Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle | BOOK REVIEW
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Can you find real love when you’ve always got your head in the clouds?
Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start.
Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn’t the only inheritor: she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who’s as grouchy as he is gorgeous—and it turns out he has very different vision for the property’s future.
Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley’s scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one’s comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.
Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle | BOOK REVIEW
TWICE SHY BY SARAH HOGLE
BOOK REVIEW
I’m impressed that the author managed to pull off a completely different kind of romance with TWICE SHY. I can only imagine how hard it must be to write a sophomore novel after a debut novel like YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER. Which had such an interesting, unique and extreme take on the enemies to lovers trope. Instead this time the author wrote a very playful romance, with a slow burn love story that was touching and sweet.
I’m a big fan of the newly minted sunshine/grump trope. And at the beginning Maybell and Wesley gave me tons the enemies to lovers vibes. Especially when Wesley’s grumpy, silent and mysterious personality clashed with Maybell’s chatty and dreamy nature. That changed eventually when the couple started to get to know each other.
Also I don’t think I ever read about a heroine quite like Maybell before. She dreamed up scenarios that were playful, and dreamy. And I mean that in the literal sense. Sometimes her daydreams were hard to separate from the rest of the story because they were so descriptive and fleshed out. It made for a unique and quirky trait.
And Wesley was such a sweet guy. Shy, but when he came out of his shell he was adorable dreamy. A sweet cinnamon roll kind of hero. Perfectly swoony. Even more so since he suffered from a severe social anxiety that made me want to hug and protect him. The more I read, the more I understood his behaviour. And his vulnerability made him extremely attractive.
Maybell and Wesley’s love story was a slow burn, with many wonderful moments. Although the heat was completely missing between the couple, it actually worked for them, since they both were shy, vulnerable, and even awkward at times and also a bit in their own heads.
The book is not perfect, far from it as I struggled to turn off my more logical and realistic side. There were just too many question left unanswered and topics that were glossed over especially when it came to the remodel. But besides that the book is great for anyone loving a more slow moving romance. It had many tender and romantic moments, and a hero that will make you swoon and fall in love with. Also the story revolved to 98% around the couple. So, overall it’s a great escape read for any romance reader.
THREE STARS
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Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle | BOOK REVIEW
I was wondering what you thought of this one! I absolutely loved You Deserve Each Other…it was the first book I’d laughed out loud at in a long, long time. Twice Shy didn’t quite live up to that joy for me, but I still really liked it too! I think Sarah Hogle just writes some seriously fun characters.
I think what impressed me the most was that she wrote such a different kind of book from YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER. It’s not easy to do that. And like you said, it might not have the same kind of impact like her debut novel, but she still did a great job with her sophomore novel.
Every time I read a review for this book I want to read it even more! I’m glad it was a winner for you!
Read it!!! And let me know how you like it. Did you ever read YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER? I was really impressed that the author wrote such a different sophomore novel.
I didn’t read that one. I guess I should read both!
This is off this topic, but you know which one I finally read that was on one of your lists? Up in the Air by RK Lilley. I already had it, so decided to give it a try. I ended up binging all 4 books. Not 5 star reads for me, but I was invested in the story.