Super Bloom
Fiction
Zibby Books
May 2, 2023
Paperback
312
Free from publisher
If only there was a spa treatment for heartbreak.
In this sparkling, heart-warming debut set at a luxury Vermont spa, massage therapist Joan Johnston is wallowing in grief over the accidental death of her boyfriend, Samuel, and it’s now seriously jeopardizing her job and her friendships. Will she ever be able to move on?
Enter Carmen Bronze, a hotheaded bestselling romance novelist and the most demanding massage client Joan’s ever faced. When Carmen offers Joan a chance to pay down her debt and save her job, it’s hard to say no—even though it means funneling Carmen inside dirt on the spa for her next novel.
The task unexpectedly reawakens a dormant talent in Joan, and she’s irresistibly drawn to writing her own romance novel based on her relationship with Samuel that stretches into the bright future they didn’t get to share. Writing proves to be the therapy Joan desperately needs, and her heart begins to open to new romance... and even the possibility of becoming a successful author herself. But none of this is easy, not with a lunatic like Carmen breathing down her neck and threatening to steal Joan’s manuscript.
A heartfelt, hilarious look at taking second chances, in life and in love, Tady’s uplifting debut will have readers rooting for Joan on every page—and laughing out loud at her one-of-a-kind wit.
My review:
When I read the synopsis of this book, not only did it sound like something I would be interested in plot/character wise, but it's set in Vermont (where I was born and lived until my mid 30's). I really enjoyed this one! It was the perfect blend of humor and grief, with lots of friendships thrown in. The small references (ok, let's call them digs) of the visitors to Vermont was hilarious and spot on! I loved seeing the growth that Joan went through as she struggled to overcome her devastation over the death of her boyfriend, and finding her new path/passion in life. The writing was well defined, the characters well fleshed out (haven't we all encountered a Carmen in the service industry?). I enjoyed the descriptions of massage therapy (with its various types of clients), the double meaning of the title, and the important place that reading/writing had within the story.
If you want a sweet story that is more than just a typical rom-com, with themes much more devoted to overcoming grief, along with great friendship and character growth, with humor thrown in, I would suggest this book. This is by a debut author, and I'm excited to see where she takes readers next!
