Flying Whimsical Paper Airplanes with Twice Shy
Twice Shy was just what I needed during this additional lockdown we’re going through in Ontario.
Maybell has a dead end job at a hotel resort where she was recently promoted to an event coordinator but her bosses and co-workers treat her position as a glorified custodian. When a woman approaches her one to let her know her great-aunt Violet has passed away and Maybell has inherited Violet’s grand house, she immediately leaves to start her life anew.
What Maybell didn’t expect was that Violet also gave half of the estate to her the brooding and grumpy groundskeeper, Wesley. The two clash and can’t agree on what to do with the house and the hordes of things Violet accumulated since the passing of her husband several years ago.
As Maybell and Wesley slowly navigate how to cohabitate and ensure not to lose what each wants to do with the estate, (Maybell turning the house into a hotel while Wesley wants the land to be an animal sanctuary), they begin to get used to each other’s quirkiness and odd habits while tackling the task of transforming the house.
Twice Shy was absolutely whimsical, heart melting and wonderful. There were so many feelings that I experienced especially in the 2nd half of the novel that had me swooning and made Wesley gain a spot in my book boyfriend list. While I felt the first half was a tad slow, after speaking with some friends they helped me realize that that was necessary for the amazingness the second half of the story was.
I think everyone has felt Maybell’s loneliness at some point in their life and to have her find her another person who sees her was such a delightful moment of realization. I also liked that the book touched about social anxiety issues, which I’m sure will speak to many people who experience it in some shape or form.
Additionally, there were SO many quirky, beautiful quotes scattered throughout the novel that made my quote loving heart so happy. Here are just some of them that made me laugh out loud or gave me the feels:
I make slow progress. Play-Doh mega sets and bead bracelet kits wobble in my wake, glaring ominously down at my unprotected skill. I would hate to die by Etch A Sketch.
Being delusional is our downfall but it’s also our saving grace: we’re deluded enough that we don’t see why tomorrow shouldn’t be better, even if the last thousand days in a row have been bad.
Our next period of silence descends naturally, but if I shone a flashlight over all the dark space that surrounds us, it would illuminate a hundred lingering words.
His kiss is the Fourth of July, a Southern summer night. Cicadas and tongues of smoke of a burning firework--hiss, pop. Hot.
And I am weak. My spine was manufactured by Charmin. I want to be commanding, stern, intimidating, but I am raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
There were also multiple occurrences in the story that I adored such as, the moments when notes were passed between Wesley and Maybell. The moment at the tree melted my heart. The moment at the truck was hot. And, the moment on the beach in Scotland was just utter perfection.
However, there isn’t too much else I can say that won’t give too much away, but just know that I highly recommend this book if you are open to reading about a whimsical and beautiful love story.
Thank you G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book Description
Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start.
Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn't the only inheritor: she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who's as grouchy as he is gorgeous—and it turns out he has very different vision for the property's future.
Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley's scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one's comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.
You can find out more about the author, Sarah Hogle on her website.