Twice Shy

by Sarah Hogle

Can you find real love when you've always got your head in the clouds?

Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start.

Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn't the only she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who's as grouchy as he is gorgeous--and it turns out he has a very different vision for the property's future.

Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley's scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one's comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult, Enemies To Lovers, Chick Lit

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2021

About the author

Sarah Hogle is a mom of three who enjoys trashy TV and provoking her husband for attention. Her dream is to live in a falling-apart castle in a forest that is probably cursed. Her novels are You Deserve Each Other, Twice Shy, Just Like Magic, and Old Flames and New Fortunes.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attention to the following things:
- raindrops on roses
- whiskers on kittens
- bright copper kettles
- warm woolen mittens
- etc.

You are officially ON NOTICE.

https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...

Because you can no longer qualify as a few of ANYONE'S favorite things when Sarah Hogle is writing romance novels.

I almost never love anything. The idea of wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings can hardly bring even the ghost of a smile to my evil face. My average rating on this godforsaken website has been under three stars for more than three years. I eat pain for breakfast. And those are just three examples.

But one thing I did love is Sarah Hogle's debut, You Deserve Each Other. In fact, I loved it so much that I read it like a million times (okay, four, but honestly that's almost as shocking) and felt Emotion and Pangs To The Heart and Butterflies and otherwise feelings that tend to be the stuff of my nightmares every time.

And since lightning doesn't strike twice (lightning in this case being me acting like a normal person), I assumed this would be a three and a half star read, tops. Because I do not deserve happiness and have presumably been cursed by some sort of witch or creature with haunting capabilities or mean anthropomorphic pond dweller to ensure it.

And this isn't a five star read.

But it's pretty close.

I tend to like a little hatefulness in my romance novels. A little darkness. A little b*tchiness. That's why You Deserve Each Other, a book with several top reviews that are like "why are this people so mean," worked for me SO well.

And this is a VERY sweet book. A little too much so, for me. I like a daydreamer or a sweetiepie as much as the next person, but as it turns out I draw the line at elaborate romance-novel-within-a-romance-novel AUs.

But this is fun anyway.

Bottom line: Cure for cynicism discovered by Sarah Hogle! Yours for the low low price of like...under $20, or something. I don't know. It's worth it.

------------------
reread update

this particular reread was not EXACTLY what i needed, but this book was the first time i read it, so i'm (mostly) leaving the review and only dropping it a star.

also, when you're comparing something to the perfect romance, it's hard for anything to live up to it.

------------------
pre-review

a few things:
1) while reading this, i pressed my hand to my heart on multiple occasions, like an affronted victorian woman
2) i feel like my emotions and brain and soul just went through a blender, which it turns out is a good feeling
3) i might cry????
4) i think this is the best romance i've ever read.

review to come / 5 STARS!!!!!!!

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tbr review

I AM HOLDING MY MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR IN MY HANDS.

[chan ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

good LORD this was sweet

i really was unsure going into this book how i would feel. didn't absolutely love this author's debut but there is something that is so enchanting about her writing style. it manages to make you laugh out loud, swoon, and tingle in the nethers.

this book did all of that and provided us with more interaction between hero/heroine than it's predecessor. i was a little worried until the 40% mark that i would have the same complaints that i had with You Deserve Each Other: not enough interactions between the couple and also an obvious lack of hero POV. some romances can get away with one POV but like 90% of the time i want to know what the dude thinks of the heroine. this book managed to convince me of the suitably of this couple without that second POV and we really got to see the core of the hero pretty quickly.

he was fucking PRECIOUS. like the gooiest cinnamon roll. and the reveal that happens at the 40% mark is literally the beginning of an avalanche of cute. i'm like 2 for 2 on amazing heroes named Wes at the moment.

anyway. pick this up when it comes out in April, you will not regret it.

[Warda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could just about handle how cute this book was.

I was hugely anticipating this book since I adored You Deserve Each Other so much (I marked this book as ‘currently reading’ even though it wasn’t out yet), and whilst I prefer the first book, I had such a great time with Wesley and Maybell. I feel like whenever I do decide to reread this book again, I’m going to love it even more.

The writing was so playful, so enjoyable to read. Both these characters were ridiculously relatable: Wesley with his grumpiness, social anxiety and his reluctance to people-ing and Maybell being in a constant dream coma. Her head was always high in the clouds.
Plus she’s an INFP. This woman is my soulmate.

Everything about this story worked. I had no idea what to expect going in but was happy with the journey it took me on. I wanted more as I always do when I’m reluctant to let a story go.

The second novel by Sarah Hogle was a winner for sure.

[jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

well, this story is so sweet that my doctor just diagnosed me with diabetes. but its a burden i am willing to bear because the sugary goodness of this book is too lovely to pass up on.

and i think what i love even more than the sweet nature of the story is the fact that so many readers will feel seen through wes’ character. he is just… ugh. i dont even know how i can describe how much i love wesley and what his character represents. i got so attached to him and adored how good maybell is to and for him.

i loved SHs first book, but this sophomore novel is honestly even better. she has officially instated herself as an ‘auto buy’ author for me.

such a big thanks to penguin/putnam for send me an ARC!

↠ 4.5 stars

[✨ A ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never known such agony and such joy as waiting for a Sarah Hogle book to release and then finally getting to read it. This is my new occupation.

If anyone asks what I do, I will boldly reply with: I am in screensaver mode, patiently waiting for Sarah to bring me to life.

“I want to believe there are still wonders out there left unspoiled.”

When Maybell Parish inherits her great-aunt Violet's mansion she takes it as her sign to quit her old job and make a fresh start. What she thought was the answer to all her money problems, turns out to be a bigger task than anticipated.

She finds out that the handsome but grouchy groundskeeper, Wesley, also inherited half of the mansion. Not to mention the fact that the grand house she remembers from her childhood is now in a state of ruin.

The two of them have very different plans for the house and will have to find common ground on what to do with the mansion that means so much to them both.


The little girl on the burgundy sofa has grown up, but being a grown-up isn’t at all the way she thought it’d be.


I honestly don't know how S.H manages to get me like this. She writes characters I feel like I can relate to despite the wide differences in our situations and personalities.

Hogle's writing style in the contemporary romance genre is unmatched. The unfiltered rambling of the main character has me choking on my laughter. The humour straddles the line of ridiculously funny and downright relatable.

Maybell was a joy to read about. Though she exudes joy and has a bright personality she's also really lonely and non confrontational - which i thought was a combination that felt really authentic.

Wesley is such a sweet teddy bear beneath the crabby outer shell. Watching as he slowly started to let Maybell in was the sweetest thing I've ever read. * wipes away tear *

“And all along, you were just out here.” I am off the rails now.
“Being you. And I was over there, not even knowing.”

The author really aced the sunshine/grump trope in Twice Shy. I loved Maybell's day dreaming and constant positivity in contrast with Wesley's grumpy demeanor.

Twice Shy was a sickeningly sweet book that will join You Deserve Each Other on my favourites list. Adorable and wholesome 😭💖
4.5 stars
__
I need this like I need air.

• Release Date: 6 April 2021 •


Find Me: Ko-Fi • Blog • Tiktok • Instagram • Twitter

[EmBibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I'll just take my unimportant unpopular opinion and go set in a corner. I guess this author's books just not for me. They just don't work for me and i kinda can't get into them for some reason.

Also. Gemma might be the worst kind of human being to ever exist. what kind of messed up person do that???

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars



When I heard Sarah Hogle had a new book releasing, I jumped for joy. I was obsessed with her debut novel and I couldn't wait to read more from her. When I first started reading the book seemed a little...well, for lack of a better word, odd to me. Then I remembered that the start of 'You Deserve Each Other' wasn't my favorite, but that book became everything. This was somewhat of the same. The first half was a little slow and even strange at times, but that second half... it was perfection.

Mabell Parish lives in her mind a lot of the time- it's better than the outside world. When she inherits her Great-Aunt's estate, she has big plans for it. That is, until she finds out she has a co-inheritor. Her Aunt Violet's groundskeeper, Wesley. Wesley and Maybell couldn't have different ideas for the estate, and it causes some tension at first. Up until about the 40% mark, I wasn't sure about this couple or how things would work out, but then- things change.

Wesley seems a bit of a grouch, or maybe he's just shy, but when he starts to show his true colors, he has such a beautiful soul. Then there is Maybell. Sometimes I have trouble relating to characters like Maybell because I'm more of the practical type and less of a dreamer, but for some reason, I felt really connected to her. And Wesley... he was the most incredible hero. I could not have loved these two more. Together they were magic. This entire book felt magical to me in the best way.

If you love a good slow burn romance, quirky heroines, precious cinnamon roll heroes, and swoony romance, Twice Shy is the book for you. Sarah Hogle is quickly becoming a favorite of mine with two 5 star favorites! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

I feel like I’ve finally found home.

[Phuong ✯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

– 3 stars

Reading Sarah Hogle's debut novel You Deserve Each Other last year was such a pleasant surprise and it made me push all of Sarah Hogle's upcoming releases in my auto-read list. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to like this, it kind of fell flat. 🤷🏽‍♀️

━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━
PLOT
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Maybell doesn't like her work, she doesn't like her coworkers and is pretty much unhappy with her life. That's why she daydreams a lot about her own 'Maybell Coffee Shop AU' that includes some hot guy named Jack instead of facing reality. Until one day, when she gets the message that her great-aunt Violet has died and left Maybell her estate. Maybell takes that opportunity to pack her bag and starts a new life. When she arrives at the estate, she finds out that she is not the sole inheritor of the house. Instead she has to share everything with Wesley, the groundkeeper who cared for Violet the last few years. Wesley is grumpy and quiet and they don't agree on anything when it comes to what to do with the estate, but renovating the house together brings them closer and closer together.

tropes: forced proximity, sunshine-grumpy, soft cinnamon roll Hero, slow-burn

━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━
MAYBEEL PARRISH (h)
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My biggest issue with this book is with Maybell. I couldn't relate to Maybell at all. She's getting pushed around a lot and doesn't do anything about it. Her coworker Gemma treated her awfully and went behind her back to do some very shitty things, just because some guy Gemma had a crush on flirted with Maybell and asked for her number and what does Maybell do? N-o-t-h-i-n-g. She just let it slide and doesn't talk about it. Sweet heroines are not my favorites admittedly, but I do like them if they have some backbone, which I couldn't find with Maybell's doormat-y behavior. What's the point of having a huge heart, if you just let everyone trample on it as they like.

Secondly, Maybell's daydreaming activities were a bit too much for me. That's something that should have been relatable on paper since the coffee shop AU she creates in her mind is her safe place from everything around her, the same way we read books to immerse ourself into different worlds and characters. But Maybell did it constantly and her descriptions of those fantasy scenes were so vivid that the lines between her fantasy and her reality were all blurring together, which made it difficult for me to keep up. A couple of times I had to go back and re-read certain scenes to be sure that what was happening was happening for real and not one of Maybell's fantasies, which wasn't great for the reading flow to be honest.

Anyone thought the way the book ended was really weird or was it just me? I read that last scene a couple of times and I'm still confused... was that another of Maybell fantasies?? It must be right? Somehow it was fitting to start the book with Maybell daydreaming and to end it with her daydreaming, but for me it was mostly confusing. I'm getting a headache thinking about all of it. 🙃

━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━
WESLEY KOEHLER (H)
━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━

Wesley carried the whole book on his back. If it wasn't for Wesley, I'd probably given Twice Shy a lower rating.

"I'm not that strong at all," he replies modestly, head duckling, "but for you, I can be strong enough."

Wesley is such a quiet soft marshmallow and I wanted to give him a hug all the time (even tho he would run away from me if I get too close bc of his social anxiety). Wesley can deal with plants and animal better than he could with people. Just the thought of having to interact with people in close space is giving this guy a heart attack, but for Maybell he is trying his best. He is so precious and MUST BE PROTECTED!!

I adore heroes that subtly show how much they care by their actions. Wesley's tactic at the beginning was to avoid Maybell as much as possible, making her feel like he doesn't like her, but with each new reveal it made me fall in love wit him more and more, he can be such an overbearer dad sometimes with how he keeps feeding Maybell, forcing her to drink water to stay hydrated, give her a jacket when she's cold + how insecure and shy he is about himself. I feel like hating on Wesley is like hating on baby kittens... not acceptable.

━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━
THE ROMANCE
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The first time Maybell describes Wes eyes and I was like ???

His eyes have no equal, truly. They're like stones in a riverbed. They're bornze coins. They're the leather journal of a sad, sensitive empath who writes poetry about lost lovers.

What??? That's oddly specific. 👀

Wesley and Maybell were soooo awkward and shy together. Both of them are like 30 yrs old acting like teens having their first crush.

It was adorable, because Maybell is the first woman Wesley can freely talk to. With his anxiety he has a hard time connecting and trusting people and Maybell gave him the freedom to be himself. In turn Wes gave her a place where she belonged and loved. The one thing she always longed for all her life.

All the scenes between Wesley and Maybell from the 40% mark are cuuute and swoony. Sarah Hogle didn't hold back with the sweetness overload with this one.

"I think you are beautiful, too, Maybell. I think that you walked into my life and absolutely ruined it with how beautiful you are. I haven't gotten a single decent night's rest since we met."

━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━
FAV SCENES
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💛 Maybell and Wesley going on treasure hunt and sleeping in one tent together.

💛 When Maybell is working on the mural in the ballroom and Wesley keeps bringing her paint and switching out the paint brushes.

💛 Wesley taking Maybell on a date where he actually build her the Maybell Coffee Shop she always imagined in her fantasies. 😭

━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━
CONCLUSION
━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━

Twice Shy is a very sweet slow-burn rom-com. For all the people who didn't like Sarah's debut novel You Deserve Each Other, because of how petty the MCs behaved in that book, I think, Twice Shy is a much better fit since the characters are completely different.

[Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight. Maybell Parish gave me Lucy Hutton vibes in all the best ways and I was giggling and swooning from start to finish. If you're looking for something to kick a reading slump (ahem, guilty) or if you just want a fun, romantic book to sweep you off your feet: look no further. This was SO, SO good.

CW: catfishing, death of a loved one, severe social anxiety/panic attacks

[Irena BookDustMagic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4,5 stars

Twice Shy stands out with it's appealing cover and promising premise, but what made me want to read it as soon as possible were all the glowing reviews it received since it was published.

I am so glad that I gave this book a chance, because it is, in my humble opinion, one of the best romances published this year, and it is also very fun.
Plus, it has great anxiety representation.

Going into Twice Shy my stakes were high, and still I was pleasantly surprised.

I enjoyed spending my time with the characters. It was so easy for me to connect with them.
With Maybell as I am also, just like her, daydreaming a lot and often lose myself in my imaginary world, and with Wesley who talked about his anxiety stopping him so often in his life, which was so familiar to me.

The writing style was great. So enjoyable, with good sense of humour and easy to fly through.
The novel is written in first person, following Maybell's POV.

I haven't read Hogle's debut You Deserve Each Other, because the premise didn't something I would enjoy, but now I think I will give it a chance anyway. I am also looking forward to see what else Hogle delivers in the future.

My favourite part, except the characters, were the atmosphere of the old house that was captured so well, and I enjoyed reading all about bringing it back to life, but also the slow paced love development was just perfect.

I feel like I can't recommend this book enough!

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing: fuelled by shrooms/5 | Plot: what's that?/5 | Ending: I.../5

THE PLOT

I literally don't know. Maybell gets catfished, inherits an estate from an aunt she barely talks to, and finds out the groundskeeper is the actual man her "friend" was stealing photos from to catfish Maybell.

MY OPINION

OOOOHHHWEEE DO I HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS ONE.

A couple disclaimers:
1. You can blame Chantel for this one because I read it to pass the time before our buddy read.
2. We all have our taste in men, and I am not judging you if you found Wesley an absolutely adorable bucket of love. These are my opinions and mine only.
3. I understand this is a romcom, and I approached the content as such. I didn't have the same expectations or view the story through the same lens as I would with a thriller. Despite that, this was still trashola.
4. If you read this and think damn homegirl is unlovable and will die alone, joke on you. I am in fact unlovable, but I did swindle someone into marrying me. And as long as I keep him chained up in my basement, I technically will not die alone.

OK. Let's get the fuck into it. So, I absolutely loved You Deserve Each Other and decided to see wassup with her other books. This was definitely NOT what's up. I gave this book 2 stars because the first half was weird, but fine. There were some jokey jokes at least. But then when they started falling in love, the book belly-flopped off a 100 ft cliff into ice cold waters. The "rom" in this romcom was simply insufferable. More on that, later.

I felt like Sarah Hogle had to be on shrooms writing this. The whole AU thing was... wild. This is coming from someone who used to get yelled at for "daydreaming" while playing soccer because I would just stand there twirling my hair. A girl could get lost in a fantasy. But then I wasn't 9 years old anymore. If a guy tried to "play along" with my AU at the big ole age of 30, I would simply melt away from embarrassment.

That brings me to my next point in this very long rant. So you're telling me these folks were 30??? THIRTY?? I was like ok maybe I can look past some of this weirdo behaviour if they're like 22, but THIRTY??? Absolutely tf not. Maybe they had a combined age of 30? That's the only explanation.

Alright and now let's get to the crux of my issues with this book: Wesley. This guy is MY nightmare (emphasis on MY). We all have different tastes, and Wesley is decidedly NOT my flavour. I like my men to be like a fridge: sturdy, cold, and useful. I don't do well with vulnerability; to be frank, it scares the shit out of me. I want to scratch my skin off when I think about having to comfort or coddle a man because he refuses to get therapy. Also, if a grown ass man tried to tie my shoes and then had the audacity to drop a rhyme about it, I WOULD KICK HIM IN THE FACE LIKE A HORSE!! UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!

The romance between Insecure and Insecurer (you decide who's who) was cringeworthy to say the least. This excerpt of them making out made me die of second, third, and fourth hand embarrassment:

We keep finding ourselves holding our breath for too long and have to break for gulps of air, then dive right back to it. LMAO CMON... I am literally picturing someone swimming, coming back up for a big breath of air, and then diving back down. Pls. This is not sexy. If a man took a gulp of air in my face, it would be his last.

Also there was too much hype-itude lmao... like Wesley could be loudly shitting in a forest making unwavering eye contact with Maybell and she would act like it was the greatest thing to ever happen Idk how else to explain it so read this excerpt:

"I am bubbles and butterflies. I am fizz floating into the night sky... The line are all unscripted, every second a thrilling surprise. I'm spinning out, carried by the current. I want to fight it and I want to surrender. Girl all he did was imitate a bird (legit said caw caw... halp) while spinning your down a creepy hallway.

Next we have Maybell. I understand why her background makes her insecure, but damn honey love yourself. Get yourself one of those wellness journals and go to town. Fawning over a guy because he remembered your fave drink is hot chocolate is... Let's just say the bar is in hell.

Alright. I'm cutting myself off. This was... an experience. I still want to read her upcoming release because I'm hoping this was just a one-off. PLS BE A ONE OFF.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: I mean??? The first half before they fell in love and Wesley revealed his true personality was tolerable

Cons: see long ass rant above lmao

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so fluffy and adorable. I can't believe I'm going to die alone and it's all Sarah Hogle's fault.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay romcom. 😏 If I’m being honest (and I always am), I didn’t love the characters. 😬 The story was alright. So… not the worst… but nothing to rave about either. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[preoccupiedbybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest, loveliest, most precious slow-burn romance!

Maybell Parish is a dreamer, she even has her own coffee shop AU! It beats her real life in a thankless job, with a complicated family and questionable friends. When she inherits a stately home, Maybell thinks she's hit the jack-pot, until she realises that the home she remembers is a crumbling mess, oh and that the quiet, grumpy groundkeeper has also inherited the property...

I am in love with this book!! 😍 It took me a second to get invested, but once I was, I devoured this book, even picking it up at 4am (damn you insomnia) to finish it! I was so happy to love this, after a couple of months of reading 2/3 star books, so this review is basically just my heart exploding with confetti! 😂



I was in the minority of people who didn't love You Deserve Each Other. I didn't enjoy the pettiness, or like the female lead, but I was impressed with Sarah Hogle's writing, so I knew that I would try another one of her books, and I am so glad that I did! I feel like I'm up there in Maybell's alternate universe, floating on a cloud! The writing was so gorgeous, whimsical and fluffy! Just pure escapism! I loved the setting of the house, out in the countryside in the Smoky mountains! The humour had me smiling to myself.

Twice Shy had a lot of tropes!
💖grumpy/sunshine
💖forced proximity
💖enemies to lovers

It also had fabulous anxiety rep which made me feel seen! As someone who is often anxious, especially socially, I really appreciated seeing this on page! Maybell strangely also felt relatable, in that she's a daydreamer, something often commented on about me!

Maybell was so kind, sweet and big hearted. Life hadn't been kind to her, but she stayed optimistic and spirited! She just wanted to be seen and loved, and deserved better 😢 Living a dream romance, I yearned for her to find love in real life. At first I found her trips to her coffee shop bizarre, but that was before I got to know Maybell.

Wesley.. I have so much love for him! Shy, nervous, anxious and awkward, he was just so soft on the inside, also wanting to be accepted and loved. He was so incredibly caring and romantic, and showed that you can be vulnerable and tender, and still be sexy! A lot of people will feel exposed as they get to know Wesley! I just wanted to reach in and hug him, but I know how much he would hate that!

Together, as these lovable characters got to know each other, supported each other, and broke down defences, they just made me swoon, gave me butterflies, and made me grin like a maniac in the early hours, reading under the cover so not to wake my snoring husband! Their cuteness made me cry. I loved how understanding and empathetic they both were. I rooted so hard for them individually, and as a couple because this was also about Maybell and Wesley finding themselves, being brave and taking risks despite their fears.



There was no real drama here, just a quiet love story, which made me laugh, cry and swoon. Was it a little unrealistic? Probably! But why not?! It was magical to escape into this story, to feel these character' emotions, and see them realise the other is not who they thought.

Sarah Hogle, like Sally Thorne impressed me because despite having a hit debut novel, they both chose to write something wildly different from their first books, rather than repeat a successful formula!

I am definitely going to read this again when I need a boost, it was just so *sighs* dreamy! I also cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next!
💘💘💘💘💘

[Ashley (back!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

YUPP. still hits. rtc

-

gonna reread this cause i need to see my husband again and restore my faith in fictional men after reading about those hoes at tommen

-

I’M A MARRIED WOMAN TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE WESLEY KOEHLER (he’s twice my age)

anyway, this was oh so sweet (arguably the sweetest book i’ve ever read) and i love sarah hogle an insane amount and i live my romance through her books. she could never do me wrong. (more to come when i reread)

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting, after making the mistake of starting it at around 10pm at night. Needless to say, I got very little sleep. I paid minimal attention at my work meetings, I was so tired. And I regret nothing!

The moment I saw that this book was written by Sarah Hogle, I knew I had to read it. She wrote one of my favorite romances, You Deserve Each Other, as her debut novel so I had pretty high expectations for this one. And let me tell you, while I didn't hold the same weight in my heart as her first book, I was definitely not disappointed.

This story follows Maybell, a sweet, compliant, and unassertive woman who just inherited her great aunt's massive estate. Unfortunately, she is made coinheritor with Wesley, her great aunt's caretaker, and estate groundskeeper. Even more unfortunate for her, Wesley is a quiet, grumpy man who barely speaks and avoids contact at all costs. And, as the way romance novels work, these two must overcome their individual shyness and learn to fall in love with both each other and themselves. And I loved every second of it.

Let me just tell you, Wesley was my absolute favorite. This man just needs a hug. Or maybe not. He'd probably have a full-on panic attack if someone other than Maybell gets within two feet of him. Still, he was so shy and nervous all the time that I couldn't help but feel bad for him. Despite his shyness, once he started getting more comfortable he was so incredibly kind and charming.

Maybell was equally kind and charming. I loved her coffee shop AU. I loved how kind-hearted she was, even if it got her in trouble. She is a character that deserved better than what life had given her in the past. I wanted to give her a hug too. She was genuine and sympathetic and so full of optimism. All she wanted was to be loved and cared for. Maybell was truly the perfect match for someone like Wesley.

I find that I quite like the way Sarah Hogle writes relationships. There is always some sort of misunderstanding or unnecessary amount of drama in these types of novels that ends putting a strain on the relationship. Thankfully, Sarah doesn't do that to us. Every obstacle is faced with calm understanding from both characters. Everything that might have been dragged out by most other novels for the sake of tension, was resolved quickly by talking and being there for each other. Both characters were kind and mature and understanding.

That being said, if you're a fan of the drama and tension that contemporary romance novels offer, this might not be for you.

If you like slow-burn romance with two sweet and loveable main characters, I highly recommend it

Now to what I didn't fully love.

There wasn't anything I didn't like, per se. It's that I wanted more. While both characters were wonderful, they didn't have the spark Naomi and Nicholas had in her first novel. Then again, Maybell and Wesley are nothing like Naomi and Nicholas, so, I suppose that can't be helped.

Still, I greatly enjoyed this novel. It was worth the lack of sleep. If you liked You Deserve Each Other, then you'll be sure to like this one as well.

**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**

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[Tucker Almengor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forgot I read this a while ago lol

Super cute and decently steamy. Worth a read but not as good as her debut.

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was much better than YDEO! I really enjoyed the sunshine/grump dynamic and both Maybell and Wesley were sweethearts. That being said, Maybell daydreamed wayyy too much – it was cute in the beginning but after a while I got tired of the metaphors and wanted her to stay a bit more grounded. And there wasn't much for character development until the very very end. Still, it was an adorable read and if you want something soft and light-hearted, this is one to pick up.

[Lorena ♡ (semi-ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this re-read confirmed that i'd take my heart out and give it to maybell and wesley if they asked me to... that's it. that's all you need to know.

“Tonight is sweeter than frosting on a cupcake and anybody watching us would probably get a secondhand toothache, but I’m not minding one bit.”

(warning 1: if you don't like sweet and soft books and are only into the dark and toxic stuff then this isn't for you, get out of here... i'm joking, but you're warned, this book is super sweet)

↪ plot:

When Maybell receives an unexpected visit at work announcing the inheritance of her now-deceased aunt Violet's house, she finds this an opportunity to escape her dead-end job and miserable life. What she doesn't count on is that the house is practically falling apart and she's not the only inheritor of it. Enter Wesley, Violet's groundskeeper, who has a completely different plan for the house's future and whom Maybell recognizes for an entirely different reason ―one way too mortifying to let him know. Both of them will need to compromise to repair the house and fulfill Violet's wishes, and this time together will show them there's more to the other than what meets the eye.

↪ song:

Labyrinth - Taylor Swift (i added a bit of its lyrics to my pre-review because that's how this book made me feel, but now that i've re-read it, i can tell you it describes maybell's feelings so well)

(the hesitation, fear, and later acceptance in the “uh oh, i'm falling in love” and the bewilderment in the “i thought the plane was going down, how'd you turn it back around?” are perfect representations of how maybell's past experiences had her panicking over her feelings for wesley and scared of accepting them. but also, how in the end he was so reassuring she let herself fall ♡)

↪ thoughts:

(warning 2: if you read this book because of me and hate it or find it boring, please just unfriend me and never let me know you didn't like it because i'll cry... again, i'm joking... kinda)

After re-reading this, I'm finally writing a review for it, and I'll need you to buckle up because it's going to be a long one. After my first read I rated it 4.5 stars, and even though I was considering a 5-star rating, I wasn't sure of it because the beginning of the book felt a bit slow. Well, now that I've re-read and know everything behind that beginning and why it felt like a warm-up (we'll touch up on this later), I have no other option than to give it 5 stars. Wesley, my artist, environmental nerd, and conspiracy theory lover; and Maybell, my funny and endearing eternal daydreamer with a heart of gold regardless of how many times it's been hurt. They're so perfect for each other and their story is so so sweet you might think it's cheesy, but I don't care, I love them just like that.

“Most of the time, I feel like I live all the way down inside of myself, deep, deep down, so far away from my voice that I hardly hear it and certainly nobody else ever does. I’ve been told before that I blend in, difficult to notice, easy to talk over. But ever since I realized Wesley notices me, it’s like I’ve gone to the surface of myself and stayed there.”

Maybell has this alternate universe in her head in which she has a job she loves, a real best friend, a good relationship with her mother, and a man devoted and completely in love with her ―all things she doesn't have in real life. And yes, it's interesting how vivid her imagination is, but above all how it slowly starts melting with her real life the more happy she feels with it. I loved how feeling more comfortable with her life and slowly finding and doing what she wants made her subconsciously start incorporating elements and decisions from her reality into these daydreams. It worked as such a sweet transition, made her more present in real life, and slowly stopped her compulsive daydreaming. That's exactly what she deserved, a love so gentle and a life fulfilling enough that she doesn't want to escape from them

“He looks utterly wrecked in the most wonderful way. I am under Wesley Koehler’s skin. I don’t know how deep, but I’m there, and I am not imagining it.”

Wesley is perceived by Maybell as this grouchy and impossible man to be around. He doesn't want to speak to her, be around her, or get to an agreement on Violet's property. The thing is that he's not impossible: he has very bad anxiety. He's not good at explaining himself and doesn't want to be in any complicated situation that can bring a misunderstanding, so he isolates himself. Still, by being around Maybell he finds that communicating through notes and letters with her helps him share his feelings and that's how their connection starts. He opens up to her and through that, we find out how much of a nerd and goof he is, and it's adorable how comfortable he feels with her to be his true self.

“I’ve listened to everything you just said and I love you. Do you hear me? I’ve heard all of it, and it’s the easiest thing in the world to love you.”

Maybell and Wesley's love can be described with one word: tender. Their love is sweet, soft, and so beautiful that my eyes filled with tears with some of their moments. They start their story bickering and filled with pettiness; her hesitant, insecure, and so detached from reality; and him silent, isolated, and repressed. And with each other's help (and some self-reflection) they find a way out of all that. He grounds her to this reality and she helps him find his voice. Their notes, drawings, baking and painting together, fulfilling Violet's wishes, exploring and repairing the house, asking her about her daydreams, asking him about his love for nature, pushing so she shares her opinions and fights for what she wants, how playful and relaxed he becomes with her... all of that and more shows how amazing they're for each other. Their first kiss had me going insane the first time I read it, and giggling and kicking my feet just the same this second time.

“Wesley reaches up to stroke my hair, smiling only with his eyes. I feel more than accepted when he touches me, when he holds me and smiles at me. I feel wanted. I feel like I’ve finally found home.”

Like I mentioned, it might be a bit slow in the beginning but it still charms you and there's this reveal 40% into the book that changes everything ―from that moment there's no going back. Halfway through this book you'll feel your heart ready to explode because of how sweet Maybell and Wesley are together, and that feeling stays until the last page. It's a bit obvious to mention this at this point but they're one of my most precious and beloved couples and I'd get into this book to be sure they're happy forever if I could. She deserves all the good things in the world and he might be the cutest man ever ready to give her everything she wants. I love them. They make me feel so mushy and gooey that they are almost paired with Archer and Bree (from Archer's Voice) over how cheesy they get and how much they make me smile. An obvious 5-star.

“I am so giddy that I’m making myself ill. If this feeling is what I think it is, I’m going to die. This cannot be sustainable. How do couples spend whole years feeling like this about each other? How do they not combust?”

---
↪ pre-review thoughts:

play 'labyrinth' by taylor swift because oh oh i'm falling in love...

this has to be one of sweetest romances with some of the sweetest characters i've ever read. full rtc when i turn all the rambling in my notes app into coherent sentences ♡.

↪ ★★★★½ stars (seriously debating between this and a 5-star rating... yes, i loved it that much. we'll see after i write my review)

[mina reads™️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

nobody is more disappointed than me with this rating

[Arini · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was disastrously awkward but endearing at the same time which made both Maybell and Wesley feel real and relatable. however, Maybell had her head in the clouds way too much that at times it was hard to tell whether she was narrating about her own reality or her perfectly self-made imagination.

in addition, the character development that only happened during the last 30% felt abrupt imo. it was like love suddenly fixed all their problems. i mean, this was a romance afterall, but cmon! :( Maybell grew more backbone out of nowhere, and Wesley managed to conquer one of his anxieties.

i get that when you love someone, you wanna try to be better for them. but im also wondering if these two never met each other, would they ever learn to overcome their personal issues and step out of their comfort zones on their own??? overall, i enjoyed this way more than YDEO, but it wasnt quite a hit either.

(read as an audiobook)

[♛ may · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread this one for science. yes it stands the test of time. my compliments to the chef

[Chloe Liese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Putnam and Sarah Hogle for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own!

Every page was pure magic. Sarah Hogle once again wove an original story that drew me in and didn't let me go until "THE END".

As with You Deserve Each Other, Sarah's voice leaps off the page and her storytelling hits the ground running, hooking you right way. Her writing is so deliciously sharp, voicey, and inventive, and her characters are a joy to read. Her obvious talent aside, it’s the incredible tenderness infused in TWICE SHY that has absolutely stolen my heart.
  
Maybell and Wesley are your classic sunshine and grump, thrown together by unusual circumstances (*angels sing* we have forced proximity, folks!!) and while Maybell and Wesley’s journey could not be more different from Nicholas and Noami’s in her debut, Sarah’s pitch-perfect humor, her nuanced portrayals of human vulnerability, and her deft work of unfurling layers of characterization are brilliant as ever.

Maybell and Wesley haven't had the easiest time of finding their place in the wider world, but Sarah's gift—both to her characters and to her readers—is the world she makes possible: a world that Maybell and Wesley discover as they discover each other, through imagination, vulnerability, and ultimately, trust.

CW: acute social anxiety, mentions of parental abandonment and neglect.

[Mika Auguste · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
this was the CUTEST book i’ve ever read. i was really scared going into it because of how much i loved you deserve each other, but sarah hogle proved that she is DEFINITELY a new favorite romance author of mine.

i also related to main character so much??? not only is she a vivid day dreamer and constantly in her own little world like yours truly, but we even basically had the same myers briggs personality type, (i’m an enfp and she’s an infp) so i felt EXTRA connected to her as a whole.

this book was just everything i needed to fully pull me in, so if you’re looking for for some fluffy, swoon worthy, butterfly giving romance...i would highly recommend picking this one up

[clara ✧･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

every day that i am reminded Wesley Koehler doesn’t actually exist i sink a little bit deeper into despair

[ApoorvaReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 or 3.5 stars ⭐️

“I want everything, I want all of him, I want to familiarize myself down to every freckle and fine line.”

It physically hurts to give this book so low ratings. Once i heard that the author of ‘You Deserve Each other’ a book which i really enjoyed was releasing a new book, i fell off my chair. I was so excited for this but it all went down the drain.

I couldn’t connect with Maybell at all. The rapid change of her dreaming and the real life thing was so annoying and half of the time I couldn’t even figure out what happened when. This annoyed me way too much and since this was something which was very repetitive, i just wanted this to stop. I would’ve loved it if book focused on the reality more instead of the “world” she made in her “dreams”.

Also rom-com? I swear to god, I couldn’t feel the banter. like at all. This book was so rushed. Wesley goes from hating her one minute to acting like a love-sick person at the next. It didn’t work for me if you can’t already tell.

“He doesn’t kiss like an expert, like a Casanova who’s smooth and sure of his every practiced move. He kisses like Wesley. That’s the new standard.”

The only thing which i did like was Wesley. He was such a great guy and the fact he gave up his fears to be with the girl he desires was so sweet like😩😩
I love the sacrifices he made and i am absolutely in awe of him to let go of his deepest fears which keeps him up at night for the love he clearly deserves.

“He looks utterly wrecked in the most wonderful way.
I am under Wesley Koehler’s skin. I don’t know how deep, but I’m there, and I am not imagining it.”

Long story short, this wasnt it for me and it hurts cause i was so excited for this. I wouldn’t reread it and will probably let go of everything in a week.

I loved the debut novel and it sucks to admit that I didn’t enjoy this. There were cute scenes in the book but nah, still didn’t do it.

[menna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If i had to use one word to describe this book, it would be Soft™.

It’ll leave you all warm inside, giving you the exact equivalent feeling of being wrapped in a soft blanket!! it's just so wholesome, sweet and gives you all the nice, wonderful feels!!! Every line is just pure magic that made my heart ache, I was 3 seconds away from combusting.

I was thinking about when I could reread this again from the moment I started because of the way it made me feel!! And honestly this feeling got bigger and bigger the more I got into the book.

It feels like this book was written just for me. i tried to spend my time with the book and not read it in one sitting because i couldn’t bear the thought of it ending and with it, this feeling of being seen. At this point I'm just wondering if Sarah Hogle spent some time rummaging around my thoughts and feelings, came up with this book and said ahaa yesss this is just perfect for her. My heart obsessed with every line, every scene and just fell so deeply in love with both characters. it’s so full of love for them, it jumped out of my chest and threw itself in their hands.

The social anxiety rep was so good!! it felt so nice seeing myself in a character where he's not viewed as an inconvenience to other people because of his anxiety!! i found some of his coping mechanisms very relatable and loved how a lot of them were normalized and not seen as annoying or weird!! like how he sometimes prefers texting or writing notes over talking in person.

All their scenes are god tier from the very start!! There’s grumpy-but-secretly-a-softie/sunshine and fun banter and it was everything i could ever want!! The last few chapters were spent with tears in my eyes and I couldn't make them stop because of how beautiful the scenes were and how every word just lodged itself in my heart!!I can’t wait for people to read this and fall in love with it like i did!!

TW: anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks
thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for approving me for the arc

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - why is GR broken? -_- · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin-Putnam, and Sarah Hogle for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 4.6!**

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket...never let it fade away... 🎵

Maybell has always been a bit of a dreamer. Okay, she's a HUGE dreamer, who passes the days at her job at a resort in the scenic Smoky Mountains pretending she is actually the Event Coordinator her name badge states, rather than the overworked and underpaid housekeeper she actually is. And what takes her further out of this grim reality? A marvelous AU coffeeshop, complete with gorgeous Jack who finds endless ways to sweep Maybell off her feet. Jack isn't entirely fictional, but Maybell's version of him is: 'friend' Gemma pulled the ultimate Catfish move to keep Maybell away from another potential suitor. and eventually revealed herself as the 'perfect' boyfriend from Tinder that didn't actually exist. When Maybell finds out that her great-aunt Violet has passed away and her gorgeous estate is set to pass to Maybell, she arrives to find yet another surprise. "Jack." In the flesh. Of course, his name isn't Jack at all, but Wesley and he is great-aunt Violet's groundskeeper. And to make things even more interesting...HE is getting half of the estate. Wesley's gruff and abrupt demeanor is immediately off-putting to Maybell, and her dreams of turning the grounds into a huge hotel contrast sharply with Wesley's vision of an animal sanctuary and the two have little in common other than snipes. Once they begin a treasure hunt left behind by Aunt Violet, however, the tables quickly turn...can these two learn to reconcile their dreams and find a way to co-exist? And why exactly is Maybell no longer thinking about her perfect Jack?

After a slam-dunk of a first novel from Hogle, my expectations were sky high with this book and I'm happy to say it delivers! Twice Shy and You Deserve Each Other are VASTLY different books, however. Whereas Hogle's first book is full of snark, witticisms, but is also heartbreaking, this one moves on a different plane entirely. It is dreamy, sugary, and full of what-ifs. Maybell and Wesley are both fabulous characters, and Hogle manages to work in some true-to-life struggles with mental health into the narrative without it feeling sad or slow. While this book progresses on a more linear track than her first and could be seen as more predictable, it is such a fantastic ball of fun, I absolutely loved every moment. The vision of the Falling Stars Hotel reminded me of the enchanting Dragon Fly Inn from the similarly named Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls, and it goes without saying I am now dying to visit! From the delicious pastries to the gentle and cozy atmosphere, I can see why Maybell spends so much time in her alternate universe: I'd be PERFECTLY content living there!

While I didn't get the emotional power-punch found in You Deserve Each Other from this book, Twice Shy is everything it claims and purports to be, and Hogle's humor sparkles throughout this sweet, slow-burn romance. I definitely consider Sarah Hogle a must-read author when it comes to the modern rom-com and I'm already ready for her next book (and a return trip to the stunning and scenic Smokies!) 4 ⭐

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

I just want to start by saying this book is one of the most bizarre concepts for a romance I’ve ever read, but it works! I loved Sarah Hogle’s debut novel You Deserve Each Other, and if that hadn’t been my favorite book of 2020 I think I might have dnf’d Twice Shy out of sheer shock at the premise. It’s odd. But I’m telling you all of this in case you pick up this book and think about quitting, please don’t! It’s totally worth reading on.

Twice Shy is about Maybell Parish, a lonely, non-confrontational young woman without reliable family or friends in a job where she isn’t respected. When her great-aunt Violet passes away, Maybell inherits Violet’s mansion and sees a fresh start away from her current reality. But there’s a catch, Maybell has inherited the property along with the groundskeeper, who doesn’t particularly like Maybell. The two have to work together to restore this old property, and slowly they start to break down each other’s walls.

This was a really sweet and cute romance novel. Normally those kinds of books aren’t for me, but in this book it really worked. It has the grump hero and sunshine heroine trope that I know a lot of you will love. This book also explored what it is like for someone with severe anxiety in a way that I felt was very understanding and empathetic and that hopefully a lot of people will be able to relate to. Sarah Hogle was the author that broke me out of my reading funk during a global pandemic and for that I will read her books forever. And this sophomore novel by her did not disappoint. I honestly cannot wait to see what comes next from her!

[Jesse (JesseTheReader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book that opened my eyes to the romance genre. I've been a bit of a romance hater in the past, but this one worked so well for me & pushed me to pick up more books within the genre. I loved the slow moving connection between the love interests & their relationship as a whole was filled with innocence. I definitely plan to read more books by Sarah Hogle in the future.