⭐⭐★
Sienna Waters has long been a strictly romcom writer. One doesn't expect any particular depth of either characterization or plot from her. But this one is a little short on both the anchor fronts of her books — romance and comedy.
On the night of winning an Oscar, Lilah Paxton's acceptance speech begins with, "I quit". After that, with no plan in mind, she ends up at an English, Bankton. The plot relies heavily on her unsuitability for living in the largely rural village. Comedy comes only from there — especially the slapstick kind.
Blossom Baker, the owner of the local café, The Bankton Bean, was a teen fangirl with a crush on Lilah Paxton. She's also Lilah's new neighbour. Blossom's cheerfulness, brightness and overall lovability remains more tell than show.
Lilah's agent, Margot is constantly offering Lilah great opportunities that Lilah refuses — even when she'd going utterly crazy with boredom. The villagers treat Lilah with a certain unsettling and unwarranted condescension, showing some weird kind of reverse superiority.
The MCs have very little chemistry until almost a third (or slightly over a third) of the book and then it's just suddenly there all the time. That was pretty abrupt and unconvincing.
Waters' ability to write good humour and comedy shine in Chapter 2. That is a delightful scene in which she introduces all the major characters with drama.
The second moment that was enjoyable was Lilah lying down on her back and screaming her boredom in wordless yells at the sky. While this could've been a serious moment, Waters' makes it light enough to be enjoyable, while still conveying Lilah's emotion.
But that is about it.
On the whole, I didn't start this book with any expectations, but realised there must've been some when it failed even on the minimum.
This is not a book I'd recommend on any level — but wouldn't actively dissuade anyone looking for a light, essentially uninvolving read. It's just there.
⭐⭐★
