Mrs. Nash's Ashes

Mrs. Nash's Ashes caught my eye on bookstagram with its cover and blurb. I went into it expecting to enjoy this grumpy vs sunshine, forced proximity RomCom, but while it started off strong, the energy, banter and my general attention seemed to wane as the book went on. 

Things I liked:

- flashbacks to a sweet romance with great LGBTQ+ rep (I wish there was more!)

- a sweet multigenerational friendship (which is sadly only alluded to)

- good banter

- the tropes: grumpy vs sunshine trope, forced proximity

What I didn't like:

- Millie was annoying and a total doormat character

- the issues on their road trip felt forced and contrived

- I didn't believe the chemistry between Hollis and Mollie which went from awkward to hot in a mere four days

- the third act break-up came out of nowhere

- for a light romcom, the story was heavy with its focus on the early trauma of both main characters

This book was a miss for me. The brief flashbacks to Mrs. Nash's sweet love story were the best part of this book, but it wasn't strong enough to keep this entire romcom afloat. 

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Sarah Adler

Genre: RomCom

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Publisher: Berkley

First Published: May 23, 2023

Book Description from GoodReads: A starry-eyed romantic, a cynical writer, and (the ashes of) an elderly woman take the road trip of a lifetime that just might upend everything they believe about true love.

Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process.

She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.

After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.

But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own.