I really enjoyed listening to this book! The narration was brilliant!
The storyline was interesting & I loved the family dynamics.
Will definitely be reading more by this author. Thank you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I have no idea why I requested this one but I am really glad I did...I love stories like this. I don't always like it when you have two different points of view and they go from past to present but in this case, I really did. It made the whole book...learning why Evelyn was the way she was and what happened once she was forced to NOT marry the man she thought was the love of her life. Past-Evelyn...btw, she is the one up to no good lol. Present- Jenna...in the middle of a divorce she doesn't want and having to go through a lot of personal growth she isn't quite ready for...loved this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved the dual timelines and felt it really helped bring the entire story together.
While the two romances between Evelyn and Tony in the past and Jenna and Joe in the present were the main focus, I feel like the heart of this book was really about personal growth and family history. As Jenna learns about her grandmother’s past, she also learns about a family and a town she didn’t know nearly anything about, and the growth that comes out of that was my favorite part of this book.
Absolutely loved this book and looking forward to reading more from this author.

I loved this book! It was sweet and warm. And it kept me entertained all the way through! Highly recommend if you’re looking for heartwarming and truly loved their relationship.

"She's Up to No Good" by Sara Goodman Confino is a heartwarming and emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of family, secrets, and the transformative power of self-discovery. In this funny, poignant, and life-affirming story, two women from different generations find themselves on a journey of healing and rediscovery.

The narrative follows Jenna, who, in the midst of a divorce, decides to embark on a road trip with her eccentric grandmother, Evelyn. The destination is a seaside Massachusetts town with a rich family history. As they travel, Evelyn shares the tale of her own star-crossed teenage romance that shaped her life over seventy years ago. Despite Evelyn's insistence that the trip isn't about her first love, Tony, the narrative reveals the lasting impact he had on her.

The dual timeline structure, alternating between Jenna's present-day struggles and Evelyn's past, adds depth and intrigue to the story. Confino skillfully weaves together the two narratives, creating a seamless blend of nostalgia, romance, and self-discovery. The portrayal of family history and its impact on the present generations is both poignant and relatable.

The characters are well-developed, with Jenna and Evelyn emerging as strong and resilient women. Jenna's journey of overcoming the pain of a broken marriage is depicted with authenticity and vulnerability. Evelyn's secrets and forbidden first love add layers to her character, making her a captivating figure in the narrative.

The novel beautifully captures the essence of family bonds, highlighting the importance of understanding one's roots and the unexpected connections that can emerge through shared histories. The seaside setting adds a touch of nostalgia and serves as a backdrop for healing and self-reflection.

The writing style is engaging and accessible, making the novel easy to immerse oneself in. Confino's ability to balance humor with poignant moments contributes to the overall enjoyment of the story. The themes of love, loss, and resilience are handled with sensitivity, creating a narrative that resonates emotionally with the reader.

While the overall tone of the novel is uplifting, it doesn't shy away from addressing the complexities of relationships and the impact of past decisions. The unexpected twists in the plot keep the reader invested in the characters' journeys.

In conclusion, "She's Up to No Good" earns a four-star rating for its heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, the enduring influence of the past, and the potential for healing and self-discovery. Sara Goodman Confino's novel is a delightful and affirming read, offering a blend of humor, nostalgia, and emotional depth that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories about love, family, and the resilience of the human spirit.

A fun read about a grandmother and a granddaughter road trip. I liked the dual timelines to learn of the family's history and how the granddaughter realized her true path in life. The grandmother was a riot and made me laugh, which balanced some of the seriousness.

A moving dual timeline, intergenerational story about first loves and second chances told in flashbacks as a recently separated/dumped Jenna takes her elderly grandma to a summer cottage in Massachusetts where she relates the story of her forbidden love affair.

Great Jewish rep and a funny heartfelt summer road trip read perfect for fans of books like Mrs. Nash's ashes or The mostly true story of Tanner and Louise. I really enjoyed this one!! Jenna and Joe were adorable and I loved their summer romance while I was fully invested in finding out what happened in the past with Jenna's grandmother!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

The narrative in this book is split into two timeline; the present and Evelyn's story. It is a heart warming story of love, choices, heartbreak, family and second chances.

DNF at 15%

I absolutely adored Confino's debut novel and instantly put her on my list of Auto-Buy authors. When I saw that she had written a sophomore novel and that it would be an intergenerational road trip, I immediately requested an ARC.

However, this book turned out to be a major disappointment for me. The humor that I had loved in the debut came off as cloying and both the characters and plot felt way more women's fiction to me. By the time I hit the 15% mark, I realized that I couldn't continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

If I knew anything about Sara is that she can definitely pull an emotion out of me. I found myself holding my breathe and needed to air. Miriam may have been tough but towards the end I understand her character and actions. I adore Evelyn, life was made so interesting with her in it. She's very relatable and passionate. The story was told between then and now and tied up well. I highly recommend this!

4.5/5 (rounded up)

I may not have read Sara Goodman Confino's debut, but after finishing She's Up to No Good and loving it so much I know I will now! I don't know why Goodman Confino wasn't on my radar until now, but her writing was engaging, had amazing flow, and there was nothing in this book that felt unnecessary. For being almost 400 pages long (audiobook clocks in at about 11 hours), it felt short to me, and I could have easily remained in this world for hundreds more pages and been perfectly happy. For the most part, the story alternates between Jenna in the present time and her grandma Evelyn as a spunky and stubborn high schooler. While I loved both viewpoints, I have to say I preferred Evelyn's overall, and I just loved her character so much as well. There are some hilarious moments throughout the book, but I also ended up basically ugly crying at one point, so be prepared for plenty of emotion as well!

The audiobook for She's Up to No Good was a tiny bit odd, but I think it was because of the editing as opposed to the narrator. Holly Linneman did a beautiful job narrating the different viewpoints, but I noticed that when I listened to the audio in my car, I had 0 issues but listening to it with headphones I could hear some distracting noises from the narrator. There was also almost a bit of a white noise sound at times with odd pauses, and I didn’t notice any of this in the car at all. I don’t know if I would listen to the audiobook again to be honest (as much as I loved Linneman), and if/when I DO reread this, I will definitely be reading the book itself. I could just be extra picky though, so I would still recommend the audio if you wanted to give it a shot! This is a women’s fiction/contemporary read with some romance, but the relationships and characters are what really shine. While at times heartbreaking, She's Up to No Good was a heartwarming read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved this book. I had a hard time reading it at the beginning; I was missing my grandma and reading about the relationship between the two MC (grandma/granddaughter), I struggled a bit. This was not the fault of the author; if anything it speaks to her fantastic writing. I loved the story in the present timeline and the past timeline.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you so much @AmazonPublishing & @NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 01 August 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Jenna is stuck grieving her marriage when her grandmother (Evelyn) invites her on a road trip back to the town she grew up in.

WHAT I LIKED:
- a perfect balance of humour, seriousness & romance that overall is such a lovely heartwarming story
- Evelyn's chapters specifically kept pulling me back into the story (who doesn't love a feisty grandma with zero filter & a zest for life?!)
- the wit & banter between Evelyn & Jenna had me scoffing out loud
- all of the characters felt really flushed out & I loved seeing their growth by the end of the book

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I wanted to love both timelines equally, but I much preferred Evelyn's (1950s) to Jenna's (current day)

Sometimes you just need those light, feelgood reads. This one starts with a jolt - Jenna and her husband splitting. I loved the addition of Evelyn. There are two timelines and I loved learning about Evelyn as they traveled to their destination. It's always so fascinating to think about family and connections and how we're all there for each other and might know more about what someone is going through than we think. It's a cute story, I liked it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I LOVED She's Up to No Good. It had me laughing out loud. What I really loved, besides Evelyn of course, was having the story set on the North Shore of Massachusetts where I grew up. While I didn't spend much time in Gloucester, I do know the area and loved seeing other area towns included in the book. It made it so incredibly easy to picture.

Overall, the story was beautifully written. While it's a story about a family, it also explores love, loss, grief, religion, and more. It's a wonderful blend of serious subjects and lighthearted fun. I definitely recommend adding She's Up to No Good to your reading list. Sara Goodman Confino has easily become an auto-buy author for me!

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

I love a good road trip book and dual timelines and this book has both! Evelyn is too old to travel back to her hometown so her Granddaughter Jenna, whose husband recently asked for a divorce, offers to drive her. This is the beginning of a a trip full of memories and emotions. Evelyn has stolen my heart already as an eighty nine year old with lots of spunk, I’m 100% invested in her backstory. I’ loved how Jenna’s life worked out for her after going through such a tough, rocky divorce. If you love family stories that tug at your heart and make you laugh, this book is for you!

I really enjoyed this story. It was unique, mysterious, family focused, and funny. I loved the relationship between Jenna and Evelyn and how the stories all weaved together.

She's Up To No Good is about a grandmother/granddaughter road trip, full of antics and hilarity. The timeline is split between Jenny in the present (the cousin of Lily from Confino's first book) and Evelyn in the past (their grandmother).

Present-day Evelyn was my favorite part of this book. She was so clever and meddling, and her schemes cracked me up. I loved her background, too, and how the choices she made as a young woman formed their family for Jenna and her cousins.

Sara Goodman Confino continues to crack me up with her amazing writing. I adored For The Love Of Friends, and this book was no exception. I'm definitely a fan and can't wait to see what she writes next!

I loved Confino's first book and was so excited to get a copy of this one. I liked that this is a different genre than the first, but I love a good rom-com and would love to read another by the author.

She's Up to No Good follows newly divorced Jenna as she accompanies her grandmother, Evelyn, on a trip to Hereford, where she used to spend summer vacations. The book is told in two parts: the current timeline with Jenna and a past timeline when Evelyn was a girl. We see Evelyn with her first love and what becomes of it.

I love Evelyn's character. We met her in the first book as the heroine's grandmother, and now we see her with Jenna. I loved the past timeline of Evelyn's life growing up. It seems she's always been a bit of a spitfire.

This book started a little slow, and took me a while to become invested. In the end, I really enjoyed it. I'll read anything Sara writes and can't wait to see what she has in store next. I have this paperback on my shelf next to For the Love of Friends.

(will post on Instagram soon)

A solid and entertaining listen. The right balance of humor, seriousness, and romance. Perfect for fans of a well-rounded book. If you are KU subscriber, definitely check this out as either a book or audiobook.