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A Few Tables Away: Glenhaven Book One
Evan Shaw has wanted to be invisible since he was twelve. A shadow of guilt and fear follow him wherever he goes, even across the country. Not even sunny Glenhaven, Florida could chase away the dark clouds of Evan’s past. It’s not until the college library that Evan finally wished someone would see him. Dani Bishop was born and raised in Glenhaven. The daughter of two professors at Edgewater College, she starts her freshman year, eyeing the cute guy in the library. Getting to know him isn’t easy, and she realizes there’s more to him and his past than meets the eye.Evan wants a future away from fear and hatred, and he’ll eventually have to face those things head-on. But first, he’ll try to work up the courage to talk to the girl in the college library just a few tables away.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2019
30 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Deb Rotuno
5 books66 followersDeb has been married to her husband for going on 14 years. They've always had rescued pets, and at the moment, they have 4 cats.
She was born and raised in central Florida. She loves the warm temperatures. She's worked in retail for almost 17 years, but if she were able to do anything she wanted, she would be a full-time reader, writer, and fur-baby mom.
She has always been a big reader, and writing was something she started late in high school, but she began to dabble in it again once she discovered fanfic in 2009. Since then, she's read and written plenty in her spare time, especially since she cannot watch a TV show or a movie without thinking about how she could write a story like it.
She was born and raised in central Florida. She loves the warm temperatures. She's worked in retail for almost 17 years, but if she were able to do anything she wanted, she would be a full-time reader, writer, and fur-baby mom.
She has always been a big reader, and writing was something she started late in high school, but she began to dabble in it again once she discovered fanfic in 2009. Since then, she's read and written plenty in her spare time, especially since she cannot watch a TV show or a movie without thinking about how she could write a story like it.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 10, 2019
Evan and Dani are so freaking cute.
October 1, 2025
I thought we left pick me girls and sl*t shaming in 2015.
DNF 12%
DNF 12%
September 21, 2024
DNF at 47%
In short:
The Author is trying to come off as showing a Profoundly deep romantic connection. How I actually interpret the word-choice and writing-style, however, is "Insincere" and "Vapid".
A bit longer:
The story itself isn't too bad: person moves to new place, crushes on person they seen in library, ends up having an adorable meet-cute at their place of employment, eventually they hook up. I could go on, but overall, it's nice enough. Nothing particularly amazing, but clears the bar well enough.
However, the writing style ends up making the story feel incredibly... "Default romance"? Like, instead of having interesting conversations about their likes, dislikes, preferrences, and hobbies...They just go back and forth telling each other "You're beautiful" and "You're perfect" and "I like Everything about you". It feels like their dialogue and internal monologues were lifted out of a Generic "usable in any romance" guidebook. As a result, I just couldn't really buy into the sincerity of their connection: it felt entirely like it was forced by the plot, and the author was shoving default NPC dialogue into their mouths.
This even extends to plot events:
The book hamfistedly foreshadows multiple events that I didn't even need to finish the book to know for 100% certain they happened in the book (I won't spoil, but they're pretty obvious).
Things either go saccharinely-sweet and perfect (Meet the in-laws? Everyone instantly gets along and loves each other) or go melodramatically bad (Bully shows up out of nowhere and humiliates one of Main Characters). Most of the Bad happens solely to have someone step in and show how noble they are by fixing the problem.
There's also a disconnect, which I will charitably say is the result of different dialects (but privately, I question if it's just bad writing). Brother/Sister pairs will talk like "How's it going, Big Sis?", "Oh, I'm doing okay, Little Brother. How is Father?", "Father is doing well, Big Sis.". To me, this is extremely artificial and forced, akin to someone who's never had siblings trying to write sibling-dialogue.
So, overall, the book was just kind of too uncomfortable to read. It felt too artificial to continue reading. I might go back and Skim it, to get some closure, but I already know how the book ends, given the foreshadowing.
In short:
The Author is trying to come off as showing a Profoundly deep romantic connection. How I actually interpret the word-choice and writing-style, however, is "Insincere" and "Vapid".
A bit longer:
The story itself isn't too bad: person moves to new place, crushes on person they seen in library, ends up having an adorable meet-cute at their place of employment, eventually they hook up. I could go on, but overall, it's nice enough. Nothing particularly amazing, but clears the bar well enough.
However, the writing style ends up making the story feel incredibly... "Default romance"? Like, instead of having interesting conversations about their likes, dislikes, preferrences, and hobbies...They just go back and forth telling each other "You're beautiful" and "You're perfect" and "I like Everything about you". It feels like their dialogue and internal monologues were lifted out of a Generic "usable in any romance" guidebook. As a result, I just couldn't really buy into the sincerity of their connection: it felt entirely like it was forced by the plot, and the author was shoving default NPC dialogue into their mouths.
This even extends to plot events:
The book hamfistedly foreshadows multiple events that I didn't even need to finish the book to know for 100% certain they happened in the book (I won't spoil, but they're pretty obvious).
Things either go saccharinely-sweet and perfect (Meet the in-laws? Everyone instantly gets along and loves each other) or go melodramatically bad (Bully shows up out of nowhere and humiliates one of Main Characters). Most of the Bad happens solely to have someone step in and show how noble they are by fixing the problem.
There's also a disconnect, which I will charitably say is the result of different dialects (but privately, I question if it's just bad writing). Brother/Sister pairs will talk like "How's it going, Big Sis?", "Oh, I'm doing okay, Little Brother. How is Father?", "Father is doing well, Big Sis.". To me, this is extremely artificial and forced, akin to someone who's never had siblings trying to write sibling-dialogue.
So, overall, the book was just kind of too uncomfortable to read. It felt too artificial to continue reading. I might go back and Skim it, to get some closure, but I already know how the book ends, given the foreshadowing.
November 2, 2020
Someone mentioned this as a shy-guy/beta hero/cinnamon roll romance, and it iiiiiis, but. Hmmm.
The romance is . . . not the plot. Like, the ML and FL are both super attractive and get together almost immediately. There is some angst about him not feeling worthy, but the reason Evan is so introverted is a not-so-visible scar and a mountain of guilt heaped upon him by his abusive a-hole father. Another story where the tragic backstory does the heavy lifting where character is concerned.
The only conflict is the DRAMA of Evan’s home life, and there is a lot of repetition about that. The dad is a twisting his mustache gleefully while his children are tied to the railroad tracks OTT villain, and yeesh it was a lot. I mean, yeah, Evan’s shy, but he’s like Clark Kent with contacts (he actually wears contacts, but that’s not actually the point.)
I guess I went in hoping for a not-so-perfect guy who’s insecure but meets a girl who appreciates him, only I got perfect guy crippled by emotional abuse instead. I also think this a book that had a title before it was written, because it only applies to the first 5% of the book.
The romance is . . . not the plot. Like, the ML and FL are both super attractive and get together almost immediately. There is some angst about him not feeling worthy, but the reason Evan is so introverted is a not-so-visible scar and a mountain of guilt heaped upon him by his abusive a-hole father. Another story where the tragic backstory does the heavy lifting where character is concerned.
The only conflict is the DRAMA of Evan’s home life, and there is a lot of repetition about that. The dad is a twisting his mustache gleefully while his children are tied to the railroad tracks OTT villain, and yeesh it was a lot. I mean, yeah, Evan’s shy, but he’s like Clark Kent with contacts (he actually wears contacts, but that’s not actually the point.)
I guess I went in hoping for a not-so-perfect guy who’s insecure but meets a girl who appreciates him, only I got perfect guy crippled by emotional abuse instead. I also think this a book that had a title before it was written, because it only applies to the first 5% of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2025
Good story
This is more of a family drama than a romance to me. Evan and Dani have a great relationship right from the start. It's duel pov but the majority of the book is told from Evan's pov. Dani really only seems to exist to love him and worry about him. The found family aspect of this book is nice if not a little cheesy. All of the drama plays out between Evan and his father. Literally every other character in the book is perfect. That left the romance a little flat because they were together almost immediately and never so much as had a disagreement. The reason I only gave it 3 stars is the constant stuttering and stammering. It made sense for Evan to do that because he was shy and awkward, but Dani, who is supposed to be outspoken with no filter was constantly doing it too. Then Faith had a habit of it and it just became too much. It's hard to read a book that way and this author got carried away with it. If she would have only had Evan do it it would have been fine. Still a nice read but if you're looking for a more romance focused book with some angst you'll need to keep looking.
This is more of a family drama than a romance to me. Evan and Dani have a great relationship right from the start. It's duel pov but the majority of the book is told from Evan's pov. Dani really only seems to exist to love him and worry about him. The found family aspect of this book is nice if not a little cheesy. All of the drama plays out between Evan and his father. Literally every other character in the book is perfect. That left the romance a little flat because they were together almost immediately and never so much as had a disagreement. The reason I only gave it 3 stars is the constant stuttering and stammering. It made sense for Evan to do that because he was shy and awkward, but Dani, who is supposed to be outspoken with no filter was constantly doing it too. Then Faith had a habit of it and it just became too much. It's hard to read a book that way and this author got carried away with it. If she would have only had Evan do it it would have been fine. Still a nice read but if you're looking for a more romance focused book with some angst you'll need to keep looking.
May 16, 2024
A very sweet but slight romance focused on one character's journey to overcome past trauma. The story is engaging, and the writing is solid with most of the drama coming from the main character's family situation.
The love story progresses in a pretty straightforward manner. It's sweet, though the female main character (and her family) is a bit too good to be true. It's less a will they or won't they romance and more of watching the process of someone opening themselves up to a relationship. It's delightful but very linear.
The past trauma portion of the story provides the tension and does a good job of engaging you and moving you along, though it feels very black and white. The feelings are written with nuance, but the characters are all either wonderful or terrible.
Overall, it's enjoyable and non-stressful, but missing something to take it to the next level.
The love story progresses in a pretty straightforward manner. It's sweet, though the female main character (and her family) is a bit too good to be true. It's less a will they or won't they romance and more of watching the process of someone opening themselves up to a relationship. It's delightful but very linear.
The past trauma portion of the story provides the tension and does a good job of engaging you and moving you along, though it feels very black and white. The feelings are written with nuance, but the characters are all either wonderful or terrible.
Overall, it's enjoyable and non-stressful, but missing something to take it to the next level.
September 15, 2021
Nice, easy read
Read this story when it was initially a fan fiction so it was difficult (basically impossible) for me to see the characters as anyone other than the ones from the fan fiction.
This is a very sweet story. It’s well written and I would definitely classify it as a beach read (which I enjoy from time to time). I give it 3 stars because even though there wasn’t anything that was really wrong with the book, there also wasn’t a whole lot that was new or interesting. I tend to lean more towards fantasy-driven worlds and I read books like this one to break up the different worlds that I explore.
Read this story when it was initially a fan fiction so it was difficult (basically impossible) for me to see the characters as anyone other than the ones from the fan fiction.
This is a very sweet story. It’s well written and I would definitely classify it as a beach read (which I enjoy from time to time). I give it 3 stars because even though there wasn’t anything that was really wrong with the book, there also wasn’t a whole lot that was new or interesting. I tend to lean more towards fantasy-driven worlds and I read books like this one to break up the different worlds that I explore.
January 28, 2025
Oh my goodness what an amazing story
I can't believe how much I felt for Evan throughout this whole story. It felt so tragic and I loved Dani more for it all.
This has probably been one of the best things I've read in YEARS. The romance was cute and the characters felt real
Author knew how to write a broken family as well as the opposite and showed them both so well in this.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
I can't believe how much I felt for Evan throughout this whole story. It felt so tragic and I loved Dani more for it all.
This has probably been one of the best things I've read in YEARS. The romance was cute and the characters felt real
Author knew how to write a broken family as well as the opposite and showed them both so well in this.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
December 23, 2024
excellent angsty read
This book is reasonably light. That however belies the amazing amount of angst the author packs in there. I read it in a day and a half over Christmas vacation and it haunted me until it was done. Not a ton of external conflict, but the twisty inner workings make up for it.
This book is reasonably light. That however belies the amazing amount of angst the author packs in there. I read it in a day and a half over Christmas vacation and it haunted me until it was done. Not a ton of external conflict, but the twisty inner workings make up for it.
September 27, 2025
they were too perfect, their trajectory of their relationship was too smooth. They saw each other, fell in love pretty early in the book, and then just....kept being in love till the end of the book.
It made it boring to read.
Anyways, i especially loved the FMC. We don't read FMCs' who are obsessed with the MMC and give them compliments enough.
It made it boring to read.
Anyways, i especially loved the FMC. We don't read FMCs' who are obsessed with the MMC and give them compliments enough.
June 15, 2020
Beautiful
Loved this book. New author and can't wait to read more stories from you. Loved how you made it feel like we got to be with them through there while life and didn't just cut off and say hea
Loved this book. New author and can't wait to read more stories from you. Loved how you made it feel like we got to be with them through there while life and didn't just cut off and say hea
March 8, 2020
I hated the whole repetitive "Big brother" "baby brother/sister" & "pretty girl". It's okay to say it but not every two sentences 🙄🙄
April 3, 2020
Drift away from stress
A wonderful story by an exceptional author! I can't wait to read more in the Glenhaven series. Thank you, Deb!
A wonderful story by an exceptional author! I can't wait to read more in the Glenhaven series. Thank you, Deb!
November 9, 2021
Cute and amazing story
The book was cute and nice to read when he open up to her and she was very understanding with him
The book was cute and nice to read when he open up to her and she was very understanding with him
October 14, 2023
Omg!!! So freaking awesome!!! I absolutely loved this book. The characters are wonderful! The story! Everything! So good!!!!!
August 24, 2024
Flo Rida is not in a florida book. 0/10
September 2, 2024
Just heartwarmingly fantastic.
This was a beautiful read. I loved the characters and the story. The dialogue was very well done and it had a happy ending!
This was a beautiful read. I loved the characters and the story. The dialogue was very well done and it had a happy ending!
October 30, 2020
I loved it! It's funny, romantic and has a lot of suspense.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews