This was a great read. I loved the message it gave. I loved seeing the love story play out. I loved that it shined a light on women finding love at an older age and how intriguing it all was.

Flying Solo is a beautiful brownie of a book. Unassuming, exactly what you’d expect from the author (NPR’s Linda Holmes) and the description, and it hits the spot. I finished it up right before my 35th birthday, which was perfect, as the book deals a lot with coming to terms with your life not looking how it’s “supposed to” based on weird external societal pressure.

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes

I’m struggling to find words to write for this review, as this book was cute and enjoyable but it wasn’t overly memorable? Maybe I need to re-evaluate my book review writing, or maybe I need to review as soon as I finish so it’s fresh. Flying Solo was cute, but not comparable to Evvie Drake Starts Over, Linda Holmes previous book. While I loved the small town, second chance romance, I really struggled with the main character and a lot of her (selfish) decisions. I understand that her decisions were a huge part of the book and her character, but it just didn’t sit well with me or how she treated her relationships.

This is a second chance romance, but it has elements of a mystery book, which I found cute but a little jumbled. I wasn’t sure how to feel while listening, but this audio is narrated by Julia Whelan, so it was absolutely fantastic. Overall it was cute, but nothing special.

I absolutely LOVED Evvie Drake Starts Over so I was thrilled to hear about Holmes’ new book. However, this one fell a little flat for me. I loved Nick the librarian and great aunt Dot’s past but the rest was meh for me.

I REALLY loved Evvie Drake Starts Over so I was SO excited for Flying Solo. It unfortunately was not for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters and the duck storyline was just a bit much for me. I really wanted to love this book but it just fell flat for me. I still love this author and will read whatever Linda Holmes publishes next.

Flying Solo is part cozy mystery part romance that is full of just enough mystery and intrigue to keep you satisfied. I appreciated the second chance romance between Nick and Laurie, but I found myself caring more about the origin of the duck and Laurie and her friends methods in retrieving it after it was stolen. But it was well written and enjoyable. I'm looking forward to reading more of Ms.Holmes's stories.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for the gifted copy of this title.

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes -- I love the setting of this book - Maine. It's a little bit mystery, a little bit romance, and just a little bit missing something.

This is a nice and enjoyable weekend read though and I would recommend it. Definitely added to the library collection.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. I rate this 3.5. It’s a nice and cozy story of a woman on the brink of 40 coming to terms with what she really wants. I wouldn’t really call this a romance or a mystery, although there are slight bits of both. It’s really a coming of age story, even though the main character is older than your typical hero in those cases. Laura is a very likable character, and I immensely enjoyed reading about a woman who doesn’t want to get married or have children and his perfectly happy in her larger than average body (and I liked even more that her body was not in any way the focus of the story)

I liked Linda Holmes's first book so I anticipated this one eagerly. I liked what it had to say about solo women, and how the mystery delved into assumptions made about them and played off those assumptions.. I also loved the main character's actor brother. I also appreciated the depiction of what is expected of an adult daughter vs an adult son. I struggled a bit to get into it at first but once the mystery got rolling, I was hooked.

I expected so much more from this one. It felt slow which made it hard to stay focused and invested. I even tried it as an audiobook to see if I liked it more, but alas this was not the book for me.

This book dragged, and I didn’t care about this wooden duck at all. I love the perspective of being happy solo, but there was a disconnect here with me. I’m perhaps not the target audience. I found the book pleasant but forgettable.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. There were great characters and an interesting storyline. I love books with libraries/librarians. I liked the romance line between the two characters. It played a part in the book but wasn’t the main story.

4.5

I loved this book! Reading Linda Holmes feels like listening to a podcast. Her writing is very dialogue-heavy, which makes it very propulsive. I love the low-stakes mystery in this one, and the sweet second-chance romance.

Here’s what you need to know: At almost 40, Laurie has recently called off her wedding and finds herself back in her hometown of Calcasset, Maine. Her favorite aunt Dot recently passed away, and Laurie has volunteered to clean out Dot’s house and weed through boxes and boxes of belongings. When Laurie discovers a beautifully carved duck decoy and a letter with a mysterious reference to ducks, she and her old friends set out to discover the story behind the duck. Throw in a “bereavement declutterer” who wears feminist t-shirts and an old boyfriend with whom sparks still fly, and you’ve got yourself a delightful genre mashup that you’ll just devour.

My thoughts: If you liked Linda Holmes’s previous novel, Evvie Drake Starts Over, you’ll want to grab Flying Solo. I LOVED Laurie’s independent streak and definitely related to the cleaning out of her aunt’s belongings. My parents are in the process of downsizing and send me tons of pictures of random things that I might (or might not) want. Unfortunately, there are no decoys or mysteries for me to solve just yet. But even if you’re not in this phase of life, this book is just so much fun!

I loved Flying Solo and it would be great if you’re in the mood for a fun romcom. The audio is excellent; I highly recommend letting Julia Whelan tell you this delightful story.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Linda Holmes' books are, so far, simply not my thing. However, in terms of inclusion in a public library collection, this is a must-buy; her debut novel was well-loved and much-circulated, and I suspect this one will be as well.

This pleasant rom com was the story of how horrible some people can be to others (which doesn't sound pleasant, but it is). Hopefully without spoiling the ending, let's just say everything works out in the end. There is also the added bonus of a long past love story--maybe and a whole lesson on decoy carving and painting. It is a quick and entertaining read that is well worth the time.

Sadly this book didn’t do it for me. I found the banter and duck boring. Maybe this is more for those that enjoy women’s lit/rom coms but this wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

And just like that... Linda Holmes has become a new auto-buy author on my list. She has yet to miss!

Flying Solo is a title that works on multiple levels. The nature of independence and individualism are explored in contrast to the sort of boxes people (specifically women) are meant to fall into. Like her great Aunt Dot, Laurie is someone who requires a certain level of solitude. She's never married. Has no inclination to have children. And often feels overcrowded by the presence of others. Returning to her hometown after her aunt's death helps remind her of just how similar the two of them really were.

While there, Laurie discovers a carved wooden duck (a hunting decoy) that could be of some value. She seeks out the assistance of her librarian ex-boyfriend, Nick, to research the mysterious origins of it. And what follows is a really heartwarming, wholesome exploration of (essentially) how to have your cake and eat it, too. Laurie grapples with her desire to rekindle things with Nick, while knowing she can't handle the parameters of a conventional relationship.

I enjoy that Holmes offers these really engaging and entertaining stories that pack an emotional punch. Like Evvie Drake, Flying Solo is packaged like your typical "rom-com," but dives into very serious (and relatable) commentary. In this case, it's this idea that you can't bend your entire life around someone else's. It's important to hold onto the things that matter to you. And while sacrifice (in some cases) can be good, it shouldn't come at the cost of your personal happiness.

While reading this, I described Linda Holmes' writing and Julia Whelan's narration as a warm hug of a reading experience. You really can't ask for more (or better)!

Oh, I loved this story! Holmes has an impressive knack at teasing out the emotion of every day life; she presents them so thoughtfully, oftentimes stuck in sad or unenviable parts of their life, and yet - you see yourself in them and you're rooting for them.

I thought this with Evvie Drake Starts Over, and I'm thinking the same now with Flying Solo - I loved both of these heroines, even as they live completely different lives in completely different parts of Maine.

Truly, this story was not initially what I thought it would be about ... ducks and art and single ladies might not have driven me to a title. But in the hands of Holmes, it all sings and comes together beautifully. An excellent book, and easily a five-star one for me.

The best thing about Linda Holmes’s writing is the wit and banter of her very relatable characters. This one is about a woman who might not have the typical view of love. It’s a fun read and I highly recommend!