As a proud person who was born and raised in Missouri, I can say with certainty that this is a realistic depiction of family and how people choose to live their lives with this moral compass. Emmie may not have had the easiest time as a single mother but she knew that she would always have the support and love of her relatives. Zach simply made her life that much better.

I adored this title. It kept me up and got me up early just to finish. Being a southerner myself, it was awesome to see us so well represented! I loved Emmie and her desire to start fresh as well as deal with the town bullies. It's sad we can be so catty and cliquish, but it's real life. I would love to see the finished store and think the design plans were wonderful. I wasn't exactly expecting Faye's parentage to turn out the way it did, but it made for a twist I didn't see coming. I can't wait to read other titles by this author.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good story and it was well written but it was too dang predictable. I felt like the end happened wayy too quickly and there was no real struggle for the main characters. I needed a bit more from the conclusion.. It also felt like a very young read for me. I almost exclusively read YA novels, and this one felt much younger despite the characters being of adult age. I did enjoy it though, I just wish there had been more struggle and pain involved.

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and netgalley for allowing me to review this title.

I read The Event in less than a day - if you're looking for a sweet and easy feel-good read, this is definitely one to try!

After a disastrous and humiliating work event (and the resulting tequila-inspired one night stand), Emmie finds herself moving back to her southern hometown with a baby and a job helping her uncles in their new business venture. Her family does their best to shield her from the gossiping town, but the opinion she really cares about is that of Zachary Grant, who seems to judge her for having a baby with no father. As Emmie adjusts to life back home, she starts to think it was where she was meant to end up all along.

The Event was a cute and light read, and honestly perfect for anyone who has ever lived in a small town. I think Dineen really nailed the way that news can travel quickly, and how you can feel like everyone is casting judgments on your life without the full picture.

Zachary was honestly a dream guy - he was helpful and considerate and really just an all-around good person (he took flowers to Emmie's grandma every week of his own volition - hello??).

The story was fun, if not predictable, but my main issue with this book was how quickly the end seemed to wrap up. I needed more time to sit with the conclusion, and I think the story could have benefited from drawing out some of the final scenes. I think there was a lack of emotion from the characters that I needed to really drive the ending home.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. It was funny because I hadn't initially noticed that it was #1 of a series, but as I turned the last page, I realized it would be a perfect start to a series. I figured out a major plot point early on, but it didn't remove any of the pleasure for the rest of the book.

This was a sweet, fun book. It was a little implausible but it made for a satisfying happy ending. I loved Emmie's family and Zach was a perfect hero. I'm looking forward to more books in this series and I'd recommend this to anyone who loves stories about small towns. I'd hate to live in Creek Water but I'd love to listen to the gossip.

I've been a huge fan of Whitney Dineen's writing and The Event doesn't disappoint! It's an excellent read (like all her others). The southern charm was sweet, the quirky family was fun and she nailed the small-town vibe. The plot was well written and the characters were fun and charming. I highly recommend this book!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

The Event by Whitney Dineen is cute. There's humor, there's outlandish characters, there's a predictable story. It's not going to change literature, but it's harmless, mindless, feel-good reading.

Emmie was from a small town full of judgemental people and family. She goes to college, moves to NY, becomes a powerful buyer for a boutique and then makes a drunken mistake that costs her her job.....and eventually, her life in New York. Returning to her hometown, she is surrounded by her family and her foes.

Look. This is a cute story but it read very...junior to me. Like, it's TOOOOOOO Southern. We get it, people in the South like sweet tea. I know, I'm a girl from Oklahoma who grew up with family from all over the South, trust me. I know about sweet tea and white gravy. This just felt....forced.

Still, it will be a good read for some people. I just like a bit more...bourbon in my sweet tea.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A fun and entertaining read.

Emmie is back in the home town she left for New York years ago. She is back to raise her daughter as a single parent. In an attempt to stop the town judging her, a story of the father is made up by her family - but will this only hinder thigns when she meets Zach?