★★★★ Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer, A Small Town Romantic Comedy
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.
I am an Amazon Affiliate and this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
About This Book:
This is absolutely not how they pictured their summer going.
McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She’s spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She’s ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister’s boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?
Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom’s bed and breakfast is struggling and there’s a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn’t have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.
With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can’t help getting swept up in Nate’s bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate’s suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right . . . and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★ 4/5
BUY IN PAPERBACK, KINDLE OR AUDIOBOOK ON AMAZON!
Not What We Pictured is a lighthearted, quirky romance that jumps right into humor, making this a fun, easy read. The slapstick comedy is strong throughout and while a few scenes ran a bit long for my taste, I did find myself laughing out loud more than once and grinning my way through chapter after chapter.
The small-town,Tennessee B&B setting is full of charm, complete with chickens, goats and a cast of entertaining, eccentric side characters who add satire and comicality to the story. Female lead, McKenna, stood out to me with her adoption story and desire to see her little sister happy and settled, adding a sweet, heartfelt layer beneath all the humor. Nate, the male lead, was another great character with a believable family dynamic that included tension with his estranged father and a tender relationship with his mom that made him easy to root for. His chemistry with McKenna is classic Becca Kinzer—witty, playful, and full of banter that kept the romance entertaining.
Overall, this is a goofy, feel-good romance with plenty of heart and hilarious side characters. If you’re in the mood for something light, funny and easy to breeze through this summer, this is definitely one to try!
