[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Thanks to some unexpected twists in an otherwise ordinary day, Rosie finds herself center state on the live quiz show One Big Question. And she’s done an amazing job. She’s down to her final lifeline – calling someone from her speed dial – on the final question. That final question is about dinosaurs. And Rosie’s boyfriend is a paleobiologist!
When she calls to ask him the “big question,” he interrupts her and breaks up with her on live television. Stunned, she still asks the dinosaur question which he answers. In one moment, she loses her boyfriend, wins £50,000, and goes viral.
The next day isn’t much better. Her social media has blown up in awful ways. Her ex feels entitled to some of her winnings. And a catty co-worker is chomping at the bit to write a newspaper article about her shame. The one bright spot is the flower arrangement on her doorstep. The unsigned card says, “I love you. I should never have let you go. I want you back.”
Thinking maybe her future can be found in her past, Rosie decides to track down all her exes and see who sent the flowers. Maybe he’s someone she wants back, too.
Review
This has a great premise, and it’s well executed. I enjoyed Rosie. The journey back to past relationships has been done before, and I love the trope. I enjoyed how it played out in this book. I didn’t expect the bulk of this to focus on only two of her past relationships (the other 3 were addressed early on) and to take place on a cruise ship. But the cruise pieces were fantastic. I enjoy cruise stories. And there’s a great balance here with the travel experience and Rosie’s re-connections with her exes. The main story stayed the main story, but there were delightful – and some aggravating – side stories that kept me engaged in the journey.
The characters really made this story for me. The gay-best friend can feel cliched, but I liked Rosie’s relationship with Eli. He was a good “wing-man” at times and a sounding board for her as she processed her past and her present. Rosie’s parents on the cruise were a hoot! I adored them.
If you enjoy stories with fun, quirky characters, be sure to check this one out. There are some great lines and some laugh-out-loud moments. And at the time of this writing, the book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. (Language, LGBTQ+)