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A review by lmarsh
Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
Was able to read this book through my work, and I absolutely loved it. The main character, Maybell, loses her job at the start of the book, but she then inherits a rotting manor on a sprawling estate from her eccentric great-aunt. When she arrives, she is shocked to recognize the groundskeeper's face (I won't explain why--read and find out!), and for some reason he also seems to be going out of his way to avoid her. Not-really-spoiler: It's because he's extremely shy.
The two eventually start communicating via notes and begin opening up to each other despite their mutual anxiety. Eventually they start on a collaborative story, with Maybell leaving written passages and Wesley, the groundskeeper, illustrating what happens next. It was at this point that I started swooning and couldn't stop. How tender and wholesome is that?!?!? I could not stop babbling about this book to my friends.
I loved so many parts of this book. The writing is fresh and funny, and Maybell's (very unreliable) narration is highly relatable (at least to me, a twentysomething). The book also shamelessly leans into romance tropes and somehow manages to pull it off without becoming unbearably cheesy. And, as a nerd myself, I enjoyed the various nerdy references Maybell makes. To top it all off, Maybell also learns about and grows into herself over the arc of the story.
My one qualm was with Wesley's particular brand of shyness, which is actually specific to women. This just rubbed me the wrong way, although Wesley himself is delightful and not at all misogynistic, just...very afraid of women. And (minor spoilers for arc of Wesley's family/backstory)his family has basically cut him off and taunted him for not being in a relationship, and then as soon as he mentions that he is in a relationship, they are all right as rain and engage in some wholesome family activity. . I just wish the development here had been a little more nuanced.
Overall, this is a hilarious, tender, slow-burn love story that I highly recommend and could not stop talking about for days. Read it!
The two eventually start communicating via notes and begin opening up to each other despite their mutual anxiety. Eventually they start on a collaborative story, with Maybell leaving written passages and Wesley, the groundskeeper, illustrating what happens next. It was at this point that I started swooning and couldn't stop. How tender and wholesome is that?!?!? I could not stop babbling about this book to my friends.
I loved so many parts of this book. The writing is fresh and funny, and Maybell's (very unreliable) narration is highly relatable (at least to me, a twentysomething). The book also shamelessly leans into romance tropes and somehow manages to pull it off without becoming unbearably cheesy. And, as a nerd myself, I enjoyed the various nerdy references Maybell makes. To top it all off, Maybell also learns about and grows into herself over the arc of the story.
My one qualm was with Wesley's particular brand of shyness, which is actually specific to women. This just rubbed me the wrong way, although Wesley himself is delightful and not at all misogynistic, just...very afraid of women. And (minor spoilers for arc of Wesley's family/backstory)
Overall, this is a hilarious, tender, slow-burn love story that I highly recommend and could not stop talking about for days. Read it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship