Publication Date: 05/06/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: New American Library
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 0451465857
ISBN-13: 978-0451465856
(Received for an honest review from New American Library)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Beth Kendrick on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Other books I have reviewed by this author:
The Bake Off
The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the books I have reviewed by this author.
Excerpt from, Cure for the Common Breakup, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
Welcome to Black Dog Bay, a tiny seaside town in Delaware known as “the best place in America to bounce back from your breakup.” Home to the Better Off Bed-and-Breakfast, the Eat Your Heart Out bakery, and the Whinery bar, Black Dog Bay offers a haven for the suddenly single.
Flight attendant Summer Benson lives by two rules: Don’t stay with the same man for too long and never stay in one place. She’s about to break rule number one by considering accepting her boyfriend’s proposal—then disaster strikes and her world is shattered in an instant.
Summer heads to Black Dog Bay, where the locals welcome her. Even Hattie Huntington, the town’s oldest, richest, and meanest resident, likes her enough to give her a job. Then there’s Dutch Jansen, the rugged, stoic mayor, who’s the opposite of her type. She probably shouldn’t be kissing him. Shedefinitely shouldn’t be falling in love.
After a lifetime of globe-trotting, Summer has finally found a home. But Hattie has old scores to settle and a hidden agenda for her newest employee. Summer finds herself faced with an impossible choice: Leave Black Dog Bay behind forever, or stay with the ones she loves and cost them everything....
Thoughts:
Beth Kendrick's latest book, Cure for the Common Breakup is a fast, easy, read that will have fans lining up to visit Black Dog Bay. The concept of this book was both original and entertaining. A town for the broken-hearted, complete with a wicked matron and a sexy mayor. Kendrick never disappoints when it comes to writing snappy fresh dialogue and creating characters that readers can identify with. Who hasn't had a broken heart at one time or another? Another great read from a master of women's fiction.
What I liked:
Beth Kendrick is one of those authors that just puts a smile on the face of her readers. When a reader sees one of her books coming out, they know what to expect... the unexpected. Kendrick has a knack for coming up with original ideas and concepts, but still keeping them close to a woman's heart. Most women have suffered a breakup or heartache sometime in their lives and the concept of a town especially for those suffering souls, was a brilliant idea. Kendrick takes her trademark skills with characterization and dialogue and brings Black Dog Bay to life.
This is a one of a kind setting, complete with a great cast of secondary characters and places and names that will stick in the readers head for a long time after the book is done. Setting the book in Delaware was something I didn't expect. I mean what do I know about Delaware, except that it's one of the smallest states in the union. That's about it. So a book set in that locale was original in itself. But Black Dog Bay was especially interesting. I loved The Whinery where the brokenhearted could drown their sorrows and the Ear Your Heart Out bakery where they could find all the chocolate they needed. It was creative and full of surprises, Kendrick really outdid herself with this one.
Summer is a character readers first met in Kendrick's previous book, The Week Before the Wedding. She was a real go-getter in that one and she hasn't changed much in the interim. She is a flight attendant that almost dies in a plane crash, who leaves her job and her ex behind and attempts to start over. She lands in Black Dog Bay and the town will never be the same. Summer had spunk, she was a great character who didn't take things lying down. It's what I sometimes call 'moxie'. She was just a joy to read about. Readers will love her attitude on life and they will be able to relate to her struggle. A great character!
There always has to be some kind of conflict or evil in a story to make it work. In this case the bad guy is actually a bad old lady. Hattie Huntington was a gem of a villain. She was old and set in her ways and she had her own master plan for Black Dog Bay and Summer played right into her hand. I thought Kendrick did a great job of creating a villain that was believable and understandable to some degree. The dialogue between Summer and Hattie is probably one my favorite things about this book. It was full of banter and snappy come backs. So much fun to read.
What I didn't like:
As with most books of this type there was a bit of predictability. Readers know that in the end Summer will get her happy-ever-after. But with this one it's all about the journey and the fact that heartache doesn't have to define you. I liked it more because I knew how it would go, than if I didn't.
Bottom Line:
This is women's fiction at it's best. Light, fun and full of humor. The girl gets the guy and the town was amazing. I think this is Kendrick's best book to date and readers couldn't find a more perfect summer beach read.
Cure for the Common Breakup is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, May 29th.
1. Please leave a comment about a breakup you've had in your life.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
10 comments:
Divorce is always difficult, even if it's better for both parties.
Leaving my first job was a tough "break-up". You're young then, of course, which makes it uncomfortable to do and you don't realize how much you'll miss the people.
I've had a couple divorces that weren't fun but time heals wounds and I learned a lot about myself from them. No animosity. (There certainly was then, though.)
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
haven't had any
A friendship which was suddenly no longer treasured. Left me questioning everything. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
None yet.
Thanks for the chance to win!
None yet.
Thanks for the chance to win!
My worst break up was when I was 18. I had been with this boyfriend all through high school, and he started dating another girl while we were still together.
ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
I haven't had any since I married my highschool sweetheart!
Losing a pet is like a break-up and that's happened to us, including one who got feline leukemia (Sparky). He had to be put to sleep because he wouldn't eat, he was in pain, and was dying.
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