I never would have guessed that I would have read a book with so much to do about a duck decoy but hey, here we are.

While I liked Evvie Drake Starts Over, this one sort of left me wanting a little more. A little bit of a slow burn with a mystery element and a smidge of romance and like I said, a lot of duck decoy talk.

Aunt Dot was Laurie's hero. A single, childless woman of adventure, Dot's house was a childhood refuge to which Laurie could escape her own chaotic household. Laurie admired Dot for her travels, her wild escapades, and for living unapologetically as herself. So when Dot dies, Laurie takes it upon herself to handle her estate....and all of her stuff. Laurie travels back to her hometown to honor Dot's memory by honoring her things. Along the way, Laurie reconnects with her best friend, June, and first love, Nick. Healing from her own cancelled wedding, and Nick's recent divorce, the two rekindle a romance that they know cannot last. Throw in a wild goose chase (shall we call it a wild duck chase,) a heist, and revenge on a scam artist, and you have a delightful, hilarious story in Flying Solo. I really love this book for it's genuine portrayal of adult relationships, and the positive representation of unmarried, childless women. Also, Linda Holmes' humor is spot on. I laughed out loud many times throughout this book (which is a big feat for me.) Holmes' debut "Evvie Drake Starts Over" was one of my favorite books of 2021, and Flying Solo is a sophomore slam.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books, for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest feedback.

I really enjoyed Linda Holmes debut, Evvie Drake Starts Over and was really excited to read Flying Solo. The premise sounded really good! Sadly, I had a hard time getting into the book and decided to put it down for now.

I loved every minute of Flying Solo, from quirky cast of characters to the vivid world building to the twists and turns of the mystery. But most of all I loved that Flying Solo was a different kind of love story with path to a happily ever after that I haven’t read before. Linda Holmes perfectly captures all the different ways we can love someone and be loved. I can tell I’m going to return to this one whenever I need a pick me up.

3.75 out of 5. If you didn't know this was from the same author as Evie Drake starts Over, you would know by the end of the book. It has the same feel and the same scenery. I liked this book. I didn't love it but I really enjoyed it. I would describe it as a peaceful book, a soothing balm of an afternoon is what you get curled up with this one. I love that they see that relationships are messy and that sometimes things have to be settled in the middle. It is a bit scary however than a month to turning 40, I'm ending up reading all this books about characters turning 40 that I had no idea before starting reading. This one was enlightening in the mid life crisis sense!

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After an aborted engagement, Laurie returns to her home town in Maine. Her dear grandmother passed and the family elected Laurie to clear out the home. Spending her days sorting through her Grandmother's life possessions, she finds herself spending more and more time with Nick, her former high-school sweetheart. A boy she left behind all those years ago, but still finds herself drawn to him.

But Laurie likes her life in Seattle. She enjoys and requires her alone time and a husband just does not fit into her life's game plan. But geez… she really likes Nick! Such a predicament. What’s a gal to do!?🤷🏻‍♀️

I had difficulty connecting with Laurie, her history felt a bit shallow and lacking. And while Nick’s character worked for me I still struggled to get behind them as a couple.

Then there was the duck. Yes, a duck! (If you read this book that sentence will make sense!)🤣

Too much duck talk (quack-quack). I really wanted more from the characters themselves.

There were a few scattered moments that had me laughing, but overall it just fell flat. I needed more romance (of course😜 ).

I had both the digital and audio versions. And as always, Julia Whelan did an outstanding job narrating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine and libro.fm for my 🎧

The plot of this heartwarming novel surrounds a mystery involving, of all things, a carved wooden duck decoy. When Laurie returns home to Maine to handle the estate of her beloved great-aunt Dot, she realizes there's a lot she didn't know about her never-married relative who lived a life full of adventure and travel. But the trip home means more that cleaning out Dot's house for Laurie. She reconnects with her high school boyfriend, and along with the help of family and friends, tries to uncover the duck mystery.

This was an enjoyable and relaxing read! I enjoyed how the plot and characters were a little different than other women’s fiction books I’ve read. The relationships were very strong. I liked the thought process that the main character Laurie has when she goes back to the town she grew up in and discovered unknown tidbits about her late great-aunt Dot’s life. Would recommend!

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Flying Solo, the second novel by Linda Holmes, did not disappoint. I love, loved Evvie Drake Starts Over and while Flying Solo was a little less romantic, it was the perfect summer read.

Laurie, the only daughter in a large family full of boys, finds herself returning to her home town to help clean out her beloved Great Aunt Dot’s home after her passing. Reuniting with friends and an old boyfriend makes the tedious task more bearable and Laurie discovers that while there are parts of her hometown she misses, she is also proud of the life she’s created for herself. There’s also a little mystery concerning some of Dot’s prized possessions which make the story even more compelling.

One size 18 wedding dress, never been worn, and a hand-carved duck decoy make up this fun read about science writer Laurie who returns from Seattle to her home town of Calcasset, Maine to clean out the home of her beloved aunt, Dot, an independent woman who had many friends and loved to travel. The plot uncovers the deceitful collectible appraiser and Laurie's rekindled romance with Nick, her geeky high school boyfriend who is now a sexy librarian. A lose-yourself novel for a long weekend read.

If you are looking for a very quirky second chance romance book, Flying Solo is the book for you! The book takes place just as our MC Laurie is turning 40 and has recently canceled her wedding. She’s trying to figure out her next steps when she decides to handle the estate of her Great Aunt Dot.

Aunt Dot is fabulous! She lived to 93 and and lots of friends and hobbies. She traveled the whole world having adventures and love to bring home souvenirs of her trips. But this means there’s lots of things for Laurie to sort through. A mysterious wooden duck is among the belongings and it catches Laurie’s eye as well as a note that states, “if you’re ever desperate, there’s always ducks!”

Laurie is working with a man who helps appraise items that he thinks are worth money and then tries to sell them for her. But he pretends the mysterious duck isn’t worth anything and offers her $50 for it. He even writes her a fake authenticity report. Laurie doesn’t know this happens until later and then tries to get the duck back. She reunites with an old beau while investigating and Nick helps her recover the heirloom. They also begin to rekindle their former romance.

This book was so charming and unique. I thought it was very entertaining and I liked how Laurie was so independent after her canceled wedding. I also love Dot and all her experiences.

Thank you so much to Ballantine books, @lindaholmes, and @penguinrandomhouse for my gifted copy. Flying Solo is out now!

This was a low stress, cozy read that really suited my mood!
The whole atmosphere of the plot, characters, and writing style is homey and heartwarming.

The plot is slow which may not be for everyone but things still happened and there was forward momentum that kept me interested. Laurie as a main character was mostly relatable to me. Toward the end she got a bit stubborn and stuck in her ways which annoyed me at times.

The light mystery was low stakes, quirky, and fun. It added to the plot without overwhelming it. The romance was also written with a light touch. I would classify this as a fiction book even though there was a mystery and romance as main aspects of the story.

My only complaint is that at time the dialogue read a little awkward and repetitive. There were some conversations that Laurie had that could have been shorter and more direct.

Overall, this is an easy to read, low stress, heartwarming novel. Perfect for when you need a break from heavier reading.

This book is full of fun, quirkiness and warmth. The story has so much originality and heartwarming moments I could not help but enjoy it. The main character of Laurie is very well written with many attributes and flaws. She is approaching 40 and still doesn't know what she truly wants in life.

She has so many wonderful relationships in her life and these people from her relationships make amazing supporting characters. The relationships that she has with others are what makes this story special and unique. There is a bit a of romance while Laurie ponders how a romantic relationship fits into her lifestyle. And there is a guy that adds a bit of excitement to the story by not being quite the nice guy ge seems to be.

The mystery of the duck decoy helped the plot move along with some excitement and anticipation.

Her Aunt Dot reminds me so much of my own great aunt who, also, did not have children. My mother & I had to sort through all of the things she had accumulated over her 94 years of life. And, like Laurie, we found some things we wish had explanations to go with them. It made me wish I would have taken the time to ask her more questions about her life so I could have known her even better and Laurie has this same realization about Dot.

Overall, this was a warm and cozy book that I enjoyed very much. I am very grateful to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read a galley of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Flying Solo is the second novel from Linda Holmes.

This book can be viewed as addressing two different issues.

The first is surrounding Laurie's work in clearing out her great aunt Dot's home after her death. During the process, she finds a carved wooden duck, and one half of the story is surrounding that mystery (a heist even comes into play). Why is this duck decoy hidden away, and what is its value? Why had Dot never displayed it or discussed it in any way? Laurie digs into the provenance with the help of her friends, with surprising results.

The second aspect of the book deals with choosing singleness (for both Dot and Laurie). How do you navigate a world with expectations for marriage and coupling when you don't feel the need to settle down? Laurie, about to turn forty, has recently called off an engagement and is considering another relationship. How does she navigate her future happiness without feeling trapped?

For being a pleasant read, I give Flying Solo 3.5 stars.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

This one could be a sweet Hallmark movie! Laurie Sassalyn returns to her hometown to settle her aunt’s estate. While looking through Polaroids, letters and personal effects, she stumbles upon an unusual duck decoy. The duck takes her on an adventure where she encounters old friends, con artists and learns the importance of living life on your own terms. Flying Solo is a light hearted, sweet read that will make you smile.

Unfortunately, FLYING SOLO by Linda Holmes did not live up to the standards of her debut novel, Evvie Drake Starts Over. Both stories are set primarily in the same small town in Maine and they share references to the baseball team and cereal box races, but FLYING SOLO seemed very repetitive and self-centered since it focused on almost forty year old Laurie Ellen Sassalyn and her persistent waffling between nurturing a relationship with Librarian Nick Cooper or maintaining a truly independent lifestyle on the West Coast. She has come to Maine to sort out a beloved aunt's belongings and the mystery over a decoy duck she finds is amusing and adventuresome. If you are in the mood for on again off again romance mixed with mystery, try FLYING SOLO; it received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal as well as being a LibraryReads selection for June:
https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/June-2022-Final-Main-Flyer.pdf

This book was under the radar for me somehow. I loved Evvie Drake and didn’t know the author had written a new book until I heard about it on Youtube. I hurried up and requested a copy here and am grateful to the publisher for my ARC. I loved the first half of this book and was so excited that it was as good as Evvie Drake. But, then the second half fell a little flat for me. There was too much aunt and duck mystery and not enough romance. I also found Laurie really rigid in her desire to live and sleep alone. I appreciated that she knew who she was and what she wanted but at the same time I wanted that romance.

A classic Linda Holmes novel, featuring the sharp bite of small town nostalgia, and the memories of first love — and the need to carve your own path. (Pun intended.) Half exciting mystery, half coming of middle age, half love story (yes I know that’s 150%) - this is a cozy Maine tale that’ll leave your heart full.

I love this book! I had forgotten how much I love Linda Holmes writing! Evvie Drake Starts over is one of my very favorite books, and Flying Solo was just as wonderful!

It felt so good to settle into Linda Holmes witty banter and characters that are real and relatable and mature and imperfect and wonderful.

I loved Laurie and her choice to fight for the life she wanted. And I loved the way she has people in her life that let her be who she is.

This was a wonderful read!