I really liked this story and will start by saying it was much better than I was expecting. Honestly, a story about a woman who after raising her daughter primarily on her own for 22 years finds herself pregnant again by her ex-husband seemed a little cliché to me and I was expecting it to be overwrought with emotions, tears and drama. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised that this story centers on family, friendship, forgiveness, second chances and missed opportunities that had a little bit of weepy emotion but weighed much more heavily on humor and heartwarming moments.

This story is told from the two perspectives of Gabi Bloom and her mother, Alissa Adler. I really liked this because it gave me more a sense of each character’s personality and nature and I empathized with them both. Gabi is fresh out of college and goes on a trip to Ireland when she meets fellow American, Ethan Harris. After a whirlwind romance, they return to Chicago engaged to be married, with neither family knowing anything about it.

After a very brief marriage to Gabi’s father, Matthew Bloom, Alissa has been single and on her own for most of her life. She owns a bakery and her world is completely centered on her daughter, the light of her life. Gabi’s father has been a world traveler working in the conservation field and comes and goes. After Gabi’s college graduation, Alissa and Matthew spend a night together and surprise, surprise, she discovers she’s pregnant.

I enjoyed watching how each woman faces their lives and the situations they find themselves in, while figuring out what they are going to do. Is Gabi rushing into marriage before she’s ever had a chance to see the world and figure out what wants? Is Alissa ready to take on the challenges of starting over with another baby at this stage in her life? Will Matthew stick around for good?

The only issue I had with this story was the abrupt cliffhanger ending that came out of the blue. I have never been a fan of this and I didn’t feel it was needed in this story either. I really enjoyed this author and look forward to reading more of her work. The audio format for this story was fantastic too. The narration performed by Barrie Kreinik, Caitlin Davies and Fred Berman was wonderful and gave me more insight into the characters, their thoughts, feelings and personalities.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy women’s fiction but also stories that are rich in character and relationship driven. I think, like me, you will find yourself rooting for these characters to find their happily ever after.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of <i>The Bloom Girls</i> from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an amazing story of family and second chances! I loved the dual settings of Galway and Chicago. You not only get Gabi and Ethan’s love story but you get her parents’ Alissa and Matthew’s second chance romance. I loved how this novel delved into family issues but was still sexy and fun! Don’t miss out on this one!

Jewish representation in a Gilmore Girls-esque relationship? What's not to love? This is the first book I have read from Pine but will absolutely not be the last!

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

Okay, I liked this book a lot more than I had expected. Let me start with the fact that this is so far out of my normal reading genres that I've been pushing off listening to it for a while now. I really wish I had listened earlier. This was a fun story that had me laughing out loud more than once. It was a feel-good story if I've ever read one.

This story follows Alissa Bloom and her daughter Gabi. Gabi is 22 and comes home from a summer in Europe with a new fiancé in tow. At the same time, Alissa finds out that she's pregnant with her ex-husband's child. This is a multigenerational story that follows the two of them for a few month period. These characters were so authentic and I could relate to them all on so many levels. Honestly, there wasn't an unlikeable character in the bunch, (except maybe for Alissa's mom, but she seemed well intentioned). The book ended on a cliffhanger, so I'm assuming that there will be a sequel. I hope there will be a sequel.

I give this book a very enthusiastic 4 stars. The audio was fantastic. I'm a sucker for an audiobook that has multiple narrators and this one had three. One followed Gabi, one followed Alissa and one followed Matthew, Alissa's ex husband and Gabi's father. It was well done in all aspects. Eagerly awaiting a sequel.

This was a huge disappointment. It was billed as a mix between Gilmore Girls and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and while I could see some aspects of each, it was nothing like what I was expecting. I didn't care for the characters, or the events in the story. I wasn't a fan of this story.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for my copy of the audiobook for The Bloom Girls in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great summer read! I loved that it focused on both Gabi and her mother's romantic relationships as well as the mother/daughter relationship. I found Gabi to be a likeable and relatable for an early 20-something woman who is finding what she wants in her life to be truly happy. I also really liked the story line of her mother, Alissa. I am nearing 40, so I found her character to be the most relatable for myself. She thought she had her life figured out and was finally in this great place, and along comes a huge and very unexpected curve ball. I felt like her character had a lot of growth and realization of past relationship with her Ex/baby daddy. I liked the ending and how neatly and perfectly imperfect that the author wrapped up the story for all the characters.

I also really enjoyed the narration! I was easily able to speed it up to my usal 2x speed. Barrie Kreinik is a favorite narrator for me, so I knew that her parts would be great. I felt like all three of the narrators did a great job with the characters they portrayed and helped really bring the story to life.

Wonderful book with a captivating storyline. The narrator really brought the characters out of the pages for me. The whole experience was perfect and I really enjoyed everything about it.

**please note due to low rating I will not be leaving a public review for this book as I have not paid for it.**

Narrator 5 stars
All the narrators were fantastic

Story 2 Stars
I didn't like this story. I found all the characters over the top and super cheesy. I really like cheesy books but this was a little too thick too much.

If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, this book is for you.

This book hooked me immediately in the opening when Gabby is traveling in Europe and has an accident with a guy named Ethan, who becomes her love interest. Her and Ethan arrive back in the States with some news for her mother, Alissa, who also has some big news for her daughter - at 40 years old, she is pregnant with her ex’s baby (Gabby’s father), but how long can she keep this secret from Gabby?

This book has romance, family dynamic, and internal thoughts from the characters that are relatable, allowing you to really feel what the characters were feeling when they were trying to figure things out when life got complicated and wasn’t going exactly as planned.

I listened to the audio version of this book and liked how there were different narrators. At first it threw me off a bit, but as the book went on, I realized it made the book flow nicely.

Multiple generations at their best! This book gave me all the Gilmore Girls vibes, so if you enjoyed the show, you'll love this story.

Gabi was a delight to watch as she tries to balance her new-found love and her desire to pursue photography while traveling. Ethan has been by her side since the day they met and I loved their interactions with one another.

Alissa was the best part of the story for me - her character has always put her own feelings last, causing her to miss out on the love of her life. She's finally an empty-nester, with a growing business she loves, but when she suddenly finds herself pregnant with her Ex, she has to decide if she wants to do it solo again like the first times.

Watching Alissa's journey was such a beautiful experience. All of the side characters, especially their meddling families, are so obnoxiously entertaining, it's like a train wreck you can't look away from while laughing.

I almost wish I could read this again for the first time! I fell so hard for the characters, and this was a book that I kept dreading the closer it got to being over. The audiobook brought the characters to life, inviting you into the family while they find a way through their own personal struggles and growth. Add this one to your TBR now!

**I'm crossing my fingers, toes, etc. for Becca to get her own story!

Calling all Gilmore Girl fans, you absolutely need to read (or listen to) this book! The mother/daughter relationship is sweet and of course, entertaining. I loved everything about this audiobook. The characters were amazing, the narrators were the perfect fit, and the plot is so sweet and feel good, that this book earned five stars from me! I highly recommend this book as a fun summer read.

3.5⭐️

“...𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑜𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛...“

39 year old Alyssa just found out that her 22 year old daughter has returned from her European travels with a new fiancée… and she has a bomb of her own to drop… she’s preggars.

What I loved most was Gabi trying to figure out life. Being an adult, starting a new career and being newly engaged can be difficult all at once, but with the support, advice and love of her people, she makes some difficult, but necessary, decisions in the end. Good for you girl!

This story was so gratifying…delightful …and genuine. I really liked the originality of this storyline, strong family bonds and valued friendships. As someone who has a wonderfully tight bond with both my mom and my daughter, I could definitely relate. And, as someone who’s been bingeing Gilmore Girls for the last few months, I definitely appreciate the similarities.

The author really gives different spins on what love looks like. It’s not always black and white. Marriage isn’t always the ultimate goal for every person, and doesn’t always equal sheer happiness. I hear so many real life stories of surprise pregnancies in later age that I’m surprised this is my first time reading a book about it.

I also enjoyed the secondary stories and seeing different stages of relationships. The cliffhanger surely raised my brows and I’ll be waiting for the follow-up!!! The only thing that I didn’t like was how/why they kept such a huge secret for so long. Other than that, everything else was a hit!

One of my biggest fears is that in a few years my daughter will graduate high school, head to college and I’ll be pregnant at 40. Pregnancy at any age is a wonderful thing, but I will not have waited 18 years to start all over again. I’ve got big plans to act a fool in my 40s 🤣💃🏾

🗓Pub Date: TODAY Aug 3rd

Many thanks to @readforeverpub for my gifted copy and to @Netgalley for my advance listener copy.

A laugh out loud rom com to entertain and delight for hours to come! This book needs to absolutely be on your must listen list as the narrator does a great job of bringing the fantastic and funny characters to life! The plot is so good because there is enough reality to enhance the hilarity. This book is proof positive that we never quite have our romantic lives and the other sex completely figured out regardless of our age! I'm moving this up on my list as one of the years best "beach reads/listens" for the year!

This was an enjoyable entertaining audiobook to listen to. The 3 narrators really made each of their characters come alive. My favorite audios are the ones that have multiple narrators such as this one.

I really enjoyed all of the characters. I particularly enjoyed Alissa the most and could relate to her more because she is a mother and closer to my age. I found her to be quite humorous and both serious in her relationship with her daughter and ex-husband. I had many laugh out loud moments with her geriatric pregnancy.

Overall a very fun and heart warming story which made for a perfect light summer read.

Thank you Netgalley, Forever publishing, and Hachette Audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Bloom Girls
by: Amy Pine
narrated by: Barrie Kreinik, Caitlin Davies, Fred Berman
Hachette Audio
Amy Pines has written a multi-generational novel about a mother and daughter, both of whom are on the threshold of important, yet unexpected life situations. Gabi is passionate about her photography, as well as an American bartender that she met in Ireland. Her mother, Alissa is a pastry chef by profession, who is facing a surprise of her own.
The talented cast of narrators in this audiobook will keep you engaged as Gabi and Alissa navigate through complicated and complex family relationships, romance, love, and career. Join them for Pine's fun, yet poignant and tender novel, that's full of secrets, surprises, excitement, and hope. Readers will laugh, cry, and want to read more about this family and their dynamics.
Thank you to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for the advance reader's copy audiobook and the opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#TheBloomGirls #NetGalley

"The Bloom Girls" is a funny story about a mom (Alissa Bloom, now Archer) and a daughter (Gabi Bloom) and their difficulties regarding relationships - no doubt caused by the experiences with the ex-husband/dad.

But while I did enjoy the characters and how the story evolved, I cannot help but feel that the ending was rushed, and over-the-top romantic. And why oh why the cliffhanger to somebody not even a "Bloom-girl"...?? It kind of messes with the idea of the title.

I had the pleasure to listen to the audiobook version, which is made up of the three voices belonging to Barrie Kreinik, Caitlin Davies and Fred Berman. They did a great job, and it was easy to get lost in their storytelling.

Thanks to @HachetteAudio and @NetGalley for the opportunity to listen in advance <3

I will come back on August 3rd and publish reviews on Goodreads, Instagram and (Audible, if available there).

Gabi is on her long awaited trip to Ireland when she unexpectedly meets Ethan in a dramatic meet-cute. Now two months later arriving back home with her finance in tow, her mom Alyssa is unexpectedly pregnant. Again. And her ex-husband is the father.
Lots of humor and cute moments.
A story of living life to the fullest. and first and second chances.
I listened to the audio versions of the book. I like that there were three different narrators. This makes the story seem more realistic.

Thanks to netgalley and Hachette Audio for the advance copy.

An entertaining multigenerational debut story about a Jewish family with tons of Gilmore Girls vibes. Alyssa is 40 and ready to be an empty nester as her daughter Gabi has just finished college and is about to move out on her own. When Gabi comes home from her Europe vacation engaged and Alyssa discovers she's pregnant with her ex-husband's baby things really start to get complicated. Full of heart and humor, this is a light hearted, feel-good family drama perfect for fans of the Gilmore Girls. I really enjoyed this on audio with three different narrators voicing Alyssa's, Gabi's and Matthew's perspectives. Much thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for my advance review copy.

I fell in love with this book right from reading the synopsis. There is something very special about a mother-daughter bond and stories of this relationship bring me joy.  The author does a great job of describing Gabi and Alissa’s relationship from the beginning.  It is one made up of traditions such as watching old movies together every Saturday night, and deep respect.  Alissa is proud of Gabi and her accomplishments and will do what she needs to to make Gabi’s wedding day special.  This includes keeping her secret from Gabi until it is the right moment to share it.

The relationship between Alissa and Matt has been complicated.  They truly are the love of each other’s life.  Alissa didn’t want to tie Matt down in their earlier years and set him free to explore the world as she was raising Gabi.  Matt is ready to settle down and stay in their hometown even before Alissa announces her pregnancy to him.  Alissa, however, has trust issues- Matt has returned home several times only to leave again.  I appreciated watching this couple’s journey to redefining their relationship.

The book’s theme is living life to its fullest but recognizing that a life without a partner may be too big a compromise.  It is one of second chances and personal growth.  I loved the Jewish elements in this story and the supporting characters in this wonderful book.

Audiobook Review: 

I also listened to the audiobook version of The Bloom Girls which was narrated by Barrie Kreinik, Caitlin Davies and Fred Berman.  Their voices were expressive and easy to listen to.  I appreciate when audiobooks are performed by a cast of narrators which seems to bring a more authentic feel to the book.  I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of this book to those who appreciate this format.

4.5 star read-this book was fun and adorable and just the right amount of tear pulling and laughs that made me curl up in a comfy spot and let myself become fully immersed.
I held tightly to the mother and daughter relation and to the romance and love sprinkled throughout.

Fans of Gilmore girls,, and my Big Fat Greek Wedding will loves this witty and entertaining book.