yolandekleinn (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
yolandekleinn) wrote2022-03-30 05:12 pm
yolandekleinn) wrote2022-03-30 05:12 pm
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Book Review & Rec: "Wrong Number" by Laura Brown
Hi! Wow! Normally I keep my book recommendations very short and bundle a couple of them together in one post, but since (1) I was lucky enough to win a free copy of this one in a drawing from the author, and (2) I enjoyed it so much, I figure I'll go a little extra distance and tell y'all some thoughts.
(Apologies in advance if this review is a little chaotic — there is a reason I usually stick to writing fiction *hides*)
ANYWAY. So the tl;dr of this review is:
"Wrong Number" by Laura Brown is kinky, sweet, and full of heart. And I enjoyed the hell out of it.
This is the first book I've read by Laura Brown, despite the multiple ebooks I have purchased in the past year or two. Because here's the thing: I read slowly when I do it with my eyeballs; the pandemic has made this even more of a challenge; and I work in a bookstore, so the digital stuff I own tends to get relegated to, "I'll have to read that later, I need to finish this thing that is taking up physical space in my life first." The result is, unless I can get my hands on an audiobook that keeps me company on long commutes, ebooks often get left by the wayside — even when they are things I'm super excited about.
Which means that receiving an audio copy of this book was EXACTLY what I needed.
Also, before I get into the book itself, I just want to say: both of the narrators for this audiobook did incredible work. I'm picky as hell about readers—not just in terms of ability, but in a whole bunch of other super arbitrary ways that come down to personal preference and energy—and this book was a joy to listen to.
The book itself is beautifully written and does a great job of handling serious subject matter without taking itself too seriously. I loved the sweet family dynamics and the genuine kindness of the characters. No one in this book is perfect, and yet you can tell they're all doing their sincere best, even when things get complicated. I wasn't fond of Jake's tendency to fall into the trap of assuming it's his job to take care of his mom and sister, but! This overprotectiveness runs every direction simultaneously, so he's not the only one doing it. Everyone in this book has a tendency to assume the world will fall apart if they do not personally shoulder every possible burden. It's a believable balance of flawed but ultimately good-hearted people. The fact that food and culture and love all wrap up together through these dynamics just makes the book even more lovely.
I did struggle a bit with one of the side characters, but hear me out. Patrick is a bully and a harasser, and having him in the background of the baking staff threw me off my stride. His presence definitely added tension (no plot spoilers here, don't worry), but the fact that he gets so many chances made me twitchy. If this dude is being inappropriate with the woman who is literally his boss, how many employees is he messing with who might be scared to say anything? No sourdough skill is worth keeping a proven creep around in a professional setting. THAT BEING SAID, there's nothing unrealistic about how the situation is handled on the page—it feels dismayingly plausible, and that really shouldn't count as a strike against this book.
Back to things I adored: the chemistry between the two MC's is incendiary. I loved all the complications (both emotional and logistical) that arise from the relationship Jake and Avery formed through texting, before ever realizing they knew each other IRL. Here too I want to avoid spoilers (but skip ahead to the next paragraph if you're being extra careful): there's a fantastic moment that comes AFTER the inevitable revelation—acknowledging the fact that they both know things they wouldn't have revealed in person, and how much that tangles up the relationship they're navigating. I figured going in that this concept would be cute and fun and hot, but I was also repeatedly impressed by how honest the fallout felt. Even once the trope setup had played out, the consequences continued to affect the story, and I found it brilliantly done.
A couple final notes to end on:
(1) The baked goods throughout this book ruined my life. I want cupcakes and rugelach RIGHT NOW as I'm typing this, and cannot have either of these things today. Descriptions of food don't usually draw me into a story, but apparently my brain made an exception for this book.
(2) Some of the kink elements were not my personal jam (I'm not a big fan of involving food items in bedroom activities), but this is purely preference. The chemistry between Jake and Avery—both in person and through their text messages—was hot as hell. And if you ARE a fan of finding creative uses for frosting, boy have I got an extra reason to recommend you this book.
IN CONCLUSION, this book is delightful, and you should check it out.
(Apologies in advance if this review is a little chaotic — there is a reason I usually stick to writing fiction *hides*)
ANYWAY. So the tl;dr of this review is:
"Wrong Number" by Laura Brown is kinky, sweet, and full of heart. And I enjoyed the hell out of it.
This is the first book I've read by Laura Brown, despite the multiple ebooks I have purchased in the past year or two. Because here's the thing: I read slowly when I do it with my eyeballs; the pandemic has made this even more of a challenge; and I work in a bookstore, so the digital stuff I own tends to get relegated to, "I'll have to read that later, I need to finish this thing that is taking up physical space in my life first." The result is, unless I can get my hands on an audiobook that keeps me company on long commutes, ebooks often get left by the wayside — even when they are things I'm super excited about.
Which means that receiving an audio copy of this book was EXACTLY what I needed.
Also, before I get into the book itself, I just want to say: both of the narrators for this audiobook did incredible work. I'm picky as hell about readers—not just in terms of ability, but in a whole bunch of other super arbitrary ways that come down to personal preference and energy—and this book was a joy to listen to.
The book itself is beautifully written and does a great job of handling serious subject matter without taking itself too seriously. I loved the sweet family dynamics and the genuine kindness of the characters. No one in this book is perfect, and yet you can tell they're all doing their sincere best, even when things get complicated. I wasn't fond of Jake's tendency to fall into the trap of assuming it's his job to take care of his mom and sister, but! This overprotectiveness runs every direction simultaneously, so he's not the only one doing it. Everyone in this book has a tendency to assume the world will fall apart if they do not personally shoulder every possible burden. It's a believable balance of flawed but ultimately good-hearted people. The fact that food and culture and love all wrap up together through these dynamics just makes the book even more lovely.
I did struggle a bit with one of the side characters, but hear me out. Patrick is a bully and a harasser, and having him in the background of the baking staff threw me off my stride. His presence definitely added tension (no plot spoilers here, don't worry), but the fact that he gets so many chances made me twitchy. If this dude is being inappropriate with the woman who is literally his boss, how many employees is he messing with who might be scared to say anything? No sourdough skill is worth keeping a proven creep around in a professional setting. THAT BEING SAID, there's nothing unrealistic about how the situation is handled on the page—it feels dismayingly plausible, and that really shouldn't count as a strike against this book.
Back to things I adored: the chemistry between the two MC's is incendiary. I loved all the complications (both emotional and logistical) that arise from the relationship Jake and Avery formed through texting, before ever realizing they knew each other IRL. Here too I want to avoid spoilers (but skip ahead to the next paragraph if you're being extra careful): there's a fantastic moment that comes AFTER the inevitable revelation—acknowledging the fact that they both know things they wouldn't have revealed in person, and how much that tangles up the relationship they're navigating. I figured going in that this concept would be cute and fun and hot, but I was also repeatedly impressed by how honest the fallout felt. Even once the trope setup had played out, the consequences continued to affect the story, and I found it brilliantly done.
A couple final notes to end on:
(1) The baked goods throughout this book ruined my life. I want cupcakes and rugelach RIGHT NOW as I'm typing this, and cannot have either of these things today. Descriptions of food don't usually draw me into a story, but apparently my brain made an exception for this book.
(2) Some of the kink elements were not my personal jam (I'm not a big fan of involving food items in bedroom activities), but this is purely preference. The chemistry between Jake and Avery—both in person and through their text messages—was hot as hell. And if you ARE a fan of finding creative uses for frosting, boy have I got an extra reason to recommend you this book.
IN CONCLUSION, this book is delightful, and you should check it out.