Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process.
She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.
After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.
But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own. ~ goodreads
Source: Received an ARC from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
Review: Mrs. Nash's Ashes was a fun opposites attract (grumpy/sunshine), road trip, story interwoven with a bittersweet LGBQT (lesbian) romance from the past.
Former child star, Millie Watts-Cohen is coming off a tough break-up from a boyfriend who was using her former star status to try to launch his own writing career, followed by the loss of her unlikely best friend and roommate - the elderly Rose Nash.
Before her death, Rose had confided in Millie that her true love was not her husband but, Elsie Brown - a woman she had met while serving in the military in the 40's.
Millie makes it her mission to reunite Rose & Elsie (well, Rose's ashes at least) and prove that true love exists to her broken, jaded heart. She buys a ticket from DC to Key West to hopefully get to Elsie - who is in hospice - in time to tell her how much Rose loved and still thought of her.
But fate has something else in store.
Millie is being harassed by a fan at the airport and is saved by her former bf's friend - more of a frenemy/acquaintance really, and author, Hollis Hollenback. She's immediately drawn to his gruff exterior, convinced he's a secret cinnamon roll - yet he remains aloof.
When all flights out of DC are cancelled from a software glitch, the two are forced to share a car to FL - her to see Elsie - him for a yearly sex hook up with his f-buddy.
The story is told in the two timelines - Millie/Hollis's hilarious road trip and Rose/Elsie's blossoming romance and eventual separation.
Honestly, I loved getting swept away in Rose's memories more. You could feel the love, fear (of being found out and trying to make a same sex romance work in that time) and eventual heartache. That story, while not always the *feel good* story I long for was still really beautiful and touching.
Millie and Hollis are both scarred from past relationships (family and romantic) and are easily triggered by events that seem to be following the same course and react, in not so great ways, but I did enjoy seeing them fall for each other and break down those walls.
The humor is of the madcap variety - having sex in a B&B with 20-ish paint by number Jesus paintings overlooking you. Millie becomes the Broccoli Queen - complete with crown at a local festival but everyone is sweet and sincere so it works.
One nitpick was a plot point about Hollis. He has writers block - hence the sexcapades to clear his mind - but finds inspiration in Rose and Elsie's story, as well as his own developing romance with Millie. Writers find inspiration from everything so no issue there - but I felt he crossed a big line. It's addressed, but not in a satisfactory way for me but not a deal breaker.
SPOILER -> He basically steals the Rose/Elsie story to sell to his publisher and writes about he and Millie's romance without her input or consent. He even looks in her backpack to read more about Rose/Elsie. He apologizes later saying this was before he knew he was falling for Millie. Once he knew her better - he felt guilty. Ex-squueze-me??? That was never ok. Whether you like her or not. <- END SPOILER
Overall: Fun, madcap, bittersweet at times. If you can handle the mix of sadness and humor in your romance then this would make a great beach read.
While I'm not a fan of madcap antics/humor, this one still sounds plenty entertaining. The issue with Hollis definitely could have been handled better .His reasoning doesn't justify the means.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of it either. While she walked that edge of irritating me with it - it somehow works because these are small towns and Millie often uses quirkiness as a defense.
DeleteThe Hollis thing was honestly a red flag to me lol But in true romcom fashion, they fight and work it out. To be fair - she did get very mad at him and he understood what he did. I just thought it didn't matter if it was Millie or not. You don't do that to ANYONE.
That sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun beach read type book. Fun(ny) but has a lot of heart.
DeleteI read your spoiler because I am that kind of person, lol, and yikes! Otherwise it sounds like a fun/bittersweet romance. I love a grumpy/sunshine coupling.
ReplyDeleteI read spoilers too lol It was cute though!
DeleteThe cover is great. Atfirst I didn't like that art style, but it's been growing on me. 🙂
ReplyDeleteThe illustrated covers? I don't mind them but I honestly just can't tell the difference between them anymore. I did a post on it but the colors/fonts blend into one big blur to me.
DeleteI have to admit, the Hollis thing didn't bother me that much. Maybe in real life, but as this was a rom-com, I knew how it would play out. I thought he atoned enough as well and they were good together. I had fun reading this one
ReplyDeleteI mostly agree. In the context of the book - knowing it's a romcom - she did call him out - I still enjoyed the book. But...I still had an issue with the oh it was before I liked you excuse. Maybe for the starting to write stuff but not for the personal violations he took.
DeleteSounds like a fun, summery read! I'd love to know more about Rose and Elsie's story.
ReplyDeleteThat was kind of sad but also my favorite part.
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