This was fine, but not my favorite - I do not really remember it. I would pass on this if I were you.

Sometimes a book comes along when you need it the most. After picking this one up a few times and not being quite ready to read it—it wasn’t bad, but the content was a little harder for me with where my headspace was—I finally felt that it was the right time. I loved this book! Poppy was relatable and real.

The mother daughter / sister sister relationships broke my heart.

There were a couple of things that I didn’t like, but not in a they were poorly written way, I just felt that Poppy gave more grace than deserved.

I hate that I didn't love this book. It's so wholesome and Poppy is a character you can't help but root for... but the cheesy dialogue was too much, the plot twist wasn't a twist at all, and the insta-love did NOT work for me. I wanted to love this! And I've ready plenty of glowing reviews so definitely try it for yourself if the premise sounds interesting.

Main Character Energy" by Jamie Varon captivated me from the start, drawing me in with its enthralling depiction of a writer's journey. Having previously enjoyed Jamie's writing, I was immediately hooked by her storytelling ability. The novel's settings, especially the enchanting landscapes of the south of France, were so vividly portrayed that I found myself yearning to experience them firsthand.

I empathized greatly with Poppy, her family, and the challenges and frustrations that come with the creative life. Also, the supporting characters lent further depth to the narrative, enhancing the reading experience.

Aspiring writers will find a wealth of inspiration within these pages. Jamie Varon masterfully weaves a tale that resonates, making it a must-read for anyone seeking creative motivation. The novel's solid prose and well-crafted narrative are a testament to the author's skill.

The satisfying conclusion elegantly ties up the storyline, leaving me content yet eager for more. With "Main Character Energy," Jamie Varon has created a literary gem that I hope signals the beginning of a prolific fiction-writing career.

I was hesitant when I picked up this book. Was I ready for a, what I thought was going to be, a purely fluffy read? Instead, I was greeted by an eccentric aunt and an aspiring writer of a niece. We all had dreams for our future at one point, and many never reach that goal or get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. This book shows just how hard and discouraging it can be to follow your dream when it seems like everyone is succeeding where you are failing. I loved watching the main character learn to believe in herself, be true to her herself, and obtain her goal. There are ups and down, a sprinkle of romance, and a lot of grit and determination. I ended up loving this book so much and hopefully will inspire others to keep fighting for their dreams.

Very well written and sweet story that took me away from it all. I loved all the characters and the setting. Such a sweet little book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Poppy, 32, has given up on her dream of writing, hindered by a mother who prioritizes weight loss and finding a partner over Poppy's aspirations, while secretly championing her brother’s now-successful writing career. For nine years, Poppy has secretly visited her supportive Aunt Margot, who encourages her dream despite Poppy's lack of progress. After Margot’s sudden death, a cryptic letter urges Poppy to travel to the south of France, pushing her toward self-discovery and revealing family secrets.

The setting is delightful, offering escapism in a stunning villa and Paris, with a lively, diverse cast. Margot’s secrets add intrigue, though the final twist felt exaggerated.

The main flaw lies in Poppy's character; while her struggles are relatable, her selfish actions impact others negatively, and her treatment of the love interest makes her hard to root for. Despite this, many readers may find it a fun, bookish escape, even if it wasn’t for me.

Ironically...I did not like the main character! It was a little too cheesy and predictable for me. The setting was the best part though!

Short Synopsis: Poppy is desperate to leave her job and become a mystery writer when her Aunt dies leaving Poppy the experience of a lifetime going to her Villa on the French Riviera. She quickly finds out that her aunts intention was for Poppy to finish her novel in six months, and the Villa is hers.

My thoughts: I love a book about books, especially the writing process. I loved watching Poppy as she struggled through her writers block and soul searching in general as she's trying to figure out her life and make her way through her struggles. There is so much character growth through this book, and I liked that while I didn't immediately find myself enjoying Poppy, I grew very fond of her as the book progressed and she learned to love herself.

The setting was magical, I found myself immediately transported to the French Riviera.

Read if you love:
- Books about authors
- Self discovery and growth
- Plus size female MC
- French Riviera setting

This book is much more than the cover and description would lead us to believe. It delves deeply into a woman's growth and our own humanity, our feelings of helplessness about change, and how we don't always communicate as effectively as we want to or we should.

I really enjoyed going along with Poppy on her journey. Is she perfect? No. Is her family a mess? Of course. But if you enjoy stories about repairing bonds and growth, this is a good book for you.

I ended up loving this book more than I expected. The beginning didn't draw me in right away and I didn't feel a connection to Poppy. Yet, the story kept improving as it went on and I loved the growth that Poppy went through while breaking away from her family's toxicity. The romance wasn't my favorite, it just didn't progress in a natural way. I loved the setting though, I'm such a fan of exotic locale romances. Overall, 3.5 stars.

Poppy Banks is stuck in a job writing listicles, as she slowly succumbs to writer’s block and begins to give up on her dream of becoming an author. But her aunt Margot has issued a challenge to motivate Poppy to live life on her own terms…in the French Riviera. Can Poppy get out of her own way and overcome writer’s block, family drama, and romantic complications in time?

I connected immediately with Poppy, truly from the prologue. I love a story with a strong female lead who can airs risks, makes mistakes, but learns, and comes back stronger. This was a vacation in a book, along with a later coming of age story and fun romance. So good!

Free copy, review is my own.

The plot I loved. I didn't love all the writing that go there though. It was very obvious what was happening though the main character remained oblivious (and so did the others). It was also very convenient that she hated herself so deeply that it ran her life but the man pops in and she forgets all that...I get where the author was going, just wasn't executed that greatly. Solid entertaining read, and I did enjoy it!

If you like romance novels set in beautiful locations, you'll love this debut from Jamie Varon! It's a quick and easy read that will stick with you long after you read the last page—and as the title of my review states, it WILL inspire you to live your best life, so get ready! :) Thanks to Jamie for sharing Poppy's story with us!

This one has some real serious potential. We love a woman coming into her own, finding herself, growing as a person. And we love a good romantic love interest who supports our main character. There were just a few things plot-wise that I wasn't too crazy about, but that could totally just be personal preference issues. Overall it was a good read and I'd recommend it.

A emotional adult contemporary romance, that I would recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

Awesome story! I recognize myself in this book as I feel so many others will. Jamie Varon can do nothing wrong in my eyes. This was a story about a woman finding herself and taking chances, the main character she always was.

This was an alright story !! It had so many different elements of it. Some of them played really well together and other didn’t. I didn’t love the the 2/3 in flip back and kill all the growth we had. So that was annoying. As was the getting over the family stuff so quickly. She’d moved to France and didn’t even care to reach out but was suddenly missing the family so much and needed to see them. So that was annoying. Some great bones though !?

This book was definitely hit and miss for me. I love having a book with plus size representation. As a plus size person myself, it's nice to see a main character who shares some of the same feelings that I have, and see those feelings represented on the page. But I can also understand how that might alienate some readers and be a place where they wouldn't connect with the main character and find it whiny over endearing. And towards the end, you do find her to be a little over the top- she needs to find a way to deal with her insecurities instead of always using them as an excuse. Overall, I found the story to be fairly predictable- you knew what would happen in the end. But I loved the villa setting and some of the supporting characters as well.

I wish I could say I enjoyed this book more than I did - it had an interesting premise and a cute cover. Unfortunately, the author's voice/style just didn't work for me, and there were no content warnings for toxic parental relationship and attempted SA (which was very disappointing).