Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle was a sweet, slow burn with lots of heart.

Maybell Parish and Wesley Kohler are each left half of a manor in the smokies when her Great Aunt passes, much to both of their surprise. Maybell quickly leaves her dead-end job when she receives the news and is greeted with Violet's long time groundskeeper Wesley. He's as prickly and as quiet as you would expect him to be. I'm always a fan of forced proximity, so this was a particularly enjoyable read for me! I enjoyed watching them sort things out together and the ways they were slowly drawn to each other. I highly recommend Twice Shy!

Twice Shy was full of sweetness, humor, and a slow-burn delightfulness.

Maybell and Wesley’s romance was worth the wait. It was full of banter and pining. Wesley was a cinnamon roll and I loved getting to know that he was dealing with social anxiety and panic attacks. Maybell, sweet sweet Maybell, deserved so much more then she had at the beginning of this book. Watching Maybell and Wesley grow together and as time goes on they become more vulnerable with each other. It felt like a very real love and I could feel the connection between them.

I appreciated that Sarah Hogle delved into what it's like to live with anxiety and handled it with care. I think especially since I have anxiety as does my partner, I enjoyed watching a romance unfold with two people that I could relate to.

I definitely recommend reading this slow-burn rom-com.

I am a huge fan of Sarah Hogle and You Deserve Each Other, and was super excited for Twice Shy! This is a great second book and you can really see Hogle's style cement itself in her writing. In this story, Maybell thinks her luck is finally changing when she inherits her great-aunt's mansion. Except when she arrives, it's dilapidated and full of junk AND it turns out she only inherited half the house--the other half went to her great-aunt's groundskeeper, Wesley.

I loved the overall plot trajectory of this book, and appreciated the representation of a character with social anxiety in Wes. Hogle has a way of incorporating humor and charm into her books that feels effortless, like words tumbling onto the page. Maybell, our heroine, spends much of her time daydreaming, and oftentimes it became difficult for me to discern between what was "real" and what was a dream. Her daydreams are a plot point for the book, and an understandable part of the story, but I wish there had been a way to make them less confusing. I kept having to flip back pages to make sure I understood we were talking about a dream or vice versa, and I was completely lost the whole first chapter. I spoke with a friend about the book, and we disagreed on this point, and it may ultimately just come down to my lack of relatability with Maybell's daydreams. But if that's your thing, maybe you'll love it!

In the end, I really enjoyed the story and there were so many adorable touches (the mural! the treasure hunt! the date!) that it gave me all the swoony feels. Sarah Hogle will be a must-read author for me.

Thank you to Putnam for my review copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Somewhere between four and five stars and probably an 8/10--really torn on this one.

It physically pains me to say this because You Deserve Each Other was one of my top three (out of 150+!!!) books read last year but I didn't love this book. Sarah's writing was - once again! - so outstanding, but I couldn't get past Maybell's daydreaming enough to really feel tied to the story. It just wasn't connecting for me. I love a good forced living situation trope and a shy, grumpy guy, but I just wasn't feeling this one, sadly. It's on my TBR shelf to give another try later, so I'll save a star rating until then!

Goodness, if you are looking for a warm, swoony read, Twice Shy will definitely fulfill that need!

Maybell is used to being a dreamer and kind of taking things from people that she doesn’t deserve because while she can come up with elaborate fantasies of being bold and confident, the reality is she’s more apt to take the slights heaped on her. Part of this comes from growing up with a mom who couldn’t be there for her, and so she’s gotten used to just accepting scraps of affection. When her Aunt Violet suddenly (to her) passes away and leaves her the old house she remembers so fondly from one summer, Maybell is full of dreams of what it’s going to be like living in her dream house. What she isn’t prepared for is having to share the inheritance with Wesley, a shy, socially anxious landscaper who communicates with stony silence and notes down the dumb waiter.

I came into Twice Shy expecting the same kind of humor and feel as You Deserve Each Other, Hogle’s debut novel, but I’m amazed at just how vastly different they are - but how wonderful Hogle’s books are as well! This book did start a little slow and took a little while for me to get into, but it was absolutely worth the wait. Wesley comes across very gruff and grumpy, but he’s actually a gooey marshmallow and he says the sweetest things. But really one of my absolute favorite things in this book was the emphasis on who they are being enough for both Maybell and Wesley, showing how loving someone is loving them as they are, good and bad and put-together and messy, and not trying to make them someone different or “better.” There were so many little lines that made me legitimately clutch my chest and swoon because it was so wonderfully sweet and caring. And there’s no love fixing or curing Wesley’s anxiety, but we do see how love makes him feel able to do things that scare him because he knows Maybell loves him.

I just adored this book so much and even though it has a very different vibe from You Deserve Each Other, it still has some of the same humor that made Hogle’s debut so wonderful. I’ll definitely be reading more from her, and I hope so many others fall in love with Maybell and Wesley and Falling Stars too!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Both of her books are slow burns and I mean SLOW burns. Like 88% through the book until any action happened. I appreciate the detail and having a character with panic attacks and anxiety.

Twice Shy is another stellar book by Sarah Hogle and surpassed You Deserve Each Other. I really loved the slow burn and build up for the relationship between the two main characters. The way we were able to see them going from strangers to lovers was a treat. The writing was also great. I enjoyed the fine details of this book and how quirky it was at times. This book reminded me a lot of Lauren Laynes work which is a compliment to Sarah Hogle!

Quirky cute book, 3 stars

I read you deserve each other before this book and the writing feels very different in both books.

Things I loved: both characters, so endearing and both had very cute personalities and it was nice seeing them both open up to each other. The slow build up was fun. You could really feel this chemistry building. I like the fantasy cafe and can see myself doing the same thing. Their adventure to find the gold was adorable, I could’ve used more “only one bed haha” moments thought during it. Close proximity enemies to lovers tropes are always fun! And grimly guy with of course a heart of gold I’m here for.

Thing I could do without:
The Gemma cat fish story was just too outlandish for me, and Gemma is a horrible person, it’s hard to see anyone in history of time even being nice to her afterwards. Didn’t really move along storyline.

The characters speaking sometimes got middles with the personal thought process also. I got a little lost in her language sometimes, a little too poetic and missed the Mark a bit.

I think a dual POV would’ve been fun in this one to hear what he was thinking during everything also, and to see how he was fighting his feelings.

I didn’t care for the side mother daughter tidbits, again didn’t really move story along.

Overall a cute romcom, kinda missed the Mark for me but still gives you happy feelings throughout. Thank you sending me an ARc in exchange for honest review

Twice Shy is a book that took me a while to get into, but once I was, I was hooked. What started off as a book about Maybell and how quirky, charming, and vulnerable she is, turned into my fan club membership for Wesley. He's gruff, a little grumpy, and with a heart of gold. As soon as Wesley entered the picture, I began to get into Twice Shy even more than before. Maybell is a person who lives in her dreams and can get caught in her hopes. While these passages were sometimes difficult to initially sort out from the story, I loved seeing this side of Maybell.

Twice Shy is like opposites attracting and recognizing these core passions and values in each other. The way compassion, empathy, and care translate to each other. Their vulnerability, childhood memories, and dreams. Until about 2/3 of the way, I was having trouble pinning down what lay at the 'core' of Maybell. I could see her dreams, her fancies, and her quirks but wasn't sure of the essence of Maybell. In her interactions with Wesley, I began to see these pieces of Maybell. Her yearning, smothered ambitions, and struggling passions.

I so appreciate the author's representation of main characters who struggle from anxiety. Maybelle suffers panic attacks, and Wesley, the male lead, has social anxiety that has him isolating himself from most people. When they first meet each other, there's instant dislike. But as they're thrown together, they learn they share this common, important thing, and it grows into like, full acceptance, until finally love.

Don't you just love when you go into a book with no set expectations, only for that book to embed itself into your heart? Whew, Twice Shy is one of those books for me.

Maybell much prefers to escape into her daydreams rather than deal with the disappointment she feels with her real life. When she learns that her great aunt has passed away, leaving Maybell a beautiful old manor house on 70 acres nestled in the Smoky Mountains, Maybell jumps at the chance to start her life anew. One roadblock? Wesley, the groundskeeper of the estate to whom Great Aunt Violet has also left the estate. Wesley is closed off and grumpy, and has his own plans for what to do with the estate they've both inherited. Forced to spend time together to get the estate into working order again, Maybell discovers more and more about Wesley, setting the stage for what ends up being quite the swoon-worthy love story.

What struck me most about this book is Hogle's prose, which is gorgeous and unique. The writing felt truly transporting and also made me laugh aloud. In the hands of a less capable writer, this story and these characters could easily come across as saccharine, but Hogle deftly strikes a perfect balance between sweet and realistic. At first I found Maybell to be a bit jarring, but as soon as I got used to her unique voice, I loved her immensely. And where do I even start with Wesley? The ultimate cinnamon roll - truly, the novel says it best: "World's Biggest Cinnamon Roll: Recommended by the chef! Crispy outer layer conceals a soft, delicious center." It's very rare that a romance with only one POV (in this case, Maybell's) works for me, but Hogle did such an incredible job of depicting Wesley, and it was so rewarding to peel back his layers and learn more about him along with Maybell. And my goodness, the swoon factor here cannot be overstated. While this is very much a closed-door romance, I did not mind it in the least because of the way this book still brought the heat. This, coupled with some just lovely romantic moments, made me just completely melt into a gooey mess. Also, the setting of this book, Violet's manor and estate called Falling Stars, is the most magical setting for this story, depicted so vividly by Hogle that I am desperate to go there myself.

Thank you SO much to Putnam Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this beautiful book.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House International and NetGalley for the free eARC!

This was the cutest, most heartwarming story ever and my heart just feels so full right now, it might actually burst 😭

This book started with Maybell getting a chance at a new start in life after her Aunt Violent passes away and leaves her the mansion she loved during her childhood but the catch is that she has to share it with broody groundskeeper, Wesley 👀

Their story starts off with an enemies to lovers vibes as they negotiated on how to share the mansion given their conflicting wants and plans for the future of the estate. At the same time, they have to begrudgingly work together to fulfill Violet’s final wishes.

I had the best time reading the first half or so of this book and seeing more of the differences in their personalities. I love how Hoggle lets her characters get to know each other by opening up in ways like sharing embarrasing moments or letting them see a part of themselves nobody has seen or know. It makes their chemistry much more natural. Hoggle has a way of making the slow burn progress of the couple’s relationship so captivating that even though the romance doesn’t kick start until around 60-70% of the book, I’m still hooked enough to read on.

Maybell is a character I just want to cheer on all throughout. She hasn’t had the best childhood and life in general. Given that she’s in her 30s already, she gives me hope and assurance to not rush things in life. One of the things I absolutely loved about her was how much of a dreamer she was to the point that she has this go-to comfort place in her imagination which just screams me and alongside that, the fact that she was catfished by her best friend with this dream guy and ended up falling for that made up person was terrifyingly relatable. Like I’m not even kidding. I literally went through that and I felt as if Hoggle wrote this story for me 🤣 but I just loved how she got through all those shit as a better, much happier person who’s not afraid to voice out what she wants in life and pushes through to make that dream of hers a reality.

As for Wesley.. oh my Wesley. Where have you been my whole life? 🥺 I just wanna hug and protect this cinnamon roll of a man from the whole world 🥺 I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how anxiety was protrayed through his character as someone who has anxiety myself. He’s so real and relatable in all the best ways and I cried more than once seeing myself in him, his mannerisms, thoughts and fears. I felt represented all the while falling in love with his character.

Overall, this was such an amazing read!!! I felt like I was reading two love stories as Maybell and Wesley discovers more about the estate and how as if Viktor and Violet’s love is embedded into its very walls. I felt so represented in this book as a dreamer and as someone who has anxiety. Hoggle has a talent for writing the most raw stories told in such a swoon-worthy and relatable way. I’m in awe by how amazing her two books and at this point, she’s a auto-read author for me! I’m excited for what else she has in store for the future!!

This book was charming and I really loved the depiction of social anxiety, virgin hero and grumpy/sunshine.

Sarah will be a guest in the show and I can't wait to chat with her about this book and You Deserve Each Other.

I loved EVERYTHING about this book and more! Sarah Hogle swept me off my feet with her debut novel last year and she is continuing that tradition here with Twice Shy! This is an absolutely delight and a total must read! I recommend it to EVEYRONE!

I adored Sarah Hogle's first book so I was really looking forward to this one but it just fell short of expectations. For one thing, Maybell's imagination/daydreaming got old really fast and it was to an extent that just seemed hard to believe. Wesley was supposed to be horribly shy but his behavior toward Maybell just rubbed me the wrong way from the start. He acted like a jerk for the first half of the novel. Most of their interactions just seemed silly and childish to the point where this read more like a YA novel. Also, I'm really tired of first person narratives in contemporary romances. I'm sure there are a lot of people who will love this and I'm probably in the minority so there are patrons I would recommend this to. But for me personally, this book was a disappointment. Still looking forward to more from this author, though.

Ok, this book was unbelievably sweet.

Maybell’s had a difficult life. For one thing, her mother always moved her around with whatever boyfriend she had at the time, and for another, Maybell’s quite the pushover. She’s stuck at a job she hates until one day she receives notice that her aunt has died and left Maybell her “manor”. Maybell believes this is the break she needs to start fresh. Little does she know the house she just inherited is not only decrepit and unlivable, but she also has to share it! Maybell and Wesley (the groundskeeper) are co-inheriters of this house and have to work together to restore it. Wesley is handsome but grumpy. Maybell is determined to make this work and pushes through. Will she and Wesley be able to make this work? Or will they kill each other in the process?

Let me start with the “bad” first. I got this as an arc so I want to be honest. I don’t like the name. For the past 3 days, I’ve had the song Last Christmas by Wham! stuck in my head and thought going into it that this was a Christmas book (Once bitten and twice shy, I kept my distance but you still catch my eye). I also thought some parts of the book were a little too unbelievable; I won’t get into the details because of spoilers but if you’ve read it… I mean, come on, really? No way!

What I love about the book is that it was a slow burn. I’m a fan of enemies to lovers stories and while this wasn’t quite that, it’s entertaining watching two people who don’t really like each other (or think they don’t) fall in love. I love Maybell and I love Wesley. I think they are adorable and the whole concept of their love story was darling. I’ve not read anything else by Sarah Hogle but I will definitely be keeping my eye on her books going forward.

5 stars despite my minor nitpick.

3.5/5 stars

I WANT TO STAY AT THE MIGHTY AND MAJESTIC FALLING STARS HOTEL RIGHT NOW PLEASE!!!!!!

Truly, what a beautifully written story.
I absolutely LOVED how the romance aspect was written. It was tastefully done with none of those oddly graphic scenes in an otherwise PG book. It definitely got your heart pumping (is it just me or is it getting hot in here???) but it wasn't too flashy or descriptive if you know what I mean and I appreciate that.

Maybell. WHAT A GEM. AHHHH, I am still gushing over this character. I love her. I love how quirky she is, how she is constantly with her head in the clouds (wow wait I just got that reference in the book HAH), and how she's constantly spewing whatever is in her brain (she has no filter and I am HERE FOR IT). She is everything I consider myself to be in the sense of always mixing fantasy with reality and yet she isn't naive. She's a strong woman who, yes, has her faults (she really struggles with standing up for herself in the beginning), but who overall stays true to herself even if she's acting a little off-kilter.

Welsey. A cutie-pie to say the least. Finally, a man who is isn't considered the one because of his personality that outshines everyone in the room. A man who shows emotion and isn't afraid of being vulnerable is attractive and that's exactly what he is. I liked that even though he had this beautifully toned physique, he still had insecurities and fears to overcome. He wasn't the stereotypical love interest. He wasn't this perfect man and the thing is... there isn't one. That is what made his character realistic and all the more lovable. And that surprise gift at the end??? *swoon*

The only thing I would complain about is how the line between Maybell's fantasies would get sometimes a little too blurry. I would get so confused about whether or not she was dreaming or if Welsy actually said that to her. The descriptions of the two worlds would blur together and I struggled with differentiating the two. I also felt like towards the end, things kind of sped up and were just a tad too picture-perfect. The ending was amazing, I have no complaints, but I think a few of the scenes before it could've been just a little bit messier. Life isn't tied up in a pretty little bow. Their relationship didn't have to be either,

Overall, I'm obsessed with this book and I hope this inspires you to read it. It's delightful, enchanting, and will definitely have you giggling up a storm as you read this in your room at 2:00 am like I did.


Some of these quotes are just so gosh-darn cute I had to put them in here. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't show you how FREAKING ADORABLE THESE TWO ARE

"I think that you walked into my life and absolutely ruined it with how beautiful you are. I haven't gotten a single decent night's rest since we met."

"He doesn't kiss like a dream, doesn't touch like a fantasy. He is Welsey, real. My imagination will spend the next thousand years chasing the memory of this: Welsey. Real, It will never get it right because he is beyond imagining. Nothing beats real."

brb, gonna go cry in lonely...




Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for this ARC in exchange for a review!

This book is THE sweetest romance I've ever read. So gentle, warm, and fun. I loved the characters and was absolutely rooting for their relationship. It's certainly a slow burn, but it's the perfect escape from the world. After really enjoying both this and Sarah Hogle's debut, I'm looking forward to whatever she comes out with next!

Thank you to G.P Putnam's Sons (via NetGalley) for the ARC!

After Maybell Parrish's great-aunt Violet dies and leaves behind her old manor Falling Star, Maybell sees this as a great opportunity to make a change in her life and quit her dead-end job. That is, until she finds out the surly groundskeeper Wesley Koehler was named an equal inheritor in Violet's will. Maybell is determined not to let Wesley ruin her plans but they keep getting in each other's way. They have to find a way to live with each other because neither is willing to give up the manor or the property. Once they start working together to repair the house, though, both Maybell and Wesley discover things about each other that they had been afraid to show before.

This has to be THE sweetest romance novel I have EVER read and I loved it so much!!! It's so sweet I might have cavities now... I finished the book about a half hour ago, and I still have a cheesy grin on my face :D

If you were a fan of Sarah Hogle's debut, YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER, I think it's safe to say you will like this book just as much (if not more! I definitely like it more!)

There were scenes in this book that were so cute I was hiding my face in my sweatshirt because I couldn't handle it. I swooned, I cried, and omg do I wish Wesley was a real person! Can you even imagine????

Maybell and Wesley have SUCH good chemistry, and once they got beyond the initial "I don't like you" stage and figured out what was going on with each other, they were great at communicating their needs and their problems. Which is AWESOME.

Also the date scene in the conservatory? I had to put my book down because I was crying so hard! THE MOST ROMANTIC GESTURE!!!!!!!

Whew. Anyway, this book comes out on April 6th, so go pre-order it!!!!! It is definitely worth it!!!!

I have been waiting for the book to come out so I was THRILLED to receive an ARC. You Deserve Each Other was in my top 5 of 2020 so I knew I needed to read this author’s latest creation.

At first I wasn’t really sure it was going to impress me like YDEO but by the end I was a believer. It’s a novel full of quirky characters, quirky storylines and a bit of randomness. I couldn’t personally relate to the characters or really understand them. But I loved them. So much. This story was super sweet and funny and enjoyable. It was a good reminder that a lot of people face silent battles and everyone just wants to feel seen and loved. I give this one 4.5 ⭐️.