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Story Lake #1
Story of My Life
Hazel is given a one-two punch when she's forced to move out of her Upper East Side apartment and is given a final warning from her publisher.
If she doesn't turn in a book by her next deadline, they're cutting her loose.
Hazel rashly decides to leave what's left of her city life behind and impulse buys a house in rural Pennsylvania sight unseen. How better to entertain the loyal readers she still has and rediscover her writing mojo than immersing herself in small-town life?
Too bad this town looks to be on its last legs. At least she's finding swoon-worthy inspiration from her hot, grumpy contractor Cam and his animal-rescuing, community-involved family. It's all just research. What could go wrong?
A note from the author: This series is my love letter to every reader who said they wanted to move to a fictional town . . .
If she doesn't turn in a book by her next deadline, they're cutting her loose.
Hazel rashly decides to leave what's left of her city life behind and impulse buys a house in rural Pennsylvania sight unseen. How better to entertain the loyal readers she still has and rediscover her writing mojo than immersing herself in small-town life?
Too bad this town looks to be on its last legs. At least she's finding swoon-worthy inspiration from her hot, grumpy contractor Cam and his animal-rescuing, community-involved family. It's all just research. What could go wrong?
A note from the author: This series is my love letter to every reader who said they wanted to move to a fictional town . . .
528 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2025
27787 people are currently reading
85404 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Score
64 books58.5k followersLucy Score is an instant #1 New York Times bestselling author. She grew up in a literary family who insisted that the dinner table was for reading and earned a degree in journalism.
She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share with their obnoxious cat, Cleo. When not spending hours crafting heartbreaker heroes and kick-ass heroines, Lucy can be found on the couch, in the kitchen, or at the gym.
She hopes to someday write from a sailboat, oceanfront condo, or tropical island with reliable Wi-Fi.
Sign up for her never annoying newsletter at https://www.lucyscore.net/subscribe-l....
She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share with their obnoxious cat, Cleo. When not spending hours crafting heartbreaker heroes and kick-ass heroines, Lucy can be found on the couch, in the kitchen, or at the gym.
She hopes to someday write from a sailboat, oceanfront condo, or tropical island with reliable Wi-Fi.
Sign up for her never annoying newsletter at https://www.lucyscore.net/subscribe-l....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,748 reviews
March 20, 2025
I almost wish I never learned to read, it would save me fr this book right now.
I have loved every single book Lucy has ever written, and this was a MAJOR flop for me. To say that I was bored would be an understatement, the only reason this gets 2 stars and not 1 is bc I like Lucy’s other book.
I have loved every single book Lucy has ever written, and this was a MAJOR flop for me. To say that I was bored would be an understatement, the only reason this gets 2 stars and not 1 is bc I like Lucy’s other book.
May 5, 2025
so many words yet so little happens
April 21, 2025
★★★
↣Okay, so 'Story of My Life' by Lucy Score hits you with this line:“𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜’𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲.”And, honestly, that pretty much sums up the whole book. It's a messy, delightful… thing, you know? It feels like we're watching Hazel, the heroine, write the book as we're reading it. Which, points for dedication, but... the result is a bit of a wild ride. We're talking 30% about birds and driving tips that might get you arrested, 50% how sleeping with a stressed-out dude cures writing block, and 20% pure, unadulterated chaos. Oh, and raccoons. And Campbell Bishop, a name that, kind of like how I keep forgetting it, makes you wonder if anyone actually edited this book. So, yeah, 'Story of My Life' is a unique reading experience, where the mess—both in the story and, let's be real, in the writing—is the main event.
“𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀”
let's see how that plays out in the gloriously chaotic world of Story Lake. Picture this: Hazel Hart, a pretty writer who's basically living a rom-com cliché, except the 'rom' is more like 'rom-com disaster.' Jobless, homeless, and with an ex who's still somehow lingering, she's a hot mess express. Thankfully, her agent, Zoey, is a beacon of sanity, pushing her towards a fresh start in the gossip-fueled paradise of Story Lake. This is where she crashes (literally and figuratively) into Campbell Bishop. Their first meeting? A masterclass in how not to meet your future love interest. And honestly, Hazel? I'm struggling. She's got the relationship skills of a toddler, the organizational skills of a squirrel hoarding nuts, and a 'filthy mind' that's more like a random thought generator on overdrive. 'My hero,' she declares, after, what, five minutes? I'm keeping my lips sealed about the 'fake date' fiasco, for everyone's sanity.
Then there's Campbell Bishop, who's officially joined my list of 'book boyfriends I'd sell my soul for.' An alpha male with a 'don't care' façade that crumbles at the slightest hint of Hazel's distress. He's the kind of guy who notices everything, even when you think he's zoned out staring at a wall. Jealous? Check. Kiss expert? Absolutely. And, surprisingly, he's got a sense of humor that can rival a stand-up comedian. The only mystery? His fascination with Hazel's 'nervous hotness.' I mean, I get the whole 'post-cry glow' thing (rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes, the works), but full-blown panic? Not my jam. But hey, Campbell clearly has his own preferences, and who am I to judge? Just know I am judging.And let’s not forget, the man is a muscular, handsome mountain of a man.
“𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲.”
the Bishop brothers have built a foundation of pure, unadulterated comedic gold. Cam, our hero, juggles his overbearing affection for his brothers with his staunch belief that relationships are merely 'distractions' – a belief that, predictably, crumbles like a stale cookie the moment Hazel stumbles into town. Their brotherly banter alone is worth the price of admission, a delightful side dish to the main course of romantic chaos. And speaking of chaos, the small-town vibe of Story Lake is the perfect breeding ground for it. Gossip spreads faster than a wildfire in a dry forest, and everyone's a self-appointed relationship expert. This constant barrage of unsolicited opinions and meddling neighbors forms the 'foundation' of Hazel and Cam's relationship, which, to be honest, I found less 'romantic slow burn' and more 'slow-motion train wreck,' especially towards the end. What a mess, indeed.
Let's talk about the language, shall we? Because, honestly, I'm experiencing a mild existential crisis wondering if the editor took a permanent vacation when Lucy Score submitted her final draft. Did they accidentally swap their reading glasses for a pair of blindfolds? My mom just got new ones, maybe they could borrow them. Because the word-mingling in this book? It's less 'artistic license' and more 'linguistic freefall.' My nerves are officially shot. I'm half-tempted to give this book three stars solely for the 'advice' nuggets sprinkled throughout(just joking), like 'Guys are stupid sometimes. Most of the times.....You shouldn’t date any of them until they’re in their thirties', 'Men who made themselves feel bigger by making their partners feel smaller were a special brand of dirtbag,' and the ever-practical 'if you think any man worth your time would let you pick up the tab on the first date, then you’ve been seeing the wrong men.' Pure gold.
𝗣.𝗦. Pure gold, I tell ya. Like, seriously, who needs a relationship guru when you've got Lucy Score? But, okay, jokes aside (sort of), there were moments where the book actually punched me in the feels. Like, "𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴" Campbell says, and suddenly I'm questioning all my life choices. And then,"𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘺, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶." Okay, fine, I teared up a little. Don't judge me. And let's not forget the wisdom bomb:"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲."Like, who knew a book with sentences that sound like they were written by a caffeinated squirrel could drop such truth bombs? So, yeah, the language? A hot mess. But the heart? Actually, kinda there. Maybe the editor was just trying to keep us on our toes? Nah, they were probably just on vacation.
In conclusion, 'Story of My Life' is a wild ride best enjoyed with a good sense of humor and a willingness to embrace the chaos. Just don't ask me to explain the raccoons stuff .
my new bookstagram
💌[email protected]
* LUCY SCORE! I'm sold! Where do I sign?
↣Okay, so 'Story of My Life' by Lucy Score hits you with this line:“𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜’𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲.”And, honestly, that pretty much sums up the whole book. It's a messy, delightful… thing, you know? It feels like we're watching Hazel, the heroine, write the book as we're reading it. Which, points for dedication, but... the result is a bit of a wild ride. We're talking 30% about birds and driving tips that might get you arrested, 50% how sleeping with a stressed-out dude cures writing block, and 20% pure, unadulterated chaos. Oh, and raccoons. And Campbell Bishop, a name that, kind of like how I keep forgetting it, makes you wonder if anyone actually edited this book. So, yeah, 'Story of My Life' is a unique reading experience, where the mess—both in the story and, let's be real, in the writing—is the main event.
“𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀”
let's see how that plays out in the gloriously chaotic world of Story Lake. Picture this: Hazel Hart, a pretty writer who's basically living a rom-com cliché, except the 'rom' is more like 'rom-com disaster.' Jobless, homeless, and with an ex who's still somehow lingering, she's a hot mess express. Thankfully, her agent, Zoey, is a beacon of sanity, pushing her towards a fresh start in the gossip-fueled paradise of Story Lake. This is where she crashes (literally and figuratively) into Campbell Bishop. Their first meeting? A masterclass in how not to meet your future love interest. And honestly, Hazel? I'm struggling. She's got the relationship skills of a toddler, the organizational skills of a squirrel hoarding nuts, and a 'filthy mind' that's more like a random thought generator on overdrive. 'My hero,' she declares, after, what, five minutes? I'm keeping my lips sealed about the 'fake date' fiasco, for everyone's sanity.
Then there's Campbell Bishop, who's officially joined my list of 'book boyfriends I'd sell my soul for.' An alpha male with a 'don't care' façade that crumbles at the slightest hint of Hazel's distress. He's the kind of guy who notices everything, even when you think he's zoned out staring at a wall. Jealous? Check. Kiss expert? Absolutely. And, surprisingly, he's got a sense of humor that can rival a stand-up comedian. The only mystery? His fascination with Hazel's 'nervous hotness.' I mean, I get the whole 'post-cry glow' thing (rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes, the works), but full-blown panic? Not my jam. But hey, Campbell clearly has his own preferences, and who am I to judge? Just know I am judging.And let’s not forget, the man is a muscular, handsome mountain of a man.
“𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲.”
the Bishop brothers have built a foundation of pure, unadulterated comedic gold. Cam, our hero, juggles his overbearing affection for his brothers with his staunch belief that relationships are merely 'distractions' – a belief that, predictably, crumbles like a stale cookie the moment Hazel stumbles into town. Their brotherly banter alone is worth the price of admission, a delightful side dish to the main course of romantic chaos. And speaking of chaos, the small-town vibe of Story Lake is the perfect breeding ground for it. Gossip spreads faster than a wildfire in a dry forest, and everyone's a self-appointed relationship expert. This constant barrage of unsolicited opinions and meddling neighbors forms the 'foundation' of Hazel and Cam's relationship, which, to be honest, I found less 'romantic slow burn' and more 'slow-motion train wreck,' especially towards the end. What a mess, indeed.
Let's talk about the language, shall we? Because, honestly, I'm experiencing a mild existential crisis wondering if the editor took a permanent vacation when Lucy Score submitted her final draft. Did they accidentally swap their reading glasses for a pair of blindfolds? My mom just got new ones, maybe they could borrow them. Because the word-mingling in this book? It's less 'artistic license' and more 'linguistic freefall.' My nerves are officially shot. I'm half-tempted to give this book three stars solely for the 'advice' nuggets sprinkled throughout(just joking), like 'Guys are stupid sometimes. Most of the times.....You shouldn’t date any of them until they’re in their thirties', 'Men who made themselves feel bigger by making their partners feel smaller were a special brand of dirtbag,' and the ever-practical 'if you think any man worth your time would let you pick up the tab on the first date, then you’ve been seeing the wrong men.' Pure gold.
𝗣.𝗦. Pure gold, I tell ya. Like, seriously, who needs a relationship guru when you've got Lucy Score? But, okay, jokes aside (sort of), there were moments where the book actually punched me in the feels. Like, "𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴" Campbell says, and suddenly I'm questioning all my life choices. And then,"𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘺, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶." Okay, fine, I teared up a little. Don't judge me. And let's not forget the wisdom bomb:"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲."Like, who knew a book with sentences that sound like they were written by a caffeinated squirrel could drop such truth bombs? So, yeah, the language? A hot mess. But the heart? Actually, kinda there. Maybe the editor was just trying to keep us on our toes? Nah, they were probably just on vacation.
In conclusion, 'Story of My Life' is a wild ride best enjoyed with a good sense of humor and a willingness to embrace the chaos. Just don't ask me to explain the raccoons stuff .
my new bookstagram
💌[email protected]
* LUCY SCORE! I'm sold! Where do I sign?
March 10, 2025
RTC
——
I’ve always been a bit apprehensive about picking up a Lucy Score book but this is described as Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek (aka the best show to exist) — sold 🤩
Thank you NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the e-arc & Hambright PR for the ALC!
——
I’ve always been a bit apprehensive about picking up a Lucy Score book but this is described as Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek (aka the best show to exist) — sold 🤩
Thank you NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the e-arc & Hambright PR for the ALC!
August 10, 2025
4 ⭐️ — small-town romcom that finally had me kicking my feet fr 😭🩵🩵
Okay soooo… I finally enjoyed a small-town romance 😭 like idk what kind of magic this book had but I was eating it up from the very beginning. Usually, small-town books feel flat for me, but this one?? This one understood the assignment 🫶
Also, buddy reading it with Olivia?? 10/10 experience. 🩵
Not even gonna lie, I don’t think I’ve read anything like this before, so I was super interested from the start 🤭 AND WHY WAS THIS BOOK SO FUNNY 😭😭 like I was actually cackling. The townies?? Unhinged but iconic. Except Emilie 🙄 she can leave. But the bishop family??? HELLOOOO 👀 all of them are so fine I was lowkey blushing through every scene lmao. The bishop brothers?? Yeah, I was living for them 😌
Okay now my one complaint: the third act breakup 😕 personallyyyy I’m not a fan unless it’s done really well — and here, it just felt unnecessary. Like it didn’t really add anything except make the book longer 💀 I get what Campbell was going through, and I don’t hate the reasoning, but still… it didn’t hit for me. So yeah, knocking off a star for that 🫠
But Hazel & Campbell?? Obsessed. They’re such a good couple omg 🤭 and the fake dating trope??? SO WELL DONE. I was giggling the whole time. ✨peak trope execution✨
Also shoutout to the side characters because their growth?? Chef’s kiss 🥹 and Zoey & Gage?? 👀👀👀 pls i’m watching y’all very closely… don’t play with me 🤭
Anyway. This book was a whole vibe. Loved the chaos, loved the laughs. Love y’all. 🫶
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🚲⋆⭒˚｡⋆pre-read 🚲⋆⭒˚｡⋆
Small town romance? And Fake Dating? INTERESTING 👀🩵🩵 Doing a Buddy read with my cutie Olivia 🤗
Okay soooo… I finally enjoyed a small-town romance 😭 like idk what kind of magic this book had but I was eating it up from the very beginning. Usually, small-town books feel flat for me, but this one?? This one understood the assignment 🫶
Also, buddy reading it with Olivia?? 10/10 experience. 🩵
Not even gonna lie, I don’t think I’ve read anything like this before, so I was super interested from the start 🤭 AND WHY WAS THIS BOOK SO FUNNY 😭😭 like I was actually cackling. The townies?? Unhinged but iconic. Except Emilie 🙄 she can leave. But the bishop family??? HELLOOOO 👀 all of them are so fine I was lowkey blushing through every scene lmao. The bishop brothers?? Yeah, I was living for them 😌
Okay now my one complaint: the third act breakup 😕 personallyyyy I’m not a fan unless it’s done really well — and here, it just felt unnecessary. Like it didn’t really add anything except make the book longer 💀 I get what Campbell was going through, and I don’t hate the reasoning, but still… it didn’t hit for me. So yeah, knocking off a star for that 🫠
But Hazel & Campbell?? Obsessed. They’re such a good couple omg 🤭 and the fake dating trope??? SO WELL DONE. I was giggling the whole time. ✨peak trope execution✨
Also shoutout to the side characters because their growth?? Chef’s kiss 🥹 and Zoey & Gage?? 👀👀👀 pls i’m watching y’all very closely… don’t play with me 🤭
Anyway. This book was a whole vibe. Loved the chaos, loved the laughs. Love y’all. 🫶
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🚲⋆⭒˚｡⋆pre-read 🚲⋆⭒˚｡⋆
Small town romance? And Fake Dating? INTERESTING 👀🩵🩵 Doing a Buddy read with my cutie Olivia 🤗
March 16, 2025
– 2 stars
This book was so cringe. The story starts with Hazel (h) having a mid life crisis since she is an author and hasn't written/released anything in two years since her divorce and decides to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere to get more inspiration. It took 10% for Hazel to meet Campbell (H), because she couldn't get her shit together. Hazel is such a 🥴 quirky 🥴 heroine and a mess and Campbell was oh so 😤 grumpy 😤 and annoyed with everything. All these characters in this books are over the top and it felt like reading about caricatures.. I couldn't take any of them seriously..
Usually Lucy Score's books are more hit then miss, but this book just wasn't for me.
This book was so cringe. The story starts with Hazel (h) having a mid life crisis since she is an author and hasn't written/released anything in two years since her divorce and decides to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere to get more inspiration. It took 10% for Hazel to meet Campbell (H), because she couldn't get her shit together. Hazel is such a 🥴 quirky 🥴 heroine and a mess and Campbell was oh so 😤 grumpy 😤 and annoyed with everything. All these characters in this books are over the top and it felt like reading about caricatures.. I couldn't take any of them seriously..
Usually Lucy Score's books are more hit then miss, but this book just wasn't for me.
March 7, 2025
A little hot... I'm a suspense addict so not usually the romance reader, but I do like the Lucy Score Rom-com's. The setting is in a small town in Pennsylvania...very small... where nothing is kept secret. The town has a text group that keeps up with the gorgeous contractor Cam's activities because he is an eligible bachelor!!
Hazel is a romance author that must move out of her apartment. Her publisher has given her a warning that if she doesn't come up with her next book they will release her. She buys a house in Pennsylvania, a real fixer-upper, so she needs a contractor. You know where this is going...
A funny story that had me laughing aloud...hard to explain when people are in the room with you.
Oh, did I mention there are some really steamy scenes with a high level of tension? Get this book!!
Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Hazel is a romance author that must move out of her apartment. Her publisher has given her a warning that if she doesn't come up with her next book they will release her. She buys a house in Pennsylvania, a real fixer-upper, so she needs a contractor. You know where this is going...
A funny story that had me laughing aloud...hard to explain when people are in the room with you.
Oh, did I mention there are some really steamy scenes with a high level of tension? Get this book!!
Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 7, 2025
3.5⭐️
AHHHH I really liked this! This was so cute and wholesome and all around exactly what I needed from Lucy Score and she did in fact deliver. However, I did end up having some problems with it towards the end which I'll get into.
First off, the characters. I really really loved the characters in this book. The only thing I was too fond of was the surface level aspect to them, especially for a 500+ page book. Everyone was extremely likable and Hazel, the FMC, was such a funny and down-to-earth main character. I liked her over-the-top personality and her witty comebacks; her character just felt so real! The side characters, such as the townspeople, the Bishop brothers, and Zoey, really carried this book. They were unbelievably funny and really gave this book its personality. I really liked Cam, the MMC....for the most part. He was very much a grumpy and broody person and I get that is how he's supposed to be for the grumpy x sunshine trope, but there's a difference between being grumpy and being flat-out rude. This guy was kinda an asshole which is a big shame because for 80% of the book he was so sweet and soft on the inside.
I have no idea what happened to the last like 15/20% of the book, but I didn't really care for it. The plot, dialogue, and story line was amazing for the entirety of the book up until that part. Cam was ridiculously hard to deal with and he was blaming his shitty behavior on everyone else except himself. It sorta rushed towards the end and I hated...HATED that Cam kept making huge decisions himself instead of getting Hazel's input. Everything a "boyfriend" should have done and discussed with their partner he didn't do. It was infuriating!!! The third-act breakup was stupid and could have been avoided if Cam would have just pulled his head out of his ass. I really liked the spice in here and I think the pacing was well-done and we got a lot of build-up and slow-burn which was super nice!
Overall, this was a good book okay. It was good! Like I stated before, 80% of it had 4-4.5 potential. But the end of the book was so hard to get through. There were just so many character behavior problems and the plot towards the end kinda got muddled, but I do think it was worth the read! This was my second attempt at giving Lucy Score a shot and I really want to continue this series. As for her other books? We'll just have to see. 😅
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're just going to look past the fact that I'm reading something I just picked up rather than the hundreds of books I've been waiting years to read 😭😭
On that note, I DNFed the Knockemout series, but I really want to like Lucy Score so I'm giving another one of her books a chance 😅🩵✨
I hope I like this more!!
AHHHH I really liked this! This was so cute and wholesome and all around exactly what I needed from Lucy Score and she did in fact deliver. However, I did end up having some problems with it towards the end which I'll get into.
First off, the characters. I really really loved the characters in this book. The only thing I was too fond of was the surface level aspect to them, especially for a 500+ page book. Everyone was extremely likable and Hazel, the FMC, was such a funny and down-to-earth main character. I liked her over-the-top personality and her witty comebacks; her character just felt so real! The side characters, such as the townspeople, the Bishop brothers, and Zoey, really carried this book. They were unbelievably funny and really gave this book its personality. I really liked Cam, the MMC....for the most part. He was very much a grumpy and broody person and I get that is how he's supposed to be for the grumpy x sunshine trope, but there's a difference between being grumpy and being flat-out rude. This guy was kinda an asshole which is a big shame because for 80% of the book he was so sweet and soft on the inside.
I have no idea what happened to the last like 15/20% of the book, but I didn't really care for it. The plot, dialogue, and story line was amazing for the entirety of the book up until that part. Cam was ridiculously hard to deal with and he was blaming his shitty behavior on everyone else except himself. It sorta rushed towards the end and I hated...HATED that Cam kept making huge decisions himself instead of getting Hazel's input. Everything a "boyfriend" should have done and discussed with their partner he didn't do. It was infuriating!!! The third-act breakup was stupid and could have been avoided if Cam would have just pulled his head out of his ass. I really liked the spice in here and I think the pacing was well-done and we got a lot of build-up and slow-burn which was super nice!
Overall, this was a good book okay. It was good! Like I stated before, 80% of it had 4-4.5 potential. But the end of the book was so hard to get through. There were just so many character behavior problems and the plot towards the end kinda got muddled, but I do think it was worth the read! This was my second attempt at giving Lucy Score a shot and I really want to continue this series. As for her other books? We'll just have to see. 😅
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're just going to look past the fact that I'm reading something I just picked up rather than the hundreds of books I've been waiting years to read 😭😭
On that note, I DNFed the Knockemout series, but I really want to like Lucy Score so I'm giving another one of her books a chance 😅🩵✨
I hope I like this more!!
June 3, 2025
3.5⭐️
Funny, romantic, full of tropes….yep, all of the above!
It’s really just another fun Lucy Score romance to pass the time. Nothing particularly groundbreaking or unique, but still super enjoyable and honestly really cute.
What stood out the most to me in this one was the growth. I love character growth. It’s my favorite part of any book. Watching characters learn from their mistakes, try harder, and genuinely become better people!! I eat that up. And we definitely get that here. From Hazel learning to value herself and standing up for herself, to Cam’s family learning to communicate with each other better.
The constant references to romance books within a romance book were fun at first…. Eventually it started feeling a little overdone, but still, I thought it was funny and kind of cool how Hazel saw people in her real life as characters in a story. It makes you wonder, do authors see the world that way? Honestly, as an avid reader, I sometimes feel like I do the same thing. Everyone’s a character in my head, and yes, I definitely make up my own little fantasy plots. God forbid a girl has a hobby!
The romance itself was… fine. If this were real life, I wouldn’t be shocked if Hazel and Cam broke up a couple years down the line. But hey, it’s a romance novel! We’re not always here for realism, now are we? We’re here for the fun, the feels, and the banter.
Also, I think I have a good guess about who the next book will be about. I’ll probably be picking that up too because what the hell..
Funny, romantic, full of tropes….yep, all of the above!
It’s really just another fun Lucy Score romance to pass the time. Nothing particularly groundbreaking or unique, but still super enjoyable and honestly really cute.
What stood out the most to me in this one was the growth. I love character growth. It’s my favorite part of any book. Watching characters learn from their mistakes, try harder, and genuinely become better people!! I eat that up. And we definitely get that here. From Hazel learning to value herself and standing up for herself, to Cam’s family learning to communicate with each other better.
The constant references to romance books within a romance book were fun at first…. Eventually it started feeling a little overdone, but still, I thought it was funny and kind of cool how Hazel saw people in her real life as characters in a story. It makes you wonder, do authors see the world that way? Honestly, as an avid reader, I sometimes feel like I do the same thing. Everyone’s a character in my head, and yes, I definitely make up my own little fantasy plots. God forbid a girl has a hobby!
The romance itself was… fine. If this were real life, I wouldn’t be shocked if Hazel and Cam broke up a couple years down the line. But hey, it’s a romance novel! We’re not always here for realism, now are we? We’re here for the fun, the feels, and the banter.
Also, I think I have a good guess about who the next book will be about. I’ll probably be picking that up too because what the hell..
March 15, 2025
Dragged-out drama, zero chemistry, and a hero so unbearable he made the third-act breakup look like a blessing.
June 22, 2025
I'm beyond ready for a new series by Lucy Score....
and secretly hoping for another Rock Bottom Girl it's still my all time favourites LS book ♡
3.5 Trouble and Cactus Cam Stars
Story of My Life by Lucy Score – I’ll be honest, I was hoping for a little more with this one. I think that’s always the case with books from your favorite authors, right? That said, it was still an enjoyable read. I finished it in just two days, though I did find myself skimming through some parts.
The book has a lot to offer – small-town vibes, a strong-willed heroine, and a grumpy hero. My favorite part was the romance, especially the scene where the heroine gives the grumpy hero a lesson in how romance works. It was so spot-on, and honestly, I kind of wish more guys would read romance novels – they could learn a thing or two!
One thing I really loved was Cam’s chapters. It was so much fun seeing how Hazel kept surprising him with her reactions to him being “Cactus Cam” or their steamy moments together. They had amazing chemistry, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold.
That said, there were some moments that didn’t quite land for me. The third-act breakup, for instance – after all the talk about how important communication is, the breakup felt a little forced. I found myself thinking, "This could’ve been avoided."
I also liked the Bishop family, though there were a lot of them! Sometimes it felt like the large family dynamic was a bit much. I tend to be cautious with rom-coms that lean too far into the over-the-top, cheesy moments, and this one walked that line a few times.
In the end, Story of My Life was a fun read, but not quite the knockout I was hoping for. There were some highs, some “meh” moments, but overall, it was an enjoyable journey.
and secretly hoping for another Rock Bottom Girl it's still my all time favourites LS book ♡
3.5 Trouble and Cactus Cam Stars
Story of My Life by Lucy Score – I’ll be honest, I was hoping for a little more with this one. I think that’s always the case with books from your favorite authors, right? That said, it was still an enjoyable read. I finished it in just two days, though I did find myself skimming through some parts.
The book has a lot to offer – small-town vibes, a strong-willed heroine, and a grumpy hero. My favorite part was the romance, especially the scene where the heroine gives the grumpy hero a lesson in how romance works. It was so spot-on, and honestly, I kind of wish more guys would read romance novels – they could learn a thing or two!
One thing I really loved was Cam’s chapters. It was so much fun seeing how Hazel kept surprising him with her reactions to him being “Cactus Cam” or their steamy moments together. They had amazing chemistry, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold.
That said, there were some moments that didn’t quite land for me. The third-act breakup, for instance – after all the talk about how important communication is, the breakup felt a little forced. I found myself thinking, "This could’ve been avoided."
I also liked the Bishop family, though there were a lot of them! Sometimes it felt like the large family dynamic was a bit much. I tend to be cautious with rom-coms that lean too far into the over-the-top, cheesy moments, and this one walked that line a few times.
In the end, Story of My Life was a fun read, but not quite the knockout I was hoping for. There were some highs, some “meh” moments, but overall, it was an enjoyable journey.
March 25, 2025
This book was a little funny, big chaotic mess. Also, Campbell's "grand gesture" should have been to seek therapy.
January 28, 2025
I've read the Riley Thorne series by Lucy Score and found them hilarious, so my hopes were high for this book. And it looks like Lucy scored another homerun.
I wasn't certain at first, because soooo much was going wrong that it was a bit depressing, but I shouldn't have worried. Hazel was instantly entertaining with her perfect foil best friend, Zoey. Add in hunky brothers, a town filled with characters, not to mention a bald eagle named Goose, and a wily racoon and you have the recipe for hijinks that'll keep you laughing while heating things up.
This is one of those small town, fresh-start-stories that will keep you rooting for the heroine and laughing along the way.
As always, Lucy Score doesn't disappoint. Be sure to add this to your TBR right away... and enjoy!
Thank you to Bloom Books, part of Source Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley. This is my honest review. – Jen K.
I wasn't certain at first, because soooo much was going wrong that it was a bit depressing, but I shouldn't have worried. Hazel was instantly entertaining with her perfect foil best friend, Zoey. Add in hunky brothers, a town filled with characters, not to mention a bald eagle named Goose, and a wily racoon and you have the recipe for hijinks that'll keep you laughing while heating things up.
This is one of those small town, fresh-start-stories that will keep you rooting for the heroine and laughing along the way.
As always, Lucy Score doesn't disappoint. Be sure to add this to your TBR right away... and enjoy!
Thank you to Bloom Books, part of Source Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley. This is my honest review. – Jen K.
April 4, 2025
I loved every minute of reading this small town rom-com! The story follows Hazel, who, after struggling with writer's block for years, impulsively buys a house unseen and moves away to the small town of Story Lake in search of motivation. When she arrives and finds the house in complete need of renovation, she hires the grumpy local contractor, Cam, to help build her dream house and maybe serve as inspiration for her next MMC.
This was such an entertaining and sweet romance! The crazy and quirky town and townspeople were so much fun, and the drama and happenings were just perfect for the lighthearted plot. Cam and Hazel were so cute together, I loved how their relationship unfolded from friends w benefits to something more as they got to know each other. The subsequent chemistry and tension to them coming together was everything and more. Beyond the romance, the surrounding characters were well developed and added so much charm to the story; I cannot wait to see Cam's brothers find their matches.
This was such an entertaining and sweet romance! The crazy and quirky town and townspeople were so much fun, and the drama and happenings were just perfect for the lighthearted plot. Cam and Hazel were so cute together, I loved how their relationship unfolded from friends w benefits to something more as they got to know each other. The subsequent chemistry and tension to them coming together was everything and more. Beyond the romance, the surrounding characters were well developed and added so much charm to the story; I cannot wait to see Cam's brothers find their matches.
April 6, 2025
5 Shit Waffle Stars⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️/5
OK A MORE COHESIVE REVIEW!!!!
This book was not perfect... but it was perfect for me. I have so many thoughts, so many feelings, and honestly I’m still wrapping my head around everything this story gave me.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Hazel Hart is in a massive slump in life and in her writing. Following a messy divorce, she’s stuck in a spiral of writer’s block and depression. Her publisher is breathing down her neck for a new book, which she has absolutely no inspiration to write. Enter Zoey, her agent and best friend, who decides Hazel needs a serious wake-up call and forces her to pull up her big girl panties. Following this Hazel stumbles upon an old “inspiration folder” and finds a spark of inspiration in the form of a man named Campbell Bishop, a construction worker from a little town called Story Lake...So, in a spontaneous 2 a.m. decision, Hazel buys a house in Story Lake (mostly because her awful ex-husband is kicking her out of her apartment and she desperately needs a new place to live.) Naturally, Zoey gets dragged along for the ride to rural Pennsylvania, where everything that can go wrong, does. Now Hazel has to juggle rebuilding her life, navigating small-town drama, fixing up a “new” house that’s one step away from being condemned and comes with a free pet (also known as Bertha the Raccoon), and convincing the grumpiest man alive, Cam, to be her writing inspiration while also helping renovate her home.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
JUST WOW! I freaking LOVED THIS, I LOVE STORY LAKE, I LOVE THE CHARACTERS and I LOVED HOW I FELT READING THIS! I loved the chaos, the warmth, the quirky community vibes, and the big personalities of everyone in this town. The banter, the romance, the friendships... I just adored EVERYTHING in the ridiculousness and all the shenanigans that unfolded (even if some were hilariously unrealistic). This was the kind of story that made me giggle and swoon.
I should add that this is primarily a " Chick-lit" with a side of romance. It is more a story about Hazel, how she finds friendship, a family, her inspiration, a home, and love.
There’s this chaotic "I hate you but I love you" energy between Hazel and Cam that was chef’s kiss. I saw so much of my own relationship in them. I’m the sunshine to my grumpy (I even call my husband “Grumpy”) and the constant bickering, the playful ways they try to get a rise out of each other, but still have this sweetness underneath the sarcasm... it just felt so real and familiar. Plus, seeing a FMC who is almost my age (and not 24) felt incredibly refreshing.
The BANTER IS also on fire! I am not just talking about the constant banter between Hazel and Cam, but between Hazel and Zoey and Cam and his brothers! Then there is the found family elements that just exist in the small town... it was hilarious and heartfelt! I also adore Zoey as the best friend, she is very much the type of person who you won't be calling to bail you out when you bury a body...BECAUSE SHE WILL BE ARRESTED WITH YOU! I really hope we get her story soon, because I’m not done with this town and its people.
From a deeper perspective, I think Lucy Score poured a lot of her opinions and commentary around what its like being a Romance Author today. Hazel navigates imposter syndrome while dealing with competition with other up-and-coming romance authors. She has to navigate the "opinion" of how writing romance is often dismissed as fluff or not “real writing” because it's not hard-hitting enough or serious enough. It was interesting take put this into a fictional character when I am sure Lucy Score deals with these aspects daily!
Now... I’m being critical, but there was something that felt a little off. Especially when you think about it from a gender-swapped perspective. If Hazel had been a man who moved to a small town, essentially stalking a woman he’d seen in an article, then manipulated the situation so she would work for him while he used her as sexual inspiration to write a book... yeah, that would feel incredibly creepy. BUT in this it's endearing! AND if you accept it's not problematic and just go along for the vibes... You will probably have a good time!
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Small Town Romance
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Forbidden Romance
▶ Found Family
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ GrumpyXSunshine
▶ Older Couple (in their Late 30's)
▶ Slow Burn
▶ Disability Rep
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ "Look at Me"
▷ "Fuck It"
▷ Takes Care of Her/Tending to Injuries
▷ Potato Sack Over His Shoulder
▷ Nicknames
▷ "It Wont Fit"
▷ Under Table Touching
Basically, if you love Hallmark movies, small towns, hilarious banter, found family and stories that leave you grinning like an idiot...READ THIS. It’s a Hallmark movie in book form... and I loved every page of it.
Thank you to Hambright PR for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own
Spicy Level: 🌶️/5
OK A MORE COHESIVE REVIEW!!!!
This book was not perfect... but it was perfect for me. I have so many thoughts, so many feelings, and honestly I’m still wrapping my head around everything this story gave me.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Hazel Hart is in a massive slump in life and in her writing. Following a messy divorce, she’s stuck in a spiral of writer’s block and depression. Her publisher is breathing down her neck for a new book, which she has absolutely no inspiration to write. Enter Zoey, her agent and best friend, who decides Hazel needs a serious wake-up call and forces her to pull up her big girl panties. Following this Hazel stumbles upon an old “inspiration folder” and finds a spark of inspiration in the form of a man named Campbell Bishop, a construction worker from a little town called Story Lake...So, in a spontaneous 2 a.m. decision, Hazel buys a house in Story Lake (mostly because her awful ex-husband is kicking her out of her apartment and she desperately needs a new place to live.) Naturally, Zoey gets dragged along for the ride to rural Pennsylvania, where everything that can go wrong, does. Now Hazel has to juggle rebuilding her life, navigating small-town drama, fixing up a “new” house that’s one step away from being condemned and comes with a free pet (also known as Bertha the Raccoon), and convincing the grumpiest man alive, Cam, to be her writing inspiration while also helping renovate her home.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
JUST WOW! I freaking LOVED THIS, I LOVE STORY LAKE, I LOVE THE CHARACTERS and I LOVED HOW I FELT READING THIS! I loved the chaos, the warmth, the quirky community vibes, and the big personalities of everyone in this town. The banter, the romance, the friendships... I just adored EVERYTHING in the ridiculousness and all the shenanigans that unfolded (even if some were hilariously unrealistic). This was the kind of story that made me giggle and swoon.
I should add that this is primarily a " Chick-lit" with a side of romance. It is more a story about Hazel, how she finds friendship, a family, her inspiration, a home, and love.
There’s this chaotic "I hate you but I love you" energy between Hazel and Cam that was chef’s kiss. I saw so much of my own relationship in them. I’m the sunshine to my grumpy (I even call my husband “Grumpy”) and the constant bickering, the playful ways they try to get a rise out of each other, but still have this sweetness underneath the sarcasm... it just felt so real and familiar. Plus, seeing a FMC who is almost my age (and not 24) felt incredibly refreshing.
The BANTER IS also on fire! I am not just talking about the constant banter between Hazel and Cam, but between Hazel and Zoey and Cam and his brothers! Then there is the found family elements that just exist in the small town... it was hilarious and heartfelt! I also adore Zoey as the best friend, she is very much the type of person who you won't be calling to bail you out when you bury a body...BECAUSE SHE WILL BE ARRESTED WITH YOU! I really hope we get her story soon, because I’m not done with this town and its people.
From a deeper perspective, I think Lucy Score poured a lot of her opinions and commentary around what its like being a Romance Author today. Hazel navigates imposter syndrome while dealing with competition with other up-and-coming romance authors. She has to navigate the "opinion" of how writing romance is often dismissed as fluff or not “real writing” because it's not hard-hitting enough or serious enough. It was interesting take put this into a fictional character when I am sure Lucy Score deals with these aspects daily!
Now... I’m being critical, but there was something that felt a little off. Especially when you think about it from a gender-swapped perspective. If Hazel had been a man who moved to a small town, essentially stalking a woman he’d seen in an article, then manipulated the situation so she would work for him while he used her as sexual inspiration to write a book... yeah, that would feel incredibly creepy. BUT in this it's endearing! AND if you accept it's not problematic and just go along for the vibes... You will probably have a good time!
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Small Town Romance
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Forbidden Romance
▶ Found Family
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ GrumpyXSunshine
▶ Older Couple (in their Late 30's)
▶ Slow Burn
▶ Disability Rep
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ "Look at Me"
▷ "Fuck It"
▷ Takes Care of Her/Tending to Injuries
▷ Potato Sack Over His Shoulder
▷ Nicknames
▷ "It Wont Fit"
▷ Under Table Touching
Basically, if you love Hallmark movies, small towns, hilarious banter, found family and stories that leave you grinning like an idiot...READ THIS. It’s a Hallmark movie in book form... and I loved every page of it.
Thank you to Hambright PR for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own
March 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is the perfect palate cleanser for anyone in need of a feel-good romance. It has all the tropes I adore—small town, grumpy/sunshine, found family, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Hazel is such a lovable FMC; her journey of reclaiming herself and stepping out of her ex’s shadow was both relatable and heartwarming. Moving to a small town and starting over? Absolutely loved it. Honestly, everything that happened to her felt like something that would 100% happen to me, which made her story even more enjoyable.
And then there’s Campbell Bishop—the grumpiest of grumps, and wow, was it a look on him. He definitely got under my skin a bit towards the end (thanks, third-act breakup), but he totally redeemed himself.
The side characters? Absolute gems. I already know I’ll be diving into the rest of the series because I need more of this town and its people. If I could transport myself there, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
This book is the perfect palate cleanser for anyone in need of a feel-good romance. It has all the tropes I adore—small town, grumpy/sunshine, found family, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Hazel is such a lovable FMC; her journey of reclaiming herself and stepping out of her ex’s shadow was both relatable and heartwarming. Moving to a small town and starting over? Absolutely loved it. Honestly, everything that happened to her felt like something that would 100% happen to me, which made her story even more enjoyable.
And then there’s Campbell Bishop—the grumpiest of grumps, and wow, was it a look on him. He definitely got under my skin a bit towards the end (thanks, third-act breakup), but he totally redeemed himself.
The side characters? Absolute gems. I already know I’ll be diving into the rest of the series because I need more of this town and its people. If I could transport myself there, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
March 27, 2025
the setup…
Hazel Hart is a bestselling romance writer…at least she was before her marriage crumbled a year ago and hasn’t written anything in two years. Her social media account is dormant and Hazel hasn’t communicated with her fans just as long, preferring to hide in her Manhattan apartment. Zoe, her best friend and agent, is lighting a fire under her now that her publisher is threatening to drop her. The final insult comes when her ex evicts her. In a desperate move, Hazel finds an historic house online in the small town of Story Lake, Pennsylvania and is charmed by its “story.” With a quick click it’s hers and she and Zoe pack up to start her new life there…only to find that charm was highly exaggerated.
the heart of the story…
I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard listening to a story. From the moment Hazel lands in Story Lake, it’s one hilarious mishap after another. I liked Hazel from the onset and then there are the three alluring Bishop brothers, who won me over at first meeting. But it’s Campbell (Cam) Bishop who is front and center, all 6’3” of classic grumpiness. He’s the contractor to help renovate Hazel’s dilapidated historic home, complete with a pesky raccoon (Bertha) and a frisky bald eagle called Goose.
the narration…
I’m a long-time fan of Sebastian York and he’s at his finest here. But it’s Lila Winters who surprised me! She was awesome as Hazel, bringing that character to life in my head. This was the best listening experience in every respect.
the bottom line…
I’ve wanted to read this author for some time now and I couldn’t have picked a better starting place. This story has everything and it most definitely lives up to the description of Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek. With lots of quirky and interesting characters in this town, there was a laugh around every corner but it doesn’t eclipse the romance. Hazel and Cam begin a friends with benefits with no friends or romance relationship and that leads to…well, read it and find out for yourself. I really didn’t want this to end, even after 16 hours. I can’t wait to return to Story Lake!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to the author and Hambright PR for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Hazel Hart is a bestselling romance writer…at least she was before her marriage crumbled a year ago and hasn’t written anything in two years. Her social media account is dormant and Hazel hasn’t communicated with her fans just as long, preferring to hide in her Manhattan apartment. Zoe, her best friend and agent, is lighting a fire under her now that her publisher is threatening to drop her. The final insult comes when her ex evicts her. In a desperate move, Hazel finds an historic house online in the small town of Story Lake, Pennsylvania and is charmed by its “story.” With a quick click it’s hers and she and Zoe pack up to start her new life there…only to find that charm was highly exaggerated.
the heart of the story…
I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard listening to a story. From the moment Hazel lands in Story Lake, it’s one hilarious mishap after another. I liked Hazel from the onset and then there are the three alluring Bishop brothers, who won me over at first meeting. But it’s Campbell (Cam) Bishop who is front and center, all 6’3” of classic grumpiness. He’s the contractor to help renovate Hazel’s dilapidated historic home, complete with a pesky raccoon (Bertha) and a frisky bald eagle called Goose.
the narration…
I’m a long-time fan of Sebastian York and he’s at his finest here. But it’s Lila Winters who surprised me! She was awesome as Hazel, bringing that character to life in my head. This was the best listening experience in every respect.
the bottom line…
I’ve wanted to read this author for some time now and I couldn’t have picked a better starting place. This story has everything and it most definitely lives up to the description of Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek. With lots of quirky and interesting characters in this town, there was a laugh around every corner but it doesn’t eclipse the romance. Hazel and Cam begin a friends with benefits with no friends or romance relationship and that leads to…well, read it and find out for yourself. I really didn’t want this to end, even after 16 hours. I can’t wait to return to Story Lake!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to the author and Hambright PR for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
July 21, 2025
Oh Hazel 😂🤭🥴🥹
So many laughs. So many emotions. So much fun.
Hazel is a famous rom-com writer that has lost her mojo. Divorced and being forced out of her Upper East Side apartment, she is given a final warning from her publisher. If she doesn’t hit her deadline she is out. No job. No partner. No house. Everything changes when she impulsively buys a house in a small-town in Pennsylvania. She quickly leaves the big city behind for the rural town of Story Lake, hoping to rediscover her love for writing by immersing herself in small-town life. Seems reasonable…that is until she arrives and the shenanigans unfolds. Her new run-down house looks like the haunted house no one lets their kids go trick-or-treating at. It even comes with its own raccoon. But, she does find one thing that sparks her interest 🤐 In the interest of research alone, what harm can be done with having a little fun with her hot, grumpy contractor Cam and his animal-rescuing, community-involved family.
Despite loving the premise behind this story, it took me a while to warm up to both the characters and the setting. I thought I would become instantly engaged given the small-town cozy vibes and the humorous nature of these characters, but something just wasn’t clicking into place 🤷🏻♀️
Nevertheless, I kept reading because it was still mildly entertaining, and I am happy to say that it paid off 😅
Around the 30% mark, just as Hazel was getting her novel writing powers back, something changed and suddenly, I was totally invested in the story.
Hazel is SUCH a likeable and relatable character. You can’t help but like her. In the words of Cam: “Hazel Hart made it impossible not to like her. Believe me, I’d tried." She is just one of those naturally funny people, and comes across as being very down to earth.
And, let me tell you, there were some absolutely hilarious scenes in this book 🤣 SO original and laugh out loud funny! When an emergency town meeting is held against Hazel, and she stands up to say "Your eagle hit me in the head with a fish and made me crash into your sign. I didn’t come here to kill birds or destroy your town. And I certainly didn’t come here to get potatoes thrown at me by a bunch of strangers.” I couldn’t help but laugh 🤭 The humour in this book really sets this book out among the rest.
It was so fun to see how Hazel’s writing abilities retuned as she witnessed her own reactions to the events and the people in this small town. She suddenly found herself feeling what a heroine might feel like…or as she put it “Inspiration struck me like a fish to the head." 😂 She was literally living out her story.
"Book Cam and Real-Life Cam were one and the same." 🤭
I also loved Zoey and Hazel’s friendship. Lucy writes strong female bonds so well and this was the perfect example of that. Zoey was fighting Hazel’s corner all the way 😌
“This is the first time in two years that I’ve seen a spark of anything in that woman’s eyes. And if you manage to put it out by being a gigantic, grumpy man-bear baby, I will destroy your life.” 🙌🏽💖
Although this book is filled with hilarious moments, there is actually some wisdom to be found among the pages. And, I very much appreciated the disability representation. “The worst thing that ever happened to you is still the worst thing that ever happened to you. You don’t have to feel guilty that something even worse didn’t happen." - truth 🤌🏽
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a lot of fun and a unique concept. As usual, I adored the small-town vibes; and this one had an extra cuteness factor, including a baby pig named peaches 🐷 The characters and storyline were both well thought out and had a great depth to them. My main complaint about this book is that it definitely did not need to be 600 pages long. Having said that, I was thoroughly entertained. The banter between these big personalities was next level funny. I would highly recommend if you are looking for a good heartwarming laugh. And, I look forward to seeing what the sequel will bring for Hazel and the gang…
“Life is messy, and it doesn’t always look good to others on the outside. But going after what you want is more important than making strangers more comfortable.” 🙌🏽💖✨
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
So many laughs. So many emotions. So much fun.
Hazel is a famous rom-com writer that has lost her mojo. Divorced and being forced out of her Upper East Side apartment, she is given a final warning from her publisher. If she doesn’t hit her deadline she is out. No job. No partner. No house. Everything changes when she impulsively buys a house in a small-town in Pennsylvania. She quickly leaves the big city behind for the rural town of Story Lake, hoping to rediscover her love for writing by immersing herself in small-town life. Seems reasonable…that is until she arrives and the shenanigans unfolds. Her new run-down house looks like the haunted house no one lets their kids go trick-or-treating at. It even comes with its own raccoon. But, she does find one thing that sparks her interest 🤐 In the interest of research alone, what harm can be done with having a little fun with her hot, grumpy contractor Cam and his animal-rescuing, community-involved family.
Despite loving the premise behind this story, it took me a while to warm up to both the characters and the setting. I thought I would become instantly engaged given the small-town cozy vibes and the humorous nature of these characters, but something just wasn’t clicking into place 🤷🏻♀️
Nevertheless, I kept reading because it was still mildly entertaining, and I am happy to say that it paid off 😅
Around the 30% mark, just as Hazel was getting her novel writing powers back, something changed and suddenly, I was totally invested in the story.
Hazel is SUCH a likeable and relatable character. You can’t help but like her. In the words of Cam: “Hazel Hart made it impossible not to like her. Believe me, I’d tried." She is just one of those naturally funny people, and comes across as being very down to earth.
And, let me tell you, there were some absolutely hilarious scenes in this book 🤣 SO original and laugh out loud funny! When an emergency town meeting is held against Hazel, and she stands up to say "Your eagle hit me in the head with a fish and made me crash into your sign. I didn’t come here to kill birds or destroy your town. And I certainly didn’t come here to get potatoes thrown at me by a bunch of strangers.” I couldn’t help but laugh 🤭 The humour in this book really sets this book out among the rest.
It was so fun to see how Hazel’s writing abilities retuned as she witnessed her own reactions to the events and the people in this small town. She suddenly found herself feeling what a heroine might feel like…or as she put it “Inspiration struck me like a fish to the head." 😂 She was literally living out her story.
"Book Cam and Real-Life Cam were one and the same." 🤭
I also loved Zoey and Hazel’s friendship. Lucy writes strong female bonds so well and this was the perfect example of that. Zoey was fighting Hazel’s corner all the way 😌
“This is the first time in two years that I’ve seen a spark of anything in that woman’s eyes. And if you manage to put it out by being a gigantic, grumpy man-bear baby, I will destroy your life.” 🙌🏽💖
Although this book is filled with hilarious moments, there is actually some wisdom to be found among the pages. And, I very much appreciated the disability representation. “The worst thing that ever happened to you is still the worst thing that ever happened to you. You don’t have to feel guilty that something even worse didn’t happen." - truth 🤌🏽
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a lot of fun and a unique concept. As usual, I adored the small-town vibes; and this one had an extra cuteness factor, including a baby pig named peaches 🐷 The characters and storyline were both well thought out and had a great depth to them. My main complaint about this book is that it definitely did not need to be 600 pages long. Having said that, I was thoroughly entertained. The banter between these big personalities was next level funny. I would highly recommend if you are looking for a good heartwarming laugh. And, I look forward to seeing what the sequel will bring for Hazel and the gang…
“Life is messy, and it doesn’t always look good to others on the outside. But going after what you want is more important than making strangers more comfortable.” 🙌🏽💖✨
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
August 9, 2025
I loved this book! I can't wait to read more from Lucy Score! 💕 this was a fun buddy read to do with Uswah! I loved talking about what was going on and how wr felt about everything!
March 14, 2025
I loved Lucy Scores Knockemout series… which is why I can’t believe the same author wrote this book. She’s a great writer, no doubt, that’s the reason for the two stars.
I’m so sorry to say that this was one of the silliest over the top ridiculous books I have ever read.
It wasn’t funny, it was silly. I felt like Hazel constantly needed a shower, the author made her sound gross.
Cam.. the love interest had no personality. He treated her like shit from the beginning like.. you just need calm the hell down. The only bit of personality I saw was in the last 5% of the book coming from him.
The whole Gilmore Girls small town vibe was there with their meetings but the way they went after Hazel calling her a bird killer and the whole sewage thing was just… so so ridiculous! Everyone there was over the top I was pulling my hair out.
If you loved this book great, but unfortunately this was not for me. 🥲
I’m so sorry to say that this was one of the silliest over the top ridiculous books I have ever read.
It wasn’t funny, it was silly. I felt like Hazel constantly needed a shower, the author made her sound gross.
Cam.. the love interest had no personality. He treated her like shit from the beginning like.. you just need calm the hell down. The only bit of personality I saw was in the last 5% of the book coming from him.
The whole Gilmore Girls small town vibe was there with their meetings but the way they went after Hazel calling her a bird killer and the whole sewage thing was just… so so ridiculous! Everyone there was over the top I was pulling my hair out.
If you loved this book great, but unfortunately this was not for me. 🥲
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2025
I’ve read a few of Lucy Score’s earlier books and enjoyed them which led me to picking up her newest release. While I had a good time throughout the first third of this, mostly grinning or straight up laughing, the more I got of the MMC, Cam, the less I started to enjoy myself. The decline continued until I just started skimming because once an MC loses me, it’s difficult to come back.
Things I Enjoyed:
📖 Hazel - (For the most part) She brought some solid humor to the story, which is why I really enjoyed the first third. I would’ve loved to see her stand up for herself a bit more, though.
📖 Zoey - The bestie who is also a hot mess, but her banter with Hazel was fun and I appreciated her loyalty.
📖 The Bishop Family, minus Cam - I adored Gage, and Levi had me intrigued. The parents were sweet, and my heart hurt for Laura.
📖 The Quick Humor - This was prominent early on and then more sporadic as the story progressed.
📖 Story Lake - Definitely had its quirks but charmed me more often than not.
Things I Struggled With:
🚩 Cam - I am very particular about the kind of grump I enjoy in the grumpy/sunshine trope. There’s the endearing kind and the asshole kind, and I am not a fan of the latter. Sadly, Cam fell into that category which also made it difficult for me to fully root for the romance between him and Hazel. The jealousy, hotheadedness, and cruel words spewed so that he wasn’t alone in feeling hurt were too immature for me. Granted, he does call himself out and apologize (“I’ve been acting like a thirty-eight-year-old teenage idiot.”) and his brother calls him on it, too (“You can’t pull the pigtails of a girl you like and expect her to like you back, dumbass.”), but his apology veered more towards having a goal of getting her back into bed rather than him appearing genuinely apologetic for his behavior. And the fact that he said and did some hurtful things twice in one book, yikes.
🚩 The Romance - There wasn’t a whole lot of substance to it other than lust, sex, and frequent references to how amazing the “power tool” is between Cam’s legs.
🚩 The Ending - The book was a three-star read for me up until the ending when the third-act (like 89% into the story) breakup happened and was “resolved.” Cam’s grand gesture, among other behaviors, were big red flags to me. He doesn’t seem to really ever give Hazel a choice in anything involving their relationship, and that irked me.
🚩 Some Dialogue - How some things unfolded with the town’s feud with the neighboring community were very dramatic, and not in a good way.
I haven’t decided if I’m going to read the second book yet. Since Cam won’t be the MMC, and I loved Gage, I’m hopeful I’ll be more excited about the romance and root for the characters, unlike with the situation here.
Things I Enjoyed:
📖 Hazel - (For the most part) She brought some solid humor to the story, which is why I really enjoyed the first third. I would’ve loved to see her stand up for herself a bit more, though.
📖 Zoey - The bestie who is also a hot mess, but her banter with Hazel was fun and I appreciated her loyalty.
📖 The Bishop Family, minus Cam - I adored Gage, and Levi had me intrigued. The parents were sweet, and my heart hurt for Laura.
📖 The Quick Humor - This was prominent early on and then more sporadic as the story progressed.
📖 Story Lake - Definitely had its quirks but charmed me more often than not.
Things I Struggled With:
🚩 Cam - I am very particular about the kind of grump I enjoy in the grumpy/sunshine trope. There’s the endearing kind and the asshole kind, and I am not a fan of the latter. Sadly, Cam fell into that category which also made it difficult for me to fully root for the romance between him and Hazel. The jealousy, hotheadedness, and cruel words spewed so that he wasn’t alone in feeling hurt were too immature for me. Granted, he does call himself out and apologize (“I’ve been acting like a thirty-eight-year-old teenage idiot.”) and his brother calls him on it, too (“You can’t pull the pigtails of a girl you like and expect her to like you back, dumbass.”), but his apology veered more towards having a goal of getting her back into bed rather than him appearing genuinely apologetic for his behavior. And the fact that he said and did some hurtful things twice in one book, yikes.
🚩 The Romance - There wasn’t a whole lot of substance to it other than lust, sex, and frequent references to how amazing the “power tool” is between Cam’s legs.
🚩 The Ending - The book was a three-star read for me up until the ending when the third-act (like 89% into the story) breakup happened and was “resolved.” Cam’s grand gesture, among other behaviors, were big red flags to me. He doesn’t seem to really ever give Hazel a choice in anything involving their relationship, and that irked me.
🚩 Some Dialogue - How some things unfolded with the town’s feud with the neighboring community were very dramatic, and not in a good way.
I haven’t decided if I’m going to read the second book yet. Since Cam won’t be the MMC, and I loved Gage, I’m hopeful I’ll be more excited about the romance and root for the characters, unlike with the situation here.
March 29, 2025
This book is a romantic comedy between two complete opposites. They do say opposites attract! This is a grumpy and sunshine banter. I loved the small town vibes, the characters, the humor and the wittiness. Even though the main male character was grumpy, I seemed to like him better because she was annoying at times.
She is an author that is looking for inspiration to write her next book and he is her inspiration. She had recently got divorced, so wasn’t looking for anything serious right away. However, he couldn’t help but falling in love with her. This book seemed like it dragged on for me. Furthermore, it was very predictable and felt unoriginal. I did find this to be a reasonable read. I rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
She is an author that is looking for inspiration to write her next book and he is her inspiration. She had recently got divorced, so wasn’t looking for anything serious right away. However, he couldn’t help but falling in love with her. This book seemed like it dragged on for me. Furthermore, it was very predictable and felt unoriginal. I did find this to be a reasonable read. I rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
March 8, 2025
Hazel + Cam
Hazel is a pretty famous rom-com author.
At least she used to be until two years ago. It all has to do with her idiot ex. And now she's not writing anything. She can't come up with anything people would want to read.
She's just hanging around her apartment in dirty pajamas, eating chinese take out and staring at her laptop. Her fans are giving up on her and if she can't deliver a new book asap, her publisher is going to give up on her too.
Things have to change.
Off we go from NYC to rural Pennsylvania.
Maybe a small town and a fixer upper house will spark some small-town-rom-com ideas.
And a bunch of super hot handymen won't hurt either...
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN....
════════════════
Adorable and super fun!
I just loved reading this.
This was what every little small town rom com wants to be when it grows up!
Lucy knows exactly how to write those books. Small-town rom-com at its best.
I can't say much more. It was so funny and sweet and hilarious and ridiculous and sexy and a bit heartbreaking here and there. And we'll get two more stories because we have three Bishop brothers. It just doesn't get any better than that!
Also...this would make an amazing TV show!
And now please give me Gage!!
THE STORY OF MY LIFE was such a beautiful rom-com. Full of all things sweet. Funny. Adorable. Ridiculous. Grumpy. Small-towny. Family. Friends.
I loved it.
Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Cam - he'll be sold out in no time!
If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!
💜
💜
March 22, 2025
This was VERY schitts creek vibe and I’m obsessed with this small town!!! I can’t wait to continue to read more about this town and these characters! Lucy is just an absolute QUEEN with a grumpy man!!!
April 15, 2025
DNF
Sad! I do not enjoy Story of My Life at all. Somewhow I knew this book is not a match for me. Don't get me wrong. i like Miss Score's book before.
But not this one.
2 stars
Sad! I do not enjoy Story of My Life at all. Somewhow I knew this book is not a match for me. Don't get me wrong. i like Miss Score's book before.
But not this one.
2 stars
April 30, 2025
I liked the raccoon
dnf
April 6, 2025Sadly, I don't think it's the book for me, but it might be yours. Hope you enjoy it <3
DNF at 36%.
--------------
My first Lucy Score book, did I pick a good one to start with?
DNF at 36%.
--------------
My first Lucy Score book, did I pick a good one to start with?
August 26, 2025
2.5 stars
Not Lucy Score's best. The blurb teases Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek, well uh....I did not get Stars Hollow vibes at all here. In either setting or characters. Story Lake is a run down, nearly abandoned ghost town that the greatest conflict the author could scrape together for town "drama" is a sewage system upgrade being needed to save the town from getting bought out. A 5k marathon with a teenager running in a poop emoji mascot costume is the *highlight*. 😐 If you love small town zany shenanigans taking up page time in your CR stories, then this may not bother you but honestly it bored me silly. That and the couple here didn't really have much chemistry which is this book's biggest problem and had my attention waning.
Hazel Hart used to be a successful romcom author who has now hit a creative rut. She's struggling with her writing and coming off a nasty divorce and about to be kicked out of her Manhattan apartment so she's in dire need of inspiration and a fresh start. She finally has her yureka moment when she sees a random news article of a small town in Pennsylvania called Story Lake where an old historic house was saved by a family of carpenters, The Bishop Brothers. The fact that the picture of the hot brothers broke her year(?) long writer's block and motivated her to purchase the historic house online had warning bells going off in my head and is what made this story lose it's footing for me. She moves to Story Lake and seeks out brooding grump Campbell Bishop to help renovate her rundown house and use him as inspiration for her book hero. I don't know why but that bugged me and had me going 'meh'.
This is probably more a me thing than book thing but there's just something about main characters who are in the publishing/writing profession that for some reason isn’t exciting to read about. And I say this with complete respect and admiration for those in said professions, I love books! but reading about writing? Not fun. Or I just keep picking up the wrong books? I don't know. This is like my 4th book with this character trope and it's just not my thing. I'm not really sure if I will continue this series as the supporting ensemble cast wasn't all that memorable or inspiring either. The most exciting character in this book was Goose the bald eagle. Hazel's agent and BFF Zoey who had likable moments also annoyed me a bit with her histrionics about wild animals. Which felt SO over the top and stereotypical. I had such a visceral annoyance every time this woman shreaked hysterically over a damn animal. Good lord. I'm sorry but who fuck is terrified of birds and fish??! Ugh. This is exactly why people make fun of city girls. 😭🙄 The only Bishop brother that I found interesting was quiet ex-military brother Levi who is now I groaned out loud when his big "secret" came out. Another book about writing?
Lucy Score loves her some thick books but a CR small town romance about a "quirky" heroine's midlife crisis who is a terrible driver and likes to share with readers about her crotch sweat and sweaty armpits doesn't need to be a 577 page-long book. 🤷🏻♀️ Just saying. Some things can be said and done and wrapped up nicely in a 300 page count. But that's just me.
No but seriously, your heroine's profuse sweating doesn't need to be a thing. Please. Come up with something else to make her quirky and "relatable". I get it's summer humidity in a small town but I truly lost count how many times this woman sniffed her armpits and was drenched in sweat because she doesn't want to get a fucking car. (And no this has nothing to do with lifestyle choice or ability but more of the author trying really hard to create high jink comedic moments with her accident-prone heroine.) Also, why in the world did she keep referring to the hero's naughty bits as "genitalia"?? Absolutely not.
I don't know but this had none of the charm or easy humor that Score's Knockemout small town series had. Here everything felt forced. Including the heroine Hazel's people pleasing, helpless, panic-inducing, passive aggressive personality that came off more insufferable than charmingly quirky. Maybe the next book will be better. But I just can't help but ask what's left to write about here? Someone running the Nursing home that just opened up? 😬......
Not Lucy Score's best. The blurb teases Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek, well uh....I did not get Stars Hollow vibes at all here. In either setting or characters. Story Lake is a run down, nearly abandoned ghost town that the greatest conflict the author could scrape together for town "drama" is a sewage system upgrade being needed to save the town from getting bought out. A 5k marathon with a teenager running in a poop emoji mascot costume is the *highlight*. 😐 If you love small town zany shenanigans taking up page time in your CR stories, then this may not bother you but honestly it bored me silly. That and the couple here didn't really have much chemistry which is this book's biggest problem and had my attention waning.
Hazel Hart used to be a successful romcom author who has now hit a creative rut. She's struggling with her writing and coming off a nasty divorce and about to be kicked out of her Manhattan apartment so she's in dire need of inspiration and a fresh start. She finally has her yureka moment when she sees a random news article of a small town in Pennsylvania called Story Lake where an old historic house was saved by a family of carpenters, The Bishop Brothers. The fact that the picture of the hot brothers broke her year(?) long writer's block and motivated her to purchase the historic house online had warning bells going off in my head and is what made this story lose it's footing for me. She moves to Story Lake and seeks out brooding grump Campbell Bishop to help renovate her rundown house and use him as inspiration for her book hero. I don't know why but that bugged me and had me going 'meh'.
This is probably more a me thing than book thing but there's just something about main characters who are in the publishing/writing profession that for some reason isn’t exciting to read about. And I say this with complete respect and admiration for those in said professions, I love books! but reading about writing? Not fun. Or I just keep picking up the wrong books? I don't know. This is like my 4th book with this character trope and it's just not my thing. I'm not really sure if I will continue this series as the supporting ensemble cast wasn't all that memorable or inspiring either. The most exciting character in this book was Goose the bald eagle. Hazel's agent and BFF Zoey who had likable moments also annoyed me a bit with her histrionics about wild animals. Which felt SO over the top and stereotypical. I had such a visceral annoyance every time this woman shreaked hysterically over a damn animal. Good lord. I'm sorry but who fuck is terrified of birds and fish??! Ugh. This is exactly why people make fun of city girls. 😭🙄 The only Bishop brother that I found interesting was quiet ex-military brother Levi who is now I groaned out loud when his big "secret" came out. Another book about writing?
Lucy Score loves her some thick books but a CR small town romance about a "quirky" heroine's midlife crisis who is a terrible driver and likes to share with readers about her crotch sweat and sweaty armpits doesn't need to be a 577 page-long book. 🤷🏻♀️ Just saying. Some things can be said and done and wrapped up nicely in a 300 page count. But that's just me.
No but seriously, your heroine's profuse sweating doesn't need to be a thing. Please. Come up with something else to make her quirky and "relatable". I get it's summer humidity in a small town but I truly lost count how many times this woman sniffed her armpits and was drenched in sweat because she doesn't want to get a fucking car. (And no this has nothing to do with lifestyle choice or ability but more of the author trying really hard to create high jink comedic moments with her accident-prone heroine.) Also, why in the world did she keep referring to the hero's naughty bits as "genitalia"?? Absolutely not.
I don't know but this had none of the charm or easy humor that Score's Knockemout small town series had. Here everything felt forced. Including the heroine Hazel's people pleasing, helpless, panic-inducing, passive aggressive personality that came off more insufferable than charmingly quirky. Maybe the next book will be better. But I just can't help but ask what's left to write about here? Someone running the Nursing home that just opened up? 😬......
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