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Better Than Fiction Book Review

I am sad to report that I did not enjoy this one as much as I'd hoped. Better Than Fiction's concept is simultaneously cute and cliché—a bookstore owner who hates books and an author who is determined to make her see differently—and had so much potential. Unfortunately, I found that it underdelivered in key areas, making this read one that could be entertaining and fun if you didn't think very hard about it at all.

Alexa Martin is a writer and stay-at-home mom. A Nashville transplant, she's intent on instilling a deep love and respect for the great Dolly Parton in her four children and husband. The Playbook series was inspired by the eight years she spent as an NFL wife and her love of all things pop culture, sparkles, leggings, and wine. When she's not repeating herself to her kids, you can find her catching up on whatever Real Housewives franchise is currently airing or filling up her Etsy cart with items she doesn't need. You can find her online at AlexaMartin.com, or on Instagram @AlexaMBooks.

As a self-proclaimed book hater and a firm believer that the movie is always better, Drew Young didn't anticipate inheriting her grandma's bookstore, the Book Nook. She's in way over her head even before the shop's resident book club, comprising five of the naughtiest old ladies ever, begins to do what it does best—meddle. Bestselling author Jasper Williams is a hopeless romantic. When he meets Drew at his Book Nook signing event, he becomes determined to show her the beauty of reading. He curates a book bucket list in exchange for her help exploring the local Denver scene for his current manuscript. From going river rafting to trying local restaurants, Drew begins to connect with Jasper in a way she thought only happened in fiction. When messy family ties jeopardize the future of the Book Nook, Drew is caught between a bookshelf and a hard place. She's reminded that real life isn't always big dreams and sweeping romance. But Jasper is the plot twist she never saw coming, and he's writing a happily ever after just for them. 

The first red flag for me was the writing itself. We enter the story very clearly in Drew's mind. Drew's narration, however, was grating to me, and I found myself frustrated by how she used slang. It felt juvenile and just not how I expected an almost-thirty-year-old woman to speak. However, this wasn't a really big concern for me—at some points in the book, it was kind of fun for everything not to feel so serious, and to have some humor in the narration. However, I do think this story would have benefitted from being further away from Drew's POV.

The second red flag is how we didn't learn anything about the main love interest at all . . . outside of how attractive he is and his occupation. On the flip side, Jasper learns all about Drew's trauma on the first date. But we didn't even get to learn how Jasper fell in love with writing, or why he feels the need to transplant himself into different cities. We don't know his relationship past, nor do we know what his relationship with his own family is like. I felt very disconnected from Jasper because of this, and also disconnected from Drew, because I couldn't imagine falling in love with someone I knew nothing about, and that is exactly what it seemed like Drew was doing. 

One of the book's biggest saving graces was how it reflected directly on inheritance, grief/loss, and the concept of legacy. Drew inherited her grandmother's bookstore, and for the year after her death, is debating about how to live her own life with her grandmother's legacy on her shoulders. I thought this to be the most compelling element of the novel. Drew clearly feels stuck in some kind of life, one that she didn't want for herself, and the whole novel allows for her to sort of come unstuck. I liked how Drew comes to the realization that she does regarding the ending, and believe it to be the right move for her, and I'm glad this emotional element of the novel got the ending it deserved.

I really went into this book expecting to love it, and I'm heartbroken that I didn't. I guess that's all there is to it. 

*This review can also be found on my Goodreads page*

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