Book Blurb:

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

My Thoughts:

Let me tell you a Funny Story about Daphne and Miles! This is a refreshing new romance that follows Daphne and Miles, brought together by the fact that their respective exe’s are engaged to each other. Wow! That is a lot to say and think about, the circumstances aren’t ideal, but jealousy and to some extent betrayal, can bring people together in the most unexpected of ways!

Thus begins the Funny Story! Daphne and Miles set out to prove that they are okay without their respective exes and end up spending more time with each other while figuring it out. This is a summer romance that has tropes of opposites attract, roommates (forced proximity to some extent), and friends to lovers. I loved reading this book which was a light, fun and breezy read, another perfect summer romance!

A quick read, I finished the book in one sitting and absolutely loved the banter between the MC’s. There is a little of everything and a whole lot of drama that is just fun to read! This is a wonderful summer read, perfect for fans of light romance and endings which just seem right!

This was a BOTM read for May 2024 with #obsessedbuddyreads!

About the Book:

Before the men of myth and legend, there was Otrera, first Queen of the Amazons.

It wasn’t until the prince’s blood coated Otrera’s hands that she realized she’d sentenced herself to death. In her darkest hour, Artemis offers her a second chance at life and freedom. But in return the goddess commands unwavering loyalty and sends her on a formidable quest.

Joined by women who swiftly become sisters along the way, Otrera’s journey is tangled by prophecy and unexpected discoveries, and she is faced with a decision that will alter her life forever.

Fleeing from men and monsters alike, Otrera and her companions travel across Ancient Greece in search of what was promised. Each day she learns more about herself and the dangers of her world. Yet the closer she gets to fulfilling her quest, the further Otrera drifts from her pledge to Artemis.

Pursued by a vengeful king and his relentless champion, Otrera discovers how far she’ll go to keep her sisters safe. But nothing, not even a divine weapon, can protect her from the wrath of the gods.

So begins the story of the tribe feared by heroes and kings alike.

My Thoughts:

I generally enjoy mythological retellings and the premise of this story intrigued me. The story follows Otrera, a slave who escapes from unwanted advances by a prince and is forced to go on the run. She is blessed by Artemis with some special powers and we follow her journey as she grows from a demure person into a strong warrior, fiercely protective of her friends and the people she comes to consider her family.

The premise of the story was quite interesting, but I found the plot to be quite slow and at some stages I could not fully understand what was going on. The actions of the characters were not clear and it was hard to connect with them at times.

However, I like the fact that the characters were strong female characters who were there for each other through the ups and downs. There were some meaningful themes touched upon through the story that stood out. The ending was abrupt but will leave the reader wondering what happens next. Overall, this was a good debut attempt by the author and I am grateful for the opportunity to have read the book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.