I’ve now read a few books by Kerry Winfrey and I think I’ve figured out why I struggle with her books. Nothing that happens feels fully earned. One kiss and/or one night together that then is immediately ruined by a “third act breakup” is not a story line I truly want to read/be a part of. We spend so many pages with the main characters dancing around them maybe thinking they have feelings for each other and then for the entire “relationship” to play out in just a few pages, which is incredibly frustrating. I also feel like somehow, through her writing, I root for the men, not the women. Which is frustrating. I should minimally be rooting for them both. 

In this book specifically, I think I found the fact that Hank was a single dad to be more of a trope rather than an actual part of his characterization. And the characterization of Sandy is almost non existent. Her main characteristic is that she didn’t get into the college she wanted on a technicality, and then ruined her own life. And it makes her hard to root for.

I did like the flash backs to their prior relationship. I think that’s such a great way to invest us in the second chance aspect of the story. And I think the cutesy Star Hollow vibe of Baileyville was also so cute. But the love story just didn’t work for me entirely.