3.5 stars rounded up here - thanks to Berkley Romance for the ARC and PRH Audio for the audiobook!

I'll be the first to say: I love Sarah Adler's writing. I first fell in love with Happy Medium last year, and then DEVOURED Mrs. Nash's Ashes this year. I was so emotional in both of these stories and felt like the emotions were pulled straight from my heart. Finders Keepers lacked a little of that emotional depth from me, so I'm a little disappointed.

I did this one fully on audio, and I liked Mara Wilson's narration of this story. She has such range as a narrator, and it was very easy to listen to... almost too easy at times? The story is a little sleepy... a slow burn but it didn't ignite at any point for me. The quiet revelations about the story were different than I was expecting.

This is a second chance story for two former best friends/neighbors, who hunted for treasure one summer before everything fell apart. It took so long to figure out what fell apart, that I got a bit tired of the characters talking around the tragedy that ended their friendship. Both our main characters have also moved home as adults because of break-ups and lost jobs... and it was a little tiresome for them to both be uncertain about what comes next..... in basically every aspect of their lives. Job interviews, homes to sell, parents to please, treasure to hunt, old high school friends, crushes that were and crushes that are... it was just a lot going on in one story, and most of it lacked in the hope or tension that I crave from romance.

The premise was mostly good. The execution left me wanted that little something more. It was missing the magic and tension for me that Adler is masterful at in her other stories.

I'm looking forward to whatever comes next.

3.75/5 Stars

Nina Hunnicutt finds herself back in her hometown, forced to move in with her parents when her boyfriend dumped her, leaving her homeless, and jobless when her contract as a university history lecturer was not renewed. And it is just her luck that her estranged childhood best friend (and duplex neighbor) is ALSO back in town for the summer. Once inseparable, they had a falling out as teenagers right before Quentin moved away and haven’t seen each other since. But Quentin has no intentions of letting Nina get away with hiding from him all summer, and proposes that they spend the summer looking for the treasure on the hunt that destroyed their friendship as teens. Now older and wiser, they are determined to find the mysterious prize, but as old feelings resurface they need to decide if the past will stay as buried as the treasure.

This was a cute childhood-friends-to-lovers on a treasure hunt story! It was interspersed with interview clips from the man whose treasure they are trying to find, which added a fun historical/archival element to the book. I enjoyed their antics in trying to find the treasure and explore the estate while having to navigate around employees of the manor. Overall, it just led to a pretty fun set up with all of their shenanigans, and I love a childhood friends story where they can reflect back on other wild adventures they had as kids.

The two MCs were intriguing as well. I loved that they were both in similar positions in life of being dumped and in between jobs, but they took such different feelings from it. Nina could get a little irritating with her negative self talk, but I enjoyed the mental health representation with her anxiety and how often she talked herself through using tools her therapist taught her. The chemistry between these two was so fun too, as you could tell they both had it bad for each other for a long time, and the backyard/window scene was DELICIOUS.

I enjoyed the audio of this one and thought the narrator did a good job with it. She changed up her voices for the different characters, which I enjoyed, although I would have loved to see another narrator be used for the interview sections!

Overall, this was a fun and easy read, with some quirky characters, fun hijinks, and a good smatter of spice in between!

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH audio for the arc/alc!

4.5 stars.

So much to love about this one. Sarah's writing makes me laugh then swoon then tear up. We have childhood best friends to almost lovers then estranged for like 15 years until they are back to next door neighbors, both going through major life transitions. Both have recently lost jobs and been broken up with and the FMC is back with her parents while she applies for jobs and the MMC is back to his divorced parents' empty house renovating it for sale. They of course run into each other and have instant chemistry. At first it's like their childhood shorthand and nostalgia and then it's all the things left unsaid coupled with being older and wiser to actually be able to talk about them.

The FMC is relatable in that she felt like she needed to succeed and have tangible proof she had value, not necessarily in a perfectionist way but more like things were hard for her parents when she was a kid and she took it upon herself to show she has value. So when she loses her best friend at 18 and then in this current time loses her almost tenured job and her 6 year relationship what "value" does she have left. In combination of her previous therapist, her family and her friend back in her life (as well as her other BFF) she finds herself again.

This is all set to the backdrop of a mini treasure hunt that I loved it was kind of understated to be able to focus on being a contemporary romance and about their budding relationship. Just a charming little side plot that helped force proximity them together. The -0.5 star is just that this happened more than once- they would agree to pretend they didn't know each other and then literally in the next dialogue reference something from the past but not even acknowledge that they JUST agreed to try something, just weird to me it happened more than once.

Thank you to Berkley for the free book!

This was my first venture into Sarah Adler's novels, and it won't be my last!

In short: Likeable, somewhat dorky MC's Nina and Quintin were best friends as kids/teens and had hidden crushes on each other. Flash forward to their 30s, and they are both newly jobless, recently single, and have temporarily moved back to their hometown. They embark on a continuation of their teenage challenge to uncover the local hidden treasure and, of course, fall in love! However, things aren't easy as they figure out their feelings for each other and how they'll discover their true career passions.

This was such a fun read! The treasure hunting was just ok for me, but I did like the ties to Nina's profession as a historian and how she was able to discover meaning in old texts. Quintin was hard not to love, and it was so obvious he had been pining for Nina for years. Nina was super funny and I enjoyed her internal monologue. Also, Nina's relationship with her mom was sweet and I loved that they were so close. I was so entertained by the nostalgia of Nina's memories from her teenage years (and the throwback songs during the bar scene!). This book was relatively PG until about halfway through, when the spice level increased several notches. The lying by one party at the end was frustrating and not cool, but otherwise I enjoyed this romance and can't wait to dig into Sarah Adler's backlist.

Thank you to Berkely and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for a treasure hunt story, especially when an unrequited childhood crush resurfaces, so I was really looking forward to this book. That said, I had a really hard time getting into this story. The idea was there, the premise was great, it just wasn't executed very well. The plot really dragged in places, and the chemistry between the characters just wasn't there.

Finders Keepers is the book for the nerdy kids who loved National Treasure and grew up into romcom readers. Yup, target audience reached. I though Finders Keepers was adorable. Two old friends reunite to resume the treasure hunt they stopped years ago and ended their friendship over? SIGN ME UP.

This book was everything you want in a romcom, a little banter, a lot of tension, and some treasure (of what kind though? you'll have to read- trust.) I will now be picking up everything that Sarah Adler writes as this book was so cutie I couldn't put it down. The way that Quentin was described had me feral...like a little rat. I love a man with a little banter (and that doesn't always like me back right away but more on that later.) Nina's desires is what drew me to her- I think we are alike in that we want to be what other people expect us to be/need. It only made me like her so much more.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the digital advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group & Sarah Adler for this arc copy. The following is my honest review.
I was so excited by the premise — a treasure hunt with my fave trope of a second chance romance? That setup had me hooked immediately. Also Sarah Adler’s humor truly shines here; there were moments I genuinely laughed out loud. Quentin’s character is charming and his voice kept things entertaining. Unfortunately Nina wasn’t as much.
I struggled with the pacing of this one which made it harder to buy into the central romance — though I’m not sure if that was the only thing keeping me from connecting. Around the halfway point, I found myself struggling to pick it back up despite the humor, which I must admit to loving. The ending wraps things up well overall, but a few elements (which I won’t spoil) irked me.
I wanted to love this — and there’s plenty here that might work better for others — but for me it ended up feeling more mid than outstanding.

“Well, last time we did this, we lost our friendship.”
“Yeah. And maybe this is how we find it again.”

3.5 stars for my first Sarah Adler book. The pace was slow in parts and I found myself pushing through a few sections, but the premise was super cute and definitely intrigued me enough to open the book and continue through the slow parts. What’s not to love about a rom-com, second chance, best friends to lovers romance, with a treasure hunt adventure element to it, right?!

I’ll definitely recommend the book to anyone looking for a cozy summer read.

Finders Keepers was just ok for me. The two main characters were sweet and there was nothing particularly wrong with the characters. I just didn't connect was much with the writing and the characters as I have in other books.

Thank you to NetGalleyand Berkley for this ARC!

This is my first book by Sarah Adler and I will definitely be reading more. This is such a unique plot and refreshing to read something that’s never been done before. If you love Outerbanks I think you will definitely enjoy this one. It follows childhood neighbors, Nina and Quentin. Both of them had a crush on each other back then and now they are back in their hometown living next to each other again. Quentin brings up the idea of them resuming their search for the legend of the missing treasure in their town. With nothing else going on in their lives they decide now is the perfect time to finally find it.

5 Stars

I really loved this second-chance romance between childhood best friends, and the whole restarting life in their 30s plot alongside the treasure-finding plot was *perfection*. It gave the giddy nostalgia of a YA while maintaining adult themes and more in-depth growth. The inside jokes and reluctance to trust each other after a mishap in youth were refreshing, and there was not a big miscommunication trope that seemed insufferable. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this fun adventure and the spicy mcspice that was so earned.

“Finders Keepers” by Sarah Adler was my first book by this author. She writes witty women, which I love. You can’t help but to root for Nina and Quentin. These two had a strong friendship before he moved away and I loved watching that friendship rekindle into something more. I smiled through most of this book. Quentin is the perfect Golden Retriever/cinnamon role MMC. The quest for the treasure was a fun twist for this rom-com. The book was well written and I had a good time reading it. This is exactly what I’m looking for when selecting a romance book.
Thank you to NetGallery and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review. I eagerly look forward to more books by Sarah Adler.

Thanks to Berkley Romance for my copy of Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler which came out this week!
The premise of this one sounded cute - two estranged friends both end up back in their hometown and fall back into a treasure hunt at a local estate they tried to solve as teenagers as they rediscover their feelings.

Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. I just didn't feel the romance here and found the trying to tie their childhood games as adults as awkward. I liked the author's tie-in to the WPA Federal Writers' Project as part of the treasure hunt.

I've really enjoyed Sarah Adler's other books and can't wait to read her next one.

"Finders Keepers" is a cute, somewhat slow-paced contemporary rom-com. FMC Nina is back at home with her parents after losing her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment in short order. MMC Quinton, Nina's best friend when they were in their early teens, is also back in town after leaving his job in France following a broken engagement. The pair haven't spoken since they were 15, following a treasure hunt gone awry. Now, 20 years later, Quinton and Nina pick the same hunt back up again, Quinton eager and Nina less so.. Mildly amusing shenanigans ensue.

I didn't really connect with either of the main characters in this book. Holding onto a grudge the way Nina did for something that happened 20 years before felt exaggerated. And the mystery/treasure hunt just wasn't that interesting, especially since the eventual outcome was rather predictable. This is my second Sarah Adler book that I haven't enjoyed as much as I hoped. I haven't read "Mrs. Nash's Ashes" though, which I know is the one everyone really seems to love.

3 stars. Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

I will start by saying that I love Sarah Adler! But this book wasn’t my favorite. I’m used to a little bit more plot development and connection to the characters than this delivered. I did think that the format was a cool way to break up the main story, though!

I genuinely LOVED this book. I found myself relating to the main character, who in my opinion is a total type B person who uses a facade of success to push through her crippling anxiety (seriously, it’s 100% me). I laughed out loud so many times throughout the storyline (hello grandma seduction joke) and found the pacing to be perfect! I was truly engaged the entire storyline about the treasure, their past, their futures- I couldn’t let it go.

This is a hard review for me to write. I thought Mrs. Nash’s Ashes was great and Happy Medium was perfect (aside from the name, which should have been “I Ain’t Afraid of No Goats”). But this just did not have the same umph to it.

Nina is back living in her childhood bedroom after losing her job (and the tenure track position she was promised) and breaking up with her long time boyfriend. Her childhood bestie, Quentin, is also back on the other side of the wall after losing his job because of a cheating ex-fiancée. They decide to resume the treasure hunt of their teens but can they work past their crush?

This was slow. Like painfully slow. There were so many great parts to it but I think it could have been about half as long. Maybe just cut a third. I don’t know, I just wondered where was the chase and how we could cut to it.

Overall, pretty good but did not live up to my (unbelievably high expectations.

Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Finders Keepers follows Nina, who, after losing her job, apartment, and boyfriend in the same week, decides to move back home with her parents for the summer, and Quentin, her childhood best friend, who just so happens to be back as well. When the two reunite and decide to pick up the treasure hunt they started decades before, they find themselves thrown back into the same unspoken feelings they had as teenagers. I had so much fun reading this summery romance! Quentin and Nine were so cute, I loved how their friendship and feelings unfolded as they paraded around their small town and hunted down their treasure. Their connection and history was palpable, I loved all the little moments where they reminisced and picked back up on their childhood quirks. The historical interviews embedded in the story were so fun and insightful to the plot, I loved getting to see a little bit of why Quentin and Nina were so fixated on their quest as kids and now adults. This charming and heartfelt romance was perfectly balanced with humor, heat, and emotion. I cannot wait to see what Sarah Adler writes next!

4⭐️
I can always count on Sarah Adlet for cosy romance reads! Finders Keepers follows Nina and Quentin, two estranged childhood friends. The slow burn and second chance romance in this was so well done! Nina has returned home after her failed job and is surprised to see Quentin again after he broke her heart when they were young. I loved that the plot of this surrounded a treasure hunt because it reminded me so much of National Treasure!! The banter and tension between them throughout their treasure hunts were so good and added so many humorous moments! I also really loved that Sarah touched on mental health aspects in this one (depression and anxiety). The setting gives you all the small town vibes that you want! Sarah Adler is always a hit for me and this one was another cute rom-com!!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my review!!

Finders Keepers is a romantic comedy featuring estranged childhood best friends. They return to their hometown and embark on solving a decades old treasure hunt.

This is a review of both the e-book and the audiobook. The audiobook is read by Mara Wilson, who I absolutely adore.

This book is told from the female POV only. Thirty-two year old Nina has returned to her parents house after losing her job and her boyfriend. She studied historical research, has a PhD and has most recently been a professor. The book mentions Nina’s mental health issues (depression and anxiety). I thought that this part of the book was done so well. I also really enjoyed her relationship with her mom.

The book is set in the small town of Catoctin, Maryland. It is a second chance, slow burn, friends to lovers, boy next door, small town romance.

Nina's childhood best friend, Quentin is now a lawyer. He has come home jobless, having just broken up with his fiancée. They have not spoken in 17 years.

I did enjoy the banter between Nina and Quentin. It was definitely heartbreaking that they had been so close, yet had not spoken in so long. Their friendship in the present was really fun. And the romance was enjoyable.

The audiobook is read by Mara Wilson. I just love her so much. She is the perfect Nina. She did such a good job here. And made me want to constantly listen to the audiobook.

As teens Nina and Quentin had tried to solve the same treasure hunt. I absolutely loved the idea of it. However I wanted a bit more from the treasure hunt aspect (a lot of it was just them reading transcripts). There were also interviews in between some chapters that I found a bit confusing (and it took me out of the story). I like the idea of getting bits of Fountain's life (it is Fountain's treasure that they are looking for). But I found it hard to follow (especially in the audiobook).

Overall this was a cute rom-com. It is my first book by the author. My favorite parts were Nina's relationship with her mom and the mental health rep. Also the witty banter was so much fun!