A warm, witty, and absolutely charming seaside holiday that’s perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella.
A woman travels to the Channel Islands to chase down the story behind her parents’ epic romance only to get involved in a complicated love story of her own.
When it comes to romance, Laura knows what she wants: a sweeping, fated love story like the one her parents had. Although her father died when she was young and her mother passed away two years ago, she impulsively pitches a story about their romance to her hard-to-please editor at a lifestyle magazine and gets the go-ahead to travel to Jersey and write about the ultimate feel-good meet-cute. But upon arriving, Laura ends up accidentally taking someone else’s black suitcase off the luggage carousel. It might be a disaster…or it might be fate, given that the suitcase contains a copy of Laura’s favorite book and sheet music for songs by her favorite artist (Phil Collins is an unusual pick for someone in their 20s, but he was Laura's dad's favorite). Maybe the owner of the suitcase is actually her dream man, and maybe this is the real story. But Hot Suitcase Man proves hard to track down, and Laura finds herself spending most of her time with Ted, the gruff cabbie who drives her around the island. Even though she initially nicknames him Beardy McCastaway, he seems more interesting (and attractive) as time goes on. And when she ends up getting to know his family (including his delightful father, Gerry, who has Parkinson’s disease), she feels instantly at ease. Laura must decide what kind of love story she’s really looking for—one that’s written in the stars or one that’s right in front of her. Cousens creates a world full of lovable characters who are all trying their best to be happy despite life’s many obstacles. Laura’s quest to find out more about her parents is compelling, but Ted’s journey to sort out his own life while helping Gerry move into an assisted living facility is equally poignant. Although all the characters are dealing with their own hardships, Cousens imbues the entire story with an uplifting sense of hope. As Laura’s aunt Monica puts it, “Maybe life’s more about carving out happy chapters than finding a single happy ending.” The Jersey setting creates a cozy, wind-swept background to the deliciously slow-burn romance.
A warm, witty, and absolutely charming seaside holiday that’s perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella.Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-33152-1
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
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
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...
Hoover’s (November 9, 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.
At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of the survivors.Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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