Evvie Drake Starts Over

After reading several heavier reads lately, I wanted something lighter to cleanse my palate. Nothing too frilly or silly but something lighter. 

Enter: Evvie Drake Starts Over.

This is a cute story with a plot and characters that have more depth than you'd expect in a light romance. Dean and Evvie (rhymes with Chevy) are perfectly imperfect with their flaws, insecurities and emotional baggage and I appreciate that there was no insta-love or quick fixes (particularly Evvie's complicated feelings about her husband). Evvie and Dean were an easy couple to root for, but it was Evvie's enduring and platonic friendship with Andy (and the witty banter) that were my favourite parts of the book.

While issues of self discovery, mental health and friendship are at the heart of this book, this is a lighter, fairly predictable read with an enjoyable small-town vibe. Its snippets of humour, insights into complicated emotions and the power of friendship, make this heartwarming romance stand out from the rest.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Linda Holmes

Genre: Romance, Light Read

Type: eBook

Source: Public Library

Publisher: Ballantine Books

First Published in Print: June 25, 2019

Opening Lines: Go now, or you'll never go, Evvie warned herself.

Book Description from GoodReads: In a small town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth "Evvie" Drake rarely leaves her house. Everyone in town, including her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and she doesn't correct them.

In New York, Dean Tenney, former major-league pitcher and Andy's childhood friend, is struggling with a case of the "yips": he can't throw straight anymore, and he can't figure out why. An invitation from Andy to stay in Maine for a few months seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button.

When Dean moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie's house, the two make a deal: Dean won't ask about Evvie's late husband, and Evvie won't ask about Dean's baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken—and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more.

But before they can find out what might lie ahead, they'll have to wrestle a few demons: the bonds they've broken, the plans they've changed, and the secrets they've kept. They'll need a lot of help, but in life, as in baseball, there's always a chance—right up until the last out.