Julia's mother is dying and they've not spoken in 10 years. Her sisters convince her to come home. When her mother passes, all of her belongings pass down to the sisters BUT only if they follow her requests to the T (or else her horrible cousin inherits everything). Some family secrets come out and things spiral from there.

I really loved the dynamic between Julia and her sisters. Each sister was hiding their own secret and the way they handled each one really felt genuine to me. Julia also has a secret from the boy next door, aka her ex-boyfriend Liam. Finding out what happened between them and why was really interesting. I was genuinely shocked.

I really enjoyed this audio. The narrator, Dara Rosenberg, did fantastic at bringing everyone to life. And while I enjoyed the story, the narration was the reason I finished it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jenn McKinlay, and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read and review!

Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read and review the ALC before release! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sadly, I quickly went from just disliking this book to absolutely hating it.

I could not connect with the characters in this book and had to put it down after 46%. One of the main reasons was the horrible way they spoke about other people at times. It felt quite misogynistic, and it bothered me. The FMC was so judgmental towards other women, which was just played off as normal behavior or one of Julia's personality traits, but it put me off the book.

In the end, the book (read: Julia) was just pissing me off too much and ruining my mood, so I decided to just abandon it.

I have loved every single book that Jenn McKinlay has written - so I was delighted to get a chance to read this one early.

Julia returns to her childhood home with her two sisters, when her mother Babs gets sick. Julia and her Mom have been almost estranged in recent years, and her mother doesn't seem very glad to have her home. When her mom passes away, the terms of her will reveal some family secrets, and some strings attached to the sisters and how they need to live, before they can inherit moms home and money. Cousin Paisley is hanging in the wings hoping to grab what the sisters should be getting.

While home, Julia tries to rekindle her romance with boy-next-door Liam, the guy she had been dating when she upped and left without a word many years ago.

We follow Julia and her sisters as they rebuild their relationships, and grieve the loss of their mother.

I liked the premise, and really hoped to like the book. Unfortunately this one just wasn't for me. Julia and Liam are just nasty to each other, and most of their issues could be solved with some simple communication. The descriptions of some of the other characters bordered on the mean rather than funny snarky. It seemed that most of the characters were using each other.

I listened to the audiobook and have nothing but praise for the narrator, who handled all the different voices really well and kept me interested in following the plot.

I hope this was just a blip from this author - as I am really looking forward to her next novel!

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced audiobook copy of I Can’t Even. While I always appreciate getting the chance to try something new, this one just wasn’t the right fit for me personally. I went into it expecting a fun, lighthearted romance, but I found the level of sexual content to be a bit more than I’m comfortable with in my reads. Because of that, I ultimately chose not to finish it. I know every reader has different tastes and boundaries, and I’m sure there’s an audience that will really enjoy this story, it just wasn’t for me.

I Can’t Even by Jenn McKinlay was a fantastic women’s fiction & romance novel. Julia left home at 18 and never thought she would be back. She is called home by her sisters after her mom gets sick. Once home, Jules runs into Liam, the ex she never forgot. Watching Julia try to win Liam back leads to hilarious times. I also loved Julia’s 2 sisters and their relationships. I laughed, I sigh, I blushed and I cried. The only reason I gave it a 4 stars instead of a 5 is because I don’t like 3rd act break ups. Otherwise I loved the story. I received an advanced audiobook and the narrator did a great job. I listened to this on a roadtrip and it was perfect.

I’m not going to recap the story of this book in this review. Sometimes I have to sit with a book for a little while after I’ve read it before I can adequately collect my thoughts. At first, I didn’t like this book. I’ve since come to realize that I love this book. What I didn’t like was how real this story felt, which is why I needed time.

I love these sisters, they are amazing and loving and messy and emotionally screwed up and I think they all need some therapy. And I mean that in the best way possible. I hate Paisley. I wish Babs had been better. I wish Liam’s way to cope with his feelings and fear wasn’t to lash out and be cruel for no good reason. I like Jess and it made my heart hurt that her family was so cruel. Her fiancée is a keeper though.

The narrator was amazing and it felt like all the characters had distinct voices, which is important to me when listening to an audiobook.

This story will have you crying and laughing out loud, sometimes at the same time. If you’re looking for a summer rom-com this isn’t it until about 30% or so in, but if you’re looking for a great all around story with romance thrown in, you will enjoy this book.

I’d like to thank Dreamscape Media for trusting me again with one of their audiobooks and I greatly appreciate it. I received a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. If I don’t like a book you will definitely know it.

I Can’t Even AUDIO by Jenn McKinlay is an entrancing example of modern romantic fiction. It hits on all kinds of topics, but is essentially a second chance romance. Julia Blummer had been in love in high school but had run away. Her reasons were complicated and she had never shared them with anyone but her friend, Jess, who ran with her. Jess had complicated reasons as well. Liam, who was her boyfriend and Jess’s best friend, had tried to move on. That is until Jules received a phone call from her sister saying their mother was dying, for real this time. Jules rushed to get home and sure enough, her mother did seem to be dying, and subsequently did. There were some complicated provisions in her will and the lawyer gave Jules an envelope with a letter from her long-deceased father that threw an additional monkey wrench into the proceedings. It was a complicated story with twists and turns aplenty.

Jenn does not back down from a story, or from a character. She shows us all the sides of her characters, good and bad. Jules was independent and self-assured. She had lived on her own in New York City for years and started her won business, successfully, as a web-site designer. She didn’t like home; it held too many bad memories for her. She quickly noticed that her bedroom window was directly across from Liam’s and surreptitiously watched him as he worked out. After he noticed her watching he turned up the heat; so did she. He was still angry and she didn’t blame him. No word from her in nine years could have that effect. This was a wonderful romance, full of heat and longing; jealousy and fear; pain and sorrow. It came to a head, as things do, and McKinlay handled it beautifully, weaving all the threads together to come to a conclusion.

Dara Rosenberg was the narrator and although she grew on me, she seemed in a hurry and read so fast, so often. Her voice didn’t fit the character I saw in my head. She did a good job working all the other characters in, though.

I was invited to listen to I Can’t Even by Dreamscape Media. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley, #DreamscapeMedia #JennMcKinlay #DaraRosenberg #ICantEven

As someone who is a fan of Jenn Mckinlay, I was excited to listen to this one but unfortunately it did not have the same vibes you typically get from the stories she tells.
I want to story by saying, I enjoyed the audiobook narrator. She did great job.
Julia moves to california to new York because her mom is dying. Her mom evidently never loved her? But Is also leaving the house and money to her and her sisters as long as they follow specific rules.
So Julia does what any normal sane woman whose grieving would do and starts hooking up with her ex who lives next door who she hasn't talked to in 9 years.
Oh wait! That's right. That's not normal behavior for a person grieving.
So much of this book felt cobbled together and messy. The ex Liam was a total jerk that made it really difficult to root for her.
Overall it was not an enjoyable read.

4⭐️

This summer romance hit all the feels! It was full of love, betrayal, loss, laughter and well developed characters.

The only reason I have this 4/5 and now 5/5 is because of some the storylines. There was a lot going on which was great, but would need a follow up to tie up some loose ends that were dropped on the reader (and characters) but then never resolved.

The narrator was great at capturing Julia’s character. I can’t even is a must read/listen this summer ☀️

This book…..I am not sure where to start. I am often one to judge a book by its title or cover, but I can honestly say, this book was not what I expected, but I mean that in the best of ways. I thought it was going to be a fun, lowkey, bubbly, carefree and silly read. But alas, silly me!

While fun and entertaining, this book is also big. It tackles big feelings and big subject matters. It is a mix of emotions and is packed full of heartache, self-discovery, redemption and second chances. It takes an up-close look at relationships of all types (parent/child, siblings, friends, lovers) and the flawed and messy ways in which they are perfectly imperfect. But don’t get me wrong. It is equally packed full of laughs, clever dialog and spice. (For the non-spice readers, you can read around these parts and not miss out on any of the story line).

I listened to the audio version of this book and really enjoyed it. The narrator, Dara Rosenberg, along with the production team did a wonderful job. It was so fun to listen to the portrayal of the different characters and the witty banter and the range of emotions throughout was spot on. There was a lot going on in this book. I found it to be an all-around enjoyable read/listen that I liked more and more as I digested and unpacked it all.

Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book. I really enjoyed it, and it left me with a lot to think about once it was finished, which I always appreciate. The gift that keeps on giving.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Julia Blumer loves her sisters, Sophie and Emily, but despises her mother, Babs. After a giant fight, Julia left home at 18 years old and never looked back. She went to college on the east coast and was enjoying her life as a website developer when, one day, her sisters contact her with the most bittersweet, surprising news: Babs is dying. She would like to see you. Julia rushes home to SoCal to witness the last moments of her mother's life. Upon her mother's death, at the reading of the will, it is discovered that the fortune and the grand house is left to the three sisters. However, they MUST stay at the house every night for the next 3 months together. If they break the rules, the entirety of the trust is given to their evil cousin, Paisley. Of course, coming back home means reuniting with Julia's high school sweetheart, Liam. She feels the exact same way for him that she did all those years ago, but Liam is absolutely furious with her for leaving him high and dry without any explanation. Will she be able to re-kindle their love? Will the sisters be able to keep the house?

I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit. I enjoyed the sisterly bonds and I thought the plot twists scattered throughout the book made it interesting. I think the only flaw was that there were a few places it could have ended... but it kept going. Overall, super cute book with a good story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book started out emotional then explicitly spicy. There was a lot of family drama and secrets. I was a tad confused about the best friend Jessie. The snarkiness from Julia was a tad overtop and mean. Describing every woman as big boobs and no brains was ridiculous and made me feel like the author hates women with big boobs. I enjoyed the narration just not the words in the book. I totally wanted to read this book due to the cover and but was definitely put off by the book itself.

“He wasn’t looking to reconnect
He was looking to fuck, and forget”

I don’t even know how I feel about this book.
I was mad, so many times at the characters. And then I would come around, and like them again believe in everything they were giving me only for it to be flipped upside down once again. A yo-yo, it felt like a yo-yo.
It almost felt too much like a reality show? Like it wasn’t believable, but it was almost too believable? I don’t know!

The narrator did a fabulous job.

I was impressed with the different difficult topics that were addressed in this book. I wanted to keep reading to see how it all played out, there was so much calamity throughout that it was hard to fall in love with it.

Oh Jenn.... I love your cozy mysteries and was so excited to read an adult novel from you. But this was not for me. The main male character had very little redeemable qualities besides what the FMC told us about him from the past. Although he has every right to be angry about the way they ended when they were 18, his actions and words are overly harsh and the first sexy time scene was ridiculous... "I'm so angry at you, so let's have rough sex?" I can't even.
I did appreciate the attempts at discussing grief and the different ways people deal with grief. The sisters' story was much better than the Liam romance story. But since so much time was spent on lamenting Liam in the whiney narrator's inner monologue, the other two sisters' stories feel unresolved and under developed. And don't get me started on Paisley. She was a caricature, not a character. Same with Liam's ex. I can't even with the ridiculous descriptions. Just because a woman likes make-up and Starbucks does not mean they are a whore. Yes, that word was used to describe one of these women. They are so alike and unremarkable I can't even remember which one.
There are many side plots that are completely unresolved. And other ones that are so ridiculous, they are unbelievable. Why not call the police when the urn is thought to be in the ex's house? Then they could cut Paisley out for good for tampering? I can't even.
The romance between Liam and the FMC (I honestly can't even remember her name - something with a J?), felt undeserved and it flip-flopped so much I don't understand how they managed to forgive each other. The fact that J didn't tell Liam why she was leaving in the first place was also ridiculous. And although I love the inclusion of LGBTQ characters, this one felt like it was thrown in just to have one - "I got disowned" Oh well - let's focus on getting you laid, J. What??
Overall, if you haven't guessed - I can't even believe I didn't DNF this one.

**Review: *I Can’t Even* by Jenn McKinlay**
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Julia Blumer fled her home at 18, leaving behind her family—and her boyfriend—without a word. Now, ten years later, she returns when her formidable mother, Babs, is critically ill. Hoping to repair their fractured relationship before it's too late, Julia is instead confronted with grief, complicated family dynamics, and the unexpected terms of her mother’s will.

What unfolds is a thoughtful exploration of sisterhood, second chances, and the enduring bonds of friendship. At the heart of it all is Liam Murphy, the once-boy-next-door and the man Julia left behind. Now a successful local businessman, Liam hasn’t forgotten the past—and neither has Julia. Their unresolved history adds depth and emotional tension to the narrative.

While a few plot threads remain uncomfortably loose by the end, they don’t detract from the core themes of love, loss, and finding your way back home—both literally and emotionally.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great listen! The story was engaging and the characters were likable and memorable.

When I first saw the cover, I was expecting a light-hearted rom com. However, the story was much more emotional and focused around the main character’s loss of her mother and the way she and her sisters dealt with their loss and grief. It read more like contemporary fiction, but I’m not complaining. The storyline involving the death of the mother and the sisters’ grief was deep and heartfelt. The relationship between the sisters and the complicated family dynamics made the book great!

The romance left a bit to be desired and wasn’t the main focus of the book. It is a second-chance romance with a hefty dose of miscommunication. The MMC was relatable and likable. The part that threw me off was the over-the-top lust the FMC was consistently feeling anytime she was around the MMC. She would be in the middle of a serious scenario and would stop to ogle his body. That part didn’t feel believable and took me out of the story. Also, the characters use of slang was a bit cringey.

Despite those few critiques, I genuinely enjoyed this audiobook and would definitely recommend it to someone who likes women’s fiction or contemporary fiction!

Thanks to Dreamscape for the ALC!

This book is not for me. I don’t appreciate the internalized misogyny directed at other women by the fmc. I think we should do better than judging people with implants and filler for being “inauthentic” particularly with the ending of this book.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author, so I’m hopeful for future books.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Jenn McKinlay for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ I listened to this audiobook and enjoyed it.

There are a lot of situations and storylines but it didn’t get too messy.

Second chance romance, previous pain/heartbreak, family drama/toxicity, so many secrets, grief, neighbors and lots of changing in front of windows.

The reason this wasn’t a 4 ⭐️ read for me was some of the language was odd “my soft girl parts and his hard boy parts” made me literally pause, rewind to make sure I hadn’t dreamed it and then cringe when I heard it again. I was a little let down the mom aspect didn’t get resolved although I don’t know a way it could have been done justice without it adding a lot of pages.

The miscommunication and lack of communication was just too frequent yet they kept ignoring it. I completely understand the pain and heartache but the MMC and FMC were pretty immature and had some strange behavior.

Julia has been essentially on the run from her family for a long time. Her mother, Babs, is a self-involved woman who has not launched any of her three girls well.
Julia comes reluctantly home to California when her sisters Sophie and Emily call her to say their mother is not well.
This is not an easy book. The relationships are dysfunctional with a capital D. Really some of the worst human behaviors are represented excluding murder. I don’t feel satisfied with the storyline or with the ending, but the book is potentially representative of life that people may face in this broken world.
Kudos to the author for tackling so many difficult human emotions and situations.
The narrator does a good job.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this book. I would never have finished otherwise.

3.5 stars rounded up. The narrator kind of killed this one for me. She was too flippant and trying to be funny when the writing was already funny so that was hard for me, but the writing alone, 4 stars. Loved the love story, the sisterhood and even the damaged way their mom handled things and they learned to forgive/move on. Hated the miscommunication but really enjoyed this one