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Good Grief, Idaho #1
Me and the Cute Catastrophe
Claire Harding
I live in Idaho. (Yes, potatoes. *eye roll* Can we talk about something else?) And I love it here. Small town values galore and it’s right where I want to raise my girls after my jerk ex traded me in for a “younger, newer model” (his words, not mine).
My mom’s the volunteer fire chief in our town and I’m pretty happy hanging out with the auxiliary at the fire hall and doing her grunt work – NOT fighting fires, because, please, I read, love science and my idea of a lot of exercise is having to walk up the stairs twice in the morning before I send my girls off to school and leave for my job as a home nurse.
I guess it’s kind of weird that I also coach basketball. Long story.
I was pretty happy with my life until the hot shot, all-state baller from my teen years moved back in next door. (I babysat him, yes, but I never changed his diapers. Just wanted to be clear about that.)
Guess who’s now the assistant b-ball coach?
Logic would say me – especially since I coached my entire first year holding the play book upside down (it turned out to be an old football playbook from the ‘80s, so it’s not like it mattered which way I held it) but the accurate answer is Trey Haywood, my all-star neighbor, and I’m honestly not sure which of us is more upset about it.
Anyway, the team was trying to set us up (girls, they’re such romantics) and I don’t think they would have succeeded, but in celebration of breaking our 37 game losing streak, they locked Trey and me in the septic system control room.
That changed everything. Not in a good way.
Trey
Yeah. What she said.
And…when I first saw her again, I thought she was a catastrophe.
New thought post septic control: she’s a cute catastrophe. (And, holy man, can she kiss.)
I live in Idaho. (Yes, potatoes. *eye roll* Can we talk about something else?) And I love it here. Small town values galore and it’s right where I want to raise my girls after my jerk ex traded me in for a “younger, newer model” (his words, not mine).
My mom’s the volunteer fire chief in our town and I’m pretty happy hanging out with the auxiliary at the fire hall and doing her grunt work – NOT fighting fires, because, please, I read, love science and my idea of a lot of exercise is having to walk up the stairs twice in the morning before I send my girls off to school and leave for my job as a home nurse.
I guess it’s kind of weird that I also coach basketball. Long story.
I was pretty happy with my life until the hot shot, all-state baller from my teen years moved back in next door. (I babysat him, yes, but I never changed his diapers. Just wanted to be clear about that.)
Guess who’s now the assistant b-ball coach?
Logic would say me – especially since I coached my entire first year holding the play book upside down (it turned out to be an old football playbook from the ‘80s, so it’s not like it mattered which way I held it) but the accurate answer is Trey Haywood, my all-star neighbor, and I’m honestly not sure which of us is more upset about it.
Anyway, the team was trying to set us up (girls, they’re such romantics) and I don’t think they would have succeeded, but in celebration of breaking our 37 game losing streak, they locked Trey and me in the septic system control room.
That changed everything. Not in a good way.
Trey
Yeah. What she said.
And…when I first saw her again, I thought she was a catastrophe.
New thought post septic control: she’s a cute catastrophe. (And, holy man, can she kiss.)
158 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2021
984 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
April 17, 2022
Me and the Cute Catastrophe is not entirely cute. I am confuse. The heroine is 40 years old. A singld mother. But she acts like 12 years old throughout the book.
This is my first read by Miss Gussman. I thought it is going to be easy read. A rom com. I got that all, but with a lot if silliness.
Overall, I still managed to finish the book.
3 stars
This is my first read by Miss Gussman. I thought it is going to be easy read. A rom com. I got that all, but with a lot if silliness.
Overall, I still managed to finish the book.
3 stars
March 2, 2021
DNF 17% is all I could get through
To start with the main character Claire is a 40 year woman. If she hadn’t mentioned this fact I never would have guessed. She has the maturity and attention span of a 12 year old. She can’t keep her train or thought and rambles throughout her inner dialogue. I swear she said “anyway” 15 times in 1 chapter. I mean the first time we met her she’s hiding behind her car so she doesn’t have to met her former crush Trey. It’s worse then a crush though I mean he was a freshman in high school and she was in college and she was writing his name in hearts all over the place? Not to mention he dated her sister. Add to that Trey dates the sister bc he had a crush on Claire. Wow, that is just so wrong. It just felt a little stalkerish.
Their first conversation was awkward and weird. Her inner dialogue went on for PAGES without them having a conversation. I mean how long were they sitting there staring at each other?
Then there’s Trey. He says he didn’t fight for his boys bc “Just something in me said that it wasn’t good for kids to see their parents fight, so as much as I didn’t think she deserved everything she got, I kept it civil.” So instead he let her take the kids to Florida and not fight for any visiting or custody fights. What does that tell your kids!
To start with the main character Claire is a 40 year woman. If she hadn’t mentioned this fact I never would have guessed. She has the maturity and attention span of a 12 year old. She can’t keep her train or thought and rambles throughout her inner dialogue. I swear she said “anyway” 15 times in 1 chapter. I mean the first time we met her she’s hiding behind her car so she doesn’t have to met her former crush Trey. It’s worse then a crush though I mean he was a freshman in high school and she was in college and she was writing his name in hearts all over the place? Not to mention he dated her sister. Add to that Trey dates the sister bc he had a crush on Claire. Wow, that is just so wrong. It just felt a little stalkerish.
Their first conversation was awkward and weird. Her inner dialogue went on for PAGES without them having a conversation. I mean how long were they sitting there staring at each other?
Then there’s Trey. He says he didn’t fight for his boys bc “Just something in me said that it wasn’t good for kids to see their parents fight, so as much as I didn’t think she deserved everything she got, I kept it civil.” So instead he let her take the kids to Florida and not fight for any visiting or custody fights. What does that tell your kids!
Read
June 2, 2024Ummm.... Bridget Jones in Idaho??
This book was precisely as bad and cringeworthy as the cover blurb made it sound, so the pain of reading it was self-inflicted, that's why I am not rating it.
I needed a book set in Idaho and as it was either this kidle freebie or some bleak thrillers, I'd even had to pay for, so I decided to bite the bullet and go with this one.
On a positive note: it was short and free.
This book was precisely as bad and cringeworthy as the cover blurb made it sound, so the pain of reading it was self-inflicted, that's why I am not rating it.
I needed a book set in Idaho and as it was either this kidle freebie or some bleak thrillers, I'd even had to pay for, so I decided to bite the bullet and go with this one.
On a positive note: it was short and free.
January 7, 2026
Me and the Cute Catastrophe by Jessie Gussman is a cozy, small-town romantic comedy about Claire Harding, a divorced home health nurse and reluctant girls’ basketball coach in Good Grief, Idaho, whose already messy life takes an even more unexpected turn when Trey Haywood, her once much-younger crush from her teenage years and now a former all-state basketball star turned assistant coach, moves back next door and forces both of them to confront old sparks, awkward moments, and the possibility of something tender hiding beneath the chaos of everyday life. It blends laugh-out-loud mishaps with quiet reflections on life, love, and second chances.
From the beginning I was charmed by how unabashedly human Claire feels, a woman juggling motherhood, an unconventional approach to coaching a chronically losing basketball team, and the lingering bite of her painful divorce, all while trying to keep her quiet crush decades in the past safely where it belongs.
Trey’s return to town and his bewilderment at Claire’s coaching methods reminded me how unexpected life can be, especially when two people who once admired each other from afar are suddenly thrown together in hilarious and tender long-awaited moments.
The small town setting of Good Grief is full of heart, family meddling, and quirks that made me feel like I was right there beside them through the ups and downs, especially during moments that made me laugh out loud or sigh at how beautifully awkward love can be when you least expect it.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I adored the refreshing offbeat humor and sincere heart in this story, and I especially loved how Claire’s messy, relatable life made her journey feel real and hopeful.
Some moments felt lighter or more chaotic than deeply emotional, but overall this clean, cozy rom-com made me laugh, giggle, and root for these unlikely lovers finding their way back to each other in the quirkiest of town settings.
From the beginning I was charmed by how unabashedly human Claire feels, a woman juggling motherhood, an unconventional approach to coaching a chronically losing basketball team, and the lingering bite of her painful divorce, all while trying to keep her quiet crush decades in the past safely where it belongs.
Trey’s return to town and his bewilderment at Claire’s coaching methods reminded me how unexpected life can be, especially when two people who once admired each other from afar are suddenly thrown together in hilarious and tender long-awaited moments.
The small town setting of Good Grief is full of heart, family meddling, and quirks that made me feel like I was right there beside them through the ups and downs, especially during moments that made me laugh out loud or sigh at how beautifully awkward love can be when you least expect it.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I adored the refreshing offbeat humor and sincere heart in this story, and I especially loved how Claire’s messy, relatable life made her journey feel real and hopeful.
Some moments felt lighter or more chaotic than deeply emotional, but overall this clean, cozy rom-com made me laugh, giggle, and root for these unlikely lovers finding their way back to each other in the quirkiest of town settings.
February 7, 2021
This was a cute Rom-Com by Jessie Gussman. I liked that it was about an older couple who had liked each other for a long time but didn’t think they could ever be together because of the age difference. I also loved how she included humor to tell the story and showed us how Trey could love Claire even with her being a klutz. I also loved how Trey and Claire had to work together with couching the basketball team and how that helped them to change a bit of how they saw the world. This was a cute book.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
February 1, 2022
I really wanted to like this book, but with all of the internal dialogues and the abrupt ending … I was disappointed. But I still give it 3 stars for being cute and clean. I think the author could have done so much more with the character and storyline development. I finished the book with more questions than answers.
March 18, 2023
Fun book that got me out of my reading slump! Read in one sitting.
April 14, 2024
It was cute but didn't hold my attention as well as I'd like.
June 19, 2021
DNF
There was just too much inner dialog. A question would be asked and there would be three pages of her inner thoughts before you got an answer. And by that time you forgot the question and had to go back.
It's not often I don't finish a book and maybe it got better. But I only made it to chapter 3 and had to give up.
There was just too much inner dialog. A question would be asked and there would be three pages of her inner thoughts before you got an answer. And by that time you forgot the question and had to go back.
It's not often I don't finish a book and maybe it got better. But I only made it to chapter 3 and had to give up.
March 11, 2021
Talking in your head
Sorry, but the characters spend the majority talking in their heads. Was very boring ... Almost like sitting in a class with a teacher that reads from the textbook in a listless monotone voice
Sorry, but the characters spend the majority talking in their heads. Was very boring ... Almost like sitting in a class with a teacher that reads from the textbook in a listless monotone voice
April 28, 2025
It was not my favorite...
September 18, 2024
I quite like the occasional "Chick Lit" book but this one was absolute total rubbish. Not even sure why I read it until the end except that I do hate giving up on a book. Definitely don't bother with this book or author.
************************************
I live in Idaho. (Yes, potatoes. *eye roll* Can we talk about something else?) And I love it here. Small town values galore and it’s right where I want to raise my girls after my jerk ex traded me in for a “younger, newer model” (his words, not mine).
My mom’s the volunteer fire chief in our town and I’m pretty happy hanging out with the auxiliary at the fire hall and doing her grunt work – NOT fighting fires, because, please, I read, love science and my idea of a lot of exercise is having to walk up the stairs twice in the morning before I send my girls off to school and leave for my job as a home nurse.
I guess it’s kind of weird that I also coach basketball. Long story. I was pretty happy with my life until the hot shot, all-state baller from my teen years moved back in next door. (I babysat him, yes, but I never changed his diapers. Just wanted to be clear about that.) Guess who’s now the assistant b-ball coach?
Logic would say me – especially since I coached my entire first year holding the play book upside down (it turned out to be an old football playbook from the ‘80s, so it’s not like it mattered which way I held it) but the accurate answer is Trey Haywood, my all-star neighbor, and I’m honestly not sure which of us is more upset about it.
Anyway, the team was trying to set us up (girls, they’re such romantics) and I don’t think they would have succeeded, but in celebration of breaking our 37 game losing streak, they locked Trey and me in the septic system control room. That changed everything. Not in a good way. Trey. Yeah. What she said. And…when I first saw her again, I thought she was a catastrophe.
New thought post septic control: she’s a cute catastrophe. (And, holy man, can she kiss.)
************************************
I live in Idaho. (Yes, potatoes. *eye roll* Can we talk about something else?) And I love it here. Small town values galore and it’s right where I want to raise my girls after my jerk ex traded me in for a “younger, newer model” (his words, not mine).
My mom’s the volunteer fire chief in our town and I’m pretty happy hanging out with the auxiliary at the fire hall and doing her grunt work – NOT fighting fires, because, please, I read, love science and my idea of a lot of exercise is having to walk up the stairs twice in the morning before I send my girls off to school and leave for my job as a home nurse.
I guess it’s kind of weird that I also coach basketball. Long story. I was pretty happy with my life until the hot shot, all-state baller from my teen years moved back in next door. (I babysat him, yes, but I never changed his diapers. Just wanted to be clear about that.) Guess who’s now the assistant b-ball coach?
Logic would say me – especially since I coached my entire first year holding the play book upside down (it turned out to be an old football playbook from the ‘80s, so it’s not like it mattered which way I held it) but the accurate answer is Trey Haywood, my all-star neighbor, and I’m honestly not sure which of us is more upset about it.
Anyway, the team was trying to set us up (girls, they’re such romantics) and I don’t think they would have succeeded, but in celebration of breaking our 37 game losing streak, they locked Trey and me in the septic system control room. That changed everything. Not in a good way. Trey. Yeah. What she said. And…when I first saw her again, I thought she was a catastrophe.
New thought post septic control: she’s a cute catastrophe. (And, holy man, can she kiss.)
July 26, 2021
Surprising, Humorous, and Fun!
Jessie Gussman hits a home run with Me and the Cute Catastrophe, a rom-com with the emphasis on "com"!
Claire Harding, one of four sisters and a part-time girls' basketball coach at the high school in her hometown of Good Grief, Idaho, is blindsided by a visit from her long-ago crush, Trey Haywood. It didn't matter that he was four years younger than she was; crushes know no age limits and hers is as fresh... and as embarrassing... as it was when she was in college and he was in high school, before they both got married and divorced. She's not aware of Grey's own crush on her, the unobtainable older woman.
Trey has come to discuss taking over Claire's coaching position. He figures it's a slam dunk (pun intended) because she doesn't care about sports and he's a former all-state baller who loves basketball. He doesn't count on Claire's tenacity in maintaining her position, and he's frankly befuddled by her ideas for basketball practice, such as picking up trash and shopping with residents of the local assisted living center. He's taken by surprise by her view that running around and throwing a ball into a hoop is pointless, and the team's time is better spent doing things to help the community. Trey has to try very hard to hold back his shock that basketball practices are being used for community service rather than for learning and practicing basketball. Of course the team has gone 0 and 38 over her three-year coaching tenure. And of course she doesn't care!
Told in first person narration by Claire and Trey, Me and the Cute Catastrophe leaves its final surprise until the final chapter. And the epilogue, told in the voice of a minor character, offers a clue about the focus of the next book. I'm excited to see what happens then!
Jessie Gussman hits a home run with Me and the Cute Catastrophe, a rom-com with the emphasis on "com"!
Claire Harding, one of four sisters and a part-time girls' basketball coach at the high school in her hometown of Good Grief, Idaho, is blindsided by a visit from her long-ago crush, Trey Haywood. It didn't matter that he was four years younger than she was; crushes know no age limits and hers is as fresh... and as embarrassing... as it was when she was in college and he was in high school, before they both got married and divorced. She's not aware of Grey's own crush on her, the unobtainable older woman.
Trey has come to discuss taking over Claire's coaching position. He figures it's a slam dunk (pun intended) because she doesn't care about sports and he's a former all-state baller who loves basketball. He doesn't count on Claire's tenacity in maintaining her position, and he's frankly befuddled by her ideas for basketball practice, such as picking up trash and shopping with residents of the local assisted living center. He's taken by surprise by her view that running around and throwing a ball into a hoop is pointless, and the team's time is better spent doing things to help the community. Trey has to try very hard to hold back his shock that basketball practices are being used for community service rather than for learning and practicing basketball. Of course the team has gone 0 and 38 over her three-year coaching tenure. And of course she doesn't care!
Told in first person narration by Claire and Trey, Me and the Cute Catastrophe leaves its final surprise until the final chapter. And the epilogue, told in the voice of a minor character, offers a clue about the focus of the next book. I'm excited to see what happens then!
February 18, 2021
Boring
I thought this book was just off to a slow start, and then realized I was over halfway through. There really isn't any character development, or much in the way of a plot. And a lack of sizzle. The hero has kids who live in another state and their names are never mentioned, not do we know if he ever had any contact with them. He just thought it was better not to fight for custody (okay, but visitation??). The heroine is super sweet to the daughter who is like her, but considers the sport her other daughter loves to be worthless.
And the school and town are fine with her as the varsity girls basketball coach, even though she is scornful of the sport and never even tried to practice basketball with them?
This book is chock full of toxic conflict-avoidance. He lets his kids go to avoid conflict. She doesn't stick up for her own daughter, who is a star athlete and worries more about what other people say than her own daughter's love of the sport. He's unwilling to tell her that her basketball coaching is batshit crazy. Also these people are middle aged, but they're written like teenagers (I'm talking emotional maturity, not sex). Speaking of teenagers, as a college student she crushed on a high school freshman so hard that she stalked each of his games. This is creepy, not cute. Also, after stalking every one of his basketball games, she still doesn't know any of the terminology, even after supposedly coaching for 3 years.
I only managed to finish because it was so short. These characters are a mess, but so is the whole book. The over-the-top slap stick comedy and long-winded internal anxious dialog did not cover up poor plotting and lousy character development.
I thought this book was just off to a slow start, and then realized I was over halfway through. There really isn't any character development, or much in the way of a plot. And a lack of sizzle. The hero has kids who live in another state and their names are never mentioned, not do we know if he ever had any contact with them. He just thought it was better not to fight for custody (okay, but visitation??). The heroine is super sweet to the daughter who is like her, but considers the sport her other daughter loves to be worthless.
And the school and town are fine with her as the varsity girls basketball coach, even though she is scornful of the sport and never even tried to practice basketball with them?
This book is chock full of toxic conflict-avoidance. He lets his kids go to avoid conflict. She doesn't stick up for her own daughter, who is a star athlete and worries more about what other people say than her own daughter's love of the sport. He's unwilling to tell her that her basketball coaching is batshit crazy. Also these people are middle aged, but they're written like teenagers (I'm talking emotional maturity, not sex). Speaking of teenagers, as a college student she crushed on a high school freshman so hard that she stalked each of his games. This is creepy, not cute. Also, after stalking every one of his basketball games, she still doesn't know any of the terminology, even after supposedly coaching for 3 years.
I only managed to finish because it was so short. These characters are a mess, but so is the whole book. The over-the-top slap stick comedy and long-winded internal anxious dialog did not cover up poor plotting and lousy character development.
February 1, 2022
I just couldn't like this more and I don't put less stars because I feel bad doing it. I didn't like Claire AT ALL. She was ridiculous, annoying, self righteous, hypocrite, insensitive, and more. She trains the girls varsity basketball team and she doesn't like it. And when I say train, I'm being generous, she makes the girls (there are only four and one of them is her daugther) do chores and do good samaritan deeds. Like WTH??? They are there to play a sport and they do literally everything but that, she even told the girls when an oppenent falls, they should help even if they have the ball. WTF! I can tolerate a lot but that is just plain stupid. Some girls problaby want to seriously play and can't because Claire thinks they should prioritize being a good person instead of doing what they are suppose to do that is play basketball. If she wants teens to be better people, she should form an after school club not take over the basketball team and not train at all. What kind of example does that give the girls? Losing is more fun than winning in life? When they are competing for a promotion at work they should back off and let the other person have it? When someone is being mean to you, you just stand there and take it because you are trying to be "polite"? She says basketball is worthless yet trains the team while her daughter loves it and deserves more respect than that. What kind of mother is she really? And the school board instead of taking her off the position, despite her losing all games for 3 years and knowing how she teaches the girls, let her have it instead of firing her and giving it to the basketball star that arrived in town. I just can't with this book. It had too much stupidity
June 25, 2023
Claire Harding
I live in Idaho. (Yes, potatoes. *eye roll* Can we talk about something else?) And I love it here. Small town values galore and it’s right where I want to raise my girls after my jerk ex traded me in for a “younger, newer model” (his words, not mine).
My mom’s the volunteer fire chief in our town and I’m pretty happy hanging out with the auxiliary at the fire hall and doing her grunt work – NOT fighting fires, because, please, I read, love science and my idea of a lot of exercise is having to walk up the stairs twice in the morning before I send my girls off to school and leave for my job as a home nurse.
I guess it’s kind of weird that I also coach basketball. Long story.
I was pretty happy with my life until the hot shot, all-state baller from my teen years moved back in next door. (I babysat him, yes, but I never changed his diapers. Just wanted to be clear about that.)
Guess who’s now the assistant b-ball coach?
Logic would say me – especially since I coached my entire first year holding the play book upside down (it turned out to be an old football playbook from the ‘80s, so it’s not like it mattered which way I held it) but the accurate answer is Trey Haywood, my all-star neighbor, and I’m honestly not sure which of us is more upset about it.
Anyway, the team was trying to set us up (girls, they’re such romantics) and I don’t think they would have succeeded, but in celebration of breaking our 37 game losing streak, they locked Trey and me in the septic system control room.
That changed everything. Not in a good way.
Trey
Yeah. What she said.
And…when I first saw her again, I thought she was a catastrophe.
New thought post septic control: she’s a cute catastrophe. (And, holy man, can she kiss.)
I live in Idaho. (Yes, potatoes. *eye roll* Can we talk about something else?) And I love it here. Small town values galore and it’s right where I want to raise my girls after my jerk ex traded me in for a “younger, newer model” (his words, not mine).
My mom’s the volunteer fire chief in our town and I’m pretty happy hanging out with the auxiliary at the fire hall and doing her grunt work – NOT fighting fires, because, please, I read, love science and my idea of a lot of exercise is having to walk up the stairs twice in the morning before I send my girls off to school and leave for my job as a home nurse.
I guess it’s kind of weird that I also coach basketball. Long story.
I was pretty happy with my life until the hot shot, all-state baller from my teen years moved back in next door. (I babysat him, yes, but I never changed his diapers. Just wanted to be clear about that.)
Guess who’s now the assistant b-ball coach?
Logic would say me – especially since I coached my entire first year holding the play book upside down (it turned out to be an old football playbook from the ‘80s, so it’s not like it mattered which way I held it) but the accurate answer is Trey Haywood, my all-star neighbor, and I’m honestly not sure which of us is more upset about it.
Anyway, the team was trying to set us up (girls, they’re such romantics) and I don’t think they would have succeeded, but in celebration of breaking our 37 game losing streak, they locked Trey and me in the septic system control room.
That changed everything. Not in a good way.
Trey
Yeah. What she said.
And…when I first saw her again, I thought she was a catastrophe.
New thought post septic control: she’s a cute catastrophe. (And, holy man, can she kiss.)
April 12, 2023
Second chance with the person you had a secret crush on when you were a teenager.
Claire's ex husband left her for a younger woman and crushed her self confidence along with it. In fact he tore her down the whole time they were married. Now she is a single Mom with two girl and working as a home health nurse. Trey is the boy she had a crush on in high school and he has just come back to town to care for his father who had a stroke. He is also divorced.
Jessie Gussman puts a lot of humor in her stories and this is no exception. He first meeting with Trey is a disaster as she tries to hide but her sister calls her out. Her two daughters are well adjusted and focused. Their dog is entertaining to say the least.
Claire's sisters are close and very involved in each other's lives. They medal in Claire and Trey's friendship trying to get them to be more than friends. It's just what sisters do I guess. I expect to see more of this in future stories about the sisters.
Jessie Gussman writes small town stories (this town is about as small as they can get) that show family values and loyalty. I never have to worry about paging thru steamy scenes that are way more graphic than I like. I enjoy her stories and if you are looking for a clean read I recommend this story. The characters are well written and memorable. The story line is interesting and cause me to continue in the series.
Claire's ex husband left her for a younger woman and crushed her self confidence along with it. In fact he tore her down the whole time they were married. Now she is a single Mom with two girl and working as a home health nurse. Trey is the boy she had a crush on in high school and he has just come back to town to care for his father who had a stroke. He is also divorced.
Jessie Gussman puts a lot of humor in her stories and this is no exception. He first meeting with Trey is a disaster as she tries to hide but her sister calls her out. Her two daughters are well adjusted and focused. Their dog is entertaining to say the least.
Claire's sisters are close and very involved in each other's lives. They medal in Claire and Trey's friendship trying to get them to be more than friends. It's just what sisters do I guess. I expect to see more of this in future stories about the sisters.
Jessie Gussman writes small town stories (this town is about as small as they can get) that show family values and loyalty. I never have to worry about paging thru steamy scenes that are way more graphic than I like. I enjoy her stories and if you are looking for a clean read I recommend this story. The characters are well written and memorable. The story line is interesting and cause me to continue in the series.
February 28, 2021
This was a cute rom-com story that kept me giggling because I could picture myself in most of the catastrophic moments in this story.
Claire and Trey had lived next to each other growing up but Claire was starting college when Trey was starting high school. She still had noticed him and thought he was cute. Who was she kidding. . . she had a crush on Trey when he was a much younger guy. Now, he has come back to town to help his father who had a stroke and he is living next door to Claire again. Both are now divorced and approaching middle age. The age doesn't really matter anymore so could there ever be anything between them except for friendship.
Their first meeting after Trey's return to town was a complete disaster. As reader, I kept asking if anything else could go wrong. . . and the answer was usually, "Yes it can!"
I've read a lot of Jessie Gussman's books and she could always thread humor throughout the story but this story had non-stop "tickle me" moments. It is a lough-out-loud start to a new series. And, the bonus is there is a happy ending.
Jessie's stories are always clean and full of swoon-worthy moments and a lot of fun to read.
I received an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Claire and Trey had lived next to each other growing up but Claire was starting college when Trey was starting high school. She still had noticed him and thought he was cute. Who was she kidding. . . she had a crush on Trey when he was a much younger guy. Now, he has come back to town to help his father who had a stroke and he is living next door to Claire again. Both are now divorced and approaching middle age. The age doesn't really matter anymore so could there ever be anything between them except for friendship.
Their first meeting after Trey's return to town was a complete disaster. As reader, I kept asking if anything else could go wrong. . . and the answer was usually, "Yes it can!"
I've read a lot of Jessie Gussman's books and she could always thread humor throughout the story but this story had non-stop "tickle me" moments. It is a lough-out-loud start to a new series. And, the bonus is there is a happy ending.
Jessie's stories are always clean and full of swoon-worthy moments and a lot of fun to read.
I received an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
January 24, 2021
Claire is a resident of good grief Illinois and a divorced mother of two girls. Her neighbor is Trey her childhood crush and no matter how put together to try to appear, it never seems to work and makes for a lot of LOL moments. Overtime Trey Falls helplessly in love with Claire , But he is as insecure as Claire is and doesn’t know how to approach the situation and he doesn’t want anything to change if she doesn’t feel the same. He even starts coaching her daughters basketball team to spend more time with her and it is this in the septic tank that will prove the inevitable. Another great start to another great series. Jessie Gussman blows me away with her insight to other peoples ins and outs and being able to put that on paper and convey it to the reader is a talent I wish I had. I can only hope that Jay now reads the audiobook this book is an out yet and I received this as an orc reviewer and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. I absolutely love Jessie‘s books and have never given her anything less than five stars and she deserves every one of them.
February 9, 2021
Me and the Cute Catastrophe ~ Sweet, Small Town Romantic Comedy in Good Grief Idaho bk 1 by
Jessie Gussman.
A great start to a series, its full of laughter. Beautifully written with each chapter from each Claire and Trey.
This is Claire Harding and Trey Haywood the next-door neighbour.
Claire still lives in the home she had when younger with her two daughters, and Midget her dog, her Great Dane. When she was younger she had a crush on Trey a few years younger than her, he too had a crush on her but both didn't act on that because of the age gap.
Now both divorced, Trey has come home to look after his dad but has gone back to the high school to help with the girl's basketball which Claire is the coach. Trey was a former basketball player in his younger days! Team, practice is not quite what usually happens, Can they work together? will Trey be able to help them play better? will Claire and Trey act on the chemistry that has returned?
Great book, looking forward to the next in the series.5*
Jessie Gussman.
A great start to a series, its full of laughter. Beautifully written with each chapter from each Claire and Trey.
This is Claire Harding and Trey Haywood the next-door neighbour.
Claire still lives in the home she had when younger with her two daughters, and Midget her dog, her Great Dane. When she was younger she had a crush on Trey a few years younger than her, he too had a crush on her but both didn't act on that because of the age gap.
Now both divorced, Trey has come home to look after his dad but has gone back to the high school to help with the girl's basketball which Claire is the coach. Trey was a former basketball player in his younger days! Team, practice is not quite what usually happens, Can they work together? will Trey be able to help them play better? will Claire and Trey act on the chemistry that has returned?
Great book, looking forward to the next in the series.5*
April 20, 2023
I love the idea of a quirky small town in Idaho being named Good Grief. (I live in Idaho). I wanted to like this book more than I did. I had three thoughts that kept coming to mind as I listened to the audiobook (Free on YouTube)
-these people are so awkward
- I really don't like him very much
- what school would allow a basketball coach to not actually teach basketball?
I wondered repeatedly why Claire didn't just have a charitable society for kids instead of pretending to be a basketball team. So basically, the whole set up of the plot didn't ring true to me and I just couldn't get past it. I didn't like the characters well enough to overlook it so this one just didn't work for me. It also bothered me that Trey didn't appear to have anything to do with his kids. Did he not get any dad time in the divorce? They don't visit over the summer or something? That seemed unlikely too.
It is clean though so I appreciated that.
No sex, language or violence
-these people are so awkward
- I really don't like him very much
- what school would allow a basketball coach to not actually teach basketball?
I wondered repeatedly why Claire didn't just have a charitable society for kids instead of pretending to be a basketball team. So basically, the whole set up of the plot didn't ring true to me and I just couldn't get past it. I didn't like the characters well enough to overlook it so this one just didn't work for me. It also bothered me that Trey didn't appear to have anything to do with his kids. Did he not get any dad time in the divorce? They don't visit over the summer or something? That seemed unlikely too.
It is clean though so I appreciated that.
No sex, language or violence
February 2, 2021
My thoughts about this book:
• Romantic comedy is not Jessie's usual genre. Her usual genre is small town Christian romances with an amazing amount of plot line diversity. Also, her books usually contain a lot of witty banter.
• I'm very picky about the romcom I read. I like it fun and humorous, but not silly. That said, the first half of this book is rather silly, but the last half is not silly, but is quite humorous, witty, and fun. I like humorous, witty, and fun and really enjoyed the last half of this book.
• I liked the characters' personality and how they compromised to meet each other's needs.
• I liked that the story was told through alternating viewpoints.
I was given an advance copy of this book. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own. This was another good book by Jessie Gussman and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
• Romantic comedy is not Jessie's usual genre. Her usual genre is small town Christian romances with an amazing amount of plot line diversity. Also, her books usually contain a lot of witty banter.
• I'm very picky about the romcom I read. I like it fun and humorous, but not silly. That said, the first half of this book is rather silly, but the last half is not silly, but is quite humorous, witty, and fun. I like humorous, witty, and fun and really enjoyed the last half of this book.
• I liked the characters' personality and how they compromised to meet each other's needs.
• I liked that the story was told through alternating viewpoints.
I was given an advance copy of this book. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own. This was another good book by Jessie Gussman and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
February 6, 2021
This book is a departure from the usual books this author writes, but it is every bit as captivating and endearing. OMG poor Claire is a hot mess.....and the messes she gets herself in are hilarious! She is a divorced single mom with some self esteem issues and the worst luck, or case of klutziness ever. Besides being a nurse she attempts to coach the girls basketball team. I say attempts because she has no clue what she is doing. But Trey, her longtime crush, sure does and the divorced father and former basket ball player is back in town and slated to take over as coach. Their story is full of mishaps, misunderstandings and miscommunications all while they find love again. Add in her giant dog named Midget, nosy and meddling family members and you have a very funny story to read and enjoy.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 10, 2021
I never doubted that Jessie could put out an excellent romantic comedy. After all, her newsletters make me laugh all the time! Claire is the head girl’s basketball coach. To say her practice methods are unconventional is a laugh in itself. First practice: pick up trash around the school. Second practice: help the seniors from the local assisted living facility to shop for what they need or want. Building character? Yes! Winning games? No! Trey is back in town helping his dad. He joins up as assistant coach and he can’t believe her practice methods. So, how does he get her to come over to his way of thinking? This is a fun filled book with some laugh out loud moments! Great read!
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
December 25, 2021
When Claire and Trey meet again, their teenage crush revived and developed. Now that their age difference is not an issue anymore, they might have a chance…
It nearly hurt to read about Claire and Trey’s insecurities. Both seemed to have been in previous abusive marriages. Though it’s written in an amazingly witty way, I just don’t understand how one human can deem himself superior to someone else. Even though her husband left several years ago, Claire is still struggling with the psychological damage. It’s admirable when a person is able to come out of that destructive path, set by egoistical people in the first place.
Enjoy this humorous story about a couple in which each person has been badly hurt in the past, taking the risk to trust and love again.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It nearly hurt to read about Claire and Trey’s insecurities. Both seemed to have been in previous abusive marriages. Though it’s written in an amazingly witty way, I just don’t understand how one human can deem himself superior to someone else. Even though her husband left several years ago, Claire is still struggling with the psychological damage. It’s admirable when a person is able to come out of that destructive path, set by egoistical people in the first place.
Enjoy this humorous story about a couple in which each person has been badly hurt in the past, taking the risk to trust and love again.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2026
A real place in Idaho is called Good Grief. It's not formally incorporated as a town, but visitors can find a rest stop that's actually frequented by locals if they go there. This short, cute, wholesome romance is about fictional characters who live in Good Grief.
Claire is dyeing her hair to cover the gray and coaching the girls' basketball team. Since she never was an athlete, she coaches them to do community service more than she does to play basketball. Trey is getting flabby, and decides to fight the flab by coaching the boys' basketball team. The girls beg him to help coach them too; all that community service is nice, but they would like to win a game for once. Trey and Claire, who liked each other in high school, are thus forced to spend time together again and find that they still do like each other.
It's a romance. You know where this must end.
Claire is dyeing her hair to cover the gray and coaching the girls' basketball team. Since she never was an athlete, she coaches them to do community service more than she does to play basketball. Trey is getting flabby, and decides to fight the flab by coaching the boys' basketball team. The girls beg him to help coach them too; all that community service is nice, but they would like to win a game for once. Trey and Claire, who liked each other in high school, are thus forced to spend time together again and find that they still do like each other.
It's a romance. You know where this must end.
September 5, 2024
I would give this zero stars if I could. The 41 year old Claire sounds like a tween. Her first person dialogue spent so much time in her head I felt like her shrink. As for love interest Trey, he didn't sound a guy at all with his overthinking. Both characters were so hung up with dwelling on their past failed marriages that it seems they were not over them yet.
Continuing on from there I do NOT like the hot mess klutzy heroine. Where did this trope even come from? It is in no way endearing or lovable. And leaving hair dye in your hair while on the street? Not funny. Just plain stupid. The whole idea of using a basketball practice to engage in community service activities was not sweet or cute either. I just gave up at that point.
Do not waste your time on this book.
Continuing on from there I do NOT like the hot mess klutzy heroine. Where did this trope even come from? It is in no way endearing or lovable. And leaving hair dye in your hair while on the street? Not funny. Just plain stupid. The whole idea of using a basketball practice to engage in community service activities was not sweet or cute either. I just gave up at that point.
Do not waste your time on this book.
January 29, 2021
Walking Catastrophe
The title says it all!
“When you do stupid and embarrassing things, you always have to face the people that you don’t want to face and admit the things you don’t want to admit. Which makes you feel even more stupid and more embarrassed.” This story is so funny that you will laugh out loud!
It is emotional too…
“I just want someone who loves me no matter how bad I screw up. Who sees the best in me, even if there isn’t much of that to see, who is willing to give up whatever she needs to see to my happiness.”
I received an ARC of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.
The title says it all!
“When you do stupid and embarrassing things, you always have to face the people that you don’t want to face and admit the things you don’t want to admit. Which makes you feel even more stupid and more embarrassed.” This story is so funny that you will laugh out loud!
It is emotional too…
“I just want someone who loves me no matter how bad I screw up. Who sees the best in me, even if there isn’t much of that to see, who is willing to give up whatever she needs to see to my happiness.”
I received an ARC of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.
January 30, 2021
A Jessie Gussman rom-com? What a great idea!
This is a cute departure from the normal genres for Jessie Gussman. It is a quick reading clean rom-com about a couple with unrealized high school crushes on each other. They are now both single again and living next door to each other in the small town of Good Grief, Idaho. I love the name of that town and also Midget as a large dog name. There was plenty of almost slapstick humor but the characters were relatable and the family dynamics were believable.
Overall, this is a good book for a fun afternoon of reading in a comfortable chair. This looks like it may be a series so I am looking forward to the next book.
This is a cute departure from the normal genres for Jessie Gussman. It is a quick reading clean rom-com about a couple with unrealized high school crushes on each other. They are now both single again and living next door to each other in the small town of Good Grief, Idaho. I love the name of that town and also Midget as a large dog name. There was plenty of almost slapstick humor but the characters were relatable and the family dynamics were believable.
Overall, this is a good book for a fun afternoon of reading in a comfortable chair. This looks like it may be a series so I am looking forward to the next book.
February 11, 2021
I wanted to love this and I thought it had a cute start but the inner dialogue went on far too long. It got to the point where I just started skipping down to see where they were actually talking. Don't get me wrong, I like inner dialogue when it adds to the story and gives you a better idea of who your character is. I felt however in this case they were just trying to give a back story and it was way too long and took away from the story.
I will admit, I couldn't get through it. I got bored and stopped. It took 15% of the book to get through maybe one hour book time so I lost interest. It was a cute idea though.
I will admit, I couldn't get through it. I got bored and stopped. It took 15% of the book to get through maybe one hour book time so I lost interest. It was a cute idea though.
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