmaster, even though he has a bright future in his wealthy family’s business. Eric has taken the two-month teaching post only as a favor to a friend – but fate throws in his path a beautiful, mysterious girl named Kilmeny Gordon. With jet black hair and sea blue eyes, Kilmeny immediately captures Eric’s heart. But Kilmeny cannot speak, and Eric is concerned for and bewitched by this shy, sensitive mute girl. For the first time in his life, he must work hard for something he wants badly. And there is nothing he wants more than for Kilmeny to return his love.

After coming to the Anne of Green Gables series only several years ago, I’ve been on a (somewhat haphazard) mission to read L. M. Montgomery’s novels. Looking back at my reading history, after reading the Anne series and Emily trilogy, I see that I’ve read one of her stand-alones in each of the past few years… and that brings me to Kilmeny of the Orchard.

Kilmeny of the Orchard wasn’t on my radar, but I stumbled across it thanks to a Kindle deals promo, and decided to give it a try. Kilmeny is the 3rd novel published by L. M. Montgomery, released after the first two Anne books — which would make it her first novel published about adult characters. Kilmeny has the lovely descriptions and clever character depictions so prevalent in the author’s works, but the story itself feels somewhat underbaked and clichéd, definitely not on the level of her “greatest hits”.

Kilmeny of the Orchard‘s main character is not Kilmeny herself, but rather, Eric Marshall, a recent college graduate and son of a wealthy businessman, who has the world at his feet. Before joining his father’s company and starting his career, he receives a letter from a friend who’s ill, asking Eric to take over his teaching job in the small village of Lindsay as a favor to him, just until the end of his contract. Eric has no other immediate plans, and decides to do it.

He finds Lindsay welcoming, with an assortment of oddball characters (including his talkative landlord, who seems more devoted to his cat than to his wife), and the area is beautiful, if not particularly exciting. As Eric uses his free time to wander and explore, he stumbles across a ramshackle old orchard, and within it, a beautiful young woman playing the violin. As he approaches her, she runs away. Eric is immediately intrigued and sets out to learn more about her.

The young woman is Kilmeny, the niece of the Gordons, a brother and sister who’ve raised her since her mother’s death. The Gordons keep strictly to themselves, and Kilmeny has never ventured beyond their home except for her isolated violin playing in the orchard. Kilmeny is mute, and the Gordons feel it is in her best interest to protect her and shield her from the outside world.

But Eric is irresistibly drawn to Kilmeny, and seeks her out in the orchard. She’s able to communicate by writing on a slate, and soon, they develop a friendship through which Eric introduces her to books, poetry, and ideas that are new to the sheltered young woman. Wanting to know more, he finally gets the full story from his landlords, and learns more about Kilmeny and her mother’s tragic past.

Kilmeny of the Orchard is a short book and a quick audiobook listen, and much of the language is beautiful, especially the descriptions of the landscapes and the orchard itself. Still, there are many elements that are off-putting for a modern reader/listener. Yes, reading older books requires us to keep in mind the attitudes and beliefs of the era in which they were written, but that doesn’t mean that certain concepts won’t be unpleasant to encounter.

Chief among these is the depiction of Kilmeny’s “defect”, as Eric and others refer to it. Kilmeny is described as “dumb”, which I know was an acceptable word for being mute, but still feels pretty awful to hear over and over and over again. They’re quick to assert that despite being dumb, her other faculties are fine, but there’s a base-level assumption that her muteness is something that damages her as a whole and reduces her value. In fact, her muteness is the one and only reason why Kilmeny refuses Eric’s proposal of marriage, despite being in love with him: She’s sure that her “defect” would make her a detriment to him as a wife.

The Gordons never take Kilmeny to a doctor at any point in her life, first because her mother won’t allow it, and after her death, because they firmly believe there’s nothing to be done. Why? Because… it’s clearly the sins of the mother being visited on the child, that’s why. Kilmeny’s muteness is a punishment, and so obviously, doctors can’t possibly fix it.

The Gordons have also raised a young man named Neal, whom they took in after a passing peddler’s wife gave birth on their farm. The couple abandoned the baby and the Gordons raised him, giving him their last name, but never their love. He’s Italian, you see, and no one will ever overlook his birth and consider him part of the family or the community. Despite being raised there since birth, Neal is treated as an outsider and looked upon with suspicion. His Italian heritage is pretty much always mentioned when he’s referred to, and he’s always described with negative terms, such as sullen, wild, shrill — we’re clearly meant to distrust him from the start. It’s awful stereotyping (“the untamed fury of the Italian peasant thwarted in his heart’s desire”), and plays out in completely expected ways.

Finally, the sexist slant of the story drove me batty. The fact that the title character of the book is not in fact the main character, but rather the main character’s object of desire kind of says it all. This book is certainly told through the male gaze! Kilmeny is described as exquisite, but childlike. It’s only Eric’s interest and his introducing her to concepts of love — through the stories and poems he reads her — that turn her into a woman. Perhaps intended as romantic, but certainly otherwise in the modern context, there’s a kiss described as “involuntary”… which, enough said. Kilmeny is Eric’s mission — he’s there to save her and change her. Clearly, he knows best, and he’s the driving force behind any developments in Kilmeny’s limited world. Save me from male saviors!

Kilmeny of the Orchard is a much simpler story than many of L. M. Montgomery’s later books, and it’s interesting to see this early work in contrast to the many wonderful novels that I’ve loved so much. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for its own sake, but for completists who want to read all of LMM’s works and track the development of her writing and storytelling style, it’s worth checking out.

Meanwhile, I have a few more books by this author yet to explore! Next up for me — probably later this year — will be two more books on my shelves, Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat. These were both published in the 1930s, and I’m eager to see how they compare to the L. M. Montgomery books that I’ve loved.

23May2024

Audiobook Review: The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: The Neighbor Favor
Author: Kristina Forest
Narrators: Keylor Leigh & Malik Rashad
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: February 28, 2023
Print length: 403 pages
Audio length: 10 hours 6 minutes
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Library
Rating:

In this heart-fluttering romance by Kristina Forest, a shy bookworm enlists her charming neighbor to help her score a date, not knowing he’s the obscure author she’s been corresponding with.

Shy, bookish, and admittedly awkward, Lily Greene has always felt inadequate compared to the rest of her accomplished family, who strive for Black excellence. She dreams of becoming an editor of children’s books but has been frustratingly stuck in the nonfiction division for years without a promotion in sight. Lily finds escapism in her correspondences with her favorite fantasy author, and what begins as two lonely people connecting over e-mail turns into a tentative friendship and possibly something else Lily won’t let herself entertain–until he ghosts her.

Months later, still crushed but determined to take charge of her life, Lily seeks a date to her sister’s wedding. And the perfect person to help her is Nick Brown, her charming, attractive new neighbor, whom she feels drawn to for unexplainable reasons. Little does she know that Nick is an author–her favorite fantasy author.

Nick, who has his reasons for using a pen name and for pushing people away, soon realizes that the beautiful, quiet woman from down the hall is the same Lily he fell in love with over e-mail months ago. Unwilling to complicate things even more between them, he agrees to set her up with someone else, though this simple favor between two neighbors is anything but–not when he can’t get her off his mind.

The Neighbor Favor is a sweet contemporary romance, set in the world of book publishing and sure to set booklovers’ hearts a-flutter! A random email exchange between a book fan and the book’s author turns into a deeper connection… and while it ends badly, the two people involved still manage to find one another and explore what it means to open up in real life.

Lily emails the author of her favorite fantasy novel on a whim when she discovers that the mysterious author finally has a website. She loved his book, but it seems to have faded away into obscurity after publication by a small indie press. She’s thrilled to hear back from N. R. Strickland, and soon their correspondence turns into an ongoing series of honest exchanges, where each reveals more of themselves than they ever have to other people. But when “Strick” reaches the point where he’ll have to truly show himself to Lily, he breaks off contact abruptly and leaves her heartbroken.

Months later, Lily keeps running into the new guy who just moved into the apartment down the hall from her. And he’s hot. Oh, and seems like a really nice guy, and she’s even noticed him carrying books with him — always a good sign. Of course, he notices Lily too, despite her shyness and awkwardness around new people. As they strike up an acquaintance and set off some early sparks, Nick puts the brakes on — so Lily asks him (as you do) to help her find a date for her sister’s wedding. (It’s complicated).

Of course, Nick IS N. R. Strickland, and he realizes pretty quickly that this Lily is the Lily from the emails, and knows he should stay far, far away. His life is messy and he’s sure he’d be no good for her, so despite how much he likes her and how attractive he finds her, he’s determined to stay away. But fate seems to keep throwing them together, and their chemistry really is undeniable.

Meanwhile, both are dealing with their own family situations and career struggles — and yet, it’s only a matter of time before they get together. Even when they do, they have to deal with the fallout of hidden identities and cover-ups, and figure out whether they can truly trust enough to let one another in.

I liked quite a bit about The Neighbor Favor, although in general, I think I’ve run out of patience for romances where a significant lie is the main obstacle between the love interests. Nick could have come clean much earlier, or he could have stayed away. Getting involved but not being honest feels like an overworn romance trope, and it irritated me here. Nick and Lily are both such likable people — it’s no fun seeing them tied up in knots over a problem caused by base-level dishonesty.

On the other hand, the fact that these two are such book lovers, and especially, that they love fantasy so much, makes this book a delight. The author has the characters name-drop a ton of great books (Ella Enchanted, Riot Baby, How to Win the Time War, The Poppy War) — some of which I’ve read, some I’ve immediately added to my TBR list — and it’s a geeky joy to see them gush over how much they love their favorite books and authors. (Although, I was so frustrated to learn their shared favorite author, Elena Masterson, and her books, The Nermana Chronicles, are fictional — I want them to be real!) (And I’d also love to read Nick’s books, The Elves of Ceradon… it sounds amazing!)

I listened to the audiobook, and it was very entertaining, with gifted narrators. In the Lily chapters, the narration did become kind of screechy while voicing certain characters (especially one of Lily’s sisters), but otherwise, the narrators did a fine job bringing Lily, Nick, and their friends to life. A downside, however, is the fact that part one of The Neighbor Favor is the initial email relationship between Lily and Nick… and at least as it comes across via audio, it goes on for a really, really long time. Maybe it’s better in print, but listening to this endless email exchange gets really tiresome after a while.

Other than that, I enjoyed the audiobook. The plot moves quickly, and there are lots of fun side characters and situations that sparkle. Sure, the plot relies a bit too heavily on coincidence (really? he moved not only to New York but into Lily’s apartment building? and the very same floor?), but given how much I liked the characters, I decided to just accept it and enjoy the ride.

The Neighbor Favor is an entertaining story about relatable characters who may make questionable choices, but are still fundamentally good people. The author has a new book that released earlier this year, The Partner Plot, with Lily’s older sister as the main character. It’s supposedly a stand-alone, but in the same general world as The Neighbor Favor. While I didn’t love this particular sister in The Neighbor Favor, the description of this book makes it sound like it’ll be another fun one to experience.

Meanwhile, if you enjoy contemporary romance with booklovers front and center, be sure to check out The Neighbor Favor!