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Flipping the Birdie
When there are rumors that your lady parts will crush a man’s package, finding love can be difficult.
Superspeed, incredible strength, a foul mouth—these are thirty-one-year-old superhero Birdie Bowden’s powers. Although Birdie boasts a perfect save record as Chicago’s municipal super, her bad attitude and latest, now viral, run-in with a local menace lead the mayor to place her on suspension.
Forced into therapy in a small beachside suburb, the solitary Birdie meets eccentric, bubbly housekeeper Evie. Adrift without her job, Birdie leaves her superhero identity behind and accepts Evie’s invitation to stay with her for the summer cleaning beach cabins while working the therapy program as a means to get her job back. The only snag in her plan is Aiden, Evie’s ill-tempered, unfairly handsome brother and cabin owner. Focused on helping his sister wage her own battle of healing, Aiden finds Birdie to be an irksome, unwelcome influence and doesn’t hesitate to tell her so. But that’s fine with Birdie—her natural ability to constantly get a rise out of grumpy Aiden may be her greatest superpower yet.
As Birdie fumbles through her therapist’s ridiculous get-to-know-the-real-Birdie assignments, she feels a growing connection to her new life, including the increasingly alluring Aiden, and a yearning for more than being a super. But she can’t have both lives, and she’ll never reveal her true identity—because the only thing faster than her own speed is how quickly people, particularly men, leave when they realize Birdie is not your typical heroine.
Superspeed, incredible strength, a foul mouth—these are thirty-one-year-old superhero Birdie Bowden’s powers. Although Birdie boasts a perfect save record as Chicago’s municipal super, her bad attitude and latest, now viral, run-in with a local menace lead the mayor to place her on suspension.
Forced into therapy in a small beachside suburb, the solitary Birdie meets eccentric, bubbly housekeeper Evie. Adrift without her job, Birdie leaves her superhero identity behind and accepts Evie’s invitation to stay with her for the summer cleaning beach cabins while working the therapy program as a means to get her job back. The only snag in her plan is Aiden, Evie’s ill-tempered, unfairly handsome brother and cabin owner. Focused on helping his sister wage her own battle of healing, Aiden finds Birdie to be an irksome, unwelcome influence and doesn’t hesitate to tell her so. But that’s fine with Birdie—her natural ability to constantly get a rise out of grumpy Aiden may be her greatest superpower yet.
As Birdie fumbles through her therapist’s ridiculous get-to-know-the-real-Birdie assignments, she feels a growing connection to her new life, including the increasingly alluring Aiden, and a yearning for more than being a super. But she can’t have both lives, and she’ll never reveal her true identity—because the only thing faster than her own speed is how quickly people, particularly men, leave when they realize Birdie is not your typical heroine.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
28 people are currently reading
5655 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
October 21, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️ 🫑/5
WOW! I had zero expectations going into this book, and really didn't have any insight into the plot besides it being about 'a powerful FMC butts heads with a foul-mouthed MMC in a very unique take on the enemies to lovers romcom trope', per the author. By that line alone I was sold, and judging by how I finished this book in less than a day shows how much I enjoyed this book!
I'm slowly realizing how much I love a grumpy-grumpy trope, and Woeppel did this so wonderfully. The yearnin' and burnin', my city of Chicago (!), the tension, the bursts of sunshine from our side-character Evie... it was all just a perfect recipe for a beautiful romcom. AND THE SPICE! Ohhhh momma, it was perfection, after me sitting and WAITING for the tension to explode I could not get enough. It's rare that I like a slow burn... but this was so well written. I LOVED THIS, and I'm so grateful that S.L. reached out about this masterpiece!
Tropes in this book
✨Grumpy / grumpy
✨Enemies to friends to lovers
✨Slow burn
✨Hidden identities / secrets kept
✨Small town romance mixed with big city life
🌶️🌶️ 🫑/5
WOW! I had zero expectations going into this book, and really didn't have any insight into the plot besides it being about 'a powerful FMC butts heads with a foul-mouthed MMC in a very unique take on the enemies to lovers romcom trope', per the author. By that line alone I was sold, and judging by how I finished this book in less than a day shows how much I enjoyed this book!
I'm slowly realizing how much I love a grumpy-grumpy trope, and Woeppel did this so wonderfully. The yearnin' and burnin', my city of Chicago (!), the tension, the bursts of sunshine from our side-character Evie... it was all just a perfect recipe for a beautiful romcom. AND THE SPICE! Ohhhh momma, it was perfection, after me sitting and WAITING for the tension to explode I could not get enough. It's rare that I like a slow burn... but this was so well written. I LOVED THIS, and I'm so grateful that S.L. reached out about this masterpiece!
Tropes in this book
✨Grumpy / grumpy
✨Enemies to friends to lovers
✨Slow burn
✨Hidden identities / secrets kept
✨Small town romance mixed with big city life
September 5, 2024
It’s a fucking bird! It’s a fucking plane! It’s a pretty cool fucking badass super powered woman who is funny and vulgar and relatable in a rom com FMC way. I had such a fun time with this book!!! It was fun to have to lens of super powered people while also having Birdie deal with the very real feelings many women feel of being too much, too successful, too powerful, or too strong to keep the love of a man. Then being shown that you just need to find the RIGHT person to find you, and most importantly you need to love yourself first, which is really hard. I loved the focus on mental health and female friendship. I loved the fun dialogue. And of course I loved Aiden! He was very yum… we love a confident man who is not threatened by a strong woman and worships her as she deserves. Their banter was great too which I always appreciate and the spice was nice too. Four peppers 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 😏😉
Big thanks to NetGalley and River Grove for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Big thanks to NetGalley and River Grove for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
August 13, 2025
There’s a little bit of superhero in all of us—and for women, there’s definitely a bit of Birdie in there too. Fierce, foul-mouthed, and hilariously sharp, Birdie is the kind of badass superhero you won’t forget. But beneath all that strength and sass, she’s also raw, real, and incredibly human.
If you’re looking for a wickedly strong female main character, a swoon-worthy male lead, and a cast of unforgettable side characters, this book needs to be on your shelf!
If you’re looking for a wickedly strong female main character, a swoon-worthy male lead, and a cast of unforgettable side characters, this book needs to be on your shelf!
September 5, 2024
5 SUPER stars for this wonderful book!
I loved the idea of Superheroes living amongst us. This Particular Super "Birdie" has a foul mouth, a bad attitude and can crush a P with her V! ( So they say, anyway!).
Birdie is put on suspension for said bad attitude and is instructed to see a therapist. Her therapist gives her a couple of assignments and implores her not to use her super abilities.
She meets Evie on her first day and is taken 'hostage" by her friendliness. Evie's brother Aiden apparently despises Birdie's snark, sarcasm and worries about Birdie's influence on his emotionally struggling sister. As Birdie takes on cleaning Aiden's summer cabins with Evie they can't help but cross paths and exchange snarks. Snark exchanges lead to spark exchanges, the banter is delightful and the sparks become sizzling. As Birdie tries to keep her secret identity under wraps she forges a close friendship with Evie and Aiden begins to grow on her. The question is....
Who is she really? Who does she want to be? How does she want to be perceived? Can she still be feminine with her undeniable strength? And will she ever find someone special that can embrace her strength and not feel emasculated by it? And, at the end of her suspension term, where would she want to go? Will she want to stay? And who exactly will she want to be?
Aiden Anders steps in and breaks down her walls with his equally foul and crass mouth. Ohh boy! The mouth on that guy? Yeah... I would have been a goner too!
At the end of the day, I utterly enjoyed this fabulous book with the wonderful world of super heroes among us, the fantastic banter, awesome side-characters (Evies, side story is also emotional and beautiful) themes of friendship, forgiveness, finding ones self and what it means to be a strong yet feminine woman.
I've never heard of this author but i will definitely be following for new books ! Thank you so much Netgalley, author and publisher for the amazing opportunity to read the book and share my thoughts!
Also, ummm will we be getting Jimmy "the juggernaut's" story or Jaces' by any chance? I love this world so much and don't want to leave it just yet!
I loved the idea of Superheroes living amongst us. This Particular Super "Birdie" has a foul mouth, a bad attitude and can crush a P with her V! ( So they say, anyway!).
Birdie is put on suspension for said bad attitude and is instructed to see a therapist. Her therapist gives her a couple of assignments and implores her not to use her super abilities.
She meets Evie on her first day and is taken 'hostage" by her friendliness. Evie's brother Aiden apparently despises Birdie's snark, sarcasm and worries about Birdie's influence on his emotionally struggling sister. As Birdie takes on cleaning Aiden's summer cabins with Evie they can't help but cross paths and exchange snarks. Snark exchanges lead to spark exchanges, the banter is delightful and the sparks become sizzling. As Birdie tries to keep her secret identity under wraps she forges a close friendship with Evie and Aiden begins to grow on her. The question is....
Who is she really? Who does she want to be? How does she want to be perceived? Can she still be feminine with her undeniable strength? And will she ever find someone special that can embrace her strength and not feel emasculated by it? And, at the end of her suspension term, where would she want to go? Will she want to stay? And who exactly will she want to be?
Aiden Anders steps in and breaks down her walls with his equally foul and crass mouth. Ohh boy! The mouth on that guy? Yeah... I would have been a goner too!
At the end of the day, I utterly enjoyed this fabulous book with the wonderful world of super heroes among us, the fantastic banter, awesome side-characters (Evies, side story is also emotional and beautiful) themes of friendship, forgiveness, finding ones self and what it means to be a strong yet feminine woman.
I've never heard of this author but i will definitely be following for new books ! Thank you so much Netgalley, author and publisher for the amazing opportunity to read the book and share my thoughts!
Also, ummm will we be getting Jimmy "the juggernaut's" story or Jaces' by any chance? I love this world so much and don't want to leave it just yet!
March 30, 2025
Well this was a freaking delight!
Birdie lashes out after years of sexism and sexual harassment, on top of general lack of appreciation and ends up getting suspended from her job and forced into a long vacation and therapy.
Her job? She’s the Chicago Bird, our strongest lady super hero.
While on forced vacation on Lake Michigan Birdie gets tangled up with new friends who force her to face the rejection she experienced when she first developed powers, and from years of men who find her emasculating.
This is for anyone who’s been made to feel they are too much, and while the romance is lovely (and also open door and spicy), I think the key relationship is the best friendship that develops. And the real super hero is the therapist.
So so good.
Birdie lashes out after years of sexism and sexual harassment, on top of general lack of appreciation and ends up getting suspended from her job and forced into a long vacation and therapy.
Her job? She’s the Chicago Bird, our strongest lady super hero.
While on forced vacation on Lake Michigan Birdie gets tangled up with new friends who force her to face the rejection she experienced when she first developed powers, and from years of men who find her emasculating.
This is for anyone who’s been made to feel they are too much, and while the romance is lovely (and also open door and spicy), I think the key relationship is the best friendship that develops. And the real super hero is the therapist.
So so good.
September 28, 2024
This was such a cute romance novel! Perfect for fans of romcoms (I of course noticed the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days references) but also a story about loving yourself enough to trust others to love you, which was very relatable! Bernie/Birdie was a really fun FMC who also carried a lot of emotional weight. I feel like many women could relate to the feelings and baggage she carried. The MMC, Aiden, was her perfect match and I loved their banter. Evie and Yash were great side characters and their story was interesting! I’d love a prequel on them. I hope this turns into an interconnected series about supes finding love. Perfect weekend read.
March 10, 2025
4.25 ⭐️ super hero romance?! Grumpy - grumpy? Say less! Spice was like a 🌶️🌶️🌶️for me! If you can handle Elsie silver you will love the spice in this book!
Loved the premise, the slow burn tension, the small town feel, and overall the ending was great! It was such a a fun read and not the typical copy paste romance we have all read so many times!
Loved the premise, the slow burn tension, the small town feel, and overall the ending was great! It was such a a fun read and not the typical copy paste romance we have all read so many times!
August 28, 2024
I love quirky books and this one didn’t disappoint. At the beginning I thought about abandoning the book because of the superhero part of it, but decided to stick it through.
Birdie is in charge of protecting Chicago, but cannot get on the same page with all of the other emergency services. Instead of working together they are butting heads with each other. A situation happens and Birdie is forced to take a mandatory vacation and go to therapy. Before her mandatory therapy she runs into a man that is grumpier than anyone else and after therapy she runs into a woman Evie who is sweet as sweet can be.
I loved this book and storyline. Couldn’t wait to see her what was going to happen.
Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!
Birdie is in charge of protecting Chicago, but cannot get on the same page with all of the other emergency services. Instead of working together they are butting heads with each other. A situation happens and Birdie is forced to take a mandatory vacation and go to therapy. Before her mandatory therapy she runs into a man that is grumpier than anyone else and after therapy she runs into a woman Evie who is sweet as sweet can be.
I loved this book and storyline. Couldn’t wait to see her what was going to happen.
Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!
February 8, 2025
This was such a FUN read! I can’t wait to hear more from this author. I absolutely loved Birdie and Aiden, Yash and Evie, Jace and Claudio. I hope this gets turned into a series! So thankful to Goodreads for the giveaway win. I love these opportunities to try new authors and maybe something I normally wouldn’t haven’t picked up myself.
January 7, 2025
I am in love with every character in this book!! What a great story! Loved the character arc for Birdie! I just love a self deprecating FMC who grows in the best ways! Aiden is a top notch MMC! Love, love, loved it!
February 4, 2025
I could not DEVOUR this fast enough!!! Just oozing with loveliness. I thought I was done for when it comes to straight cis romance, but this had me hooked. Will be reading anything this author puts out.
Read
November 4, 2024A fellow semifinalist for the 2024 BookLife Prize in Fiction/Romance category. Congratulations, S. L. Woeppel!
March 28, 2025
Whilst this wasn't the book I was expecting, it was still really enjoyable nonetheless. It didn't have that many superhero scenes despite the story following the Chigaco Bird, also known as thirty-one year old grumpy super named Birdie Bowden. However, it did have an amazing journey following Birdie learning to love her job again and finding herself outside of the super powers, whilst she also learns to control her short temper and tendency to let her annoyance take control.
I adored the small town setting after Birdie is put on suspension and forced to seek out therapy for her and the city's own good. The beach vibes were immaculate, but even more so was the friendship they builds with eccentric and confident Evie. Evie's backstory was so gut wrenching to read, but I liked that she's strong in her own ways, and the way she takes Birdie under her wing was sweet. Evie's older brother, Aiden, wasn't as likeable to begin with, but when it comes to enemies to lovers, the love interests hardly ever are.
As the story progresses, so does the heated tension between Birdie and Aiden. More is revealed, and there's some really cute moments between the two. Aiden always says the most swoon worthy things, and his mouth... The spice was great, though the scenes were short. I did begin to get bored with the repetitive hidden identity crisis Birdie went through, but I could understand why she felt the way she did.
The ending was absolutely perfect and fitted the book so well, especially the last few chapters where Birdie has a chance to prove her worth to herself, and has the opportunity to finally be recognised for who she is. It's a cute happily ever after, wrapping everything up and leaving readers feeling fulfilled with the message of it's okay to be yourself, and that it's fine to give yourself what you need.
4/5 🌟
I adored the small town setting after Birdie is put on suspension and forced to seek out therapy for her and the city's own good. The beach vibes were immaculate, but even more so was the friendship they builds with eccentric and confident Evie. Evie's backstory was so gut wrenching to read, but I liked that she's strong in her own ways, and the way she takes Birdie under her wing was sweet. Evie's older brother, Aiden, wasn't as likeable to begin with, but when it comes to enemies to lovers, the love interests hardly ever are.
As the story progresses, so does the heated tension between Birdie and Aiden. More is revealed, and there's some really cute moments between the two. Aiden always says the most swoon worthy things, and his mouth... The spice was great, though the scenes were short. I did begin to get bored with the repetitive hidden identity crisis Birdie went through, but I could understand why she felt the way she did.
The ending was absolutely perfect and fitted the book so well, especially the last few chapters where Birdie has a chance to prove her worth to herself, and has the opportunity to finally be recognised for who she is. It's a cute happily ever after, wrapping everything up and leaving readers feeling fulfilled with the message of it's okay to be yourself, and that it's fine to give yourself what you need.
4/5 🌟
March 16, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up for goodreads
A fun superhero romance that had me laughing out loud often. Other tropes include small town and friend's older brother which I love for tropes and I thought S.L. Woeppel did really well 😍🦸♀️
I really liked Birdie's character and her character development was so relatable in this novel as well. The author did a wonderful job incorporating mental health and therapy into the everyday life of the characters, which I love to see! This novel is set in a gorgeous cottage setting in a summer town outside of Chicago that transported me to the beach in the cold MN winter as I was reading.
The cast of support characters were well developed and really brought the story to life! I honestly wish we had a novel about Evie and her ex-husband.
This is an open door romance that is very spicy (🔥🔥🔥🔥/5). I struggled a bit with the smut as it's not my flavor which is totally fine. At times I wanted Birdie and Aiden to talk more vs. relying on the physical but that's a personal preference.
A fun superhero romance that had me laughing out loud often. Other tropes include small town and friend's older brother which I love for tropes and I thought S.L. Woeppel did really well 😍🦸♀️
I really liked Birdie's character and her character development was so relatable in this novel as well. The author did a wonderful job incorporating mental health and therapy into the everyday life of the characters, which I love to see! This novel is set in a gorgeous cottage setting in a summer town outside of Chicago that transported me to the beach in the cold MN winter as I was reading.
The cast of support characters were well developed and really brought the story to life! I honestly wish we had a novel about Evie and her ex-husband.
This is an open door romance that is very spicy (🔥🔥🔥🔥/5). I struggled a bit with the smut as it's not my flavor which is totally fine. At times I wanted Birdie and Aiden to talk more vs. relying on the physical but that's a personal preference.
May 1, 2025
“Let’s go home to the cottage.”
“You sure you want me there? ‘Cause I can totally kick your ass.”
He grinned … “I’m looking forward to it.”
——-
This book was SO GOOD. 🥹 If you are someone who always feels like you might be too much, too loud, too outspoken, too eager, too strong, you might heal a little bit right along with Birdie. 🩷 If you love a found family, you’ll love this. The side characters are phenomenal and the mouth on that MMC. 🔥 Highly recommend this book!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Thanks to @slwoeppelbooks for this copy in exchange for my honest review! 🫶🏻
#bookrecs #indiebooks #romancebooks #funnybooks #bookstagram #booksta #bookish
“You sure you want me there? ‘Cause I can totally kick your ass.”
He grinned … “I’m looking forward to it.”
——-
This book was SO GOOD. 🥹 If you are someone who always feels like you might be too much, too loud, too outspoken, too eager, too strong, you might heal a little bit right along with Birdie. 🩷 If you love a found family, you’ll love this. The side characters are phenomenal and the mouth on that MMC. 🔥 Highly recommend this book!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Thanks to @slwoeppelbooks for this copy in exchange for my honest review! 🫶🏻
#bookrecs #indiebooks #romancebooks #funnybooks #bookstagram #booksta #bookish
September 17, 2024
A fun and quick read! I liked that Birdie was a superhero who was still trying to find her way. She was grouchy and sassy and just hilarious at times. There was a lot of dialogue going on and it was a little hard to keep up but very entertaining. Sprinkled throughout the story were flashbacks about Birdie’s past, which helped us understand her a bit more. I would have loved a dual pov to hear what was going on inside Aiden’s brain. Definitely one to pick up and read!
Thank you to NetGalley and River Grove for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and River Grove for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
November 24, 2024
This book was just adorable. The writing was great, the characters were complex and lovable, the found family trope was perfectly written. Birdie was amazing, loved her. More importantly i understood her. Aiden was perfect in every way possible. I just finished it and can’t stop, won’t stop grinning. Loved it! 5 out of 5! All the ⭐️!
October 12, 2024
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and I’m so happy I did!
Witty banter ✅
Found family ✅
Therapy in a positive light ✅
Redemption after serious mistakes (for the fmc and a bunch of supporting characters) ✅
A badass, foul-mouthed fmc who grows but never stops being a force of nature ✅
Ride or die friendships ✅
Hot, grumpy man who works with his hands ✅
I didn’t expect a lot more than a throwaway, cotton candy rom com, but I loved this so much. I read this digitally but I seriously am thinking about getting a trophy copy because I liked it that much.
Witty banter ✅
Found family ✅
Therapy in a positive light ✅
Redemption after serious mistakes (for the fmc and a bunch of supporting characters) ✅
A badass, foul-mouthed fmc who grows but never stops being a force of nature ✅
Ride or die friendships ✅
Hot, grumpy man who works with his hands ✅
I didn’t expect a lot more than a throwaway, cotton candy rom com, but I loved this so much. I read this digitally but I seriously am thinking about getting a trophy copy because I liked it that much.
November 30, 2024
Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I had so many moments where I realized I am the FMC the FMC is me, is that good? I don’t know but I loved it so much, the banter, the grump - grump trope I didn’t know I needed in my life.
I will be picking up more by this author!
I will be picking up more by this author!
September 4, 2024
Oh my goodness! Where to start? I'll start with the title....I can't remember another book that was more perfectly titled! So clever!
I have to admit, the identity of the main character made me a little afraid that I wouldn't enjoy this book. Supers aren't usually my cup of tea. HOWEVER, I am so glad I stuck it out! Birdie was a hoot! The author's ability of develop her character was incredible! I felt like I have known her my entire life. Actually, I felt like I was her when she was in her more awkward and brazen moments...minus the super part. I am but a normal and boring human. She was quirky, funny, spirited, sassy, and so much more! I loved how she was able to work through her own issues and find her true self throughout the book, with a few hiccups along the way (most of which were pretty hilarious!).
Evie....oh sweet, somewhat crazy Evie! We all need a friend like Evie! She was the BEST!!! For her to overcome her own issues and setbacks in life and come out the other end was inspiring and heartwarming.
Overall, a really great book! If you aren't into spice, 🌶️ there are a few ahem.....racy scenes, but you can easily skip them over. I will be (im)patiently awaiting more from this author. Maybe a sequel to this one? We can only hope!
I have to admit, the identity of the main character made me a little afraid that I wouldn't enjoy this book. Supers aren't usually my cup of tea. HOWEVER, I am so glad I stuck it out! Birdie was a hoot! The author's ability of develop her character was incredible! I felt like I have known her my entire life. Actually, I felt like I was her when she was in her more awkward and brazen moments...minus the super part. I am but a normal and boring human. She was quirky, funny, spirited, sassy, and so much more! I loved how she was able to work through her own issues and find her true self throughout the book, with a few hiccups along the way (most of which were pretty hilarious!).
Evie....oh sweet, somewhat crazy Evie! We all need a friend like Evie! She was the BEST!!! For her to overcome her own issues and setbacks in life and come out the other end was inspiring and heartwarming.
Overall, a really great book! If you aren't into spice, 🌶️ there are a few ahem.....racy scenes, but you can easily skip them over. I will be (im)patiently awaiting more from this author. Maybe a sequel to this one? We can only hope!
March 8, 2025
4/5 stars - now I know I am missing a world where supers go around saving people 😌
September 27, 2024
What a refreshing story! This book was exactly what I was looking for: a cute romance with a good plot. Birdie is an interesting and lovable character with flaws and conflicts that keep you entertained from beginning to end. I think that the "super" addition is a creative way to represent the challenges women face in real life.
The writing is good, you navigate through the pages without even noticing, and it makes for a great read. Oh, I'm absolutely in love with Aiden!
The only thing I have to mention is that by the end, I found the FMC's insecurities a bit the repetitive, but it was ok and made sense.
An easily 4-4.5 stars! Can't wait to read more books from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and River Grove Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 😊
The writing is good, you navigate through the pages without even noticing, and it makes for a great read. Oh, I'm absolutely in love with Aiden!
The only thing I have to mention is that by the end, I found the FMC's insecurities a bit the repetitive, but it was ok and made sense.
An easily 4-4.5 stars! Can't wait to read more books from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and River Grove Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 😊
December 30, 2024
4.5 Stars — Hilarious and sexy AF. I thought the premise of this book sounded entertaining and was honestly prepared for it to fall short, as so many quirky novels do. Not this one! Every character was written to near perfection and the story was unexpectedly touching, funny, and super spicy. Will definitely be one of my most memorable reads of the year. Way to debut!
Thank you to River Grove Books for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to River Grove Books for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 19, 2024
Calling all Emily Henry Fans!
Birdie Bowden is not your typical Chicagolander. She’s THE Chicago Bird, the foul mouthed, bitchy super who can supposedly crush a man’s penis with her vagina. At the start of Flipping the Birdie, we see Birdie suspended from her job after yet another foul mouthed, ill-tempered rescue goes awry because of a pig-headed jerk. She finds her way to a small town called Grove just outside of Chicago where she must participate in therapy before she can return to her job. Her time in Grove changes her life in so many ways, by the end she’s she doesn’t recognize the old Birdie.
I really enjoyed this book! The idea of bringing in super heroes to a romance was something I haven’t read before. I think the balance of powers to Birdie’s everyday life was well balanced, if anything I would have liked more super powers. Birdie spent more time lamenting over her powers and their consequences than using them in this book. It did get a little repetitive by the end of how no one would love her because of them but the power of friendship and therapy prevails!!
Reading this definitely felt similar to reading an Emily Henry book in the best of ways! I love that Evie, the new best friend, was just as big of a figurehead as Aiden, her brother and our love interest. We got to watch as Evie and Birdie grew together as the summer progressed. By the end, I was just as in love with Evie as I was Aiden.
Oh Aiden, Aiden, Aiden…. Aiden is Evie’s older brother and a pain in Birdie’s butt. He’s cranky, broody, self assured, and makes Birdie’s heart race. At the beginning of the book he doesn’t trust Birdie with his sister but slowly learns to trust her the more he sees that Birdie is just as smitten with Evie as Evie is with Birdie. Their romance grows fast and hard and you can’t help but be swept up in with it. There are a few spicy scenes but you can easily skip them.
In the end I loved the ending. It was sweet and romantic. Again I would definitely suggest this for those Emily Henry fans who like building friendships alongside their romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early access for this review.
Birdie Bowden is not your typical Chicagolander. She’s THE Chicago Bird, the foul mouthed, bitchy super who can supposedly crush a man’s penis with her vagina. At the start of Flipping the Birdie, we see Birdie suspended from her job after yet another foul mouthed, ill-tempered rescue goes awry because of a pig-headed jerk. She finds her way to a small town called Grove just outside of Chicago where she must participate in therapy before she can return to her job. Her time in Grove changes her life in so many ways, by the end she’s she doesn’t recognize the old Birdie.
I really enjoyed this book! The idea of bringing in super heroes to a romance was something I haven’t read before. I think the balance of powers to Birdie’s everyday life was well balanced, if anything I would have liked more super powers. Birdie spent more time lamenting over her powers and their consequences than using them in this book. It did get a little repetitive by the end of how no one would love her because of them but the power of friendship and therapy prevails!!
Reading this definitely felt similar to reading an Emily Henry book in the best of ways! I love that Evie, the new best friend, was just as big of a figurehead as Aiden, her brother and our love interest. We got to watch as Evie and Birdie grew together as the summer progressed. By the end, I was just as in love with Evie as I was Aiden.
Oh Aiden, Aiden, Aiden…. Aiden is Evie’s older brother and a pain in Birdie’s butt. He’s cranky, broody, self assured, and makes Birdie’s heart race. At the beginning of the book he doesn’t trust Birdie with his sister but slowly learns to trust her the more he sees that Birdie is just as smitten with Evie as Evie is with Birdie. Their romance grows fast and hard and you can’t help but be swept up in with it. There are a few spicy scenes but you can easily skip them.
In the end I loved the ending. It was sweet and romantic. Again I would definitely suggest this for those Emily Henry fans who like building friendships alongside their romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early access for this review.
September 28, 2024
Birdie, aka the "Chicago Bird" is a city-employed superhero in an alt-version of Chicago where super powers are a thing. She experiences some negative publicity and is subject to the gossip mill regarding female superheroes. Frustrated by a job she once loved and plagued by bad PR, Birdie is sent on a forced vacation to a sleepy town on Lake Michigan by the mayor and must go to work-mandated therapy to improve her attitude and save her job. While there she undergoes life coaching in the suburbs to try to ease her workaholic tendencies which, admittedly, have been encouraged by the nature of her job. (She also struggles with opening up to others, especially after she gained her superpowers at age 18 years and was sent by her mother to a government facility to be studied and taught to use her powers. This resulted in an estranged relationship with her mother.) While on vacation she meets handsome Aiden, the brother of her new friend Evie and her temporary landlord. There's definitely a grumpy/grumpy trope going on here, which I always find entertaining. While this is an open-door romance, there is a pervasive commentary on gender equality with a nice thread of female empowerment, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is also the kind of romance I enjoy, when it's about self-growth and acceptance as much as it is about the loving relationship. There's a strong message her of learning to be proud of who you are, and of surrounding yourself with the people who value you for you. This was a fun read with an interesting premise, I thought it was a nice change of pace from the usual but enough of the usual to keep things relatable. Superheroes, they're just like us! I gave it 4 stars but it's probably closer to 4.25 stars; I would have liked to learn more about how and why people are suddenly gaining super powers, but I get that this book was intended to focus more on Birdie's relationships and her struggle with her public identity. This is a new-to-me author but I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from them in the future! Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this story, this has been my objective review.
September 13, 2024
"But what if, like me, you don't need anyone to protect you, since there is almost nothing that can threaten you? What if you are better suited to protect him? I'll tell you what happens. He doesn't want you anymore because you're emasculating. I should know - I've lived it."
This book was so quirky, such a fun romp, while still maintaining a strong conversation about what it means to be a woman in a world where femininity is treated as weakness. Birdie Bowden (namewise, can we talk about how the alliteration is a perfect ode to superheroes? Peter Parker and Wade Winston Wilson are quaking in their masks) is a riot, with her foul mouth and tempestuous personality. She's pretty much every single woman: loving romance but thinking she doesn't deserve it, fed up with unequal pay and harassment on the job, and frustrated by double standards. She just also happens to be a superhero, "resilient, but still very much human." With the help of a new friend, who basically accosts her outside of Birdie's first therapy session, she learns who she is outside of being a superhero. And who is she? Probably my new favorite character (and I've never been a superhero fan).
Aiden is an absolute delight of a male main character, just as grumpy and protective as Birdie, with even more of a foul mouth. I love how much he embraced her, warts and all. I hope they are together forever. I mean, he really said "I don't need you to need me, baby. I need you to choose me." SWOON. But also...prepare yourself for the spice. The spice is SPICY. If you're thinking that this is a Marvel movie, well, let's just say that there aren't many Marvel movies that are rated X. But the spice was well-written and had me fanning myself.
I had a grand old time with this one. Thank you to NetGalley, River Grove Books, and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish Birdie had the power of wiping memories so I could read this one again and enjoy it just as much.
This book was so quirky, such a fun romp, while still maintaining a strong conversation about what it means to be a woman in a world where femininity is treated as weakness. Birdie Bowden (namewise, can we talk about how the alliteration is a perfect ode to superheroes? Peter Parker and Wade Winston Wilson are quaking in their masks) is a riot, with her foul mouth and tempestuous personality. She's pretty much every single woman: loving romance but thinking she doesn't deserve it, fed up with unequal pay and harassment on the job, and frustrated by double standards. She just also happens to be a superhero, "resilient, but still very much human." With the help of a new friend, who basically accosts her outside of Birdie's first therapy session, she learns who she is outside of being a superhero. And who is she? Probably my new favorite character (and I've never been a superhero fan).
Aiden is an absolute delight of a male main character, just as grumpy and protective as Birdie, with even more of a foul mouth. I love how much he embraced her, warts and all. I hope they are together forever. I mean, he really said "I don't need you to need me, baby. I need you to choose me." SWOON. But also...prepare yourself for the spice. The spice is SPICY. If you're thinking that this is a Marvel movie, well, let's just say that there aren't many Marvel movies that are rated X. But the spice was well-written and had me fanning myself.
I had a grand old time with this one. Thank you to NetGalley, River Grove Books, and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish Birdie had the power of wiping memories so I could read this one again and enjoy it just as much.
September 14, 2025
Birdie Bowden is Chicago's super and has been doing the job for ten years. Unfortunately, her sometimes less than agreeable attitude and a seriously foul mouth lead to a suspension from her job by the mayor and being forced into therapy. In a small beachside suburb Birdie will meet Evie, after her first session with her new therapist and end up staying with her in one of the small beach cottages Evie's brother Aiden owns. While Birdie struggles with what she considers absurd exercises in getting to know herself that the therapist assigns, she quickly realizes that the new life she is living has made her happier than she has been for many years. It also doesn't hurt that she enjoys trying to get a reaction from the very handsome and grumpy Aiden.
I absolutely loved Birdie. She may be somewhat foul mouthed and may have a bad attitude, but she is the strongest and fastest female super the country knows, and she doesn't really understand why she should change to suit other people. But she is also a woman who wants to be loved for herself, and this book follows her journey of self-discovery and her ability to love herself first. This is a steamy romantic comedy is a fun read that kept me laughing and thoroughly entertained. Some unexpected twists in the plot and a happily ever after kept me engaged from the first page. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
I absolutely loved Birdie. She may be somewhat foul mouthed and may have a bad attitude, but she is the strongest and fastest female super the country knows, and she doesn't really understand why she should change to suit other people. But she is also a woman who wants to be loved for herself, and this book follows her journey of self-discovery and her ability to love herself first. This is a steamy romantic comedy is a fun read that kept me laughing and thoroughly entertained. Some unexpected twists in the plot and a happily ever after kept me engaged from the first page. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
September 17, 2024
I picked Flipping the Birdie up for the promise of a fun spicy romance with witty banter and a little bit of supernatural thrown in, and it DELIVERED. The title is perfection. It is so on the nose - capturing both the attitude and the journey of the unapologetic FMC who, when we meet her, isn't feeling loved or appreciated for who she is, and closes herself off from pretty much all human connection as a result. When she is forced to take a sabbatical from her job as Chicago's very own municipal superhero, she ends up in a sleepy beach town where she meets Aiden. Aiden is hot - I mean, who doesn't love a broody woodworking artist? Both Aiden and Birdie are brutally honest people with absolutely no filter and initially rub each other the wrong way, but the chemistry is off the charts. This was a great read - I couldn't put it down. I was completely invested in Birdie's journey as she steps into her power and stops trying to make herself smaller to fit the expectations of those around her. And I loved the attention paid to Birdie's friendship with Evie, which was just as compelling as her romance with Aiden. Woeppel's writing is engaging and fun and I cannot wait to read her next book!
December 24, 2024
This was a great rom com, contemporary with a twist romance! I didn’t quite know what to expect when I dived into Thai book but let me tell you I’m glad I did. I laughed so hard at so many parts in this book! It’s had some of the best one liners I swear!
Birdie is not your typical super, she has a dirty mouth and she is not made for the limelight. She stays to herself and just want to eat live and breathe her job… saving lives and protecting her city. But … that can’t be all she is. Because her work is telling her she has to get a life, and forcing her to take some much needed vacation time. The summer to be exact. What Birdie doesn’t expect to find on her mandatory vacation is a grumpy next door neighbor, a new best friend, and most important herself!
I loved the growth of these characters and how much they all play into their rolls. This is first first pov and normally I stray away because you miss out on other characters but this book did NOT do that! I still felt I got all the other characters takes and feeling and not frustrated just seeing from birdies pov.
If you love a slow burn and looking to dip your toes is some other areas of romance this is for you. Take a chance on some supers 😉 I mean birdie isn’t just a super in the streets hehe.
Birdie is not your typical super, she has a dirty mouth and she is not made for the limelight. She stays to herself and just want to eat live and breathe her job… saving lives and protecting her city. But … that can’t be all she is. Because her work is telling her she has to get a life, and forcing her to take some much needed vacation time. The summer to be exact. What Birdie doesn’t expect to find on her mandatory vacation is a grumpy next door neighbor, a new best friend, and most important herself!
I loved the growth of these characters and how much they all play into their rolls. This is first first pov and normally I stray away because you miss out on other characters but this book did NOT do that! I still felt I got all the other characters takes and feeling and not frustrated just seeing from birdies pov.
If you love a slow burn and looking to dip your toes is some other areas of romance this is for you. Take a chance on some supers 😉 I mean birdie isn’t just a super in the streets hehe.
January 29, 2025
Flipping CUTE
A solid 4 stars for Flipping the Birdie!
First off, a big thank you to GoodReads and River Grove Books for the free book. Flipping the Birdie is a wonderful modern rom-com. Birdie, my new favorite off-beat hero, is vulgar, sassy, and the perfect embodiment of a strong FMC. This book had me laughing right off the bat! I may not have super strength or super speed, but I still found Birdie incredibly relatable. Her character growth through the book was excellent, I routed for her the whole way. Being a strong woman can certainly be off-putting to a weak man, but Flipping the Birdie preaches an important lesson, that strength, feminity, and a foul mouth can go hand in hand. The right man will not fear a strong woman. Not only is the romance swoon worthy, but we got the found family trope and a beautiful quirky bestie friendship! This is all around a feel-good story that had me dropping all responsibilities to read. There were just a few minor editing mistakes, nothing large enough to take me out of the book. This debut for S.L. Woeppel makes me excited to see what she releases next. While this is a standalone novel, I would love to hear more about Birdie's adventures in the future.
A solid 4 stars for Flipping the Birdie!
First off, a big thank you to GoodReads and River Grove Books for the free book. Flipping the Birdie is a wonderful modern rom-com. Birdie, my new favorite off-beat hero, is vulgar, sassy, and the perfect embodiment of a strong FMC. This book had me laughing right off the bat! I may not have super strength or super speed, but I still found Birdie incredibly relatable. Her character growth through the book was excellent, I routed for her the whole way. Being a strong woman can certainly be off-putting to a weak man, but Flipping the Birdie preaches an important lesson, that strength, feminity, and a foul mouth can go hand in hand. The right man will not fear a strong woman. Not only is the romance swoon worthy, but we got the found family trope and a beautiful quirky bestie friendship! This is all around a feel-good story that had me dropping all responsibilities to read. There were just a few minor editing mistakes, nothing large enough to take me out of the book. This debut for S.L. Woeppel makes me excited to see what she releases next. While this is a standalone novel, I would love to hear more about Birdie's adventures in the future.
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