A little snippet of my bookish thoughts.
Books reviewed in this post:
How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh and Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh (audiobook) – ★★★
The blurb: Ciara Sheridan’s father has left her with three things: a sprawling and distinctly ramshackle estate on the Irish coast, the outline for the finale to his bestselling epic fantasy series that he wanted her to finish—and writer’s block.
Enter Sam Frank Sheridan fanboy and hotshot editor, sent from the New York publishing house direct to Ciara’s doorstep. Ciara was expecting a crusty old-timer, so the handsome young American is a surprise. And for his part, Sam was expecting Ciara to have written something by now.
Ciara and Sam have two weeks of the hottest Irish summer on record to write this novel together and secure Frank’s legacy—but will their own love story be the plot twist neither of them see coming?
My thoughts: How to Write a Love Story is a slow burn romance between Ciara, an author faced with completing her father’s life’s work after his death and Sam her editor, sent to give her the push she needs to get the job done.
An uncomplicated read, set in a small Irish community, it took me a little while to get into this book. I listened to it fairly quickly on audiobook, which I think helped in keeping it interesting enough for me to keep going. Usually one to judge a book on the strength of the connection between the two love interests, I struggled, finding Sam to be a little bit dull. Thankfully Ciara with her lovely Irish accent bought him to life… eventually. Working in close proximity, there was some banter and a little steam, driven mostly by the FMC.
A cast of secondary characters rounded out the story, which might otherwise have fallen flat.
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (audiobook) – ★★★★
The blurb: If they start by pretending, can they end with something real?
Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine when she moves with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.
So when she comes across Stewart Whitfield—annoyingly handsome scion of the Whitfield family—with a flat tire and at the wrong end of a very public, very humiliating breakup, it’s in her nature to help. But Stewart’s proposed arrangement ends up being more than either of them bargained for, because as public dinners and high-society benefits turn into sunset boat rides and kisses that hit her bloodstream like a ghost pepper, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself—can she really start now?
My Thoughts: Annabel Monaghan writes really good romance and her latest novel proves it.
I loved the fake relationship turned ‘fairy-tale’ romance between thirty-nine year old single mother, Dolly, and awkward in love, gazillionaire, workaholic Stewart. I enjoyed the early stages of their relationship – the Pretty Woman vibe of expensive clothes shopping, uncomfortable business dinners and fancy charity galas – but felt the story really begin to take hold as Stewart began to let his guard down. It was in the little gestures that I became charmed by Stewart, much as Dolly does.
Being more mature characters, both Dolly and Stewart had well developed back stories, reasons for being who and how they are, and this gave their relationship greater depth and relatability. Secondary characters, including Dolly’s son, dad, brother and best friend Naomi; and Stewart’s family, helped to fill out the story in a way that made it impossible not to connect with Dolly and Stewart. I loved the instant ‘sisterhood’ between Stewart’s sister Busy and Dolly and the gentle unfolding of Dolly’s relationship with Stewart’s mother, having a similar relationship with my MIL.
If I had one criticism of this book, it would be the third act break up. It felt disproportionately harsh and frustratingly long. The resolution, however, made Dolly All the Time a book I would recommend to everyone who loves to read romance.