Hollywood’s biggest rom-com star tries to recover from her damaged reputation by staging her own rom-com and following a lead on a lost love.
Birdie Robinson thought she’d gotten everything she wanted out of life: fame, adoration, and an A-list Hollywood career. But after an on-set feud goes viral, she leaves L.A. for the one place where no one would think to find her: her hometown. She’s startled to stumble upon a love letter from a former boyfriend asking for a second chance. And there’s just one issue: the letter was unsigned and she’s not sure which ex sent it. Still, a public reunion with an ex-boyfriend could turn the wave of public opinion back in her favor. Life imitating art. What could go wrong?
Elliot O’Brien, star reporter, knows that life isn’t an actual rom-com. Case in point, he’s spent two decades repressing his long-simmering feelings for his twin sister’s best friend, Birdie. But with his journalism career cratering and Birdie back in their hometown at the same time he is, he realizes that chronicling her search for her long-ago ex may be his opportunity to right some wrongs.
As they hit the road in an ancient RV, Birdie and Elliot retrace her romantic history for clues to who wrote the letter and come face to face with their own romantic missteps, all while grappling with whether happy endings are found only on the big screen—or whether their own happier ever after could be closer than they both ever imagined.
I’m a big fan of Allison Winn Scotch so when I had a new review request show up in my inbox, I knew right away it was a yes for me. I instantly took a liking to Birdie – who somehow has one bad day in the public eye and gets canceled for it. Her story really showed that people love to see rise and fall stories – especially when they fall hard. Getting to know Birdie and what was actually at play was also very relatable – mainly, a powerful man behind the scenes getting away with what so many powerful men have for decades now. I was rooting hard for Birdie the whole way through.
The romance angle is a big one here, with a former fling re-entering and the plot point of this mysterious letter that ignites Birdie to connect with all her exes. I will say that part didn’t appeal to me as much as Birdie’s personal story and her connection with Elliott. Maybe not totally realistic and it felt like there were a few holes in the storyline when meeting her ex-boyfriends but overlooking those, it still made for a fun and witty read about a second chance romance and what it means to stand up for what is right, even in the face of public scrutiny. A timely novel that will make you laugh, this is a fun one for your TBR.
