I absolutely adored this novel. Couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day. Such an adorable romance with great, well developed characters. I’m definitely looking out for Holmes’ next book! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I love Linda Holmes, and a large part of me was worried that my love of her commentary and critique could impact how I read her fiction. But lemme tell you, I loved this book all on its own. I may not have picked it up otherwise if not for Holmes' name on the cover (sports-adjacent/related romances are not my preferred genre, despite the fact that I've read three of them in the last six months and they've all been fantastic), but anyway now I apparently have feelings about baseball throwing ("pitching", or so I gather it's called).

I can gush a lot about this book. How I texted screenshots with my other ARC-readers (fellow PCHH listeners), how I loved Evvie's relationship with her father, how I adored the ending and the book's pacing, how I felt the relationships grow and change over the seasons.

This book is a delightful weekend read, light but not fluffy, soft but not too gentle. It will appeal to readers who have never explored the romance genre as well as romance aficionados. Readers (like me) who pick it up because of Holmes' pop culture writing will find the same insight, warmth, and cleverness that we love about her work.

Anyway, I now need this book in hardback. It's one of those.

This is such a lovely story. I’m sad it’s over. I couldn’t get enough of Evvie and Dean. They are two perfectly imperfect people. Women who have been in unhappy marriages will relate to Evvie. She’s the kind of woman you feel you could be friends with. Her romance with Dean felt genuine and real. Both of their insecurities were valid and relatable. I think you’ll want to add this to your TBR for June.

This is a sweet book that’s a fast read, written by someone whose work I’ve been reading since she was recapping The Amazing Race for Television Without Pity.

Evvie Drake is a young widow whose husband was a douche, and she feels guilty that she doesn’t miss him. Dean Tenney is a pitcher with a bad case of the yips, drummed out of MLB and not feeling great about it.

So, two broken people. Both are fixers, but they point their powers at other people instead of themselves which is, as we all know, not the best way to do things. Predictably, they fall for each other, but it’s what you expect in this kind of book, and Holmes doesn’t make her characters jump through hoops or do anything that would make their relationship seem unlikely or overly dramatic.

As a baseball enthusiast, I expected to be disappointed in some inconsistencies with the ins and outs of the game, but Holmes is detailed enough to let the reader know that SHE knows her stuff, and vague enough not to be boring. Dean’s yips made me recall Rick Ankiel’s struggles with the same, and I was pleased to see Ankiel’s memoir was part of Holmes’ research.

I have a lot of built-in good will for this book, but it’s not abused. I genuinely enjoyed reading it for its own sake.

I received a digital arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A charming tale of love and loss. I've been a fan of Holmes' writing since she penned recaps for The Amazing Race on Television Without Pity and currently listen to her on Pop Culture Happy Hour; I was very excited to discover last year that she was writing a book, so it felt like kismet to acquire this particular advanced copy. The story here is deeper and more personal than those in your standard women's lit or romance novels, and I appreciated that it grappled with so many complex issues in an engaging manner. Holmes' deft, witty writing makes these well-drawn characters feel so incredibly real that I hated to leave them behind upon reaching the last page. Very enjoyable.

3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars

This was a fun read. Just having read a heavy-duty literary fiction novel, I was ready for something like this. Evvie Drake is a young woman who decides to start her life over. Her best and platonic friend Andy knows Evvie needs the extra money and talks her into renting the apartment attached to the house to his childhood friend Dean. Dean is a former star pitcher with the New York Yankees who has recently lost his career thanks to a case of the “yips.” These are our three main characters.

This is a book about many things, including honesty with both oneself and others, family relationships, mental health issues, forgiveness, romance, and new beginnings. Most of the characters are very likeable, and it was especially easy to cheer for Evvie. The Maine setting is different, and Ms. Holmes does a good job bringing the setting into the story. There is depth to the tale, but I was hoping for more—this might relate to the fact that I have been reading some meaty novels in recent months. Despite that, I really enjoyed the story, which drew me in right away and held my interest throughout.

I recommend Evvie Drake Starts Over to anyone looking for an interesting and fun feel-good read. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Holmes comes up with next.

Thanks to Net Galley, Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books, and Linda Holmes for an advanced review copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Congratulations Linda Holmes! You have done the almost impossible: You crafted a first novel that zings off the page in the first paragraph and never stops. The dialogue is laugh out loud funny (I was asked to quit several times.) and an original and intriguing tale of an unlikely heroine named after a town in Minnesota and a major league pitcher suffering from "the Yips".

Evvie, named after Evaleth by her runaway mother, has just decided to leave her abusive doctor husband when she gets a call that changes everything. Dr. Tim, who was her high school boyfriend and husband dies in a car crash and she is STUCK. How can she now tell her best friend Andy and her Dad and her in-laws that Tim was a mean, nasty gaslighting husband. He "accidentally" pushed her against a dresser, bruising her back and then denied it. He offered to bring pizza for dinner and berated her for not feeding him when he arrived home late. Not exactly what you think of as spousal abuse, but certainly enough to damage. And between him and her mother, Evvie is damaged.

Evvie's lifelong platonic friend Andy becomes her mainstay following the accident. Then, enter Andy's friend Dean whose career ends when his pitching arm gives out and he rents an apartment in Evvie's house.. So, two people with traumatic life occurrences are thrown together. But wait, nothing here is predictable or what you expect or happens when you expect it.

Don't delay in buying and reading this book. It's a guaranteed page-turner by a popular NPR podcaster. More, please! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the privilege of reading an early copy.

I was so excited to read this book because I'd read great reviews but.... I just couldn't get into it. Every time Evvey told a story and I completely zoned out. It was just hard for me to get into this one unfortunately. Maybe because I'm comparing it to several amazing books that I just finished. Not sure but I couldn't connect with the characters. Love the idea of baseball and the location of Maine though.

Evvie (like Chevy) Drake Starts Over is one of those books that just feels good to read. Don't get me wrong, you will be heartbroken at moments, but those moments are so worth it. The story begins with Evvie Drake's less-than-stellar husband, but beloved town doctor, and husband's death. Evvie is struggling to reconcile her feelings about his death when her best friend, Andy, offers his friend and struggling ex-Yankee player, Dean, to Evvie's in-house apartment. So while Dean is trying to get away from his life as a struggling professional baseball player and find his renewed purpose in life, he finds himself in the company Evvie, who is also struggling to find her next life adventure. What follows is a story of losing yourself, finding yourself, and helping others along the way. It is also a story about baseball, dreams, and friendship. Couldn't recommend this one enough!

Received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest opinion.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. I am super happy with the story that I got. Evvie seems to have gotten the short end of the stick with love the first time around, but gotten the best part the second time. Dean is a likable character, and I rooted for them from the beginning. They both had baggage, but were able to get it behind them to have a fresh start. Great cast of characters all around. Awesome story.

A sweet rom com full of heart, realistic characters and great dialogue. This book is perfect for reading on your back porch on an early summer day, hard to put down, and great for fans of Jennifer Weiner and Lianne Moriarty.

I happily accepted a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review, however I must admit I intended to read this book the moment it is published – I’ve read Linda’s writing on pop culture for many years and have always been a fan. This book is a really great addition to the traditional summer beach reads. Its characters are well developed, there are other important relationships beyond the central coupling, and it provides the quaint location and quirky locals that many fans of this genre look forward to. What I liked most is that her adult characters acted like adults – so many books rely on maddeningly unrealistic conflict that could be resolved with one five minute honest conversation. Here, the conflict is derived from believable baggage one could expect from adults in their 30’s. This book is fun, has a specific voice, and it very rereadable. It’s no problem if you don’t like sports, but if you’re a baseball fan, it adds a little something extra. Recommended.

From the first few pages I knew I would love this book. Evvie is one of my most favorite characters in recent memory, and her world and the people in it charmed me from page one. This is a book I would recommend to nearly anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

Posted to Goodreads 3/10/19

I loved Evvie Drake! Not just another poor widow who tries to rebuild her life novel. Sure the meet cute is seen a mile away but that never stops me from continuing reading if the characters are well drawn. Obviously, I kept reading!

As a huge fan of the writing Linda Holmes does for NPR and the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, I was thrilled to have an opportunity to read this book. It isn't one I would have ever chosen for myself based on the description. I would choose a thriller or fantasy novel over a romance based in reality any day of the week. And I can't think of a sport more boring to watch than baseball. Despite my reticence regarding the subject matter, I was drawn in by Linda's singular voice. The characters were fully fleshed out people that seemed real to me immediately. The plot was rather standard and the ending predictable; however, I still enjoyed the ride to the end. I was utterly charmed by Linda's writing and would recommend this book to any pop culture fanatics that might not otherwise choose a romance.

Lovely read wonderfully written characters .The story drew me right in the difficult moments the romance two wounded people both hurting .A delicious read one I will be recommending to my friends.#netgallet #randomhouse Ballentinebooks,

When a novel is well written, with a good story line and characters that touch you, it is a pleasure to read. Evvie decides to leave her husband the same night he has a fatal accident. Relying on her closest friend, and her family, she hides behind the mask of grief without revealing the truth. Her efforts to move on escalate when she meets Dean, a baseball player who has lost his pitching ability and is also finding his way. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and thank Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved this book. Evvie's voice was smart, fresh and relate-ably flawed. I would totally be friends with this character. The romantic elements were sexy and real and I found myself developing a crush on Dean myself. I loved Evvie's friendship with Andy, although I wished very much she had at least one female friend. I also wanted to know more about the setting. But the characters were so well-formed they were almost tangible. Also baseball!

Evvie Drake Starts Over is a perfect vacation/beach read. The main character is easy to relate to and her grief is realistic, even the difficult parts of it. The male/female friendship is well drawn and dealt with in an interesting and unexpected way. It is a fun read and satisfying without being expected. Highly recommended!

I love Linda Holmes on PCHH & I love baseball, so I was not surprised that I also loved this book! This was so much more than a cute girl-meets-hot-baseball-player story. Evvie & Dean are both in unique grieving situations & Holmes really keeps you guessing to the end how their relationship will play out. I enjoyed all of the baseball references & the snappy dialogue. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun read with characters that stick with you. Can’t wait for the next one!