Much Ado About You | 
so-soI read this quickly, mostly because I was mad at myself for not abandoning it early when I had an inkling that I should. But I kept thinking. “How could I *not* grow to love the story given the premise?” After heartache, Evie, the 30-something American MC, absconds to Northumberland (coastal plains, moors, & castles) to run a bookstore as part of a holiday let. She meets a local farmer — and his dog.
But guess what? Writing matters, buddies!👇🏻
monalyisha 1/4: At one point, Roane (the love interest), unironically utters the phrase, “I need to return to the farm” (which, of course, I‘ve been repeating at random intervals for the past 48 hours). It‘s much too silly not to. Try it using your most serious & deepest bass tones. It‘s great fun.👇🏻 1w
monalyisha 2/4: Moreover (a favorite word of the author‘s), Alnster (where the book‘s set) is the site where much of the Harry Potter series was filmed and there‘s a bit of HP hero worship going on. In one passage, Evie spies a UK-edition of the book and exclaims, “I *have* to buy this!” Combined with the focus on how “masculine” Roane is and how “feminine” he makes Evie feel? It‘s concerning, at best… 1w
monalyisha 3/4: I understand that HP played an important cultural and literary role (especially for those of a certain generation) but you‘ve got to at least address the elephant in the room. If you don‘t, at this point, your silence speaks volumes. 1w
monalyisha 4/4: I liked the insistence that a platonic friend can be your soulmate — although, I can‘t say I loved said soulmate (Greer) or that I really got a sense of who she was (aside from blunt and pregnant). And I think the relationship between Evie and her mother, who struggles with alcoholism, was tenderly and vulnerably portrayed. Overall, I‘d skip this one. It‘s long for a romance novel (372 pages) and Young‘s writing lacks ease & finesse. 1w
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