Book Review: Georgie All Along

Publisher’s description for Georgie All Along, by Kate Clayborn:

“Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.  
 
But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.  
 
Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back. 
 
Honest and deeply emotional, Georgie, All Along is a smart, tender must-read for everyone who’s ever wondered about the life that got away . . .”
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Kate Clayborn does such a lovely job of character development and scene settings. I love her world building and her familiar yet unusual romances. I also really enjoyed her novels Love Lettering and Love At First. They're great distractions, fluff without being total fluff—and this is no exception. She tackles some serious stuff and is respectful of it, while also writing a story that's at its heart a romance. And a homecoming, to Georgie's hometown as well as to herself. I would even argue that in some ways it's a romance with herself as well as her love interest. I appreciate that while the story setup and arc are what I want in a romance, there's more here to sink your teeth into. It's what Kate Clayborn is so good at. (I will say I could go the rest of my life without hearing "expansive" used as a personality trait, but that's on me.)

4/5 because at times it was a little slow for me and a few things (see: expansive) felt forced or overdone. But overall, very enjoyable. And I now want a soap-opera-worthy dressing gown.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books for the ARC!

Book Review: Flying Solo

Publisher’s description for Flying Solo, by Linda Holmes:

“Smarting from her recently canceled wedding and about to turn forty, Laurie Sassalyn returns to her Maine hometown of Calcasset to handle the estate of her great-aunt Dot, a spirited adventurer who lived to be ninety-three. Alongside boxes of Polaroids and pottery, a mysterious wooden duck shows up at the bottom of a cedar chest. Laurie’s curiosity is piqued, especially after she finds a love letter to the never-married Dot that ends with the line “And anyway, if you’re ever desperate, there are always ducks, darling.””

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A cozy sweater, your favorite pair of jeans, a soft blanket, a cup of tea on a cold evening, this book. Warm and gentle. Comforting, relatable, real, and lovely. Cozy indeed. I loved Evvie Drake, and this has all the at-home-in-Maine-ness that Evvie does, without so much of the angst and tragedy and hardship. It felt like an ode to strong women in middle-age. It was interesting and fun and poignant and felt…I don’t know, settled, somehow. The people, places, and relationships felt true. Aunt Dot’s house and love for Laurie felt true. The various senses of loss and discoveries (and rediscoveries) felt true too. I felt like I knew Laurie? It’s hard to explain why I enjoyed this so much, but if you’re looking for an easy, engrossing read, and/or you liked Evvie Drake, this is the book for you. And frankly, I just can’t wait to see what Linda Holmes does next.

Book Review: A History of Fear

A History of Fear, by Luke Dumas

Publisher’s description for A History of Fear, by Luke Dumas:

“The Devil is in Scotland.

Grayson Hale, the most infamous murderer in Scotland, is better known by a different name: the Devil’s Advocate. The twenty-five-year-old American grad student rose to instant notoriety when he confessed to the slaughter of his classmate Liam Stewart, claiming the Devil made him do it.

When Hale is found hanged in his prison cell, officers uncover a handwritten manuscript that promises to answer the question that’s haunted the nation for years: was Hale a lunatic, or had he been telling the truth all along?”

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Five stars. A History of Fear is atmospheric, creepy, and unlike anything I’ve read before. A slow burning, uneasy read that keeps you off-kilter throughout. Masterfully done, Dumas lays the groundwork thread by agonizing thread to keep you on your toes, never knowing what to expect or who to trust. With the protagonist’s somewhat odd and arm’s-length writing style, you’re somehow both sucked in and unnerved, not sure what’s happening or what is coming. I was hooked and especially could not read the second half fast enough. All the way through to the very end you’re sure there is still more coming—and you’re not wrong.

This is a perfect spooky season read. I only wish it were going to be available before December!