There's a quote from Nora Ephron at the beginning of Chapter 33 that says, "You better make them care about what you think. It had better be quirky or perverse or thoughtful enough so that you hit some chord in them. Otherwise it doesn't work. I mean we've all read pieces where we thought, 'Oh, who gives a damn.'" That quote couldn't sum up "The Audacity of Sara Grayson" better if it tried.

Sure there were moments in this story where I was touched. But it was a struggle to get to each one and the slog in between those moments had me sitting firmly in the "who gives a damn" camp for the majority of the novel. It's a shame. For a book that had so much promise in the description, it was clunky and tiresome in its delivery.

** I was granted an ARC of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion. **

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy of The Audacity of Sara Grayson.

Sara’s mother, a bestselling author, dies unexpectedly (to Sara and her sister Anna-Kath ) after a short battle of cancer. The book series she was writing is unfinished. In her will, Sara’s mother wishes for her to finish the series and write book 5.

Sara is a 32 year old, recently divorced teacher and dog mom, who doesn’t think she has it in her to write the book. Throughout the book and on her journey of writing she finds out family “secrets”, a little romance and the writer/story within her.

There were a few parts that were dragging a bit and it took me a while to get into the story, but all in all I enjoyed this book.

The AUDACITY of Sara's mother to ask her to finish her beloved series after her death. No pressure as 15 million fans await the conclusion to this blockbuster book series, and its subsequent movie. Riddled with zero confidence, Sara braces herself for the task at hand - WRITE THE BOOK.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is an endearing tale of the love for family in life and death. It also teaches us that fear can be asset and when we open our eyes the truth we believe can be different. Sara finds the strength to live boldly or as we read - MAN UP!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the romance that unfolds with Nik. Together, they are to perfect compliment to each other with their love of literature and writing.

Thank you NetGalley and Meryl Moss Media/Post Hill Press for a complimentary copy for an honest review.

This book made me wonder if I had it in me. Am I going to discover one day that "I have words"? Did I give up too soon?
But, unlike me (just wondering out here), Sara Grayson struggles with her legacy (finishing what her mother started), with finding her own voice, with not letting anyone down, with deadlines. She needs a lot of courage and grit and a lot of support. It's interesting how everyone close to Sara believes in her (except herself) and how discovering her family secrets helps her in her writing process, in shaping her character's destiny. Are we to read author's grapples with her own writing between the lines or is this a general process, as the quotes suggest?
I'm looking forward to reading more books written by Joani Elliot.

Such a charming read with a special appeal to anyone who aspires to write. The story deals a lot with the creative process, its loneliness and self doubt and the sheer amount of grit it demands. Sara Grayson at the beginning of the book is at a pinnacle low in her life. Recently divorced the thirty-two-year-old Sara teaches freshmen English at the University of Maryland and dabbles in writing greeting cards and discount coupons on the side, her mother just passed away, asking Sara to write the final book in a best seller series that has a substantial following.

Sara is a heroine that is easy to root for, she has justifiable reasons to wallow in self pity but she picks herself up and decides to give the book a go. Along the way she will forge new relationships and uncover family secrets but most importantly find her own voice. Sara's self deprecating humor gave the story a lot of heart. And although the plot felt a little predictable, I really enjoyed the scenery along the way. And I adored the writing related quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

It reminded me a bit of Love and the Art of War as well as Kristan Higgins' writing. All in all I highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheAudacityofSaraGrayson #NetGalley

This book is so interested but unreadable in the format given by the publisher. From what I could muddle through and read -- pleasant characters and a great book about writing and novelists and family secrets.

I really really really like it.. I can write it a few more times. I am so happy I could read this story of the audacity. I felt a litlle downand the story bring me up. It shows how important is to belive in our selfes no matter what. There are so many good quotes before every chapter. Incoraging the author and the reader to continue fighting and never let go.

We get to know Sara and her sister when her mother die and her last wish is that Sara writes a fifth book of her last serie of best sellers. Her mother was one of the most popular authors and for Sara is a big shock and she is not happy about the situation. We learn all about her past, divorce and her relationship with his father that was her inspiration. But who also died.

Sara in the end accept to write but there are many obstacules. Luckily she met some people who can trast and help her on this writing process. And she manage to resolve everything and.. I can not tell all.

This novel tooked me and I could not put it down. Really many mistery involved and some twists, romance. All together made a great great story.

“The Audacity of Sara Grayson”, in my opinion, is a romantic comedy with a touch of grief and a “finding yourself” trope.

The book begins with the untimely death of Sara’s mother, a national bestselling author. Soon afterward, Sara ascertains that she is to be the author of the next book in the bestselling series. Although Sara is a writing teacher, she feels extremely underqualified for the position and is quick to quit. But in a bold move, Sara takes on the task. With an impossible deadline and an editor intent on sabotaging her every move, Sara must discover her creative writing skills, alongside buried family secrets.

I think I fell in love with this book about 15% in. This book was a very easy read, it was easy to follow, and had great character development. I kept finding myself turning the pages wanting to know more. I loved the relationship between Sara and her sister Anna-Kath. She was realistic and constantly pushed Sara to work hard and not give up! I loved that in an older sister.

This book was surprisingly FUNNY! Sara’s side remarks and internal conversations were hilarious! The romantic aspect was definitely there, although, it was very G-rated, it was sweet, loving, and just perfect. I was expecting more grief and sadness (there was definitely some) but overall, it wasn’t a very triggering grief.

In conclusion, I would rate this book 4.5 stars! And I would love to read another book from Joani Elliot in the future.



https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3962317727

“The Audacity of Sara Grayson” is a charming novel written by Joani Elliot. Sara has always lived in her mother’s shadow. Her mother is a popular suspense writer with her fans awaiting the fifth installment of her beloved series. Meanwhile, Sara struggles to write get well cards. Cassandra, stricken with stage-four cancer, suddenly dies and Sara is stunned to discover that she was given the responsibility to write the fifth book. Yet, Sara is convinced she cannot write—her mother’s editor, Phil, tore apart her first attempt of a novel. Will Sara have what it takes to continue her mother’s legacy?

As a writer myself who has been slayed in multiple workshops, I could relate to Sara’s low self-esteem. Moreover, she has just lost her mother whom she didn’t have the easiest relationship with so she is battling the duo of remorse and grief as she wrestles with how to deliver a finished product that will make her mother proud. Sara also has an older sister, Anna-Kath who has the ideal life of husband and kids while Sara’s marriage barely lasted six months. What made this novel especially poignant is how while trying to deliver on her mother’s promise, Sara discovers more about herself and how what she believed about her family wasn’t necessary what was true.

While I found some of the dialogue trite and the subplot romance unnecessary, this novel does have a heart. Expect plenty of humor sprinkled through a fast-moving and mostly believable plot.

Three and a half stars.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this advance copy.

This novel was a delightful surprise. There was enough tension to keep me interested., but not so much that I had to keep putting the book down. There was a bit of romance, but not as the central core, which was fine with me. The characters were well-developed and by the end of the book, I would like to spend time with most of them in a real life situation. What I liked was the way Sara gained confidence in herself and developed a sort of fighting spirit as she discovered more about her family and the people who surrounded her. None of the book felt contrived to me, but just a really good, well-written novel that I'm really glad to have had the chance to read.
I look forward to more books written by this author.

I really enjoyed The Audacity of Sara Grayson and was extremely entertained. Sara is thrown into the deep end when her famous mother author dies unexpectedly and is contracted to finish book 5 in a highly rated series. Sara's Mum's last dying wish is for Sara to write the novel. There are bumps in the road as Sara, not having published a novel herself before, navigates writing a book. There are some people in her corner but also those who wish for her to fail. There are many twists and turns and Sara and her sister dig up some surprising information about their family along the way. Sara is convinced the book is already written - and attempts to find the manuscript multiple times, but always leading to disapointment for Sara. But was the book already written?? We will never know...
I really enjoyed the incorporation of emails and texts to tell parts of the story.
A fun read which I highly recommend.

2.5 stars / Sara Grayson is the daughter of a literary icon. When her mother dies before finishing the fifth and final book in her world renowned series, she wills the final book to be written by Sara. Sara is understandably shocked to learn of her mother's wishes as she is 1) not a published author (or what she considers to be a "real writer") 2) recently divorced and still recovering AND 3) at odds with her mother's publisher/significant other.

Despite the initial hesitation and resistance, Sara takes on the task of writing the fifth book in honor of her mother. Through her journey, she learns more than she ever dreamed of. Not only lessons on becoming a "real writer" but lessons and truths about her family that have long been buried.

I loved the idea behind this book and there were some truly endearing parts, but it took me reading about half of the book before I really got into it. There were parts that seemed to drag, and then other parts where the relationships between characters felt rushed and inauthentic. Sara was a relatable character as she was trying to find her way and learn who is she on her own apart from how everyone else defines her.

An interesting read and a unique plot - I enjoyed reading about the writing process of some authors.
I would have liked for the dialogue to flow a little easier and possibly even expand beyond one-two sentences from each character in a conversation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson A Novel by Joani Elliott. Meryl Moss Media, Post Hill Press, 2021.

Recently divorced and still very sad, thirty-two-year-old Sara teaches freshmen English at the University of Maryland and writes greeting cards and discount coupons on the side. Soon after the story begins, Sara’s beloved mother dies, leaving Sara half of her estate and all of the fifth and final book in a best seller series to write.

Readers will travel with Sara from Hollywood to Maryland to New York to Bar Harbour to London as she rediscovers her self-confidence and love for writing. With its changing locations, subplots and unexpected interrelationships there is a lot going on in this book, yet it is written so simply and eloquently that it does not seem complex.

I can’t find anything else by Joani Elliott. Easily one of the best books I’ve read in years.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joani Elliott, and publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson centers around the title character's unexpected journey as a writer, after her famous author-mother dies and leaves the task of completing her most popular series to Sara. It extends into themes of the connection of all humans, the power of words and of noticing the world around us, the importance of resolving family history, and how to live bravely (audaciously!).

Overall, this was a really enjoyable book. The plot was a little cheesy at times, especially its dip into romance. Sara as a main character is not as fully fleshed-out as one would hope. At times she seems erratic and immature, and I don't think Elliott does a great job of convincing readers that Sara actually has real talent or the maturity necessary to complete her completely unrealistic task. (She's a fledgling writer who is apparently able to pump out an entire novel, including edits, in seven months, while starting a new romance, eating at cafes, and flying to London).

But flights of fancy can be really fun, and I certainly felt that way as I read. I think most amateur writers (myself among them) would love to imagine themselves writing a popular series, galavanting the world, and living bravely enough to put their work into the world. Elliott taps into that element of hope all writers have, of being "enough" and having the power to see their work through to its end.

One other note: each chapters begins with a quote about writing from famous authors and influencers. They didn't necessarily correspond to the chapter's theme or plot line, and I felt it would have probably been best for Elliott to have chosen the most resonant ones and included them at the beginning of key chapters. Again, being an amateur writer myself though, I did enjoy reading through quotes from writers about writing! I just felt they were a bit extraneous and disconnected.

To sum up, The Audacity of Sara Grayson is an enjoyable and quick read, maybe something to speed through in between heavier reads, but it's not the next great American novel. Just a great rom-com for dreamers, and it punches above its level here.

the format is unreadable???? i really want to read it but why can't I download it ???

helpppppppp

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is by far one of the best books I have ever read. If ever there was a character I could relate to, put myself in their shoes, it is Sara Grayson. As a young girl/woman, I would write so many stories and think and talk about writing all the time. However, as an adult, you get busy and chase after other pursuits, which I did. This book makes me want to write...which I've always enjoyed but just never did as an adult.

This story really spoke to me, like deep down brought words to my heart. Sara experiences tragedy on so many levels, most of all losing her mother. She discovers she is expected to write the last installment to her mother's best selling series (now a major motion picture), and is immediately floored. Sara has never written professionally like her mother. Insecurity sets in, but she is spurred on to tackle the challenge when other forces work against her.

Over the course of the seven months she has to complete the project, she and her sister are faced with potential scandal around her parents. There are more questions that answers, and if she doesn't uncover the truth, she may not can finish her project. Along the way, she meets surprising new acquaintances and finds that the words are there, she just has to open the door for them.

If I have ever recommended a book to anyone, this would definitely be the one I would say you have to read! I received a complimentary copy of this book, and the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

**This e-book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***

After the loss of her mother, Sara Grayson finds out her mother wants her to write the 5th and final book of her popular book series. The book follows Sara as she tries to complete her book and unravels secrets from her family she never knew.

I enjoyed the premise of this book and enjoyed how Sara worked to find herself as a writer she didn't know she could be. The ending was a bit lacking for me, it seemed to leave too much open and unanswered. I enjoyed finding things out as Sara did, but like I said there is too many unanswered questions that I would love to see wrapped up.

Wow. And I say WOW again!

What a book. This book is perfect for a vacation read, but it is a little 'heavier' than normal for a beach read. It has everything you need -mystery and a lot of that, romance but not the main focus, learning about what writers go through to get a book out there, a bit of villainy, a lot of sisterly love, and frustration.

One of the oddest things for me is that this happened to one of my favorite authors -she passed away before finishing the last book she was writing. I never thought about what it took for the 'replacement author' to finish what the original author started. So this book really made me think.

The only complaint I can say that I have is that the author talks about something in a safety deposit box, but we, the readers, never get to find out just what was in there! I thought that there might have been an epilogue explaining that, but alas, no!

*ARC supplied by the publisher, author, and NetGalley.

Sweet story of courage and redemption. Character development shallow in places, turned little too "romance " for my personal taste. But overall a decent read. Would read this author again.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book didn't work properly with any of my devices so I was unable to get through much of it. The formatting was very unreadable. What I could read was adorable though, so I'll definitely grab a copy when it hits the shelves.