Okay, friends. I'm back with a romance novel review. I had temporarily abandoned romance novels because I was getting so pissy with all of them. Linda Holmes is one of the hosts of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, a podcast I have been listening to for more than a decade, and I have a parasocial relationship in which I think we're best friends, even though she has no idea who I am. She has a dog she's obsessed with, I have a dog I'm obsessed with. She has a podcast, I love listening to her podcast. (I have heard rumors that Holmes is a mean girl and I am sticking my fingers in my ears and pretending I haven't read this gossip repeatedly on Reddit. I assume it's the same one person with different usernames in every thread I read.)
I really liked Evvie Drake and loved the duck decoy thing in Flying Solo. I love that Holmes writes about older female characters. Sarah said this one was meh, but surely I would enjoy it. Also, there's a dog on the cover. A DOG. There's been an animal on every cover of every Holmes book so far (a lobster, a duck, and now a dog), so that's a plus in my world.
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Cecily Foster makes podcasts, but the industry is in trouble. Everyone keeps saying video is the future. She works at a small independent podcasting company and her boss has convinced her that their next hit should be about her working with a romantic life coach and going on twenty first dates. So that happens, but she has a meet-cute with this adorable man who is trying to run down an escaped Great Dane. And then she just keeps meeting up with this man, but she's still trying to do the podcast.
Interesting characters: I say this with every Linda Holmes book. Cecily is interesting. She has an interesting job and is obsessed with it. She has a fascinating family and her relationship with her co-workers and sister makes me think she has a full life without a romantic partner, which is something I really appreciate about her as an author. But Linda Holmes does not care about the men in this story. They're there, but they're not really developed. Even as I write this, I can't remember the main lead's name (I just looked it up - it's Will), but all I can think of is Hot Waiter, which is a plot point in the book, but just goes to show you about how ephemeral these men are.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, I don't think. This is a romance novel for women centering women and I'm not mad about it. But if you want to know what Will's enigmatic smiles are about, you're not going to find out from this book.
The dialogue is snappy and actually witty and actually sounds like regular would talk. I liked it so very much.
Believable conflict: Look, this whole book plot is ridiculous. She's "starring" in a podcast about twenty first dates? She runs into this guy randomly everywhere she goes? A bank lobby in a storm? I don't care. I loved it all. And the miscommunication that eventually was the catalyst for the part in the book where they are torn apart? Sure, it was miscommunication, but it was done well. I think the last time I thought the miscommunication was done well was in Nora Goes Off Script, which is high praise indeed.
I like that this is grown up conflict. It's something real. He's wrong. She's wrong. Everyone has to apologize, but it's not about lies or hiding something or a secret spouse hidden in the attic.
Emotional tension: Here's the thing. Because Will is sort of a non-entity in this book, I didn't really care if they ended up together or not. Maybe that's a problem? But for me it's not. I know in my heart that Cecily will be fine whether or not they end up together. I was much more concerned about how the podcast was going to turn out. I suspect Linda Holmes was more concerned about that, too.
Happily ever after: YES! And they have a DOG! Be still my heart. (Did you know it's "be still" and not "bestill"? Until this very minute when I looked it up, I thought it was one big word?)
5/5 stars (please don't tell me if you know that Linda Holmes is a mean girl)
Lines of note:
I went to the Metro station late that afternoon, carrying a small plant in one hand. I always took something with me to Molly's even though I knew she didn't expect it. It had driven Justin crazy. Justin, who never brought anything anywhere, because he knew I would, whether we were going to my family's house or his. (page 250)
This is a thing with me. I DO NOT go to someone's house emptyhanded. That is a Midwest rule of thumb. I will bring a houseplant, a dozen cookies, or a set of kitchen towels. I do not just show up. Every Midwestern event is like a little potluck.
Samples:
Went to my high school friend's house - brought two boxes of Girl Scout cookies (Is anyone else sad that the Toast-Yays are going away?)
Went to a friend's house to meet her puppy (Blanche) - brought a welcome home puppy gift and cookies
Went to a baby shower at a friend's house - brought a dozen cookies and an LED candle for the host (in addition to the baby shower present)
Hat mentions (why hats?):
"...Take out the kids in strollers, take out the people grabbing selfies, take out the guy in the baseball hat who's looking at a map, whatever..." (page 196)
"I couldn't stand his little - his messenger bag with the little buttons, and the ironic hats, and the way he said everything was 'so real,' and I'm sorry, but offering everybody advice about weed is not a personality..." (page 217)
And then there was a party hat emoji. I didn't know that we were going to have a party hat kind of discussion, but why not go with the flow? (page 296)
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Do you take host gifts when you go to a friend's house?
This sounds kind of fun. I think that's true that the podcast industry is going to video, which I do not want to watch. I like listening. Anyway, I might give this a try, I did like Evvie Drake. In answer to your question, if it's a party I absolutely take a host gift but it's usually something consumable, like wine.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't like to bring alcohol (for obvious reasons) and so I usually default to food, but I even feel weird about that since I hate it when people bring food into our house. I'm such a brat.
DeletePhew! I am glad you liked this! It was one of my favorite reads last month and I tore through it. I really hope Linda is not what she is made out to be on Reddit forms. I take criticism of females with a grain of salt because the behaviors we get critiqued on (being assertive for example) are expected out of men but punished when women display those behaviors. It makes me crazy!
ReplyDeleteI am not great about bringing a hostess gift. We usually bring a bottle of wine or 6 pack of beer or something along those lines.
I had a feeling you would like this one since there was a charming dog in the cast of characters!
Yeah, I never bring alcohol. I know it's a default gift, but it's just not my jam.
DeleteI actually think Linda Holmes does great dialogue. I liked the dog, but I do sort of wish he had more personality. LOL. Here I am criticizing the dog character. I really liked this book a lot and I'm glad she's started writing romance novels for people like me.
I dabbled in a few romance books and decided that I don't really like the genre, but now you've got me second guessing myself. I never did get around to Nora Goes Off Script. And this one has a dog...maybe I will check this out.
ReplyDeleteWell, if it's not your genre, I don't think you should try to force yourself. I'll never be a lady who enjoys espionage or spy thrillers and I just don't make myself!
DeleteWell I have good news and bad news for you. I disliked Evvie Drake Starts Over, so will definitely not be reading this. The good news is, I haven't heard ANYTHING about Holmes being a mean girl, so you can go on being friends with her.
ReplyDeleteOh, no, Jenny! I guess that's why there is such a wide range of romance novelists - what works for one of us absolutely does not work for the next.
DeleteI am a host gift person - but I try to go small and practical (something to use during the time together or eat after hosting). I came across this as I was doing my library holds for next week and I immediately added a Linda Holmes book to try her out - thanks!
ReplyDeleteRight? I think all my gifts ARE small and practical (dish towels, LED candles, etc.). *shrug* I don't like it when people bring food and drink into my house, so I'm sensitive about bringing it into other people's houses.
DeleteI can't wait to hear your take on Linda Holmes as an author.
Oh, this explains why Flying Solo is on my holds list - because it's the Evvie Drake author, whose name I cannot remember even now at the bottom of the page where it's at the top. This sounds fun, and I don't think I would care about the silly parts being silly either.
ReplyDeleteI usually bring food if I go to someone's house, but bringing something non-perishable every time sounds like it would lead to stress and clutter to me. Are these houses you don't go to that often? Like, less than once a week? Interesting anyway, i love hearing how other people do stuff.
I KNOW about trying not to hear/believe bad stuff about a public figure you adore.
I mean, Allison, I only leave my house once in a very long while. I mostly bring food to things like book club (every 6-8 weeks). If there's a new dog or a new baby, there WILL be presents. I don't know that I'm ever at someone's house more than once or twice a year and everything I bring is useful, so it's not clutter. (All right. Fine. Maybe plants are clutter? But they help clean the air?) YMMV on that, though.
DeleteLol, clutter was a bad choice of word. Someone bringing me dish towels every time they come would be very welcome, but I would worry if I brought dish towels every time I went to someone's house they might find it annoying (mainly because I overthink everything). Whatever, it's very lovely to always show up with something useful. Plants are amazing and I never know what to buy, so I would be delighted if someone showed up with one. But yes, I was overestimating the number of times you visit people, and I agree dogs and babies absolutely warrant presents.
DeleteI've also read a few books lately that have been billed as "romance", but the male lead is so under developed that it doesn't feel like a "romance". The books aren't bad, and I do love that the main story is focused on the female lead finding her way in life, but it just seems like a marketing ploy to label it a "romance".
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time I went over to someone's house... I do like bringing something when invited, though. Oh I did go over for an impromptu tea at a friend's house yesterday but that was because the restaurant we were supposed to meet at was closed, so I didn't have anything on hand to bring. I feel like I should visit people's homes more often.
I think we might go to a thing on Monday and I will undoubtedly bring cookies. Yay! I feel like we should visit people's homes more often, but I also think we should invite people to our house more often and I'm unwilling to do that, so...
DeleteThis sounds fun. Catchy title, which I find leads to a clever story. You made me laugh out loud about how you're best friends with the author and she just doesn't know it. I think what Lisa said about women getting a bad rep for doing things that men are praised for is a valid point.
ReplyDeleteI don't go anywhere. Ever. That's not exactly true, but we don't get invited to people's homes very often. I like to think it's because there's a lot of us? When we meet out with other couples, we meet out somewhere. If we show up to an event, I bake and that's usually well received. I bake a batch of cookies for Curly's travel team every time they have a tournament. If she showed up without a bag of my cookies, I can only think of how that might impact their level of play. ;)
I think we invite people over less and less these days, don't we? I mean, does anyone really host dinner parties anymore? Maybe they do and it's just not a thing we do.
DeleteI have never heard of this author but you have high praise. I think I have a look if my library carries it as an audiobook.
ReplyDeleteI have never listened to these on audio. I'd be interested to know how it turns out.
DeleteI read an article years ago that said the perfect host gift isn't a bottle of wine (too cliche, and everyone's tastes differ), but instead, a bottle of olive oil. I've never done that but always thought it was a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI mean, maybe? I don't think we'd use the olive oil if it's flavored or anything like that. I guess it's the situation where you have to know your audience.
DeleteMaybe a box of Kosher salt is really the best choice, ha.
DeleteI have this book on hold, as I think Lisa (?) also enjoyed it, so am looking forward to reading it now that there is a second positive review!
ReplyDeleteYes! Lisa also loved it. I think Linda Holmes is just an author who works for me.
DeleteThanks for the rec! Adding to my fluff list. I have to alternate thrillers, more in-depth books (think Kate Morton; still fiction, but with more oomph), and fluff. :)
ReplyDeleteLinda Holmes books hit the sweet spot for me.
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