Read And Revel

Charlie Young is an almost-30, high end retail worker, sleeping on her golden child brother’s couch. Her parents are distant unless they’re reminding her she isn’t living up to her potential. One day at work she meets an older man, he’s stable, kind, and sees her more than anyone she’s ever met in her life. Her confidence begins to grow as she starts to think about her future and what she wants out of life. Until she realizes something in her belly is starting to grow. With grown children and baggage full of regrets of his own, Michael pulls away completely. 

Covered in snack dust, and with too little money in the bank, how will Charlie raise a baby alone?

This book was a surprising delight. It feels grounded and real as we get to know Charlie and her dysfunctional family. Many of us can relate to her story, feeling not enough and too much, being a people-pleaser who never gets the validation they need, feeling lost and without a purpose. We walk with her as she navigates her parents and their expectations of perfection for their children without ever seeing the people they are and the burdens they carry. She often feels out of place, merely a visitor, keeping up a certain appearance with people who should make her feel like home. She delves into many questions about her future, what being a parent means, and how to accept someone else with love and tenderness, when she’s never been loved that way. 

As she opens up to people in her life and rediscover family bonds, we see many heartfelt moments. I particularly loved the female bonding and empowerment that comes from her ex-sister-in-law and her coworker helping her take control of her own life and see that she deserves love and help from those around her- unconditionally. She’s worthy. 

Tropes:found family, age-gap romance, reluctant motherhood, wounded but funny

Number of Times I Wanted to Throw the Book Across the Room: 2

Did the Book Pass the “One More Chapter” Test?: Absolutely, I couldn’t put it down.

Number of Emotional Roller Coasters: Start to end. 

Perfect snack pairing: A flat white latte and almond croissant

Character I Would Most Like to Have a Drink With: Sawyer, she’s a real girl’s girl.

Quote that perfectly sums it up: “She was becoming someone else, someone braver and louder, and the only thing more terrifying than that was how lonely it felt to grow when no one else came with you.” 

Level of spice: 2/5, a couple of open door but lightly described scenes.  

If you’d like to get your copy click here and to see more from the author check out @AuthorRachelDelGrosso

Thank you to NetGalley and Rachel Del Grosso for the opportunity to review this ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.