4 Star Book Review: Merritt and Her Childhood Crush by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor, A Sweet Romantic Comedy
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary e-copy of this book from the authors. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
I said I’d never set foot on Oakley Island again. Not so long as HE lived there. But after my life implodes, I’m reconsidering EVERYTHING. Including my reasons for avoiding the first—and only—man I’ve ever loved.
I’m a high achiever. Driven. Maybe a little TOO driven.
So when my boyfriend confesses to cheating AND steals the promotion I’ve been working toward for years, I do the unthinkable for someone like me.
I break.
But the timing couldn’t be better for me to fall apart—I can escape to the idyllic Oakley Island and oversee the renovations on my late grandmother’s estate.
There’s just one tiny, massive, little problem: no one told me the contractor is the grown up version of the boy I fell in love with years ago.
He was my first love. My first kiss.
My first heartbreak.
Now, I’m faced with seeing Hunter daily. Being his boss. Forging a new dynamic that fits our adult selves.
Hunter is bigger. Bearded. Talks in grunts rather than words.
And has just as much hold on me as he ever did.
Trouble is, Hunter’s life is on Oakley. His daughter is on Oakley. And it was never my plan to stay here permanently.
Do I really want to risk having my heart broken a second time? More importantly, do I want to risk breaking his?
Merritt and Her Childhood Crush is a second chance at childhood first love romantic comedy. The Oakley Island Romcoms follow three very different sisters as they renovate the house they inherited and find love on the island along the way. The stories are standalone, but if you like continuous stories, we recommend reading them in order. Each book is closed door, with sizzling chemistry but no spice.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★ 4/5 Stars
The amazing artistry that happens when you combine two talented romcom authors such as Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor is simply a masterful piece of sweet, hilarious bookish goodness! I couldn’t have loved this second-chance romance more! With everything from a big life change, to a hunky single father and a pet raccoon, this adorable new release entertained and delighted me from beginning to end.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Second Chance at Love · Single, Handyman Dad · New York to Small Island · A Pet Raccoon ·
What I liked:
I loved returning to Oakley Island after reading (and loving!) Eloise and the Grump Next Door. This fictional town on the coast of Georgia has all the small town vibes I love with a host of fun secondary characters, including an elderly barber who knows his way around TikTok! I enjoy the way both of these writers tell their stories -clean with flirtatious, witty dialogue, a great peek at the mind of the character with dual MC POVs, and a healthy dose of character growth and a good amount of humor.
The chemistry in this book was simply delectable! I enjoyed Merritt’s second chance at rewriting her story so very much. The fact that she, in a sense, comes to the island out of a place of responsibility and falls in love with it in more ways than one, was refreshing. It was heartwarming to see her evaluate her life choices, to decide what really matters and to reconnect with her sisters. Hooray for choosing the slower, wholesome pace of life!
Single-dad Hunter was a great match for Merritt and perfectly swoon-worthy with his carpentry skills and adorable love for rescuing animals. I loved his sweet, sensitive personality and the fact that Merritt was always his “one that got away”. The history between these two characters was heartfelt and their struggles as they reconnected were legitimate and I loved that the authors made it real and authentic. The two MCs were (mostly) mature in how they handled their deep feelings and I was happy to see there were no overtures of giant misunderstanding which often goes hand in hand with this trope and can be one of my biggest pet peeves.
sUMMARY:
There was heart to this story, witty banter and dialogue. Loved the secondary characters, the animals, the children, and I really hope Naomi gets her own story too! I enjoyed that this was a continuation of the first book in this series as we see a different side of Eloise and Jake’s story, plus the return of, and further foundation-laying for, a handful of other characters (this does not detract from the focus remaining on Merritt and Hunter, but rather lends a sense of intrigue about what is to come).
I’m definitely returning to Oakley Island again for more of this series! In fact, I can’t wait! This is a definite recommendation for readers who love sweet, heartwarming romances with a good side of flirty banter, attraction, and swoon without swearing and explicit scenes.
CONTENT NOTES FOR THIS BOOK (NOT THE ENTIRE SERIES):
*Please note, this is my opinion as a reader. Other readers may find these things acceptable or vice versa.
Romance: Clean, PG - detailed kissing, touches and embraces, making out
Profanity: None
Violence: None
Negative: talking about a milk let down in breastfeeding, used as humor (IMO as a mama, could have been omitted)
Spiritual: None
Alcohol: Some alcohol consumption, one intoxicated phone call/scene
Potential Triggers: Heaviness = Lightly touched on; an unfaithful boyfriend, young adult pregnancy before marriage, divorce, loss of a loved one, absentee parent.
