Author: Beth Kendrick
Genre: Chick lit, women's fiction
Pages: 336
Published: 2014
I loved this book!
Summer Benson, flight attendant extraordinaire, is your typical party girl who loves a good time and hates any kind of commitment, be it to a man or to a place. After a tragic accident though, Summer finds herself in a terrible place, feeling heartbroken and lost. Not knowing what else to do, she remembers seeing an ad for Black Dog Bay, a small tourist town in Delaware that caters to the heartbroken with places such as the Eat Your Heart Out Bakery and the Better Off Bed-and-Breakfast, and heads there right away. Almost immediately, Summer is accepted with open arms by the residents of the town, including Hattie Huntington, the most hated, evil old woman the town has ever seen. For the first time ever, Summer feels at home and doesn’t feel like running. She’s also possibly, maybe found love with a man she probably shouldn’t be falling for but she’s falling anyway, and life is looking up. Then Hattie, who is seeking revenge for a long ago wrongdoing, drops a bomb on Summer that may force her to lose everything she has only just started to find…
So. I really enjoyed this book and FLEW through it in a matter of days, which doesn’t happen all that often as I’m a fairly slow reader. I loved everything about it from the small town setting, to the vibrant cast of characters, to Summer’s witty one liners and hilarious attitude.
Black Dog Bay seems like an amazing place and I kind of wish it were real and that I lived there amongst the awesome locals (well, mostly awesome. Hattie was NOT so awesome). I love, love, love small towns and have always wished I lived in one because of the sense of community and kinship, and this fictional small town was no exception. It was full of sweet, little local businesses run by equally sweet people who welcomed Summer like an old friend. Despite her former wild, partying ways and globetrotting lifestyle, Summer quickly falls in love with the town and its people, most notably with Dutch, the stern but uber hot mayor who needs a little more fun in his life. Once Summer manages to get under his skin, both of their lives start to improve for the better.
I loved the characters in this story. All of the heartbreak themed businesses were run by local women who seemed both like great friends AND a lot of fun. I would have loved to pull up a bar stool and join them in their frequent gossip sessions at the Whinery Bar. Summer was a fantastic character who really cracked me up and always had just the right thing to say in response to any of Hattie’s nasty quips. Hattie, on the other hand, was dreadful. She was very spiteful about something that had happened many years ago, and had since been torturing basically the whole town with her nasty demeanor and constant complaints. She and Summer tend to clash on most occasions, but when Hattie gives Summer an ultimatum that can destroy everything for both her and the entire town, she is torn about what to do.
I could go on but I’ll close this by saying if you like chick lit, women’s fiction, sweet stories, or funny stories, I’d highly recommend you check this one out. I’m already itching to read my next Beth Kendrick story!
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Reviewed by Stephanie
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