2.5 stars / Sara Grayson is the daughter of a literary icon. When her mother dies before finishing the fifth and final book in her world renowned series, she wills the final book to be written by Sara. Sara is understandably shocked to learn of her mother's wishes as she is 1) not a published author (or what she considers to be a "real writer") 2) recently divorced and still recovering AND 3) at odds with her mother's publisher/significant other.

Despite the initial hesitation and resistance, Sara takes on the task of writing the fifth book in honor of her mother. Through her journey, she learns more than she ever dreamed of. Not only lessons on becoming a "real writer" but lessons and truths about her family that have long been buried.

I loved the idea behind this book and there were some truly endearing parts, but it took me reading about half of the book before I really got into it. There were parts that seemed to drag, and then other parts where the relationships between characters felt rushed and inauthentic. Sara was a relatable character as she was trying to find her way and learn who is she on her own apart from how everyone else defines her.

An interesting read and a unique plot - I enjoyed reading about the writing process of some authors.
I would have liked for the dialogue to flow a little easier and possibly even expand beyond one-two sentences from each character in a conversation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson A Novel by Joani Elliott. Meryl Moss Media, Post Hill Press, 2021.

Recently divorced and still very sad, thirty-two-year-old Sara teaches freshmen English at the University of Maryland and writes greeting cards and discount coupons on the side. Soon after the story begins, Sara’s beloved mother dies, leaving Sara half of her estate and all of the fifth and final book in a best seller series to write.

Readers will travel with Sara from Hollywood to Maryland to New York to Bar Harbour to London as she rediscovers her self-confidence and love for writing. With its changing locations, subplots and unexpected interrelationships there is a lot going on in this book, yet it is written so simply and eloquently that it does not seem complex.

I can’t find anything else by Joani Elliott. Easily one of the best books I’ve read in years.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joani Elliott, and publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson centers around the title character's unexpected journey as a writer, after her famous author-mother dies and leaves the task of completing her most popular series to Sara. It extends into themes of the connection of all humans, the power of words and of noticing the world around us, the importance of resolving family history, and how to live bravely (audaciously!).

Overall, this was a really enjoyable book. The plot was a little cheesy at times, especially its dip into romance. Sara as a main character is not as fully fleshed-out as one would hope. At times she seems erratic and immature, and I don't think Elliott does a great job of convincing readers that Sara actually has real talent or the maturity necessary to complete her completely unrealistic task. (She's a fledgling writer who is apparently able to pump out an entire novel, including edits, in seven months, while starting a new romance, eating at cafes, and flying to London).

But flights of fancy can be really fun, and I certainly felt that way as I read. I think most amateur writers (myself among them) would love to imagine themselves writing a popular series, galavanting the world, and living bravely enough to put their work into the world. Elliott taps into that element of hope all writers have, of being "enough" and having the power to see their work through to its end.

One other note: each chapters begins with a quote about writing from famous authors and influencers. They didn't necessarily correspond to the chapter's theme or plot line, and I felt it would have probably been best for Elliott to have chosen the most resonant ones and included them at the beginning of key chapters. Again, being an amateur writer myself though, I did enjoy reading through quotes from writers about writing! I just felt they were a bit extraneous and disconnected.

To sum up, The Audacity of Sara Grayson is an enjoyable and quick read, maybe something to speed through in between heavier reads, but it's not the next great American novel. Just a great rom-com for dreamers, and it punches above its level here.

the format is unreadable???? i really want to read it but why can't I download it ???

helpppppppp

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is by far one of the best books I have ever read. If ever there was a character I could relate to, put myself in their shoes, it is Sara Grayson. As a young girl/woman, I would write so many stories and think and talk about writing all the time. However, as an adult, you get busy and chase after other pursuits, which I did. This book makes me want to write...which I've always enjoyed but just never did as an adult.

This story really spoke to me, like deep down brought words to my heart. Sara experiences tragedy on so many levels, most of all losing her mother. She discovers she is expected to write the last installment to her mother's best selling series (now a major motion picture), and is immediately floored. Sara has never written professionally like her mother. Insecurity sets in, but she is spurred on to tackle the challenge when other forces work against her.

Over the course of the seven months she has to complete the project, she and her sister are faced with potential scandal around her parents. There are more questions that answers, and if she doesn't uncover the truth, she may not can finish her project. Along the way, she meets surprising new acquaintances and finds that the words are there, she just has to open the door for them.

If I have ever recommended a book to anyone, this would definitely be the one I would say you have to read! I received a complimentary copy of this book, and the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

**This e-book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***

After the loss of her mother, Sara Grayson finds out her mother wants her to write the 5th and final book of her popular book series. The book follows Sara as she tries to complete her book and unravels secrets from her family she never knew.

I enjoyed the premise of this book and enjoyed how Sara worked to find herself as a writer she didn't know she could be. The ending was a bit lacking for me, it seemed to leave too much open and unanswered. I enjoyed finding things out as Sara did, but like I said there is too many unanswered questions that I would love to see wrapped up.

Wow. And I say WOW again!

What a book. This book is perfect for a vacation read, but it is a little 'heavier' than normal for a beach read. It has everything you need -mystery and a lot of that, romance but not the main focus, learning about what writers go through to get a book out there, a bit of villainy, a lot of sisterly love, and frustration.

One of the oddest things for me is that this happened to one of my favorite authors -she passed away before finishing the last book she was writing. I never thought about what it took for the 'replacement author' to finish what the original author started. So this book really made me think.

The only complaint I can say that I have is that the author talks about something in a safety deposit box, but we, the readers, never get to find out just what was in there! I thought that there might have been an epilogue explaining that, but alas, no!

*ARC supplied by the publisher, author, and NetGalley.

Joani Elliot’s debut novel is as whimsical and fun as its title and cover suggest. This book is a great beach or weekend read for when you want to get into a story and escape from your world for a bit. The characters are charming, the plot is engaging, and there are some twists that will surprise you.

Sara’s life changes when her mother, a famous author, gets unexpectedly sick and dies. Three weeks after her death, Sara finds out her mother never wrote the last book in her series, and has chosen Sara as the author. Despite never having published a novel of her own, Sara finds the confidence to fulfill her mother’s dying wish. However, not everyone is happy, especially not her mom’s publisher who is determined to keep Sara from writing the book. With millions of people (not an exaggeration) waiting to see how their favorite series will end , the pressure is on Sara to finish writing an entire novel in 6 months.

The plot had twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and rooting for Sara to succeed. She had many setbacks and wins (and some romance) along the way. In writing the novel, Sara also uncovers some uncomfortable truths about her own family. She has to learn how to deal with these, while trying to finish her novel before the deadline.

I went back and forth between rating this book three or four stars. The characterization sometimes fell flat, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the way that emails and texts were incorporated into the story. However, I ended up staying up late to finish the book, and any book that can make me choose to miss out on sleep deserves at least 4 stars.

I would definitely recommend this book to any writers or people interested in the process of writing a book. It is a great read for when you want something light, but engrossing. Thank you to Post Hill Press for providing me the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet story of courage and redemption. Character development shallow in places, turned little too "romance " for my personal taste. But overall a decent read. Would read this author again.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book didn't work properly with any of my devices so I was unable to get through much of it. The formatting was very unreadable. What I could read was adorable though, so I'll definitely grab a copy when it hits the shelves.

Sara is left with the writing of her late mothers last book. Her mother was a famous writer and everyone is waiting for the end of the series. She is left with so many unanswered questions. Plus, she doesn't believe she is up to the job. She ends up on a journey that brings her closer to her late parents and frees her to realize her potential as a writer. I liked this book for showing the steps a writer goes through to finish a book. It's not just sitting down and typing. Lots of little side stories too!

In my pursuit of good stories, I haven’t exactly given much thought to the blood and sweat that authors put in to produce their wonderful works of fiction. For non-writers like me, The Audacity of Sara Grayson will give you pause, making you admire your favourite authors a little bit more.

One year after her divorce, Sara Grayson is still a hot mess. So imagine her shock, when after the untimely death of her super-famous author-mom, Cassandra Bond, she finds out that her mother has charged Sara with the task of writing the final book of her five-part thriller series, which is touted to be 'the most anticipated book of the decade.' Though she outrite refuses at first, an insult by the publisher forces her to rise to the challenge in the heat of the moment. But now that she has accepted, she has just seven months to write it. And with the disaster that was her first book ten years ago, will Sara have the courage and confidence to go through with it?

I have always assumed writing to be something that came naturally for authors - like a free flow from heart/brain to paper. The plot reveals Sara's struggles to answer her many questions regarding the main character in her book, her writer's block, the repeated writing and shredding of chapters... it sounded extremely exhausting and painstaking. More than a rom-com, this was a story of how her family's trust in her, helps Sara in slaying her demons and finding herself and her lost passion for writing.

The characters in this book were awesome. Everyone needs a sister like Anna-Kath who was Sara's loudest cheerleader and a best friend like Binti who was her sounding board. I especially loved the character of Julie Knott for her loyalty to Sara and her mom. The writing style made you laugh out loud at times and feel Sara's frustration as your own, at other times.

Overall, a heartfelt tale of love, relationships and self-discovery. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was unable to download this book to my kindle after numerous tries, but the summary was intriguing!

#TheAudacityofSaraGrayson #NetGalley

Special thanks to NetGalley and Meryl moss media for providing me with ARC.

This book is so funny, i loved it and the characters are charming.

This is an engrossing story of the journey of a woman against her internal struggles to find her voice as a writer. When her deceased mother requests in her will that she write the fifth novel in a widely read series, she rebels when her insecurities take over. The guidance of a critical editor friend and the encouragement of a new found friend lead her to a process of discovery.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a free e-ARC of this book through Netgalley.
Okay, first off I have to admit that I don't like other "Sara(h)s" because I want to think of myself as unique and individual. I couldn't help liking the Sara in this book though because she is a very likeable character. I also quite enjoyed the story of her being the child of a famous writer who must take over for her mother to write the final book in her best-selling series. I found the book amusing at times, but it mostly comes across as a good family builder with exploring the problems that come up in relationships as we explore our family's past secrets.

"It's strange how quickly we reduce ourselves - and others- to one sliver of life's performance when our lives are so much bigger than that."
First off, what a wonderful story . Once I started down its path, I could not stop reading. The characters have so much depth with multi-dimensional interactions between not just family members but between friends. Each character has a history and backstory of their own. A story that the reader wants to know. Hint: the 6 degrees of separation discussed between Cassie and Sara early on in the book returns several times. Everything in the book is interconnected and flows seamlessly and interestingly ,never seeming forced in any way. I love when that happens.
The book would be great for a book club- there are so many points of discussion: family , loss, recovery, secrets, audacity, finding ourselves and our path to happiness, home, jumping to conclusions, strength and weakness, choices and risks, seeing that one small part of a person or their life is not their "life" and the art of a writing life. Great discussion starters. I was inspired by the quotes from writers at the start of each chapter- those alone are thought- provokers.
Everything about the book was pitch-perfect. I was in a bit of reading slump and this was just the book I needed. I highly recommend it . Thank you NetGalley for this wonderful ARC.

This was absolutely delightful! The plot was well-paced and captivating to the very end with plenty of twists and turns. The characters were charming and the dialogue was witty and fun. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This one started off really slowly for me. I felt no connection to the characters at all and everything happened kind of abruptly. I’m happy to report that the story picked up and it was a lot of in depth detail on Sara learning more about her family and the life her mom led as a writer. Bravo!

Fantastic! A super enjoyable read. Family intrigue mixed with the main character needing to discover her true self. I loved all of the characters and the little shocking twists along the way.