Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good opposites attract story. Callen is the new librarian in Stonefield - the young, attractive, and single MALE librarian. Some older, more conservative residents aren't sure they are comfortable with that difference. Molly, a lifetime resident of the town, suggests that she and Callen pretend to be a couple to calm their fears and give them a chance to get to know him. Callen is skeptical but goes along. Neither expected the genuine feelings that resulted from their fake relationship.
I loved Callen and Molly. Callen is a self-proclaimed book nerd, a little shy and buttoned-up. He came to Stonefield looking for a place to make a home and future. He doesn't know what to make of the bubbly, mermaid-sweater-wearing, conversation-challenging Molly. Molly is a bit of a wild child, thanks to her ADHD. She wasn't diagnosed until she was an adult, which made her childhood challenging. Friends and family often despaired of her over-the-top personality.
I loved watching the relationship between Molly and Callen develop. Poor Callen was bewildered by his first conversation with her, but her empathy over his concerns about his job made him feel better. Surprisingly, her wild idea of a fake relationship proved not to be so off-the-wall. With Molly holding his hand and introducing him around at Sutton's Pub, he already saw a difference in attitudes.
Watching Molly and Callen together was great. Molly's outgoing personality helped Callen settle in at Stonefield faster than he would have been able to do so on his own. She understands his worry about not making it through his probationary period after he's committed himself to settle there and is determined to ease his way. I enjoyed how it didn't take long for Callen to adjust to Molly's quirks and that he thought about her constantly. Not only did they quickly become true friends, but the fake part of their relationship also didn't last long.
I adored how Callen used his book-nerd research skills to read up on ADHD so that he could be the kind of boyfriend Molly needed. She spent her whole life with no one else, friends or family, making that effort. I ached for Molly when her mom would make thoughtless, hurtful remarks about Molly being "too much," and her friends would shake their heads at her impulses. Callen's accepting Molly just as she is greatly impacted her. I smiled at their movie-night scene and Callen's understanding. I loved seeing how intent both were on helping each other. Callen and Molly found themselves thinking about what it would be like to make their relationship real.
Then Callen's comment about what he sees as his future runs up against Molly's greatest fear, and their dreams of a life together fall apart. I hurt for Callen, whose dreams of a family with Molly turned to ashes. He wants Molly in his life but fears growing to resent her over this one issue. Meanwhile, Molly's fear of her ADHD creating problems in a family setting keep her from seeing a positive outcome. I liked how both of them got a wake-up call from comments by friends. Callen realizes that he has gained family through his relationship with Molly. And a statement from her friend Chelsea reminds Molly that things are far different than they were when she was a child. The depth of emotion as they confessed their fears and feelings for each other warmed my heart and made me believe in their future success. The epilogue was great, confirming my belief, and providing a few laughs, too.
#netgalley
I loved Callen and Molly. Callen is a self-proclaimed book nerd, a little shy and buttoned-up. He came to Stonefield looking for a place to make a home and future. He doesn't know what to make of the bubbly, mermaid-sweater-wearing, conversation-challenging Molly. Molly is a bit of a wild child, thanks to her ADHD. She wasn't diagnosed until she was an adult, which made her childhood challenging. Friends and family often despaired of her over-the-top personality.
I loved watching the relationship between Molly and Callen develop. Poor Callen was bewildered by his first conversation with her, but her empathy over his concerns about his job made him feel better. Surprisingly, her wild idea of a fake relationship proved not to be so off-the-wall. With Molly holding his hand and introducing him around at Sutton's Pub, he already saw a difference in attitudes.
Watching Molly and Callen together was great. Molly's outgoing personality helped Callen settle in at Stonefield faster than he would have been able to do so on his own. She understands his worry about not making it through his probationary period after he's committed himself to settle there and is determined to ease his way. I enjoyed how it didn't take long for Callen to adjust to Molly's quirks and that he thought about her constantly. Not only did they quickly become true friends, but the fake part of their relationship also didn't last long.
I adored how Callen used his book-nerd research skills to read up on ADHD so that he could be the kind of boyfriend Molly needed. She spent her whole life with no one else, friends or family, making that effort. I ached for Molly when her mom would make thoughtless, hurtful remarks about Molly being "too much," and her friends would shake their heads at her impulses. Callen's accepting Molly just as she is greatly impacted her. I smiled at their movie-night scene and Callen's understanding. I loved seeing how intent both were on helping each other. Callen and Molly found themselves thinking about what it would be like to make their relationship real.
Then Callen's comment about what he sees as his future runs up against Molly's greatest fear, and their dreams of a life together fall apart. I hurt for Callen, whose dreams of a family with Molly turned to ashes. He wants Molly in his life but fears growing to resent her over this one issue. Meanwhile, Molly's fear of her ADHD creating problems in a family setting keep her from seeing a positive outcome. I liked how both of them got a wake-up call from comments by friends. Callen realizes that he has gained family through his relationship with Molly. And a statement from her friend Chelsea reminds Molly that things are far different than they were when she was a child. The depth of emotion as they confessed their fears and feelings for each other warmed my heart and made me believe in their future success. The epilogue was great, confirming my belief, and providing a few laughs, too.
#netgalley
