This was a fun second chance at love story. It was full of amazing dialogue and a surprising depth. I loved the small town supporting and challenging Evvie and Dean as they each try to escape their reality. Dean helps Evvie face down some vicious demons while Evvie helps Dean begin to believe in himself once again this is definitely an author i will be keeping my eyes on.

I've been listening to Linda Holmes on PCHH for years and she does not disappoint with this book. A fun, engaging read that I will recommend.to patrons who are looking for something fresh. I hope to read more from her in the future.

Evvie Drake Starts Over is a delightful debut novel by Linda Holmes. Evvie’s husband is killed in a car crash, and she has to live with the real-life challenges associated with both her husband’s death as well as her feelings surrounding their marriage. Dean Tenney is a former Major League pitcher who has troubles of his own. He wants a quiet place to work through them, so he rents the apartment behind Evvie’s house from Evvie.

This book felt like real life where things are complicated, challenging, and life-affirming. It’s a pretty predictable read, but the journey is still worth traveling because it’s well-written. You’ll find yourself wishing the best for these characters.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Evvie Drake is a new, young widow, who is hiding away. Not because she's still grieving after almost a year, but because she was packing the car to run away from her abusive husband -- a doctor -- when she got the call that he'd been in an accident. Drew Tenney is a former pitcher with the NY Yankees who is dealing with the 'yips' -- no reason why his pitching has failed him after all these years. He's escaped from NY to visit an old friend, Andy -- who is also Evvie's best friend -- is a small town in Maine. Andy suggests to Evvie that she rent out the empty apartment in her house.

Pretty predictable story, but there are lots of humorous lines and the stories and growth are there.

A great book that is a fast read.

Evvie is a woman who's husband just past away but where the world sees a wonderful man, she knew a man who emotionally abused her. We see her break free from the chains of her past and learn how to move forward. We also get to meet Dean who has struggles of his own. Together they help each other and develop a relationship that you can't help but cheer for....

​I enjoyed this novel very much, it is about a woman who has lived her life for her husband, slowly loosing her self esteem and herself as she suffers in silence the emotional abuse her husband put her through. This novel is about second chances and growth for many of the characters we encounter in this book. We see these themes throughout the novel not only with the main characters but with the father, and the best friend. I truly recommend this book for those who feel stuck in their life right now, this is not a sad book, it is a book that made me feel hopeful for the future.

Thank You Netgally for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

Loved Evvie, and loved her journey to find herself. This book was a really feelgood kind of book and I really enjoyed the writing style and the story.

I'm so glad I decided to read this book. I got the galley months ago but wasn't sure I'd like it...I was wrong. After reading more reviews and seeing others like it I decided to try it.
This book had so many personal ties from my past that it made it even more intimate and feel like an old friend. The copy for the library is on its way.

I really enjoyed this book but I have to admit I have some mixed feelings! As a widow myself, although under very different circumstances than Evvie, I could really identify with her on a number of things! Other things, not so much. And, this book really makes you think! Sometimes a good thing, sometimes, not so much lol! Overall, 4 1/2 stars :)

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Evvie is a likable, relatable character trying to find the happiness she’s not sure she deserves. I like how starting over for her doesn’t depend on whether or not she finds love, she’s determined to figure out who she really is. The fact that she does unexpectedly find love is a bonus. I found the relationships in this book sweet but also very real. Altogether the book is delightful.

I adore this book! It is filled with setbacks, new beginnings, humor and hope. I can't count how many times I laughed out loud.

"She wondered sometimes if they’d ever thought she was good enough for the doctor. For them, she had gone directly from lobsterman’s daughter to doctor’s wife, and because they didn’t know anything, they figured it was a promotion. This was how she knew without a doubt that reputation, in many forms, was bullshit."

Evvie (‘Evvie like Chevy, not Evie like Max Greevey') is my kind of people. She's down-to-earth and a great story teller with heart. After losing her husband who emotionally abused her for years without anyone knowing, she is trying to get on with her life. Her sense of humor and selfless need to help people are wonderful traits, though her best friend Andy says she needs to stop trying to "fix" people.

"Dean reached over to rub his right shoulder. “Yeah, make your jokes. I went to eight sports psychologists and two psychiatrists.” He started counting off on his fingers. “I did acupuncture, acupressure, suction cups on my shoulder, and candles in my fucking ears—which, ask me about that sometime. I quit gluten, I quit sugar, I quit sex, I had extra sex, I ate no meat, just meat. I took creative movement classes, I was hypnotized a lot, and I learned how to meditate. That’s the one I still do, by the way.” He looked at Andy, who had his mouth twisted into a perplexed curve. 'Where did I lose you? Extra sex?'"

Dean has a real challenge with the whole "yips" thing which I had never heard of meaning he, in his case as a star pitcher for the Yankees, cannot throw straight anymore. With the need to get away from the big city he rents out Evvie's apartment and they quickly become comfortable with each other and find an attraction there. However, both Dean and Evvie need to piece their lives back together on their own first before they can be a couple, and what a wonderful couple they could make.

This is such a heart-warming and delightfully funny read which I cannot recommend enough. If you like a "coming of age" romance, a lot of laughter, and a little drama, give this one a try. It won't disappoint. Another top read for 2019.

Romance and baseball collide in this charming novel that makes for delightful summer reading. When a young widow and a former professional athlete meet, they start an unlikely friendship that eventually turns into something more. While the novel is too open ended to be a Happily Ever After, it has a wonderful cast of characters and offers some unexpected twists.

I fell in love with this charming book! Evvie is trying to get over the death of her husband and befriends Dean a tenant. I love the relationship between the characters. I totally recommend this gem of a book..

I loved this story! I found myself trying to sneak time at all hours of the day to keep reading. I felt myself feeling all of Evvie's frustrations, and giddiness, and mental breakdowns. I loved the moment Monica put a name to all the "mean" Evvie had experienced from Tim and actually called it emotionally abusive. It's all too common. The trauma is real. But to see her come out of it, and evolve was amazing. I was also so entertained by the rom-com aspect of the story.

Previously this summer I read Nina Hill. Evvie Drake gave me similar feelings as Nina Hill, which is to say that I loved it. Evvie, the main character in this book, goes through some complicated situations, but ultimately convinces everyone she's fine. In the end she figures out she's been lying to herself and everyone else. This book had parts that made me upset she hadn't stood up for herself, but ultimately she "finds' herself and is a strong, independent character. This book was easy to read, with characters that were easy to like and relate to. I loved this book and am only sad that its done (and that I didn't get to it before now!)

In a single word: charming. There's not a lot of <i>there</i> there, but it is funny and heartwarming like the best of the 90s rom-coms.

“The tag on her chamomile teabag said, There is no trouble that a good cup of tea can’t solve. It sounded like what a gentleman on Downton Abbey would say right before his wife got an impacted tooth and elegantly perished in bed.”

-Linda Holmes, Evvie Drake Starts Over

Eveleth "Evvie" Drake hasn't been happy for a long time. On her way out the door to leave her old life and verbally abusive husband behind, she's told there's been an accident. Meanwhile, Dean Tenney, a major-league baseball pitcher, isn't throwing well. He is exiled to Maine to figure out his life. There, he meets Evvie, his landlady. Together, they sort through their issues and try to start over.

I thought Evvie Drake Starts Over was cute. It was sad, but hopeful. Funny, but serious.

It reminded me a lot of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, except in this novel, there's romance, and a little less darkness surrounding Evvie and her need to seek therapy--which, I heavily applaud Holmes for sending Evvie get professional help.

I especially appreciated the witty therapy jokes that rang so stinkin' true, like this one:

“Therapy is like a toothbrush. You can’t really put it to use for anybody except yourself.”

As far as the romance goes, oooof. I really liked Dean, but Andy was the single dad best friend, whose kids absolutely adored Evvie. I was honestly shocked they didn't end up together, and I would have liked more time spent on exactly what it was besides a moment they'd tried to have after her husband died that turned them away from the idea of getting together.

Can you tell I'm a best friends-to-lovers trope kind of reader?

But back to Dean. He was great, and he helped Evvie in a lot of ways find her independence, and really, her voice. I loved that about him. I really think that he will be good for her. Literally my only hangup with Dean was his darn potty mouth. F-bombs were on the horizon of every scene with Dean.

On the upside, Evvie was a great heroine. I really sympathized with her, and I rooted for her one-hundred percent. She was entirely likable, and I am so happy to have spent a few hours getting to know her through Linda Holme's writing!

A heartfelt story about a woman starting over from a traumatic marriage. There’s a romance, of course, between two well-developed lovable main characters. Evvie is easy to cheer for and the ending is perfect.

This is a sweet, delightful summer, poolside read. Absolutely hits the spot for when you need a lighter read after the winter full of heavier books. Highly recommend this!

#EvvieDrakeStartsOver #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #BallantineBooks

Super cute book. The perfect beach read! I needed something light after a heavier read and this fit the bill perfectly.