Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
ARC from Putnam, PRH Audio and Netgalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine when she moves with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.
So when she comes across Stewart Whitfield—annoyingly handsome scion of the Whitfield family—with a flat tire and at the wrong end of a very public, very humiliating breakup, it’s in her nature to help. But Stewart’s proposed arrangement ends up being more than either of them bargained for, because as public dinners and high society benefits turn into sunset boat rides and swinging on the porch, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself, can she really start now?
My Review: 4.25 stars
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan was an absolute treasure to listen to. I adored the narration and of course Julia Whalen killed it with her timeless voice.
I think this book would make such a good movie as it features strong female women and a man who is a bit lacking in strength. As the book goes on, both the FMC and MMC grow in leaps and bounds as their relationship forges ahead.
I loved the text group “Bad Teachers” and Dolly’s abilities to fix everything. There always has to be one sibling that takes the role of leader. Unfortunately, she can’t fix her disabled brother Christopher, yet draws him without pity, whoe spews sweetness and love. Gus, her teenage son, was written as if Monaghan has oodles of years raising thirteen-year-old boys. Their relationship was spot on. I also really appreciated the breakup. It seemed quite authentic and not the typical third act breakup. The fact that Stewart (MMC) was still connecting with Gus about baseball was such a telling and loving sign as who he was as a man.
The thing I like most about Monaghan’s books is that I always want to be BFF’s with the FMC! Can you tell I’m avoiding spoilers and it’s not easy to write this review? Enjoy!
Quotes I liked:
I don’t know where I’d put my dark moments if I didn’t have her to hold them for me.”
“I want to wake up with him a million tomorrows in a row.”
