Author: Amy Pine
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik / Caitlin Davies / Fred Berman
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: Gilmore Girls meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding in this humorous, multi-generational story about a mother and daughter who discover that life happens when you least expect it.
Gabi Bloom doesn't believe in signs. She believes in photographic evidence, the view through her camera lens, and the snap of the shutter. It's why she traveled to Europe—to satisfy her wanderlust and to kick off her photography career. But in Ireland, all of that changed when Gabi gazed into the impossibly blue eyes of an American bartender. She wasn’t prepared for their intense and immediate attraction, or the fact that she’d be bringing Ethan home with her . . . as her fiancé.
Gabi's upcoming marriage is the cherry on top of her mother's current predicament. Stumbling toward forty, Alissa is a pastry chef who raised her daughter single-handedly while Gabi’s father traveled the globe. Now her baby girl is getting married after a whirlwind romance and Alissa—well, Alissa is pregnant. Again. And not only is her ex the father, he wants her back. For good. Until she can figure out that part of the puzzle, Alissa is hiding her big little secret even as she helps Gabi plan a happily-ever-after wedding. But somewhere between disaster and hope, life might just bloom in a way that is breathtakingly unexpected . . .
My Thoughts: I really liked this story and will start by saying it was much better than I was expecting. Honestly, a story about a woman who after raising her daughter primarily on her own for 22 years finds herself pregnant again by her ex-husband seemed a little cliché to me and I was expecting it to be overwrought with emotions, tears and drama. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised that this story centers on family, friendship, forgiveness, second chances and missed opportunities that had a little bit of weepy emotion but weighed much more heavily on humor and heartwarming moments.
This story is told from the two perspectives of Gabi Bloom and her mother, Alissa Adler. I really liked this because it gave me more a sense of each character’s personality and nature and I empathized with them both. Gabi is fresh out of college and goes on a trip to Ireland when she meets fellow American, Ethan Harris. After a whirlwind romance, they return to Chicago engaged to be married, with neither family knowing anything about it.
After a very brief marriage to Gabi’s father, Matthew Bloom, Alissa has been single and on her own for most of her life. She owns a bakery and her world is completely centered on her daughter, the light of her life. Gabi’s father has been a world traveler working in the conservation field and comes and goes. After Gabi’s college graduation, Alissa and Matthew spend a night together and surprise, surprise, she discovers she’s pregnant.
I enjoyed watching how each woman faces their lives and the situations they find themselves in, while figuring out what they are going to do. Is Gabi rushing into marriage before she’s ever had a chance to see the world and figure out what wants? Is Alissa ready to take on the challenges of starting over with another baby at this stage in her life? Will Matthew stick around for good?
The only issue I had with this story was the abrupt cliffhanger ending that came out of the blue. I have never been a fan of this and I didn’t feel it was needed in this story either. I really enjoyed this author and look forward to reading more of her work. The audio format for this story was fantastic too. The narration performed by Barrie Kreinik, Caitlin Davies and Fred Berman was wonderful and gave me more insight into the characters, their thoughts, feelings and personalities.
My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy women’s fiction but also stories that are rich in character and relationship driven. I think, like me, you will find yourself rooting for these characters to find their happily ever after.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Bloom Girls from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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