I LOVED this book. I predicted one "twist," but the other was a total surprise in the best possible way. I'm not always one for coming-of-age novels, but this had enough spunk and sass to be an absolute joy to read.

📚 Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book has been blowing up the Peloton Moms book club so I requested it from @netgalley and bumped it up my list. This was a great story! It take place in the 1960s when Marilyn is sent to live with her Great Aunt at the Jersey Shore for the summer after getting caught making out with the Rabbi’s son during synagogue. Aunt Ada is a great character. I absolutely loved her. I also really liked the ending of this one. Pick this one up when you need something light that will put a smile on your face. I really enjoyed it.

Everyone LOVES this book. And I want to love it too but I just didn't. I liked it just fine. But it didn't grab me. And I saw the ending coming but was hoping it was not going in that direction. So a slow, enjoyable read about strong women, with an ending that I didn't love.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Don't Forget to Write' by Sara Goodman Confino. The story, set in 1960, centers around Marilyn Kleinman, a young woman facing societal expectations and familial pressures. Caught in a compromising situation, she's sent to spend the summer with her great-aunt Ada, a reputed matchmaker in Philadelphia. Expecting a rigid, matchmaking-focused summer, Marilyn is pleasantly surprised to find Ada defying stereotypes with her vibrant personality and unorthodox approach to life.

Confino's narrative beautifully unfolds as Marilyn and Ada embark on a journey to the Jersey shore, exploring the complexities of love, self-discovery, and the importance of choice. The contrast between Marilyn's youthful apprehensions and Ada's seasoned wisdom provides a delightful depth to the story. The evolution of Marilyn's character is depicted with grace and authenticity, showcasing her newfound freedom and independence.

The backdrop of the 1960s adds an extra layer of charm, capturing the essence of the era in a vivid and nostalgic manner. The dialogues are sharp, the descriptions are evocative, and the pacing keeps you engrossed from start to finish.

For me, 'Don't Forget to Write' is a captivating and heartfelt novel that tackles themes of family, tradition, and societal expectations, all against the backdrop of a changing time. It's a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected experiences can set us on a path to a future we never imagined.

I am not usually a historical fiction person, but I really liked this story. I enjoyed the pacing and this coming of age story. The 1960s, women's rights, matchmakers, a Rabbi's son, all the things. I am also a huge fan of quirky aunt characters and Ada is the very best.

Thank you to the advanced reader copy Netgalley & Lake Union Publishing.

Rating: Not Sure

I have such mixed thoughts about this one. I thought it was just okay. I absolutely loved the plot and the story the author created. I found it to be a mixture of both fun and heartwarming. The plot along with the characters made for a good coming of age story. My main problem is with the writing. It immediately felt very basic and because of that I couldn’t really connect to the story like I would have liked. It was a bit too wordy for me and the author did a lot of telling instead of showing. The writing along with the main character kept pulling me out of it. The author included some good jokes but towards the end they got a bit repetitive. Overall, I would have enjoyed this one more if the writing was better and if the book itself was shorter. I would recommend this one to people who are fans of this author's work.

I loved this book so much! Reading the description; it didn't sound like something I would typically read, but I had heard a lot of great things about it, so I gave it a shot and am glad I did. This story is funny; but also so heartwarming. I feel like, ultimately, its a story about women - challenges we face (especially in society during the 1960s, when this book took place), ways that we support each other - both overtly and quietly, and how much we are willing to give up and/or fight for those we love. I realize that sounds cheesy, but I promise - If you are looking for a book that keeps you up late reading because you don't want to put it down, this is your book! I have already recommended it to several people!

A lovely warm story, you will fall in love with the characters! It was fairly slow paced book which is ok if you aren’t looking for too many twists, I did enjoy the book.

I’ve seen this book recommended in SO many of the different groups I’m in, so I went into it knowing there was some hype behind it. Not all books live up to their hype, so I went into it with caution (because I’ve been burned by hyped-up books 😅).

You guys, I ADORED this book!!

This book is about a main character, Miranda Kleinman, who is the kind of character I love to read about. She is smart, self-assured, and unapologetically herself. This girl won’t settle, and I LOVE that!

The book is set in 1960, and we meet Marilyn as she is getting caught making out with the rabbi’s son when they fell through a stained glass window in the middle of service. So as punishment, Marilyn gets sent to spend the summer with her great-aunt Ada, who she barely knows. Ada works as a matchmaker, so Marilyn is preparing for the worst - a strict, fussy old lady who is hell bent on setting her up for marriage and motherhood. But she finds that Ada is not what she expected, and this summer may just change the course of her whole life.

This book is everything!! Such a good palate cleanser if you are reading dark thrillers for spooky season. I don’t give out my 5 stars lightly, and this book was such a heartwarming read. Plus the ending!! Highly recommend!

I wish I had read this as my last summer read, but I still think it’s a great one to squeeze in before the end of the year - especially if it’s still summer weather where you live. Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I adored this book!
The characters are all brilliant, but Ada was hilarious. I have no idea how many times this book made me laugh out loud, the author has a real talent!
This was such a good read, I looked forward to reading it and I loved the ending!
I am pleasantly surprised by this, and now have another book by this author on my TBR!

After a minor scandal, Marilyn is shipped off to her Great Aunt Ada for the summer. If she can keep out of trouble and act as her parents expect, she can return to college in the fall. However, Aunt Ada turns out to be more fun and surprising than Marilyn expected.

I laughed my way through this banter-filled story (except when I was crying). I love strong, funny female characters who write their own rules, and @saraconfino gave me precisely what I wanted! Add a strong sense of place (I could smell the salt water of 1960s Jersey Shore), great outfits, a slow-burn romance, and a spectacular ending, and you’ve got a crowd-pleaser. All the love for this story and Aunt Ada!

Marilyn Kleinman got caught making out with the rabbi’s son in front of the whole community. It is 1960 and Marilyn does not exactly follow her parents strict rules and regulations. She is a strong independent woman studying in college and has absolutely no intention of marrying this boy just because everyone witnessed their brief rendezvous. As a last resort and summer punishment Marilyn is sent to live in Philadelphia with her Aunt Ada, an older woman who never married but is a wildly successful businesswoman. As Ada and Marilyn get acquainted they head to her home on the Jersey Shore. Marilyn must assist Ada in her matchmaking business. Frankly, she prefers to lay on the beach, meet cute boys and use her spare time writing her novel. Falling for the boy Ada explicitly forbids her from socializing with, Marilyn sneaks out against Ada’s wishes only to learn her Aunt was right all along. To Marilyn’s surprise Ada is not what she expected. She is fashionable, smart, funny and has lived an extraordinary life. As the two women get closer Marilyn learns more about love and family than she ever dreamed possible. Loved the characters, the setting and every moment of this unputdownable read written with the humor of Mrs. Maisel and many lessons of the heart.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

As someone who grew up between Philadelphia and the Jersey shore, who now works based out of NYC, this book really hit on a lot of different levels. The historical aspects were well done and not overworked, which can be hard when pushing back a timeline 60 years. It gave me a nostalgia for the 60s without ever having lived in that era because I could imagine the places I love in a past state.

My favorite thing about the book was that I got to learn a lot about Jewish culture and pressures through the mindset of a main character that I related to in terms of her want to carve her own path. The characters were fully realized and my only complaint was there very occasionally were some cliched plot points that I had to overlook.

I would probably give the book a 4/5 on a normal scale, but it hit me with that childhood Jersey shore nostalgia, so it gets bumped to a 5/5. Nice work by Confino. Might pick up her other books after this.

This book was so much more than I was expecting. Marilyn, a bored young Jewish woman, has disgraced herself epically in front of her parent's whole synagogue (with the rabbi's son). That was hilarious and it's worth reading the book just for that scene.

Her parents have sent her to stay with her great-aunt while the scandal dies down a little. Marilyn is surprised to meet Ada, who is a renowned matchmaker. Ada is in her 70s with perfect makeup, sharply dressed, usually wears high heels, and has eyes in the back of her head for nieces trying to put one over on her. Ada's roommate is away, so Marilyn takes notes while Ada interviews clients.

The first thing Ada does when they meet is to confiscate Marilyn's expensive new lipstick for herself, saying that Marilyn 'has to grow into it'. That is part of the fun as Marilyn keeps sneaking it back, only to have it confiscated again. Living with Ada leads Marilyn to question what she really wants out of life, particularly after she has a potentially life-changing scare. To me, Ada was the real heroine of this book and an unforgettable character.

I received an e-ARC of this book from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

This book blew up in all of my Facebook reading groups, so I simply had to see what the fuss was all about. And I am very glad I did! Sweet without being overly saccharine, simply written without being simple, and just a beautiful story of females of different ages growing to love and respect each other. The time period was perfectly chosen, and the relationships are the true stars of the story.

When Marilyn is caught kissing the rabbi's son in the middle of a sermon, she is shipped off to her great-aunt's for the summer. She isn't excited but it was either this or marry the rabbi's son. However, once there, Marilyn finds freedom she didn't know before.

The plot here was fine, but the writing style wasn't really for me. It felt like the author didn't want to commit to being either a YA or an adult book. It also didn't give me serious historical fiction vibes just with the way it was written.

Thank you NetGalley for my advance reader copy of Don’t Forget To Write. I loved this book and gave it four stars on Goodreads. I have recommended it already. Unfortunately, I read it a while back and only recall how much I enjoyed it!

Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino
1 sentence summary: After getting caught making out with the rabbi’s son in front of the whole congregation, Marilyn is shipped off to her great-aunt, who may not be as strict as she seems.

Whew! This was a fun one! Despite seeing high reviews for this, I didn’t have too many expectations going in. Due to that, this one took me by surprise in the best way possible!

What I loved:
- Great aunt Ada. She’s one of my new favorite literary characters. I loved her!
- The humor
- The woman’s empowerment themes
- The relationships
- The emotion. For about the first 50%, I thought this was just a fun, average read. But then at about 65% I started tearing up and it took me by surprise how invested I had become.

What some may not love:
- Was able to guess some of what happened at the end (didn’t personally bother me)
- I felt it wrapped up a little too neatly

Overall I loved this one and wholeheartedly recommend it for Ada alone. This was a five star read for me!

I was so absorbed in this book. Ada has my heart! I wish that she is a live character and I could meet her. This book is well written and its a page turner. I laughed out loud and cried as well while reading this book. I loved the surprise at the ending ;) wasn't expecting that!! I closed the book with a smile on my face and feeling satisfied. Sara Goodman Confino for sure did a good job!! This book will stay with me - it has a great advise - to live and enjoy your life - we only live once after all!

This is the first book to make me cry in a very long time. Such a beautiful and funny story about charting your own path in life and not giving up on your dreams. I love that despite it being set in the 1960s and being mainly focused on the Jewish faith, it’s still such a relatable tale of not wanting to be confined to a box. The female characters were also so well-written! Ada and Marilyn were the perfect pair and their stubbornness and playfulness with each other really made me laugh at times. Then Lillian’s sweet nature was the perfect counterbalance to their attitude. Honestly this is the first book that has made me cry in a long while too. I just loved it so much and I can’t wait to get the physical copy.