Nomi Wyeth, former valedictorian and current pothead, has her heart set on opening her own boutique cannabis dispensary in charming downtown Sparrow Nook, New Jersey. Cannabis changed Nomi’s life, giving her relief from Crohn’s disease when nothing else could, and it’s her dream to help others find the same peace and comfort she has. But Nomi’s plans are rudely interrupted when Dr. Julian D’Angelo, former salutatorian and current asshole, returns to Sparrow Nook with a chip on his shoulder, a probation to serve at the medical practice next door, and a lifelong vendetta against weed. When an unfortunate shaving accident lands Nomi onto Julian’s exam table, Julian is appalled to discover that his high school nemesis is still inconveniently gorgeous, still hates his guts, and worst of all, that she’s planning on opening an amoral weed bordello next to his clinic. War is the only answer and definitely not an excuse to keep running into witty, free-spirited Nomi. As they battle each other all over Sparrow Nook, from “pot luck” fundraisers to public debates at City Council meetings, their fraught pasts and feelings for each other become harder and harder to ignore. It’s tough to say what will change first – their minds or their hearts – but one thing’s for sure: they’re not going down without a fight.
by Naomi
I’ll be honest, I got hooked by the title and the premise. It sounded very fun and unique and I can’t say I’ve come across another romance that centered so heavily around weed (or maybe I just haven’t been looking in the right places).
This book has one of the cringiest opening chapters I’ve ever come across. Truly, the amount of second-hand embarrassment I felt was astounding. It really captured my attention, though. We’re introduced to Nomi and Julian and their dynamic immediately, and while it’s a little hard to read, in hindsight I think it’s a very good introduction to the characters. I don’t mean to put anyone off, so here’s the gist: Nomi cuts herself while shaving down under (while high) and needs stitches. She and her friend head to the doctor’s office with Nomi only wearing a t-shirt and a towel, diaper-style. It’s not her usual GP that’s there, however, but Julian, her high school debate partner/academic rival/former kissing buddy. In shock, she drops the towel, he’s flustered, she’s flustered, rom-com readers know the drill. It’s truly a cringey comedy of errors, and I have a low tolerance for those.
But! If you make it past that introduction, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful, funny, thoughtful romance! Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, if done well. In this case it was done superbly.
Nomi suffers from Crohn’s disease and weed has helped her enormously. She’s very passionate about helping the people of Sparrow Creek as well, whether they’re looking for a good time or need weed to make it through the day. To that end, she wants to open a weed dispensary/bakery/community hub, and after years of saving, she’s finally going to make her dream come true. Julian, now an ER doctor in Philadelphia, has been put on probation and needs to work in Sparrow Creek’s GP practice, to learn how to deal with patients. He has a lot of hangups and prejudice around weed, stemming from his disabled father using it and dying when he was young (obviously there’s a lot more to it than that, but discovering the full story is something the readers must do themselves). Nomi’s dispensary is right next to the doctor’s office, which Julian can’t handle: he tries to prevent it from opening. Nomi is an easy character to root for. She’s passionate, intelligent, caring and funny. She also has her issues, which are explored more later in the book. She has a chronic illness to deal with and I think it’s excellent representation.
Julian, however. Oh boy, he was a tough character to like in the beginning. He’s rude, patronizing, dismissive, close-minded and thinks he always knows best. Reading about his interactions with his patients was actually sad. He looks down on basically the entire town of Sparrow Creek, his huge extended family that lives there, and he’s especially offensive towards anyone that uses weed. He has always had a thing for Nomi, but even that doesn’t save her from his scorn. Their dynamic was saved by Nomi, who handled herself very well and was always backed by her people and the town. While Julian genuinely made me want to reach into the book and slap him, it’s also really obvious that he has a lot of anxiety, and unresolved trauma, and bad coping mechanisms.
Just when I thought I couldn’t take him anymore, his supervising doctor at the GP’s office fires him. This is a glorious moment, because Dr. Appa says exactly what I, as a reader, needed to hear. It was validation that yes, Julian was not doing well as a doctor and as a member of the community. The people noticed, and they deserved to be treated better. Julian needs this job, however, and to save it he agrees to learn more about applications of cannabis in medicine. He has to shadow Nomi, but first he has to grovel. And grovel he does. This book works because Julian really commits to broadening his mind, to learning more about the town, its people and himself. He makes amends and he grows so much as a person. That willingness to change is what attracts Nomi as well and why I felt that their relationship was well balanced, supportive and very romantic.
Everything I’ve said so far is really a testament to Laura Piper Lee’s writing. I didn’t realize it while reading, because I got so sucked into the story, but it was so compelling. The writing was very natural and flowed so smoothly. The heavier moments (when Julian was being an ass, for example), are balanced with humor which made me laugh out loud (in public!) a few times and it never gets too hard to read. There’s a sense of hope, that everything will turn out okay. I was rooting so hard for Nomi and Julian, and for Nomi’s dispensary.
It may seem like I’ve spoiled the entire book, but all the above happens before we’re even at the halfway mark. There’s so much more to Nomi, to Julian, and to all the wonderful characters you’ll meet in Sparrow Creek. This is exactly why I read and love romantic fiction, and I highly recommend Pot Shot!
