Sweet Girl
By: Rachel Hollis
Rating: 5 of 5
Instead of the simple romance that I expected, reading “Sweet Girl” by Rachel Hollis was more of a real life adventure with romance thrown in. I didn’t realize that it was part of a series (“Party Girl” was the first book and one that I will be reading very soon.) You don’t need to have read the first book, but based on how well written “Sweet Girl” is done, I highly recommend reading both of the books – that way you will know more about the characters.
First of all, the book is very funny. It is told a little tongue-in-cheek and I found myself smiling and laughing my way through it. However, it also deals with very serious issues and it does so in a very responsible way. There is nothing glib about the way these characters feel about things that matter. But just like I find in my life, laughing about little things helps one cope with the hard to imagine and live with serious things.
The story is about Max Jennings, a 24 year old bartender who has had a lifelong dream of opening a bakery shop. Unfortunately, Max also has had a lifelong illness which has made this dream a little difficult to achieve. In addition, she had some life events which derailed her and she has not been able to right herself and get on with plans for her life.
Max is roommates and best friends with Landon and Miko, who are partners in an event planning business. Landon was the primary character in this first book in this series and is now dating Max’ step-brother Brody. These women are there for Max as she struggles to get herself together.
Through an unusual twist of fate, Max is given the opportunity to learn pastry making from one of the world’s most renowned pastry chefs. She grabs the chance and a lot of the most fun part of the story involves her work in this kitchen.
Bennett Taylor (Taylor to his friends) is someone who simply rubs Max the wrong way. She purposely calls him Bennett to show him she is not his friend. Taylor has other ideas and offers his assistance to her as she struggles to get her pastry work refined outside of work.
I really loved reading the book. It isn’t often that I walk away from a book knowing that there wasn’t a thing I would have changed if I had written it. This is one of the exceptional books where I felt everything was covered exactly as it should have been. All I can hope is that there will be more books in the series – maybe starting with Miko and Liam. I recommend the book to anyone who loves an excellent romantic comedy. It is a book for all ages as, while it deals with serious subjects, it is free from overt sexual situations.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Instead of the simple romance that I expected, reading “Sweet Girl” by Rachel Hollis was more of a real life adventure with romance thrown in. I didn’t realize that it was part of a series (“Party Girl” was the first book and one that I will be reading very soon.) You don’t need to have read the first book, but based on how well written “Sweet Girl” is done, I highly recommend reading both of the books – that way you will know more about the characters.