A hopeful redemption story with a magical time-jump twist that takes its time, for better or worse.
When a comedian's wish fast-forwards him seven years, he discovers that he's successful but devoid of friends and family.
At 23, Nolan Baker has big plans, and he hopes to reach 30 with all his personal and professional goals fulfilled. At the moment, though, he doesn't feel like he's anywhere close. With his sister CeeCee’s wedding coming up, Nolan is determined to have something to show for himself, and he finally musters up the courage to ask Drew Techler, his best friend and big crush, to be his date. He vows that once the wedding is over, he’ll take a good hard look at himself and maybe even give up comedy for good. But when he gets a call in the middle of his sister’s wedding inviting him to perform at a famous comedy club in an hour, Nolan prioritizes this sudden opportunity over supporting his family and continuing his date with Drew. Later, he realizes he’s ruined all of his relationships. Desperate to fix things but torn between his shot at stardom and making things right, he grabs a weird set of crystals his sister had given him and visualizes his “ideal future” in which he’s “successful, happy, and universally loved.” When he wakes up, he’s 30 and he’s certainly successful, but he learns that the choice he made during CeeCee’s wedding has had long-lasting consequences. He’s a household name, but his family has no desire to connect with him or even take his calls. Nolan’s only hope of making things right is to find Drew, who also wants nothing to do with him. As Nolan tries to win Drew over, he must reckon with the callous mistakes he’s made. His road to redemption is an arduous one as he strives to hold himself accountable, which doesn't come easily. The romance between Drew and Nolan takes a back seat to Nolan’s introspections, but it still provides a sweet and steamy way of both lightening some of Nolan’s more vulnerable moments and giving him the extra push he needs to dig deeper. Over time, Nolan learns how to feel better about his life without sacrificing the feelings of others.
A hopeful redemption story with a magical time-jump twist that takes its time, for better or worse.Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781728264264
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...
Hoover’s (November 9, 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.
At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of the survivors.Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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