Sophie Kinsella’s latest is being released in 1 month – October 27th is the big day, and I was able to get a sneak peek!

What Is It About?

I was so excited to read this one, as the premise sounded fun! Ava, fresh off a breakup, decides to escape to a writers’ retreat in Italy. This retreat says you cannot reveal your real name, or details about your life. Focus on that writing! Naturally, Ava meets a man. Because this would not be a Kinsella rom-com without that. He’s so perfect! They will live happily ever after!

Until they return home, and reality sets in. And they realize that they are very different. Will they last?

What I Loved

Kinsella has a way of writing that can make me laugh, even when I’m scratching my head. Certain scenes in the book had me doing a literal LOL!

I loved reading about the writing retreat. I once did a weekend writing retreat (that was a bust – I just read books and relaxed the whole time) and I dream of trying that again one day, so I read the beginning of the book with pure envy.

I also liked that the secondary characters were well thought out and not flat one-trick ponies who are only there to propel the story. Instead, they had lives that continued on while Ava was away. Matt’s friends also had distinct personalities, which I always appreciate. And then there was the dog who was untrained…Harold.

But…

Unfortunately, I did not like the main character. And that was enough to turn me off of truly loving this book. Ava is supposed to come off as this whimsical girl trying to find her place in this world, who is romantic and falls in love with someone exactly her opposite. She basically wrote the story of Dharma and Greg but without the endearing parts. Instead, Ava comes across as naive, whiny, and immature. Phrases such as “but reality is HARD!” would be cute if she was 18, but from a 30 year old is just not what you want to read, especially during a pandemic when the world is HARD.

I was hoping to see some growth in Ava’s journey, but I didn’t feel like it was there. Even when she completed a goal, she spent more time throwing it in everyone’s face that she did something than moving onto her next item.

There is such a thing as opposites attract, but there is also such a thing as too much of a difference that is distracting. Dutch/Matt was such someone more rooted to reality. He would question Ava’s behaviors, which would infuriate her, but then would back down and allow it to continue.

One of the big criticisms I read in reviews about the Shopaholic series is that Kinsella does not have Becky grow. She’s still acting the same as she did in book 1, but it’s ok because she has people who love her. I felt like Ava could be Becky’s sister.

What really drove me nuts is that there is a paragraph where Ava’s family is discussed. I thought, “ohhh so THAT is why she is like she is with her hoarding.” But I never saw Matt make that same epiphany. And it was never discussed again. That was a let-down for me.

And Harold. Poor untrained Harold. I am a dog rescuer, and love my dogs just as I do my actual children, but I would never in this universe leave them untrained. It is so irresponsible. It’s a dangerous message to send. And, well…read up on what happens to Harold to prove my point.

Would I Recommend This?

Fans of Becky Bloomwood may enjoy this one, as to love Becky’s antics can equate to loving Ava’s antics. I didn’t hate this one, but I didn’t love it either.

Do you think you will give this one a try? Are you a Becky Bloomwood fan? Let me know in the comments below!