I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

This was described as an Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine type of book and I didn't necessarily get that. This was sad but no light heartedness to be found.

The cover art for this book is very cute and whimsy, it fits this quirky little tail perfectly. This book has some of the most memorable characters, they are weird and eccentric and neurodivergent and make for a very interesting story. I loved the ending of this and how straightforward it gets at the end.

I really wanted to love this novel but unfortunately, for me, it was a chore to get through. I think there was the making of a good story inside these pages but Suzy Krause tried too hard to create quirky characters, so instead they ended up feeling more like caricatures. Valencia, the 35 year old debt collector, was overly dark and her extreme anxieties were suffocating as opposed to endearing. While Mrs Valentine, who was meant to be light and whimsical , read like a trifling, batty old woman. I think this book suffered from lack of experience and the author trying to hard to be crafty. I was able to deduce early on what the big reveals would be and the convoluted plot was more tiresome than engaging. Lastly comparing this book to Eleanor Oliphant only emphasizes what Valencia and Valentine is lacking. Sorry, this book was not amongst my favorites.

An interesting story linking a 35 year old girl with all sorts of problems and an 87 year old woman, I did however find myself a bit bogged down in the ocd issues

This really tried to be next Eleanor Oliphant but that comparison was too big of an endeavor. It wasn’t great to be quite honest but it wasn’t horrible.

I read this last year but have only now got round to reviewing it. The story left me a little flat, although I did enjoy the alternating pov narrative.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

Valencia has crippling OCD and her fears make life difficult. Her two biggest fears are flying and turning 35. So for her 35th birthday her therapist suggests she takes herself on holiday.

Mrs Valentine is 80ish and very lonely, so when she gets a new cleaning lady she has a captive audience to tell her stories too.

Unfortunately I didn’t really like this one. I wasn’t a fan of the characters and couldn’t finish it.

ARC provided by Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.

I really loved this one! Valencia was such an interesting heroine and being into her head made this story much more meaningful and deep. OCD representation in this book is quite heavy so proceed with caution, but I would highly recommend this to anyone!

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the early copy.

I checked out the first few chapters but could not connect with the writing style.

My enjoyment of the overall book was okay. My main issue is had trouble connecting to the main characters. I also wasn't a major fan of the writing. There were a few parts throughout the book that felt messy and unorganized. I can also say the romance was not my favorite.

I received an advance digital copy of this book from the author, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ms. Krause's novel is quirky and funny. A good read to just relax and enjoy.

4 out of 5 stars.

„Maybe the simple act of being alive doesn’t seem all that important until it stops feeling involuntary and starts feeling like something you have to work at.“

I feel a little bad for giving this only 2 stars. I guess I just read it at a wrong time, because it really depressed me in my already down low, or else it would have been a 3 star book for me. I could see similarities to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, but this one was way too confusing to keep me interested for the long run, while I devoured Eleanour in less than two days.

„Anyway“, he went on. „I don’t put too much stock in being well traveled. What good is going anywhere if you can’t find joy in staying still first, right?“

The writing is fine, the characters convincingly portrayed but oh so sad. It was hard to sympathize with them as there were many mental health issues overly repeated and dealt with. I wasn’t sure where this book was going and it kept getting more confusing with every new chapter. I felt more invested in Valencia’s story than in Mrs. Valentine’s, though both of their narratives were very slow and dragging to begin with. The fact that one never really knows what’s the truth and what’s just imagination makes it even more frustrating, as I only kept reading to find answers. The revelations at the end and the way the puzzle was pieced together was quite a surprise and in hindsight really well done. A very original way to connect the two narratives and wrap up a book. I just wish it was more engaging, as I find Mrs. Valentine to be very tiresome and tedious after one of her many stories.

„Rebuilding, change, growth – those things are so beautiful. Beauty is on a different plane than happy and sad or easy and hard; I’m sure you know that. A song can be sad and beautiful at the same time. Life too.“

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

This was an enjoyable, light read based around a barely functioning 35 year old girl and an 87 year old lady. It was a pleasant read, perfect for a wet day.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I had a hard time getting through it, although the main character(s) were interesting. Valencia has OCD, and goes through life with the voice in her head catastrophizing everything. Mrs. Valentine likes to tell stories, and has a captive audience in Anna, her neighbor's granddaughter. There are some twists and turns which I won't spoil here, but to me, it lacked hope and warmth until the very end of the book.

2.5 Stars!

Last year I read and loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and therefore when this book came across my radar, I was pretty sure I would enjoy reading this one as well, However, I was sorely dissapointed by Valencia and Valentine because of that particular comparison as this book is nothing like Eleanor and has a sad, dark and depressing undertone to it.

Honestly, I don't have a problem in reading sad books and this book deals with quite a few mental health related issues which piqued my interest in the first place but for the major part Valencia and Valentine felt like a drag. I wasn't engaged by the plot and found it to be confusing a lot of times, in fact, it was only towards the end that this book started making sense to me and by then it was too little too late. The characters were no different, I couldn't relate to them and found them repetitive and monotonous. Author, Suzy Krause writing definitely has potential and part of the reason I saw this book to the end but other than that, I think this book wasn't for me.

I wish I could have enjoyed this more but alas!

A sweet read that wasn't for me but could definitely be for the right reader! Looking forward to more from this author as they continue to grow their voice and develop as a writer!

Valencia, a timid debt collector with crippling OCD, is afraid of many things, but the two that scare her most are flying and turning thirty-five. To confront those fears, Valencia’s therapist suggests that she fly somewhere—anywhere—before her upcoming birthday. And as Valencia begins a telephone romance with a man from New York, she suddenly has a destination in mind. There’s only one problem—he might not actually exist.

Mrs. Valentine is an eccentric old woman desperate for company, be it from neighbors, telemarketers, or even the funeral director (when you’re her age, you go to a lot of funerals). So she’s thrilled when the new cleaning girl provides a listening ear for her life’s story—a tale of storybook love and incredible adventures around the world with her husband before his mysterious and sudden disappearance.

The stories of Valencia and Mrs. Valentine may at first appear to have nothing in common…but then again, nothing in life is as straightforward as it seems.

This was really confusing to read and the narration was all over the place.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. I have mixed opinions about this book. I did end up enjoying the story when all was said and done but it was a bit of a slow burn for me. I'd prefer for a storyline to have peaks and valleys throughout (as opposed to staying mostly in the valley until midway through...) Overall it was a cute read (though sad/heartbreaking at moments). I always enjoy two perspectives in a novel. I'd recommend for a lounge/rainy day!