CBR18 Bingo: Middle – This is a three star book which induced nothing stronger than middle-of-the-road feelings in me.
After giving up her dreams to be a costume designer, Ellie is in danger of losing her family deli business when a major competitor is expected to come to town. But due to a workplace accident, temporary amnesia, and a fake engagement, she might be able to save everything – if only she doesn’t fall for her fake fiance first.
I am from Massachusetts, so I can proclaim with confidence that this book accurately depicts townie versus the country club set tensions, and that the big competitor store, Mangia, is very clearly an expy of Eataly. I’ve been to the one at Prudential Center. I didn’t know there were so many kinds of balsamic vinegar in the world.
I thought this was an amusing and lowkey romance read, with a good amount of character development on Ellie’s side as well as she becomes reconciled to the fact that her dreams have changed since she came back home. Ellie and Theo have good chemistry, and I enjoyed how their relationship evolved as she overcame her prejudices against him.
However, while I appreciated the risk the author takes in creating a sympathetic ex for Theo, and I did like Sam, the subplot involving her felt like it took up a bit too much time. And Ellie, in true romcom heroine fashion, consistently believes the worst and makes some truly stupid decisions. What she says in the book’s black moment is pretty beyond the pale, and I wasn’t so sure I forgave her even though Theo does.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
