A review by madeline
Take Me Home by Melanie Sweeney

  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

this book was kind of a surprise to me: the road trip is about 5% of the plot (a great 5%! just only 5%) and the bulk of it is the two main characters in their hometown for CHRISTMAS. no mention of christmas in the blurb, and yet this is most definitely a christmas book!

the characterization was a little inconsistent - they're both 23 and read much more like 33, both jaded and tired, and i will say that i wasn't totally sold on the conflicts between the two of them, particularly hazel's feelings towards ash.

and yet! it was fun. they're very cute together, and ash is a delightful golden retriever. i loved watching hazel find her place in her new stepfamily, and ash's family is also very fun. i think i'm giving this a little leeway because it's a christmas book and i just feel like they get more of that, but still definitely recommend. no idea why christmas isn't mentioned in the back copy or why it's being published in july, though.

thank you gp putnam and edelweiss for the arc!