I had a feeling just from the title that I would love this book. I found myself constantly needing to continue the story and find out what was going to happen next. Even though the characters could be insufferable at times, I feel this was one of the most real feeling relationships. Somehow this book made me feel like I had spent a year reading it, instead of 3 days. I don’t say that in a bad way, I mean I feel like I got to see and spend so much time with these characters. It was emotionally exhausting sometimes, I screamed a lot out loud at this book, but I also giggled a lot and teared up a few times. This wasn’t a perfect book, but I gauge my reviews on enjoyment and I really enjoyed this book.

I really tried to get into this book, but it really fell flat for me. The overall plot was weak, and I did not enjoy one of the main characters. I loved Chelsea & Elizabeth’s friendship, and how her friend loving supports her through trauma related issues. I also really loved the banter & game between the two best friends. When the male characters are introduced, I had such high hopes but I quickly got extremely irritated with Chelsea’s character. Throughout the book she just appears shallow and selfish. I think the author was trying to denote how trauma can make you uncaring, but it just came off very childish. I struggled to get through this book & thought Basil was the greatest man on the earth for putting up with her! I do think the international travel aspect was exciting, but once again, Chelsea ruined that until the end when she finally decided to give Basil a real chance. Also the sex scenes felt cheap & rushed, and almost unrealistic. I am giving a 2 star because I loved the girls’ friendship and Basil. Thank you for letting me review! Best of luck!

I unfortunately didn’t love this one.
At first I had high hopes because I felt that there were several moments that were very funny. I loved the list and games they played, and that was where my love for the book stopped.
My biggest reason I couldn’t enjoy it was Chelsea. I didn't like anything about her. I felt she was so selfish and I just couldn’t root for the relationship after that. I also don’t root for one night stands, that type of relationship drives me crazy. The other big reason was I was just bored, there just wasn’t much going on in this book.
It didn’t turn out like I’d hoped, but I want to thank you for allowing me to read this netgalley book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Two love stories in one book. The two female characters Chelsea and Elizabeth are life-long best friends and both their love stories are told in this book. There's a hot Greek guy in the book as the love interest obviously. The romance is hot and swoony. There is lots of humour here too. The friendship is a terrific part as well.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

This book is based on a list Chelsea and Elizabeth created that is composed of challenges that take a year to complete. I love this idea and think that when we allow ourselves to get out of our comfort zone, we open ourselves up to endless possibilities.
Cheslea is an example of someone who had a bad childhood plagued with abuse and now she is trying to live her life, with her mind trapped in the past. Her fear of getting close to anyone has her avoiding getting hurt, but also avoiding getting to experience love. I felt bad for her that she lived this way but understood why. Even though she was seeing a therapist, she still struggled daily.
Also, she was trying to support herself and help her mom out. She was continuously overdoing it, for I think to make up for their past but also just to help.
I am at least glad she had her friend Elizabeth who seemed the only one she allowed to get close to her. The list of challenges were meant for the two of them, but I think Chelsea benefited the most. One-night stands were common for her, and something she enjoyed so she wouldn’t get her heart broken. The only problem is Basil was different and she knew it from the beginning.
His persistence and working his way into her life through food was so good. I love to cook, so I was always interested to read what Basil was cooking up. He was definitely Mr. Sunshine. He grew up in a traditional Greek family, which he loved, but could never shake their disappoint in him.
Both Chelsea and Basil had their reasons to want to change their lives for the better, and they both encouraged each other towards positive things. I loved the pace of the book, the travel and the relationships of Holding Out for A Gyro.
The takeaway: follow your heart and not your past.

Thank you to the author Mary Ann Marlowe, publishers Amara and Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of HOLDING OUT FOR A GYRO. All views are mine.

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. The character's yearly friends challenge checklist at the beginning, before the opening of chapter 1, is brilliant. It also lends an interesting form to the narrative.

2. I have become very picky about what I consider a really well-written steamy scene. I want to see sll participants having fun, I want lots of consent, and I want participants talking about protection. It's hard to meet these standards and keep it sexy, I hear this. But Marlowe writes beautiful, spicy intimate scenes that meet all these standards. Bravo!

3. Omg the cat's name is Jacques Lacan!😍 Okay, between this and the Derrida lecture, I gather Marlowe has some higher education in writing. But these name drops don't really fit the context that well, as neither fmc is a writer or whatever, so I gather the references are in here for bragging rights purposes.

4. One of my most favorite things about this story is that it's a dual love story. Each of these inseparable best friends, Chelsea and Elizabeth, go through the challenges of new love at the same time. I adore stories about friendship, so this really appealed to me.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. I'm not sure how I feel about Basil the face- model-beauty from Greece. I just...can't buy into him. Also, how am I to read "Bas?" Is it like "base?" Like "bass" the fish? Like "bazz?" I just don't think these characters are well designed, at least not at first.

2. I feel like this book goes on too long, by at least 50 pages. The list takes over, becoming too much of the story instead of just giving it a really good shape.

3. Oh no, not truth or dare.🤦‍♀️ This is such a common romance and horror genre occurrence, it should be a trope. One of my least favorites.

4. The plot has a bit of an odd structure. It's like two short related plots, end-to-end. This is probably what's making the book feel so stretched out!

Rating: 📃📃📃.5 long lists
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Jan 24 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
💖 romance
🚪 open door romance
👭🏽 women's friendships
🪣 bucket lists
🫂 strangers to lovers trope
⁉️ truth or dare trope