What would you do if your mom died and she left the final installment of her highly anticipated book series all up to you? (You’ve never actually written a book before.) Welcome to Sara Grayson’s life. Well, that’s one part of it, at least.

Sara quickly learns (or, rather, is reminded) that writing a book is not an easy process. You have to give so much of yourself to it. She learns not only about her writing but about herself and uncovers some deeply buried family secrets in the process. What happens when you find out things that your parents were hiding from you your whole life and they’re both dead? Ask Sara.

This one took a while for me to get into. It just didn’t pick up for a while for me, personally. But once it did, I was hooked. I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed that it had a little bit of everything. There was a romance subplot (and I mean subplot, like it was one of the least important parts of the book but I cherished it anyway). There was a suspense aspect to it and there were so many twists and turns, I never knew what to expect next. When things started to look like they were going in one direction and it was smooth sailing, there was another thing that happened to shake things up. That definitely made me fly through to the end.

I had some trouble connecting with Sara in the beginning. To be honest, she kinda annoyed me. She was so wrapped up in everything going on in her life that she didn’t bother to really ask about anyone else’s or be involved beyond the surface, then had the never to wonder why she wasn’t in the loop. She was so comfortable with her assumptions about everyone else’s life and how it was so much better than her own because she’d gone through tough times. Not to downplay her experiences because they were rough -- losing both parents and going through a divorce -- but like… babe, other people have issues too. I definitely started to like her more when she started to break out of that.

Part of what made the book so enjoyable was seeing the character growth Sara had and knowing the journey she went on to get there. Overall, I give this book 3 stars! Shoutout to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book which is on shelves now if you’re interested in reading it yourself!

Everyone needs a Gloria, Binti, and Bernie in their lives! They were the glowing stars of this book. Sure I loved the story of Sara getting forced to finish her mother's book series, and the nefarious plans to sabotage her, and the family secrets that kept interrupting her, and her own lack of self-esteem. But those friendships and quirky characters really were the best part of this book for me! You'll see! Because what makes a good story into a great read is that sparkling something that makes it different. And in this book it was these three supporting characters that helped nudge Sara on her way made the difference! Despite including a few more emotional topics, this book was able to keep it positive and light. A nice refreshing read! Like a good cup of tea!

This was a book that was a bit divided for me. The first half of the book I was having a hard time getting into it, and almost considered not finishing. I found Sara exasperating and way to stubborn and i just couldn't relate to her. However the second half won me over and I really enjoyed the development in her relationship with Phil and Nik, and her personal development (although really she just went from unnerving to normal). I ended up wanting to read the Ellery books! (3.5 out of 5)

I absolutely loved this book and recommended it on my Instagram. It’s a very unique take on grief and grow.

he Audacity of Sara Grayson is Joani Elliott’s debut novel, and it’s a winner. From the characters to the interesting storyline, setting(s), and mystery it pulled in me from the very beginning.

Sara Grayson is thirty-two, divorced, and teaches writing. She also works a gig writing greeting cards. Once upon a time she dreamed of becoming a writer. A respected critic of her first novel shattered her self-confidence, and she pushed writing aside. When her mother Cassandra Bond, the best-selling author of the Ellery Dawson series dies of pancreatic cancer, her dying wish is that Sara writes the conclusion to the series.

The story that unfolds had depth, genuine characters, and a flow that carried you along as it hooked you. Sara is our protagonist, and the story is told from her perspective. Along the way, get to know her sister, Anna- Kath, Phil, her mother’s lover and the man who critiqued Sara’s first novel.

We spend time in the city before escaping to a seaside community in Maine. We also spend some time abroad. We watch Sara faces her insecurities and begin writing. The author made us privy to her struggles, self-doubt, lack of faith from the publisher, and her attempts to identify with Ellery Dawson. At first she tries to emulate her mother but while good, the story lacks spark. Of course, Sara isn’t Cassandra and must find her own path. As the story progresses, she learns about herself and experiences personal growth. It was brilliantly done and allowed me to connect.

A thread concerning a scandal and secret kept from the sisters was interesting. I love how the author weaved it into the storyline. It flowed wonderfully and caused this reader to shed a few tears.

We get a touch of romance with a few surprises. It was sweet and felt genuine. Even though this wasn’t the primary focus, the author gave the romantic interest with a backstory that tugged at my heartstrings. I enjoyed time spent developing their relationship.

The ending did not disappointment, and I closed the book with a smile and a tear. The Audacity of Sara Grayson is the perfect beach read for book lovers and fans of women’s fiction.

This is what I would call a hidden gem that I wish I would've read sooner. It's an amazing, enjoyable, and down-to-earth story about a young woman whose mother dies and leaves a request as her dying wish for Sara to finish the last book in her famous book series.
Sara is learning how to live after a failed marriage, getting back into life after her mother's battle and death with cancer. She's only ever done writing for greeting cards and the like so it's a daunting task that is presented to her by her mother's death of trying to figure out how to finish writing her mother's bestselling book series and come out from the shadow of her famous mother. In the process, Sara finds and learns more about herself, her mother, her family, and her talent, hopes, and dreams.
This is a tale of overcoming self-doubt and building self-confidence and finally achieving your goals and realizing your dream and having the courage to follow your own path. This is also a heartwarming tale of family, love, loss, and romance thrown in the mix too.
I would highly recommend putting this on your radar, picking it up, and reading it for an enjoyable, fantastic read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Meryl Moss Media for letting me read and review this wonderful book. All opinions are my own.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is the debut of author Joani Elliot and it is simply superb. It is a whimsical and heart felt journey of a woman trying to find herself and her way after losing her mother. All she wants is a few minutes to breathe on her own but, she does not have that. Not when it comes to light that her mother never finished her final book and has put it in her will that Sara is to write it.

Yes, that is quite the bombshell for Sara to absorb especially when she has never thought of herself as a writer like her mother. A long time ago she had thought about giving it a shot but that was then…definitely not now. She is too hurt by the loss of her mother and the also recent loss of her marriage. Sara is just about to hand over the responsibility of the book to the publishing company when she finds herself wondering “what if” and becomes determined to finish the series for her mother in the way that she intended.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson really is all about Sara’s journey as she is writing the book. It is an uphill battle at times but, she slowly finds the confidence within herself and the ability to trust those around her. There were twists and turns within the plot that kept me invested and continuing to root for Sara until the very end. I loved how each chapter started with a famous writing quote that set the stage for the events that were going to be unfolding. Each chapter was also an exposure into an additional layer of who Sara was, who she is becoming, and the impact of the various people that she encounters.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is such a heart-felt journey from beginning to end. At 400 pages, it is a bit long in length but the voice of the characters are strong and everything is wrapped up nicely at the end. As this was a debut novel, I’m excited to see what else author Joani Elliot may have up her sleeves for her. I have a strong feeling she could be one of the next best authors of women’s fiction known for her strong emotionally driven character stories. I know that the character of Sara Grayson will stick with me for a while now.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is a charming story. One that made me smile many times throughout reading. The story is often funny and lighthearted, but also has a bit of romance and a family mystery that helps drive the plot.

Audacity was relatable for me, and those like me who've lost a parent, in that Sara Grayson must deal with a loss that leaves her rudderless and heartbroken. So while the author included a ton of wit, she also gave her characters so much depth and emotion.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson is a must-read for anyone who loves a good comeback story. And by comeback, I mean, a woman coming back to herself. Finding confidence, and coming back to the path she was always meant to travel.

I look forward to reading more from Joani Elliott.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson was the right book at the right time for me. This book has been in my TBR pile for awhile, but I've been in a bit of a reading slump and nothing has really sounded good. Well, thankfully I picked this one up because whoohoo! What fun!
This was a fast read, but it was not lacking in plot. It was a light read but full of excellent quotes from famous authors. It was a fun book with interesting characters and a fresh storyline. I definitely look forward to future books featuring Sara Grayson and friends.
Thank you NetGalley, Joani Elliot and Post Hill Press for this ARC of The Audacity of Sara Grayson.

Yes, it's chick-lit and yes, it's a romance, but despite that, this was a really great read! Kind of like dipping into a hot bath after a hard day. We're all just coming out of a pandemic. Don't we need comforting books?
The premise is an intriguing one, that a bestselling author's beyond-the-grave wish is for her under-achieving daughter to finish her last book in a series. I loved all the inside writerly jokes and especially enjoyed the great quotes about writing that prefaced each chapter. The very thought of a novice writer undertaking the task of writing the final book in a successful series is nothing short of horrific. It's hard enough for a writer to do that let alone someone who hasn't written a book before. Amusing, well-written, entertaining. There's also a cute dog and some romance. What more could a reader want? Thanks #JoaniElliott for putting a smile on my face.
#netgalley

Loved, loved, loved “The Audacity of Sara Grayson”! This story, with its rich, well-developed characters sucked me in and left me with such a feeling of happiness when I finished it (NOT because it was over but just because of how great the book was). Three weeks after her best-selling novelist mother passes away, Sara finds out that her mother wanted her to write the final book in her super popular NYT chart-topping series. Sara has never even published a book before. The book beautifully tells the story of how Sara grapples with this request. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Can’t wait to read more by Joani Elliott!

This was a really good book and I loved the main character of Sara. She was battling insecurities from the beginning and it was enjoyable to see her confidence and self belief grow throughout the book. I loved how the character of Phil develops through the story and Sara’s relationship with him changes as she begins to understand him more. Although this book started slowly for me, I became more involved in it as the book progressed and found it to be a highly enjoyable read.

What a wonderful book!

From the outset let me say that I love books – I really do. So a book about writing a book – what’s not to like? Like many people I have encountered stories about writers and the anguished life they lead – crippled by writer’s block, slaving away in the metaphorical attack, or starving in a garret; or the counterpart instantly successful and reaping the rewards of a Hollywood movie and screenwriting. However, I don’t think I have ever read a book that spells out the nitty-gritty of the process, the hard slog of it all, the work and involvement of the editors and production team, well never in such detail. It is fascinating.

Don’t get me wrong, poor Sara does go through the hoops of writer’s block, and finding her words - her ‘voice’ but of course she is hampered because it is not her voice she is looking for, it is her mother’s as she is writing the 5th and final book in a hugely successful series written by her late mother.

Of course, writers don’t live in a vacuum so as well as trying to write the book as her mother wished, she is dealing with grief at her loss and disbelief and anger – sometimes directed at her mother. Also, there is a secret at the heart of her family – and she must deal with this. To top it all there is a wicked witch of the West to deal with in the persona of the CEO of the publishers who works to undermine Sara so that she will be able to submit by the deadline.

For those of us who have contemplated writing a book – after all, everyone has at least one story to tell – read this and weep! Clearly you need to be able to do more than write, you must have stamina and also able to deal with insomnia, self-doubt…. You get it?

I have only concentrated on one facet of this book – there is much, much more, including a negative – what is in the box in the bank? It is a secret and one that wasn’t revealed - not in this book anyway?

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

I'm giving this book 4 stars even though I did not finish it. The subject matter hits too close for me and had I known that cancer was part of the plot I wouldn't have started it.
The bits I read were well written and flowed nicely. I'll certainly read other books by this author in the future.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was unlike anything I have read in awhile. However, I was rather disappointed that more drama didn't happen throughout the novel. I was hoping for some more scandalous bits. That being said, the main character was easy to relate to and easy to keep up with. The story flowed seamlessly and I would read another book by this author.

This book is perfect for a vacation read, but it has some heavier bits so be forwarned. I really liked the idea of having to write the final book of a famous series after your mother, the author dies. I had always wondered that about Sue Grafton when she died one book from completing the alphabet. Anyway, it was a cute set up and I thought the book was a lot of fun.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Meryl Moss Media for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

I really did like this book. I enjoyed the thought processes of finishing a book against many, many odds. However, instead of spending so much of the book explaining Sara's angst and thought processes, I really wish they would have focused more on the uncovering of family secrets and the other more interesting aspects of the book. Overall, it wasn't ground-breaking or that stimulating, but it was a quick enjoyable read and somewhat humorous. I like the author's writing style, but alas, I expected more from the book based on the blurb.

Really enjoyed this book! It was the first one for me to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters stick with you long after the book is over.

I liked the premise of the book. Even as we are introduced to Sara as a really pampered , insecure and greatly under-confident person, it doest somehow made me sympathetic for her. I loved her sister more who manages her own life and Sara's too. As the book progressed to the writing routine and the creative process, I liked it so much more. I was really hooked to that section but then Sara acts up again, and thers no logic to her thoughts. Add to that, the sub plots, the multiple open plotlines and very complicated + too much co-incidental scenarios just brought my enjoyment down. It's a good debut book, but could have been little simpler. I have so many open questions. Like a whole chapter was forgotten.

Thank you to Netgalley and Meryl Moss Media for providing me an eARC in return for an honest review.

TW: Grief, death

Sara Grayson has a failed marriage and a writing career that never took off. While her mother is a successful writer and author of the much devoured series (that has a movie adaptation as well) and her sister has the perfect husband and kids, Sara is learning to live by with her dog and a teaching job and writing slogans for coupon cards. Things take a turn when Sara’s mother has a dying wish of her daughter completing the last book in her series.
This audacious wish turns out to be a challenge that Sara isn’t ready for and the worst part of it is, working with her mom’s closest friend who was the reason why her writing career never took off.
The plot is predictable but it keeps you engaged. I wasn’t bothered by the length of the ARC because I read it in breaks but I definitely feel there were a lot of pages that could be edited off.
Sara’s journey has ups and downs and would resonate well with budding writers. The tiny mystery element from her parent’s past helps in making the book a lil bit more interesting but the way things wrapped up felt rushed.
I loved the other characters in the book like Sara’s sister Anna-Kath but the part about her panicking about her all-so-perfect life felt unnecessary adding more pages to the book.
The romance was barely there and that’s how I like it so bonus points.. although who was she going to fall for was a confusion to me Atleast towards the beginning.
Altogether, a heartwarming debut from Joani Elliott