kate spencer – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Kate Spencer
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: June 11th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the cohost of the award-winning Forever35 podcast comes a dreamy, laugh-out-loud summer romance that asks: What do you do when the life you’ve planned isn’t what you’ve dreamed?

Clara Millen’s life is spiraling out of control: her dream job is a nightmare, she’s resoundingly single, and it’s been years since she’s taken some time off. Thankfully, the last problem she can fix—this year she’ll join her friends on their annual summer vacation to their beloved childhood sleepover camp for a much-needed escape.

But when Clara arrives at Pine Lake Camp, she faces yet another unwelcome change: the owners are retiring and selling the property. The news turns her plans for revelry into a night of reminiscing . . . and prompts a surprise heart-to-heart between Clara and Mack, her old camp nemesis and constant competitor, who’s still just as annoying (and annoyingly handsome).

Soon the campfires aren’t all that’s throwing off sparks. And when one wildly passionate night turns into two (then too many to count!), Clara begins to wonder if she and Mack could have a future together. But when Clara’s boss finally offers her everything she’s worked so hard for, Clara will need to decide if the life she’s always wanted is the life that makes her feel truly alive.

Thank you to Forever Pub for sending an ARC.

NOT WORKING FOR ME.

I just could never get into this one y’all. It read kind of like a Hallmark movie, predictable and easy to follow, but lacking in charm. All of these characters felt very surface level and while attempts at being deep were made, I never found a connection with anyone.

This was mostly a bunch of adults trying to relive some kind of glory moment and a summer camp they all used to attend. I thought recreating games was kind of silly and I’m just not a food fight gal. This also led to petty arguments between the love interests and sleeping together rather than talking, which is always a recipe for a disaster. The drama didn’t add anything and I wasn’t surprised by one thing that happened.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: low
Romance: 2ish open door

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Kate Spencer
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: March 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A clever, tender, and romantic “Nora Ephron romp for the modern ages” (Christina Lauren) for readers of Jasmine Guillory, Abby Jimenez, and Sophie Cousens, this laugh-out-loud debut is a perceptive reminder that fate can have a sense of humor, and that love can happen . . . In a New York Minute.

Franny Doyle is having the worst day. She’s been laid off from her (admittedly mediocre) job, the subway doors ripped her favorite silk dress to ruins, and now she’s flashed her unmentionables to half of lower Manhattan. On the plus side, a dashing stranger came to her rescue with his (Gucci!) suit jacket. On the not-so-plus side, he can’t get away from her fast enough.

Worse yet? Someone posted their (entirely not) meet-cute online. Suddenly Franny and her knight-in-couture, Hayes Montgomery III, are the newest social media sensation, and all of New York is shipping #SubwayQTs.

Only Franny and Hayes couldn’t be a more disastrous match. She’s fanciful, talkative, and creative. He’s serious, shy, and all about numbers. Luckily, in a city of eight million people, they never have to meet again. Yet somehow, Hayes and Franny keep running into each other—and much to their surprise, they enjoy each other’s company. A lot. But when Franny’s whole world is turned upside down (again!), can she find the courage to trust in herself and finally have the life—and love—she’s always wanted?

NOT AMUSED.

What started out humorous with a wild disaster of a meet-cute that I was totally here for eventually felt completely flat.

I thought there needed to be a lot more interaction between Franny and Hayes. There was some of that in the second half and I was at last feeling more invested in their relationship, BUT OH MY GOSH. I threw my kindle (okay not really, but I was upset) when the conflict came around. It was completely unnecessary drama fueled to add those last 50 pages and I’m still cranky about it. That did not work for me on every level. I think I enjoyed the side characters and their relationships more than I did the main couple.

A New York setting with an interior designer were all small aspects I looked forward to reading about. There’s plenty of potential within these words, the execution was very poor for me though. Some of the other sub plots took over a lot too. And while I didn’t mind that [for the most part], I wish the focus was different.

Not one I would recommend even a little. It’s fast paced and I’m grateful I didn’t spend too much time on it.

Overall audience notes: