I remember reading the first in this series, Holly Banks Full of Angst, and simply falling in love with Holly. She's quirky, she's fun, and she doesn't quite fit in when she moves to her new neighborhood. She kind of sticks out like a sore thumb and it's just fun to read about.

This sequel did not disappoint. Holly is still dealing with some passive-aggressiveness from her neighbors. She's still trying to figure herself out. So when her dog is found in the middle of town after having dug up an old artifact, she has no idea what to do. Holly tries to stay out of the media attention surrounding this, but finds herself in an old mystery.

This book definitely took a turn and had some elements that I didn't expect, but Julie Valerie was able to keep it fun and interesting. I can't wait to find out what happens in Primm next!

I found the astrological parts very interesting in romcoms and they work very well on being entertaining, Being the second on a series and not knowing that I felt sometimes I was missing on something but easily overcome and continue this adventure and funny story. Did you miss some things? yeah, it is important? no! it was an easy and an entertaining. reading that lovers of romcoms would enjoy, Holly Banks is an interesting and fun-loving character who will make you enjoy this book very much

Thank again netgalley and the publisher for this arc

This wasn’t one of my favorite novels. It seemed to be overly dry yet the plot was very busy. I think book would be great for astrology buffs who dabble in rom coms.

Sadly, I did not have time to read this book before it was archived, however, I still believe it is a worthwhile read!

Thank you #netgalley and @lakeunionpublishing for this e-ARC in return for my honest review.

I enjoyed the first installment in this series, but let me tell you I loved this second book even more!

I don’t want to give too much detail here because I think this is one that’s best to just dive into blind, but in a nutshell, Holly Banks is a mother and aspiring filmmaker, juggling family, career, and community. Many curveballs come her way and many times she’s treading water in the situations she faces. She’s basically the definition of a hot mess. Doesn’t that sound like a lot of us?

For whatever reason, this book did take me a bit to get into, but once I was in I was ALL in. Holly is just such a quirky, real, and relatable character that you just can’t help but love her. I actually really liked all of the characters here, but once again it’s our MC who truly shines. This author has such a way of bringing the messy, real life to light in a unique way and that’s something I really appreciate. This story reads quick and easy with plenty of laugh out loud moments, while also full of charm and heart. It’s pure fun and perfect escape!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the gifted e-copy.

A relaxing read that takes us through the complicated and stubborn events in the lofe of Holly Banks- a mother and an aspiring filmmaker. Holly is relatable and this is what makes this an enjoyable read. The plot is certainly easy to navigate through and Holly's character comes as a reality check for a lot of us. Definitely recommended.

I must admit, it took me awhile to get to reading this book, but once I did, I found it delightful. At times it felt like a fairy tale, at other times it seemed to be set in another world, however at all times it was easy to read and quite entertaining. Holly Banks is a quirky, interesting and fun-loving character who will leave an indelible mark on the reader’s heart.

Honestly, I did not like the Holly Banks in, Holly Banks Full of Angst. I thought she was too self-centered and keeping up with appearances isn’t a personality trait. But in The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks, the real Holly shows through. I really was surprised by how much I liked this second installment of Holly Banks, even more than the first. The satire of the novel helps the reader understand what is truly important and how Holly misses some of life’s finer details. But in The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks, the real Holly shows through. She still has the same neurosis but the caring side for her family shines and makes her completely lovable. This book had me actually laughing out loud within 20 pages of starting. All the characters are lovable, even the grouchy neighbors. Holly Banks is a gem and I cannot wait for more hi jinks and to see what Holly does next!

This second chance romance is full of laughs, and while it’s the second in the series, it has a great standalone story as well - but I feel like you don’t get to know the MC as well in this one, so book 1 is a great introduction to her. Quirky and relatable, Holly shows us all it’s okay to struggle as she deals with family, community & being a mom!

Thank you to Valerie for having me on her ARC team, after also reading + reviewing the first book in the series for her!

DNF 53%
Holly felt tiredsome as a character, didn`t exactly have any character growth and it felt like she just had arguments with Maeve all the time, and was generally annoyed and whiny.

This book was so fun and I love that it's the kind that can make me laugh and doesn't take itself too seriously, I loved the dash of mystery thrown in. This series makes a really great summer beach read.

Holly’s life is about to explode! This was such a fun and quirky read. I love books that can make me laugh and not be too serious. Holly’s wit is refreshing and her life makes mine look calm.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I gave Holly Banks a second chance. While I can appreciate the message the author ultimately got around to by the end of the book, I had a hard time enjoying the journey to get there. There is an awful lot going on and Holly is just in constant turmoil through everything constantly (yes, I repeated it on purpose). There is a lot less of Mary-Margaret in this book, and there's a repeat of Holly reaching out to Psychic Betty, as well as other secondary characters returning as well. There's humor in the book and a repeat of Holly coming up with creative words to swear without using swear words. I was able to appreciate the tie-ins between both books, but I think there is just so much going on with Holly's turmoil and the mystery that Struggle the chocolate lab uncovers that, for me, I got a bit lost in appreciation for Holly and the lessons she's learned by the end of the book.

It doesnt support or open after I download the pdf version of it. It's also not showing in my shelf in netgalley and I cant open it to read Please look into the issue and if you can send me the pdf in my mail ID- taniagungunsarkar@gmail.com I cant read the book from here. Please look into the issue

A decent, fun read. I liked the characters and Holly is someone you can relate too. A bit quirky but real.

The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks
By Julie Valerie

I am so happy to see what Holly has been up to in the second installment of the Village of Primm series and the sequel to one of my favorite reads, Holly Banks Full of Angst. Though this book can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend you reading the first book to really get the feel of the Village Primm as well as getting to know Holly a lot better.

Holly is a favorite character because she embodies a woman so relatable as she goes through her life, always trying her best, but often times she is really a hot mess with her dog Struggle. I love the element of mystery in this book and as always a hilarious romp full of fun. I enjoyed this fun and light hearted read about womanhood, motherhood and the neighborhood.

I simply adored this amazing book!

Loved this one as much as I did the first one. Plenty of laughs and the storyline is one that I found easy to connect to. Overall, really enjoyed it.

4/5 Stars

This was a light hearted, fun book that I really enjoyed.
I really like Holly Banks and her unique, slightly quirky personality. The adventures so goes on within this story is simply charming and captivating, making you feel fully invested in both the ending and of Holly's happiness too.

An enjoyable read from beginning to end.

Holly Banks is really an interesting and fun character and her adventures are as charming..I find this book more charming and heartfelt than the first one. Though the first few chapters feels a bit slow, it eventually picked up and turns out great. I recommend this to those who wants a light but engaging read.

This was a fun read!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Julie Valerie for my gifted copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this one. Last year Holly Banks Full of Angst took me completely by surprise and I knew I had to read more from this author.

The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks was a fun, easy and hilarious read. I love the character of Holly and The Village of Primm.

The only reason this book lost the stars was because it was harder for me to get into.

I look forward to seeing what Julie Valerie publishes next. I will be adding it to my TBR.