The Audacity of Sara Grayson was such an unexpected surprise. I loved this book. Saras’s mother Cassandra Bond is the super famous author of the Ellery Dawson series. Everyone is eagerly awaiting the fifth and final novel, but before Cassandra can write it, she loses her life to pancreatic cancer. In her will, she names Sara as the author she wants to write the final book, but Sara hasn’t written more than greeting cards in years.
This story follows Sara’s path to finding the courage to write, uncovering family secrets, and discovering her soulmate in the process. I absolutely adored this book, the characters, the scenery and Sara’s metamorphosis. It was perfection.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Joani Elliott knows how to write! Well crafted novel with a realistic depiction of the art of writing — the insecurity and hopelessness and futility and accomplishment, cycling in an endless, introspective loop. If you think the story synopsis above sounds interesting, the book storyline should be right up your alley. Elliott’s writing is empathetic, and feels uplifting, in a real, truthful way. As someone who dabbles in writing, I found much of this book inspiring. I definitely recommend if you are a writer. You will love Phil, because he’s the best.

The book also has a couple of adorable and believable romances.

My only issue with this book (which, unfortunately, is a big one), is that we spend the majority of our time with Sara Grayson, and Sara Grayson is… kind of awful. Whiny, full of excuses. Literally everyone she knows is like, “Your writing is so good! You need to do this! Also, you’ve been unhappy. Trying this new thing may help you realize what you want and feel fulfilled.” And she doesn’t trust herself, she doesn’t trust those she loves, and she’s fucking annoying about it. It’s probably realistic, but it’s very difficult to spend so much time with her when she’s insufferable, and, like, not in a fun way.

4.5 Stars
Meet Sara, a 32 yo greeting card writer with a teaching position at college. She’s the daughter of the great author Cassandra Bond, whose Ellery series 50 million copies and is being made into a movie. The fifth book of this suspense thriller is supposed to be released. But Cass passes away, and there is no book.
She leaves a letter asking Sara to finish the book. Sara, and not her perfection-craving elder sister Anna-Kath! With barely any writing experience and even lower self-esteem, can Sara even take up the audacious responsibility? Her mother definitely wants her to. Her sister is supporting and encouraging her.
But can Sara do it? Can she finish the book without help from the dreaded Phil? Can she overcome the hurdles set by Jane from Iris Publishing? What about the whispers of plagiarism, and who is this Meredith Lamb?
The book is about Sara learning to get back her confidence in life (after her husband walked out on her a few months ago) and understanding that writing is not scary; it’s terrifying and soul-satisfying.
The book is 400 pages long, and I was a bit skeptical in requesting it. I like my books small and compact.
However, the writing was engaging, and the narration flowed well from start to finish. The book is a potpourri of emotions, and that made the characters more real. No one is perfect, and no one is really a villain or a baddie.
While I didn’t identify with Sara, I could understand her insecurities and vulnerabilities. It’s no small feat to finish a book from a bestseller series written by another person. As a writer, I know just how stressful it is. It’s hardly surprising that Sara wants nothing to do with the book or the series.
But it’s time she accepts a challenge and proves her worth. How long is she going to mop around? What follows is Sara’s journey of self-realization while digging up a dark past that further complicates things.
The book has its share of romance, but it is sweet and comforting, a perfect balance to Sara’s growing anxiety.
We see Sara understanding what it is to be a writer. The words on paper are just letters stringed together if the writer doesn’t feel them tear their insides, isn’t it? What I love most about the book is how writing is presented to the readers. There is no glossing over writer’s block. There’s no exaggerating the frustration or the satisfaction when words flow. Each chapter in the book starts with a quote from a writer, and I love them all.
The book has several elements, and at times, I wanted Sara to go ahead and take the plunge. There were instances I fast read a few paragraphs to get on with the story. That’s just me, though. I’m not the kind that relates to anxious heroines who take helluva time to decide their next move.
However, the relationship between the characters more than makes up for Sara’s indecisiveness. Overall, The Audacity of Sara Grayson is a warm and inspiring book for book lovers and writers. You won’t regret reading this Thank you, NetGalley, Meryl Moss Media, and Post Hill Press, for the ARC.

Sarah Grayson is an interesting character. The first half not so much, as she is depressed, unhappy and lacking life skills to cope with her mothers death and the consequential position it puts her in to finish her esteemed mothers novel, per her mothers wishes. We can relate to the insecurities she feels being left such a challenging chore.

The second half has us liking her a bit better, and there are some humorous moments that I enjoyed but I expected more from the cute cover of her book. I found myself impatient with the writing at times. I think the author was reaching for too many things, although it was a sweet story. The ending left something to be desired as well. I think the author has potential and I wish her every success.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this prior to publication and express my honest opinion of this work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Meryl Moss Media for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was published May 25, 2021.

This was a fun book to read. The protagonist Sara learns her mother, a famous author, has tasked her with writing the final book in a famous series after her death.

I’ve always been interested in the writing process and this was a fun story to learn more about it, albeit fictionally. I really liked how each chapter started with a quote from a famous author about the writing process.

I like that Sara gained confidence as a writer and when given the option to take the easy way out, chose not to.

I had two complaints near the end: I felt like the London part got a bit confusing and somewhat off track. I also would have liked to know how Book Five did once it got published. My guess was it beat all expectations!

Original review posted on GoodReads.

#TheAudacityofSaraGrayson

The world building is fantastic! I love Sara, she is so relatable! She goes through a full range of emotions while trying to fulfill her mother's dying wish! A heartwarming read.

This book had humor and heart. Sara Grayson is a likable and relatable character. When her mom dies she is tasked with the huge job of writing the finale to her mom's best selling series. Sara teaches writing, but doesn't call herself a writer so the task of writing her moms novel seems insurmountable. As the doubts pile up and the deadline looms, Sarah must learn to believe in herself. 4.5 stars for this lovely tale. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This latest book by Joani Elliott looked great from the cute cover but I didn’t care for it. Sarah’s mother is a famous author who passes away and asks her daughter to finish her last book after she dies. I found myself skimming pages and stopped at 27%. I found it all rather boring. Not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson was generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sara Grayson is a semi-depressed middle aged woman whose mother has just died. During the reading of the will, Sara learns that her author-mother has stipulated that Sara is to finish writing her bestselling series. Yikes!

The Audacity of Sara Grayson was a very sweet book, and was especially emotional for me since I am very close with my own mother. The whole story is told from Sara’s POV. It is linear but there are a few time jumps. The characters are well developed and relatable. Overall, it was a nice book and one that I would recommend to a friend.

Sara Grayson has pretty much given up on life after a divorce and working in a job she's apathetic about when her very famous writer mother passes away. She's forced to face some truths when her mother's dying wish is for her to write the last book in the world's most highly anticipated series. Problem is, she hasn't written anything since her mother's old editor decimated her first novel. Not to mention that things about the past are being brought to light, making her question everything about her parents. And there's also a guy that she has no time to get involved with, but that just might be the inspiration she needs.
It's a series of scenes that show Sara at her worst and slowly working her way back towards something that she was once passionate about. Along the way, she learns new things about herself and her family and finds that she actually does have the audacity that her mom believed her to posses.
The story inspires you to start facing your fears and giving it your all. Well written, expertly characterized, and with great twists that kept me guessing. It's definitely worth the read.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the early read!

Sara isn't someone who has everything together and is swept up in a whirlwind opportunity to live her dream of being a writer. She's afraid to put her writing out there, recently divorced, dealing with the loss of her mother, trying to unravel family secrets, and under great pressure to fulfil her mother's legacy and appease thousands of fans. The Audacity of Sara Grayson is a tribute to the writing process, family and self-discovery.

I absolutely loved it! It’s so good. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it thoroughly exceeded my expectations.

This is a feel good story of self-discovery for Sara as she grieves the loss of her mother, learns more about her family’s history, and most importantly finds herself along the way. There are sweet & endearing moments mixed with intrigue as Sara untangles her family’s secret. Throw in a sweet romance and you’ve got a wonderful book.

Sara Grayson is about to embark on an almost impossible task and has the audacity to do just that. Meet Sara, a thirty two year old greeting card writer who suddenly finds herself in a daunting situation after her superstar suspense author mother's death. Not only does she have to deal with the death of her mom but she finds out that she has been tasked with writing the the final book in her mother's best selling series. Not wanting to admit defeat Sara starts off on the adventure of a lifetime.

Debut author Joani Elliott keeps the reader entertained as the story unfolds --- Sara has quite a challenge ahead of her and it is not without some drama. Add a sprinkling of romance and this book is one that was hard to put down once I got started.

Witty and entertaining, this novel will keep you smiling as you watch Sara come into her own as a writer and fulfill her mom's deepest wishes for her. Success and happiness are just around the corner and we all hope that Sara can embrace all that is hers to embrace.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a free copy for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. Joani Elliott has written a soulful novel, layered with unexpected bursts of humour and heartache. After losing her mom, Sara finds herself in the unenviable position of having to fulfill her mother’s dying wish. Her journey through grief and self-discovery is both audacious and honest.

“I have no doubt your feelings are real, but that doesn't mean they're telling you the truth.”

I picked up this book as a NetGalley ARC, honestly not sure what to expect. Let me tell you how pleasantly surprised I was.

I tried reading it a month earlier to this review but just couldn't sink into the plot - however, I do believe a pertinent aspect of this has to do with life circumstances and not with the truly enjoyable story written by Joani.

I connected with this book on so many levels. I grieved with Sara, as I recently lost a parent. I could feel the same sense of loss and abandonment, with an ounce of blame for the parent that had passed on. I'm also a creative who deals with imposter syndrome regularly - this often stops me from doing what I truly enjoy, since the small voice in my head whispers "you're not enough" on a daily basis. I saw a lot of similarities and reflections of myself and my journey in Sara's trials and frustrations

Joani truly writes with a painter's hand - her words describe and emote at an artistic level that helps submerge you into the plot and setting. I felt the beauty of the Maine coastline, the familiarity of Sara's mother's home and the sense of belonging when surrounded by comforting smells and loving memory.

I felt the plot drove forward well, with anticipation for the next event and surprises that were not predicted. The ending was left to interpretation - a chance for the reader to fill in the blank and an easy segue into a potential sequel.

Sara's experience of writing a debut novel easily mirrors what I imagine to be a very thrilling and terrifying experience - and I believe Joani can speak to this first hand with this amazing read.

Brava for a job well-done on such an inspiring debut novel. I look forward to reading more!

What happens when your mother’s dying wish becomes your worst nightmare?

What happens when a literary icon dies before she finishes the final book in her best-selling series?

And what happens when she leaves that book in the hands of her distracted, neurotic daughter who swears she’s not a real writer?

Three weeks after her mother’s death, greeting card writer Sara finds out she needs to write the grand finale to her mother’s hugely popular series. That’s about as much terror as you are going to get in this charming and delightful read. As someone who reads lots of darker books, I am very grateful to be able to indulge in a change of pace.

Joining Sara in her angst-ridden journey to publication are a cast of characters that are bound to entertain. A curmudgeonly retired editor who may or may not have lusted after her mother; a sweet and steady older sister who talks her off the ledge; a couple of quirky friends, and best of all, a hot neighbour. And this hotty is a handyman and a poet. Be still my heart!

It must be said that this book cover is awesome! It really captures the essence of Sara.

This feel good journey as a daughter finds herself, the ability to be creative and answers to questions she didn't even know she has really had me hooked. I found the plot a bit slow to start, and struggled to really engage with some of the characters, but as I read I found everything really picking up. I ran through the last half of this book and really enjoyed the read!

Sara is left a monumental task, when her best-selling author mother dies, asking Sara to complete the final book in her best-selling series. The book really deals with the creative process, alongside the true emotions of grief and guilt and loyalty as Sara juggles what she thinks is best vs what her mother has asked of her. Along with a colourful parade of characters, and multiple settings, Sara has the audacity to take on this challenge unapologetically and wholeheartedly.

I would have preferred to get some more detail about some of the characters, Anna-Kath for example, and some of the explanation at the end did feel a bit underwhelming, but that being said, it was an interesting debut and the story is interesting and not one I have found myself reading before.

A solid 3.5/5 for me on this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was a sweet, feel-good book, with lots of twists to keep it interesting, while remaining a relatively light and breezy read. The book is about a woman finding her way -- independently, as a daughter, sister, woman, and professional. Sara Grayson has struggled to establish herself in a world where everyone she knows has well-defined roles. She is recently divorced, having only witnessed her parents' dedicated marriage. She's floundering in her career, compared to her mother's JK Rowling-level fame as a writer. She's decidedly type-B to her sister's A+, and so it goes. When her mother dies before publishing a long-awaited series finale, it becomes Sara's challenge. In finishing the series, Sara not only needs to find herself as a writer and wrap up the book's loose ends, but come to grips with so many outstanding questions and challenges in her life: facing her ex, meeting someone new, understanding her parents' relationship, coming to grips with her mother's companion, facing professional discouragement, and just generally finding herself. It's a twisty road, but fun to follow and ultimately, it feels good.

The first thing that drew me into this book was the cover. It screamed "exasperated woman on the verge!" and gave me serious Bridget Jones/Shopaholic vibes (two books/series that set the standard for me when it comes to "hilarious story with strong female lead"). When I read contemporary humorous women's fiction (is that a thing?), first and foremost I want humor, a fast pace, and good writing. I don't need the flowery language of literary fiction, but I don't want to cringe as I read. The second thing I want is a likable female lead that I find myself rooting for. I can handle a few missteps - heck, that's generally a good chunk of the premise of the book - but repeated bad decisions and/or blatant affirmation of gender norms (he cheated over and over but I forgive him, the rascal! I'm hugely successful but I must give up all of my personal fulfilment to marry and have children!) is going to get a hard no from me.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson hits the mark in both areas. I mean, it starts strong - neurotic, 30-something daughter of mega-star novelist who writes coupons and greeting cards and is left by her husband must suddenly finish her mother's best-selling book series? Ah, yes please. Sara Grayson is so relatable - who among us doesn't feel awkward some (most? all?) of the time? Who hasn't felt like, at least every now and again, that we haven't accomplished what we planned to when we dreamed of "growing up? Sara's somewhat disaster of a life is hilarious, and her decision to step up and honor her mother's dying wish - oh, and to *believe in herself* - made me cheer.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Post Hill Press, and the author for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

After acclaimed author Charlotte Bond dies, her will states that she wants her daughter Sara, a greeting card/coupon writer, to finish her long-awaited final book in her popular series. No one is more shocked than Charlotte with this audacious request.

Much of the first half of the book is spent with Sara dealing with her loss, her struggling writing process, and her rampant feelings of self-doubt about whether she's up to the task of writing the book. Initially, I liked the behind-the-scenes look at the life of an author and the editing process, but the repetitive day-to-day writing struggles took their toll on the pacing of the story. I think 32-year-old Sara was supposed to induce sympathy with the reader, but I found she was a hard character to like due to her incessant insecurities and immaturity with her whining and lack of basic life skills.

Things pick up around halfway when a family mystery is introduced (and a mild romance). The build-up for the mystery kept me turning pages but I thought the reveal of the family secret was overly complicated and had too many forced, serendipitous connections. What will stand out for me with this book was the positive and supportive bond between Sara, her sister Anna-Kath (who for some reason also goes by Ann) and their mother, who was the most fascinating character of the bunch.

I expected a different book based on the cover and the blurb and I think this is an impressive debut, but I had hoped to like this book more. Some parts were quite well written and if I step back, I liked the premise of the story and getting a glimpse into the life of a new author. But when you're in the thick of things, I think this book may have been a bit too audacious for its own good as it tried to be too many things.