Story of My Life by Lucy Score
Hazel is given a one-two punch when she’s forced to move out of her Upper East Side apartment and is given a final warning from her publisher.
If she doesn’t turn in a book by her next deadline, they’re cutting her loose.
Hazel rashly decides to leave what’s left of her city life behind and impulse buys a house in rural Pennsylvania sight unseen. How better to entertain the loyal readers she still has and rediscover her writing mojo than immersing herself in small-town life?
Too bad this town looks to be on its last legs. At least she’s finding swoon-worthy inspiration from her hot, grumpy contractor Cam and his animal-rescuing, community-involved family. It’s all just research. What could go wrong?
By Naomi
Hazel Hart is a bestselling romance author, famous for her small town romance series called Spring Gate. Or, she used to be. Now she has a massive writer’s block, having lost almost two years of her life to her divorce. When her best friend and agent, Zoey, comes knocking on her door with the news that her publisher might drop her if she doesn’t write a new book, Hazel realizes something has to change. On the verge of losing her apartment, she buys a house – sight unseen – via online auction and drags Zoey along to Story Lake, a (you guessed it) small town that has provided Hazel with the first inspiration she’s felt in ages.
What follows is a truly hilarious sequence of events that involves a bald eagle named Goose, fish, and a very handsome contractor. It really sets the tone of the book, which is very tongue-in-cheek. The handsome contractor is Cam Bishop, one of three Bishop brothers (can’t wait for his brothers’ books), who run a construction company. And Hazel needs them, as it turns out that the town’s teen-aged mayor (don’t ask) might have seriously misrepresented the state of the house she just bought.
There are lots of different plot lines going on at the same time, but it never feels overwhelming or too much. It makes for highly engaging and entertaining reading, but the star of the show is really Hazel. She is an excellent narrator for this meta book, since Hazel is living out the romance that she is also trying to write a book about. She comes across as very relatable, because who hasn’t wanted to run away at one point or another from their life, to start over completely?
We also get Cam’s point of view, which is really helpful because Cam is A Grump. He always wants what’s best for people and he is always there to help, but he sure is going to be grumpy about it. Luckily, Hazel and Zoey acknowledge that his grumpiness and hardheadedness is hot in fiction, but in real life it’s highly annoying. These kinds of observations run all through the book, making the reader feel a sense of camaraderie with the characters.
After all, Story of My Life is a love letter to romance readers. It’s a fun, funny, lighthearted read. There is a bit of an angsty backstory to the Bishop family, and Hazel’s ex-husband is an ex for very good reason, but the book never gives in to the angst. Even when the third-act breakup happens (you’re a romance reader, you knew it was coming), everyone except Cam knows what is going on. He has all of his family, even the entire town, calling him out on his dumb-assery. While his fears are understandable, he has his siblings to make him realize that living in fear of losing the ones you love is no way to live at all. Cam ends up doing a very good grovel, so I, just like Hazel, was happy to forgive him.
Some other things I would like to mention: there’s a great casually diverse cast of characters, who are fleshed out enough to make you invested in them and in the town. The sex scenes are very hot. This book had me giggling and kicking my feet. Come join us in Story Lake.
