lillist's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars - Queer slice of life about messy family dynamics
Alex has carved out a successful life for herself, no thanks to her narcissist mother. However, she has a hard time building lasting and meaningful relationships with other people. When news of her mother's death reach her and she returns to her hometown she is forced to face some of the demons of the past and come to terms with her old and current self and dysfunctional family.
I liked this one a lot! I thought that the personalities of Alex, her brother Owen, their mother Adeline, their aunt Johanna and the other minor characters were excellently captured. Also, the dynamics of the relationships such people form and how they behave in those relationships felt so very real and true.
Like Alex herself, who is carrying a huge chip on her shoulder and hiding behind cynicism but actually craving real, meaningful affection. Like Alex' mother calling her drunk in the middle of the night just to complain how nobody is thinking of HER feelings and why is her daughter being so distant? Like Owen, who has been the "good" child and now spends his life drifting, with a PhD but no real drive to actually make something of it. Like Alex' ex Juliette who dropped her in high-school rather than admitting that she is queer and who still wants to keep up her Christian goody-goody-two-shoes image but at the same time wants to rekindle her relationship with Alex (just on the down low, of course).
The author is very perceptive about the messes that people are and make and the book is full of very quotable observations about family, growing up, being human. The writing flows easily and I always wanted to know how Alex' journey was going to unfold. I really, really liked that it was not a new relationship was presented as the solution to the mess that Alex is, but that instead she realizes that she has to walk the walk first of all, no matter how slow and difficult it may be - because how are you supposed to take good care of someone else if you cannot do that for yourself?
I also thought that the parts with Johanna, who has transitioned from a male body, was handled sensitively and provided some insight into the struggles she was facing every day.
I have some minor gripe with the fact that after all is said and done the story suggests that forgiving your raging narcissist asshole of a parent is the (only) way to go forward. Not sure I agree there, although I understand the argument somewhat. Also, this one needs another round of editing. There were SO MANY sentences that had clearly been rewritten and now a word was missing or superfluous, etc.
I have received a review copy via BookSirens and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you very much!
Alex has carved out a successful life for herself, no thanks to her narcissist mother. However, she has a hard time building lasting and meaningful relationships with other people. When news of her mother's death reach her and she returns to her hometown she is forced to face some of the demons of the past and come to terms with her old and current self and dysfunctional family.
I liked this one a lot! I thought that the personalities of Alex, her brother Owen, their mother Adeline, their aunt Johanna and the other minor characters were excellently captured. Also, the dynamics of the relationships such people form and how they behave in those relationships felt so very real and true.
Like Alex herself, who is carrying a huge chip on her shoulder and hiding behind cynicism but actually craving real, meaningful affection. Like Alex' mother calling her drunk in the middle of the night just to complain how nobody is thinking of HER feelings and why is her daughter being so distant? Like Owen, who has been the "good" child and now spends his life drifting, with a PhD but no real drive to actually make something of it. Like Alex' ex Juliette who dropped her in high-school rather than admitting that she is queer and who still wants to keep up her Christian goody-goody-two-shoes image but at the same time wants to rekindle her relationship with Alex (just on the down low, of course).
The author is very perceptive about the messes that people are and make and the book is full of very quotable observations about family, growing up, being human. The writing flows easily and I always wanted to know how Alex' journey was going to unfold. I really, really liked that it was not a new relationship was presented as the solution to the mess that Alex is, but that instead she realizes that she has to walk the walk first of all, no matter how slow and difficult it may be - because how are you supposed to take good care of someone else if you cannot do that for yourself?
I also thought that the parts with Johanna, who has transitioned from a male body, was handled sensitively and provided some insight into the struggles she was facing every day.
I have some minor gripe with the fact that after all is said and done the story suggests that forgiving your raging narcissist asshole of a parent is the (only) way to go forward. Not sure I agree there, although I understand the argument somewhat. Also, this one needs another round of editing. There were SO MANY sentences that had clearly been rewritten and now a word was missing or superfluous, etc.
I have received a review copy via BookSirens and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you very much!
chainynkr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I’m not a fan of third person present tense, but I’m glad I got over that and read through.
This is a hard read in the sense that all the characters are flawed and wounded, but the beauty comes in the way the wounds bring them together.
I liked it a lot
This is a hard read in the sense that all the characters are flawed and wounded, but the beauty comes in the way the wounds bring them together.
I liked it a lot
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
00leah00's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
“You’ll Be Fine” by Jen Michalski is about Alex Maas, who is forced back to her hometown after her mother’s sudden death. She suffered from trauma and being an outcast because of her queerness so when she left her hometown after high school, she has no plans to return. However, her brother Owen, isn’t exactly capable of handling things on his own and depends on her to come home. To keep her mind off her problems she asks her editor to let her write an article on a local upcoming chef, Juliette. Juliette also happens to be her secret ex-girlfriend from high school and she’s looking for some closure, or something like it. While on the job, she meets the editor of the local paper, Carolyn, who she takes an interest in as well, even if only as a friend and a distraction from everything else.
This is one of those messy reads where the protagonist isn’t perfect and there’s a lot going on that she’s dealing with. She doesn’t always cope very well and sometimes makes bad choices. There were several instances where Alex and her poor choices had me shaking my head but I could understand why she made them, even if I didn’t like them. I just wanted her to do better and eventually she does. I loved the growth and to a degree, forgiveness she has to give in order to move on. There’s also a lot of grief and healing that has to go on. Alex had a troubled relationship with her mother and is dealing with guilt and anger leftover from her childhood. She also has a strained relationship with her brother that brings its own issues. On top of that, her Aunt Johanna, shows up and has some startling news that she has to deal with. Alex finds out not everything is as it seems and sometimes what you believe isn’t always true. Suffice it to say, Alex is dealing with a lot.
There’s a good bit of angst but there’s also a lot of humor and heart. It never feels too heavy or overwhelming. Michalski does an excellent job of balancing the bad with the good. There’s a small cast of characters and they each stand out on their own and were enjoyable.
There are some flashbacks that help explain Alex’s past and I feel they were necessary and added some depth and emotion; but there weren’t too many and none were long so they shouldn’t be a factor in not reading.
I read romance novels about 99.8% of the time. “You’ll Be Fine” falls into the .2%, in my opinion. This is a wonderful family dramady or LGBTQI+ fiction but I think calling this a romance is misleading and readers looking for romance will be a disappointed in this selection. There are some small levels of romance interests but not enough to classify as a romance. However, I fully recommend this is if you’re looking a break from your regular reads. Like I said, it’s messy and dramatic and funny and kept my interest from beginning to end.
There are some trigger warnings for this one I believe people should be aware of. They are homophobia, sexual assault (flashback), and child abuse.
I received an ARC from NineStar Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“You’ll Be Fine” by Jen Michalski is about Alex Maas, who is forced back to her hometown after her mother’s sudden death. She suffered from trauma and being an outcast because of her queerness so when she left her hometown after high school, she has no plans to return. However, her brother Owen, isn’t exactly capable of handling things on his own and depends on her to come home. To keep her mind off her problems she asks her editor to let her write an article on a local upcoming chef, Juliette. Juliette also happens to be her secret ex-girlfriend from high school and she’s looking for some closure, or something like it. While on the job, she meets the editor of the local paper, Carolyn, who she takes an interest in as well, even if only as a friend and a distraction from everything else.
This is one of those messy reads where the protagonist isn’t perfect and there’s a lot going on that she’s dealing with. She doesn’t always cope very well and sometimes makes bad choices. There were several instances where Alex and her poor choices had me shaking my head but I could understand why she made them, even if I didn’t like them. I just wanted her to do better and eventually she does. I loved the growth and to a degree, forgiveness she has to give in order to move on. There’s also a lot of grief and healing that has to go on. Alex had a troubled relationship with her mother and is dealing with guilt and anger leftover from her childhood. She also has a strained relationship with her brother that brings its own issues. On top of that, her Aunt Johanna, shows up and has some startling news that she has to deal with. Alex finds out not everything is as it seems and sometimes what you believe isn’t always true. Suffice it to say, Alex is dealing with a lot.
There’s a good bit of angst but there’s also a lot of humor and heart. It never feels too heavy or overwhelming. Michalski does an excellent job of balancing the bad with the good. There’s a small cast of characters and they each stand out on their own and were enjoyable.
There are some flashbacks that help explain Alex’s past and I feel they were necessary and added some depth and emotion; but there weren’t too many and none were long so they shouldn’t be a factor in not reading.
I read romance novels about 99.8% of the time. “You’ll Be Fine” falls into the .2%, in my opinion. This is a wonderful family dramady or LGBTQI+ fiction but I think calling this a romance is misleading and readers looking for romance will be a disappointed in this selection. There are some small levels of romance interests but not enough to classify as a romance. However, I fully recommend this is if you’re looking a break from your regular reads. Like I said, it’s messy and dramatic and funny and kept my interest from beginning to end.
There are some trigger warnings for this one I believe people should be aware of. They are homophobia, sexual assault (flashback), and child abuse.
I received an ARC from NineStar Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
claudia_is_reading's review
4.0
A new author for me, and one that I will keep reading, as I really enjoyed not only the story itself but also her writing style.
The mix of serious, heavy themes with lighter, fun moments works wonderfully. It's a book about grieving, yes, but it's also a book about looking back at what you have done with your life and find that you haven't done as well as everybody thinks you did. It's about forgiveness, about reconnecting and letting your past rest.
Alex is a fabulous character, in the middle of an emotional turmoil that leads her to commit quite obvious mistakes and, later, to accept them for what they are and try to go ahead with his life. She is at a changing point, she's becoming what she always has the potential to be if she dared to face her past and work from there.
I also liked the way in which the flashbacks were used. Yes, maybe some of them could have been left aside but, all in all, they work well outlining Alex's traumas and grievances.
I will be coming back to Jen Michalski's books
The mix of serious, heavy themes with lighter, fun moments works wonderfully. It's a book about grieving, yes, but it's also a book about looking back at what you have done with your life and find that you haven't done as well as everybody thinks you did. It's about forgiveness, about reconnecting and letting your past rest.
Alex is a fabulous character, in the middle of an emotional turmoil that leads her to commit quite obvious mistakes and, later, to accept them for what they are and try to go ahead with his life. She is at a changing point, she's becoming what she always has the potential to be if she dared to face her past and work from there.
I also liked the way in which the flashbacks were used. Yes, maybe some of them could have been left aside but, all in all, they work well outlining Alex's traumas and grievances.
I will be coming back to Jen Michalski's books
rain_tea_and_books's review
4.0
This was such a great read! I found myself laughing, crying, and even cringing at some points with things characters said or did. All the characters were wonderfully complex, even some of the more side characters, which I loved.
One of my favourite parts of this story was the main character Alex learning more about herself, even if it wasn’t in the best of circumstance, the aftermath of her mother passing away. She doesn’t make the best decisions throughout the novel – passing up the possibility of a loving relationship, for the rekindling of an old love that wasn’t the healthiest relationship for her. Then she learns from this, and learns more about who she is and who she wants to be in the process.
I loved the narrative voice, Alex’s point of view made interesting, and sometimes comical observations. Her internal thoughts we enlightening too, both into her character and the often bitter and cynical way she sees the world.
One thing reading this novel did for me was make me reflect on my relationship with my own mother. I have been blessed to have the most beautiful woman as my mother. I am so lucky to have her in my life. Alex’s relationship with her own mother was strained at best, though she may have meant well, most of the memories Alex related throughout the story were negative.
Even with Alex’s questionable decisions, and the quite negative narration throughout, this was a heartfelt and beautiful read. Highly recommended for anyone who is after a well thought out read, focused mainly on character development and relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher NineStar Press who sent me this free eARC (eAdvanced Reader Copy) in exchange for an honest review. This title was published 2nd August 2021. You can find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indie Bookstore
One of my favourite parts of this story was the main character Alex learning more about herself, even if it wasn’t in the best of circumstance, the aftermath of her mother passing away. She doesn’t make the best decisions throughout the novel – passing up the possibility of a loving relationship, for the rekindling of an old love that wasn’t the healthiest relationship for her. Then she learns from this, and learns more about who she is and who she wants to be in the process.
I loved the narrative voice, Alex’s point of view made interesting, and sometimes comical observations. Her internal thoughts we enlightening too, both into her character and the often bitter and cynical way she sees the world.
One thing reading this novel did for me was make me reflect on my relationship with my own mother. I have been blessed to have the most beautiful woman as my mother. I am so lucky to have her in my life. Alex’s relationship with her own mother was strained at best, though she may have meant well, most of the memories Alex related throughout the story were negative.
Even with Alex’s questionable decisions, and the quite negative narration throughout, this was a heartfelt and beautiful read. Highly recommended for anyone who is after a well thought out read, focused mainly on character development and relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher NineStar Press who sent me this free eARC (eAdvanced Reader Copy) in exchange for an honest review. This title was published 2nd August 2021. You can find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indie Bookstore
cjtbooks's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for an ARC of You’ll Be Fine in exchange for an honest review.
To be completely honest, the first thing that drew me into this book was the cover. Sloths are my absolute favorite animal and I loved getting to see one placed on the cover of what turned out to be a spectacular book.
The book follows Alex as she begrudgingly has to return to her hometown after her mother, someone she has an extremely complicated past with, accidentally overdoses in her own home. When she’s home however not only does she have to pick up the pieces of her family, but she is also back in the same hometown that her closeted ex-girlfriend has become a popular chef in. And if that’s not enough on her plate, Alex is still reeling from her breakup six months ago, and now may have a chance at a brand new love in her hometown. In instances like this, where the world seems to simply be on fire and there’s not enough water to even begin diminishing the flame: all you want is someone to whisper in your ear, “You’ll Be Fine”.
Overall I thought that it was an endearing novel focusing on grief, complicated and broken family dynamics, and learning how to not feel like you have to be okay all the time. Additionally I loved that it had adult LGBTQ representation and relationships that were not centered around the character’s sexuality and journey. I rate it 4.5 stars rounded down, and I cant wait to see it hit the bookshelves!
To be completely honest, the first thing that drew me into this book was the cover. Sloths are my absolute favorite animal and I loved getting to see one placed on the cover of what turned out to be a spectacular book.
The book follows Alex as she begrudgingly has to return to her hometown after her mother, someone she has an extremely complicated past with, accidentally overdoses in her own home. When she’s home however not only does she have to pick up the pieces of her family, but she is also back in the same hometown that her closeted ex-girlfriend has become a popular chef in. And if that’s not enough on her plate, Alex is still reeling from her breakup six months ago, and now may have a chance at a brand new love in her hometown. In instances like this, where the world seems to simply be on fire and there’s not enough water to even begin diminishing the flame: all you want is someone to whisper in your ear, “You’ll Be Fine”.
Overall I thought that it was an endearing novel focusing on grief, complicated and broken family dynamics, and learning how to not feel like you have to be okay all the time. Additionally I loved that it had adult LGBTQ representation and relationships that were not centered around the character’s sexuality and journey. I rate it 4.5 stars rounded down, and I cant wait to see it hit the bookshelves!
georgia7's review
4.0
Alex is doing fine. She lives in an apartment in DC working as a writer for a lifestyle magazine. It’s not an amazing job, but she likes it. She feels accomplished. Then, her girlfriend of the last four years, the girl Alex thought was “the one”, breaks up with her. But that’s fine, she’ll be okay.
On her way home from work one day, she gets a call from her brother (probably to overshare some tidbit about Tortoise, his pet cat). She lets it go to voicemail, but then he calls again. Not in the mood for a boring conversation about nothing, Alex is frustrated when she finally picks up.
“Mom’s dead.”
Oh. Right. So there’s that.
Soon enough, Alex is catching a bus to her hometown in Maryland. She hasn’t been back since she graduated high school when she high-tailed it out of there as fast as she possibly could. Aside from the mandatory weekly phone calls with her mother, she hasn’t seen her in years and now… well. Now she’s dead.
Alex grew up with her brother and their single mother. Their father left them when they were little and it was only her mom around to look after them. She must have cared about her children in a strange, twisted way, but she was far from a perfect mother. Even now, fifteen years later, Alex harbors the pains from her childhood in a metaphorical cardboard box inside her head, closed up tight and hidden in the depths of her metaphorical closet.
She’s fine, she thinks. She’s moved on.
But when she returns to the place where everything started – the place where her mother developed a prescription drug addiction, the place where Lewis ruined her life, everything rushes quickly back to the surface. Alex is an emotional wreck, something that is entirely out of character for her. As if things weren’t complicated enough, an unexpected family reunion forces some of her mother’s secrets into the light. Struggling to maintain some sense of normalcy, Alex befriends Carolyn from the local newspaper. Despite all the chaos, she begins to feel a connection with Carolyn that feels like more than just friendship… Throw in an article she volunteered to write on Juliette, an old flame that maybe hasn’t quite flickered out, and you have a recipe for disaster.
My Thoughts…
Wow. What a rollercoaster of emotions! This book was utterly captivating. I was fully absorbed by Alex’s story and was rooting for the love interest/s at each twist and turn. Alex’s anger at the hand she’d been dealt in life mixed with bittersweet recollections from her past were the perfect recipe for a compelling read.
I really appreciated reading a book featuring LGBTQ+ themes that didn’t revolve around the main character discovering her sexuality. Obviously those books are fantastic and wholeheartedly deserve a place on the bookshelf, but it was so nice to read about a main character who was already sure of themselves (at least in that department).
I thought the author did an excellent job of exploring both the difficulties of coming out as gay in a small town as well as the reality of dating and meeting people as an adult. The book followed the evolution of Alex’s love life in the form of reminiscence about her first love from high school, then her issues in her most recent long-term relationship, and finally the beginnings of something new. I loved seeing the feelings bloom with the new love interest and was so happy with the ending (even if it wasn’t the stereotypical ending that I was expecting).
The one critique I had of this book was the slight confusion I had at points, particularly towards the end. There were a few times where I had to re-read the page because I was confused about who was actually in the room during the conversation. There were some portions of dialogue that were missing bits of clarification in between to show the setting more obviously. Although this took me out of the story a little bit, it was easy to fall back into the world once I turned the page.
If you like reading books with LGBTQ+ themes including gay/lesbian and transgender, this is a beautiful story that’s easy to fly through in a few sittings.
On her way home from work one day, she gets a call from her brother (probably to overshare some tidbit about Tortoise, his pet cat). She lets it go to voicemail, but then he calls again. Not in the mood for a boring conversation about nothing, Alex is frustrated when she finally picks up.
“Mom’s dead.”
Oh. Right. So there’s that.
Soon enough, Alex is catching a bus to her hometown in Maryland. She hasn’t been back since she graduated high school when she high-tailed it out of there as fast as she possibly could. Aside from the mandatory weekly phone calls with her mother, she hasn’t seen her in years and now… well. Now she’s dead.
Alex grew up with her brother and their single mother. Their father left them when they were little and it was only her mom around to look after them. She must have cared about her children in a strange, twisted way, but she was far from a perfect mother. Even now, fifteen years later, Alex harbors the pains from her childhood in a metaphorical cardboard box inside her head, closed up tight and hidden in the depths of her metaphorical closet.
She’s fine, she thinks. She’s moved on.
But when she returns to the place where everything started – the place where her mother developed a prescription drug addiction, the place where Lewis ruined her life, everything rushes quickly back to the surface. Alex is an emotional wreck, something that is entirely out of character for her. As if things weren’t complicated enough, an unexpected family reunion forces some of her mother’s secrets into the light. Struggling to maintain some sense of normalcy, Alex befriends Carolyn from the local newspaper. Despite all the chaos, she begins to feel a connection with Carolyn that feels like more than just friendship… Throw in an article she volunteered to write on Juliette, an old flame that maybe hasn’t quite flickered out, and you have a recipe for disaster.
My Thoughts…
Wow. What a rollercoaster of emotions! This book was utterly captivating. I was fully absorbed by Alex’s story and was rooting for the love interest/s at each twist and turn. Alex’s anger at the hand she’d been dealt in life mixed with bittersweet recollections from her past were the perfect recipe for a compelling read.
I really appreciated reading a book featuring LGBTQ+ themes that didn’t revolve around the main character discovering her sexuality. Obviously those books are fantastic and wholeheartedly deserve a place on the bookshelf, but it was so nice to read about a main character who was already sure of themselves (at least in that department).
I thought the author did an excellent job of exploring both the difficulties of coming out as gay in a small town as well as the reality of dating and meeting people as an adult. The book followed the evolution of Alex’s love life in the form of reminiscence about her first love from high school, then her issues in her most recent long-term relationship, and finally the beginnings of something new. I loved seeing the feelings bloom with the new love interest and was so happy with the ending (even if it wasn’t the stereotypical ending that I was expecting).
The one critique I had of this book was the slight confusion I had at points, particularly towards the end. There were a few times where I had to re-read the page because I was confused about who was actually in the room during the conversation. There were some portions of dialogue that were missing bits of clarification in between to show the setting more obviously. Although this took me out of the story a little bit, it was easy to fall back into the world once I turned the page.
If you like reading books with LGBTQ+ themes including gay/lesbian and transgender, this is a beautiful story that’s easy to fly through in a few sittings.
karlcalagan's review
4.0
HAPPY PUB DAY! I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
find more book reviews on my book blog!
You'll Be Fine is about Alex who goes back to her hometown after the tragic death of her mother. To take her mind off of things, she also takes an assignment interviewing local restaurateur and high school ex Juliette, and as the story unfolded their relationship turned out to be much more complicated than at first glance.
You’ll Be Fine perfectly towed the line between soapy, family melodrama and humorous lightheartedness. It also took an interesting look at grief, and embodied further that no two people handle grief the same way, especially if it’s for/about a person one has a complicated past and relationship with, just as Alex had had with her mother.
Jen Michalski did amazing in showing the complexities behind the relationships of the characters, particularly our main character Alex’s relationship with her family--it was complex and layered and never one note or archetypal, which I think helped ground the story in realism in a way that doesn’t completely disregard the escapist, entertaining element I personally want in my fiction.
The book was rich with flashbacks which I usually dislike in books, but I found that it added to the story and not necessarily took away from it. None of them were drawn out by any means, which tends to be my usual complaint about it.
The last thing I loved was, of course, the representation. Our main character was lesbian, and the book tackled her coming out and her romantic relationships with women with such care. There was some depiction of homophobia and queer trauma, but it never felt like it was included for the sake of having a queer character go through it and come out all Changed and New and Better.
Overall, You’ll Be Fine was an entertaining and heartfelt story that was at times comforting even with the subject matter it dealt with. Highly recommend for fans of soapy, family dramas and complex queer leads!
find more book reviews on my book blog!
You'll Be Fine is about Alex who goes back to her hometown after the tragic death of her mother. To take her mind off of things, she also takes an assignment interviewing local restaurateur and high school ex Juliette, and as the story unfolded their relationship turned out to be much more complicated than at first glance.
You’ll Be Fine perfectly towed the line between soapy, family melodrama and humorous lightheartedness. It also took an interesting look at grief, and embodied further that no two people handle grief the same way, especially if it’s for/about a person one has a complicated past and relationship with, just as Alex had had with her mother.
Jen Michalski did amazing in showing the complexities behind the relationships of the characters, particularly our main character Alex’s relationship with her family--it was complex and layered and never one note or archetypal, which I think helped ground the story in realism in a way that doesn’t completely disregard the escapist, entertaining element I personally want in my fiction.
The book was rich with flashbacks which I usually dislike in books, but I found that it added to the story and not necessarily took away from it. None of them were drawn out by any means, which tends to be my usual complaint about it.
The last thing I loved was, of course, the representation. Our main character was lesbian, and the book tackled her coming out and her romantic relationships with women with such care. There was some depiction of homophobia and queer trauma, but it never felt like it was included for the sake of having a queer character go through it and come out all Changed and New and Better.
Overall, You’ll Be Fine was an entertaining and heartfelt story that was at times comforting even with the subject matter it dealt with. Highly recommend for fans of soapy, family dramas and complex queer leads!
booksandsalt's review
4.0
I LOVE sloths and the adorable martini drinking dude on the cover was 100% why I decided to request this book from Netgalley. I'm so glad I did because, even though this book is out of my comfort zone, I really enjoyed it.
In You'll be Fine, Alex is a 30-something woman who is having a rough go of things. She was recently dumped via letter by her live-in girlfriend and then comes to find out that her estranged mother has passed away. Alex returns to her small hometown to see her brother and help him sort out their mother's passing. While she's there she rekindles an old love, sparks up a new one, and discovers what family really means to her.
This book was not the light romance/drama that I expected but rather an intense family drama with a sprinkling of comedy. It was different for sure but I thought all of the characters were wonderful and really developed over the course of the book. I'd really like an Aunt Johanna in my life lol.
My only gripes are that I wish there was more to the ending, as I like 100% closure in books. Also there DEFINITELY should be trigger warnings at the start of this book! With such a light fluffy cover, I did not expect sexual assault to be a major component of this book and I would have liked a heads up.
Overall I gave this book 4 stars on my Goodreads & I will absolutely keep a look out for whatever this author does next - she has such a way with character building!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
In You'll be Fine, Alex is a 30-something woman who is having a rough go of things. She was recently dumped via letter by her live-in girlfriend and then comes to find out that her estranged mother has passed away. Alex returns to her small hometown to see her brother and help him sort out their mother's passing. While she's there she rekindles an old love, sparks up a new one, and discovers what family really means to her.
This book was not the light romance/drama that I expected but rather an intense family drama with a sprinkling of comedy. It was different for sure but I thought all of the characters were wonderful and really developed over the course of the book. I'd really like an Aunt Johanna in my life lol.
My only gripes are that I wish there was more to the ending, as I like 100% closure in books. Also there DEFINITELY should be trigger warnings at the start of this book! With such a light fluffy cover, I did not expect sexual assault to be a major component of this book and I would have liked a heads up.
Overall I gave this book 4 stars on my Goodreads & I will absolutely keep a look out for whatever this author does next - she has such a way with character building!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
More...