Grace Curran has a problem—no, she is the problem. Starting back when she was a baby, things were always happening. Accidents. Mistakes. Misunderstndings. Her siblings did their best to take care of her, but somehow…somehow she never seemed to learn, because now at age twenty-three, those things are still happening. Plus, she can’t seem to hold down a job. Plus, all her friends are weird, and so is her apartment and so is her car. And honestly? She’s getting tired of it all. Something needs to change in her life. Then she meets Theo, due to an accident with an aquarium, and he seems to be everything that she’s not. He’s a hard-working doctor, a bill-paying homeowner, and a careful driver of a properly running vehicle. So obviously, he isn’t attracted to someone like Grace, someone who is always making a mess that others need to clean up. But as it turns out, Theo isn’t as perfect as he might seem. Of course, he’s smart, handsome, and wonderful, but those things mask the problems in his own life that he struggles to resolve. And it also turns out that Grace, the woman who can’t walk by a puddle without falling in, might just be the person who can clean things up for him. Something needs to change for both of them, but it won’t get done overnight. Gradually, they might be able to make it happen—and find love and happiness, together.
Nah. Even for a Jamie Bennett character, Grace is too cartoonishly weird. And I don’t mean in overcoming her struggles stemming from neglect, I mean the life of silly chaos that’s just too impossible for a 23 year old to have lived. I kept waiting for the reveal that she’s a compulsive liar. And instead we just have a book trying way too hard to be funny.
3.5 ⭐️ As the title indicates, this was Grace's book! The baby of the core Curran family this series has centered around, Grace was described in all of her sibling's books as being a mess - always in trouble, never holding down a job, scattered and constantly needing help.
The Currans made their cameo appearances but the book really focused in on Grace's journey from that mess to getting her life in order. Providing important impetus was doctor hero Theo, who is a bit of a mess himself. Standard (for this author) no steam romance, characterized by subtle hints of growing feelings hidden behind a sweet friends-to-lovers (& helper, help-ee lol) relationship that is backseat to (while simultaneously being part and parcel) the character journey Grace is on.
After eight books you can't help but be immersed in the Curran world, so I am happy to see there is another book to go after this one too.
This one felt uncompleted. I usually love Jamie Bennett books and I know she writes with somethings not fully addressed but I think this completely skimmed over the main issues.
I just wish Grace had at least had a conversation about the ways her parents failed her with them, they are shown to be truly awful in this book and seem to go on blissfully unaware of the damage they've done.
I know in real life we don't all get that big moment but usually if you're trying to work though that much resentment a conversation needs to happen or you need to go no contact. Honestly I would have even preferred if Grace chose not to address it all but also cut contact with her parents, that would have maybe been anticlimactic but consistent with her personality.
This is my favorite JB book yet. Grace just was so literal that I practically barked with laughter a couple of times. She was her own worst enemy and it was a joy ride watching her tick items off her list. Great read.
I usually read Jamie Bennett books in one day, not so with this. I struggled to do finish this. Of all the Curran sisters Grace is the hardest to like, she's sweet but boy so unbelievably difficult.
I learned a lot from Grace. There were times I wondered if she was somewhat mentally impaired but then she'd use a vocabulary that showed intelligence. That job she had with a pervert was odd. Star off for that.
I enjoyed the growth and determination of Grace. She was willing to learn and grow.
I usually really enjoy Jamie Bennett books, but this one was boring. The love story didn't engage my emotions, and I struggled to finish it. Of all the Curran sisters Grace is the hardest to like.