An energetic romance that would make Nora Ephron proud.
Cyrano de Bergerac meets classic rom-com banter in this contemporary romp about the highs and lows of modern dating.
Miles Ibrahim is possibly at the lowest point in his life: His engagement is over, his ex-fiancee announced a surprise pregnancy, he’s forced to crash on a friend’s couch, and his freelancing gig of playing ghostwriter for online dating profiles is in jeopardy. To add insult to injury, Miles now has competition for the free day-old biscotti and large window seat at one of his favorite cafes in New York. Miles’ cafe interloper is Zoey Abot, recent transplant from California. Though both Miles and Zoey get off on the wrong foot, they have way more in common than they realize. They’re affected by the loss of trust from loved ones. They are firmly in the camp of “starving artist” as they scrounge and scrimp to afford rent and food in the Big Apple. They’re also both secretly wooing one another as dating profile ghostwriters for other people. Both Miles and Zoey are complex and lively characters who sizzle and spark when together, and getting to know their adorable family members is an added, heartwarming bonus. Miles’ parents are a Muslim and Jewish couple, and they adore their son to bits. Meanwhile, Zoey is still dealing with abandonment issues from her parents, who met in the Philippines while doing disaster relief; thankfully, she has a lovely best friend who is also her grandma. At times, the romantic pacing gets bogged down in the details of Miles' and Zoey’s larger social circles, like Zoey’s definitely racist boss, Clifford, and the persnickety boyfriend of Miles’ best friend. For those feeling the lack of romantic comedies on the screen, this book will undoubtedly scratch that itch with its excellent banter, secret personas, and slow-burn attraction between a hero and heroine vying for a table big enough to put down their laptops.
An energetic romance that would make Nora Ephron proud.Pub Date: May 26, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4967-3065-7
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Kensington
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2020
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
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
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