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McNally Men #1

Beauty in the Details

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Transport yourself to the island of Nantucket in this beachy, feel-good romance!

With a looming deadline and a serious lack of inspiration to meet it, jet-setting artist Natalie Walker returns to her lifelong refuge of Nantucket. There, she meets Jack McNally, a former perpetual bachelor who’s in over his head after the tragic death of his best friend left him with the responsibilities of a beachside café and a bouncing baby boy.

When Natalie breezes into town looking for a job and a place to stay, Jack eagerly offers her both, but living and working so closely when they are both wildly attracted to each other was bound to get tricky. When they eventually give in to their desires, the results are sizzling, but what happens when one person was always destined to leave, and the other never wants to?

This book contains explicit language and sexual content. It touches on the topics of loss of a friend and loss of a parent.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2022

269 people are currently reading
608 people want to read

About the author

Molly McCarthy

5 books57 followers
Molly is an avid romance reader and writer living just outside Boston, MA. She can often be found typing away in a café, drinking a latte, and dreaming of happily ever afters. Keep up with Molly on Instagram @mollymccarthybooks.

Follow me on Bookbub (https://bit.ly/mollybookbub) and subscribe to my newsletter (https://bit.ly/mollynewsletter) for alerts about new releases sales!

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5 stars
152 (35%)
4 stars
133 (31%)
3 stars
95 (22%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Bree.
210 reviews
June 15, 2022
A dreamy beach town location and a single dad running a cafe. This is a fun summer read with the opposites attract and forced proximity tropes. It’s perfect for a day on the beach!!
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,176 reviews105 followers
May 3, 2022
This was a perfect combination of swoon and summer time fun. Natalie is an artist and she travels around to find inspiration and to keep moving. Her mom left when she was young and Natalie has followed in her footsteps, leaving before she gets too comfortable. Jake is a new guardian to a cute little boy named Carter. He also inherited a little coffee/bakery as well when his friend died in a tragic accident.
The two couldn't be more different but they also find happiness in each other's arms. This is such a sweet romance and also very inspirational about following your dreams. I just loved this story and can't wait to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Emma | ateaspoonofswoon .
226 reviews24 followers
March 23, 2022
Truly the way I wish it were summertime and I was lucky enough to be relaxing on a Nantucket beach 😌

Beauty in the Details is Molly’s debut book, and it tells the story of Jack and Natalie and, of course, Carter. Jack and Natalie’s paths cross on Nantucket and things quickly evolve into a complicated friendship/partnership while Jack is her boss/landlord/resident hottie during her stay on Nantucket. Each character had a very strong personality and it was very interesting reading about their relationship development! And I was very happy to find it was open door 😈 hehe

This was a summer read to tie me over until the warmth finally comes to the east coast! Thanks to Molly for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book!
Profile Image for Dikshya Pattnaik.
1,067 reviews18 followers
Read
April 24, 2022
Struggling artist, Natalie, returns to Nantucket Island for inspiration for her paintings. There she meets café owner, Jack, who is the legal guardian of his best friend's baby boy. Both struggling in their one way make a deal to help each other; Natalie works & lives rent-free in Jack's home & in turn, takes care of the baby & helps out with the Cafe.

What I liked-
-The breezy island of Nantucket.
-Natalie & her father's improved relationship by the end.
-Dana
-Carter (he was the highlight of this book for me)

What I disliked-
- quite frankly the relationship between Natalie & Jack felt too immature. It had more lust than love.
- childish arguments/ unnecessary possessiveness.
- the thing I was most ENRAGED about was how selfish & rude Natalie was in the beginning. I mean, she basically coerced Jack into giving her a place to stay for free in exchange for taking care of the baby & helping a bit out with the Cafe. But when Jack actually needs her help, she goes "I can't keep dropping what I'm doing to cover your ass". Like dude? Isn't that what you had signed up for?

Sorry to say this but this just wasn't for me.
I was provided an arc, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Annalise Nicole.
113 reviews10 followers
April 1, 2022
i was so thankfully sent an
ARC for
@mollymccarthybooks
debut novel, BEAUTY
IN THE DETAILS.
2/5
it releases on may
and of this year,
so go get your
preorders in!
struggling artist natalie travels to
nantucket for a breath of fresh air,
hoping to make her deadlines. there,
she meets jack. when the death of his
best friend turns this bachelor into
the legal guardian of baby boy and
owner of the left behind beachside
cafe, jack is very much so in over his
head. natalie and jack find comfort in
their separate struggles as they try to
fight off their attraction before
eventually giving in. how will they
combat everything they've come to
like about one another when one of
them is destined to stay and one is
itching to run again?
a perfect steamy read for a
long day at the beach
i honestly had a few problems
with this book, but i'm putting a
lot of it aside because i know
how hard it is to write a book
and go through publishing
processes. for the most part, i
had an issue with the writing. i
felt like it was very repetitive
and a little rushed. though i
won't spoil anything, i felt like
the issues were valid, but how
they were resolved were WAY
too fast for two absolute
strangers. it took a lot for me to
get through this book, and
eventually to the end. i felt a
little relieved to finally finish it.
i know that's harsh, but I'm always honest with my
reviews. even if it's an ARC (that i always am grateful
for, and i love being a considered in the first place.), i
will still review it honestly.
again, thank you so much @mollymccarthybooks
for sending me this ARC
Profile Image for Kira.
743 reviews32 followers
May 7, 2022
Title: Beauty In The Details
Author: Molly McCarthy
Hero/Heroine: Jack & Natalie
Trope: Single Dad Romance

TW/CW: Death of a friend, parental abandonment, death of a parent

THE GOOD 😀

When I read the blurb for this book and saw that the author was looking for arc readers, I immediately signed up. Who doesn’t love a single dad romance? I have to admit it’s not my absolute favourite, but I do enjoy the trope when written well, and this definitely fell into that category.
Natalie is a free spirit; a travelling artist constantly looking for inspiration, she does not do long term, especially in relationships. When she meets Jack after arriving on the island of Nantucket (which sounds bloody idyllic by the way), she finds herself drawn to him and his adorable charge, Carter. After becoming a guardian and inheriting a cafe, Jack finds himself buried beneath a mound of responsibility. The situation in which these two characters meet was great, and even though it seemed that they were complete opposites, they had a surprising amount in common. They were both seeking reassurance from those closest to them after a lifetime of feeling like a disappointment.
Jack as a character was unbelievably swoon worthy; caring and compassionate with a hidden possessive side, I loved watching him grow and gain confidence throughout the story.
An impressive debut set in idyllic surroundings, Beauty In The Details was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading about the other McNally brothers. Also, what is with all the hot cartoon men on book covers recently? Every time I see one and think ‘hot dayum’, I have to remind myself ‘Kira, he’s not even human, sort your shit out’.

THE BAD 🙁

I have to hold my hand up and admit that I found it a tad difficult to relate to Natalie. I felt that she was quite selfish at times, and I wanted to tell her to get a grip and stop stringing Jack along.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this to read. This is my honest review.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: A sweet and steamy single dad romance
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Ellora.
158 reviews3 followers
March 30, 2022
Beauty in the Details is the author's debut novel that tells the story of Jack and Natalie after Natalie shows up again in Nantucket looking for inspiration. Natalie is a struggling artist who frequently travels to inspire her art and has ten paintings that she needs to do but struggles to find inspiration. Jack is struggling after taking over ownership of a cafe and guardianship of Carter after the death of his best friend and his wife. When they meet, they work out an agreement that could help them both, Jack can get help with Carter and the Cafe, and Natalie can have a place to stay.

This book is a cute summer romance and could be an easy beach read, but also it focuses a lot on finding yourself and how you heal after loss. Some of the book's pacing took me out of the story a little bit, but other than that, it was a pretty enjoyable read!

A huge thank you to the author Molly McCarthy for an electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Megan Cousins.
Author 10 books99 followers
March 18, 2022
Natalie is the very definition of a struggling artist, and Jack is facing his own struggles as a cafe owner and newly named guardian of a toddler. When Natalie comes to Nantucket seeking inspiration for her art, she meets the handsome cafe owner and the two strike a deal: she'll work with him to care for Carter and put in some time at the cafe in exchange for room and board while she finishes her paintings.

This is a romance, yes, but also a story of two broken people finding healing. Jack is still dealing with the grief of losing his best friend. Natalie is grieving broken relationships.

There were a few instances - scenes, dialogue, etc. - that took me out of the story a few times, and had me questioning the characters and their motivations.
Overall I felt there were portions that worked and some that didn’t.

CW/TW: death of loved one (off page, but discussed), open door romance (a few steamy scenes).

Thank you to author Molly McCarthy for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2 reviews
March 14, 2022
This is a lighthearted, easy-read romance with a few steamy scenes. It’s a book about a sunny, gentle, idyllic summer romance. It would make a great summer holiday read, on the beach or by the pool. Very much like a rom com, if I were casting I’d have John Krasinski playing Jack, the hero of the book; a hunk with kind eyes. Jack is struggling to cope with new found responsibilities when Natalie blasts into his life and fixes him up mercilessly. She’s not afraid to get right in there and rescue him, but it turns out he isn’t the only one struggling. A really sweet ending awaits…
I read an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Erica (_speedereader_).
777 reviews12 followers
May 3, 2022
Natalie & Jack ❤️‍🔥

What a lovely debut by Molly McCarthy! This book took us to summertime in Nantucket & Molly described the area so well I could visualize it in my mind. ⁣

Beauty in the Details is the love story of free-spirit artist Natalie & Nantucket local & restaurant owner Jack.⁣

Natalie & Jack are each lost in their own ways - Jack has just lost his best friend & has become the guardian to toddler Carter (their connection is an adorable part of this love story) & Natalie is constantly adrift trying to gain some inspiration for her next set of paintings. Having visited Nantucket in the past, she chose to return for the memories and the salt air. ⁣

Together, they navigate the push and pull of commitment & pursuing their dreams. Learning to approach life’s challenges as a couple vs on their own is a very real relationship transition. ⁣

I enjoyed this summertime read, especially the side characters. Everyone came into their own and grew in the process. ⁣

You’ll enjoy this book if you like to read about:⁣
- Hot, single dads ✅⁣
- The feeling of sun on your face & the smell of salt in the air ✅⁣
- Character growth ✅⁣
- A little bit of adventure & a whole lot of whimsy ✅⁣

Profile Image for Megan.
132 reviews
May 12, 2022
Beauty In The Details is Molly McCarthy’s debut novel and the quintessential summer beach read. The Nantucket setting was the perfect backdrop for this cute summer romance tale. From the first chapter, I was instantly transported to the quaint island setting with dune-backed beaches and cobblestoned streets. Beauty in the Details also covers some great tropes such as summer love, forced proximity, and single parent romance. In addition, it definitely has Hallmark after dark vibes as there are quite a few spicy open door scenes. Whilst the story is broadly low angst, it does cover some emotional topics such as parental abandonment and death of a friend / parent, so do proceed with caution. Despite this, I really enjoyed reading Beauty in the Details - everything from the gorgeous setting, the quirky characters, and the most swoonworthy HEA had me grinning from ear to ear and hoping there will be more books focusing on Jack’s siblings. Thank you so much to Molly for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Holly Schwartz.
842 reviews38 followers
April 4, 2022
This is would make such a good beach read! So reading it in April has me wishing for warmer weather. This debut novel was the perfect amounts of cute romance and showing real emotions. Natalie is the embodiment of struggling artist. She doesn’t have a permanent address, she’s been trying to make painting her career for years, she moves whenever inspiration strikes, her father doesn’t approve of her decisions. But she is comfortable with her choices and doesn’t want to give up. She’s headed to Nantucket where she spent a lot of her summers as a kid and is hoping she finds a job, a place to stay, and inspiration for her paintings. There she meets Jack. He’s recently become the new owner of his late best friends business as well as the guardian to his young son. He is drowning in responsibilities he never thought he’d have and he doesn’t want to let his best friend down so he is making it work. Natalie starts to work for Jack as a live in nanny and a helping hand at the cafe and they become fast friends and the lines begin to blur quickly. Even though she’s made it clear she’s leaving at the end of the summer.

They are both pretty broken. Natalie is seemingly living her best life, doing what she loves but it’s clear she has problems committing. She hasn’t ever had a really strong supportive relationship in her life, and she doesn’t know how to let Jack in all the way. Jack is deeply grieving the loss of his best friend, and hasn’t been able to properly grieve. He has never felt good enough and never saw this life for himself. But they both were eventually able to communicate open effectively and they were able to figure out exactly what they wanted. This was such a sweet book I can’t wait for anything else Molly McCarthy writes!!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Tammy’s  Timeout.
332 reviews14 followers
May 14, 2022
One thing I love about reading fiction books is the places that we travel to while reading, and Molly McCarthy has done just this with her book Beauty in the Details. I loved experiencing the beauty of Nantucket and the island way of life as I read Natalie and Jacks’s romance!

-Review-
Natalie is a free-spirited artist who finds inspiration in the places she travels to, never settling on one place for too long. Estranged from her absent mother and having a somewhat rocky relationship with her father, who doesn’t understand or support her chosen career and carefree way of life. Natalie worries she will hurt people if she gets too close to them, so a transient life suits her … or so she thinks!
Jack is a lifelong resident of Nantucket and loves the island. Grieving the death of his best friend, Danny, Jack is thrown in the deep end as he gains guardianship of Danny’s young son Carter and takes over running his cafe. Bringing some consistency into his life after years of working in bars and having no commitments, Jack loves Carter but needs help juggling it all. Cue Natalie, who returns to Nantucket for the inspiration needed for her painting, as well as a reminder of the happy times spent on the island with her father when she was a young child.

Molly McCarthy brings a feel-good romance that had me cheering for Natalie, Jack and Carter from the start, knowing that they were just what the other needed in all facets of their lives if only they would take a chance.
Family dramas and personal growth of both the characters add to the storyline and bring on the steam and chemistry when they finally do succumb to their ever-growing attraction! 🔥

Thanks to Molly McCarthy for the early copy of Beauty In The Details I received, available now through Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Hannah.
721 reviews71 followers
March 18, 2022
4.5 stars.

Releases: May 2, 2022

Summary:

Natalie- a fly by the seat of her pants kind of girl and the ultimate free spirit. MAJOR Holly Golightly (Breakfast at Tiffanys) vibes going on with Natalie and her fear of slowing down or putting down roots. Natalie is a starving artist- literally. She constantly moves and wanders place to place, never able to lock down lasting inspiration.

She arrives in Nantucket for inspiration with only 2 packed bags containing all of her belongings and just enough money for a coffee. No plans. Nothing. And then she meets Jack.

Jack is the owner of a rundown diner in Nantucket. Six months ago, Jack’s best friend died, leaving his 1 year old son and family diner to Jack. As Jack tries to figure out how to be a guardian to baby Carter and how to run a diner, he hires Natalie to help out as a nanny and to help at the diner.

As Natalie gets closer and closer to Jack and Carter, she wonders more and more if she can ever truly settle down in one place or if she is bound to leave everywhere she goes.

My thoughts:

This book was really cute. It felt like the perfect vacation book. The setting of Nantucket was beautiful to read. Natalie and Jack were so different but worked really well together. I loved their interactions with baby Carter and with each other.

Yes- this is a romance, but there’s so much growth that happens in each character as they both walk through their own grief/issues.

My one issue was how fast Jack trusted Natalie with his home and (most shockingly) with baby Carter. As a mom- I can’t fathom leaving my child with a homeless lady that I don’t know. We, the readers, know Natalie won’t do anything bad to Carter- but big yikes. Big. Yikes.

Thank you so much Molly McCarthy for this ARC.
Profile Image for Aislinn.
379 reviews7 followers
March 19, 2022
“Beauty in the Details” is a cute, beachy read that is great for those who want something lighthearted but with a good message.

Our main character, Natalie, is a nomadic artist whose fear of ending up like her mother causes her to keep all people, including her partners, at a distance. With little inspiration, and pride that won’t let her go home to her dad with her tail tucked between her legs, Natalie decides to visit Nantucket for the summer and paint for an upcoming show. While there, she meets Jack, local cafe owner and father to recently orphaned Carter, son of his late best friend.

What ensues is a beautiful relationship that leads to Natalie questioning herself and her life choices (namely: is settling down in one place that bad?).

I will say that I don’t typically read books with children in them. It’s a personal preference of mine, but I was drawn to the fact that the child in this story is older, he’s about 2, and the circumstances surrounding his life are very unique. I’m glad I gave this book a shot because Carter is a doll; he complimented both Natalie and Jack quite nicely!

This book is also not another fade-to-black romance. There are sexual scenes, but in my opinion they made the relationship between Jack and Natalie all the more real. Further, for a debut novel I actually found these scenes to be written in a way that was impressive, and didn’t come across as sloppily written or by someone new to writing.

I rate this book a 3, because while it’s good, there’s nothing that would prompt me to reread it.
Profile Image for heerr.
240 reviews2 followers
April 27, 2022
𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 makes for the perfect summer read with a side of swoon✨

——————————

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 : 🌟🌟🌟
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 : 🔥🔥
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
🐚 third pov writing
🐚 nantucket setting
🐚 under one roof + close proximity
🐚 single dad [by guardianship] romance
𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 : coming May 2nd, 2022 to Kindle Unlimited😍

——————————

𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 makes for an indie romance by debut author, 𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐲. following struggling single dad and diner owner 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤, and forever travelling artist 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞, this book makes for a cute read set on the beach, with a slight tinge of heavier topics involved.

going into this book, I was really optimistic to explore these characters that 𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 had so kindly entrusted me to read about before release day. I dove in immediately, and finished just shy of a hundred and fifty pages within one sitting😆

this is a fast paced romance that was quite sweet. definitely nothing ground breaking here so as to say, but I enjoyed reading about the little family 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 created for themselves with 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫, and I do like that the conflict was plausible and had a little bit of a build up.

if you pick this steamy and low - angst romance up anytime soon, I would ask you to be a little patient with the writing. what starts off with repetitive writing that is difficult to lose yourself in, improves into a heartfelt and enjoyable romance with the cutest of toddlers🥰

——————————

𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫, 𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐦, 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 :)
Profile Image for Allie Giancarlo.
Author 3 books31 followers
May 5, 2022
“Most of the time, people look at a piece and they think it’s beautiful, but they can’t figure out why. They look at it as a whole piece but don’t realize the beauty is in the details! So many little things have to come together perfectly to create pieces like these.”

First of all, I’d like to congratulate my friend Molly on the release of her debut novel!

Natalie and Jack were such a joy to read! Jack has recently received guardianship of his deceased best friend’s infant son—as well as his dilapidated, Nantucket cafe—and is looking to settle down and becoming more responsible so that he doesn’t seem like the failure of his family. Natalie, on the other hand, is on a last ditch effort to find inspiration for her art. She’s lived a traveling lifestyle for so long that she sees nothing different when she steps off the ferry. Of course, when she strikes a deal with Jack—nanny his adorable baby, Carter; help out in the cafe when she can; help improve the state of Danny’s to gain more customers—everything changes.

I loved the journey that these two got to experience in one another. Jack found all of his potential to do some growing up and plant roots, while Natalie learned that it’s okay to rely on others, and that even birds have to land somewhere every once in a while.

I also quite enjoyed the little jaunt over to Nantucket, as well as a man in a Red Sox hat 😉

Beauty in the Details is now available! Pick it up to read on the beach this summer ☀️🎨
Profile Image for Hayley 〰 Hayley's Next Page.
1,447 reviews106 followers
May 2, 2022
"I love you so much it scares me to death, but I'd rather be scared with you than scared without you."

Beauty in the Details is the perfect summer beach read that will transport you directly to Nantucket. Our main character is Natalie, a free-spirited travelling artist who comes to Nantucket seeking inspiration for her latest collection. But needing a job in the meantime, she connects with a local cafe owner, Jack. He took over the cafe and became guardian to a toddler following his best friend's death. Natalie becomes a live-in nanny and handywoman and soon settles into island life. But it isn't long before sparks fly between Natalie and Jack.

Natalie was an enjoyable main character. She oozed creativity and I enjoyed getting that behind-the-scenes glimpse of life as an artist. I also loved how she helped Jack really settle into his life as a cafe owner and dad. The pair had instant chemistry and there was definitely a healthy dose of sexual tension, which ignited into a couple of steamy open-door scenes. I also liked Natalie's character growth, as she found a home on Nantucket and reconnected with her father.

So, if you like your summer romances with a side of single dad and forced proximity, look no further!

Thank you to Molly for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Profile Image for Keathe.
510 reviews28 followers
May 4, 2022
Natalie is looking for inspiration as a starving artist, when she heads to Nantucket with pretty much only the items in her suitcases. She has no job, no place to stay and no money; but she is used to this way of life as a nomad of sorts. Jack has recently lost his best friend to a car accident. With that loss, Jack has inherited his friend's cafe and his toddler son. Struggling with his new normal, Jack offers Natalie room and board in exchange for help with updating the cafe and watching toddler, Carter.

Neither is looking for a relationship since Jack has all these new responsibilities, and Natalie never stays in one place very long, but their chemistry is so strong that they throw caution to the wind.

There are a lot of complex relationships in this book for both the characters. Natalie was abandoned by her mother as a child, and her father isn't supportive of her lifestyle. Jack has always felt like the 'loser son' because he never got off the island like his successful brothers, and has guilt about making changes to his best friend's legacy without him being around anymore. There are also really fun side characters, and toddler, Carter charms the pants off of us in this story. This was a great love story, with amazing chemistry and really interesting real world problems that our couple have to work through.

Thanks to Molly McCarthy for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Tammy Subia.
Author 6 books29 followers
Read
March 31, 2022
BEAUTY IN THE DETAILS is a super sweet romance. I loved the Nantucket beach setting, and personally, I'm always a fan of stories that involve running a cafe or coffee shop, so I enjoyed that. Jack was a refreshing romantic hero. He was a bachelor who suddenly found himself raising his friend's baby, and I can definitely see why Natalie was so drawn to him. I appreciated the dynamic between the two of them, but everything was so sweet at first that I didn't expect the heat level to suddenly jump through the roof. Not that I minded at all! Ultimately, I really enjoyed reading this story, but I do have to say that by the end, everything between this couple had happened way too fast for my taste. I don't want to give away the ending, but if someone is going to essentially change their whole life around and everything they wanted for someone else, I don't believe that's going to happen after just a few months. But then again, it is a romance novel, so make of that what you will. If you like your romances both extra sweet and extra spicy, check this one out!

(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Profile Image for Mackenzie Swann.
149 reviews
May 23, 2024
4⭐️ This book was so so cute!! It had such a fluffy and lighthearted feel to and I enjoyed it a lot. Despite me taking forever to finish, it was a really good read!

I loved Jack and Natalie from the beginning. I knew they were going to come together and have a happy ending despite all of their challenges and differences. I love the single dad trope so this book was perfect, I loved Carter so freaking much, he was absolutely adorable. Don’t even get me started on Jack and Carter, I fell in love with them as soon as I started the book and getting to see both Jack and Carter fall in love with Natalie was so amazing. I love their little family so much.

I felt for both Natalie and Jack. They both were struggling with their own things and I am so happy that they found each other and were able to help each other. I’m happy they got the ending that they both wanted. The fact that they got married, adopted Carter, and are expecting a baby together makes me happy.

This book was really good. It was a short and happy romance that had a super cozy and safe vibe to it and I am really looking forward to reading fletchers story next. I definitely recommend reading this book!!!
Profile Image for Lopke.
461 reviews33 followers
April 17, 2022
what you can expect from Beauty in The Details:
🌼 beachy Nantucket setting
🌼 traveling artist
🌼 open door steam
🌼 single father-ish
🌼 forced proximity
🌼 summer love

this was a very cute read, and although i thought the characters to be too trusting and too comfortable early on, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing if you're a fan of a Hallmark atmosphere

(maybe) SPOILER
my main problem with these type of stories is that, Jack knew Natalie was going to leave eventually, and was fine with it in the beginning but then when she talked about leaving again, he became really unreasonable and dramatic - making it sound like everything wad her fault when she specifically asked him if he knew what he was getting into...
i guess that situation just made me lose respect for him a bit, even though apologies were made in the end

for the author's debut novel, the story was lighthearted and well written, it made for an easy and fast paced read aswell

*𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯-𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸*
Profile Image for Angelina  | Bookstagramwithange.
89 reviews3 followers
May 6, 2022
I’d like to say thank you so much to the author for sharing an ARC copy with me and giving me the opportunity to read it and review it! ✨💙 📖
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Beauty in the Details by Molly McCarthy 🌟🌟🌟🌟 |5.
📍 Nantucket
Genre: 💗 Romance
📑 312 pages
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A bachelor with a kid romance trope? This was different for me! When Natalie loses inspiration in her artist endeavors, she heads to Nantucket. The quaint little beach town with the handsome cafe’ owner Jack McNally. Jack feels like he lacks stability too. Natalie feels like she always needs to be on the move. She agrees to help Jack and they agree to a partnership and no commitment necessary. 😉
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I felt like this romance was cute, beachy and unique. Jack and Natalie’s life is so far fetched to me because I’m someone who is not spontaneous and does not make risky choices. But, I do know some of the best “meet cutes” happen in far fetched meetings and plans. 😂 The story kept me engaged and I needed to know how their partnership heated up and how they were going to grow and build together. By the end, you will be rooting for Jack and Natalie 💕
Profile Image for Jena B.
123 reviews
March 7, 2022
The Beauty in the Details was a fun escape! I really loved this story + the good feelings and beach vacation vibes it brought with it.

Natalie is a struggling (I mean that in every sense of the word 😂) artist who seeks inspiration in her favorite childhood vacation spot, Nantucket. Jack is a (mostly) reformed bad boy turned cafe owner and single dad/guardian to an adorable baby boy. Jack offers her a place to stay in exchange for her help with his son, business.. and just life in general. 😅

This story had a good mix of romance and happy feelings and angst with questions about the future. There was family drama, and learning to love yourself and have confidence in who you are + your choices (not letting the past define you). It’s 5 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Make sure you preorder Beauty in the Details, out 5/2! I’ll definitely be ordering a paperback for my favorites bookshelf ☺️

Big thank you to the author for the ARC!
Profile Image for Angela Pearse.
Author 16 books83 followers
August 16, 2022
Natalie is a painter, a drifter, someone who doesn't get close to people in case she hurts them when she leaves. But when she arrives in Nantucket to get inspiration for her latest collection, she meets sexy Jack. Sexy Jack is the owner of Danny's, a tired looking cafe which could do with a little sprucing up. As well as running the cafe and looking after two year old Carter, Jack is struggling.

Unable to afford a place to stay on the island, Natalie suggests she help him out in return for a room and board above the cafe. Of course this is also where sexy Jack lives :-) and the forced proximity starts opening doors physically, as well as emotionally, for them both.

This book was well written, with excellent character development and a nice level of spice. I liked that Natalie was a feisty, independent FMC who was more than a match for Jack who could at times be a little stroppy. Highly recommend if you're looking for a light romance with extra heat.
Profile Image for Jessica Costello.
Author 2 books81 followers
March 23, 2022
This was a great debut novel. I've never been to Nantucket, but this book made me feel like I was walking on the beach!
It was fun to watch the relationship between Jack and Natalie grow after she accepts his offer to basically be his live-in nanny for the little guy he just became a legal guardian for.
Jack is treading water in his new role as 'dad' and cafe owner, and Natalie walks into his life at the perfect time. She's a struggling artist, basically a vegabond who draws inspiration for her art in any place she might find herself. But now that she's got an impending due date on ten pieces for an old professor from college, she's desperate for inspiration.
So when Jack agrees to give her a place to stay and a part time job for the summer, she can't say no.
There are fun side characters and steamy scenes, and it was all so cute. It will be a great 2022 summer read!
Profile Image for Hanna.
282 reviews
April 2, 2022
Beauty in the Details by Molly McCarthy is such a sweet romance book!


This book is all about:
- instant chemistry but slow burn
- complex and very real relationships
- issues and burden of the past
- sweeeeeet romance and actions that speak volumes

I especially loved how real the characters felt. Our hero and heroine Jack and Natalie seem perfect on the outside but both have some issues they need to sort out. I haven’t read many romance books with a baby already on the picture so it was a nice bonus and added some layer to the story!

Beauty in the Details (it was fun to discover where the name comes from) had me feeling giddy, sighing and hating one character for a short period of time. The world beeing what it is right now, we need more books like these in our lives.

Also how about we get some more of Jack’s brothers?
Profile Image for Melissa.
156 reviews28 followers
March 23, 2022
Rating: 4.5⭐️/5⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Read Type: Ebook ARC
Favorite Quote: “Sometimes you have to abandon how you think things should be and just accept them as they are.”

Review:
This book gave me all the feels. This was a beachy feel-good slow burn romance with a hot single dad, adorable baby, and witty banter between the two main characters I loved. I enjoyed Natalie and Jack’s interactions with each other as well as with Carter (the adorable baby I mentioned). Even though it is a romance, both characters grow throughout the story as they grieve over loss and deal with self-identity issues. This felt like the perfect vacation read!

Big thank you to the author for the ARC!
Profile Image for Elyse.
250 reviews
May 2, 2022
This was a quick, mostly lighthearted read! (I say mostly because there is on page talk about grief from the death of a close friend, but it is written well so it doesn't bring down the story and still keeps it a lighthearted book.)
Natalie is an artist who travels from place to place and doesn't want to put down roots. She goes to Nantucket where she used to vacation with her dad when she was younger. She ends up becoming friends very quickly with Jack, who is running a small cafe and has become the guardian of a little boy, Carter. Natalie starts working for Jack to help with the cafe and Carter and moves in with them. Because of the forced proximity, I was hoping for a bit more pining between Jack and Natalie which we just don't get. The fast pace of this story makes it more of an insta-love.
Overall this is a light, quick read and I loved the Nantucket, beachy setting!

3.5 stars
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy to read and review.
Profile Image for Isa.
64 reviews4 followers
May 4, 2022
This was the perfect escape from the craziness of finals! Natalie is a struggling artist who goes to Nantucket to find some inspiration for her paintings and takes up a job with Jack, who recently became guardian to his best friends son. Along the way, Natalie finds something more than just inspiration.

This book was so cute! Read this if you’re into:
- Single Dad trope
- Found family vibes
- Protective (in the best way!)
- Small town

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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