What do you think?
Rate this book
Mrs Nash's Ashes
Former childhood star and die-hard romantic Millie is bound for Key West from Washington DC, determined to fulfil a promise to her elderly best friend, Mrs Nash, by reuniting her ashes with her long-lost love. And if this grand gesture also happens to reassure a recently heartbroken Millie that believing in love isn't foolish, all for the better.
When flights are grounded, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis, an also-stranded near-stranger from her ex's grad school. Hollis, a rising literary star, doesn't believe in forever-loves (or even for-now loves). He was headed to Miami for a no-strings-attached hook-up, in the hope of curing his writer's block.
But as Millie and Hollis make their way across country, racing down open highways and staying in questionable hotels, will their trip turn into a love story all their own?
When flights are grounded, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis, an also-stranded near-stranger from her ex's grad school. Hollis, a rising literary star, doesn't believe in forever-loves (or even for-now loves). He was headed to Miami for a no-strings-attached hook-up, in the hope of curing his writer's block.
But as Millie and Hollis make their way across country, racing down open highways and staying in questionable hotels, will their trip turn into a love story all their own?
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2023
1066 people are currently reading
59910 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Adler
4 books1,834 followersUSA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler writes romantic comedies about lovable weirdos finding their happily ever afters. She lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter, and very mischievous cat. When not working, you can find her attempting to course-correct an ill-advised late afternoon nap with an equally ill-advised late afternoon coffee, as she is incapable of ever learning a lesson.
Sarah’s debut novel, Mrs. Nash’s Ashes, is a USA Today bestseller and was selected as a New York Public Library Best Book of 2023. Her second, Happy Medium, is also a USA Today bestseller, and her third, Finders Keepers, and fourth, Wild Goose Chase will be published by Berkley/Penguin Random House in the summers of 2025 and 2026 respectively.
Sarah’s debut novel, Mrs. Nash’s Ashes, is a USA Today bestseller and was selected as a New York Public Library Best Book of 2023. Her second, Happy Medium, is also a USA Today bestseller, and her third, Finders Keepers, and fourth, Wild Goose Chase will be published by Berkley/Penguin Random House in the summers of 2025 and 2026 respectively.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,671 reviews
May 29, 2023
I'm likely biased since my wife wrote this and I've read it at least a half-dozen times from its original inception to now, but I absolutely adore this book. I hope you all will as well!
October 28, 2025
Only one word can truly describe this book: SPLENDID! The dynamic between Grumpy and Sunshine, a perfect blend of opposite attraction tropes, is a hilarious and poignant story that also includes a heartwarming and powerful queer love story between Rosie and Elsie.
Millicent Watts-Cohen is a brilliant, quirky, and lovable character with a gold heart and an unwavering optimism. As a former child star known for her role as Penelope Stuart- time traveler, she is a one-of-a-kind heroine that you'll want to be best friends with. She made me laugh and cry, and the world would be a much better place if there were more people like her. In fact, if you Google "sunshine," her name might just pop up on your screen.
Millie is best friends and chosen family member to Mrs. Nash, and her caretaker after separating from her narcissistic ex. At Mrs. Nash's last days, she confesses her love for Elsie, a nurse she met during World War II, but lost to the Korean War. However, Millie discovers that Elsie is not dead, but rather, in an assisted living facility in Key West. Unfortunately, Mrs. Nash passes away before she can share the news. Now, Millie is grieving and on a mission to reunite Rosie with her love by carrying three spoonfuls of her ashes in her backpack and heading to Miami.
On her journey, Millie crosses paths with her ex-boyfriend's frenemy, Hollis Hollenback, a grumpy, handsome man with writer's block and commitment issues. Despite his gruff exterior, Hollis may just be a cinnamon roll in disguise. When their flight gets cancelled, Millie needs a ride, and Hollis becomes her travel companion. The grumpier he gets, the more time he spends with Millie, who is quirky, beautiful, and truly one-of-a-kind. The two of them find themselves in humorous circumstances as they embark on their road trip, and they begin to see the universe has other plans for them. Hollis starts writing again, and Millie tries to resist her growing attraction to him. Will they arrive at the assisted living facility in time, learn the real story of Elsie and Rosie, and fall for each other in the process?
This book was a great surprise and exceeded all my expectations. I didn't plan on falling in love with the characters, but I did. It's a heartwarming, inspirational, and sentimental reading experience that will awaken many emotions within you. There aren't enough words to express how much I enjoyed this splendid read.
A special thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this wonderful book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
instagram
facebook
twitter
Millicent Watts-Cohen is a brilliant, quirky, and lovable character with a gold heart and an unwavering optimism. As a former child star known for her role as Penelope Stuart- time traveler, she is a one-of-a-kind heroine that you'll want to be best friends with. She made me laugh and cry, and the world would be a much better place if there were more people like her. In fact, if you Google "sunshine," her name might just pop up on your screen.
Millie is best friends and chosen family member to Mrs. Nash, and her caretaker after separating from her narcissistic ex. At Mrs. Nash's last days, she confesses her love for Elsie, a nurse she met during World War II, but lost to the Korean War. However, Millie discovers that Elsie is not dead, but rather, in an assisted living facility in Key West. Unfortunately, Mrs. Nash passes away before she can share the news. Now, Millie is grieving and on a mission to reunite Rosie with her love by carrying three spoonfuls of her ashes in her backpack and heading to Miami.
On her journey, Millie crosses paths with her ex-boyfriend's frenemy, Hollis Hollenback, a grumpy, handsome man with writer's block and commitment issues. Despite his gruff exterior, Hollis may just be a cinnamon roll in disguise. When their flight gets cancelled, Millie needs a ride, and Hollis becomes her travel companion. The grumpier he gets, the more time he spends with Millie, who is quirky, beautiful, and truly one-of-a-kind. The two of them find themselves in humorous circumstances as they embark on their road trip, and they begin to see the universe has other plans for them. Hollis starts writing again, and Millie tries to resist her growing attraction to him. Will they arrive at the assisted living facility in time, learn the real story of Elsie and Rosie, and fall for each other in the process?
This book was a great surprise and exceeded all my expectations. I didn't plan on falling in love with the characters, but I did. It's a heartwarming, inspirational, and sentimental reading experience that will awaken many emotions within you. There aren't enough words to express how much I enjoyed this splendid read.
A special thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this wonderful book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
May 23, 2023
✨In Taylor Swift terms: The romance was Stay Stay Stay in a book that was Marjorie✨
Before I get into the heavier bits, I really need to say that oh my GOD did I love the main romance in this book. Their banter was superb, the sex was HOT, and they were just so good together. Frankly, I’m obsessed.
Millie was so much fun. She was a former child actor and I really liked her perspective on it. It wasn’t a huge part of the story, but it was a nice addition. Hollis can Hall my Oats ANY day. He wore glasses, ordered for Millie in the drive thru (GOD BEHAVIOR), and was gifted sexually. Dare I say she was sunshine and he was midnight rain?
Hollis was a college “friend” of her ex so Millie knew of him, but didn’t really know him. They got stranded randomly at an airport together and reluctantly reconnected, leading to a road trip down to Florida. She was going to spread Mrs. Nash’s Ashes and he literally had a dick appointment (💀).
I loved getting to discover the real Hollis alongside Millie, since he was a bit of a jerk (term of endearment) at the beginning. The whole relationship was just so delicious. Their vibe felt a little bit Leap Year and a lot of bit Letters to Juliet (more on that below). And really, this book would make a PERFECT movie. It had the quirky bed and breakfast, ample only one bed moments, random car troubles, and that serendipity of being embraced by a small town for a few days.
It was only single POV, which I think fit the book perfectly. Mara Wilson narrated the audiobook and gave a fantastic performance!! If you like audiobooks and have Mrs. Nash’s Ashes on your TBR, definitely splurge for the audio. I adored the writing style and Adler really brought those characters to life. I was impressed with how she was able to write such sparkling characters in the midst of a rather heavy plot.
✨
I think for me personally where I’m at with my life and where certain family members are, this was a little too Rough On Me for it to be five stars. The grief was so specifically relatable and wonderfully (and excruciatingly) written that it was just so hard to get through by the end.
And I guess I’m not sure I’d need to reread it? I understand love stories end in various ways and they’re all valid, but the secondary love story was just too sad and my HEA loving heart was in PAIN. I also just don’t do well with mortality, but that’s on me. I’m torn between wanting to experience Millie and Hollis again because I LOVE THEM and wanting to preserve my sanity and emotional well-being.
I loved the main romance and good lord I’ll be reading everything Adler publishes next, but I don’t think there’s a way this book will never not hurt in a way I don’t necessarily like to feel. I’ve read other romances that deal with grief and loved them, but I don’t know this one hit me right in the mortality feels. Maybe that’s a compliment? Idk.
I think watching Letters to Juliet would be a good follow up after reading Mrs. Nash’s Ashes. The two have a similar feeling…with a less teary ending (at least for me). I loved the idea of taking the road trip and exploring lost love, but the butterflies the main romance gave me couldn’t overshadow the overwhelming sadness I felt throughout the book. I think the flashbacks took it too far in the I Want Hannah to SUFFER department.
It’s a lovely book—it’s a great book even—but it’s a book for people like my mom. She loves the romantic dramas and feeling all the feels and isn’t afraid to confront things, whereas I like to live in delusion. So while it’s not perfect for me, I think it’s going to be perfect for so many people and that makes me very happy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️.75*/5
*That first sex scene really knocked my socks off I was NOT prepared. In the plainest terms possible:
I do wish we’d have gotten a few more open door scenes after since most of those were fade to black or interrupted.
P.S. I’m not sure what I’d have preferred instead, but the cover feels a little too YA? You can barely see Hollis and Millie and since they’re so far away, they look pretty young. Also we missed a chance of seeing that man in his sexy spectacles front and center.
**SPOILERS**
Just knowing that cute little Mr. Nash was dead and one of her other sons was dead and that Mrs. Nash never fully got over Elsie and outlived everyone else that she loved...I mean can I claim emotional damage and request compensation???? And then Elsie’s journal??…I just really can’t handle all of that. I was way happier thinking Elsie forgot about Rose because at least I wouldn’t have been confronted with even more tears.
On a different note, I really really loved the third act. When Hollis went after her in the hall after the fight??? UGH SO GOOD. I’m happy Millie got the distance she needed but I also really appreciated Hollis realizing REAL fast that he couldn’t stay mad at Millie.
**END OF SPOILERS**
Thanks so much to PRHaudio for an advanced listening copy. All opinions are honest and my own.
Before I get into the heavier bits, I really need to say that oh my GOD did I love the main romance in this book. Their banter was superb, the sex was HOT, and they were just so good together. Frankly, I’m obsessed.
Millie was so much fun. She was a former child actor and I really liked her perspective on it. It wasn’t a huge part of the story, but it was a nice addition. Hollis can Hall my Oats ANY day. He wore glasses, ordered for Millie in the drive thru (GOD BEHAVIOR), and was gifted sexually. Dare I say she was sunshine and he was midnight rain?
Hollis was a college “friend” of her ex so Millie knew of him, but didn’t really know him. They got stranded randomly at an airport together and reluctantly reconnected, leading to a road trip down to Florida. She was going to spread Mrs. Nash’s Ashes and he literally had a dick appointment (💀).
I loved getting to discover the real Hollis alongside Millie, since he was a bit of a jerk (term of endearment) at the beginning. The whole relationship was just so delicious. Their vibe felt a little bit Leap Year and a lot of bit Letters to Juliet (more on that below). And really, this book would make a PERFECT movie. It had the quirky bed and breakfast, ample only one bed moments, random car troubles, and that serendipity of being embraced by a small town for a few days.
It was only single POV, which I think fit the book perfectly. Mara Wilson narrated the audiobook and gave a fantastic performance!! If you like audiobooks and have Mrs. Nash’s Ashes on your TBR, definitely splurge for the audio. I adored the writing style and Adler really brought those characters to life. I was impressed with how she was able to write such sparkling characters in the midst of a rather heavy plot.
✨
I think for me personally where I’m at with my life and where certain family members are, this was a little too Rough On Me for it to be five stars. The grief was so specifically relatable and wonderfully (and excruciatingly) written that it was just so hard to get through by the end.
And I guess I’m not sure I’d need to reread it? I understand love stories end in various ways and they’re all valid, but the secondary love story was just too sad and my HEA loving heart was in PAIN. I also just don’t do well with mortality, but that’s on me. I’m torn between wanting to experience Millie and Hollis again because I LOVE THEM and wanting to preserve my sanity and emotional well-being.
I loved the main romance and good lord I’ll be reading everything Adler publishes next, but I don’t think there’s a way this book will never not hurt in a way I don’t necessarily like to feel. I’ve read other romances that deal with grief and loved them, but I don’t know this one hit me right in the mortality feels. Maybe that’s a compliment? Idk.
I think watching Letters to Juliet would be a good follow up after reading Mrs. Nash’s Ashes. The two have a similar feeling…with a less teary ending (at least for me). I loved the idea of taking the road trip and exploring lost love, but the butterflies the main romance gave me couldn’t overshadow the overwhelming sadness I felt throughout the book. I think the flashbacks took it too far in the I Want Hannah to SUFFER department.
It’s a lovely book—it’s a great book even—but it’s a book for people like my mom. She loves the romantic dramas and feeling all the feels and isn’t afraid to confront things, whereas I like to live in delusion. So while it’s not perfect for me, I think it’s going to be perfect for so many people and that makes me very happy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️.75*/5
*That first sex scene really knocked my socks off I was NOT prepared. In the plainest terms possible:
I do wish we’d have gotten a few more open door scenes after since most of those were fade to black or interrupted.
P.S. I’m not sure what I’d have preferred instead, but the cover feels a little too YA? You can barely see Hollis and Millie and since they’re so far away, they look pretty young. Also we missed a chance of seeing that man in his sexy spectacles front and center.
**SPOILERS**
Just knowing that cute little Mr. Nash was dead and one of her other sons was dead and that Mrs. Nash never fully got over Elsie and outlived everyone else that she loved...I mean can I claim emotional damage and request compensation???? And then Elsie’s journal??…I just really can’t handle all of that. I was way happier thinking Elsie forgot about Rose because at least I wouldn’t have been confronted with even more tears.
On a different note, I really really loved the third act. When Hollis went after her in the hall after the fight??? UGH SO GOOD. I’m happy Millie got the distance she needed but I also really appreciated Hollis realizing REAL fast that he couldn’t stay mad at Millie.
**END OF SPOILERS**
Thanks so much to PRHaudio for an advanced listening copy. All opinions are honest and my own.
March 20, 2024
delightful!!! a liiiiiiiittle overly cheesy right towards the end, but still delightful as heck! can't wait to read whatever adler puts out next!
August 17, 2023
I laughed (out loud...and received a few odd looks), I cried, and I fell in love with Millie, full of sunshine, and Hollis, a total grump. Their misadventures only add to the fun, even though they're dealing with so many emotions, grief among them. Then there is the added story of Mrs. Nash's romance with Elsie, which is both heart-wrenching and beautiful at the same time. This is a wonderful book that will have you feeling all the feels! -Jen K.
Find a copy at Scottsdale Public Library
Find a copy at Scottsdale Public Library
May 17, 2024
When the book has a cutie cartoon cover and bulldozes you in the best way possible!! I LOVED THIS SOOO MUCH!!! Shouting from the rooftops that if you adore Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez, you will gobble this right up from front or back!
The book had all the meat and potatoes you’ll need to leave and feel completely satisfied with a side of weepiness. You get humour, loveable and flawed characters with emotional depth!
I can’t tell you how much I fell for Millie and Hollis, their back and forth banter that had me giggling out loud! These two had me going through all of these emotional and the tension was phenomenal!! Millie had the biggest and most vivacious personality but such a tender girlie on the inside. I am down so bad for a grumpy mmc who’s actually secretly so loving and a cinnamon roll, and Hollis delivered on this!!
I fully went into this believing it was closed door, so you better believe my jaw dropped when the spice hit!!
5⭐️ 2🌶️
The book had all the meat and potatoes you’ll need to leave and feel completely satisfied with a side of weepiness. You get humour, loveable and flawed characters with emotional depth!
I can’t tell you how much I fell for Millie and Hollis, their back and forth banter that had me giggling out loud! These two had me going through all of these emotional and the tension was phenomenal!! Millie had the biggest and most vivacious personality but such a tender girlie on the inside. I am down so bad for a grumpy mmc who’s actually secretly so loving and a cinnamon roll, and Hollis delivered on this!!
I fully went into this believing it was closed door, so you better believe my jaw dropped when the spice hit!!
5⭐️ 2🌶️
August 7, 2024
my heart is broken. i am BEYOND SHATTERED
there are dual timelines within this book, those being the main couple and the story of mrs. nash in the past, which truly took the spotlight
mrs. nash’s tells the story of her queer romance that took place during WW2…when i tell you i am destroyed by them i am actually never recovering! the entire four stars go to them!!! otherwise i probably wouldn’t have finished this book 🫠
millie and hollis, our mc’s were borderline unbearable…the banter was cute in the beginning and the writing is very breezy and easily digestible, but after reading you, with a view especially (which is another road trip romance!) this one didn’t compare. millie was “quirky” and damnit if she didn’t give me the ick on multiple occasion. hollis with the heart of gold is supposed to be a moody brooder on the outside but it really just…a dick. and never really in a fun way they always seemed to take the anger/fighting/immaturity too far for me to root for them
as for the writing, there was something about it that made me not want to reach for it when i stopped reading. it was lacking more depth i feel like? even the characters who had their own set of realistic(?) traumas werent compelling or for lack of a better word DEEP enough.
there are dual timelines within this book, those being the main couple and the story of mrs. nash in the past, which truly took the spotlight
mrs. nash’s tells the story of her queer romance that took place during WW2…when i tell you i am destroyed by them i am actually never recovering! the entire four stars go to them!!! otherwise i probably wouldn’t have finished this book 🫠
millie and hollis, our mc’s were borderline unbearable…the banter was cute in the beginning and the writing is very breezy and easily digestible, but after reading you, with a view especially (which is another road trip romance!) this one didn’t compare. millie was “quirky” and damnit if she didn’t give me the ick on multiple occasion. hollis with the heart of gold is supposed to be a moody brooder on the outside but it really just…a dick. and never really in a fun way they always seemed to take the anger/fighting/immaturity too far for me to root for them
as for the writing, there was something about it that made me not want to reach for it when i stopped reading. it was lacking more depth i feel like? even the characters who had their own set of realistic(?) traumas werent compelling or for lack of a better word DEEP enough.
December 10, 2023
did i read the same book as everyone else???🥹🥹🥹 this is a very unpopular opinion but i did not like this book at all. i actually wish i DNF and almost did at about halfway, but i kept going bc soooo many fellow readers loved it and told me to keep going but no such luck🥲
i always like to check out buzzy books to get my own POV and i’m happy for everyone that loved it, but this just wasn’t my cup of tea!
maybe this was my issue bc i listened to the audio and this was how the narrator/voice made her come off to me, but the MC was arguably my least fave ever lol. she was super weird and almost immature and too quirky. i actually liked the male MC and thought his one liners were witty and funny but hers were just so… random???????
i’ve come to realize that the grumpy sunshine and enemies to lovers/insta love tropes are just not for me. i also wished the dual POV had more of the past POV w Mrs Nash and less of the present. i liked that story and found it to be too short/rushed and wished that was flushed out a bit more. bc it wasn’t, it felt like a Plot B / second storyline that was an afterthought (esp after the authors note mentioned the road trip was the entire inspo of the book).
SPOILER ALERT👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
sorry but there is NO WAY two people fall in love and talk about being with each other for 60 years after 4 days in a car together????? how did anyone actually believe in this love story???? choosing to date after you hit it off, sure… but talking about the future and 50-60 years later? i was gobsmacked!
i always like to check out buzzy books to get my own POV and i’m happy for everyone that loved it, but this just wasn’t my cup of tea!
maybe this was my issue bc i listened to the audio and this was how the narrator/voice made her come off to me, but the MC was arguably my least fave ever lol. she was super weird and almost immature and too quirky. i actually liked the male MC and thought his one liners were witty and funny but hers were just so… random???????
i’ve come to realize that the grumpy sunshine and enemies to lovers/insta love tropes are just not for me. i also wished the dual POV had more of the past POV w Mrs Nash and less of the present. i liked that story and found it to be too short/rushed and wished that was flushed out a bit more. bc it wasn’t, it felt like a Plot B / second storyline that was an afterthought (esp after the authors note mentioned the road trip was the entire inspo of the book).
SPOILER ALERT👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
sorry but there is NO WAY two people fall in love and talk about being with each other for 60 years after 4 days in a car together????? how did anyone actually believe in this love story???? choosing to date after you hit it off, sure… but talking about the future and 50-60 years later? i was gobsmacked!
June 20, 2023
i do this every time. i pick up a romcom in between my silly little male manipulator books, and think i might find my new emily henry. but then the main character calls the love interest grumps mcgrumperson and my whole body recoils in cringe
March 22, 2023
Quirky and entertaining.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story has so many fun and delightful pieces, it wraps you right up. You can tell the author poured her heart into the main characters she crafted because they are witty, sarcastic, and a joy to experience.
This story reads like a wonderful movie plot. One-of-a-kind personalities that offer daring and bold decisions with a travel plot that will not only crack you up but endear you to the author for life. This story is gold.
Mrs. Nash’s Ashes brings a story that offers a great balance of characters, a budding and steamy romance, peeks into the past, and a future that is bright. It is heartwarming, quirky, and so entertaining! I cannot wait to read more from Adler!
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/mrs-nashs-as...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story has so many fun and delightful pieces, it wraps you right up. You can tell the author poured her heart into the main characters she crafted because they are witty, sarcastic, and a joy to experience.
This story reads like a wonderful movie plot. One-of-a-kind personalities that offer daring and bold decisions with a travel plot that will not only crack you up but endear you to the author for life. This story is gold.
Mrs. Nash’s Ashes brings a story that offers a great balance of characters, a budding and steamy romance, peeks into the past, and a future that is bright. It is heartwarming, quirky, and so entertaining! I cannot wait to read more from Adler!
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/mrs-nashs-as...
August 3, 2024
When Millie's elderly best friend and roommate dies, she vows to bring Mrs. Nash's ashes to Florida and reunite her with the lost love of her life. But when the airlines go down, Millie finds herself on a road trip from DC to Florida with aspiring writer Hollis. Hollis is the grumpy to Millie's sunshine, and this road trip will challenge them both.
I read this book because it fit the Ripped Bodice bingo square "Pen Pals" for the 2024 summer challenge, and I really enjoyed it. This title is not something that really calls to me, but don't judge a book by its cover (or title) because this was a great romance that tucked in quite the emotional power punch. Millie was such a fun character and I loved her pairing with Hollis, it just worked so well. And even though the romance took place over a short time, the writer did a really great job on selling me and it was all entirely believable. I think Sarah Adler just became and auto-read author!
I read this book because it fit the Ripped Bodice bingo square "Pen Pals" for the 2024 summer challenge, and I really enjoyed it. This title is not something that really calls to me, but don't judge a book by its cover (or title) because this was a great romance that tucked in quite the emotional power punch. Millie was such a fun character and I loved her pairing with Hollis, it just worked so well. And even though the romance took place over a short time, the writer did a really great job on selling me and it was all entirely believable. I think Sarah Adler just became and auto-read author!
August 18, 2023
Sadly, not my cup of tea. I try to like the plot. I try to like the characters. I even try to like the story. But what throws me off os really the writing style.
It is too boring for my liking.
2 stars
It is too boring for my liking.
2 stars
July 4, 2023
new favorite book?!? ever? 🥹 my heart was EXPLODING with this one!!!
this is grumpy/sunshine at its absolute FINEST 🏆
it had me laughing out loud, squealing with joy, crying over the tenderness, melting melting melting… just FEELING THINGS.
the long lost sapphic love story, the roadtrip, the b&b with a million jesus paintings, the broccoli festival?!? EVERY DETAIL WAS PERFECT gahhhhh i loved it so much i am crying again just thinking about it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#radfivestarfaves
this is grumpy/sunshine at its absolute FINEST 🏆
it had me laughing out loud, squealing with joy, crying over the tenderness, melting melting melting… just FEELING THINGS.
the long lost sapphic love story, the roadtrip, the b&b with a million jesus paintings, the broccoli festival?!? EVERY DETAIL WAS PERFECT gahhhhh i loved it so much i am crying again just thinking about it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#radfivestarfaves
June 2, 2023
I have to congratulate this book on being annoying so many times I was just amused trying to guess what would be the next. A quirky ginger fmc who's weird and special? A "broody sarcastic " mmc who's just an asshole that absolutely doesn't deserve the fmc (I mean, I was rooting for the other guy and actually got sad when they didn't sleep together)? A third breakup act so bad I was actually MAD when the fmc just forgave him because he said he knew it was wrong and that it was all actually very romantic ("Yes, I manipulated you but I did it for love" - the mmc at some point). The only "we've met before and I've loved you from afar for 2 years even though we never talked? The whole "I'm in love with you after only knowing for 4 days" bit? This book just went for everything I despise
The only endearing part about this book was Mrs. Nash love story with her dead ex and not even that is enough for me to raise this rating to a 3 star review.
The only endearing part about this book was Mrs. Nash love story with her dead ex and not even that is enough for me to raise this rating to a 3 star review.
June 10, 2023
A fantastic romcom - hilarious, romantic, emotional and great fun. The narrative voice is so strong, and the characters both leap off the page.
May 26, 2023
The premise of this book is wildly hilarious - an overly trusting grown up kid-actor and a cynical writer-facing-writers-block roadtrip to Florida. Mille is hoping to reunite a baggie full of ashes of her passed best friend Mrs. Nash to her long-lost lover from war, and Hollis is on his way to a no-strings-attached sex appointment. How can two people so opposite be such good travel companions?!?
This novel checked a lot of boxes for me! There’s a queer historical romance weaved into the story of a hilariously modern day Grumpy x Sunshine! Even though it teeters the line of insta-love (this story takes place over a week of domestic travel) and I’ve never been a fan of that trope, I still absolutely fell in love with Millie and Hollis!!! Their chemistry was undeniable and this was SUCH a fun read, I sped through it only in a couple days. There are literal loud out loud moments that remind me distinctly of Emily Henry’s great writing, such that Sarah Alder could create heartfelt, tender moments of humor and lightheartedness even in serious conversations between her two main characters.
These two characters are, simply-put, horndogs for each other this entire book. The sexual tension and pining coupled with Millie’s awkward but adorable personality is the formula for the PERFECT ROMANCE. Hollis is so hot. Like oh my GOD this intelligent man with his quick quips and sly demeanor make you fall as fast for him as Millie does. I think the insta-love didn’t come to a surprise to me, it wasn’t unwelcome but I do feel like their relationship progressed REALLY fast. BUT I’m definitely willing to overlook that because of how much I enjoyed Mrs. Nash’s Ashes as a whole.
And with the romance unravelling, you also watch Millie grow into herself a bit, as she’s still processing her breakup and how to learn to trust her own intuition again. I think this is such an important message about independence and being true to oneself - she’s not living for anyone else!!! She’s not there to be someone’s inspiration or muse!! God I love you Millie!! I also liked how Hollis grew to be able to admit when he was wrong, communicate his feelings properly, and open himself up to the world despite the hurt from his past. I appreciate in romances when you learn more about the main characters OUTSIDE of each other so that they feel well-fleshed out, and Adler did a good job of showing us two distinct personalities complimenting each other. Millie is such a goofball and Hollis is so the opposite that seeing them take a road trip together is just hilariously chaotic in the best of ways.
The story of Rose and Elsie is one that I will cherish. Two women falling in love during the quiet, forgotten moments of wartime. Choosing happiness for one another, fighting for one another but fighting for oneself. Loving people and appreciating that even if a love feels different, it does not mean the love is any less real. It was really fun learning their story along with Hollis during Millie’s retelling and all the characters really grow on you as a reader.
I loved everything about this book. Sarah Adler, I look forward to reading your next novel and absolutely hats off to you for making me laugh out loud, smile hard, giggle lots, and reflect deeply from Mrs. Nash’s Ashes.
------
RTC but to Sarah Adler - you just gained yourself a lifelong reader!!!!!! Debut novel?!? This had literal laugh out loud moments. I’m so happy I got to read this
JUST GOT THE ARC ♥️♥️♥️ so stoked to read, thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group 😚
This novel checked a lot of boxes for me! There’s a queer historical romance weaved into the story of a hilariously modern day Grumpy x Sunshine! Even though it teeters the line of insta-love (this story takes place over a week of domestic travel) and I’ve never been a fan of that trope, I still absolutely fell in love with Millie and Hollis!!! Their chemistry was undeniable and this was SUCH a fun read, I sped through it only in a couple days. There are literal loud out loud moments that remind me distinctly of Emily Henry’s great writing, such that Sarah Alder could create heartfelt, tender moments of humor and lightheartedness even in serious conversations between her two main characters.
These two characters are, simply-put, horndogs for each other this entire book. The sexual tension and pining coupled with Millie’s awkward but adorable personality is the formula for the PERFECT ROMANCE. Hollis is so hot. Like oh my GOD this intelligent man with his quick quips and sly demeanor make you fall as fast for him as Millie does. I think the insta-love didn’t come to a surprise to me, it wasn’t unwelcome but I do feel like their relationship progressed REALLY fast. BUT I’m definitely willing to overlook that because of how much I enjoyed Mrs. Nash’s Ashes as a whole.
And with the romance unravelling, you also watch Millie grow into herself a bit, as she’s still processing her breakup and how to learn to trust her own intuition again. I think this is such an important message about independence and being true to oneself - she’s not living for anyone else!!! She’s not there to be someone’s inspiration or muse!! God I love you Millie!! I also liked how Hollis grew to be able to admit when he was wrong, communicate his feelings properly, and open himself up to the world despite the hurt from his past. I appreciate in romances when you learn more about the main characters OUTSIDE of each other so that they feel well-fleshed out, and Adler did a good job of showing us two distinct personalities complimenting each other. Millie is such a goofball and Hollis is so the opposite that seeing them take a road trip together is just hilariously chaotic in the best of ways.
The story of Rose and Elsie is one that I will cherish. Two women falling in love during the quiet, forgotten moments of wartime. Choosing happiness for one another, fighting for one another but fighting for oneself. Loving people and appreciating that even if a love feels different, it does not mean the love is any less real. It was really fun learning their story along with Hollis during Millie’s retelling and all the characters really grow on you as a reader.
I loved everything about this book. Sarah Adler, I look forward to reading your next novel and absolutely hats off to you for making me laugh out loud, smile hard, giggle lots, and reflect deeply from Mrs. Nash’s Ashes.
------
RTC but to Sarah Adler - you just gained yourself a lifelong reader!!!!!! Debut novel?!? This had literal laugh out loud moments. I’m so happy I got to read this
JUST GOT THE ARC ♥️♥️♥️ so stoked to read, thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group 😚
May 28, 2023
finally! a romance with actual good banter! a male love interest who isn’t a cringe ‘golden retriever/soft boy’ type! fun humour! emotional depth!
i started to lose hope with all the mediocre romances i’ve been reading, so thank god i found this one. the main character’s names aren’t my favourite, but i’m willing to look past it. if you’re a fan of emily henry and/or sarah hogle, give this a read.
i started to lose hope with all the mediocre romances i’ve been reading, so thank god i found this one. the main character’s names aren’t my favourite, but i’m willing to look past it. if you’re a fan of emily henry and/or sarah hogle, give this a read.
January 28, 2024
5/5 🌟
5/5 ❤️🩹
4/5 🥰
2/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
2/5 🎭T
4/5 🎭C
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Death of a loved one
Death of Elderly
Death of a deer
Using someone for their celebrity
Verbal Abuse
No Strings Sex
Body Issues
WWII era forbidden sapphic romance
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
A Most Anticipated Summer Read by Today ∙ Barnes & Noble ∙ BookRiot ∙ GoodReads ∙ Culturess ∙ and more!
A starry-eyed romantic, a cynical writer, and (the ashes of) an elderly woman take the road trip of a lifetime that just might upend everything they believe about true love.
Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process.
She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.
After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.
But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own.
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I absolutely adored this romance between Hollis and Millie. That they were attracted to each other and couldn’t fight it. Then the Hollis doesn’t do relationships falls in love with our girl.
It was sad that our older lesbian couple both passed away before they could rekindle their romance is tragic and sad.
It was even more sad that Hollis screws up royally and our main characters part ways.
Will Hollis be able to win Millie back?
Every bit worth reading.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
5/5 ❤️🩹
4/5 🥰
2/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
2/5 🎭T
4/5 🎭C
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Death of a loved one
Death of Elderly
Death of a deer
Using someone for their celebrity
Verbal Abuse
No Strings Sex
Body Issues
WWII era forbidden sapphic romance
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
A Most Anticipated Summer Read by Today ∙ Barnes & Noble ∙ BookRiot ∙ GoodReads ∙ Culturess ∙ and more!
A starry-eyed romantic, a cynical writer, and (the ashes of) an elderly woman take the road trip of a lifetime that just might upend everything they believe about true love.
Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process.
She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.
After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.
But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own.
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I absolutely adored this romance between Hollis and Millie. That they were attracted to each other and couldn’t fight it. Then the Hollis doesn’t do relationships falls in love with our girl.
It was sad that our older lesbian couple both passed away before they could rekindle their romance is tragic and sad.
It was even more sad that Hollis screws up royally and our main characters part ways.
Will Hollis be able to win Millie back?
Every bit worth reading.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
July 28, 2023
This was not it. Based on the other reviews I am an outlier here but I really don't know how I am. I did not enjoy this book at all. I actually purchased this book rather than wait on a Libby loan, because it came highly recommended and I'm peeved about that. 😑
Here's where I had the issues. First off, Millie, the MFC, was so annoying. Her quirkiness and childish, immature tendencies were not cute. I mean she has an obsession with Peewee Herman and claimed "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" is the best movie to exist. Girl please. If you are born by the early 90's, you unfortunately know who he is and likely grew up watching him on television. You'll also know he is a convicted pedophile and let's not forget the incident at the movie theater. 🥴 Why are we giving him airtime here? Has everyone forgotten these little tidbits about him? Because I sure haven't. 😆 I haven't seen one person reference this in any of the reviews, so maybe they have.
The only redeeming quality to this book was Mrs. Nash and the flashbacks involving her, but that wasn't enough to save the book from being higher than a 2 star for me.
Here's where I had the issues. First off, Millie, the MFC, was so annoying. Her quirkiness and childish, immature tendencies were not cute. I mean she has an obsession with Peewee Herman and claimed "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" is the best movie to exist. Girl please. If you are born by the early 90's, you unfortunately know who he is and likely grew up watching him on television. You'll also know he is a convicted pedophile and let's not forget the incident at the movie theater. 🥴 Why are we giving him airtime here? Has everyone forgotten these little tidbits about him? Because I sure haven't. 😆 I haven't seen one person reference this in any of the reviews, so maybe they have.
The only redeeming quality to this book was Mrs. Nash and the flashbacks involving her, but that wasn't enough to save the book from being higher than a 2 star for me.
July 4, 2023
5 big fat shiny stars — i adored this book
May 17, 2023
This was such a sweet and delightful read! The first line of the synopsis immediately caught my attention, it doesn’t get much quirkier than a road trip that includes the ashes of an elderly woman. I loved the sunshine and grump thing between Millie and Hollis so much but Millie really stole the show for me. She’s such a ball of sunshine, a true romantic at heart and her sense of humor and eccentric behavior was so much fun. It made me laugh but I also loved the author’s portrayal of grief and how not everything here was wrapped up in a shiny package. Overall an uplifting and heartwarming read.
August 15, 2024
This was a good balance of quirky, cute, and heartwarming. Didn’t love the sex scenes, but they were necessary to build the tension until the end.
Is Millicent supposed to be neurodivergent? I couldn’t tell. I mean, everyone is weird in some way, so why she was ever criticized for it was perplexing, especially since there weren’t any clear indicators of anything being a little off with her.
Is Millicent supposed to be neurodivergent? I couldn’t tell. I mean, everyone is weird in some way, so why she was ever criticized for it was perplexing, especially since there weren’t any clear indicators of anything being a little off with her.
July 28, 2023
Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler
I'm not a big fan of romance but I did enjoy this road trip. Thank you for your review, Marilyn(W); I read in one fell swoop. The pages flip by themselves and this reader became invested in the story immediately, especially due to the likable quirky character of the charming MC (Millicent/Milly). The love interest is a pessimistic, oft acerbic, Prince Charming (Hollis), who cleans up nicely by the end of the book – as to be expected. Milly is both a romanticist and optimist. Hollis has little faith in romance and does not believe in enduring loving relationships.
After a nasty break-up with her narcissistic writer boyfriend of three years, Milly has no place to go and ends up moving in with a 98-year-old neighbor, Mrs. Rosie Nash, at a very low rent and in exchange for assisting her. The two get along like a house on fire, and Rosie confides in Milly, sharing the private undisclosed history of her one true love. Rosie, who worked with courier pigeons during WWII, met her Army Nurse paramour, Elsie, during the war and the two fell deeply in love. Rosie, however, was not ready to expose her proclivity. Instead, they went their separate ways after the war. Elsie continued to serve in the Army; Rosie married and had children. The two, however, remained in close contact with each other. When Elsie was shipped off to Korea, one of Rosie’s letters to Elsie returned bearing the devastating news of Elsie’s death in a helicopter accident. Unbeknownst to Rosie, the news of Elsie’s death was a case of mistaken identity, but Rosie never learned of the mistake before she and her husband moved to another State. Elsie’s letters to Rosie were returned to her stamped ‘forwarding address unknown’, thus breaking contact between the two.
When Rosie dies, Milly does some sleuthing and discovers that Elsie survived the helicopter accident and is now living out her last days in Florida under hospice care. She asks Rosie’s surviving family for three tablespoons of her ashes and is determined to finally reunite Rosie with Elsie, before the latter’s death. Cashing in all her savings, Milly books a flight to the Florida Keys – but due to a technology glitch, planes are grounded and that is where Prince Not-So-Charming steps in – ungraciously rescuing Milly from one jam or another. The two take off for the Keys in Hollis’ car, and where they don’t agree on much – they definitely agree on the sex.
The rest of the book is predictable but still enjoyable. This is a fun, quick read! While looking for other books by Sarah Adler, I was surprised to find that this is a debut novel. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
I'm not a big fan of romance but I did enjoy this road trip. Thank you for your review, Marilyn(W); I read in one fell swoop. The pages flip by themselves and this reader became invested in the story immediately, especially due to the likable quirky character of the charming MC (Millicent/Milly). The love interest is a pessimistic, oft acerbic, Prince Charming (Hollis), who cleans up nicely by the end of the book – as to be expected. Milly is both a romanticist and optimist. Hollis has little faith in romance and does not believe in enduring loving relationships.
After a nasty break-up with her narcissistic writer boyfriend of three years, Milly has no place to go and ends up moving in with a 98-year-old neighbor, Mrs. Rosie Nash, at a very low rent and in exchange for assisting her. The two get along like a house on fire, and Rosie confides in Milly, sharing the private undisclosed history of her one true love. Rosie, who worked with courier pigeons during WWII, met her Army Nurse paramour, Elsie, during the war and the two fell deeply in love. Rosie, however, was not ready to expose her proclivity. Instead, they went their separate ways after the war. Elsie continued to serve in the Army; Rosie married and had children. The two, however, remained in close contact with each other. When Elsie was shipped off to Korea, one of Rosie’s letters to Elsie returned bearing the devastating news of Elsie’s death in a helicopter accident. Unbeknownst to Rosie, the news of Elsie’s death was a case of mistaken identity, but Rosie never learned of the mistake before she and her husband moved to another State. Elsie’s letters to Rosie were returned to her stamped ‘forwarding address unknown’, thus breaking contact between the two.
When Rosie dies, Milly does some sleuthing and discovers that Elsie survived the helicopter accident and is now living out her last days in Florida under hospice care. She asks Rosie’s surviving family for three tablespoons of her ashes and is determined to finally reunite Rosie with Elsie, before the latter’s death. Cashing in all her savings, Milly books a flight to the Florida Keys – but due to a technology glitch, planes are grounded and that is where Prince Not-So-Charming steps in – ungraciously rescuing Milly from one jam or another. The two take off for the Keys in Hollis’ car, and where they don’t agree on much – they definitely agree on the sex.
The rest of the book is predictable but still enjoyable. This is a fun, quick read! While looking for other books by Sarah Adler, I was surprised to find that this is a debut novel. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
August 21, 2023
My Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
What started as a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt has now led me into finding a new debut author that I would definitely love to read again! The premise behind Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler is incredibly unique, and our quirky MC Millicent is a ton of fun. She has plenty of depth on her own, but I loved that Adler also brought Mrs. Nash and Elsie to life by taking the reader back to them in the mid-40s from when they first met until they lose touch. This isn't between every chapter, but it was just enough to help me really get a feel for their relationship and what Mrs. Nash had lost. The story is of course also about Millie herself, and while on the road trip, she manages to figure out some things in her own life as well.
I loved the way this book made me laugh, but there was plenty of substance as well as some well-placed spice! The scenes themselves are pretty 🔥 but there aren't that many of them, which is how I ended up on a 3 out of 5 on my spice scale. I would be remiss not to mention how amazing the audiobook is, and I loved every moment of listening to Mara Wilson narrate. I would recommend the audio in a heartbeat, and I thought it added a lot to my experience with the novel as a whole. This really is women's fiction and romance at its finest, and it still blows my mind that it is a debut! The audiobook included the author's 'Behind the Book' section as well, at least on Audible, and that is something else that cannot be missed. I can't wait to see what comes out from Adler next!
What started as a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt has now led me into finding a new debut author that I would definitely love to read again! The premise behind Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler is incredibly unique, and our quirky MC Millicent is a ton of fun. She has plenty of depth on her own, but I loved that Adler also brought Mrs. Nash and Elsie to life by taking the reader back to them in the mid-40s from when they first met until they lose touch. This isn't between every chapter, but it was just enough to help me really get a feel for their relationship and what Mrs. Nash had lost. The story is of course also about Millie herself, and while on the road trip, she manages to figure out some things in her own life as well.
I loved the way this book made me laugh, but there was plenty of substance as well as some well-placed spice! The scenes themselves are pretty 🔥 but there aren't that many of them, which is how I ended up on a 3 out of 5 on my spice scale. I would be remiss not to mention how amazing the audiobook is, and I loved every moment of listening to Mara Wilson narrate. I would recommend the audio in a heartbeat, and I thought it added a lot to my experience with the novel as a whole. This really is women's fiction and romance at its finest, and it still blows my mind that it is a debut! The audiobook included the author's 'Behind the Book' section as well, at least on Audible, and that is something else that cannot be missed. I can't wait to see what comes out from Adler next!
October 10, 2023
I needed a good laugh: this provided it and then some!
Sarah Adler's intelligent writing style was exactly what I needed: I have been (and still am) on a long hiatus from romance novels. I still like an element of romance in my mysteries and thrillers (I'm not dead yet!) but lately romances weren't doing it for me, at all.
But Mrs. Nath's Ashes proved to be the grand exception to my current reading rule! Roused me from my reading funk with a huge belly laugh! The characters are utterly endearing: Hollis is a likeable curmudgeon. Millicent is an effervescent former child star who can't outrun her audience, no matter how hard she tries.
The interaction between these two was funny and sweet. You just knew they liked each other, but both had been burned once to often to jump into the fire again.
I highly recommend this funny - witty is probably a better word! - action packed story. Loved the flash backs to Mrs. Nash's WWII days and her romance with Elsie. So sad, but also so true to life. So many people had to hide their true selves in those days, and many a heart was broken as a result.
Well done: a 4 out of 5 shining stars!
Sarah Adler's intelligent writing style was exactly what I needed: I have been (and still am) on a long hiatus from romance novels. I still like an element of romance in my mysteries and thrillers (I'm not dead yet!) but lately romances weren't doing it for me, at all.
But Mrs. Nath's Ashes proved to be the grand exception to my current reading rule! Roused me from my reading funk with a huge belly laugh! The characters are utterly endearing: Hollis is a likeable curmudgeon. Millicent is an effervescent former child star who can't outrun her audience, no matter how hard she tries.
The interaction between these two was funny and sweet. You just knew they liked each other, but both had been burned once to often to jump into the fire again.
I highly recommend this funny - witty is probably a better word! - action packed story. Loved the flash backs to Mrs. Nash's WWII days and her romance with Elsie. So sad, but also so true to life. So many people had to hide their true selves in those days, and many a heart was broken as a result.
Well done: a 4 out of 5 shining stars!
May 17, 2025
oh yes i believe i loved this...
dnf
August 3, 2023Dnf at 55%
The fmc was so unbelievably cringe & childish it made this book less enjoyable for me . The author made her extremely “quirky and weird” girl who is apparently obsessed with broccoli facts and wears dogs with sunglasses on her underwear?
Grumpy mcgrumperson? Bye
The fmc was so unbelievably cringe & childish it made this book less enjoyable for me . The author made her extremely “quirky and weird” girl who is apparently obsessed with broccoli facts and wears dogs with sunglasses on her underwear?
Grumpy mcgrumperson? Bye
June 17, 2025
I think it was sweet, I felt like the characters acted a little immature sometimes but other than that I think it was a pretty decent read
May 13, 2024
Romance novel on audiobook, contemporary, road trip, a sideline historical lesbian romance in the background as plot motivation, tons of tropes all pointed out clearly, so everybody reviewing it can name out tropes all clearly
A warning: I am a bit of a crank regarding contemporary romances right now. It might be me, but it might also be that whatever is happening to the genre is confusing, overloading with "tropes," formulas, and all. But I think I am using reading (or listening to) romance novels as a kind of slump vaccine, or palate cleanser, or whatever: something light and easy to follow (hopefully not annoying) as a break from other reads, and my expectations usually are not very high but I keep trying, because it is a useful break and there might be fantastic stories out there...
A lot of recent romance and romance-adjacent genre novels are leaning very hard into naming, identifying tropes, and making them really clear. My theory is that it is a marketing thing to make those insta type diagrams with the little arrows and tropes pointed out easier or richer, or to make it very clear to reviewers what keywords to use. In this book, manic pixie girl is the big theme, and it is mentioned lots of times and how Millie rejects being the manic pixie girl to Hollis's main character. Cool. Will do for me.
I really liked Millie, I loved their dialogue, I liked the zany road trip. I did not love the third-act conflict (oh, come on..). There is an historical lesbian love affair as motivation for the road trip, and it's a major part of the plot, and it's well researched and it's well intentioned, but it was also (sorry, I might have no taste) boring and just felt perfunctory, like plot lever inserted here. But as a debut novel, it was great - I really mean it about loving the dialogue and I will be curious to see where Adler's writing goes in the future.
Narration, very well done, by Mara Wilson.
A warning: I am a bit of a crank regarding contemporary romances right now. It might be me, but it might also be that whatever is happening to the genre is confusing, overloading with "tropes," formulas, and all. But I think I am using reading (or listening to) romance novels as a kind of slump vaccine, or palate cleanser, or whatever: something light and easy to follow (hopefully not annoying) as a break from other reads, and my expectations usually are not very high but I keep trying, because it is a useful break and there might be fantastic stories out there...
A lot of recent romance and romance-adjacent genre novels are leaning very hard into naming, identifying tropes, and making them really clear. My theory is that it is a marketing thing to make those insta type diagrams with the little arrows and tropes pointed out easier or richer, or to make it very clear to reviewers what keywords to use. In this book, manic pixie girl is the big theme, and it is mentioned lots of times and how Millie rejects being the manic pixie girl to Hollis's main character. Cool. Will do for me.
I really liked Millie, I loved their dialogue, I liked the zany road trip. I did not love the third-act conflict (oh, come on..). There is an historical lesbian love affair as motivation for the road trip, and it's a major part of the plot, and it's well researched and it's well intentioned, but it was also (sorry, I might have no taste) boring and just felt perfunctory, like plot lever inserted here. But as a debut novel, it was great - I really mean it about loving the dialogue and I will be curious to see where Adler's writing goes in the future.
Narration, very well done, by Mara Wilson.
Read
December 12, 2023A fun road trip romcom, with a heroine determined not to be Manic Pixie Dream Girl to a grumpy struggling author, and a grumpy struggling author. It's pretty high on the whimsy scale (broccoli festivals etc) but the leads are both likeable, the heroine has gumption, and the writing cracks on enjoyably.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,671 reviews