So full disclosure: I was completely pre-disposed to like this book. The topics are alllll of my faves: a bakery (check!), a rough around the edges but with redeeming qualities and challenging background boy (check!), plus a romantic-at-heart girl (check!)....but this did not completely come together for me, the way I thought it would.
Baker Bri Duval's parents died in a car crash and she has been both grieving and trying to honor them ever since. Almost all of her choices and actions are made through the lens of this traumatic life event, but she is not very self aware. Journalist Gerard Fortier had his own "life trajectory change" based on the combination of his formative years with a chance meeting with his idol, who gives him (clearly) terrible advice. Since then, he hasn't been able to truly connect with others (and won't even admit he is struggling). When Gerard is assigned to write a story about Bri's bakery, the sparks begin to fly.
I had several moments of frustration throughout this entire book: I found there to be way too many obvious misunderstandings with equally predictable upsets/outcomes. Too many 'I want to shake some sense into them' moments. And is no one savvy about other people's motives, even a tiny bit?! Could he not have returned the money sooner??? (You'll understand when you get there). Twice, I actually put it down for a minute and started another book to take a break, because I was too frustrated to continue.
Anyhoo....although it may sound like I wouldn't recommend it, in hindsight there were still enough redemptive qualities to sum up by saying that you are going to have to get this book for yourself and make your own big girl decisions. I can't tell you that I would read again OR that it made me think about anything deep or moving for long, but overall.....there you go.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
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