The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks did not appeal to me at all, although I suggest you read other reviews before deciding. Others seem to like it. It was quirky, no well done. A little bit of quirky is good. Quirky gone wild is simply that: out of control, and no longer amusing. Holly Banks is a housewife and mother, and doing neither particularly well. Now she wants to open a small movie studio, just for small local projects. Right. She can't even manage a dog, let alone a business. I did not find it funny and so cannot recommend.

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks by Net galley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thepeculiarlifeofhollybanks

2.5 stars
I went in this without having read the first book (honestly didn’t know there was one).
This was... interesting.
Honestly, I hated all the characters. They didn’t feel real, and they were all quite frankly annoying. I didn’t find anyone I was able to connect with.
I think this may resonate more with mothers/parents (which I am not). All that being said, it is lighthearted and was an easy read during this holiday week, just not exactly my thing.

*special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for a review!

Oh this book made me laugh so hard in places!
I loved getting back to Holly (who is still navigating her way through Primm life) and even Mary-Margaret (who is still just pushy ol' Mary-Margaret). This time around Holly's dog, Struggle, takes a big part in a mystery about the town.
Holly is trying to get her film finished to enter into the festival, she's part of "planning a wedding", her house has a mishap, and so many other things-dealing with the HOA, her silly film partner Caleb, etc. She just has a bundle of perfection trying to get out and nothing seems to be going her way.
Personally, I would recommend reading the first book to get all the craziness that is Primm before reading this one.

I just loved The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks. She is a woman who definitely does NOT have it all together (panic basket method, anyone??). I laughed out loud throughout the book. This is a character I think many people can relate to--navigating those unexpected events, doing the best you can, while trying to APPEAR as though everything is calm and perfect. Trying to be as together as everyone else looks like they are (though it becomes clear that some of those people are also faking it until they make it).

The characters are relatable, kooky, and definitely people I want to befriend. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a fun, easy read, an escape from the real world, and a reminder that everyone is doing the best they can to make it through.

Lots of great life lesson tucked throughout the book. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Such an interesting book. I liked this book better than the first one - I feel like more happened in this book and even though it was a bit odd, it left me with the warm and fuzzies. I loved Holly and how she took life by the hands and made things happen. Although the book was a bit slow to start with, by the 50% mark, I couldn’t put it down. In this book we get introduced to new characters and a few old favorite characters make a come back - even Mary-Margaret. This is definitely not a standalone but worth the read. Hope book 3 will be coming!

Having read the first book in the series, and enjoyed its somewhat madcap humour, I was looking forward to this - and whilst not essential, I do think it helps if you have read the first book, as this picks up exactly where that left off. Holly is still adjusting to her new life in the Village of Primm, and trying to figure how to combine her roles as wife, mother and filmmaker.

Another fun, lighthearted read, I enjoyed the fact that we got to know the character of Holly so much better in this book, and her struggles are ones I am sure many people can relate to. I also enjoyed seeing her relationship with her mother Greta evolve. There are plenty of interesting supporting characters, as well as a bit of a mystery as a subplot. If you are looking for a slightly quirky, easy read, give this one a go!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Our favorite friend, Holly Banks is back! In The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks, she’s still living in the idyllic Village of Primm - in fact this one picks up just weeks later after we first met her!⁣
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The shenanigans are aplenty as Holly gets into all sorts of crazy situations - as Holly often does. But this time, there’s a lot more heart, and even some scary situations… with a side of curious mystery and the importance of family taking center stage.⁣ I did find I missed a lot of the quirky fun humor from the first book. This one was MUCH more serious. But still a good read nonetheless!
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But my favorite furry character steals the show in this one! If you thought Holly’s antics throughout Primm were silly and over-the-top, just wait til you hang out with Struggle the dog 🐕‍🦺 for five minutes!⁣
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Holly is still striving for that elusive "domestic perfection" and with a bit of wit and lot of heart she just might triumph… but you have to read to find out!⁣

The wannabe socialite/film making/ easy money working from home mom plot was interesting to read.
But while it had a great insight of how a working mom with a small child and a husband has big dreams and many fails, along with reliable moments and plain laugh out loud ones, this book wasn't quite my favorite.
I couldn't feel sorry or cheer for Holly in any way and her friends definitely didn't help in trying to make her see the reality and getting her down to earth of the cloud she was living.
It's a good story and i can see why many people are enjoying it but it's not for me unfortunately.

I am going to start by saying that if you have not read the first installment, Holly Banks Full of Angst, pick that one up and read it first. You need that backstory because this book happens directly after.... and while it explains the happenings, well, you want the whole story.
I found this book to be more enjoyable, mostly because I saw so much character development with Holly and her family, but also with side characters. Her nemesis, Mary Margaret, has been knocked down more than a few pegs and is now in hiding. Primm, her new home, is in danger of economic and moral collapse. Penelope of Feathered Nest is bossy and bullying... then understanding and encouraging at different times, showing several new aspects to the real estate agent. I loved her here, and the ideas she had to save Primm. More than anything, I loved how Holly began to gather new perspective, and courage to follow her dreams. Honestly, she became pretty badass.
What with ceilings falling, she-sheds, treasure hunts and ore dogs we have the odd pieces of life that made the last book so enjoyable. In fact, I found this one funnier. For me, it was a four star book.
On the adult content scale, there is some mild language, but that's about it. Let's give it a three.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

This is the second installment in the Village of Primm series and my trip back to the Village of Primm did not disappoint.

In spite of all the mishaps and mayhems that seem to find and follow Holly, it was good to see Holly find her purpose and saw her dreams as well as improve her relationship with her mother. I liked that some of the struggles Holly and her family went through were quite realistic. If you are looking for a fun, light, laugh out loud read, look no further!

Full review to come on our blog sometime this evening.

Many many thanks for my review copy in exchange for an honest review!

"Look out your window from time to time. Step outside and look up. Miraculous things surround you." - Psychic Betty

Happy Publication Day to one of my most anticipated books of the year. The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks (Village of Primm 2) is everything I wanted to the follow up of the magnificent Holly Banks Full of Angst to be and so much more than I thought possible.

Starting a week after the previous book ended it is like we never left Holly's crazy world. She is still trying to keep up with her rich fancy schmancy neighbors while navigating her daughter's learning disability, her husband's workplace scandal, starting her film company, wrangling her mischief dog Struggle to behave, a town mystery that Struggle literally dug up and, most poignantly, her mom's health crisis.

Like the last book Holly's journey is filled with laughter, sarcasm, witticisms but it also will touch your heart as Holly, with the help of one of my favorite characters Psychic Betty, honestly finds the perfect words for her emotions:

"...She's closer than the stars. And she's always there. She's right there in the night sky, tucking you in with the tides. She's there in the daytime, too. Though you often can't see her, she's there."

Though the circumstances are somewhat different, when I read these words I thought of my mom who passed away last month. Reading them in the middle of this quirky, funny, heartwarming novel stopped my heart for a second. It is a true moment when a writer expresses with their words what is in your heart. This author accomplished this at least once in a chapter for me.

I hope Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel is smart and options these two Holly Banks books for a movie series. It is perfect for the screen and for your heart's enjoyment.

I received a free copy of this book from the author via NetGalley and in print for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Holly Banks is back and thriving in the satirical subdivision of Petunia Lane in the farcical Village of Primm. I absolutely loved this next installment of Holly's new adventures. While some problems sorted themselves out in the last book (taking place over only a week in her new town), this next book covers two weeks full of fun and mayhem that you never would have guessed. While some of the prose seems a bit run-on, like a stream of consciousness from the author, I felt like I could hear her giggling as she wrote it all down, and I was giggling right along with her. The That's What She Said She Shed takes the absolute cake! I would like the next book to focus more on her little start up business (because I love books where the characters start businesses), but this book definitely leaves us with enough problems left to resolve to keep us wanting more! If you're looking for a fun, sweet, charming, hectic, real-life dramedy that puts the "real" into real housewives of VOP, then look no further!

Time to confess that I've had the first of this series for some time, but haven't found space to slot it into my list, so I was rather excited to have this second one to read!

Holly, Jake and Ella - with Greta in tow - are beginning to realist that living in Primm isn't as straightforward as they expected. Keeping up with the Jones' would be so much simpler than keeping up with the expectations of the other residents! On a personal note, Holly wants to get a film business up and running; with Ella struggling with her reading, Greta on the dating scene once more and Jake frowning at every expenditure she could do without being dragged into local events at every turn.

I found myself in awe of Holly's ambitions - my husband would act very much like her's and kick against all the 'must have' conversations. I was disappointed that, although these are touted as stand-alone reads, such a lot of the content of the first novel was replayed here and I won't now read that one - well, not for a very long time. For me - and this will come as no surprise to those who know me - Struggle the dog was the most amazing addition and brought so much fun to the story! I must mention the brilliant cover - how good is that? This is a good read, with plenty going on; a wide range of characters and plenty happening. After much consideration I've settled on four stars for this one.

The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks is the second in Julie Valerie's Village of Primm series (the first, Holly Banks Full of Angst, is free on Kindle Unlimited and the ebook is on sale for $1.99!) but it totally works as a stand alone story too.

The Village of Primm is filled with quirky characters and reminds me a bit of Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives. At the heart of the book is Holly Banks, a former film producer who's been staying home to raise her daughter but now questions what's next now that she's headed to kindergarten. Surrounded by her hobby-obsessed husband, a misbehaving dog, her kooky mom, an over-the-top five-year-old, and eccentric neighbors, Holly learns the hard way that what seems like the "perfect" life is often anything but and it's easy to identify with her fear that she's losing herself, that she's not doing enough for her daughter, that her mother is aging, and that she'll never make friends.

There were moments I laughed out loud, like when Holly laments she'd can't name all nine Supreme Court justices but does know every main My Little Pony character (been there!), and others where I really felt for her (I won't spoil the what happens but it's touching). There is a subplot about a town mystery that I found a bit convoluted but overall, this book was exactly what I needed to distract me from real life - the message that things don't always go according to plan and sometimes rolling with the punches ends up better in the long run is a great life lesson right now.

Thanks to the author, Lake Union and NetGalley for an advanced copy to review.

This book picks up where Holly Banks Full of Angst leaves off. I enjoyed the first book and while I enjoyed this one too, it took a while to really get going for me. It seemed slow at the start, but it finally started to hold my attention. This book had humor just like the first one, but not as much as I wanted. I think Holly grew a lot in this book, while the same "keeping up with the Joneses" was still ever present. It was quirky, fun loving, and laugh out loud funny at times. I thought the writing is really good, the characters are delightful. Overall, a quick, fun read.

If you loved reading Holly Banks Full of Angst then you need to pick up The Peculiar Fate of holly Banks, the second book in the series. This book gives off Desperate Housewives/Stepford Wives vibes mixed in with the comedy of I Love Lucy. Holly is navigating her new life in a new town while also trying to be a perfectionist. Being perfect is a full time job and Holly quickly realizes that nothing is going the way she wants it to. I think if you have children you will have plenty of LOL moments and eye rolling while reading this one. I could totally relate to having an unruly pet in the family though! I will say the story is a bit slow in the beginning but picks up mid way. Even if you haven't read the first book you can start with this one as a stand alone.

The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks is the second installment in the Village of Primm series by Julie Valerie. In this story, Holly has been in her new home in the Village for about a month. It's only been a few weeks since the disastrous chilli thrip invasion that devastated the topiary garden, including the villages prize topiary peacock, and sent uber mom/PTA president Mary Margaret into a tailspin.

In this story Holly still has her anxieties, but she also becomes a little more settled and sure of herself. There aren't as many laugh-out-loud moments as in the first, but I liked this version of Holly who is better able to articulate her dreams and stand up for herself. And how could you not love the dog, Struggle, who is at the center of attention after escaping her yard and digging up an old artifact in the village center.

The mystery was a fun aspect to this story, but I also enjoyed seeing more of Holly's relationship with her family - especially her mom. She seems finally able to express her dreams, stick with her project, and develop friendships with filmographer/pilot/cable guy Caleb and the start of a friendship with Penelope.

I enjoyed revisiting Holly and her escapades in this second story. It's a light, fun read for anyone needing an escape from 2020.

I enjoyed this second installment in the life of Holly Banks. I will say this second did not engage me as quickly into the story as the first, Holly Banks Full of Angst. It took me a little longer to finish. We pick up with Holly right after the end of the first. Holly is still trying to fit into the village of Primm in addition to being a filmmaker, wife and mom. Holly is also dealing with her dog, aptly named, Struggle. This is a lighthearted read that will make you laugh and if you are a mom trying to do it all, you can relate to Holly. I wish the character of Jack, Holly's husband, wasn't such a wet noodle. He needs some backbone to make him more interesting.

I look forward to seeing Holly grow and visiting the village of Primm. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thanks to the author, Amazon publishing and Netgalley for the review copies in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the first Holly Banks was just okay, so this one wasn't much different. It's mildly funny but in this one the plot was a bit ridiculous. The whole buried treasure thing was kind of weird. I would have enjoyed it more if it was just more of the day to day adventures of the character.

I like that in this one Holly was getting to know herself better, and enjoyed the relationship with Greta.

Holly Banks lives in the Village of Primm with her husband, Jack, daughter, Ella, and her mother, Greta. They have a dog, Struggles that is always running away and getting into trouble. This was the first I read in the series so some things I didn't understand that must have been addressed in the first book such as Holly's involvement in the chilli thrips invasion.

I felt the book was a bit long. I didn't really see the point of her correspondence on line with Psychic Betty and I hated the cutesy names for the enclaves like Hopscotch, DillyDally. Her friend, Caleb, seems like a great guy but there were some cringe worthy moments with him trying to ask Rosie on a date. The village itself was just a bunch of folks with money trying to one up each other and Holly fell right into that. She wants to start a business but takes no notice that Jack is stressed about money. The house they have lived in for a month was over priced and now is falling down on their heads but still she blathers on about needing new furniture and she needs equipment to start her business.

In all fairness the last part of the book somewhat redeemed her and I was glad of that. I think the author was going for a madcap comedy and I just didn't feel it but it was very readable. I would elevate this from a 3 to a 3-1/2 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union for providing me with a copy of this book.