Super Bloom

by Megan Tady

If only there was a spa treatment for heartbreak.

In this sparkling, heart-warming debut set at a luxury Vermont spa, massage therapist Joan Johnston is wallowing in grief over the accidental death of her boyfriend, Samuel, and it’s now seriously jeopardizing her job and her friendships. Will she ever be able to move on?

Enter Carmen Bronze, a hotheaded bestselling romance novelist and the most demanding massage client Joan’s ever faced. When Carmen offers Joan a chance to pay down her debt and save her job, it’s hard to say no—even though it means funneling Carmen inside dirt on the spa for her next novel.

The task unexpectedly reawakens a dormant talent in Joan, and she’s irresistibly drawn to writing her own romance novel based on her relationship with Samuel that stretches into the bright future they didn’t get to share. Writing proves to be the therapy Joan desperately needs, and her heart begins to open to new romance... and even the possibility of becoming a successful author herself. But none of this is easy, not with a lunatic like Carmen breathing down her neck and threatening to steal Joan’s manuscript.



A heartfelt, hilarious look at taking second chances, in life and in love, Tady’s uplifting debut will have readers rooting for Joan on every page—and laughing out loud at her one-of-a-kind wit.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Humor, Adult

312 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2023

About the author

Megan Tady is the author of BLUEBIRD DAY and SUPER BLOOM, which received IPPY's Best Regional Fiction for the New England region in 2023. She is a freelance writer and editor running the company Word-Lift, and she teaches humor writing workshops. Her writing has appeared in The Huffington Post, Reader's Digest, Woman's Day, and Ms. Magazine, among others. Megan lives in Western Massachusetts with her family.

Reviews

[Ten Cats Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Megan Tady, publisher Zibby Books, and as always NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of SUPER BLOOM.

Joan is a massage therapist who used to be an artist before she enexpectedly lost her fiancé to a horrible car wreck. And if that wasn't bad enough, his entire family forgot about her in the immediate aftermath and during the grieving period, so she never did properly heal. Now she's sad and confrontational all the time, and nobody wants to make space for her anymore -- not her friends, or coworkers, for sure not her boss. But everything changes when a brilliant and successful writer lays down on Joan's massage table. She's burnt out and uninspired, and couldn't Joan just help write her next bestseller? What could go wrong, right Joan?

I really enjoy the character work in this book. I adore Joan. I love how grumpy she is and honest about her emotions, and that she tries so hard to take care of the people around her. That no one enjoys being around her, I see as largely a "them" flaw and not a "her" flaw. I'm not sure the narrative communicates this well enough; Joan experiences a great deal of pressure to be more positive for everyone else's benefit. I like her because she changes and grows, but remains authentic, which allows for the surprising ending between two very complex characters.

To be perfectly frank though, I had trouble connecting to the narrative here. I found a few of the plot points a stretch for my disbelief, so I kept dropping the thread of the story. I really don't like when unrealistic scenarios make my eyes roll; that's not the feeling I'm after when I read realistic fiction. Bafflement is what scifi is for!

Rating: 💆‍♂️💆‍♂️💆‍♂️ / 5 face massages
Recommend? Sure, it wasn't bad
Finished: May 7 2023
Format: Digital, NetGalley
Read this if you like:
🧖‍♀️ Workplace drama
🌄 Redemption stories
👭🏽 Friend stories
😥 Grief recovery

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Bloom is about a massage therapist named Joan Johnston who lives in Vermont. She's working at a luxury spa and grieving the loss of her love, Samuel, who died two years ago after, six months into their epic love story. She's about to get fired because she is struggling at work, but her boss gives her one chance to save her job—she has to get a glowing review from the most demanding client, famous romance novelist Carmen Bronze. She doesn't do great, but Carmen gives her another chance if she gives her gossip for her next book. Joan begins to do that, but along the way, she wonders if she's the one to write that book instead of Carmen. Chaos ensues.

One thing the author did interestingly was that she captured the feeling of new love when the world is your oyster. The title, Super Bloom, is based on actual super blooms that happen in nature where wildflower seeds that lie dormant for many years in deserts and only bloom when the right conditions occur, a lot of rain and a lot of heat. They are so incredible and vibrant when they bloom—the perfect way to describe this book.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...

[Kate Vocke (bookapotamus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut is the most refreshing and witty take on grief and second chances, and I found myself just adoring Joan and her found family, and laughing out loud in so many places. ⁣
⁣
You’d think working at a swanky Vermont spa would be stress free and relaxing, but for Joan - who is grieving the unexpected loss of the love of her life - it’s anything but. And when notoriously rude and demanding romance author Carmen Bronze comes to her for a massage - Joan somehow ends up being entangled in an undercover research project to avoid losing her much-needed job. ⁣
⁣
What follows is the most hilarious, but heartfelt hijinks with an adorably quirky cast of characters who were all such a joy to meet. Even awful Carmen slowly made me want to punch her less 😆 but the real star, Joan, was just so much fun to root for and I loved watching her rewrite her story and restart her life… one hopeful page at a time.⁣

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A massage therapist grieving the unexpected and sudden loss of her boyfriend gets tangled up in a scheme with a romance author who has writer's block. This was a compelling debut book with a very relatable and sympathetic FMC who is feeling lost and finds herself and a new chance at life and love by agreeing to ghost write a romance book for a struggling author.

Good on audio, this was just an okay read. I was expecting a bit more if I'm honest and wasn't as wowed as I was hoping to be. That said I am still looking forward to what this author will write next. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[solomiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grief is so personal for every person and Joan’s grief was palpable. While I struggled with a good portion of this book, by the second half it really grew on me. I would’ve loved to see more of the relationships that Joan started to build and especially of her found family. By the end of it it felt like we were just getting started.

thank you to libro.fm, Megan Tady, and Zibby Books for an advanced listening copy of this book!

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first line to the last, this book had my heart. Super Bloom by Megan Tady is a book about healing, about finding yourself and about the transformative power of reading and writing. In it, we meet Joan. Joan is massage therapist struggling to recover from the unexpected death of her boyfriend while stuck in a job that she doesn’t appreciate or enjoy. An unexpected encounter with a new client sets her on a new path, a path that reminds her of her love of writing and opens her eyes to new possibilities, even if she does get in a bit of hot water, too. This book is beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny and completely written for readers’ hearts to savor. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

[Katy O.]

DNF for now. I tried this on audio and the narration really didn’t work for me. I’ll try it in print when my library has it

[Emily | emilyisoverbooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thanks to Zibby Books for the copy of this ARC!

Massage therapist Joan is still grieving the death of her boyfriend two years later. She's grouchy, doesn't love her job as a massage therapist, and is trying to keep it together. She's given one last chance in her position at Apex Spa with a notoriously difficult client - romance author Carmen Bronze. While it doesn't go exactly the way she planned, something new unfolds out of the experience.

This is a great book about self-growth, pursuing your passions and opening yourself up. Joan goes through a transformative process through her interactions with Carmen, and it was great to see her slowly moving forward after heartbreak. The Vermont spa setting is definitely a fun one, and her "Rescue Squad" was really wonderful. While the content may seem heavy, I definitely found myself laughing and relating some elements to the Finlay Donovan series.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book!!!
Bighearted, real and relatable, and FUNNY....a true delight. Meg, your perfect descriptions are at turns hilarious and poignant, your characters the beautiful messes we all know and love (and are). As a writer, I kept coming back to the quote by Wallace Stegner, "Hard writing makes easy reading." I know that you worked HARD on this book, Meg. Harder than any of us will ever quite know. It really, really shows. 💜

PS - I love that this story is set in Vermont, as someone who fell so hard for that state last summer that I bought the license plate. 🌿

PPS - Read this book everyone! It's a feel-good story backed by serious writing chops. Like the best books - an escape and a homecoming all at once. 🌼

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first line to the last, this book had my heart. Super Bloom by Megan Tady is a book about healing, about finding yourself and about the transformative power of reading and writing. In it, we meet Joan. Joan is massage therapist struggling to recover from the unexpected death of her boyfriend while stuck in a job that she doesn’t appreciate or enjoy. An unexpected encounter with a new client sets her on a new path, a path that reminds her of her love of writing and opens her eyes to new possibilities, even if she does get in a bit of hot water, too. This book is beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny and completely written for readers’ hearts to savor. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

[Clare Brick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an advanced copy of this book from Zibby Books, one of the many perks of being a Zibby Ambassador! I absolutely loved this one! My instruction was to read, then share to my local little free library on 4/22/23. I don’t read as as as others, so that will be happening on 5/7/23 instead! I loved the humor of this book and a peak into an industry, “body work”, I knew absolutely nothing about. The unique characters connecting and developing friendships was so fun to watch unfold! The author really touched on special bonds in all types of relationships. I really enjoyed this and look forward to other books by Megan Tady!

[Caitlin Kunkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming debut novel! I loved being immersed in the world Megan Tady created, from learning about bodywork to the Vermont setting to super blooms themselves. This book balanced humor and grief perfectly, and all the storylines came together in an incredibly satisfying way. I loved this read and I’m excited to see what the author does next!

[Charli North · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like a tight hug from a good friend.

Inspiring, comical, and warm, Super Bloom had me fall in love with all the characters. Tady writes about heavy life matters but in an engagingly soft way. Losing a lover at the start of a romance is depressing, and working in an industry that is hard financially and physically is too. But Tady finds a way to write realistically about grief and hardship that doesn’t send you into a pit of depression or make the book something to turn away from.

I was privileged enough to get an advanced copy to put in my Little Free Library, and I can’t wait for the next person to discover it. Such a gem.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read that this book took place in Vermont, I was sold as Vermont holds a special place in my heart. This book captured my attention and heart from the very beginning, and I compulsively read it until the end. Joan, a massage therapist at a tony Vermont resort, is still grieving the unexpected and tragic loss of her boyfriend two years earlier. This book follows her as she comes out of the fog and slowly begins to move on with her life - making new friends, exploring career options, and coming into her own. A lovely read about grief and new beginnings. Thank you to Zibby Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Megan Tady's debut novel, Super Bloom. The opinions are my own!

[Molly Neville · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world so quick to judge, meet Joan. A female version of Ove, I enjoyed this quirky grumpy lady that reminds you it's ok. Feel the feels and in your own time, it will all work out.

[Leah M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to libro.fm for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook. I am providing my honest opinion voluntarily.

This book sounded fun right off the start, and the upbeat tone and intriguing plot caught and held my attention right away.

I thoroughly enjoyed Joan's personality, and found her to be quite endearing. She isn't a soft and fuzzy kind of character - she's stuck in her grief after the death of her boyfriend two years earlier, she feels immense pressure to behave positively despite how she feels, she's isolated from a social group, and she doesn't like her job very much. Especially the way she's on the verge of losing it. She's kind of snarky in her head, maybe even aloud at times, yet I find her quite appealing.

But as the story goes on, we get to see Joan grow. It isn't an easy process for her, not in the slightest, but she's got some supportive and quirky characters on her side. After her boss tells her she needs to impress the toughest client the spa has or she will lose her job, Joan is feeling the pressure. And when Joan meets Carmen Bronze, she understands pretty quickly when she's the toughest client the spa has. While her massage fails to wow Carmen, Carmen has another deal in mind - Joan basically ghostwrites her book for her in exchange for a load of money, and Joan doesn't see any other option but to take the deal.

I found the interactions between Joan and Carmen to be funnier the longer the story went on. At first, Carmen just seems horribly obnoxious, but once we get to know her, even just a little, she's relatively funny. Overall, this was a fun book, and I loved the way everything came together by the end.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is about grumpy massage therapist Joan who is feeling stuck in life. She hates her job at a spa at a fancy hotel, and she’s mired in grief after the death of her boyfriend two years ago and sick of people expecting her to move on or undercutting the importance of their relationship because they weren’t together for too long. But when a difficult romance novelist client wants to hire Joan to give her the dirt on spas and massage for a novel she’s writing, just maybe it will turn out to be the key to breaking Joan out of her funk as she rediscovers her love of writing.

This was a fun light read, but with some deeper themes too. We also get a book within a book as we see excerpts of the book Joan starts writing - her story did not seem to have a real narrative arc and yet you could see how writing it was therapeutic for her. I definitely wanted to give Joan a good shake towards the beginning of the book, but I enjoyed seeing her journey of personal growth and I couldn’t put the book down. A cute book with a unique story and I definitely would read Megan Tady’s next book.

[Olivia Swindler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the concept of this book, but the main character, Joan, was a miss for me. I normally don’t mind a grumpy main character, but this was a little over the top. I enjoyed the pieces about her grief, and this book has great side characters. I thought the audiobook narration was really well done.

Thank you to libro.fm for my ALC.

[Gail Nunamaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Joan’s sense of humor and her struggles are so relatable. She doesn’t always make the best choices, but who does? I enjoyed all the characters and learning more about the underside of spa life. So glad I give my massage therapist a big tip at Christmas time!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light read about a massage therapist at a fancy spa in Vermont who is given an interesting, secret assignment by a famous romance author.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read books as youthful as this one, but my daughter recommended it and loaned me her copy. I quite liked it -- though not a "serious" read (you could take it to the beach) this book, nevertheless, addresses issues of loss and acceptance, the power (and the ups and downs) of friendship, both new and old, and the confusion many of us blunder through before "blooming" into our best lives. It also has one of the most satisfying epilogues that I've ever read. 4 stars

[Michelle Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story: Joan, the setting, her tribe, her grief, her relationship with Carmen. Left me satisfied and feeling happy at the end - what more can I ask for?! Congrats to Megan!

[Allison Speakmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three years after the accidental death of her boyfriend, Joan Johnston is still grieving. Stuck working as a massage therapist at a luxury spa in Vermont, she’s certainly not thriving. When she meets bestselling romance author Carmen Bronze, she’s offered a way out of her debt and a way to save her job. All she has to do is share insider spa knowledge with Carmen, who is setting her next book at a spa. Easy peasy. That is until Joan’s passion for writing wakes up and she finds herself writing her own romance novel, which is strictly against her contract with Carmen. With Carmen after her manuscript, Joan must find a way to move past her grief and standup for herself.

This is such a cute debut. As someone who gets a monthly massage, I also wonder what my massage therapist thinks about me, so it was fun to get an inside look at the spa industry. Outside of the setting though, this is a wonderfully put together story about overcoming grief. Joan is wallowing in her own loses and while I was frustrated with her at first, she shows tremendous growth throughout the story. I love her relationship with her boyfriend Sam, and you can tell what they had was deep. But I also enjoyed the way Tady worked to have Joan move on and continue living her life.

Filled with lots of humor this is great debut that is perfect for when you need something witty and heartfelt.

Super Bloom is out now. Huge thank you to Zibby Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.

[Carolyn Fichte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to obtain an advanced copy of this book. I read this in one day because I could not put it down. I rooted for the main caharacter to get out of her grief, find new friendships, patch an old one, and find new boyfriend and/or love. I laughed out loud on a few occasions. I am now obsessed about knowing more, and perhaps one day seeing the super bloom.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Bloom. Oh, how this book captured my heart.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an early copy and the only thing I didn't like about it is the fact that I'm having to wait so damn long to discuss it with others!

As odd as it may sound, something I really admire in a book is my ability to love it no matter the season, my mood, or my location, and Super Bloom delivers.

Warm and wonderful, while also tough and contemplative, our protag Joan had me laughing until maybe a small amount of pee came out. (Tiny honestly, nearly undetectable.)

A grieving woman who is doing her darndest to stay down by pushing all those who love her away, Joan is joined by a fabulous cast of characters as she navigates whether the old saying, "It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all" is true or just a huge load of shite.

If you love: Steven Rowley (how could you not??) and Shelby Van Pelt, prepare to add Meg Tady to your auto-buy list.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Bloom, wow, let me tell you about this gem of a book! Joan is a very unenthusiastic massage therapist who is grieving over the death of her boyfriend Samuel. He passed 2 years ago but for Joan it could have been yesterday. Her grief isn't getting any more manageable and it's starting to affect every aspect of her life. On the verge of getting fired, her boss gives her the hardest client they have. A very blunt and just plain rude famous romance writer, Carmen Bronze. She needs inspiration for her newest book and after peeking into Joan's notebook she offers her a side job as a research assistant. While taking notes on her clients and jotting them down for Carmen, the passion Joan once had for writing is reborn. She starts to write a love story of her own, what would happen if Samuel didn't die? This breathes life into Joan and the possibility of being happy again. This book touches on so many topics: romance, grief, starting over, believing in yourself and creating your own community. I'm so impressed this is a debut book. It was tender but also so funny. I couldn't put it down and read it in just a few days. I highly recommend this one and wish Megan all the success. It's sure to be a big hit. Thank you Zibby Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ended up being an entertaining read about rediscovering yourself, moving through grief, and unexpected friendships.

I enjoyed watching Joan find her passion for writing after making a deal with author Carmen Bronze. I liked seeing her use her story as a vessel to continue to process her grief over the loss of her boyfriend.

I also liked seeing Joan begin to connect with new people and reconnect with her best friend. The interactions between Joan and Carmen were entertaining. And Carmen was a little cooky.

I think this book was a good look at how grief can be complicated. Joan is still struggling 2 years after her loss and it shows that there’s no right way to grief, and returning to “normal” can feel impossible after a loss so big.

There were some moments I found the story a bit slow. And felt like there were elements that were repeated a bit too much.

But overall, I liked this one.

[Michelle Glogovac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and the timing of our actual super bloom here in California couldn’t be more perfect! Meg Tady had me laughing, crying and everything in between!

Joan is a massage therapist at an upscale resort spa. Her life changes when a well-known author becomes her client and has a crazy offer for her. Joan explores her friendships, career, addresses grief and much more.

[Maria Attwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me a while to finish. I had a hard time really getting into it. Joan was such a Debbie downer, always negative. I understand why, but it was kind of exhausting. Then about 75% in, I was like ok, feeling better about it, then at 90% I’m like seriously? It’s a little too clean of an ending. Too perfect.

[Kathryn Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Bloom hits all the right notes. It's smart, funny, sad... a sensation. The narrator is a lovable mess of a human being, like all of us, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
I hope this is one of many to come by Megan Tady, an author I will follow to the ends of the earth and back again.