Linda Holmes will be an author to watch. Evoke Drakes Starts Over will capture your attention from page one. I love a strong female character. Holmes tells Evvie’s story in a way that will keep you engaged. This is a must read book.

Wonderful, complicated narrator. Romance, friendship, small town gossip; Evvie's Maine has it all. Summer reading perfect for our current era.

Smart, charming, thoughtful, and full of some of the best dialogue writing readers will ever encounter, this is an absolute gem of a book. I devoured it in a single day and didn't want it to end. Holmes is a knockout writer who understands romantic comedy tropes (and clearly respects the genre) but brings her own spin to the genre. Readers will root for Evvie and Dean and their happy ending. I loved this one - one of my favorite reads of the year.

"Evvie Drake Starts Over" is everything you could want in a lighthearted rom-com. I liked the dynamic between Evvie and Dean and how they both helped each other along the way. Evvie Drake is no damsel in distress and I loved that, but we all need people to lean on. The two characters learned how to lean on each other and open up. Evvie and Dean were able to build and navigate a friendship and then a 'something more' quite beautifully. I would definitely recommend this as your next summer read.

What a great story! I loved almost everything about this book,, and I am so glad I tried it again after not being able to get into it when I first started reading it. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that one of the main characters dropped the f bomb way more than necessary, in my opinion.

Just in case you are like me and made some assumptions about Evvie (rhymes with Chevy) Drake, I'll tell you right now: she is not a little ol' lady widow. That changes the whole story! As she struggles with coming to terms with not mourning her husband, she gets a tenant who is struggling with losing his pitching arm. In some ways, it feels a bit like a knock off of Bull Durham, but there are no big speeches from Kevin Costner's character. Even so, Dean sounds and acts as close to the perfect gentleman as you'd hope for. My only struggle with the book was that the characters were a bit too polished. For both having some major issues to deal with, I expected more bumps in the road. But, I suppose that helps it be a great summer read!

If you are a fan of the NPR podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour (PCHH), the author of this book (Linda Holmes) will be familiar to you for her insightful, fun and thoughtful perspective on movies, television and other pop culture happenings. As you might expect, I am a big fan of PCHH and Linda Holmes, so I was going into this book hoping it would be good. That said, liking someone doesn't necessarily mean enjoying all of their work and once you start reading something, you are either going to enjoy it or find it a slog to get through based on the book's merits... I was really relieved to find that I loved this book!

Living in a small town in Maine, the title character Evvie Drake, is trying to pull her life together after the death of her husband. She has a lot of people in her life - her father, a best friend, and others in the town - but you get a very clear and immediate sense of the isolation that she is feeling and all of the mixed emotions that she is dealing with. The book allows you to really get to know Evvie and her world at the beginning of the story. To ground herself, Evvie sometimes lays down on the floor of an extra room in her house, a room where she feels safe and the most like herself.

Evie's best friend asks if his cousin, who is trying to escape his own life for a while, can stay in her spare room. Dean Tenney was a star baseball player for the NY Yankees, who is suffering from a debilitating case of the Yips and needs a quiet place to decompress. He moves in with Evvie and the two become friends - helping each other deal with their issues. As their romance develops they still push each other to really confront their challenges and their own feelings.

I don't like sports. At all. But, I do love stories about sports - the ones that show you the inner lives and thoughts of people in a way that makes you (me) somehow start to care about sports, if only for a short while. This book did that well - it's not about baseball really, but it is clear that the author knows a lot about it as she pulls the reader into a human story behind the sport.

The book isn't easy to put in a box - it's funny but isn't a stereotypical romantic comedy, it is sad (melancholy might be more accurate), but not depressing. The author does a really great job of fully fleshing out each character and letting you live in this world. The characters are dealing with real problems and things aren't magically fixed by the end, but they are resolved. It is a romance, but it's not a fairy tale, it's a mature and real-life romance. I highly recommend it!

I received an electronic ARC of this book by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

I always love the writing of Linda Holmes and I was very excited to read this story! The romance and depth of character development of the main characters is near perfection. The developing relationship that ensues through the plot is a beautiful, beautiful thing. The themes of friendship and love are undertones throughout and I immediately had that "warm, fuzzy feeling" upon beginning this journey. Though life is not always cookie cutter in its design and we all have obstacles that stand in our way, the end in mind is what matters and this story will take you on a beautiful journey of developing love and friendship through the most wonderfully written events! I highly recommend!

My Thoughts
I’ve said in the past I am not a huge fan of the “romance” genre, but I am finding that some of the contemporary romance novels are quite enjoyable. I may have to rethink my status on romance novels! Here are my pros and cons about this book:

Pros

• This book had a great “voice”. All of the dialogue felt honest and witty and genuine.
• The characters were real people, with real issues, real fears, real pain, real friendships, real emotions… they seemed like they were a slice of real life. Part of why I don’t tend to enjoy the romance genre in general is that the characters and their whirlwind relationships tend to be so corny and fake and over-the-top. The “romance” in this book felt like a genuine relationship between two adults. Adults who actually communicated with each other instead of playing silly games.
• The story tackled some heavy topics like grief, difficult family relationships, mental health issues, forgiveness, and guilt. Of course it also included fun, flirting, love, and new beginnings. This book isn’t heavy-handed, but it isn’t necessarily a completely light read either. The story was hopeful and humorous though, and I thought it was refreshing that the characters were actually complex, flawed and authentic.
• I liked the relationship between Evvie and her best friend Andy. I thought that was an interesting peek how platonic friendships can be impacted when outside love interests enter the picture.

Cons

• I don’t like the synopsis provided for this book. I don’t think it is a good description of the story. I think the synopsis makes the book seem overly simplistic.

Summary
This book is a authentic look at an adult relationship between two interesting, flawed individuals. It is also a realistic look at platonic friendships and family relationships. Overall, it is a great glimpse into the impact of human relationships and how sometimes we all just need someone to lean on, talk to, and love.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Evvie Drake Starts Over is a charming read, featuring Evvie Drake after her husband dies unexpectedly. After his death, she struggles mostly with guilt over the fact that their marriage had issues and secrets, and was not the perfect life she pretended it was. She feels like she needs a new start, yet thinks she doesn't deserve one. Her house now seems too big for her, living all alone, plus she could use the extra income- so she rents out the apartment in the back to Dean Tenney, friend of a friend, who just so happens to be a major league baseball player experiencing the "yips", and in need of a do-over himself.

While their unfolding story is not unexpected, it is definitely fun to go along with them! I loved the setting, a small town in MidCoast Maine, and really enjoyed Linda Holmes' descriptive narrating of the story. Overlooking the glaring fault in Dean (um excuse me, he plays for the Yankees!), his character was really sweet and I enjoyed the dynamic between Dean and Evvie. It started as mostly friends/companionship out of mutually going through hard times, and gradually and sweetly grew into something more. Of course, things are not always easy and they both have a lot of things to deal with.

This was a bit of a slower read for me than most rom-coms usually are, but it was definitely worth it in my opinion. I really liked the ending, and thought that everything was tied up well. I liked that we see Evvie improving and growing, because she takes the time to get the help she needs and is supported by her friends and her dad. I'd definitely recommend this as a light summer read that also has a lot of heart!

Evvie Drake is packing her bags to leave her husband when the phone rings...

Evvie is in an unhappy marriage with an emotionally abusive man, Tim. Her best friend, Andy, has no idea but neither does any of her family. Evvie Drake was packing bags to leave Tim when the phone rang to tell her that he had been involved in a fatal accident.

I promise that I am not giving away the whole story. This happened with the first 3 pages.

This is an entertaining, light story along the lines of Stella gets her groove back. It was a funny, sad and touching story about love, loss and regaining confidence after a life changing event. I loved all of the characters as well as the charming backdrop of Maine.

Linda Holmes wrote a winner!

Many thanks to Ballantine, Netgalley and Linda Holmes for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if you could change your life? Of course, you can always change things. It’s just difficult to get motivated sometimes.

In Evvie Drake Starts Over, Evvie (pronounced like Chevy) has almost finished packing up the car. She didn’t know where she was going but she knew she was leaving her husband. Then Evvie receives the call that her husband has been in a car accident.

How long was Evvie going to hide out in her house? She wanted to live a different life but she felt too guilty to do it. She wanted to please everyone else but herself. She even kept a set of dishes that she hated. We’ve all kept something around that doesn’t serve us anymore.

To make some extra money, Evvie rents out the apartment she owns to a former major league baseball player, Dean Tenney. I thought Evvie acted like an old lady until Dean came around.

Will she finally start living her best life? Will she get rid of those dishes?

The book was heartbreaking in some parts but also had quite a few humorous parts. Evvie was a hot mess but very likeable. You will definitely root for her to find happiness.

I suggest reading the book and finding out what happens. You can find it on Amazon.

I received the ebook from NetGalley in exchange for doing a review. All opinions are my own. Obviously.

I really enjoy the author on Pop Culture Happy Hour, and her pop culture critiques on NPR Monkey See, so I was looking forward to reading her first foray into fiction. It was a really fun, light read, though more of a slow burn than I was expecting (not that I minded). The characters were well-drawn, and didn't feel like stock characters like in many books of this genre. I liked the tongue-in-cheek discussions of podcasts and public radio, given the author's background.

I see reviews about Evvie Drake Starts Over that use the terms chicklit and romance, both are genres I enjoy from time to time. But, Evvie Drake Starts Over is so much more than those terms communicate. This is a story of two people who are at the end of a season of life. It is a story of two people searching for their new season. It is a story of two people who take action to move forward and find love along the way. The dialogue is entertaining at times and truthful to a place of pain at others. The story isn’t rushed or compressed to one short summer. It is told over a realistic time period which gives the author time to development the characteristics and emotions of people who have walked their respective paths. I slowed my reading because I didn’t want the book to end. After I finished it, I didn’t want read anything else for a couple of days because the experience of reading Evvie Drake Starts Over completely satisified me as a reader. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my homes review. #evviedrakestartsover #lindaholmes #netgalley #ballantinebooks #penguinrandomhouse #mmdsummerreading #summerstooshort #idratherbereading #bookstagram

Different than I expected in all of the best ways. It reminded me a lot of Alice Munro in the way so many ordinary details were highlighted and elevated to become these beautiful snapshots of life. Witty and one of the most realistic love stories I've ever read.

"Evvie Drake Starts Over" is the perfect summer read - it's charming, funny and moving but also throws some curveballs you don't see coming.

When we meet Evvie, her husband has just died, and she's figuring out how to (you guessed it!) start over. Enter ex-pro baseballer Dean Tenney who needs a place to escape his notorious flameout and (wait for it...) start over himself. He relocates to small-town Maine and rents an apartment in Evvie's house and soon, the two are helping each other pick up the pieces.

Linda Holmes writes terrific characters who are well-developed and flawed in realistic ways. The relationships in the book - between Evvie and Dean, Evvie and her dad, Evvie and her best friend Andy, Dean and his parents, etc. - are believable and the issues they face aren't silly or too easily resolved. It's not a spoiler to reveal that Evvie and Dean become romantically involved and the evolution of their relationship from landlord/tenant to friends to more than friends is truly earned. I also loved the setting of Calcassat, Maine - it really came alive through Holmes' colorful descriptions of its quirky traditions and history - and the dialogue is so smart. It was refreshing to read a romance where the adults talked like adults and addressed problems head-on.

If you enjoy smart and heartwarming rom-coms, this contemporary take on the genre is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Books - Ballantine for a review copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

I adored this title. The slow friendship and romance was endearing and authentic. Evvie was relatable and authentic. The secondary characters had depth and helped the authenticity of the story.

Holy smokes, what a lovely book! It was the perfect choice to read as I rested after a dental procedure. I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours, in a few sittings!

I absolutely adored Evvie from start to finish. She's easily going to be one of my all time favorite protagonists. Evvie is so relatable because she's wonderfully human, she's flawed and good intentioned. She's giving and loving, yet she's harboring secrets to protect herself and people she loves. Evvie's story resonated with me because I've had my own howling-on-the-floor-crying- because-I-spilled-something moment (who hasn't) and I loved that she indulged in it, then asked for help and got some.

The writing here is sharp, witty, and true to life. I appreciate that while the plot is a tiny bit predictable, the path to getting there wasn't. Everything wasn't tied up in a nice neat bow. While this is Evvie's story, it's also the stories of all eh side characters who are important in her life. This novel is ultimately about adulthood not looking like we pictured it, and trying to figure out what the hell to do about it. It's a wonderful story all around about being human and taking care of ourselves.

Linda Holmes has struck a perfect balance in Evvie Drake Starts Over of telling a compelling story about the messiness of life and adding enough romance that there's some fun to enjoy. Evvie (rhymes with Chevy) is a young widow who perhaps doesn't miss her husband as much as people would expect. Dean, a MLB pitcher, is looking for some peace and quiet after his disastrous career-ending case of the yips have made him the laughingstock of professional baseball. Dean lands in small town Maine thanks to his childhood friendship with Andy, Evvie's best friend.

Andy points out that Evvie has a big house, including a small attached apartment, all to herself, and Dean is in deep need of a small quiet place where he can sort out his life and his next steps. Suddenly the reclusive Evvie has a roommate who brings her out of herself, lets her think about someone else's problems and who happens to be a good looking gentleman. This is definitely a feel good novel despite the real and fairly heavy issues Evvie and Dean are working through - and their chemistry and the very real friendships among Evvie, Andy and Dean are beautifully depicted.

Very enjoyable and well developed story arc and characters.

I was not expected to emotionally devasted by a romantic comedy. But there I was crying for the last 25 percent of the book. I want to read this book again and let it just become part of my soul. I loved the character development. All the characters were so well multi-dimensional. I want to read more by Linda Holmes.