Laurie has a big family. She has four brothers and most of the time her house was loud. Too loud, when all she wanted was peace and quiet. She would always escape to her great aunt Dots house who lived nearby. Aunt Dot lived alone and never married or had children.

When Aunt Dot passed away, Laurie was the one who was chosen to go through her belongings in her house. She found mountains of memories, books, and photos from her life.

While cleaning she came across a wooden duck. She was very curious about the duck and went to an antique shop to try to find out more. The journey to find out more information about the duck was quite the adventure, from dealing with a scammer, to hiding in closets, to planning a way get the duck back.

I noticed many similarities that Laurie had with Dot, from traveling, to just enjoying living in her own space. However, I found Laurie to be very stubborn at times never willing to make any sort of compromises. I was hoping for more growth from her but it never happened.

I did enjoy the characters that Laurie met throughout the story. Her friends June and Nick were very lovable. I really enjoyed all the moments Laurie and Nick had together.

The ending was not your typical ending, it took a chance by not being predictable. I wish things would have ended a little differently but I understood why it ended that way.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

After recently rereading Evvie Drake Starts Over, I had really high hopes for this book. While it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, it was still a wonderful book about getting older, finding yourself and truly knowing what you want from your life.

Laurie Sassalyn returns to her hometown of Calcasset to settle the estate of her beloved Great Aunt Dot, who she was quite close with her entire life. She sees it as an opportunity to pay her respects to the woman who gave her a safe space when she was younger and who had provided her with a roadmap on who to live a fulfilling life without ever settling down. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect since Laurie recently ended her own engagement when she realized she didn’t actually want to get married, share her emotional or physical space with someone, or have children. And it’s an opportunity to spend time with her childhood best friend June and reconnect with her first love Nick, who is now the town librarian. When she uncovers a carved wooden duck that seems to have been important enough to Dot for her to have carefully stashed it away, and it later goes missing through suspicious circumstances, she’s drawn deeper into Dot’s personal history and she turns to Nick to help her track down the duck and do some research on how it came to be in her possession in the first place. But we all know what happens when you reunite with your first love with whom you still have some unresolved feelings…

Overall, this was a quick and satisfying read. I loved the little Easter eggs back to Evvie Drake, but without needing to have read the book. There were parts of this that felt a little on the slow side plot wise, and other pieces that felt a little too easily resolved. But I very mischievous enjoyed the duck theft caper and recovery aspect of the story as much as the romance and coming of age parts!

Linda Holmes knocks it out of the park again with Flying Solo. Set in the same small coastal Maine town as her previous book, this one centers on Laurie Sassalyn, who returns to the small town she was born and raised in to sort through her beloved late Great Aunt Dot's belongings and get the house ready for sale. Dot, a woman of 93 who never married or had children, had led a live of enviable fun and countless adventures.A year out from canceling her own wedding and just a month away from turning 40, questioning whether she has room in her life for love again, Laurie's journey through her great aunt's belongings leads her to reconnect with her high school beau... and dive into a mystery about the provenance of a duck decoy (and even engage in a madcap heist).

What I loved most about this story is Laurie's contentment with her life. She's not trying to find a missing piece to complete her, she's already complete. What she's trying to sort out is, does she want someone to share in that completeness with her? And can she do so without being forced to dismantle all that she's built for herself already?

Laurie was the romance heroine I'd been waiting for. This book made me feel seen and understood. Thank you, Linda, for sharing her with us!

Linda Holmes hit it out of the park with this one for me. I love mysteries about old belongings. I love really interesting characters who have great conversations, and I love a romance that dares to do its own thing. So far both of Linda Holmes's books have had a very leisurely, conversational tone that I find immensely enjoyable because they feel cozy without being cloying. And they still dig into complex issues people have in rich ways, and show real character development. An absolute auto-buy author for me.

I loved Evvie Drake Starts Over so was excited to see what Linda Holmes would write next. I thought the plot line of the con artist taking advantage of grieving families was interesting. Watching the mystery surrounding the duck decoy unfold was also a lot of fun. Laurie's arc was also different than what I would have expected. She's called off a wedding and is spending time back in her hometown to clear out her Great Aunt Dot's house after she has passed away. Her ex-boyfriend from high school comes into the picture and it seems clear that they will rekindle their old romance. The only problem is Laurie doesn't want to ever get married nor does she want to give up the life she has built for herself in Seattle. I can understand why some people might not be satisfied with the ending of the book since it doesn't follow your usual storyline but I think it made a lot of sense for these characters. I only wish we could have seen more happen to the con man before the book was over, since, for all we know he is still out there scamming people.

Laurie is navigating her recently cancelled wedding and upcoming fortieth birthday when she returns to her Main hometown to handle the estate of her great-aunt Dot. As she sorts through Dot's life, she investigates a mysterious duck that reveals some family secrets and takes her on a journey of self-discovery and love.

I loved Evvie Drake Starts Over, so I was excited for Holmes' latest release but it fell a bit flat for me. The story gets caught up in the mystery of the duck and a conartist who tries to sell it out from underneath Laurie, and it just felt like such a random (and kind of boring) storyline.

I liked the second chance romance with Nick as he and Laurie reconnect for the first time since their college breakup. They immediately settle into fun and flirty banter and I liked watching Laurie figure out what she wants from life and a relationship, ultimately accepting that it doesn't all have to fit neatly in a traditional box. Overall the duck decoy story was too over the top and I wish we got more growth from Laurie along the way.

One of my most anticipated 2022 reads, this latest from the author of Evvie Drake starts over, did NOT disappoint!! The book follows forty-year old Laurie as she returns to her Maine hometown after her Great-Aunt Dot dies. Tasked with clearing out Dot's house, Laurie gets embroiled in a family mystery involving a potentially valuable decoy duck.

What follows is a mad cap reverse con/heist adventure and a second chance romance with an old flame (who just happens to be the town librarian). I seriously could not get enough of this book and loved that Laurie was so self-assured that she didn't want to settle for a love that was perfect on paper or give in to societal pressure to have children.

Full of heart, humor and strong family relationships with a family secret at the core. This book was also great on audio narrated by Julia Whalen. Absolutely a must read of the summer. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

I'm a bit disappointed in this one. The con man didn’t get his just desserts, and the main character never solves her dilemma. She likes being single, wants to be with the man she’s loved since high school, but doesn’t want to move to Maine, and doesn’t want him to have to move to Seattle. It needed more resolution.

After cancelling her wedding, Laurie heads back to her hometown to go through her great aunts estate. while cleaning out, Laurie finds a decoy duck. At first glance, it seemed off that her Aunt had kept this duck, but as she continues her cleaning, she begins to wonder if there is more to this decoy. When the duck goes missing, Laurie knows she needs to get it back.

Ok one, narrated by Julia Whelan….so kind of an automatic win! I really loved Evvie Drake so I was excited to start this one, and it did not disappoint. I absolutely adored Laurie, and honestly I feel similar to her when it comes to dating! This book has a little bit of mystery, a little grief, and a whole lot of love. I truly enjoyed every second of this book!

4 stars

This is an uncomplicated, quick piece of women's fiction that leaves readers feeling like they can reasonably define a fulfilling life on their own terms and experience it with great joy, even when others express skepticism.

Laurie, the m.c., returns to her Maine hometown because as one character puts it, she's at the bottom of the funnel; in other words, the responsibility falls to her often. This time, it's to settle the estate of Aunt Dot, who is - even posthumously - a riveting character. Laurie comes back not only to deal with Dot's physical home but also her more than 90 years of belongings. As an added bonus, Laurie gets to learn so much about Dot and - you guessed it - herself in the process.

There's a lot of potential in what I'll refer to here as the 'duck plot,' but for me, that, as well as some of the ancillary character development, left a bit to be desired. Fortunately, Laurie and Dot remain the joint stars of the show even without these components, and it's fun to see the other pieces of their respected puzzles fall into place.

This is an understated read that takes a bit of an untraditional approach to women's abilities to find happiness, and folks looking for a relatively easy summer read will find a lot to like and to feel good about here.

Last week I needed a book escape and this one was just the ticket! Flying Solo is the perfect blend of funny, family secrets, self discovery and a touch of love all surrounded by great characters. Do you need an escape? Then I recommend Flying Solo!

What a wonderful escape! It had all the good feels of a Hallmark movie…small town charm and reunion with the hometown love. But these characters are relatable and the story totally realistic…at least to me. The similarities between some of the characters and my life are pretty remarkable. Laura Holmes has such a wonderful writing style it was hard to put the book down. Very enjoyable. Very romantic.

During a summer of cleaning out her great-aunt's home, a confident and independent woman confronts an antique mystery and her own relationship with relationships. There were moments that were laugh-out-loud funny, and others that were profoundly lonely. I enjoyed watching the main character develop and grow. This is a multi-layered novel, with more depth than a rom-com. A great summer vacation read for me!

I hated to leave the characters behind in Flying Solo, Linda Holmes second novel. I loved the characters and the theme of friendship. Maybe it is the two years spent in isolation during the pandemic, but the importance of having friends is something that I understand well. Holmes depiction of the role that friends play in her protagonist's life is a crucial plot point. The duck decoy is the means for drawing old and new friends together. The decoy represents strength and love and connections between friends, both in Laurie's life but also for her Aunt Dot, during her life.

Holmes plotting of Flying Solo is exceptionally well done. The plot is original and tightly woven. Flying solo is the first book by Holmes that I have read. However, I have already purchased Holme's actual first novel, Evvie Drake Starts Over. I want to thank Holmes and Ballantine Books for providing this ARC, for which I agreed to write an honest review. Well, this is an honest review. In case I have not made it clear, I loved this book. To easily solve all of Laurie's problems in the space of a novel would been an artificially false narrative. Instead, readers get the promise of a future with both happiness and solace.

Thank you also to NetGalley for introducing me to another wonderful and interesting author.

FLYING SOLO is the highly anticipated release by Linda Holmes, author of Evvie Drake Starts Over. The story centers around Laurie Sassalyn and her return to her coastal Maine hometown after her great aunt Dot’s death. Laurie is tasked with cleaning out Dot’s beautiful old home. She stumbles upon a duck decoy that could be valuable and may hold family secrets.

While I enjoyed the small town Maine setting and the second chance romance trope, I had a hard time getting swept away in this book. I didn’t feel invested in the duck decoy storyline and found the pacing of the book to be too slow for what I was looking for in a summer read.

I had a difficult time connecting with Laurie and her strong desire to “fly solo”. I got married in my late 20s, which by West Michigan standards landed me solidly in the “old maid” camp. I was independent for most of my 20s and treasure that time of transformative growth. Ultimately, I have found deeper joy in commitment to my husband and raising our family as partners. While I understand Laurie’s desire for independence, it just didn’t resonate with me.

Readers looking for a leisurely-paced romance with a summer setting may enjoy this one!

Many thanks to Ballantine books and NetGalley for an electronic ARC. Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks in advance of publication date.

I loved Evvie Drake Starts Over, and I was looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, the majority of it is consumed by Laurie trying to figure out why her great aunt, Dot, had a wooden duck decoy stashed under blankets in a chest, and then trying to get back the duck, and then trying again to figure it out.
Laurie lives in Seattle and has resigned herself to being alone as she approaches her 40th birthday. She called off her wedding and knows she doesn't want kids. But then cleaning out Dot's house takes her back to her hometown, and her high school/college boyfriend is still there (the reason she dumped him) and he's single and "hot," per her observation. Starting something back up with him seems doomed, because she doesn't want to stay there, and they live at opposite ends of the country.
Laurie just made everything harder on herself. I get being set in your ways, but if a great opportunity or situation requires a little rethinking, why not?
Bottom line - too much focus on the duck, and Laurie being too stuck in her ways.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Evvie Drake Starts Over was one of my favorite books the year it was released and so I was absolutely thrilled to get my hands on this newest release from Linda Holmes! I went back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, and let me tell you that the narration by Julia Whelan brought the story to life in a way that I wasn’t getting from the printed pages. Highly recommend picking up the audio!

When her great Aunt Dot dies, Laurie returns home to small town Maine to settle her estate and sort through her belongings. In doing so, she discovers a wooden duck decoy that sets Laurie on a journey to discovering more about her aunt, and herself, than she initially bargained for. She also finds herself reconnecting with her first love, her childhood best friend, and a whole cast of characters from her upbringing.

I really appreciated that Laurie at times drove me insane and other times I found her very endearing - she felt so genuine like all the almost 40 year old women I know, myself included. Nick was such a cinnamon roll and I adored the banter between him and Laurie. This book falls squarely into the lit fic/women’s fic genre (unlike Evvie Drake which I felt had a stronger romantic element driving the story), so just know that going in.

Thanks to Ballantine for the ebook and PRHA for the audiobook copy. All opinions are my own.

Evvie Drake Starts Over was one of my favorite books of last summer, so I was very excited to read Flying Solo. It is a very different book. I loved Evvie because it was a romcom that felt more realistic than typical books. The characters had believable intentions and feelings. Flying Solo felt very contrived. The duck heist was funny but totally unbelievable. The final resolution of Laurie’s relationship- it can’t possibly work. I felt like the theme of “single women with no kids can be happy too” was beaten into me . Did I enjoy Flying Solo? Yes. I’d even recommend it. But Evvie Drake was so much better.

I was excited to read this latest offering by Linda Holmes because I enjoyed her first book so much. Flying Solo follows the story of Laurie, a single woman who finds herself suddenly in charge of cleaning out the house of her recently departed & beloved Aunt Dot. Dot herself never married and lived quite a life, and Laurie finds herself connecting with her aunt's life in ways she hadn't previously expected. She also stumbles upon a mysterious wooden duck in her aunt's things that leads her off on a chase to uncover more of Dot's secrets.

Laurie also begins to reconnect with an old flame and suddenly finds herself pondering what her future might look like after all.

While this book fell slightly flatter for me that Holmes' first novel, Flying Solo is still a excellent sophmore attempt. I definitely recommend!

Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing a review copy.

I loved Evvie Drake and now I love Laurie Sassalyn and her independence. Linda Holmes has definitely become a go to author for me. I loved the sweet mystery weaved in Laurie’s story but I loved the friendships and the romance too. Highly recommend.