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.
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.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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16 April, 2020:
Finished reading
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16 April, 2020:
Reviewed