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A review by ninegladiolus
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The second book in Ashley Herring Blake’s Bright Falls series, Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail revisits the town of Bright Falls, this time following perfectionist Astrid Parker.
A year ago, Astrid broke up with her fiancé, refocusing on her design career and diving headfirst into as many projects as she can. Change comes when Astrid is asked to be the lead interior designer for the beloved Everwood Inn; even better, the renovation will be filmed for the show Innside America, which will prove once and for all Astrid still has it together after all. Except Jordan Everwood, granddaughter of Everwood Inn’s owner and carpenter hates every decision Astrid makes, and while the producers love the animosity and want it played up for the cameras, it eventually turns into something much more complicated than design disagreement.
Astrid was my favourite character in Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, so when I heard she would be the focus of her own book, I was over the moon. Getting to peel back the layers of complexity behind Astrid’s polished front was an emotional, engaging journey full of catharsis. Her flaws were as highlighted as her strengths and it made her a compelling character to follow. It’s always a pleasure for me to read books where a character comes into their queerness later in life and that part of Astrid’s journey was so well handled.
Jordan was great as well; her character arc took some surprising turns as it was revealed, which is rare for me in romance novels. Her headstrong personality and soft center really worked for me. I appreciate that she felt like a strong character in her own right and didn’t compromise on her visions.
A few things weren’t for me in this. What I loved about Delilah Green was the complex friend and family relationships, but in Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail, they didn’t get nearly as much screen time. I was looking forward to more interaction between Astrid and Delilah in particular, especially given the way the last novel ended, but it was pretty lacking. There was also—stop me if you’ve heard this one before—a bit too much reliance on miscommunication for my liking as far as the central romance conflict.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, sweet, and spicy romance read that I still highly recommend. I can’t wait to see what else Ashley Herring Blake brings us in the Bright Falls universe.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
A year ago, Astrid broke up with her fiancé, refocusing on her design career and diving headfirst into as many projects as she can. Change comes when Astrid is asked to be the lead interior designer for the beloved Everwood Inn; even better, the renovation will be filmed for the show Innside America, which will prove once and for all Astrid still has it together after all. Except Jordan Everwood, granddaughter of Everwood Inn’s owner and carpenter hates every decision Astrid makes, and while the producers love the animosity and want it played up for the cameras, it eventually turns into something much more complicated than design disagreement.
Astrid was my favourite character in Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, so when I heard she would be the focus of her own book, I was over the moon. Getting to peel back the layers of complexity behind Astrid’s polished front was an emotional, engaging journey full of catharsis. Her flaws were as highlighted as her strengths and it made her a compelling character to follow. It’s always a pleasure for me to read books where a character comes into their queerness later in life and that part of Astrid’s journey was so well handled.
Jordan was great as well; her character arc took some surprising turns as it was revealed, which is rare for me in romance novels. Her headstrong personality and soft center really worked for me. I appreciate that she felt like a strong character in her own right and didn’t compromise on her visions.
A few things weren’t for me in this. What I loved about Delilah Green was the complex friend and family relationships, but in Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail, they didn’t get nearly as much screen time. I was looking forward to more interaction between Astrid and Delilah in particular, especially given the way the last novel ended, but it was pretty lacking. There was also—stop me if you’ve heard this one before—a bit too much reliance on miscommunication for my liking as far as the central romance conflict.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, sweet, and spicy romance read that I still highly recommend. I can’t wait to see what else Ashley Herring Blake brings us in the Bright Falls universe.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.