I spent most of the first half of this book, THE AUDACITY OF SARA GRAYSON, being confused about what genre it was and what it was trying to accomplish. Is it women's fiction? Romance? Mystery? All three? I'm still not sure of the answer.

The romance in the book came a bit late for me (we don't meet the love interest until 50% of the way through) and there are some funny side characters that only appear for a second before disappearing. The climax is a family secret on top of family secret on top of family secret, and the secrets felt a bit heavy for the book—almost in the vein of THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO, like they were only there for shock value.

Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read that has a lot of life to it. I would definitely read more by this author. The writing is humorous and fun, Sara is an entertaining character, and the challenge of her having to write the last installment her dead mother's bestselling book series is intriguing.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson by Joani Elliott was a surprisingly fresh read. Sara Grayson is a somewhat neurotic, underachieving professor of English and coupon ad writer who has given up writing until her mother, a bestselling author and force of nature, wills that Sara will finish the final book in her series. The book unfolds against the backdrop of Sara's internal struggle with herself, her mother's intentions, and her past relationships with others. It's also surprisingly layered, when there is more to Sara's - and her mother's -- and her father's -- back stories. Fans of books, family found, the publishing world, and even coastal Maine will be drawn to this tale.

Sara Grayson plays it safe. She has her job at the University of MD teaching english and a side gig writing coupons. At one point in time, she wrote a book but when she had her Mom's editor Phil read it, he gave her 10 pages of edits and she never wrote again. Well... until maybe now, Her mom, Cassandra Bond, famous author, has passed away from cancer. She kept it from Sara and her sister Ann- Kath until she was very ill. It seems she may have kept a lot of things from them. At this moment, the most important of these is that she left the 5th book for her beloved book series unwritten, and her dying wish was for Sara to write the book. This seems impossible to play-it-safe Sara. She cannot write her mother's book. She cannot write any book... and she has every intention of saying no to this wish but sometimes, things happen differently than planned and this might be one of those things that is set in motion and simply cannot be stopped by some doubts and fears. What else Sara will learn along the way... there is a quite a bit.... but you will have to pick up this incredible story to find out what those things might be.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is a wonderful book, full of some of my favorite things like everything having to do with books! Authors, editors and book lovers galore in this novel of romance, mystery and audacity. I could not have been more connected to the characters in this book - especially Sara, who was made so real by all her doubts and her desires to try something that seems impossible at first and an exercise in love as she moves along. Even with every difficulty she hits, you cannot help but like her character more. But it is not just Sara you fall in love with, but her Mom, her Dad, Phil the editor, Nik his son, and all of the smaller characters... even her dog Grayson comes alive in the pages of this novel. Joani Elliott kicked this novel out of the park!

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My aspirations to become a writer and its struggles resonated with this book. It had a great premise. I enjoyed the characters. especially Phil's grumpiness. I could totally relate to Sara in every way. I especially enjoyed the way The Audacity of Sara Grayson touched on the death of a loved one. It was a page-turner for me. Definitely a drama, not just an entertaining rom-com. It would have been nice to find out what was in the box, for example. I felt that could be explored. Despite the choppy writing, I enjoyed the story. Having the story take place in so many places was a plus for me.

Thank you Post hill Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This is an honest review.

I started off thinking this was going to be drawn out - but it turned into quite the story. With romance, some mystery, some emotion, even humor. I ended up just really enjoying Sara & her search to find confidence in herself as a writer & dealing with the mystery of her parents. I devoured the last part of the book & read the last page with a smile on my face

I adored this one! I loved Sara and her journey!!

There is a lot going on here, and to be honest when I first started reading I thought it was too much and no way would all mesh well. But I am so happy I was wrong. I thought the author did a fantastic job weaving together the stories and connecting the characters!!

My only complaints (That kept it from getting 5 stars FOR ME) ...
1. Why on Earth does the sister have so many names? Anna-Katherine, Anna-Kath, Ann ... even in the same paragraph she's referred to by multiple names. At first I thought it was separate characters! Perhaps just one name and nickname would be better?
2. While I really did love the ending it left me with two questions. I would have loved the ending even more if those had been answered!!
1. What the heck was in the safe deposit box?!?!?!
2. How did the fans react to Sara's book? Did they love it?!

Overall I would definitely recommend this one and if you're a fan of romance and romcom type books I think you'll love it!!

I hope this author continues to write and I will happily read more by her!

I wish I had the audacity to be like Sara Grayson! Such a page turner, rooting for her, feeling her angst. The incredible love and sacrifices made. The quotes about writing from various authors at the top of each chapter are an added bonus. Fab book!!

For me, the blurb oversold this book. I expected more drama, more secrets, more of everything really. Maybe I should take that back. I didn't need more of Sara's writing process or annoying behaviour.

Sara's mother passed away after a short battle with cancer. Her mother was a very accomplished writer with a multi-million dollar writing empire that of course also made its way to the big screen. In her will, Sara's mother stipulated that she should write the final book in her most popular series. Sara is a very good underachiever and loves talking herself down, or at least that is how it seems. She seems to wallow in self-pity really. I really don't care for her as the main character, she gets on my nerves. The premise of the story is interesting, finishing up a very successful book series while trying to find out why your mother made this ridiculous request. Sara needs to be nudged into doing great and positive things in her life, even simple things as eating other things than ready-made meals that you heat up in the microwave. I got invested in the story of the books, what happened to the main's father and her realtionship? It's something that is mentioned so often, but we never get a resolution. We get a resolution to Sara's story, finding herself while uncovering some family secrets, but it falls rather flat in my opinion. And even those resolutions leave me as a reader with some questions that need an answer. I don't think the writer intends this book to be a first in a series, so I don't get it. Of course, it's fine to leave some things unresolved, it's life and not everything has a beginning and an end. But the storylines that are set up in this book and basically left unresolved deserve an ending, and I need it for the overall enjoyment of the story.

The author could have easily cut down some of the repetitive writing days, or neurotic searching days to make room for some developments on the other storylines. It's a shame to set up interesting storylines and to just leave them hanging. So the idea is nice, the setup is ok, the main character is a pain in my ass, which leaves 2.5 stars for this book.

Unable to read without ePub download, discard this review and thank you for providing the galley! I would be thrilled to read at a later date if an ePub file is available.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is hilarious, heartwarming, shocking, and I could not put it down!! I had a permanent smile on my face while reading this and I am recommending it to everyone I know. 4.5/5 stars!!

Sara Grayson is a burned-out, recent divorcee, writing professor who happens to be the daughter of the top selling author in the world, Cassandra Bond. Her thriller novels starring Elery Dawson are at the top of the charts, but when Cassandra passes away without having written the finale to the series, it is up to Sara Grayson to write it. Does she have the audacity to finish the finale in the world’s biggest series?

I ADORED this book!! I can’t believe how glued to the pages I was when reading it. It made me laugh out loud, get teary-eyed, and gasp in shock. While Sara Grayson was trying to write the highly anticipated finale to her mother’s series, we also get to see her unravel the mystery of her family and just how convoluted it can be. In the beginning, I was a bit off-put by how cranky Sara seemed to be, but as the story went on, I grew to love her deeply. We learn so much about Sara and her life, and it was incredible getting to see her grow as a writer and a strong woman.

Every chapter starts with a quote from a famous author, and I just have to say that the quotes were beautiful. It was such a great idea having all of those (very very inspirational!!) quotes to go along with the writing. I also really loved how the format of the story would sometimes switch between prose and text message/email/news reports. I found it so engaging and felt that it went perfectly with the context of the story.

Also, can we all appreciate the unsung hero of the book: Sara Grayson’s Massive Work Bag. Shoutout to you!!

I have to include my favorite quote of all: “…she understood now that the moment she stopped creating was the moment she stopped living” (Elliott 394). I hope whoever reads this review enjoys reading this book as much as I did!

I liked this story more than expected when I started it, was slow to get my attention but it eventually was captured. The trials of Sara trying to carry on her mother's legacy was enjoyable to get sucked into, as well as the glimpse into the publishing world. I loved Nik but he was a little too perfect, even when he was playing the "bad guy" which didn't really feel bad at all. I would have liked to see more about Anna-Kath and Binti, it was a bit too focused on the writing of a book/love story, which are fine, but also the same as every other book. Still a great read.

Sara Grayson's mom was the author of a popular series that was not only published but also in production. She was supposed to be working on book five when she died, and everyone from her publisher down to her daughters lost their collective minds. What was supposed to happen now? It turns out she wrote in her will that she wanted her daughter Sara to write the final novel in the series. Sara, having never published anyting in her life, is understandably freaking out. The question is......does Sara have the audacity to give it a try?
I loved this book. There is no way you can read this book and not root for Sara. I was sitting there cheering her along the entire way. I am a huge nerdy fan of books about books anyway so this was right up my alley, but this also had a really good story to it, loveable characters, and a feel-good ending, That makes it a great book in my eyes.

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, heartfelt and I just connected with the characters so easily. I absolutely recommend this book!

I seriously adored this book, it was funny, heartfelt, sometimes tough, mainly because Sara needed a few kicks in the butt so she can get her act together and push forth with writing the book her mother LITERALLY gave to her. I loved Cassandra, even though she is gone her presence is felt by the way that the people who loved her are supporting Sara. I didn’t think there would be any type of romance in there, but I cant ever deny some romance.

Cassandra leaves Sara a note, and on that note she tells her that she wants her daughter to right the last book of the famous Ellery Dawson books. Sara is a great writer, but she chooses to settle, and all of her jobs are in writing of course but it doesn’t challenge her the way she needs to be. I loved how her mom believed in her own daughter so much.

I love characters that even though they doubt themselves, and at times they don’t believe in themselves, I love the fact that Sara continued to fight, and I also love that when it came to the secrets that were threatening her mothers legacy, she was making sure that she got her answers, this woman just never gave up. I wish that there was a second part to this one.

When I first started reading this I thought it was going to be a funny rom-com, and the front cover matched that idea perfectly. A few chapters in, it changed to more of a journey of self discovery, although to me Sara Grayson seemed younger than 32.

The characters were realistic, especially with the idea of following in someones footsteps. In this case, it was rather big shoes to fill. I enjoyed how that part of the story travelled, though I would have liked more emotion around the loss of her mother rather than just not knowing how to write the book.

There were other parts that I felt were skimmed over in the resolution.
The opposition from some of the publishing house was a big part in the beginning, but didn’t end with the satisfaction I would have liked. Maybe that’s just me seeking petty revenge. Haha.
I felt it weird she so easily left her dog behind.
Also the mystery in the box… I still don't see the point of that.

Finally, with so much mention of the writing processes, the author ignored some of the advice… There was a bit of head hopping. There were some beautifully written parts though. Overall, an enjoyable read.

I would like to thank the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Sara Grayson is a thirty-two-year-old writing teacher who also pens greeting cards and coupons. Her mother is a wildly successful author, but when she passes away she leaves instructions that Sara should write the last book in her popular series. With the support of her older sister and her mother’s friends and colleagues, Sara sets out to fulfill her mother’s wishes.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is simply a delightful book, filled with an array of good characters. it is a reflection on grief, hope, and redemption. I most thoroughly enjoyed Sara’s journey as she found the courage and fortitude to complete her mother’s request - something her mother knew she could do. Sara comes to terms with her mother’s passing and the deep grief she feels, the dissolution of her marriage, and the realization of her own abilities. This creates a story that many readers will enjoy. I know I certainly did! Kudos to Ms Elliot!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

First, as a COMPLETE aside... toward the last quarter of the book, Ann makes Sara “a blend of apple, clove, and black tea.” Excuse me, that sounds delectable, and I will be on the lookout for that ASAP.

(Wait wait... editing this in as I continue reading... now she’s got cranberry apple tea with a hint of coconut?!? Give it to me nowww!!)

I really loved the premise of this book. I also loved the cover, which I think lends itself to a lighter read than I feel this ended up as. I thought it would be more about the writing and fame and post-novel, rather than the uncovering family secrets journey that Sara actually goes on. It felt rather slow-paced in the middle third, and a lot of the ending felt very unrealistic and overly complicated. I do think that there are plenty of readers who would enjoy this, though, but I came out of it with something I don't think I would have picked up if the description was more true to what I felt the story was.

Here's where the surprises started coming in. Nothing dragged! If I had to go in and cut 100-150 pages of Sara Grayson, I'd never know where to start and what to cut. My continued thought was – maybe this should've been two books. Keep everything, and make more! (I did see a comment on an Instagram review from Joani Elliott saying to expect more Sara in the future!)
Sara isn't a perfect person. None of us are, but often with fictional characters, especially from the romance/chick-lit genre we expect them to be, or we hate them and move on. She's so self-involved that her mother won't even tell her about her serious relationship. This is the Sara show, a massive pity party of poor Sara. When Sara's mom gets sick with cancer and passes away and leaves her entire legacy and the family's fortune in Sara's hands, it becomes a perfectly believable story of self-discovery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joani Elliott for an advanced copy of this delightful novel. I went into this book with fairly low expectations - I hadn’t heard anything about it prior but the premise sounded different and I requested it on a whim. I expected a breezy read rom-com type book but this was so much more. I was SO pleasantly surprised by how much I adored this book. The idea behind this book is that 30-something year old Sara’s mom, Cassandra (famous author), dies unexpectedly and in her will asks Sara, who has only published greeting cards and coupon blurbs, to write the 5th and final book in her wildly popular series. The way the author portrays emotions in this book just makes you feel for all of the characters. There were funny parts of the book, sad parts, mystery, romance, and everything you could want from an all consuming story. I will say that I’m sitting here DYING for an epilogue because I need to know how the book was received by the public or what the heck was in that safety deposit box - but aside from that I am so thrilled to have read this book.

The premise of this book really intrigued me. Sarah Grayson's mother, the author of the world-famous Ellery Dawson series, has just died and has given Sarah the task of writing the final book in the series. Sarah feels drastically unqualified to do this, but she can't deny her mother's dying wish. But I found that once I started the book, the story itself lost all the intrigue it promised.
What's more cliche than writing a book about writing? Cliches aren't necessarily a bad thing—they're only bad if you don't make it unique in some way. This book didn't. It's about Sarah's journey of self-discovery through writing the novel, and nothing else. This makes the plot extremely boring. There are basically four scenes that circle over and over again: Sarah writing, Sarah communicating with the publishing people, Sarah procrastinating her writing and doubting herself, and Sarah trying to figure out if her mom actually did write the book before she died/figure out what is going on with the plagiarism claim. And don't get me wrong—these are things that CAN be interesting. The author just didn't make them interesting.
For a book about writing, I also expected the writing itself to be better. It turned out to be mundane and repetitive. The dialogue felt mostly unnatural and flat. Every scene went on way longer than it needed to (and the book as a whole was about 100 pages longer than it should have been).
Each chapter begins with a quote about writing from a famous author, and around the middle, one said something like, "Take out the parts that readers will want to skim." I found this extremely ironic because I found myself wanting to skim almost the entire book. I was glad when it was finally over.