Interesting and quirky in concept but muddy in delivery.
About to say “I do,” a witch and a witch hunter have their true identities revealed, kicking off a kill-or-be-killed enemies-to-lovers romance.
Savannah Wilde and Griffin Carter have only been together for a year, but they're ready to tie the knot despite their friends' and family's reservations. They're also hiding some monumental secrets from each another: Savvy is a powerful witch with an organization called C.R.O.N.E., while Griffin works for a group called H.U.N.T.E.R. Both truths are revealed on their wedding day when the bride's and groom's sections come to blows. Now Griffin and Savvy have a new goal, and that's to eliminate one another for the sake of their rival organizations. As the pair meet over and over again in a series of dangerous situations, they start to notice a third presence that wants to eliminate both of them. Against their better judgement, Griffin and Savvy unite to defeat a common enemy. Their teamwork makes them realize that the attraction they felt and the love they shared over the course of their yearlong relationship were very real. At first, the obstacles to a happily-ever-after seem insurmountable. How do you overcome years of ingrained hatred for a group of people? The notion that two centuries-old groups could coexist peacefully as part of a happily-ever-after is a tall order that isn't quite delivered. The worldbuilding is also rather slippery, with a host of acronyms that don't make it completely clear what the witches and hunters do and how they operate. Savvy and Griffin's story is buoyed by the way the narrative jumps back and forth in time, from the present day to moments they shared as they were falling in love. While the romance starts off charming and quickly rockets into a high-energy love story, the stakes are too high and the environment too confusing to fully absorb a reader.
Interesting and quirky in concept but muddy in delivery.Pub Date: March 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781250845955
Page Count: 352
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
SEEN & HEARD
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