Ana's Attic

My favorite of the series

Revisado: 04-21-25

Drive Me Home (The Drive Me Series Book 3) by Carly Robyn
Narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Emma Wilder
4.5 Stars
“I like you, Charlotte Grace Walker. I like you so damn much that somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you. And even if you don’t want to be mine, I’ll always be yours.”

I’ve been following this F1 romance series from the start, and it’s been amazing to see Carly Robyn’s writing evolve with each book. Drive Me Home is hands down my favorite in the series. I actually listened to the entire audiobook while driving to and from Orlando for a book signing with Carly, and the runtime matched the trip perfectly. It was during an F1 race weekend, so I left early to make it home in time for the race (priorities!), but since I was driving the whole way, my notes were minimal, so excuse any lack of detail.

The Plot
F1 is a small, tight-knit sport. With only 20 drivers on the grid, most have known each other for years, having raced together in karting since they were kids. In this story, Lucas and Theo are best friends and teammates at Alphavite Racing. Charlotte, Theo’s sister, has known Lucas forever. They’ve both been secretly crushing on each other for years… but neither had a clue.

Charlotte, nicknamed Roo (short for kangaroo—she’s Australian), is bubbly, adventurous, and fresh out of college, trying to figure out her next step. As a result, she ends up joining her brother on the F1 circuit, tagging along to races and exploring the world. Charlotte has Type 1 Diabetes, and it was a consistent thread throughout the book, something that shaped her daily life without overtaking the story.

Lucas, meanwhile, is from Boston. As soon as his mom called to nag him about visiting, I knew he was Jewish-- and I loved that. The rep was spot-on, and his family dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book, including his complicated relationship with his brother.

"Lucas makes me feel like the luckiest girl alive in ways I never expected. It’s in the little things—how his smile lights up when I walk into a room, the way his hand finds mine without thinking, like we were always meant to be. Lucky for us, we finally are".

Lucas and Charlotte start as friends. He really sees her. She’s never too much for him—something she’s felt with others. He listens. He pays attention to her needs without smothering her. Golden retriever energy… until they hit the bedroom, and then he’s all dominant dirty talk. Yes, please.

“Usually, it's the man you end up marrying is going to need a lot of patience or the man you end up marrying is in for it. But not for Lucas. I never have to worry that I'm too opinionated, too direct, too loud, too much. For him, I'm just enough.”

Although Drive Me Home was a little light on racing and I caught a few racing mistakes, Carly clearly knows her F1. But what I did love was how the story incorporated travel, which is such a huge part of the F1 lifestyle. A lot of F1 romances skip that aspect, and I was glad to see it here.

Likes:
•Charlotte’s punny shirts.
•The Type 1 Diabetes storyline and how attuned to it Lucas was.
•How he supported her fashion design goals.
•I love the idea of cool racing fashion!
•Lucas is Jewish and I knew it the second his mother called lol (I loved his family!)
•How random and relatable Charlotte was.
•The golden retriever turned wolf in bed.
•I’ve seen how much the author’s writing has improved over the series.
•Visiting with previous characters in the series, but you don’t have to have read them or remember them to enjoy this story.
•One of the things I love about F1 romances is the world travel, and I loved that Charlotte went out and traveled and explored and got Lucas to join her sometimes.
•Really good banter.

Dislikes:
•There wasn’t that much plot—not much happened in this fairly simple, light story.
•It was pretty light on F1 detail, and I noticed a couple of mistakes (P3 is not front row, and some tire inconsistencies).
•Did I miss the end? Did he win? Did his team?

Note: As much as he loves watches (and I loved that part), almost every driver is sponsored by a watch company and has to wear their brand when in public.

The Narration:
Teddy Hamilton and Emma Wilder!!! Yes please! She did a decent job trying to keep the light Australian accent, and I love Teddy. I love the way Emma does the male voice as well. he accent helped bring that international F1 vibe, and the narration definitely elevated the whole experience.

The Down & Dirty:
Drive Me Home by Carly Robyn was my favorite in the series. Carly’s growth as an author really shows in this one. The characters were lovable, the Jewish and Type 1 Diabetes rep felt natural, and while I would have liked more actual racing, this story works beautifully even if you’ve never watched a race. A sweet, steamy F1 romance that left me smiling.

Rating: 4.5 Stars, 2.5 Heat, 4 Narration

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Too depressing for me

Revisado: 03-18-25

I listened to The Women by Kristin Hannah over Christmas, fully expecting it to be my final addition to my Best of 2024 list. It had been everywhere, won tons of awards and was hyped to the max, so I went in blind—didn’t even read the blurb.

Honestly? It kind of ruined Christmas for me.

This was one of the most depressing books I’ve ever read. The first half? Excellent. So good that I immediately recommended it to my mom, only to find out she’d already read it and wasn’t a fan. And then I understood why.

Frankie McGrath is young, sheltered, and naive when she follows her brother’s footsteps to Vietnam and joined the Army Nurse Corps, thinking she’s answering a noble call. She has no idea what she’s walking into. The Women doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war. The blood, the loss, the impossible choices these women had to make. As gut-wrenching as it was, I still appreciated it. These women were heroes. Selfless, brave, and absolutely essential. Their friendships, their resilience, and the way they were respected in Vietnam made for a gripping read.

But then she came home.

And that’s where everything unraveled.

The way these women were treated upon their return was appalling—ignored, dismissed, even spit on. Many people, even within the military, denied that women had even served in Vietnam at all. Frankie’s life crumbled, her PTSD worsening with every page, and there was no relief, no light at the end of the tunnel. I expected some hardship, but this book just kept hitting her with one devastating blow after another. The Women left me in a days-long funk, and honestly, if my kids hadn’t been home, it could have been worse.

Likes:
•The seemingly accurate stories of the women who served.
•Highlighting the incredible bravery and resilience of these women.
•The lives they saved and the men they comforted when they couldn’t be saved.
•I’m glad someone told their story.

Dislikes:
•Okay, this one is on me. I’m a romance reader, and I was hoping for even a glimmer of an HEA, but things just kept spiraling darker and darker.

The Narration:
Julia Whelan is an incredible narrator and won an award for this, but for me, something about her voice always feels melancholy. Or maybe it’s just that I tend to associate her with really heavy books? Either way, her narration didn’t help my overall experience.

The Down & Dirty:
I wanted to love The Women. I truly thought it would be a no-brainer for my Best of 2024 list. But in the end, it was just too bleak for me. I’m so glad these women’s stories were told, but I wish Frankie could have caught a break somewhere along the way.

Rating: 3 Stars | 3 Narration

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I wish it was longer!

Revisado: 03-18-25

Technically Speaking by Michael Elliot
Narrated by Coco Jones, Keith Powers, Queen Latifah, William Stanford Davis, and more
Standalone Short Romance With Sound Effects

When I saw that Technically Speaking by Michael Elliot was produced by Queen Latifah, free in Audible Plus, and featured an all-star cast, I grabbed it immediately. At just 1.5 hours, it was a quick listen. I love these Audible Originals that deliver cute, fun, dialogue-heavy romances with immersive sound effects.

LaVeesha is a single mom raising a young autistic son who desperately needs an expensive private school. She works in the commissary of a tech company while studying for a tech degree, but despite being a genius in her field, no one will hire her until she finishes school. The company hosts an annual contest for new tech projects with a $10,000 prize, money that could change her life, but as a commissary worker, she isn’t eligible to enter.

When an unexpected opportunity arises to present her app under a false identity, Vee seizes the chance. She begins working closely with the CEO, navigating the risks of deception while showcasing her talent. My favorite part of the story was actually the app she developed and the impact it had on the company. However, the romance felt rushed. It barely developed before jumping straight to “I love you.” That was disappointing because the story had so much potential. But at this short length, there just wasn’t enough time to fully build the relationship.

I would have loved if Technically Speaking had been at least twice as long, allowing more depth to the romance and expanding on the autism storyline, which was another highlight.

The Narration
This full-cast production features some major names, and the performances were fantastic. However, the sound effects occasionally overpowered the dialogue. I usually listen on speaker while doing chores, showering, or getting ready, but I think this one is better with headphones. Otherwise, some of the effects drown out the narration. I also had to slow my usual 1.4 to 1.5 speed down to 1.2, and I could have gone even slower for clarity.

Rating: 4 Stars, Narration 4.5, No Heat

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Kristen Ashley never disappoints!

Revisado: 02-20-25

Smooth Sailing: Wild West MC, Book 3 by Kristen Ashley
Narrated by Stella Bloom, Joseph Discher & James Lurie
While the romance in this book stands alone, the rest of the book does not.
4.25 Stars

“Wind. Ride. Fire. Free.”

Da*n you, Kristen Ashley! I am SOBBING again while writing this! That epilogue was just so beautifully done. Smooth Sailing is the third book in the Wild West MC Series, and I think this is another one written for her die-hard fans. This series is an offshoot of the Chaos MC Series, which spun off from The Dream Man Series, which itself branched from Rock Chicks. It’s also tied to the Avenging Angels since we’ve got the main players in Phoenix, and we all know how Chaos works with Nightingale Investigations. (See my Complete Guide to Kristen Ashley for all of these series.)

Smooth Sailing was beautiful. Too beautiful for a traditional MC book, but absolutely perfect for those of us who’ve been along for the ride all these years. It’s a little corny, yes—but a lot of her recent reunion-type books are, and I am here for it.

Harlan, aka “Hugger,” has had a rough life. With a crappy sperm-donor father and a prostitute mom (who was wonderful and did what she had to do to keep her kid fed and housed), Hugger learned to take care of himself young. His mom was involved with Chaos and always wanted her son to join, but after she passed, Hugger never let himself get close to anyone. Rush and Big Petey finally convinced him to become a prospect, then a brother, but he never felt fully “in,” thinking his dad’s bad blood made him the same.

Diana lives in Phoenix. When she discovered a young girl had been sexually assaulted by a big-time local crime lord—and found out her own dad was defending the a-hole—she decided to step in. She rescued the girl from the hospital and guarded her, thinking the criminal wouldn’t come after his lawyer’s daughter. Chaos got wind of this all the way in Denver and sent Hugger and Big Petey to work with the Phoenix clubs to protect these women.

Well, you know how it goes in Kristen Ashley Land! That protection leads to more. Diana was another amazing KA heroine I’d want to be friends with. Harlan got the nickname “Hugger” ironically because he didn’t like being touched…but Diana changed all of that. I loved how she made him realize how much more life had to offer.

Smooth Sailing is the perfect name for this book because, honestly, for a story that starts off about protection, there wasn’t much action. But there was a LOT of family—both by blood and by cut.

“You went through the worst with us and it was a Rough Ride, but you Walked Through Fire with us, and finally, when we got Smooth Sailing, (…) Ride Steady, my brother.”

Likes:
•OMG, the emotions!
•I’ve always loved Big Petey, and I’m glad we got to know him even more.
•All of the crossover characters from other books and series.
•Even though so many characters were mentioned—including ones I barely remembered—I never felt lost like I did in previous books in this series.
•Visiting Chaos in Denver and seeing all the players and their kids (but seriously, how did Diana keep all those names straight?)
•I loved how Diana just accepted Harlan as a biker and never made it a thing.
•All the reminders of what a real family the club is, and how that brotherhood means everything.
•The songs. You NEED to listen to the two she mentions, really listen to the lyrics.
•The epilogue. It broke me. But it was written so beautifully, and the way Kristen worked in the book names was genius.

Dislikes:
•I was hoping for a little more romantic suspense. The reason Hugger and Pete went to Phoenix just kind of fizzled out.
•Chaos (and the other clubs) are too good now. The men are too wise. The women are too quick to accept anyone. It’s all wrapped up in a pretty little bow. I just felt like we needed a little more grit—it was all so healthy, sweet, and beautiful.
•I normally love how Kristen does 1st person for the female POV and 3rd for the male POV. I usually barely even notice it, but for this story, the 3rd-person narration felt more distant and removed than usual. Maybe it was meant to be because Hugger felt distant, but I don’t think so. It also just could have been the narration.
•The Kristen Ashley motorcycle slang felt goofy at some points.

The Narration:
Stella Bloom is always perfect for KA books. When I hear her narrate anything else, she immediately makes the book better because it feels like I’m listening to a Kristen Ashley book. Joseph Discher is a great narrator, but I don’t love him in romance. He acts well, but his voice just isn’t sexy. I started Smooth Sailing by reading an ARC, and I loved it, but due to eye problems, I had to switch to audio. I definitely liked this one better when I read it because of his voice—he just sounds like a teacher and just not gruff enough to be a biker.

The Down & Dirty:
There’s a feeling that a Kristen Ashley book gives me that nothing else compares to. There’s a reason she has been my favorite author since I started my blog 13 years ago. Smooth Sailing is such a fitting title because the club drama, turf wars, and all that crap are over. Now they just run a custom shop and make babies. It’s a sweet and slightly corny love letter to Chaos. While it seems like Kristen is getting ready to move the series to Phoenix, I honestly think Smooth Sailing would be the perfect end to the Wild West MC series. It’s perfect for any Kristen Ashley MC fan, especially because it has that reunion feel, but people who read a lot of other MC romances may find it a little too sweet and tidy for them.

Rating: 4.25 Stars, 2 Heat, 3.5 Narration (I think the male narration pulled my rating down a bit).

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Lauren Blakely Nailed it Again!

Revisado: 01-16-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

The Proposal Play by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Vanessa Edwin and Robert Hatchet
Book 3 in the Love and Hockey Series, but each can stand alone.

“Love’s like hockey, you can’t guarantee a win, but you can give it your best shot.”

The first two books in Lauren Blakely’s Love and Hockey romcom series were some of my favorites of 2024, so I couldn’t wait to dive into The Proposal Play , the third book in this series of connected standalones. It can absolutely be read as a standalone, but if you’ve read the first two, you’ll love seeing familiar faces pop up.

This one might be my favorite so far. Lauren Blakely amazes me with how she writes the most likable characters—smart, good, and self-aware, who always feel like people I’d want to be friends with.

The Story
Asher is a professional hockey player and best friends with his teammate Beckett and Beckett’s sister, Maeve. When Asher is put up as a date in a charity auction, Maeve overhears a not-so-nice plan from one of the bidders and steps in to save the day, bidding on him herself with Beckett’s money.

Winning the date wasn’t a big deal. They’ve traveled together before, so heading to Vegas felt like any other trip. But after poker, drinks, and a few questionable decisions, they suddenly found themselves fulfilling the marriage pact they made years ago.

What was supposed to be an easy annulment quickly turned complicated when the news leaked on social media. Neither could afford a hit to their reputations, so they decided to play along (at least for now).

They were already best friends, and you could feel the bond between them from the start. I loved watching them slowly realize that their connection had always been more than friendship. The transition from a drunken fling to something deeper felt natural, and I loved every bit of it.

Lauren Blakely always handles complex topics well, and the mental health representation here was no exception. It was thoughtful and well-written. And let’s not forget the spice—it was spicing. Lauren writes sex scenes that are hot without ever being corny, and I love how open this couple was in the bedroom. They communicated, used toys (lots of them), and he was deliciously dominant in bed.

"You can take more I say, then ease out. Now get down on your knees and show me you can handle every inch of me in your throat."

Likes
•Wonderful communication for the most part.
•Slow burn to love.
•The mental health storyline.
•She has such an interesting art career.
•How much they loved each other as friends already.
•The spice was HOT and never overpowered.
•I loved the quirky Maeve.
•Seeing previous characters.
•The way he kept calling her "Wife".
•Cute dog (of course).

Dislikes
•It’s a little hard to believe that neither consciously thought about the other in a romantic way before this.
•I would have liked to see a little more time spent on therapy.

The Narration
Lauren has completely spoiled me for other audiobooks. Her casting is always spot-on (since she picks the narrators before she even writes the books), and the duet format works perfectly because it’s only used for dialogue. I 100% recommend listening to this—or any Lauren Blakely book—in audio. It always adds something special.

The Down & Dirty
Once again, Lauren Blakely nailed it. I was hooked from the very beginning, listened to the whole book with a smile on my face, and was sad when it ended. I always say hockey romance isn’t my thing, but this series might be proving me wrong. It’s definitely one of my favorites now.

Rating: 4.5 Stars, 3.5 Heat, 5 Narration

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strange combo of tragic and funny

Revisado: 12-31-24

I was in the mood for a dark and dirty Christmas listen, so I picked up I’ll Be Home… by Tate James and Heather Long. While I don’t read a lot of dark romance—or reverse harem—I was intrigued by the promise of a dark RH Christmas romcom. I can see how it tried to be all of those things, but it didn’t quite hit the mark in any category.

There were plenty of Christmassy names and puns, but the story was darker (expected) and more depressing (not expected) than I anticipated. It tackled heavy themes involving a foster home selling children into trafficking and abuse. The FMC, Rayne Dear, grew up in this orphanage alongside three boys—Alfie, Frost, and Nick. After they aged out, she was the first to be abused. Now, years later, Rayne is back in town as a journalist, determined to expose the orphanage’s crimes. Along the way, she reconnects with the three men, who are all still in love with her.

Despite the setup, the RH dynamic felt underdeveloped. If I’m remembering right, there was only one scene with all three guys, and the romance took a backseat to the darker plot. The SA storyline and mystery really took over, leaving the Christmas vibes and spice in the background.

The story was a bit all over the place—lots of plot holes, magical coincidences, and tonal shifts. It felt like a dark romance that had Christmas sprinkled in after the fact, and the mix didn’t fully work. That said, it still kept me interested. The dark elements delivered, and there were some oddly funny moments that lightened the mood just enough to keep me reading.

3.75 Stars, 4 Flames, 4.5 Narration

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The Narration was the best part

Revisado: 12-31-24

Not Another Christmas RomCom by A.J. Pine
Narrated by Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton

This Audible exclusive was free in the Audible Plus program, so I had high hopes—especially with Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton narrating. The narration was fantastic, but the story didn’t quite live up to it.

The setup had so much potential. Molly and Liam meet on a flight to Michigan, heading home for Christmas. Molly gets drunk, spills a bunch of secrets, and then realizes—surprise!—Liam is her sister’s brother-in-law. Now, they’re stuck spending the holidays together. Sounds cute, right?

Unfortunately, I hated the family.

They gaslighted Molly for being concerned about her sister’s overbearing, controlling husband. They hid massive secrets, and Molly came off as clueless for not figuring out the big one.

I usually love when a narrator breaks the fourth wall, but it didn’t work here. Instead of feeling clever or charming, it got annoying the more it happened.

The duet-narrated epilogue was hands-down the best part. I honestly wish the entire book had been duet because the chemistry and delivery were so much better.

2.5 Stars, 1 Heat, 4.5 Narration

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I love F1 Romances

Revisado: 11-11-24

Fast & Reckless by Amanda Weaver
Formula 1 Romance. Standalone. First in a related series.

“He could feel it happening, like something locking into place in his heart. He was falling for this girl like he’d fallen for racing: hard, fast, and irrevocably.”

If you know me, you know I’m a HUGE F1 fan. I’ve read a good number of F1 romance books, including beta reading one that’s yet to release. I even have a list of EVERY F1 romance I’ve found on my blog, with links to my reviews. But honestly, they’re starting to blur together, especially when so many involve a driver and the team principal’s daughter (or the PR person).

“This was what she’d missed. The track, the cars, the sound.”

Mira is back on the grid after years away, following a scandal from her teenage years. She’s determined to win back her father’s approval, so she’s doing everything she can to be perfect at her job. Will, the new driver on her father’s team, pursues her right from day one, and suddenly becomes the reformed bad boy when he meets her.

Their attraction is instant, but Mira does her best to hold back her growing feelings—after all, the last thing she needs is another public scandal. I liked how they bonded over their love of racing, and Amanda Weaver did a great job depicting the importance of drivers needing to clear their heads to race.

Weaver made F1 accessible to the average romance reader while still satisfying someone like me, who’s obsessed with the sport. Her racing details were accurate, though I wish she’d done a little more research on the cities they visited. A public hookup in Singapore? Really?

My favorite part of Fast & Reckless was when Mira had a heart-to-heart with her dad. I even teared up a little. I was so annoyed throughout the book that she was blamed for what a 30-year-old driver did to her when she was only 16, but her dad redeemed himself in that scene.

Likes:
•Accurate F1 racing.
•The realistic depiction of the difficulties women face in motorsports.
•Though it was insta-lust, the couple took time to get to know each other.
•Just the right amount of sex.
•Crisp, quick writing.
•Exciting on-track racing.
•Great chemistry between the characters.

Dislikes:
•It feels like I’ve read this story before—the team principal’s daughter and a driver trope is as common in F1 romance as the coach’s daughter is in hockey romance.
•It blends in with other F1 books.
•I would’ve liked to see more cultural detail about the cities they visited.

🎧Audio Note: I grabbed the audiobook when it released and for the last third switched back & forth. I loved that Zac Smith had an accent and I thought Samantha Summers was great. It made me excited to relisten to this before Kiss & Collide comes out.

The Down & Dirty:
Fast & Reckless by Amanda Weaver is one of the better F1 books I’ve read. The racing descriptions were accurate and easy to follow for non-racing fans, but still detailed enough for die-hard F1 enthusiasts. The couple had great chemistry, and I always love a forbidden romance. My only issue is that the story didn’t feel unique—it’s easy to mix up with other F1 romances involving the team principal’s daughter. Still, I devoured it quickly and can’t wait for the next book in the series, Kiss & Collide.

Rating: 4 Stars, 3 heat

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Lauren Blakely Never Fails!

Revisado: 10-28-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

The Romance Line (Love and Hockey Book 2) by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Vanessa Edwin and Teddy Hamilton
Standalone in a related series. Sports Romcom.
4.5 Stars rounded up

It seems like half of the new release romance books these days are about hockey players. Having grown up figure skating, I’ve spent a lot of time around hockey players and, to be honest, I didn’t quite see the appeal. So when I found out one of my favorite authors, Lauren Blakely, had jumped on the hockey trend, I was a little hesitant. But if there’s one thing I love about Lauren, it’s her ability to take common tropes and make them uniquely hers.

After loving The Boyfriend Goal (the first in the Love and Hockey series), I was excited to dive into The Romance Line . Grumpy/sunshine is one of my favorite tropes, and the combination of a grumpy goalie and a sunshiney PR pro was the perfect distraction during hurricane prep.

“If you can say yes, say it.”

Everly, the PR pro for the Seadogs, has her hands full with Max, the team’s grumpy goalie. After a high-profile breakup with a pop star, Max is avoiding the press, and Everly—who’s up for a promotion—has to maintain her professional demeanor despite their frequent bickering. When they accidentally switch suitcases, things take an unexpected turn, especially when the contents of those suitcases stir up some rather racy thoughts.

Max gets an offer to be in a documentary, but only if he can clean up his image. Naturally, Everly is tasked with helping him—and that’s where the fun begins. I loved how their dynamic shifted from adversarial to flirty, then steamy, and finally into something more.

Everly’s character growth was another highlight for me. She’s struggling with PTSD from a car accident that left her with physical scars, and watching her gain confidence through her relationship with Max was beautiful. Oh, and let’s not forget Max’s foster kitten! The gruff goalie with his tiny kitten? Pure awwww. Their relationship is off-limits due to Everly’s job with the team, but watching their secret romance unfold was a treat.

“I want to keep earning your love, Everly. Every damn day.”

Likes:
•Lauren’s ability to take a common trope and make it feel fresh
•The cameos from the couple in The Boyfriend Goal
•The friendships and bromances in the story
•Just the right amount of hockey for someone like me who’s not super into sports romance
•Max’s foster kitten—seriously, adorable
•Everly’s pole dancing classes and how her relationship with Max boosted her confidence
•Everly is smart and strong, like all of Lauren’s heroines

Dislike:
•The player/publicist trope blended with other books I’ve read, so it didn’t stand out as much as it should.

The Narration:
I only listen to Lauren’s books because she writes them with specific narrators in mind, and it shows. Vanessa Edwin and Teddy Hamilton were phenomenal in this duet-style performance, perfectly bringing Everly and Max to life.

The Down & Dirty:
Lauren Blakely never disappoints. I’ve read (or should I say, listened to) over 60 of her books, and each one delivers smart, mature, diverse characters that make you laugh, cry, and fall in love. The Romance Line has everything I love about her writing, and even if sports romance isn’t typically your thing, Lauren Blakely might just change your mind.

Rating: 4.5 Stars, 3 Heat, 5 Narration

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Got way better in the second half

Revisado: 10-13-24

Bummer Camp by Ann Garvin
Narrated by Andi Arndt
Standalone Women's Fiction with Romance

Books like Bummer Camp by Ann Garvin remind me why I have such a hard time DNFing. I considered it many times during the first half, but something about the characters in Bummer Camp started to get under my skin. By around the 40-50% mark, I realized I was actually starting to enjoy it.

"If you're a square peg, find the people who celebrate quadrilaterals."

As a sleepaway camp girl, I was looking for more camp-related stories after loving Until Next Summer by Ali Brady. That’s how I picked up Bummer Camp. I tend to need a likable FMC to enjoy a book, and Cat McCarthy did not start out that way. She’s uptight, rigid, and burdened with responsibility, even though she’s 7 months pregnant from a one-night stand and hasn’t told the father.

Cat and her sister Ginger grew up at their parents’ theater camp, but Ginger, the ditsy sister, is now running it while Cat stayed away from that life. When Ginger calls with news that the camp is in big trouble and Cat, still on the mortgage, feels compelled to help, she heads up there to fix the mess. But it’s hard not to get sucked back into camp life.

“It was as if she were on one side of a soap bubble, and if she wasn’t careful, it would pop and she’d be inside it all again.”

Just as I was about to give up on Bummer Camp, the quirky cast of characters started to grow on me. The distant third-person narrative felt very removed at the beginning, but by 50%, I was starting to settle in and enjoy the book. I’m glad I stuck with it.

Likes:
•The quirky cast of characters grew on me.
•New romance with a pregnant woman.
•I love anything set at camp.
•It was unique and more memorable than many books I’ve read.

Dislikes:
•Very distant third-person narrative.
•Took a long time to get into.
•The FMC took a while to warm up to.

The Narration:
Andi Arndt was great, but the style of the writing didn’t give her much opportunity to showcase her skills.

The Down & Dirty:
Bummer Camp took a while to hook me, but I really enjoyed the second half. I’m glad I didn’t quit at the 30-40% mark like I was tempted to. The quirky characters won me over by 50%. Would I recommend Bummer Camp? Not really. But if you get to 40% and find yourself on the fence, I say keep going—you might end up enjoying it like I did, and the 4 hours you already spent won't be a waste.

Rating: 2.5 Stars, 1.5 heat, 4 Narration

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