Philippa Flynn's Year of Panic and Piracy: A Novel

by Jacqueline Firkins

An introverted history professor and a former romance cover model collaborate on a life-changing endeavor in a witty and swoonworthy novel about new beginnings in unexpected waters.

When a sinkhole nearly swallows her whole, burned-out history professor Philippa Flynn takes it as a wake-up call. Leaving her carefully planned but unfulfilling life behind, she moves into an old seaside house she inherited from her grandmother, a bestselling author of swashbuckling romances. Philippa expects the clutter, disrepair, proximity to the family she deliberately moved away from, and reclusive writer she’ll be sharing the house with. She doesn’t expect that writer to also be the cover model who personified Iris Flynn’s bare-chested, cavalier-booted pirate king.

While navigating their awkward cohabitation and searching for creative inspiration, the pair discovers the outlines for six more novels they could work on together. But Philippa’s used to facts, Dylan has writer’s block, and neither can craft a love scene while real sparks are flying.

To write the story on the page, Philippa will have to embrace the one she’s living, even if it means swapping tenure for treasure maps and plans for pirate kings.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Books About Books, Contemporary Romance

299 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2026

About the author

Jacqueline's a writer, costume designer, and lover of beautiful things. She's on the full-time faculty in the Department of Theatre & Film at the University of British Columbia where she teaches character design, world building, script interpretation, and period costume construction courses. When not obsessing about where to put the buttons or the commas, she can be found running by the ocean, eating excessive amounts of gluten, listening to earnest love songs, and pretending her dog understands every word she says.

**A note about my reviews. As is probably obvious, I post reviews primarily to celebrate other authors and their books. I won't say I love a book if I don't, but I will focus on the things I like and/or the things I think readers might want to consider when choosing if a book might be right for them. If you're looking for more critical reviews, they're easy to find on here. We live in a world where tearing people down is often celebrated more strongly than lifting them up. Consider my universal 5-star ratings and my focus-on-the-positive book reviews a teeny-tiny rebellion against that attitude, and one that only works because I'm one voice among many. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to provide thoughtful reviews, no matter the stars. And happy reading.

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hobosexual Hero was an interesting choice

A very low stakes and easy to read book with two relatable introverts. It was a bit slow moving at the beginning and leaned heavily into gender grievances (which I agree with but omg enough already). Every single man on the planet was awful except the male lead and her gay brother. I guess not like other boys is a thing now? Granted I’m all for a great book boyfriend but I’m not entirely sure Dylan was one, but I think compared to all the terrible men he came off better. That’s the problem with the not like other boys trope, the bar is set too low for the hero.
The storyline of renovating her grandmother’s boat & house and writing the rest of her romance novels was quite enjoyable. Her relationships with her siblings was sweet but the romance itself was mid.
I would have liked for more character growth from Philippa, more push back to her toxic mother, because that storyline felt unresolved. And overall Dylan was not a great male lead, he was kind of a bum, and gave hobosexual vibes. I think she’d just been treated so badly by everyone her whole life that she accepted mediocre as wonderful. The bar for her was on the floor.

Notes on the audiobook: this was a perfectly acceptable audio performance.


Book 12 in my reading Canadian challenge.

Thanks for the audio-ARC, brilliance audio.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a minute to warm up to this story, but I got there.

Reading the synopsis, I expected something way different. A fun, action-filled romance adventure or something like that, you know? But what I got was more of a cosy, heartwarming women's fiction novel. I still enjoyed it, though.

I really liked Philippa, she was an interesting, authentic and well-rounded main character. Dylan on the other hand remained a bit bland and underdeveloped. Just like their romance, unfortunately. It was a slow burn that couldn’t really win me over.
But since the focus was mainly on Philippa, her grief and her family dynamics anyway it wasn't that much of an issue.

I liked it enough to finish it, but it also took me a really long time. Like I said, I was just expecting something different and what I got wasn’t really for me 🤷‍♀️

If you go in with the right expectations or if you like women’s fiction then I think you’d probably enjoy this one quite a bit more than I did.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

__
An introverted history professor and a former romance cover model collaborate on a life-changing endeavor?!! 👀👀

[Bookish Londoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great development of complex, authentic characters in a slow burn romance. There are serious topics woven into the storyline about grief, burnout, family conflict, anxiety and loneliness. This creates a comfy and hopeful read! It was hard to put down once I got into it. Well constructed story, emotional at times with a funny narrative, and thankfully not the stereotypical girl-inherits-house-in-middle-of-nowhere-with-sexy-man-nearby trope that I thought it might be.

NetGalley ARC

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was painful. I refuse to DNF a book so after I started I was committed. I struggled to force myself to read it and ended up just skimming it in places. The MFC is a doormat, she lets her mom dictate her life and treat her like a child. She doesn’t ever stand up for herself. She quits her job in the early part of the book and it is clear she never stood up for herself there either. She whines and complains constantly about everything related to her job and her chosen career field but doesn’t appear to stand up for herself once. Instead she complains to her friend or through inner dialogue about how awful academia is, complaining about old white guys having it so much better. It never once showed her try to better her situation with her job, she basically just whined about it being prejudice against anyone who was not a middle age white male. That got very annoying and repetitive.

The MMC was awful. He was supposed to 41 to her 34 though they both acted 15 years younger than they were. He couldn’t talk about writing a sex scene, or really just have anything beyond the most basic conversation with her, without turning red, rubbing his face, and avoiding eye contact. It was ridiculous. He was way too immature and just seemed strange.

The MFC had horrible parents, especially the mom. She was cruel and never had anything kind to say to her. She got a huge amount of money when her mother died, the MFC got the house and boat, and her four siblings each received $100,000. Grams was a bestselling author and clearly had a lot of money so why was her beloved home she took so much pride in such a disaster it was deemed to be past repair? She had only been dead six years and someone was living in it that entire time, providing major repairs as they came up.

While the MFC was struggling with a house that was covered with dangerous black mold and the roof was falling apart her parents tried to force her to sell it. It infuriated me that the mom didn’t help her. I don’t care that she wanted her to sell it, what kind of parents leave their daughter in a house like that because they don’t approve of her career choices or lack of a husband? Her letting her mom dictate to her and disparage her was ridiculous. I also do not understand why her mom received the money from selling the home. It was not left to her, the MFC received ownership in the will from her grandmother to do as she saw fit with it. It was stupid that the money was going to be piled on top of what the mom had already received and was using for constant travel.

I did enjoy small parts of the main characters together. I liked the relationship between her, her brother, and her four sisters. The main characters had very little chemistry or character growth. The story had an interesting premise but the characters were bland, boring, and at times obnoxious. I skimmed parts and finally got to the grand gesture but even that fell flat for me. The book was not what I expected it to be. It was annoying, repetitive, and definitely lacking in romance. She clearly didn’t like middle age white males but supposedly fell in love with one. I guess she just hates the ones involved with academia? I very much do not recommend this book. I received it through Amazon Prime first reads for free.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️- Philippa Flynn’s Year of Panic and Piracy

I really, really wanted to love this one- honestly, the title alone had me sold. It promises chaos, adventure, and a little bit of swashbuckling fun… but for me, it ended up feeling a bit like a slow sail rather than a high-seas adventure.

The book kicks off strong with a near-death experience that jolts Philippa into reevaluating her life, and I was so intrigued by where that might lead. Unfortunately, the pacing didn’t quite match the energy of that opening. For a story with “piracy” in the title, it felt surprisingly slow and more introspective than I expected.

I also struggled with the character dynamics- especially the relationship the MCs mom. It was frustrating watching her tiptoe around such a toxic, judgmental parent without much meaningful growth or pushback. I kept wanting to shake the characters a little and be like… please, stand up for yourself already!

There are definitely moments here that shine, and I can see this working for readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories. I just wish it had leaned a bit more into the bold, adventurous energy the title promises.

[AngelaC]

Many will see this as literary fluff. It follows the tried-and-tested Mills & Boon / Harlequin plot line - girl meets boy without any immediate attraction (or, in some stories, with imediate dislike), attraction grows, some unexpected event pushes them apart, they realise their love for each other and come together again for a happy ending.
This book, however, avoids the pitfalls of the standard romance novel. The characters have more depth. There is warmth in the relationship between the five siblings. There is humour in the way they deal with their truly dreadful mother.
Moreover, the inclusion of excerpts from a "romantasy" story being written by the two main characters, with its stock phrases and over-the-top style, highlights the more measured tones of the Philippa Flynn novel.
I have to admit that I downloaded this book because it was an Amazon Prime freebie - but I ended up enjoying it and, if you're in the mood for a light read, I recommend it.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you judge a book by its cover or feel hesitant about an eccentric title, please do not let those things deter you, because Philippa Flynn’s Year of Panic and Piracy by Jacqueline Firkins is genuinely quite a special book.

‘… wondering when I’ll reach a point where I’m not waiting for something to change, something that makes me enjoy the moment I’m in, instead of gritting my teeth and watching the days, weeks, years slip away. Something that makes me feel like I’m alive.’

The story follows Philippa, a thoroughly burned-out and strictly introverted history professor who takes a literal wake-up call - a sinkhole nearly swallowing her whole - as the final sign to blow up her carefully planned, unfulfilling life. She packs up and moves into a dilapidated seaside house inherited from her late grandmother, a bestselling author famous for writing swashbuckling romances. Philippa expects the maintenance nightmares, the awkward proximity to family members she tried hard to distance herself from, and even the eccentric tenant already living there.

‘I’ve often gravitated to aloneness, though I never meant to cultivate it as my default state. It’s a fine line between alone and lonely, between needing to be away from the noise, the bustle, and the judgment of others and not wanting a life built on silence and solitude.’

What she does not expect is for that tenant to be Dylan, the former romance cover model who famously spent years posing as her grandmother’s bare-chested, cavalier-booted pirate king. As the pair navigate forced proximity in a crumbling house, they stumble upon outlines for unfinished novels and attempt to collaborate, leading to a hilarious and touching dynamic. While Philippa relies entirely on historical facts and Dylan battles severe writer’s block, they quickly discover that crafting fictional love scenes is far more complicated when very real sparks are flying between them.

I completely fell in love with this story, and I found myself relating deeply to the main character as she tries to figure out how to stop hiding behind safety and start actually living. It balances witty humour with deeper explorations of grief, self-discovery, and the bravery it takes to rewrite your own future, making it an absolute must-read that deserves serious consideration for your next read.

‘I didn’t become a historian because I wanted to study wars and conquests. I became a historian because the past matters. If it doesn’t, then the present doesn’t matter, either. We exist not in an instant but in a trajectory with a before and an after. Our lives are an accumulation of tiny histories, and this house is so full of them, both written and lived. It doesn’t deserve to be wiped clean.’

[Nisha Joshi (swamped, will review whenever possible) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

The title was interesting. The story...not so much.


Philippa Flynn is a history professor and she loves her subject. But, as she faces increasing discrimination and student apologetics at her workplace, she is disillusioned. And then, a sinkhole nearly takes her life and she decides to just leave everything and go away to the house her grandmother has given to her in her will.

There is someone living in the house - a caretaker Philippa assumes is old and gnarly, but is in fact a man her age. And what's more, he's featured on her grandmother's smutty pirate novels as a swashbuckling pirate himself!

But he's completely different as a person, Philippa discovers as they spend time together, awkwardly avoiding each other, two introverts painfully aware of the other in a closed space. The story follows them as their friendship and trust grows.

But Philippa has other issues too. Her parents, especially her mother, do not believe in her. Their condescending tone had me on edge all the time they were on page. Philippa does leave her job but then she has no income now and she must come up with something that will keep her afloat. Could her grandmother help her from beyond the grave?

The premise was quite interesting but the pacing lagged. There is too much time spent in making Dylan and Philippa interact. While I do like a good slow burn, this made me feel bored. I am an introvert, too, but if I have to expend so much energy on making someone talk, I'd rather pursue my own hobbies.

The final "miscommunication" trope was absolutely unnecessary and could have been edited out to keep the book shorter. However, I liked that Philippa took a stand for herself in a way that was realistic (both with her parents' and Dylan).

3.5 stars.

[jenny reads a lot]

Immediately need this.

[Nick Lanzetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a free book I got with Amazon's first reads program, and I read it wanting something mindless and easy to read, but it was better than I expected. It follows a history professor who is the granddaughter of a deceased famous author of a spicy romance pirate series and the cover model for the books who meet up and attempt to write the unfinished books in the series. My favorite part was the main character's relationship with her siblings, and I was pleasantly surprised at how deep the book was.

[Ashley Hawke · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. Philippa, you are 34 years old, grow a mf backbone & tell your mom to eat your farts

[Sharon Leff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Panic-busting Pirates!

One of monthly book selections available free to Prime members, this contemporary romance jests at the genre, parrying with tropes, especially the dated swashbuckling pirates and captivating damsels in need of rescue or abduction.

For Phillippa Flynn, the Ph.D. Academic specialist in history of the time, reality and romance have blurred because of her beloved grandmother, a famed author of several series, especially her pirates. After her grandmother’s death, she learns she has inherited the home and the boat built from the series. Along with the inheritance comes an odd requirement. As long as she maintains the house in her name, an occupant, her grandmother’s writing assistant and friend must be permitted to reside freely.

And so after a too-close-to-call, near death from a sinkhole, Philippa reconsiders her life, career, and options. She walks away from a tenured position to embark on an alternative pathway. And within her grandmother’s home, along with the co-occupant, she discovers her own strengths as well as what she has missed.

Fun, fast, joyful read. Love the siblings.

[Chantelle Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3. 🌟 Kindle First Reads August 2026

A story of grief - and how we process it, family - the good, the bad, + the frustrating, and being true to oneself. There's love that blossoms naturally and a legacy that continues even after death. Despite a lot of internal dialogue (which is actually appropriate for this FMC), I laughed and I cried and yearned for my cherished grandmother who meant as much to me as Iris meant to Phillippa. The grief still lingers even 28 years later. Ironically, she also had a flower name.

Definitely a book worth sharing with many and an author whose work deserves further exploration!





****SPOILERS****





"Plans are wonderful, but so is love, and joy, and family, and friendship, and home, and making up stories, and reinventing ourselves when the world throws us curveballs and sinkhole, and being noticed, and the expected thrill of adventure, and fighting for what matters despite our fears, and second chances, and dreaming big, and learning to live with grief without letting it anchor us so firmly to the past we limit our future, and sailing into a beautiful night with a man I once mistook as a pirate with a sense of boundless possibilities, on a ship made of dreams."

[Elly Valdes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um holy shit?!? I did not expect this to hit me right in my feels, I cried several times and it made me feel seen in the way that books can do.

Brb I have to go call my gma and tell her how much she means to me.

[Herbibliomaniac · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[aina · Rating 2 out of 5]

i was so excited for this book, unfortunately it was so SO boring

it was not an epic and fun book about panic and piracy (as i was expecting)
SOMEHOW every conversation turned into the main character complaining about her unsupportive mother or socity being misogynistic, every single time
i'm not here to be reminded of life, i just want a cute little romance to get lost in, sigh

anyways, i was basically skimming the book after the 50% and every paragraph was the same, just a new way to complain about society and family

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

she’s a cutie and a quickie

[Carin Ganjon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philippa quits her job as a tenured teacher to go back to Maine where her grandmothers house is which was left to her to discover herself and a little romance ensues the best kind of summer romance whimsical with a decent story attached. Kept me engaged, characters were realistic and funny, dialogue was great, story line while some what ridiculous was entire plausible. Really enjoyed it. *Thank you Amazon First Reads*

[Marisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

girl wtf was that

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun! A romcom but also an unusual and enjoyable take on family dynamics.

Read this and tell me what you think of the fancy coffee machine subplot.

Although they were not the heroes, and in fact they were downright obnoxious, I liked something about the retired parents traveling on an inherited windfall :)

[camila · Rating 3 out of 5]

“𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”

This was an intriguing read! Jacqueline Firkins’ newest book follows Philippa Flynn as she realises life is too short to stay in her miserable job and in her miserable relationship. So she uproots her life and moves to Maine to live in her late grandmother’s home… alongside her mysterious co-writer.

Philippa is relatable, easy to root for, and authentic, which makes her a great setup for an imperfect FMC. She’s someone you’re excited to grow alongside!! Throughout the novel, Philippa is belittled by her family, which is frustrating to see, but I was interested in following her journey to fighting back 😌 And that’s where this fell short for me. Despite the emphasis on her resentment toward her mother, Philippa never pushes back in a meaningful way. This is a character-driven story, so I was obviously invested in her, but ultimately, I wanted more character growth. Philippa has the foundation for a captivating protagonist, but, in my opinion, the opportunity was missed.

This leans heavily toward women’s fiction, but I do have to mention the co-writer Philippa moves in with, Dylan Fleming, who was a nice addition to this story. I really did love the humanity and humour he offered Philippa. He was so kind! The way he truly understood her when no one else had tried was sweet. Dylan felt like a missing piece in a lot of ways. But if you're looking for a steamy romance where the sparks fly, this is probably not it. Dylan is compelling, but he’s also mostly a listening ear :)

Philippa’s relationship with her siblings stood out to me! As they began to reflect on and reject the more manipulative dynamics in their family, and as Philippa came to see that she was lucky to have them, I grew to care about them more, too. In a novel that could’ve become too stationary fast, they added never-ending entertainment!!

Also, the snippets from the pirate book Philippa was working on with Dylan were fun. I liked following their creative journey! And the way that intertwined with Philippa’s slow acceptance of the scary and uncertain things in life was beautiful. I reflected quite a bit while reading this 🫂 I loved the reminder that happiness can matter more than stability, "common sense," or the judgment of those you love most.

Philippa Flynn's Year of Panic and Piracy isn’t a favourite, but I enjoyed my time with it!! Thank you, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley, for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

[Val Suchecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Phillippa Flynn’s near death experience when her bike gets sucked into a sink hole catapults her into quitting her miserable job, breaking up with her situationship, and moving across the country into the barely-standing house her grandmother left her in her will. The catch is, someone else lives there.

Phillippa arrives at the house to find her grandma’s co-author is not the frowning older man her google search turned up, but rather the sexy pirate king from the covers of her grandma’s romantasy book series.

This book has slow burn romance, complex family dynamics, academia burnout, grief over losing a loved one, and sexy pirates. The growth of the characters and relationships made the slow burn worth it. I found myself becoming frustrated with the characters, because they felt real and not perfect. Philippa’s parents inability to let her make decisions based on her own happiness, Dylan not being able to process his feelings and squatting for 6+ years. Philippa for putting everyone else’s ideas of what her life should be before her own.

I enjoyed experiencing each character grow and have the courage to live a life that makes them happy.

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Philippa has had it with her dream job in academia. She's tired of being taken for granted and looked over with little to no appreciation. She breaks up with her career and moves in to the crumbling manor her grandmother willed her years ago that just happens to come with a hermit of a roommate who used to work with her grandmother. To Philippa's surprise, Dylan does not look like Santa but 100% resembles the romance heroes featured on her grandmother's piratey historical fiction books.
I wasn't really sure what this book was about when I picked it up and it just blew me away. Which shouldn't surpise me as I very much enjoyed Marlowe Banks, Redesigned, but I think the cover is just vague enough that I wasn't sure what I was in for. I L.O.V.E.D. it! From Philippa's struggles with her job and stagnant life to her delayed grief and need for love to the crumbling estate she isn't quite sure what to do with, it all was cohesively lovely. Philippa and Dylan together are incredibly endearing.
Thank you to the author for the traveling arc copy. All thoughts are my own.

[G.F. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqueline Firkins’ writing style makes her books feel very grounded and lifelike. This one did not disappoint. The many threads of the main character’s story weave together into a central question: How do we let go, what is worth fighting for, and how do we tell the difference? The sibling relationships are a delight, the “can’t have it all” conundrum is relatable, and the Pirate King is swoonworthy and broody — as he should be.

This is an ADULT book. This is not a recommendation for my young teen readers.

[Brigitte · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 25%, I did not enjoy whatever this was.

I got this book through Amazon, I think it was one of the free books in August. The free Amazon books are always terrible and this one is no exception. It should have been fun, a college professor has an existential crisis and blows up her own life to move to her grandma's old house where gran's assistant has been squatting since her death. Then as it turns out - GASP - he's hot?! and the two decide to finish writing grandma's pirate romance series together and probably fall in love.

It WOULD be a fun, campy romance premise if the book didn't seem to look down on romance.

The author wants to you know that Phillipa is Not Like the Other Girls TM as she is introduced, "silently singing along to a pop song I’d never publicly admit knowing all the words." Because pop music (girl stuff) is lame!! (because internalized misogyny). And maybe she unpacks this by the end, but I highly doubt it.

Anyway, Phillipa is a history professor and her grandma, who she loved, just wrote dumb stupid romances for lonely dried up old HUSKS or whatever. She was a bestseller, sure, but a bestseller of LAME GARBAGE so WHO'D CARE. But Phillipa needs money having blown up her life for no reason, so she'll write her grandma's stupid bestselling books or whatever. (Probably better because everyone knows campy pirate romance would only be improved by HISTORICAL ACCURACY.) Sorry, sarcasm is my coping mechanism.

Phillipa describes romance readers thusly, "I appreciate that it provides an escape and the glamour, passion, and excitement people might be missing in their own lives, but I can’t imagine reading this stuff and seeing myself in it." This is ironic because Phillipa's live is not glamorous, passionate, or exciting, and, again, maybe she unpacks this later; however, this is the prevailing attitude toward romance readers and it's a gross one. It's a critique leveled at primarily women readers of a primarily women-authored genre and it is steeped heavily in aforementioned internalized misogyny. She continues a bit later, "They made me feel like only the beautiful and brave even found love and adventure," and ... I DO think brave people are a little more likely to find adventure and the thing about love is nonsense to anyone who has powers of observation. Anyway.

Aside from the main character's insufferable critiques of romance the plot is agonizingly slow. The love interest whose name I don't remember is both comically hot, comically shy, and shamelessly freeloading off of Phillipa. Their chemistry is nonexistent to the point of their "truth or dare" interactions feeling like an embarrassing hostage situation. Let the insanely hot man return to his inexplicable spaghetti-only eating lifestyle in peace (after kicking him out).

If you loved it though I'm happy for you and if I'm wrong and Phillipa has a feminist awakening great, but I can't fathom it and I don't care what happens to these characters at all.

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philippa Flynn’s Year of Panic and Piracy was such a refreshing change from a lot of books because both characters were on their own journeys of figuring out who they are and what they truly want out of life. I found their experiences so relatable, especially the reminder that not every path we hope for or envision is necessarily the one that will work out.

This was definitely a slow burn, but I loved that it gave us the opportunity to experience firsthand how Dylan slowly starts to open up to Philippa. We get to go on that journey with her, from the initial misunderstandings and not quite knowing what to make of him to eventually having those “aw, my heart” moments as we discover what a genuinely sweet man he is.

I also loved the relationship between Philippa and her siblings. It felt so real and honest, especially seeing how they grew closer as they got older. Her relationship with her parents, on the other hand, was hard to read at times. There were definitely some toxic dynamics, but I appreciated watching Philippa grow, recognize what she wanted, and ultimately decide to live her life on her own terms.

One of my favorite things about Philippa and Dylan's journey was that it didn't follow a traditional or expected path. They figured out what was right for them, found their person, and had the courage to choose the kind of life that truly fit. And honestly, I loved that.

This book was tender and sweet but also heartbreaking at times in the best way. It's one of those stories that builds as you read, slowly pulling you in until you find yourself completely invested in Philippa and Dylan and just wanting to see their journey come to fruition so they can finally live their best lives.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the eARC and to the author for the physical ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Eline Pols]

Thanks to netgally and Brilliance publishing for the arc!
I love the cover, I loved the family dynamics, I loved the setup and the premise, I loved the romance writing aspects, the male love interest and the important subjects this book brought light to. There is awareness for woman who don't want to become mothers, parental favouritism and misogyny in academia.
Unfortunately this book didnt work for me. I don't think it was bad at all. My 22 y/o self simply couldn't relate to the 34 year old struggling academia professor. I don't usually have a problem relating to older book charachters (mc's of romances are almost always older than me, including those of the romance short stories and novel I wrote myself) but this time it just didn't work for me. The book was also to slow paced for my liking and there was too much negativity for the escapism I was craving. Again these are all preferences not signs of bad writing.
Dnf @40%

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had been quite a while since I’d read a romance novel, and Philip Flynn’s Year of Panic and Piracy reminded me both of what I enjoy about the genre—and what I don’t.

The premise is fun, if admittedly contrived, the parents are almost comically over-the-top, and the pirate is particularly appealing! There was enough humor, romance, and charm to keep me reading much longer than I expected.

Unfortunately, the increasingly descriptive sex scenes eventually became too much for me. I found myself skimming more and more, and finally skipped ahead to the ending. I enjoy romantic tension, attraction, and a good love story, but prefer the bedroom door to close considerably sooner.

Still, it was a fun change of pace and reminded me that I might enjoy exploring romance again—just with a little more Georgette Heyer and a little less detail.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a bookish romance and Jacqueline Firkins is a fav Canadian romance author. In this one, she brings her academic background to the FMC, Philippa who is struggling with what she wants to do after quitting her tenured history professor position and moving into her grandmother's rundown cottage where she encounters the grumpy, cover model/slash aspiring divorced writer who worked as her grandmother's assistant.

Together, the take on the task of writing the next book in her grandmother's beloved romantasy series, falling in love along the way. This had great sibling relationships, family drama, a book in a book romance and forced proximity, steamy heat! Excellent on audio and perfect for fans of books like The roughest draft or Beach read. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Christina Morland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely blend of romance and reality

Contemporary romance novelists have to contend with some seriously challenging genre requirements: they have to build real, meaningful characters who confront real, meaningful obstacles and still manage to form real, meaningful relationships — all in a perfectly-paced formula promising a happily-ever-after in fewer than 120,000 words. Oh, and while the characters, setting, and conflicts have to be real, they can’t be too real, or that just kills the romance, you know?

Or maybe not. Maybe, once in a while, you get to read a contemporary romance that meets those genre requirements head-on and emerges as such a lovely blend of romance and reality that you get to revel in the joy of reading a really good story, period.

Thanks to Jacqueline Firkins for writing this book. I very much enjoyed my time with Philippa, Dylan, and the entire cast of characters in the novel.