Take Two, Birdie Maxwell

by Allison Winn Scotch

Hollywood’s biggest rom-com star tries to recover from her damaged reputation by staging her own rom-com and following a lead on a lost love.
 
Birdie Maxwell thought she’d gotten everything she wanted out of life: fame, adoration, and an A-list Hollywood career. But after an on-set feud goes viral, she leaves L.A. for the one place no one would think to find her: her hometown. There, she’s startled to stumble upon a love letter from a former boyfriend asking for a second chance--but there’s just one problem: the letter was unsigned and she’s not sure which ex sent it. Still, a public reunion with an ex-boyfriend could turn the wave of public opinion back in her favor. Life imitating art. What could go wrong? 

Elliot O’Brien, star reporter, knows life isn’t an actual rom-com. Case in point: He’s spent two decades suppressing his long-simmering feelings for his twin sister’s best friend, Birdie. But with his journalism career cratering and Birdie back in their hometown at the same time he is, he realizes chronicling her search for her long-ago ex may be his opportunity to right some wrongs.

As they hit the road in an ancient RV, Birdie and Elliot retrace her romantic history for clues as to who wrote the letter and come face to face with their own romantic missteps, all while grappling with whether happy endings are found only on the big screen--or whether their own happily-ever-after could be closer than they both ever imagined.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult, Rom Com

367 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2024

About the author

I'm the bestselling author of eight novels including, CLEO MCDOUGAL REGRETS NOTHING, IN TWENTY YEARS and TIME OF MY LIFE, currently in development at Sony. My latest book, THE REWIND, will be released in Nov 2022 by Berkley Books.

As an author, I know how brutal reviews can be, so I'll only post about books I've enjoyed. (Just in case you're wondering why all of my reviews are positive!)

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter, as Birdie Maxwell sprinted away from paparazzi, her reputation going up in flames in a viral video. Returning to her hometown with her pride wounded, she found herself at her parents' doorstep, only to be met by her estranged sister who greeted her with a resounding slap. The comedic irony had me bursting into laughter, and I instantly connected with Birdie's anti-heroine spirit as she attempted her rogue entrance into her childhood home, only to be swiftly apprehended by her sister in her transformed Airbnb guest room.

Her parents were on sabbatical, and her less-than-enthusiastic sister was ready to donate the remnants of Birdie's belongings to Goodwill, dismissing her unread emails. Birdie's reputation had taken a hit after confronting a director's inappropriate behavior, and her pleas for justice were ignored, even by her longtime lover who happened to be the director's brother. Left to shoulder the blame and labeled the scapegoat, she yearned for redemption and a chance to repair her image as America's sweetheart.

As fate would have it, Birdie crossed paths with her childhood crush and a reunion with her best friend, Mona, at a dive bar. Elliott O'Brian, a successful reporter covering war zones, was grappling with his own professional struggles and reputation woes. Birdie needed a story to salvage her image, and an unexpected love letter addressed to her family home became the key. Their journey unraveled a tale of second chances, unrequited love, and undeniable chemistry as they embarked on a road trip filled with mishaps, miscommunication, and unexpected discoveries.

Caught in Mona's RV, the duo ventured to various locales, from a delectable chef's restaurant to the opulent realm of a casino hotel owner. Despite their shared past, there were unspoken feelings and unresolved tensions that held them back from embracing their emotions. The narrative seamlessly blended enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes, though there were moments when I wished the characters would shed their stubbornness and reveal their true sentiments.

While I may have deducted half a star due to these instances and an early unraveling of the secret admirer mystery, ( I found as I reached the middle) the book remained irresistibly addictive, entertaining, and an exemplar of the romantic comedy genre. In my final verdict, I'm rounding up my rating from 4.5 to a solid 5 stars, all in the hope that Birdie Maxwell finds her well-deserved happily ever after.

A heartfelt expression of gratitude to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for extending the opportunity to immerse myself in this delightful digital reviewer copy in exchange for my candid thoughts.

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[Emily H · Rating 3 out of 5]

rom com characters will pine for seven years, tank their acting/journalistic careers, and go on a zany, last-ditch road trip to mend their reputations before talking about their feelings

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rom-com within a rom-com within a rom-com. Birdie Maxwell. Elliot O’Brien. Both have a need for professional salvation - Birdie, to restore her damaged reputation, Elliot to get back in good graces with his editor and to salvage his career as a reporter. As America's Sweetheart, Birdie always got her guy. However, her acting career is crashing quickly. Elliot is not doing so great himself professionally.

At some point, Birdie received an anonymous letter from someone not only saying they are not only her ex, but that they want a second chance. Birdie's publicist Imani knows exactly how to spin this situation to Birdie's advantage. Meanwhile, forced to flee back to her hometown, Birdie reconnects with her best friend Mona. Birdie also runs into Mona's twin brother Elliot, the one man Birdie never once stopped thinking about. As things turn out, Elliot needs to play an advantage as well. Just as Imani wants to use the letter when it comes to Birdie's career, Elliot's editor Francesca has a pitch of her own - or so it seems.

This second-chance romance takes the word trope to a new level. With Imani and Francesca each puppeteering their clients, Birdie and Elliot take flight on a whirlwind jaunt with hopes of finding the author of that anonymous letter. Both of their careers can be catapulted during this search - but there is a catch. And it is a big one at that. Both Birdie and Elliot have real feelings for one another - yet neither is prepared to own up to those feelings.

So, traveling in an old RV, with stop after stop, Birdie and Elliot are revisiting her past loves to see if they authored that letter. With family and friends who have the best of intentions, only time will tell whether or not Birdie and Elliot will find their way to each other, and find the true happiness that has eluded them for nearly two decades.

Do you love tropes as much as I do? Well, then definitely do not pass up Take Two, Birdie Maxwell. This was a truly delightful read, with charming characters and an equally charming plot. This book brought smile after smile to my face, even when I deduced the twist, but the book still gained great favor from me, earning a well-deserved 5 Star rating.

Many thanks to Berkley Romance and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Magaly | Catchy Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick listen. I went into it with an open mind expecting something light and that’s pretty much what I got. I wish Birdie (FMC) and Elliot (MMC) had had an honest conversation because that’s all it would have taken to resolve the romantic conflict. However, the book was as much a self-growth journey for Birdie as it was a romance and I think she did need the experiences of the novel to come to terms with who she was and what she wanted.

Read if you like:
🚐 Road trip romance
💕 Second chance romance
📸 Celebrity romance
✌🏻 Dual POV

Rating: 3.25/5

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

TAKE TWO, BIRDIE MAXWELL is without a doubt one of my top funniest books I’ve read in 2024 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. My heart broke for Birdie when she cut Elliot loose. I laughed and cried with this story and wanted to shake Birdie and Elliot quite a few times. Has the public had enough of America’s queen of Rom-com or can Birdie win them back with her quest to find the writer of the love letter? Allison Winn Scotch sure can hook the reader with her stories! I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart-tugging author. I have some of her older books to read and that brings me so much joy and happiness to know they are waiting for me!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

You can find my full review on Fresh Fiction at:

https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...

[Sam I AMNreader]

I've made it to 40% & above on SO MANY DNFs.

I liked this a lot at first and then it fell apart. I found myself not reading instead of picking this up. I couldn't really buy the emotional connection - and you know I love my imperfect characters or even unlikable characters, but these ones were hard to root for?

Just completely off for me and some writing choices kept pulling me out..

[Jessica Paige (Exercise_Read_Repeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actress Birdie Maxwell returns back to her small hometown after a PR disaster. She finds a mysterious love letter sent a few years prior and recruits her best friend’s brother Elliot (and the boy she’s loved unrequitedly) to help her find her past loves and see who sent it. This is a win-win for Elliot too as he is a journalist and needs a story like this to save his career.

There is a lot of depth packed into this rom com but at its core, I loved how it centered on Birdie’s self discovery alongside her second chance romance with Elliot. The witty banter and laughable drama, especially with the RV, gave this story the lighthearted vibe I was looking for and the audiobook, narrated by Helen Laser and Andrew Eiden and Dan Bittner, as a great listen. Of note, as someone who is very direct with their feelings, some of the lack of communication pulled me away from the story.

Read if you like:
-Best friend’s brother
-Road trip
-Hollywood romance
-Actress x journalist
-Only one bed

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Take Two, Birdie Maxwell. It's a fun story that makes me glad I am not a celebrity. I loved the dual perspectives and the journey that Birdie and Elliot took throughout the novel. I found myself cringing at times and grinning a lot. I also loved the flashbacks to their high school days. 

I really liked the feel of adventure in this novel. So many different challenges came up for Birdie and Elliot and sometimes they ended up being on the run from paparazzi. There were also some misunderstandings that led to more bumps in the road. Both characters were entertaining and I enjoyed their banter. 

This novel made me think about how I handled some past relationships and what I maybe should have done better, but the past is in the past. I'm just glad I never received a letter like the one Birdie got, which led her on this wild goose chase in the first place. I was also frustrated that everyone believed the director over Birdie so easily, especially in the era of #MeToo. I don't blame her for speaking up either, even though it came at such a high cost to her career. And as I said before, I am glad I am not a celebrity because I wouldn't want people in my business like that all the time. This was emphasized even more when I recently watched The Princess Diaries for the first time in many years.

Overall, this is a charming story to add to your TBR in early March!

Movie casting suggestions:

Birdie: Lyndsy Fonseca

Elliot: Skylar Astin

Mona: Anna Hopkins

Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year, I read The Rewind by Allison Winn Scotch and really did not enjoy it due to the unbearably toxic and unlikable characters. And to be honest, the characters here aren't ones I'd label as universally likeable either. But gosh, I still adored them and their love story!

Birdie Maxwell is a bit of a mess. But being in the spotlight as an A-list celebrity, I think her deep sense of loneliness helped counteract her selfishness in an endearing way. Overnight her reputation as America's Sweetheart plummets. Hoping to salvage her career with some positive publicity, Birdie embarks on a road trip to find the sender of an anonymous love letter (which had an ending I did not expect, I must add).

Joining her on the RV ride is journalist Elliot O'Brien, equally desperate to save his career ... and also the twin brother of Birdie's best friend. I felt the chemistry immediately! I loved the deep mutual longing hidden beneath years of complicated history. And yes, there is A LOT of miscommunication between Birdie and Elliot, which I usually loathe, but somehow it just worked well for me here. This story found me at the right time, I guess! I'm glad I gave Allison Winn Scotch another try!

(heat level: one open-door scene, moderate details)

[Angela Staudt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love this one as much as I wanted to, I think it was because I couldn't connect to any of the characters. I was very excited for the whole second chance romance, and the whole plot sounded great, but I finished it and felt okay about the whole book. I think if this would have been shorter it definitely would have kept my interest throughout the book.

Alot of this book felt immature on both characters parts and I just couldn't get myself to truly love the characters.

It still had some great parts and I loved the ending which is what saved it for me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did like this book better than The Rewind. I'm keeping the rating as 3 stars, although it was close to 3.5.

Never have I ever read a book where the two love interests couldn't get out of their own way. The second chance romance isn't just a romance but built on a friendship growing up before Birdie becomes America's sweetheart. I was picturing Jen Garner as Birdie, although her relationships were maybe just as messy. It's obvious from the beginning that Elliott and Birdie need the exercise of searching for the writer of the anonymous love letter to find their way back to each other. Birdie was castigated for going off on a lecherous director, whose brother she secretly dated.

I pictured Ian as the actor from the Bear, who was also on Shameless. I adored Mona and Andie as the siblings. The story itself was written well, but Birdie and Elliott frustrated me at times. Also, it was CHEETOS, how do you mix up that one distinctive finger licking cheesy snack with doritos?

3.25/5☆ get it from the library.

[Jodi Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I didn’t realize second chance romances set in Hollywood were an entire genre of books until I kept reading them. The Reunion. The Daydreams. How to Fake it In Hollywood. Will they or won’t they. (I’m sure there or many more in this genre I just made up).

This one, well this one is one of the best. Such incredible characters. Such a fun read. You can’t put it down and it harkens back to Notting Hill. I absolutely loved it. I’ve been reading Alison Winn Scotch since she started and this is one of her best.

[Brenda Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this hot mess, reflecting on past loves rom com. Great humor, reality and loved the banter between Elliot and Birdie. The highlight for me was the growth for both Elliot and Birdie; Birdie - totally clueless and unplugged from real life is forced to evaluate herself and her hurtful interactions. Elliot's job is on the line - due to his believe he does it best and is the best.
A very well done review the past and how can I grow from this plot.

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really coming around to second chance romance, and Take Two, Birdie Maxwell was second chance with a Hollywood twist as celebrity romcom star, Birdie, heads back home to sort her life out. It was another fun read that was so funny, and I once again paired the book with the audio format, and was happy to see it had a multiple narration cast along with a new fave, by Helen Laser.

*many thanks to Berkley Romance, Netgalley and PRH Audio for the gifted copy for review

[Terra Clotfelter G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to write about this book. I listened to it to keep from doing housework in silence, but it wasn’t extremely engaging. I did like the idea for the plot.

[Emily - whatemilysreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

What kept me reading was the the second-chance childhood friends of it all. Other than that, this book missed the mark for me. I ended up skimming the last third or so.

I never really felt the chemistry between Birdie and Elliot, and I had a hard time liking Birdie for most of the book. The book didn’t flow for me - like I could feel the author trying really hard to write a compelling story.

I really liked The Rewind by AWS, so a lot of what didn’t work for me here surprised me. There felt like too many elements in Birdie’s backstory, or the story structure made it harder to understand than it should have. The Rewind had a back-and-forth element and I thought she executed it so well. This story doesn’t have time jumps like The Rewind, but it felt clunkier. The Rewind was also all nostalgia vibes - Birdie Maxwell didn’t give me any kind of atmosphere to sink into.

I really wanted to like this one but it just really wasn’t it for me.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Are you serious? This whole thing ends at a magic show????? Grow up!!! Use your words you babies!!

“ I don’t think even the best screenwriter in the industry could’ve crafted this”

No! Hallmark doesn’t want this one!!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take Two, Birdie Maxwell is wonderful. Not only is it heartfelt, humorous but it's about self-discovery and being honest with those around you. How misunderstands left cleared up end up festering for years. Birdie is at the height of her career as the darling of film, when she lays into a beloved director and it's caught on film. Except instead of the public backing her up, it goes against her even though she is in the right. So, Birdie goes home with her tail between her legs only to find things are exactly great there either. As she goes through boxes of her stuff from her room, she runs across a letter that she's never seen and it turns out to be someone declaring their undying love for her. Birdie figures what better way to get back into the good graces of the public than to find who wrote her the letter.

This is where Elliot enters the story. As a journalist, Birdie feels he is the right person to join her on this journey because he'll make her look good but also she just wants some company. One has to ask though, is this the best decision given their history?

I loved how the POVs were from both Birdie and Elliot; it was important to get their perspectives on their connected history. One of the best things I think for Birdie was that things weren't exactly how she always remembered them; that the other person might have experienced things a little differently than her. Unfortunately, all of this is front and center and it doesn't make Birdie look good all the time.

I did love seeing how Birdie was able to reflect on her past and have some revelations about her behavior. I absolutely loved the ending and what led to the big reveal. There are a lot of laugh out loud parts in the book as well.

Ms. Scotch will continue to be an auto-buy author for me and I look forward to reading what she writes next.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this if you like:
•Best friends brother
•Celebrity romance
•Road trips
•Second Chance romance

Birdie is in a bit of a PR disaster and it forces her to reexamine her life. It gives her a chance to figure out what matters to her and go back to her roots of things she’s lost touch with. Along the way Elliot (a ONS and her best friends brother) gets involved to write a story about her.

This was a fun one! Thank you PRH audio for the audiobook!

[Jamie Feuerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing and has this in my tbr for a while so I wanted to read it as a reward for reading a not romcom but was fairly disappointed. I really didn’t like Birdie and thought she and Elliot honestly deserved each other. She was so immature and constantly making terrible decisions. Both of them needed to stop acting like teenagers and communicate like the 34 year olds they are. I’m such a childhood friends to lovers fan and loved the long time pining, it’s always been you dynamic, but paired with the serious lack of communication it wasn’t as fun.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew from the start that I would enjoy this book and I was right. I love second chance romances and I definitely rooted for Birdie especially but also for Elliot. The only thing that would make this even better is a bonus chapter because I want to read more about their HEA. I think I need to reread this book now.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

These two really need to learn how to communicate. All their issues would be resolved in one simple conversation if they would just TALK TO EACH OTHER.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on audio. It was very entertaining. I’d give it four stars but I’m trying to be more discerning with my stars allotment.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Her writing was all over the place and felt sloppy and I didn't like any of the characters. I liked her last book but this one was disappointing. I kept going, hoping it would redeem itself in the end but that also fell flat, in how it played out.

It almost seemed like this wasn't read/edited before publishing, there were holes in the story line and stuff that didn't make sense... Example Birdie to Elliott: "He (Ian) was my first love, you know!?..." literally the next page, "Elliott wanted to ask her if Ian was her first love but..." who missed that? And there were times it would flip from past to present without a segue, and I had to stop and go back to reread to try to make sense of it. Took me a while to finish it bc it felt like work instead of reading.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally, I loathe miscommunication tropes, but I must say. I adored Take Two, Birdie Maxwell. The narrators, Helen Laser, Andrew Eiden, and Dan Bittner did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life. The back and forth, the will they, won't they keeps you on your toes and you somehow do not become incredibly annoyed with the lack of communication between BBFs Birdie and Elliot. Instead, you root for them the entire time, all but begging for things to work out.

I received an advanced copy of this audio, all opinions are my own.

[claire - clairesbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birdie Robinson is one of Hollywood's biggest rom com stars. In an attempt to repair her reputation, she heads home to get away from Hollywood. While at home, she finds an anonymous love letter sent to her years ago. She immediately runs to her best friend Mona, who is working at the bar she owns, for advice. Shortly after, Mona’s brother, Elliot arrives. Elliot is a news reporter who travels to the world for work. Mona immediately decides that Elliot needs to follow Birdie around sharing the story of Birdie finding out who sent her the letter, and who her true love is.

I liked how Birdie ran to her hometown after her Hollywood downfall. Although that is common in books, I don't think I've ever seen that with a Hollywood star, who I feel like should have so many other options to look to. One of my favorite parts was when Birdie and Elliot had to stay on the side of the road in the RV. I also felt like this book has a more in depth backstory than probably any other best friend sibling second chance trope I've read, which I enjoyed. Even without getting her ex's involved, I feel that way. I absolutely LOVED the ending! It's what pushed this book from four stars to five stars for me!

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You're looking for a fun read with a lot of history that's light on the romance.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but everything about it made it so hard. I would give it 2.5 stars. I'm definitely in the minority and I'm sure people will be rooting for Birdie's happily ever after. I was hoping the RV would explode and all the fighting would end. Elliot and Birdie both had the same feelings for each other and both were too stubborn to talk about them. They refused to discuss what actually happened seven years ago. I wanted to love Birdie but she was so annoying. She wasn't actually America's Sweetheart. She wasn't that nice of a person to the people she cared about the most. She never visited her parents or best friend and seemed to actually hate her sister. The constant back and forth between Birdie and Elliot was exhausting. Birdie really twisted what happened between her and Elliot seven years ago. She always brought up that he left and that really wasn't what happened. She concocted some other story in her head and believed it. It was her fault, but has the audacity to blame him. He didn't fight hard enough to stay, meanwhile she invited another guy over before the bed was even cold. Throughout the whole book it was hard to believe Birdie and Elliot were thirty-five, because they acted so immature. Was I surprised by who wrote the anonymous love letter? Yes and no. I was surprised by the reasons behind writing the letter. I honestly thought this person might be confessing their love for Birdie. I really donk think people would have taken Sebastian Carol's side over Birdie's accusations about him. My favorite character ended up being Andie. She actually told Birdie the truth and didn't sugar coat it. She was funny and no-nonsense. She would do anything for her sister. I'm not sure how the two made it to Vegas in one piece after all the 7-Eleven vodka.

Definitely recommend giving the book a try. It just wasn't for me. I didn't hate the book and there were some funny parts. Sweet dreams are made of cheese. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[MiKayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 2 hours into the audiobook… not for me with the writing style

[erin (readingwithremy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of Take Two, Birdie Maxwell by Allison Winn Scotch.

I love a good Hollywood and second-chance romance but unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me. I couldn't stand Birdie and I couldn't believe she was 35. So much miscommunication.

I DNFd at 50%. I didn't care who the letter was from or why.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have such a love relationship with Allison Winn Scotch, her books and her characters. I cannot wait to get my hands on her books whenever they come out and I was super lucky to get an early copy of this gem from her. It definitely helped with the post-covid fugue I was in. I laughed and cried and wanted to shake the Birdie and Elliott a few times. To me, if I am that into the characters that I talk to them while reading, it is a good thing.

Birdie "Robinson" Maxwell is reeling from being the nice Rom Com girl into the mean gal who made a scene on set. She flees to Barton, California, her hometown and uncovers a love letter that was sent to her a few years earlier but she never got. She tells her best friend Mona, whose twin brother Elliott and Birdie have a past connection. These two are dynamic and on fire together but both too stubborn. Mona tells Elliott to go with Birdie to find her past loves and see just who wrote this letter. Or did he write it? This leads to some mishaps and miscues and a lot of fun for the reader.

The finale discovery at a magic show in Las Vegas is just perfection! I was smiling so wide and it gave me all the good goosebumps. I loved it! Allison told me it is more rom-comy than her usual writing but she hit the nail on the head. I can so see this as a tv show or film. I would watch it on repeat.

Thanks to Allison Winn Scotch, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy for review. Do yourself a favor and pre-order this book. Buy it when it comes out next year on March 5th. Put it on your radar and escape reality for a while.