Keep My Heart in San Francisco

by Amelia Diane Coombs

Sparks fly when two ex-best-friends team up to save a family business in this swoon-worthy and witty debut perfect for fans of Jenn Bennett and Sarah Dessen.

Caroline "Chuck" Wilson has big plans for spring break-hit up estate sales to score vintage fashion finds and tour the fashion school she dreams of attending. But her dad wrecks those plans when he asks her to spend vacation working the counter at Bigmouth's Bowl, her family's failing bowling alley. Making things astronomically worse, Chuck finds out her dad is way behind on back rent-meaning they might be losing Bigmouth's, the only thing keeping Chuck's family in San Francisco.

And the one person other than Chuck who wants to do anything about it? Beckett Porter, her annoyingly attractive ex-best friend.

So when Beckett propositions Chuck with a plan to make serious cash infiltrating the Bay Area action bowling scene, she accepts. But she can't shake the nagging feeling that she's acting irrational-too much like her mother for comfort. Plus, despite her best efforts to keep things strictly business, Beckett's charm is winning her back over...in ways that go beyond friendship.

If Chuck fails, Bigmouth's Bowl and their San Francisco legacy are gone forever. But if she succeeds, she might just get everything she ever wanted.

• ISBN10: 1534452974
• ISBN13: 9781534452978
• Publish Date: 14 July 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

The family business is in trouble, and Chuck knows that if it fails, she will be forced to leave San Francisco. She loves this city! It's a part of her, and she would do just about anything to stay. But she wonders if it's worth reconciling with her former best friend after his betrayal?

I won't lie. I expected this to be fluffier than it was. That said, I throughly enjoyed it anyway.

Chuck was looking to keep her heart in San Francisco, and she did a great job showing me why. I absolutely love when a book takes me places, and Coombs deftly whisked me away to San Fran. She took me throughout the city, showing me places that are well known, as well as some I had was unaware of. Her admiration for the city was clearly displayed throughout the story, and I had a fantastic time touring the city.

I also loved Chuck. She really spoke to me. She was very witty, a bit snarky, and she charmed the pants off of me. Her loneliness and struggles with her mental health were things I easily related to, but I was also fond of her passion for fashion. I ate up all the little fashion and design morsels peppered throughout the story, and I loved trying to imagine what she was wearing. I have a soft spot for creative types, and it was fun getting to peek at her design dreams.

Though Beckett betrayed Chuck and seemed to give up on her, I had nothing but love for him. It was wonderful watching him and Chuck reconnect, because they were both sort of lost without the other. Chuck and Beckett experienced a lot of disappointment in their year apart, and they survived, but they were much stronger together. These two knew each other inside and out, and it was nice to see Beckett fighting to save their friendship.

Then, there was bowling. Fact: I am a terrible bowler, but I grew up around it and rather enjoy the game. I liked being immersed in the bowling world with these two, and I found the game sequences quite exhilarating. I was happy to be cheering for Chuck as she attempted to save the business and couldn't stop hoping that she could turn her family situation around.

Overall: I found this to be a wonderful story of family, friendship, and mental health, which warmed my heart and had me rooting for the little guy to win.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[empressbrooke]

In the interest of full disclosure, my best friend is the author's agent, and I sent her this string of text messages midway through:

DO THEY SAVE THE BOWLING ALLEY

DO THEY GET CAUGHT HUSTLING AND BETTING

THIS ISN'T RELAXING

I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THEM

Despite how non-relaxed I was while fretting over the characters' well-being, this was the lighthearted read I needed right now and it was a fantastic escape from Pandemic 2020. As far as YA contemporary romance characters go, Chuck and Beckett are a perfect mix of strong and messy. I really enjoyed spending time with them and watching them try to find their footing with each other. Their successes felt earned and the author also did an excellent job giving them consequences for their mistakes when they got in over their heads. I also was really satisfied with the ending - and also relieved I no longer had to chew my fingernails in worry over what those kids were going to get themselves into.