Review: The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady
Thank you Berkley for my copy of The Comeback Summer! All thoughts are my own.
Last Summer, I read and loved The Beach Trap by Ali Brady so I was really excited for their latest novel! I really loved the Chicago setting and how fun this book was, but I didn’t end up loving it. Things felt a little disjointed for me and it was on the long side. But! It was easy breezy and fun, perfect for Summer.
Synopsis:
“Hannah and Libby need a miracle. The PR agency they inherited from their grandmother is losing clients left and right, and the sisters are devastated at the thought of closing. The situation seems hopeless—until in walks Lou, an eccentric self-help guru who is looking for a new PR agency. Her business could solve all their problems—but there’s a catch. Whoever works with Lou must complete a twelve-week challenge as part of her “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program.
Hannah, whose worst nightmare is making small talk with strangers, is challenged to go on twelve first dates. Libby, who once claimed to have period cramps for four weeks straight to get out of gym class, is challenged to compete in an obstacle course race. The challenges begin with Hannah helping Libby train and Libby managing the dating app on her sister’s behalf. They’re both making good progress—until Hannah’s first love rolls into town, and Libby accidentally falls for a guy she’s supposed to be setting up with her sister.
Things get even more complicated when secrets come to light, making the sisters question the one relationship they’ve always counted on: each other. With their company’s future on the line, they can’t afford to fail. But in trying to make a comeback to honor their grandmother, are they pushing themselves down the wrong path?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—I loved seeing Chicago in the Summer! It was delightful and I wish there would have been more.
The Love Interest—I really liked Adam! I found him to be charming and I liked how that love story played out. The situation with Hannah and Josh was a bit more complicated and I didn’t anticipate the twist!
What Didn’t Work:
Didn’t Feel the Stakes—There were some serious things happening to these characters and they told us they were important, but I didn’t FEEL the stakes at all. It all seemed a little showy? I don’t know.
Second Act Too Long—Everything wrapped up really quickly and while I enjoy that about Romance, it
Some language about food/weight—I think I’m just REALLY sensitive to this and picky, cause it was minimal, but a couple lines rubbed me the wrong way.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings:
fatphobia, terminal illness (mentioned), grief