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Blame It on the Brontes
She’s going to write her own happy ending.
English professor Athena Murphy is an authority on the novels of the Brontë sisters. But as they say in academia, publish or perish . To save her job, Athena decides to write a biography of C.L. Garland, the author heating up bestseller lists with spicy retellings of classic literature. Tracking down the reclusive writer and uncovering her secret identity, though, means Athena must return to her small midwestern hometown where Garland—and her ex-boyfriend, Thorne Kent—live.
Seeing Thorne again reminds Athena that real life never lives up to fiction. He was the Heathcliff to her Catherine, the Mr. Rochester to her Jane. Not only did their college breakup shatter that illusion, but they also broke each other’s hearts again a second time. Now she has to see him nearly every...single…day.
The only solution is to find C.L. Garland as quickly as possible, write the book, and get the heck out of town. As her deadline looms and the list of potential C.L. Garlands dwindles, Athena and Thorne bicker and banter their way back to friendship. Could it really be true that the third time’s a charm?
Athena and Thorne have a love story only a Brontë could write, and the chance for their own happily-ever-after, but first, they’ll need to forgive the mistakes of the past.
English professor Athena Murphy is an authority on the novels of the Brontë sisters. But as they say in academia, publish or perish . To save her job, Athena decides to write a biography of C.L. Garland, the author heating up bestseller lists with spicy retellings of classic literature. Tracking down the reclusive writer and uncovering her secret identity, though, means Athena must return to her small midwestern hometown where Garland—and her ex-boyfriend, Thorne Kent—live.
Seeing Thorne again reminds Athena that real life never lives up to fiction. He was the Heathcliff to her Catherine, the Mr. Rochester to her Jane. Not only did their college breakup shatter that illusion, but they also broke each other’s hearts again a second time. Now she has to see him nearly every...single…day.
The only solution is to find C.L. Garland as quickly as possible, write the book, and get the heck out of town. As her deadline looms and the list of potential C.L. Garlands dwindles, Athena and Thorne bicker and banter their way back to friendship. Could it really be true that the third time’s a charm?
Athena and Thorne have a love story only a Brontë could write, and the chance for their own happily-ever-after, but first, they’ll need to forgive the mistakes of the past.
370 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2024
About the author
Annie Sereno
3 books57 followers When she's not expressing her imagination with pen and paintbrush, Annie gardens, swims, and haunts art museums. In possession of a well-worn passport and memories of all the places she's called home, she shares her life with her husband and two sons.
Mildly (okay, seriously) obsessed with birds, Celtic music, and all things Australian, she believes there is no such thing as a former librarian, no time to read, or too many shoes.
Mildly (okay, seriously) obsessed with birds, Celtic music, and all things Australian, she believes there is no such thing as a former librarian, no time to read, or too many shoes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 417 reviews
May 9, 2022
Read if you like:
❁ Second chance romance
❁ Classic literature
❁ Small town charm
❁ foodie romance
❁ Closed door, yet mildly spicy
Summary: University English Professor, and Brontë sister aficionado, Athena Murphy is given an ultimatum by the Chair of her department. Either publish a book on the mysterious C.L. Garland, known for writing spicy takes on classic romance, or lose her job as Associate professor.
Determine to uncover Garland’s identity, Athena returns to her hometown of Laurel, Illinois where she’s shocked to discover her ex-boyfriend and love of her life, Thorne, is now the owner of the town’s favorite cafe. Before she knows it, she’s fully enthralled in the town’s antics, creating book clubs, matchmaking and reconnecting with Thorn.
Thoughts: I enjoyed Blame It On the Brontës, especially as a fan of classic literature. I love the way Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre references were woven into the story and the comparisons made between the romances in those tales versus the one in this.
The banter in this book was *chefs kiss. I really enjoyed the repartee, not just between Athena and Thorne, but also between Athena and a lot of the townspeople she came to grow close to during her time waitressing at the As You Like It cafe. There were times I even found myself laughing out loud at some of the hilarious interchanges between Athena and Eugene, the town grump.
The one criticism I have is that I felt the book could be shorter and more succinct. A lot of the substance of the book takes place in the first half and the last 1/4 and I think reducing the length of the book would have made it a 5-star for me. It began to drag a little bit in the second half and I think that might be what kept others from enjoying it more.
I would definitely recommend Annie Sereno’s charming sophomore novel to anyone who likes second chance romance or classic literature, specifically the Brontë sisters. I think they will really connect with it and love all of the references hidden within it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
*Available now
❁ Second chance romance
❁ Classic literature
❁ Small town charm
❁ foodie romance
❁ Closed door, yet mildly spicy
Summary: University English Professor, and Brontë sister aficionado, Athena Murphy is given an ultimatum by the Chair of her department. Either publish a book on the mysterious C.L. Garland, known for writing spicy takes on classic romance, or lose her job as Associate professor.
Determine to uncover Garland’s identity, Athena returns to her hometown of Laurel, Illinois where she’s shocked to discover her ex-boyfriend and love of her life, Thorne, is now the owner of the town’s favorite cafe. Before she knows it, she’s fully enthralled in the town’s antics, creating book clubs, matchmaking and reconnecting with Thorn.
Thoughts: I enjoyed Blame It On the Brontës, especially as a fan of classic literature. I love the way Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre references were woven into the story and the comparisons made between the romances in those tales versus the one in this.
The banter in this book was *chefs kiss. I really enjoyed the repartee, not just between Athena and Thorne, but also between Athena and a lot of the townspeople she came to grow close to during her time waitressing at the As You Like It cafe. There were times I even found myself laughing out loud at some of the hilarious interchanges between Athena and Eugene, the town grump.
The one criticism I have is that I felt the book could be shorter and more succinct. A lot of the substance of the book takes place in the first half and the last 1/4 and I think reducing the length of the book would have made it a 5-star for me. It began to drag a little bit in the second half and I think that might be what kept others from enjoying it more.
I would definitely recommend Annie Sereno’s charming sophomore novel to anyone who likes second chance romance or classic literature, specifically the Brontë sisters. I think they will really connect with it and love all of the references hidden within it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
*Available now
May 6, 2022
When I read the description to this book I was instantly interested, but I found myself disappointed by the way the story was executed. The idea was excellent. Athena has always loved literature and after getting her PhD she is a professor who needs to publish or she (or at least her job) will perish. She heads home on an unpaid leave to visit her parent and bumps into the once love of her life who left her and the PhD track for a law degree. She is on a mission to discover who is writing an erotica novella series involving characters from great literature and I thought from the first second it was obvious and I didn’t like how it played out and how Athena was specifically lied to about it. The characters didn’t wow me and the writing was awkward at times. The idea had so much potential, but I had to force myself to finish this one up. I’m grateful to netgalley for the chance to read this one.
April 20, 2022
Publication Date: 03rd May 2022
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining
Athena Murphy is an assistant English professor and an authority on Bronte novels. When her university gives her an ultimatum to publish or leave her job, she decides to uncover the identity of the mysterious CL Garland and write her biography. No one knows CL Garland, who writes spicy (read erotic) retellings of classic literature. The mysterious author seems to be from her hometown, Laurel.
The trip back home leads her straight to Thorne, her love from her university days. Everyone thought they were a perfect match, but life didn’t work that way. Thorne has given up his lawyering career to become a café owner in Laurel. It’s the same café Athena was supposed to waitress as a part-timer.
She is determined to act mature and focus on finding that one person who will save her job. But when things don’t go the way she plans, professionally and personally, can Athena and Throne get another chance to rebuild their relationship?
What I Like:
• The writing is easy, even if the book isn’t fast-paced. That makes it easy to read faster despite the plot not really going anywhere.
• Some secondary characters were rather interesting. For once, I didn’t mind so many characters (nor did I keep track of them).
• I don’t, as such, look for deep or heavy stuff from romcoms. I want lighthearted fluff. This book gives me that despite dealing with a few themes.
• Some antics were OTT and made me roll my eyes at the characters, but it was mindless fun and entertaining.
• Some one-liners and dialogues were cheeky and made me chuckle.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The chemistry between the characters went hot and cold. There also wasn’t much romance per se.
• Some aspects were mentioned a couple of times but didn’t really make much difference to the overall plot.
• Athena’s determination to continue her job, which even she knew was in a toxic workplace, is confusing. She is obviously talented and passionate about teaching. She could find a better place that valued her.
• The miscommunication drags from the start to the climax. It was boring at times. I wish they acted like the adults they were (both are in their 30s).
• The chapters are too long. I’d have preferred a book with 35 short chapters to 17 long ones, especially in a rom-com. Makes it easier to stop reading for the day.
• Some actions in the second half seem contradictory to what’s presented in the first half. This could be because the plot needed to move ahead (eventually), but the tone needs to match.
•
To sum up, Blame It on the Brontes is an entertaining rom-com with some funny moments. Go with no expectations and enjoy it as a light read.
Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Gallery/Scout Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining
Athena Murphy is an assistant English professor and an authority on Bronte novels. When her university gives her an ultimatum to publish or leave her job, she decides to uncover the identity of the mysterious CL Garland and write her biography. No one knows CL Garland, who writes spicy (read erotic) retellings of classic literature. The mysterious author seems to be from her hometown, Laurel.
The trip back home leads her straight to Thorne, her love from her university days. Everyone thought they were a perfect match, but life didn’t work that way. Thorne has given up his lawyering career to become a café owner in Laurel. It’s the same café Athena was supposed to waitress as a part-timer.
She is determined to act mature and focus on finding that one person who will save her job. But when things don’t go the way she plans, professionally and personally, can Athena and Throne get another chance to rebuild their relationship?
What I Like:
• The writing is easy, even if the book isn’t fast-paced. That makes it easy to read faster despite the plot not really going anywhere.
• Some secondary characters were rather interesting. For once, I didn’t mind so many characters (nor did I keep track of them).
• I don’t, as such, look for deep or heavy stuff from romcoms. I want lighthearted fluff. This book gives me that despite dealing with a few themes.
• Some antics were OTT and made me roll my eyes at the characters, but it was mindless fun and entertaining.
• Some one-liners and dialogues were cheeky and made me chuckle.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The chemistry between the characters went hot and cold. There also wasn’t much romance per se.
• Some aspects were mentioned a couple of times but didn’t really make much difference to the overall plot.
• Athena’s determination to continue her job, which even she knew was in a toxic workplace, is confusing. She is obviously talented and passionate about teaching. She could find a better place that valued her.
• The miscommunication drags from the start to the climax. It was boring at times. I wish they acted like the adults they were (both are in their 30s).
• The chapters are too long. I’d have preferred a book with 35 short chapters to 17 long ones, especially in a rom-com. Makes it easier to stop reading for the day.
• Some actions in the second half seem contradictory to what’s presented in the first half. This could be because the plot needed to move ahead (eventually), but the tone needs to match.
•
To sum up, Blame It on the Brontes is an entertaining rom-com with some funny moments. Go with no expectations and enjoy it as a light read.
Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Gallery/Scout Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley
September 29, 2022
I received a copy of this book for free from Books Forward for promotional purposes.
I was very excited to read this book because I love the premise (I love books about books/literature and I love the Brontes). Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.
My main critique is that the book is too long. The book is roughly 370 pages (not including title pages, acknowledgments, etc.), but could have been whittled down to around 300. The book is very light on events that drive the plot forward. After the main character, Athena, moves back to her hometown to work on her book, not much really happens until the end. As for the romance aspect, there weren’t many fun rom-com moments to keep the book interesting.
The mystery surrounding the identity of C.L. Garland (the subject of her book) was also not very exciting. I was expecting there to be a lot of crazy hijinks from Athena while she tries to uncover the truth, but those moments were also very limited.
I did like some things about the book. I liked the small town vibes, especially with Athena working at the cafe. It felt very cozy. The townspeople made great supporting characters and added some humor to the story. I also enjoyed the literary references made throughout the book and the Bronte quotes that headlined every chapter.
Overall, the book didn’t work for me. However, it might work for you if you want a second chance romance with some literary references and cozy vibes.
I was very excited to read this book because I love the premise (I love books about books/literature and I love the Brontes). Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.
My main critique is that the book is too long. The book is roughly 370 pages (not including title pages, acknowledgments, etc.), but could have been whittled down to around 300. The book is very light on events that drive the plot forward. After the main character, Athena, moves back to her hometown to work on her book, not much really happens until the end. As for the romance aspect, there weren’t many fun rom-com moments to keep the book interesting.
The mystery surrounding the identity of C.L. Garland (the subject of her book) was also not very exciting. I was expecting there to be a lot of crazy hijinks from Athena while she tries to uncover the truth, but those moments were also very limited.
I did like some things about the book. I liked the small town vibes, especially with Athena working at the cafe. It felt very cozy. The townspeople made great supporting characters and added some humor to the story. I also enjoyed the literary references made throughout the book and the Bronte quotes that headlined every chapter.
Overall, the book didn’t work for me. However, it might work for you if you want a second chance romance with some literary references and cozy vibes.
April 8, 2022
I’m not sure where to begin. From the get-go, Athena Murphy is rather grumpy and ill-tempered. At first, I thought it was nervousness and having to meet up with her ex, but sadly no—she’s just kind of unlikable and grumpy all around. There’s a negativity about her that I usually don't like, but with any new book you’ve got to give characters time to evolve, change, and become more, right?
This one’s a quandary for me. To be honest, my feelings for our main character didn’t improve. However, when you meet her mother you begin to understand why she is the way she is. Her mother shames her for eating Girl Scout cookies with a quip of “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.” She herself shames her ex by patting his tummy and saying “you’ve gained a few pounds" without provocation. That type of stuff I’ve never been a fan of. It’s just body shaming for the sake of it. It's something I don't care for.
Having said all that—I’ve spent two full days unable to put this book down! I mean, I think the title gives some insight. Blame it on Brontë. A group of insufferable people that aren’t very nice, but for whatever reason, you’re invested in their lives and what’s going to happen next. What did I actually love about this book? The cast of secondary characters. Everyone in the sandwich shop! It's the quintessential Hallmark movie town. I want to be at all the town events, take part in all the holiday parties, listen to the town gossip, and share stories with these people. They were perfection in my book. Anywho... I can’t wait for others to enjoy the “love-hate trope” along with me!
This one’s a quandary for me. To be honest, my feelings for our main character didn’t improve. However, when you meet her mother you begin to understand why she is the way she is. Her mother shames her for eating Girl Scout cookies with a quip of “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.” She herself shames her ex by patting his tummy and saying “you’ve gained a few pounds" without provocation. That type of stuff I’ve never been a fan of. It’s just body shaming for the sake of it. It's something I don't care for.
Having said all that—I’ve spent two full days unable to put this book down! I mean, I think the title gives some insight. Blame it on Brontë. A group of insufferable people that aren’t very nice, but for whatever reason, you’re invested in their lives and what’s going to happen next. What did I actually love about this book? The cast of secondary characters. Everyone in the sandwich shop! It's the quintessential Hallmark movie town. I want to be at all the town events, take part in all the holiday parties, listen to the town gossip, and share stories with these people. They were perfection in my book. Anywho... I can’t wait for others to enjoy the “love-hate trope” along with me!
May 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this dual perspective third chance at love story between English Professor Athena and Thorne, her college sweetheart and the man who broke her heart after he dumped her without any explanation. When Athena returns home on a sabbatical determined to write a book uncovering the mysterious C. L. Garland who writes spicy retellings of classic love stories she runs into Thorne, who has taken over the local cafe and is her new boss.
Full of witty banter and great chemistry, Athena and Thorne slowly repair their relationship. The miscommunication trope is huge in this book so if that's not your thing you might want to pass. I didn't mind it so much when you learn why Thorne kept secrets from Athena but it is a big plot device. Other strong points included the mental health and caregiver rep, small town charm and great Bronte references. The characters do definitely hook up but this is a fade to black, closed door romance which was the biggest flaw for me. The characters get us all worked up and then it's the morning after - is there anything worse??
Overall though this was a fun read that I do recommend, especially for Bronte lovers. It was also great on audio narrated by Katie Schorr. There are a couple (somewhat predictable) surprise reveals but definitely a solid, highly enjoyable story. Much thanks to NetGalley and Forever for my advance review copies!
Full of witty banter and great chemistry, Athena and Thorne slowly repair their relationship. The miscommunication trope is huge in this book so if that's not your thing you might want to pass. I didn't mind it so much when you learn why Thorne kept secrets from Athena but it is a big plot device. Other strong points included the mental health and caregiver rep, small town charm and great Bronte references. The characters do definitely hook up but this is a fade to black, closed door romance which was the biggest flaw for me. The characters get us all worked up and then it's the morning after - is there anything worse??
Overall though this was a fun read that I do recommend, especially for Bronte lovers. It was also great on audio narrated by Katie Schorr. There are a couple (somewhat predictable) surprise reveals but definitely a solid, highly enjoyable story. Much thanks to NetGalley and Forever for my advance review copies!
December 16, 2023
This author really likes to use the word triumphant. I kind of wish I had the ebook just so I could look up how many times it was used. I know it was two for certain, and one of them was a VERY interesting way to do it...
Anyways, I was hoping this one would be good, but it did not have the best reviews. I finished this book two days ago and I cannot remember anything about the book. All I can remember is that the FMC liked to read and there were a lot of references to that. Oh and I remember his triumphant P. I even took a picture of that page. I think I might have just not been in the mood to read this. That or I was getting over a cold. Really, if you are reading this review, don't just not read this book solely based off this because you might end up liking it. It was just a wrong time sort of read for me I feel like. Also I still can't get over triumphant...
Anyways, I was hoping this one would be good, but it did not have the best reviews. I finished this book two days ago and I cannot remember anything about the book. All I can remember is that the FMC liked to read and there were a lot of references to that. Oh and I remember his triumphant P. I even took a picture of that page. I think I might have just not been in the mood to read this. That or I was getting over a cold. Really, if you are reading this review, don't just not read this book solely based off this because you might end up liking it. It was just a wrong time sort of read for me I feel like. Also I still can't get over triumphant...
September 22, 2022
Hmm this was just ok. No idea why I thought it's a rom-com (is it the dog on the cover? lol) because it definitely isn't! The banter is non-existent and there's nothing funny about this book. Unless you count me laughing with a friend over how awkward the writing is.
The writing felt really unnatural with lots of peculiar phrases, especially those describing outfits and sexual appendage (e.g. "triumphant penis" and "a blouse that draped her breasts like melting ice cream").
It did get slightly better and better as I progressed but overall, I wasn't feeling this much. The story is quite predictable, the characters aren't outstanding and I was mostly bored. I did like the cafe setting and food descriptions though!
Bronte fans might enjoy this one more as there are plenty of literary references.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for an ARC of this book.
The writing felt really unnatural with lots of peculiar phrases, especially those describing outfits and sexual appendage (e.g. "triumphant penis" and "a blouse that draped her breasts like melting ice cream").
It did get slightly better and better as I progressed but overall, I wasn't feeling this much. The story is quite predictable, the characters aren't outstanding and I was mostly bored. I did like the cafe setting and food descriptions though!
Bronte fans might enjoy this one more as there are plenty of literary references.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for an ARC of this book.
May 2, 2022
Athena is back in her hometown after running into some issues at the college she works at. She wants to write a book on the secret author, CL Garland in hopes of regaining the respect of her collegues so she sets off back to her hometown in search of her story.
When she gets there, she has a job set up at Ricki's Cafe, but when she arrives, she learns that the job Ricki promised her is now in the hands of her Ex boyfriend Thorne, who has swooped in and bought the cafe. All she has to do is survive the next few weeks, get her story and she can be back on her way to San Fransisco.
Thorne isn't keen on having Athena work for him after their rocky past, but he hopes they can at least mend fences and become friends. Athena has always been under his skin, but he knows she's better off without him and he just has to rememeber that.
What I loved about the book were all of the literary references and the times where Thorne pines for Athena. What didn't work for me was the fact that people with the past they had (soulmates who both thought they would marry each other at one point) they thought they could just move past things and be friends with benefits. I didn't like that Thorne didn't tell any of his secrets either and hid so much for the entirety of the book. I could tell that is what the conflict would be at the end, but it still made me a bit sad that nothing came out at all and Athena was left to feel stupid.
I really did enjoy the ending and the reasoning for the pen name of the author. I like hidden gems like that.
Thank you to Forever, Annie Sereno and Netgalley for an early copy.
When she gets there, she has a job set up at Ricki's Cafe, but when she arrives, she learns that the job Ricki promised her is now in the hands of her Ex boyfriend Thorne, who has swooped in and bought the cafe. All she has to do is survive the next few weeks, get her story and she can be back on her way to San Fransisco.
Thorne isn't keen on having Athena work for him after their rocky past, but he hopes they can at least mend fences and become friends. Athena has always been under his skin, but he knows she's better off without him and he just has to rememeber that.
What I loved about the book were all of the literary references and the times where Thorne pines for Athena. What didn't work for me was the fact that people with the past they had (soulmates who both thought they would marry each other at one point) they thought they could just move past things and be friends with benefits. I didn't like that Thorne didn't tell any of his secrets either and hid so much for the entirety of the book. I could tell that is what the conflict would be at the end, but it still made me a bit sad that nothing came out at all and Athena was left to feel stupid.
I really did enjoy the ending and the reasoning for the pen name of the author. I like hidden gems like that.
Thank you to Forever, Annie Sereno and Netgalley for an early copy.
June 4, 2022
While I felt this book sometimes was a little too image and food focused, I loved that it brilliantly worked on two levels: as a small town second chance romance destined to delight bookish or non-bookish people, and a plethora of inside Bronte jokes.
April 3, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
I really liked the premise to this book and I was sure I'd enjoy it greatly but sadly for some reason it didn't pull me in as much as I hoped. Don't get me wrong, this is a good book, well worth the time it takes you to read it, I just didn't fall in love with the characters or the plot as I hoped I would. When I read the blurb for this book I was immediately drawn to it and was slightly let down by the end result. The book was just a little too long, with not enough happening in it for my taste. I found myself skimming pages and I hate doing that. There were no highs or lows in this romance. What lowered the rating from me also, was Thena, the heroine. I didn't like her. I couldn't warm up to her at all. She just rubbed me the wrong way I guess. I liked Thorne, the hero, on the other hand. I also felt like their romance was forced. I didn't feel the chemistry or the attraction between them. So, I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. Something was missing for me and I enjoyed the last 20% more than the rest of the book. This story line had so much potential and I so desperately wanted to like it. It wasn't a bad book but it just didn't hold my attention as much as I hoped it would. Also, the writing style wasn't always to my liking and I didn't enjoy the long descriptions. Overall I wouldn’t call this bad but I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars because when I put the book down I didn't feel the urge to pick it back up. This was my first Annie Sereno book. I want to give her another try, see if this represents the level of depth or if she can go deeper.
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I really liked the premise to this book and I was sure I'd enjoy it greatly but sadly for some reason it didn't pull me in as much as I hoped. Don't get me wrong, this is a good book, well worth the time it takes you to read it, I just didn't fall in love with the characters or the plot as I hoped I would. When I read the blurb for this book I was immediately drawn to it and was slightly let down by the end result. The book was just a little too long, with not enough happening in it for my taste. I found myself skimming pages and I hate doing that. There were no highs or lows in this romance. What lowered the rating from me also, was Thena, the heroine. I didn't like her. I couldn't warm up to her at all. She just rubbed me the wrong way I guess. I liked Thorne, the hero, on the other hand. I also felt like their romance was forced. I didn't feel the chemistry or the attraction between them. So, I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. Something was missing for me and I enjoyed the last 20% more than the rest of the book. This story line had so much potential and I so desperately wanted to like it. It wasn't a bad book but it just didn't hold my attention as much as I hoped it would. Also, the writing style wasn't always to my liking and I didn't enjoy the long descriptions. Overall I wouldn’t call this bad but I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars because when I put the book down I didn't feel the urge to pick it back up. This was my first Annie Sereno book. I want to give her another try, see if this represents the level of depth or if she can go deeper.
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 13, 2022
Narrator 2.5 stars
My God this narrator was over the top.
(I think I would have enjoyed this more in the E-book format)
Story 2.5 stars
If this book was a person at a dinner party, it would be that super obnoxious human that has patches on there jacket at the elbows you spend all night rolling your eye at wishing they would shup up and stop being so pretentious
My God this narrator was over the top.
(I think I would have enjoyed this more in the E-book format)
Story 2.5 stars
If this book was a person at a dinner party, it would be that super obnoxious human that has patches on there jacket at the elbows you spend all night rolling your eye at wishing they would shup up and stop being so pretentious
May 3, 2022
I had so much fun reading this! It was quirky and silly and heartfelt, with lots of tongue-in-cheek literary references. I loved the small town of Laurel, which was very Stars Hollow-esque, and the As You Like It Cafe, with all of the eccentric and nosy regulars. The story was part romance and part cozy small town mystery, but ultimately it was about our main character Athena learning about herself and deciding which way she wants her future to go.
I will say that it took me a while to sink into the writing, as the dialogue in particular is very stylized and often difficult to believe. But the more I read, the more I was able to just roll with it, and I found myself laughing a lot at the way Athena’s Brontë-obsessed mind worked. Second chance romances aren’t always my thing, but this one really worked for me and I was rooting for Athena and Thorne to overcome their pasts and get back together. Reading the flashbacks of their relationship brought me back to my own time completing a literature degree and falling in love, and all of that nostalgia made me feel so connected to the story.
Overall a delightful book, if a little predictable at times. It’s clear that Annie Sereno has a true love of literature, as do her characters, and I might even have been convinced to try “Wuthering Heights”… or maybe I’ll just reread “Jane Eyre” for the third time.
3.5 stars
Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I will say that it took me a while to sink into the writing, as the dialogue in particular is very stylized and often difficult to believe. But the more I read, the more I was able to just roll with it, and I found myself laughing a lot at the way Athena’s Brontë-obsessed mind worked. Second chance romances aren’t always my thing, but this one really worked for me and I was rooting for Athena and Thorne to overcome their pasts and get back together. Reading the flashbacks of their relationship brought me back to my own time completing a literature degree and falling in love, and all of that nostalgia made me feel so connected to the story.
Overall a delightful book, if a little predictable at times. It’s clear that Annie Sereno has a true love of literature, as do her characters, and I might even have been convinced to try “Wuthering Heights”… or maybe I’ll just reread “Jane Eyre” for the third time.
3.5 stars
Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 4, 2022
Although I've got to admit that I found Athena more annoying than lovable, I did enjoy the story. She has a quick temper and little patience, both traits that get her in trouble. Back in her hometown to write a book that will hopefully save her job, she encounters an old flame. Much to her dismay, she finds that the attraction to Thorne is still there. Even worse, she's put in the position of working part time for him as a waitress since the woman who hired her has left and he is now in charge of the restaurant. Her hopes of getting in and out of town quickly as she tries to find an elusive author seem futile, too, as all her efforts go nowhere.
The same can't be said for Athena and Thorn's relationship, however, which alternately heats up and cools down, usually based on Athena's actions or words. How will it turn out for these two? Will Athena learn that love isn't what you read about in books but what you do in real life? Will Thorne tire of her antics, temper, and impetuous words and actions? Why is she so fixated on finding this one, elusive author? Will she ever discover who author C.L. Garland is? After all, the author lives in her hometown. Surely it shouldn't be this hard to find out who Garland is, do interviews, then flee out of town away from Thorne and all the memories and emotions his closeness conjure up. And what's going on with her divorced mother and father? Will Athena ever succeed in getting her father to clean up after himself? Nah. Though he has suddenly adopted a more dapper dress. What is up with that? Will Athena and Thorne ever come together?
All these questions and far more are answered in "Blame It on the Brontes', the title a good hint of the many literary references you'll encounter in the book. Even though I wasn't fond of Athena, I enjoyed visiting her hometown and watching from afar. No, one never watches from afar in a romance book's small town. You are quickly pulled in and somehow feel a part of it all. That is what makes this such a special book. Cute cover, fun idea, and fun fireworks and heat. Romance lovers will enjoy this one.
Thank you #NetGallery and #Forever for giving me a ringside seat to Athena and Thorne's story. I enjoyed my visit to their hometown.
The same can't be said for Athena and Thorn's relationship, however, which alternately heats up and cools down, usually based on Athena's actions or words. How will it turn out for these two? Will Athena learn that love isn't what you read about in books but what you do in real life? Will Thorne tire of her antics, temper, and impetuous words and actions? Why is she so fixated on finding this one, elusive author? Will she ever discover who author C.L. Garland is? After all, the author lives in her hometown. Surely it shouldn't be this hard to find out who Garland is, do interviews, then flee out of town away from Thorne and all the memories and emotions his closeness conjure up. And what's going on with her divorced mother and father? Will Athena ever succeed in getting her father to clean up after himself? Nah. Though he has suddenly adopted a more dapper dress. What is up with that? Will Athena and Thorne ever come together?
All these questions and far more are answered in "Blame It on the Brontes', the title a good hint of the many literary references you'll encounter in the book. Even though I wasn't fond of Athena, I enjoyed visiting her hometown and watching from afar. No, one never watches from afar in a romance book's small town. You are quickly pulled in and somehow feel a part of it all. That is what makes this such a special book. Cute cover, fun idea, and fun fireworks and heat. Romance lovers will enjoy this one.
Thank you #NetGallery and #Forever for giving me a ringside seat to Athena and Thorne's story. I enjoyed my visit to their hometown.
May 12, 2022
Second Chance somewhat enemies to loves as they are no longer friends, lots of tension between Athena and Thorne.
Athena is sent back home - her small, non-interesting, couldn't escape fast midwestern town. Somehow her mother and father failed to mention her ex moved recently - and acquired the much loved café. Where Athena secured a job from her mother's long time bestie - except she's on hiatus. And also failed to mention Thorne purchased the café from her before ditching town. Seriously. Someone could have told her.
But no fear - Athena straps on her mom's sensible shoes, waitresses the crap out of the café and not so subtly pumps the patrons for local gossip. Specifically about the hottest new best seller - a hidden identity of a hugely successful erotica author. Living in the town. But no one knows nothing.
Working with Thorne brings back the utter humiliation of their horrible breakup - while stoking the fire they have for each other. The long literary conversations. Their acting, reading poetry college days.
And of course the dog.
Very enjoyable book. Loved it!
Athena is sent back home - her small, non-interesting, couldn't escape fast midwestern town. Somehow her mother and father failed to mention her ex moved recently - and acquired the much loved café. Where Athena secured a job from her mother's long time bestie - except she's on hiatus. And also failed to mention Thorne purchased the café from her before ditching town. Seriously. Someone could have told her.
But no fear - Athena straps on her mom's sensible shoes, waitresses the crap out of the café and not so subtly pumps the patrons for local gossip. Specifically about the hottest new best seller - a hidden identity of a hugely successful erotica author. Living in the town. But no one knows nothing.
Working with Thorne brings back the utter humiliation of their horrible breakup - while stoking the fire they have for each other. The long literary conversations. Their acting, reading poetry college days.
And of course the dog.
Very enjoyable book. Loved it!
February 7, 2024
Изненадващо пролетните температури през февруари са за книгата на Annie Sereno - Blame It On the Brontes. Която е среща с любимите готически класики на сестрите Бронте и на безсмъртните стихове на Емили Дикинсън, но разглеждани в съвременната ни реалност. Където ние не само сме деца на родителите си. Понякога сме носители на техните неосъществени стремежи, единствена надежда и изкупителна жертва за прегрешенията им, отклоненията им от нормите, носители сме на оттоворности, които са пренебрегвали и тайни, които са крили.За съжаление, наистина има родители, които са гледали твърде често публикации за това, че децата не бива да са най - важния елемент в едно семейство. И резултатите от тези псевдо - психологични напъни са навред около нас. Деца, твърде рано отделени от родителската грижа, в институции; деца, поемащи по професионалния път на родителите си, защото той е добре утъпкан; деца,носещи на плещите си обещания, че ще бъдат опора, загърбвайки мечтите си. Деца, неудовлетворени завинаги, търсещи някакъв изход. Но такъв рядко се открива в правилното време.
Малка книга, която осъвременява цялото тягостно настроение на " Брулени хълмове " на Емили Бронте. Идеята, че сме безсилни понякога / или всъщност по - често, отколкото искаме да признаем/ да отстояваме себе си и мечтите си. За да бъдем добри дъщери и синове на родителите си. За да не носим угризения, че сме избягали, за да бъдем щастливи. И ако бях оставила някъде в юношеството си впечатленията си от най - тъжната, според мен, книга на сестрите Бронте, то сега доброволно се оставих да ме отнесе ехото й чрез Blame it on the Bronte. И за пореден път се убедих, че книгите, които четем, имат свое отражение в реалния ни живот. Често можем да се намерим в една или друга житейска ситуация, подобна на сцена от роман. От нас зависи дали ще се оставим да ни сполети онзи край, над който сме лели сълзи. Или ще пренапишем своето продължение - с нашите стремежи и желания на първо място. Дори с риск да не бъдем положителните герои за другите!
До болка реалистичен, освежаващо забавен сюжет, рисуващ преобръщането на живота в миг , когато дълго пазена тайна се появи внезапно.
* Love was Territory all right. A vast, unknown wilderness everyone knew was out there, but some never discovered. Or weren’t brave enough to explore.
* Everything fades in time, son. Beauty, passion, memory.
* ... proof opposites attracted—and then drove each other batshit crazy.
Малка книга, която осъвременява цялото тягостно настроение на " Брулени хълмове " на Емили Бронте. Идеята, че сме безсилни понякога / или всъщност по - често, отколкото искаме да признаем/ да отстояваме себе си и мечтите си. За да бъдем добри дъщери и синове на родителите си. За да не носим угризения, че сме избягали, за да бъдем щастливи. И ако бях оставила някъде в юношеството си впечатленията си от най - тъжната, според мен, книга на сестрите Бронте, то сега доброволно се оставих да ме отнесе ехото й чрез Blame it on the Bronte. И за пореден път се убедих, че книгите, които четем, имат свое отражение в реалния ни живот. Често можем да се намерим в една или друга житейска ситуация, подобна на сцена от роман. От нас зависи дали ще се оставим да ни сполети онзи край, над който сме лели сълзи. Или ще пренапишем своето продължение - с нашите стремежи и желания на първо място. Дори с риск да не бъдем положителните герои за другите!
До болка реалистичен, освежаващо забавен сюжет, рисуващ преобръщането на живота в миг , когато дълго пазена тайна се появи внезапно.
* Love was Territory all right. A vast, unknown wilderness everyone knew was out there, but some never discovered. Or weren’t brave enough to explore.
* Everything fades in time, son. Beauty, passion, memory.
* ... proof opposites attracted—and then drove each other batshit crazy.
April 28, 2022
Athena returns to her home town. To save academic teaching career in San Francisco she has taken a sabbatical to write a book. As part of that she plans to unmask the writer of a popular novella series that turns classics into erotica. Arriving in her hometown she finds Thorne has purchased the diner where she’d been promised a part-time job to help her earn money while writing. Thorne and she were in love planning on getting their PhD’s together. Instead he broke her heart and followed in his family tradition and went to law school on the other side of the country. Things between the two run from icy to friendly and it takes a long, long time for them to actually talk about what broke them apart.
This should have been a book I loved with lots of literary references and quotes form Emily Bronte starting every chapter. But I didn’t care for either of the main characters and didn’t understand their previous connection other than being told it was there. There is a lot of dishonesty between the two that lasts a long time; Athena not being honest about her career status, Thorne has family and other predictable secrets. When everything does finally come out the author throws in another break up moment with so little time left it doesn’t feel like important things get a chance to be resolved or sorted. For a second chance romance I wanted more than everything coming together in the last couple of pages. The book is clean except for some behind closed door references. Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This should have been a book I loved with lots of literary references and quotes form Emily Bronte starting every chapter. But I didn’t care for either of the main characters and didn’t understand their previous connection other than being told it was there. There is a lot of dishonesty between the two that lasts a long time; Athena not being honest about her career status, Thorne has family and other predictable secrets. When everything does finally come out the author throws in another break up moment with so little time left it doesn’t feel like important things get a chance to be resolved or sorted. For a second chance romance I wanted more than everything coming together in the last couple of pages. The book is clean except for some behind closed door references. Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2022
the story follows Prof. Athena Murphy or Thena, who is on a temporary leave to write her first book after a troubling event at work. she then goes to her hometown, where she is on the lookout for the mysterious erotica author C.L Garland, who she plans to reveal in her debut novel. while doing her research, she runs across an old flame, Thorne who has broken her heart TWICE and is now her new employer at her part-time job. will she be able to find the mysterious author despite being in close proximity to her devastatingly hot ex?
tropes:
-second chance romance (or third?)
-classic lit reference
-slowburn
-jealousy, jealousy
-cute main characters names
all I can say is that this is a fantastic rom-com from an underrated author. what i like the most is how Thena developed a casual friendship with her cafe patrons. with all of the supporting characters, you will found yourself falling in love with them wholeheartedly[the foursome are iconic if u ask me]. i enjoy the humour, and Annie has a knack for writing humorous interaction. this book offers everything you've ever wanted, plus a nice mystery quest. the slow pacing, on the other hand, is a problem to me and a lot of miscommunication occurs, which is annoying. overall i unexpectedly really enjoy the book! thank you netgalley!
tropes:
-second chance romance (or third?)
-classic lit reference
-slowburn
-jealousy, jealousy
-cute main characters names
all I can say is that this is a fantastic rom-com from an underrated author. what i like the most is how Thena developed a casual friendship with her cafe patrons. with all of the supporting characters, you will found yourself falling in love with them wholeheartedly[the foursome are iconic if u ask me]. i enjoy the humour, and Annie has a knack for writing humorous interaction. this book offers everything you've ever wanted, plus a nice mystery quest. the slow pacing, on the other hand, is a problem to me and a lot of miscommunication occurs, which is annoying. overall i unexpectedly really enjoy the book! thank you netgalley!
March 2, 2022
This is a quirky, fun read, not something I would usually pick up, but am so glad I did! Professor Athena Murphy takes a semester off from teaching in order to pen her first book, and rekindles an old romance with her college ex-boyfriend in the process. Smart and witty, this book is perfect for fans of the Bronte sisters and Wuthering Heights! #NetGalley #BlameItOnTheBrontes
May 4, 2022
This book is about Athena who returns to her small town on a sabbatical as a professor to write a book and bumps into her ex Throne who is the owner of a cafe where she plans to waitressing few days a week. This book is full of witty banter and great chemistry. The author’s love for classics is evident on every page.
March 13, 2022
3.5/5 stars
I was pleasantly surprised by this one! Athena Murphy, an English professor, returns to her hometown to research an anonymous romance author with the pen-name C.L. Garland who happens to be from her hometown in order to save her career at a university in San Francisco. What she doesn't expect is to run into her old flame, Thorne Kent, who broke her heart twice. She winds up becoming his employee at the cafe he now owns. Of course, this proximity brings up old feelings, unresolved issues, and the potential to rekindle things with the love of her life.
There was so much angst in this and I loved Athena's character. She's exuberant, outgoing, determined, and I especially appreciated that she is explicitly described as being a curvaceous woman. I am normally not a huge fan of second chance romances but this one was great. It was amusing, and I loved the interactions between Athena and Thorne who have great banter and between their present-day interactions and the reminiscences of these two characters, the relationship comes across as really believable between the two. There is, however, a lot of miscommunication between the two pretty much from beginning to end and I will say by the end of the book it became a little too much (hence the rating). Also, despite the chemistry, we have another sort of fade to black scene which is mindboggling to me since part of the plot is Athena's investigation into an erotica author! Like.....hello? There should be more smut. I also appreciated that we got both Athena's and Thorne's point of view in this.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised by this one! Athena Murphy, an English professor, returns to her hometown to research an anonymous romance author with the pen-name C.L. Garland who happens to be from her hometown in order to save her career at a university in San Francisco. What she doesn't expect is to run into her old flame, Thorne Kent, who broke her heart twice. She winds up becoming his employee at the cafe he now owns. Of course, this proximity brings up old feelings, unresolved issues, and the potential to rekindle things with the love of her life.
There was so much angst in this and I loved Athena's character. She's exuberant, outgoing, determined, and I especially appreciated that she is explicitly described as being a curvaceous woman. I am normally not a huge fan of second chance romances but this one was great. It was amusing, and I loved the interactions between Athena and Thorne who have great banter and between their present-day interactions and the reminiscences of these two characters, the relationship comes across as really believable between the two. There is, however, a lot of miscommunication between the two pretty much from beginning to end and I will say by the end of the book it became a little too much (hence the rating). Also, despite the chemistry, we have another sort of fade to black scene which is mindboggling to me since part of the plot is Athena's investigation into an erotica author! Like.....hello? There should be more smut. I also appreciated that we got both Athena's and Thorne's point of view in this.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2022
3.5⭐️
Blame It on the Brontes by Annie Sereno was a cozy romance. Kinda like a cozy mystery feel?! Not to serious but lots of side characters and mystery.
Books about books is my favorite and Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights are my favorite jam. So I sank down into my comfy reading spot with my favorite blanket and dove right in.
It started out strong and I love a second chance. But as the novel progressed I wanted the romance to start back up sooner. Stronger. And for a minute I thought it might never happen. Couldn’t there be more tension? Long glances? Undeniable chemistry?
I loved this and then I didn’t and then I did again. But mostly I wanted more…
I started out reading this and finished by listening to this on audio. The narrated was Katie Schorr and she was great. She did a really good job with this. And it was enjoyable. Will I read another by her? Maybe
Thanks Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.
Blame It on the Brontes by Annie Sereno was a cozy romance. Kinda like a cozy mystery feel?! Not to serious but lots of side characters and mystery.
Books about books is my favorite and Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights are my favorite jam. So I sank down into my comfy reading spot with my favorite blanket and dove right in.
It started out strong and I love a second chance. But as the novel progressed I wanted the romance to start back up sooner. Stronger. And for a minute I thought it might never happen. Couldn’t there be more tension? Long glances? Undeniable chemistry?
I loved this and then I didn’t and then I did again. But mostly I wanted more…
I started out reading this and finished by listening to this on audio. The narrated was Katie Schorr and she was great. She did a really good job with this. And it was enjoyable. Will I read another by her? Maybe
Thanks Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.
June 25, 2022
Thanks, Hachette Audio, for the gifted book!
I tried really hard to get into BLAME IT ON THR BRONTËS by Annie Sereno, but it seemed like every roadblock was there to set it up to fail. It has a cute premise and one I was excited about, but I was already annoyed for multiple reasons.
•I don’t mind an unlikable MC - half the time, I’m usually the person who likes the unlikeable people, but I immediately couldn’t stand Athena. Her whiny, woe is me attitude got on my nerves because it was either her complaining or her saying she deserved this because she was better than others. She irked me.
•The meet-cute with Thorne was cute. I thought I liked Thorne until I realized he was an exceptionally flat character. He just seemed better at first because of how terrible Athena was.
•A lot of this book told you what the character was doing. “I put on my running clothes, tied my shoes, and now I’m going downstairs and out the door.” (*not exact from the book, but you get it.)
•Finally, and I hate saying this, the narration was terrible. Katie Schorr tried. I appreciate her enthusiasm, but it did not bring the book to life. Nor did it make me excited to listen to it.
Do I think it would have been better if I read the book instead of listening to it? Possibly, but probably not. I would have DNF’d either way. Unfortunately, it was just a letdown of a book I was looking forward to read.
I tried really hard to get into BLAME IT ON THR BRONTËS by Annie Sereno, but it seemed like every roadblock was there to set it up to fail. It has a cute premise and one I was excited about, but I was already annoyed for multiple reasons.
•I don’t mind an unlikable MC - half the time, I’m usually the person who likes the unlikeable people, but I immediately couldn’t stand Athena. Her whiny, woe is me attitude got on my nerves because it was either her complaining or her saying she deserved this because she was better than others. She irked me.
•The meet-cute with Thorne was cute. I thought I liked Thorne until I realized he was an exceptionally flat character. He just seemed better at first because of how terrible Athena was.
•A lot of this book told you what the character was doing. “I put on my running clothes, tied my shoes, and now I’m going downstairs and out the door.” (*not exact from the book, but you get it.)
•Finally, and I hate saying this, the narration was terrible. Katie Schorr tried. I appreciate her enthusiasm, but it did not bring the book to life. Nor did it make me excited to listen to it.
Do I think it would have been better if I read the book instead of listening to it? Possibly, but probably not. I would have DNF’d either way. Unfortunately, it was just a letdown of a book I was looking forward to read.
February 28, 2022
English professor Athena Murphy decides to write a biography of C.L. Garland, the author heating up bestseller lists with spicy retellings of classic literature. Tracking down the reclusive writer and uncovering her secret identity, though, means Athena must return to her small midwestern hometown where Garland—and her ex-boyfriend, Thorne Kent—live and she has to see him nearly every...single…day.
The only solution is to find C.L. Garland as quickly as possible, write the book, and get the heck out of town. As her deadline looms and the list of potential C.L. Garlands dwindles, Athena and Thorne bicker and banter their way back to friendship. Could it really be true that the third time’s a charm?
A book for lovers of the Bronte sisters. I love the comparisons of the Bronte sisters with modern day.... The book is funny, witty and smart. Love the main characters and how they interact with each other. Love their chemistry together. A fun book.
The only solution is to find C.L. Garland as quickly as possible, write the book, and get the heck out of town. As her deadline looms and the list of potential C.L. Garlands dwindles, Athena and Thorne bicker and banter their way back to friendship. Could it really be true that the third time’s a charm?
A book for lovers of the Bronte sisters. I love the comparisons of the Bronte sisters with modern day.... The book is funny, witty and smart. Love the main characters and how they interact with each other. Love their chemistry together. A fun book.
March 18, 2022
Athena must publish or perish if she wants to be tenured as an English professor. To save her job she needs to write an expose about an erotic literature author, who is rumored to live in her hometown. Athena takes a position as a server in the local cafe. It will be the perfect way to snoop & find the author. Only downside is that she in forced proximity with her ex, Thorne, the love of her life. With many twists and turns this book made my head spin. The main character was overly dramatic to a fault, which made it hard to root for her. This book had a crazy cast of characters & would be enjoyed by those who are sonnet and Jane Eyre obsessed.
Thank you to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for the DRC. This is my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for the DRC. This is my honest review.
June 6, 2022
Athena Murphy is struggling to save her career as an English professor and that means successfully publishing a book. She decides an investigation not mysterious erotic literature writer C.L. Garland is her ticket to stability. This book means returning to her southern Illinois hometown where Garland is also supposed to hail from, and where her ex, Thorne Kent, also happens to live.
When she sees Thorne, Athena realizes that her life hasn’t lived up to her imagination. They’ve broken each other’s hearts twice and now she has to see him almost every day as she works in the café he now owns.
Athena doesn’t know what else to do except write the book and get back to San Francisco as quickly as she can. With her deadline looming, she and Thorne’s relationship morphs from one of near-hostile banter to the true friendship they always shared. It’s possible that a third time around could work for these two, but only if they can move beyond their past mistakes first.
I have some mixed feelings on this one. I really enjoyed the premise and the small-town setting, though the numerous interruptions by side characters at inopportune moments did get a bit old at times. some of the scenes were hilarious, even when they went over the top, and I really enjoyed the fact that we had so many supporting characters also finding love and pushing Athena to claim hers. My issue here was really just with Athena and her attitude. She was incredibly egocentric and one-tracked in her thinking, focused only on what she needed to do for her career, to save a job she really didn’t even like, and she didn’t really seem to care how her decisions affected others, especially Thorne. She was incredibly quick to judge him, not really trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, even when he poured his heart out to her. I just would’ve liked to have seen her learn from her mistakes and learn to compromise a bit more, especially once she realized that Thorne was her happiness. Along those lines, I think the ending was a bit rushed. I loved how everything tied up, but this all happened in about the last 20 minutes or so of the narration and I would’ve liked to see more page time for Athena and Thorne in a real relationship. I probably would’ve set this aside and lost interest if I’d been reading it, but the narrator helped me get through it much easier. Overall, I liked Thorne as a hero, especially when he finally stepped up to be honest with Athena, and I liked them as a couple, she was just a bit of a pill at times and needed to take a step back and reevaluate her priorities.
I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an audio advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
When she sees Thorne, Athena realizes that her life hasn’t lived up to her imagination. They’ve broken each other’s hearts twice and now she has to see him almost every day as she works in the café he now owns.
Athena doesn’t know what else to do except write the book and get back to San Francisco as quickly as she can. With her deadline looming, she and Thorne’s relationship morphs from one of near-hostile banter to the true friendship they always shared. It’s possible that a third time around could work for these two, but only if they can move beyond their past mistakes first.
I have some mixed feelings on this one. I really enjoyed the premise and the small-town setting, though the numerous interruptions by side characters at inopportune moments did get a bit old at times. some of the scenes were hilarious, even when they went over the top, and I really enjoyed the fact that we had so many supporting characters also finding love and pushing Athena to claim hers. My issue here was really just with Athena and her attitude. She was incredibly egocentric and one-tracked in her thinking, focused only on what she needed to do for her career, to save a job she really didn’t even like, and she didn’t really seem to care how her decisions affected others, especially Thorne. She was incredibly quick to judge him, not really trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, even when he poured his heart out to her. I just would’ve liked to have seen her learn from her mistakes and learn to compromise a bit more, especially once she realized that Thorne was her happiness. Along those lines, I think the ending was a bit rushed. I loved how everything tied up, but this all happened in about the last 20 minutes or so of the narration and I would’ve liked to see more page time for Athena and Thorne in a real relationship. I probably would’ve set this aside and lost interest if I’d been reading it, but the narrator helped me get through it much easier. Overall, I liked Thorne as a hero, especially when he finally stepped up to be honest with Athena, and I liked them as a couple, she was just a bit of a pill at times and needed to take a step back and reevaluate her priorities.
I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an audio advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
April 7, 2022
3.5/5 Stars!
I was initially intrigued to request this title from NetGalley because of the cover! I will confess to not being an avid reader of the classics (though it is something on my TBR). I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into and this book actually surprised me!
This book follows Athena which due to a series of events has to leave her career being an English professor to write her first ever book. In this she will be uncovering the identity of an author of spicy Novellas that takes literary classics and turns them into a spice lover dream! Athena has to write this book in order to save her career. One little problem is that all she knows is that the author grew up in her hometown, so what a better place to start then where she grew up? What she finds when she heads home is a new reality where she is now working for her ex fiancé!
In this book we also get some of Thorne’s point of view (though one of my critiques is that I wish we had more of his point of view). Thorne’s life was turned upside down when secrets of his father had been revealed and his relationship with Athena was ruined in the process. When Athena is thrust back into his life Thorne is forced to face the mistakes he made and face the reality of his situation.
This book is all about found family and discovering yourself all over again. There are many parts of this book that I loved, and some that weren’t my favorite. This book kind of felt very hot and cold with no one between, sometimes I had a hard time following along what was happening. But that could’ve been me. I almost found it to be a little repetitive. I had a really hard time getting into the book but once the plot started moving I got really into it! I do believe this book was very well written, I enjoyed reading it and I definitely think I will be reading the classics here soon because I was so inspired by this book! This book was definitely something different than what I normally read but I still enjoyed it nonetheless!
I was initially intrigued to request this title from NetGalley because of the cover! I will confess to not being an avid reader of the classics (though it is something on my TBR). I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into and this book actually surprised me!
This book follows Athena which due to a series of events has to leave her career being an English professor to write her first ever book. In this she will be uncovering the identity of an author of spicy Novellas that takes literary classics and turns them into a spice lover dream! Athena has to write this book in order to save her career. One little problem is that all she knows is that the author grew up in her hometown, so what a better place to start then where she grew up? What she finds when she heads home is a new reality where she is now working for her ex fiancé!
In this book we also get some of Thorne’s point of view (though one of my critiques is that I wish we had more of his point of view). Thorne’s life was turned upside down when secrets of his father had been revealed and his relationship with Athena was ruined in the process. When Athena is thrust back into his life Thorne is forced to face the mistakes he made and face the reality of his situation.
This book is all about found family and discovering yourself all over again. There are many parts of this book that I loved, and some that weren’t my favorite. This book kind of felt very hot and cold with no one between, sometimes I had a hard time following along what was happening. But that could’ve been me. I almost found it to be a little repetitive. I had a really hard time getting into the book but once the plot started moving I got really into it! I do believe this book was very well written, I enjoyed reading it and I definitely think I will be reading the classics here soon because I was so inspired by this book! This book was definitely something different than what I normally read but I still enjoyed it nonetheless!
March 20, 2022
"All's well that ends well," - Shakespeare.
Synopsis: English professor Athena Murphy is an authority on the novels of the Brontë sisters. But as they say in academia, publish or perish. To save her job, Athena decides to write a biography of C.L. Garland, the author heating up bestseller lists with spicy retellings of classic literature. Tracking down the reclusive writer and uncovering her secret identity, though, means Athena must return to her small midwestern hometown where Garland—and her ex-boyfriend, Thorne Kent—live.
Personal Review: 4 Stars
If you are a fan of the second chance romance trope, greek mythology, and classic literature - with a twist - Annie Sereno's Novel "Blame it on the Brontes" is your next go to read! I loved how Sereno incorporated the Bronte sisters quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and created a character that was so likable, it hurt! Athena "Thena" lusts after her ex Thorne, pretty much the entire novel, yet there is a bit of mystery as to why their romance fizzled out in the first place. In her search to uncover C.L. Garland and his spicy LitWit collection of saucy retellings of classic literature such as "The Lust of the Mohicans", "David Copafeel", "Prude and Pruience" and "Scarlet Fetters" Athena finds herself going crazy to discover who this author is, write her book "Hidden in Plain Sight" and save her job as a professor. Although this novel was quite predictable, I adored it. It was laced with comedy, Athena's bad luck, Finn and Mario's relationship, and Sergei's entire character! I was laughing along and adoring the plot the entire time!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Synopsis: English professor Athena Murphy is an authority on the novels of the Brontë sisters. But as they say in academia, publish or perish. To save her job, Athena decides to write a biography of C.L. Garland, the author heating up bestseller lists with spicy retellings of classic literature. Tracking down the reclusive writer and uncovering her secret identity, though, means Athena must return to her small midwestern hometown where Garland—and her ex-boyfriend, Thorne Kent—live.
Personal Review: 4 Stars
If you are a fan of the second chance romance trope, greek mythology, and classic literature - with a twist - Annie Sereno's Novel "Blame it on the Brontes" is your next go to read! I loved how Sereno incorporated the Bronte sisters quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and created a character that was so likable, it hurt! Athena "Thena" lusts after her ex Thorne, pretty much the entire novel, yet there is a bit of mystery as to why their romance fizzled out in the first place. In her search to uncover C.L. Garland and his spicy LitWit collection of saucy retellings of classic literature such as "The Lust of the Mohicans", "David Copafeel", "Prude and Pruience" and "Scarlet Fetters" Athena finds herself going crazy to discover who this author is, write her book "Hidden in Plain Sight" and save her job as a professor. Although this novel was quite predictable, I adored it. It was laced with comedy, Athena's bad luck, Finn and Mario's relationship, and Sergei's entire character! I was laughing along and adoring the plot the entire time!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 3, 2022
3/5
** Thank you to Net Galley for this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. **
'Blame It On the Brontës' threw me for a bit of a loop! Throughout the first half of the book, I was enraptured- I could not put it down! The second half, however, had some pacing issues for me, and some moments were a little too unbelievable. However, I still really enjoyed my time in Laurel, Illinois and getting to meet all of the regular clientele at the As You Like It café. This book had a very cozy, heartwarming, and melodramatic undertone (because of all the parallels to literary classics such as 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Jane Eyre') and it worked!
I really loved getting to know the town of Laurel and its inhabitants; I thought Annie Sereno did a very good job at creating real side characters and not just characterizations of people; some were maybe a little bit over the top, but coming from a small town myself, it really isn't that far from the truth, so it didn't bother me. One thing that did bother me, however, was the way Athena and Thorne's relationship evolved (or re-evolved ?? because this is a third chance romance, haha). I wish there had been a smoother progression between the two of them instead of how it ended up. It felt a little rushed at the end to me, and I would have really liked to see them mature a bit more together instead of having all of their realizations suddenly all at once in the last few chapters.
At the end of the day, I ended up giving this book a 3/5 just because of the disconnect I felt between the pacing and some of the characters' choices in the second half, but all in all I thought this was a sweet read! Definitely would recommend to literary buffs or fans of lighthearted romance reads. :) Looking forward to reading another one of her books in the future!
** Thank you to Net Galley for this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. **
'Blame It On the Brontës' threw me for a bit of a loop! Throughout the first half of the book, I was enraptured- I could not put it down! The second half, however, had some pacing issues for me, and some moments were a little too unbelievable. However, I still really enjoyed my time in Laurel, Illinois and getting to meet all of the regular clientele at the As You Like It café. This book had a very cozy, heartwarming, and melodramatic undertone (because of all the parallels to literary classics such as 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Jane Eyre') and it worked!
I really loved getting to know the town of Laurel and its inhabitants; I thought Annie Sereno did a very good job at creating real side characters and not just characterizations of people; some were maybe a little bit over the top, but coming from a small town myself, it really isn't that far from the truth, so it didn't bother me. One thing that did bother me, however, was the way Athena and Thorne's relationship evolved (or re-evolved ?? because this is a third chance romance, haha). I wish there had been a smoother progression between the two of them instead of how it ended up. It felt a little rushed at the end to me, and I would have really liked to see them mature a bit more together instead of having all of their realizations suddenly all at once in the last few chapters.
At the end of the day, I ended up giving this book a 3/5 just because of the disconnect I felt between the pacing and some of the characters' choices in the second half, but all in all I thought this was a sweet read! Definitely would recommend to literary buffs or fans of lighthearted romance reads. :) Looking forward to reading another one of her books in the future!
March 30, 2022
Thank you so much to @readforever for the complimentary digital review copy of Blame it on the Brontes in advance of publication. This book comes out on May 3, 2022!
Blame is on the Brontes is the story of Athena (Thena), an English Professor taking a sabbatical in her home town to finally write a book she needs in order to get tenure. In her home town, she finds herself working for Thorne, her ex (the one that got away). The big mystery of the book is 'who is CJ Garland" - I thought it was pretty obvious who it was from the beginning, but it took until the last chapter to be reveled. I enjoyed the clever naming of the sandwiches in the café, and the many other references to classic literature throughout the book.
I didn't really like Thena much - it became clear that her job was a very toxic environment, so it wasn't clear why she wanted to keep the job so badly, in particular once she was invited to apply for what seemed like a dream job elsewhere. I wanted her to make better choices for herself. Also, Thena's investigation of Garland was simply guessing the person who happened to be in front of her at the time (but I guess that's efficient?)
The book was a bit confusing at times - there are a lot of side characters (family, exes, café patrons). A number of them were described at a very high level, so occasionally it took a while before I remembered who they were. And some of the more interesting side characters vanished for long parts of the book, which is too bad.
While I know the trope is second chance romance, as we got to know Thena and Thorne, and the trajectory their lives were taking I'm actually of the opinion they would be better off apart (Thorne lied about a lot of critical things, for a really long time).
Blame is on the Brontes is the story of Athena (Thena), an English Professor taking a sabbatical in her home town to finally write a book she needs in order to get tenure. In her home town, she finds herself working for Thorne, her ex (the one that got away). The big mystery of the book is 'who is CJ Garland" - I thought it was pretty obvious who it was from the beginning, but it took until the last chapter to be reveled. I enjoyed the clever naming of the sandwiches in the café, and the many other references to classic literature throughout the book.
I didn't really like Thena much - it became clear that her job was a very toxic environment, so it wasn't clear why she wanted to keep the job so badly, in particular once she was invited to apply for what seemed like a dream job elsewhere. I wanted her to make better choices for herself. Also, Thena's investigation of Garland was simply guessing the person who happened to be in front of her at the time (but I guess that's efficient?)
The book was a bit confusing at times - there are a lot of side characters (family, exes, café patrons). A number of them were described at a very high level, so occasionally it took a while before I remembered who they were. And some of the more interesting side characters vanished for long parts of the book, which is too bad.
While I know the trope is second chance romance, as we got to know Thena and Thorne, and the trajectory their lives were taking I'm actually of the opinion they would be better off apart (Thorne lied about a lot of critical things, for a really long time).
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