This is a sweet, relatable story about choices, friendships, loss, grief, the stories we tell ourselves and each other, failure, self-acceptance and new beginnings. Evvie Drake loses her husband the same day she was planning on leaving him. Except nobody knew she was planning on leaving him; everyone thinks she is the grieving widow. Really she’s consumed with guilt that she’s not the grieving widow. Dean Tenney is a major league pitcher who has a case of the “yips,” meaning he’s lost his ability to pitch. Through a mutual friend, Dean rents the apartment in Evvie’s house, hoping some time in a quiet town in Maine will help him figure out his next steps.

Evvie works as a transcriber and has a love of stories. She shares lots of engaging anecdotes and factoids throughout the novel. She and Dean form a friendship as they support each other and both try and figure out what comes next in their lives.

I really enjoyed this story and Evvie and Dean’s personal journeys. It was quirky, fun, and real all at once. It compassionately captured that personal growth and moving on can be messy, hard, and so worth it. Enjoy!

Thanks to #Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of #EvvieDrakeStartsOver in exchange for an honest review.

Such a charming, well written story. The “mysterious sad lady” and the “exiled f*** up” join forces to help each other through the most difficult times of their lives. Evvie is dealing with guilt and grief over her husband, who was killed in a car accident on the same day she planned to leave him. Dean is mourning the loss of his career as a New York Yankee after suffering from a bad case of the Yips. Heavy stuff for sure, but Holmes somehow keeps the mood light and doesn’t make us wallow in their suffering.

One fun note - one of the characters tells another, “Just get her name right. As she always says, ‘Evvie like Chevy, not Evie like Max Greevey.’” I love how Holmes tucked this bit of dialogue into the book to help make sure her readers were saying Evvie’s name correctly!

Overall, a super enjoyable read that I’d recommend to those who like romance but aren’t into the super racy and/or super cheesy stuff. Hope to see more like this from Holmes in the future!

Thanks NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

This book is a combo of women's fiction/romance. There is a romantic storyline but I felt like the book was more about Evvie's and Dean's personal struggles. Dean's a pro ball player who all of a sudden can't pitch (not sure I had a ton of sympathy for his situation as I don't really get sports). Evvie was a really sympathetic character - she lost her husband in an accident on the very day that she was finally planning to leave him. Her guilt over this day, as well as her guilt that she doesn't feel grief, are very relatable, and I thought she was a really interesting and unique character. I enjoyed the side plot of Evvie and Andy's friendship, although to be honest I felt like the chemistry between Evvie & Dean wasn't really there and was half hoping that at the end Evvie & Andy would end up together.

3 stars because, like I said, the romance was a little flat for me. They were lacking a spark. Still worth reading for the human stories, and getting to know the character of Evvie.

This was a really wonderful recommendation from the Modern Mrs. Darcy summer reading guide. It was a perfect summer novel. Deeper than a simple romantic comedy, with likeable characters and some unpredictable twists and turns before a satisfying ending.

Trigger warnings: conversational coarse language, emotional abuse

As a fan of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour I was excited to hear that one of the people on it wrote a novel. Unfortunately I just had a hard time getting into the book. I felt like I never really got what Evvie was feeling. Maybe she just wasn't descriptive enough? I really wanted to like the book, but it just didn't happen. I would check out more from the author if she writes any more books.

I received a copy of this book to review from NetGalley, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This debut novel is categorized as a romance and 'chick lit', and it is, but it's more. It's about friendships, redemption, forgiveness of yourself and others, secrets, witty banter, and figuring out your path when you are an adult who has to find a new one. The main characters do fall in love (this is not a huge plot spoiler), but they also do the work to find themselves first, and I liked that. Great book! Great summer read! Would also be a good book club choice as there is a good amount to discuss.


(I will post review on amazon and barnes & noble but I am unable to do so until publication date)

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review-I loved this book! I love smart women's fiction, ones where there is great dialogue, interesting characters and settings, a little romance and a little heartbreak. This one had it all-Evvie Drake's story has the right balance of humor and sorrow to feel completely believable-and even the surprise of meeting (and falling) for Dean, a down-on-his luck Major League baseball pitcher feels right. It wasn't surprising to me to read that the author is an accomplished contributor to NPR, she has wonderful insights into what makes people tick. I really enjoyed her description of small town life in Maine-I recognized so much of it from our trips to Ogunquit.

Love a story with a baseball player - even one no longer in the game. This story was so good. Evvie had to deal with what she knows was happening in her life and marriage on the day her husband died. It was quite the process for her. Great debut.

I really enjoyed ready this book. I’d been in a reading slump, for a couple of weeks. This was the perfect book to bring me out of my slump. I’m a huge Yankees fan, so that’s a star for me. I loved Evvie and Dean. This book had romance, humor, brink of tears, and so much more. I can’t wait to read more from this author!! Great debut novel!! Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine books for providing me an early copy.

One of the best books I’ve read this year! If you are looking for a perfect summer read, this is it! What starts as a sad beginning will have you smiling and feeling good the rest of the way through. The characters are believable and likable, romantic without being sappy or trashy. It’s a true second chances story, and although I secretly hoped Evvie and Andy would finally fall in love, I was so happy they each found a great match. Great writing, especially for a debut novel!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll admit that I really wanted to like this book...so I'm very glad that I did. I’ve listened to Linda on Pop Culture Happy Hour forEVER. After countless hours of her in my ears, I just want good things for her. :) Overall this was sweet but not treacly, sharp-eyed, and a delightful read. It was infused with feminist perspective, which I appreciated deeply, but still had the tingly feels of a classic rom-com. (So see, publishers/film studios - we really can have both!) Lighthearted but dark-leaning (in ways that made the characters feel real and deepened their relationships), this is a summer read for our times.

This heartfelt debut novel is full of charming and witty characters who will steal your heart. Expecting a light and fluffy romance, I was pleasantly surprised by complex characters that I came to know rather deeply - and while they are struggling through dark times, are truly nice and good and pure. There was something very real about the way these people were flawed; even as they stepped forward into healing, there was back-pedalling as well. While this is definitely not the rom-com I was hoping for, it did harbor a sweet little romance inside. Holmes definitely has a way with words, and will be on my TBR list in the future.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this advanced copy for review.

Evvie (rhymes with Chevy) Drake finds herself starting over after the unexpected death of her husband. Her best friend Andy asks her to rent out a room in her house to his friend Dean, a disgraced baseball player who needs a place to hide. What follows could be the plot of a Hallmark movie.

While predicable, it is a perfect feel-good read.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Thank you to Random House Ballentine and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hooked from the first pages. Evvie is leaving her husband. And then she's not. What comes after has the kind of witty dialogue you read out loud to other people.

Normally I don't go for any of the romance stuff. Had I known that this was going to be what it was, I may not have read it. It's really no mystery where the story is going. It is all about the journey on this one. It took a few days to read only because I was so busy and traveling. Some parts became a little cheesy, but it was charming.

I’ve been a fan of Linda Holmes for about six years now. I first listened to her podcast, Pop Culture Happy Hour, when I was studying for the bar exam in 2013. Everything in my life was turned up to 11, and all I could think about every waking minute was whether I was going to pass the most intense test of my life. PCHH was a godsend during that time—it was insightful, nuanced discussion of pop culture, delivered in the style of sitting and talking with friends (particularly when all of my friends IRL were either also stressed about the bar exam or didn’t understand why I was so on edge).

This book is absolutely not PCHH, but like sipping two drastically different cocktails made with the same gin, you get the Linda Holmes-y essence that underlies both. In the first 11% of the book or so, we had two Law & Order references, discussion of cozy sweaters, and a public radio mention. Lady, you are pandering to exactly the right people!

Even if you haven’t ever heard of Linda Holmes before, pick up this book because she has clearly studied the romance novel* and just… gets it. Both characters have arcs that center around personal growth (and not just falling in love). Both characters have complex friendships and familial relationships that are shown on the page. It is the platonic ideal of a (generally) light, fun romance.** It’s a story about keeping on going and maybe changing directions when you realize having “checked all the boxes” doesn’t mean you’re done living after your mid-thirties—you can still change and grown and do stuff! Finally, it’s one of my favorite books so far this year.


*I’d peg the romance/sexy times factor at PG-13 level, if you are concerned with such things
**Well, it’s really light except for Evvie’s struggle to cope with now-ended emotional abuse

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes was a fun, sweet read. The book is a fictional novel based on the time after Evvie Drake’s husband died when she was trying to find her way out of her stupor. I enjoyed the main character of Evvie and felt that her character, a fixer was a character I could be friends with. According to Goodreads, this book seems to be linda Holmes’s first fictional novel.

Evvie Drake’s husband died and she has been stuck in a stupor since his death. She seems to be struggling without him. Her bestie, Andy asks her to help him out and rent an apartment in her house to a friend, and ex pitcher. Dean moves in and they agree to not talk about the two major elephants in the room, her dead husband and his dead career. As time moves on they become closer and even avoided conversations happen and where things become clearer.

I enjoyed the book Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes for various reasons. I enjoyed the fact it took place in midcoast Maine and the structure of a small town that expands during the summer. I enjoyed the relationship between Dean and Evvie. I understood some of Evvie’s grief and wanted her to move forward with Dean. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes was a fun, sweet read.

This is a new author for me, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be reading a lot more of her books. Evie Drake Starts Over is about a young widow who tries to work through the death of her doctor husband, who she didn’t love, and all the lies that developed throughout the marriage with her abusive husband. This isn’t a dark story, but it does have some very life altering events in Evvie’s life that has shaped her into the woman she is, at least until Dean, the washed up Yankees pitcher comes into her life. Both of these characters tugged at my heartstrings, but I found this story to be full of laughter, sass, tender moments, and life lessons that everyone can benefit from. Very well written story, loved the relationship between Evvie and Andy. Evvie’s father and Dean’s parents were pretty special too. Webster as a great addition at the end. Well worth the read!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

Evvie (pronounced eh-vee) is not a misanthrope. She's not particularly socially awkward. She just... doesn't really feel like it right now. A young widow, her husband died literally as she was preparing to leave him (he deserved to be left). Except that nobody knows that; they all think she's properly grieving for him. So, you know: guilt.

Dean is a former Yankees pitcher who's got the yips. He's tried everything to get his arm back, but nothing works. His childhood best friend is also Evvie's best friend, and it just so happens that Evvie also has an apartment in her house that would be perfect for Dean while he tries to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life.

What follows is a fairly predictable boy-meets-girl story, with a few false notes. But it is oh, so lovely. Reading about Dean and Evvie made my heart happy. Both characters leap off the page (seriously, I was tempted to look up and see if they were actually in my living room with me) and their trials and tribulations are both realistic and compassionately drawn. Is this a perfect book? No. Do I think it's going to be very popular this summer? Yes. Do I highly recommend it? Even more yes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️— Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (Out 6/25)
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Thank you to @netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy!
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Evvie is a widow. Everyone thinks she is grieving but they would be wrong. Then her best friend Andy’s childhood friend has the “yips”. Dean can no longer pitch the ball and he’s been forced to retire from the majors. Dean moves into Evvie’s apartment out back and the two bond over loss.
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What I loved: So much. I loved Evvie and Andy’s relationship as much, if not more than Evvie and Deans. I also enjoyed Monica a lot. So I guess what I’m saying is there isn’t a character I didn’t like 😂. This honestly was just a fun read!
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What I didn’t: Nothing really stood out. The book got 4 stars because it was super predictable. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying it.
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Recommend to anyone who just wants a story w a little bit of real life tragedy but with a lot of happiness!
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Evvie Drake is recently widowed and has shut herself off from her life. Dean Tenney is a struggling ex-pro baseball player who is dealing with the “yips”. The two lives collide when Dean rents out the apartment in Evvie’s too large house. This is a story of getting on with life after being dealt a hand full of hardship. There is heartache, laughter, romance, and a lot of fun in this light and fun summer read. The characters will draw you in and the story will keep you engaged. 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️