Summary:
Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.
They’re polar opposites.
In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.
My take: 2 looksÂ
This is why I don’t read romance or chick-lit. This is probably a great book for a high school girl, but once you go through a couple of relationships, and a span of life in general, this is just irritating.
January is the main character, and she has just unwittingly moved in next door to her college nemesis, Augustus. January and August … foreshadowing, anyone? Nope, there is not that much thought given to the plot.
There is banter, petty jealousy, gratuitous older lesbian couple, and a not-yet-ex coming in to mess things up. Romance novel 101 and any and every Hallmark movie you’ve ever, ever seen. Throw in some “once he entered me” scenes and you have the general idea of this book.
If you truly want a beach read, skip this one and head to Jennifer Weiner or Elin Hilderbrand. You’ll be less irritated at sophomoric behavior and more fulfilled that you’ve not wasted your time.
Not recommended.
