I absolutely adored Adler's first two novels and was thrilled to see that she had another one in the works!

To be honest, this is probably the one I liked least of the three (Mrs. Nash's Ashes will forever have my heart), but I still found it so endearing. Adler is just so good at writing real SILLY characters (and I hate to say it...but there's a lot of quirk there as well--I'm talking to you, zee moon) and I was happy to see that magic still alive. The treasure hunt plotline wasn't really of interest to me (Fountain's character was funny and *weird* but....tbh I wasn't invested in his storyline by the end), and considering that is the main plot of the book outside of the romance, I wasn't inhaling this one like I did her others.
In general, I will read anything and everything Adler releases, but I can't say this one is going to be a new fave.

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

An adorable, cozy read with a pair of flawed but likable main characters who have to work through their past traumas and hang-ups, and generally do so pretty quickly and with good communication. This doesn't mean there aren't conflicts and whatnot, just that they don't feel overly drawn out. And the supporting cast are colorful and sweet!

On a sidenote I have to say, having just moved back out from my parents' place, this one resonated a little bit too hard at times with me.

For sensitive readers, this book actually contains a great description of content warnings in the very beginning, so I strongly recommend checking those out if you have concerns!

Finders Keepers was an adventurous and sweet second chance, slow burn romcom between two estranged childhood friends.

Nina had to overcome herself and her anxiety and I could relate SO HARD. Reading this one actually was able to help me put into perspective how hard I was being on myself.

Quentin also checks all my MMC boxes -

✅ funny
✅ witty
✅ vulnerable
✅ soft boi

I’m dying for a physical copy and will be picking this one up on pub day - June 24

Let me start by saying: I really wanted to like this book. The idea of a treasure hunt that they started when they were kids, and continued as adults?? I was sold. Here’s the thing, the execution was just not there. I was really struggling with the world building, mainly connecting their relationship in the past to the present. I’m also not the biggest fan of this style of cheesy unrealistic type romcom. This book tried really hard to be funny, but I just don’t think it every really got there. Plus, the smut was really cringy, and I also thought that the plot was dragging on quite a bit. I do think there is potential, but it as I said earlier, the execution wasn’t there.

>> Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc - all thoughts are my own

Unfortunately I couldn’t really get into this one. I wasn’t a fan of the writing from the first page and found the characters a bit OTT. Just not my cup of tea.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A super sweet, second chance, slow burn romance between two estranged childhood friends. Both Nina and Quentin have returned to their childhood homes after failed jobs and relationships. She’s a bit unsettled being around him again after he broke her heart and ghosted her when they were 15. He wants to continue the treasure hunt that ended their friendship. The tension and banter made this such an enjoyable romcom.

Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance!

Nina is having a rough time and moving back home, and as soon as she gets there, she sees the boy next door who broke her heart. Quentin has grown up but still makes her smile, laugh, and she can’t figure out what went wrong all those years ago when they stopped talking. They decide to resume their old treasure hunt from the past in hopes of finding a reward. Nina will have to find a way to move forward with Quentin and create a future together while also forgiving the mistakes they made before.

I really love Sarah Adler’s books (do NOT skip out on Mrs. Nash’s Ashes!) and this one was no exception. I love how she writes such likable characters- they are realistic in that they are flawed but relatable. Nina is going through a hard time, which most people will be able to empathize with, and her sense of humor is so endearing. The treasure hunt was a fun side plot, and I was surprised at how entertaining it was. Although second chance romance isn’t always my favorite, it was adorable and well done here so I enjoyed it so much. This was sweet, smile-inducing, banter-filled, and even had one scene that surprised me (in a good way) with Nina’s boldness in the bedroom window (IYKYK). Really, you’ll just want to pick this up and enjoy the sweet escape for yourself.

I absolutely love Sarah Adler's latest story! Finders Keepers follows Nina, a character whose anxiety-driven thought processes felt incredibly relatable to me. Her constant weighing of worst-case/best-case scenarios mirrored my own indecisiveness, making her journey all the more meaningful. Then there's Quentin, a very loveable MMC! His witty and sarcastic outside is hiding a more vulnderable man inside, showing how childhood experiences in a dysfunctional family shape us. The chemistry between these two thirty-somethings develops beautifully as they embark on their treasure hunt. Think National Treasure vibes!

I enjoyed how the main story is mixed with snippets about Julius James Fountain and his hidden treasure. These historical sections add depth to the narrative while creating natural breaks between chapters.

The message about "failure" being impossible, that we can always pick ourselves up and try again, felt like a gentle reminder we all need to hear at times! The window conversation scenes were especially memorable, you will know the one!

This book is a great blend of romance, personal growth, and adventure.

As someone who adored Mrs. Nash's Ashes and enjoyed Happy Medium, I was excited for Sarah Adler's book with the treasure hunting premise. Unfortunately for me, this book fell a little flat.

The relationship between the two main characters felt strained, especially in the first half of the book where all of their conversations would be filled with charged eye contact and the FMC overthinking every interaction, just for the two of them to talk vulnerably through their windows like they did as children. I feel like the mistakes that both characters made when they were younger that made their friendship blow up weren't things they learned from because they both still lied to each other, even after knowing how poorly that went for them seventeen years ago.

I was really drawn to the treasuring hunt elements of this story because I've done work in my local archive, but I felt like the hunting and research the characters did was minimal at best. I wanted more scenes of them doing research considering the whole book revolved around that premise.

Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of Finders Keepers, this will not deter me from reading Adler's books in the future!

When Nina loses her job, her fiancé, and her apartment, she moves back home only to discover her estranged best friend is living next door. Nina is determined to stay away from Quentin after he broke her heart twenty years ago, but Quentin wants to resume the treasure hunt that destroyed their friendship. With the possibility of a financial reward, Nina reluctantly agrees. While searching for Fountain's treasure, Quentin and Nina learn to rekindle their friendship and maybe more.

This was the first book I read by Sarah Adler (Happy Medium keeps staring at me from my bookshelf) and I loved it. Nina and Quentin's characters are perfect for this book, and I loved their comedic banter as they try to find Fountain's treasure. I especially enjoy Nina's character. Not only is there anxiety representation, but I also loved the character growth shown as Nina tries to figure out what is next for her future.

If you are a fan of second-chance romances that also has a mystery of missing treasure, I would recommend Finders Keepers.

Finders Keepers is out June 24th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to review Finders Keepers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨. “𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙖. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣.”

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
Nina returns home after losing her job & her boyfriend, only to find that her childhood best friend & first crush Quinton has also returned home. Together they decide to pick back up the treasure hunt they did when they were kids to see if they can not only find the missing treasure, but also repair their friendship.

𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
This was my first book by this author, and while I thought it was a cute, light-hearted read, I felt like it was a bit too introspective. Like, everything happened in Nina’s head? I felt like I was waiting and waiting for dialogue. There was just chunks of pages where she thought about things in her head, which is fine, but I was craving interaction with other characters.

& although I hate miscommunication, I actually really liked what the author did with it. It made sense for two teenagers to behave as they did & for the misunderstandings that caused the rift between them.

Nina was a mess & Quinton was adorably quirky, but the “its always been you” vibes had that tension feeling THICC & it.was.delicious.

Overall this is a super cute, light read! I loved the underlying story of the mystery / treasure & the letters at the end were sooo sweet.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
✨childhood friends to strangers to lovers
✨second chance
✨treasure hunting
✨quirky & goofy MCs
✨anxiety rep

Thank you so much to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Even though I struggled with the pacing in this, I thoroughly enjoyed the romance. It was sweet and so, so romantic. I've read all of Sarah Adler's backlist so I am used to her beautiful writing. This was a great novel with a strong focus on the plot.

Finders Keepers was such a cute book! I loved Quentin and his yearning for Nina; a man who yearns is a man who earns.

Nina and her desire to change herself for the sake of being what other people need is a quality I possess, as well, and deeply related to her because of it. I am grateful that Quentin’s desire for her to remain as she is super-ceded that quality.

Definitely pick this story up if you enjoy a romcom with a little mystery (or if National Treasure was a favorite of yours growing up like it was for me).

This was a good, classic, treasure hunt adventure romance. The-one-that-got-away isn't always my favorite trope, but I was rooting for them the whole way!

I kind of randomly picked up Happy Medium a couple months ago, only to discover that it’s basically one of the best books ever written. So, of course, I IMMEDIATELY read Mrs. Nash’s Ashes—don’t even get me started on how much I loved it—and you can’t even imagine my delight when a couple weeks later, I got approved for my first ever Berkley ARC, thus completing my Sarah Adler binge.

FINDERS KEEPERS rocks. This has the quirky humor and heart wrenching romance of Sarah’s other books, plus the added delight of a treasure hunt. This is a must-read.

When Nina loses her job and her relationship mere days apart, she moves home—only to discover that her estranged childhood best friend, Quentin, has ALSO moved home after a dramatic breakup. Reluctantly motivated by the prospect of a financial reward, Nina agrees to spend one last summer hunting for a famed local treasure, even though this treasure hunt forced them apart 20 years ago. But this time, Nina has a PhD in history and a desperate need for funding to get the heck out of town. She can handle being around Quentin for a few weeks, even if she’s still mad at him. My girl Nina knows how to hold a grudge!!!!

Little things I found delightful that you’ll understand once you read this book:
✨Star gazing
🪟Windows
🧩Puzzles
📜Historical documents
🎇Fireworks
🗣️Accents

FINDERS KEEPERS is out on June 24th!

#bookstagram #romancereader #bookrecommendations #bookish

4.25⭐️ “There it is. That’s the look I’ve always loved most,” he whispers. “The one on your face right now. Like you’ve just conquered the world. Hard to mind you beating me at anything when it always put that look on your face.”

This was my first book by the author and now I am wondering why, I loved her tone and wit right away. Nina is a mess. Quentin is adorable and quirky (my favourite part of him are his moon impressions 🥰 🌝). Add in the National Treasure vibes and the whole setting was just perfect. So charming.

Nina is returning to her parent’s house with her tail between her leg in her 30s. Unbeknownst to her so is Quentin her next door neighbour, childhood best friend and first crush. Before Quentin disappeared from her life back in high school they had spent their last summer together searching for a treasure hidden by an eccentric old man. Finding themselves back home they pick up the search again on Quentin’s prompting in an effort to repair their friendship.

They both were hurt in the past but clearly still care so much about each other. It’s one of those « it’s always been you » situation. The tension between them and build up was truly delicious.

The treasure hunt added to the fun and came together perfectly in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley and the author Sarah Adler for the advanced reading copy, all my opinions are my own.

its always a blast to read a Sarah Adler book!!! I enjoyed the second chance aspect, it was a fun and quick read. this story had such great banter between the characters and I really loved the interview portions throughout the chapters, I found that rather unique, easily one of the best books dropping this summer!

Sarah Adler’s Finders Keepers is a delightful rom-com that combines the charm of a small-town setting with the thrill of a treasure hunt and the warmth of a second-chance romance. Set in the picturesque town of Catoctin, Maryland, the story follows Nina Hunnicutt, who returns home after a series of personal and professional setbacks. There, she unexpectedly reconnects with Quentin Bell, her childhood friend and former crush, who proposes they resume a treasure hunt they began as teenagers. As they embark on this adventure, old feelings resurface, leading to a heartwarming and humorous journey of rediscovery.​
PenguinRandomhouse.com
+2
Goodreads
+2
Goodreads
+2

Adler's writing is infused with wit and warmth, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The chemistry between Nina and Quentin is palpable, making their evolving relationship both believable and engaging. Supporting characters, particularly Nina's mother, add depth and humor to the story, enhancing its charm.​

The inclusion of excerpts from historical interviews with the magnate who hid the treasure adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, blending mystery with romance. While some readers may find Nina's internal monologues repetitive at times, they effectively convey her emotional journey and growth.​
PenguinRandomhouse.com
+2
Goodreads
+2
Goodreads
+2

Overall, Finders Keepers is a captivating read that offers a perfect blend of romance, adventure, and humor. Adler's ability to craft relatable characters and an engaging storyline makes this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary romance

really cute romance ! i find a little bit of it wasn't fully resolved, but the romance was completely captivating and the style was great. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Adler's book Mrs. Nash's Ashes is, to me, one of the most perfect books I've read in years, so I have pretty high expectations when it comes to her work, and this didn't disappoint! It didn't top Mrs. Nash's Ashes, but I still really loved it. Nina Hunnicutt is, very unexpectedly, moving back in with her parents and her long-term relationship implodes and her contract as an adjunct professor doesn't get renewed. She's embarrassed and maybe a bit depressed and it only gets worse when she learns that her childhood best friend/secret crush/next door neighbor is also back in town to fix up his dad's old house and put it on the market. Quentin bailed on Nina when they were both 15 and hasn't spoken to her in the 17 years since, so she's shocked when he asks her to spend her unexpected summer at home helping him finish the treasure hunt they started when they were teenagers. Like Adler's previous books, there's a really nice historical thread running through this book - this time in the form of a WPA interview with local seltzer magnate and eccentric rich guy who left behind a castle and a mystery in the small Maryland town to which Nina and Quentin have both returned. As they work together to finish the treasure hunt they started almost 20 years ago, they rekindle their friendship and mutual crush, all while Nina rediscovers the archival research that she loves and the charm of the town she left behind. I laughed out loud several times, which is pretty much all I can ever ask for in a book.