This is a wonderful book full of local flavor (pun intended). I’ve never visited the Pacific Northwest, but I could picture it beautifully through the descriptions. And the characters are sweetly lovable. All the characters! Even the ones who start out obnoxious. Which is a thing I love. (Though I’m still vexed over the idea of destroying that vintage kitchen).
I first discovered Cathy Yardley through her nonfiction books on writing which made me curious to read her fiction. And her work did not disappoint! I’ve been a fan ever since. This book not only has the impeccable structure she’s known for, the plot is cleverly interwoven in an extremely satisfying way. Even when you think you know what’s coming you’re surprised.
This is an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it!
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A sweet romcom
Willa has struggled ever since her husband died. When she inherits her great uncle's house on Merre Island in the Pacific Northwest, she sees a chance to start fresh. But her current job as a ghostwriter for a viral cooking sensation has her stuck, her new neighbor may be the only one that is able to help her...in more ways than one!This is a sweet rom-com from, new-to-me author Cathy Yardley. There were some truly funny moments scattered throughout along with some more honest, true-life scenes. I enjoyed that the characters in this book aren't the typical mid-twenties goofballs and rather are more seasoned people who have had experiences that really have shaped who they are.I loved both Willa and her neighbor, Hudson, as characters. I think they were well-developed and relatable. One of my favorite characters was Hudson's son's dog, Noodle, who seemed to pop up in the most needed moments to lighten the mood. Every romance needs a Noodle!There were a couple aspects that I thought were either not developed enough or our of place. The first is Willa's husband's disease. It was explained that he struggled with Type 1 Diabetes, but I did find it confusing as to how it led to his death. As someone who is fairly knowledgable in the biology field, I did get confused about this and I think his plot line was just missing some depth. The second was Willa's other neighbor, Patrick. He seemed to be randomly thrown into the plot with no real intention that I could see. I think his character could have played a bigger role, especially as an antagonist/Hudson's enemy.Overall, I did really enjoy this book and flew through it in just two days. I have another Cathy Yardley book on my shelf that I'm hoping to get to soon.Thank you to Literary Media Tours and the author for the digital copy. My review is honest and voluntary.
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon Customer
Middle aged romance.... Perfect for middle aged reader
Reviewed in Canada on August 27, 2024
Anni (Bella) reads a lot
A great small town, mixed race, single dad romance
Reviewed in Canada on July 23, 2024
Ali's Adventures
Sweet with some emotional depth
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 25, 2024
Ali's Adventures
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 25, 2024
cw: mention of death, grief, medical debt, mentions of acute type 1 diabetes
Independently-minded Willa Lieu-Endicott has moved from California to the Pacific Northwest to start over in her forties. Since her husband’s death, she’s been struggling with medical debts and needs to get back to her old career as a cookbook ghostwriter. She's initially stuck, trying to find inspiration to write sexy recipes for Sam, a viral influencer with little actual cooking expertise. But when she meets her neighbour, Hudson Daws, the local handyman and single parent to adult twins, he captures her imagination in more ways than one. Suddenly she's inspired again, not only to invent some sexy recipes, but also to imagine falling in love again.
This was a sweet and cosy romance with a side of self-reflection. I loved both characters immediately. Willa was such an endearing character, and it was so easy to root for her, especially as she began to reveal her complicated relationship with grief. I LOVED how Willa developed over the course of the story, and I applauded her in c.38. Though it was clear she had loved her late husband, I admired how different her relationship became with Hudson, and that there was true equity between them as a couple. Their chemistry was palpable but also endearing. Hudson was such a cinnamon roll, with a side of schmexy swoon. There were definitely a lot of instalove vibes coming from him, but I appreciated that he took his time to get to know Willa before they transitioned from friendship to relationship. They were so cute together, and I appreciated how caring Hudson was, not only with Willa but with everyone on the island, even when it was to the detriment of his own dreams.
The story was full of interesting supporting characters, many of which I'd love to read more about. I LOVED Kimber, Hudson's daughter, immediately, especially her teasing. I loved how supportive both Hudson and Willa were of Jeremy, Hudson's son, and I appreciated Willa’s explanation of her own family dynamic as a way to show both Kimber and Jeremy that their own mother wasn't necessarily a bad person, just flawed. Though I found some of Willa’s parents' words a little harsh initially, it was clear they cared deeply about her, and I liked how they left things. I loved Mari, Hudson's mum. She was so nurturing but also hilarious. Her note near the end made me giggle. I REALLY liked Sam, the content creator, and felt for him at his meeting with Willa. The fickle side of online influencing was so well-observed, but I LOVED Willa's later collaboration with him. It was perfect, and honestly? I'd watch it!
While there were some emotional moments, I particularly loved the comedy in this story. Willa's first encounter with the goats cracked me up, as did the scene where Willa tried Kimber's special cookies for the first time. High Willa was absolutely brilliant and had me in stitches laughing. Meanwhile, I punched the air in c21, when Willa put Patrick in his place. Marceline, her chef friend was AMAZING.
I particularly enjoyed the final few chapters. It would have been so easy to fall into the trap of having to rush things, or one following the other, so I'm REALLY glad they each did the work individually to chase their dreams, even if the ease with which Hudson was able to complete his felt far-fetched. Still, the ending was cute and left me smiling, even though it was a bit abrupt.
A sweet Gen X romance with some emotional depth.
Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating: 🔥.5
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