Holmes' debut novel Evvie Drake Starts Over was a breathe of fresh air in the romance genre, and was one of my favorite books of 2019. Unfortunately, I found Flying Solo lacking in the charm and excitement of Evvie Drake.

The mystery of the duck decoy was cute, but not high stakes enough to really grab me and hold my attention. I thought the main character's love interest and their relationship was well developed but their chemistry, while good, still wasn't enough to make me fall in love.

One thing I did appreciate was how the main character was a size 18 but was naturally an object of desire, and it wasn't treated as a big deal or something out of the ordinary. We need more dynamics like this in books!

This book was just ok for me, but while I didn't connect with the characters or the story this time, I still think Holmes is a great writer and I would absolutely give her next book a chance.

Flying Solo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/14/22
Author: Linda Holmes
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 320
Goodreads Rating: 3.87

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing a digital advanced readers copy of the book for me to read for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Smarting from her recently cancelled wedding and about to turn forty, Laurie Sassalyn returns to her Maine hometown of Calcasset to handle the estate of her great-aunt Dot, a spirited adventurer who lived to be ninety. A mysterious wooden duck shows up at the bottom of a cedar chest. Laurie's curiosity is piqued, especially after she finds a love letter to the never-married Dot that ends with the line, "And anyway, if you're ever desperate, there are always ducks, darling." Laurie is told that the duck has no financial value. But after it disappears under suspicious circumstances, she feels compelled to figure out why anyone would steal a wooden duck--and why Dot kept it hidden away in the first place. Suddenly Laurie finds herself swept up in a righteous caper that has her negotiating with antiques dealers and con artists, going on after-hours dates at the local library, and reconnecting with her oldest friend and first love. Desperate to uncover her great-aunt's secrets, Laurie must reckon with her past, her future, and ultimately embrace her own vision of flying solo.

My Thoughts: This story is narrated by Laurie, from her perspective. A lot of reviews complained that the duck was the point of the story, but really the duck is what brought together second chance romance while pursuing the duck. The character development was spot on, there was depth, they were amazing banter between Laurie and her high school flame, Nick Cooper, and there was passionate chemistry between them as well. The author’s writing was complex, creative, intriguing, and kept me engaged from page 1 through the end. This was a very cute love story and where Laurie finds herself and what she wants in her life. I highly recommend this book!!!

I really enjoyed this unusual romance. Nature journalist & Seattle resident Laurie returns to her Maine home town to clean out her beloved great aunt Dot's house after she dies at age 93 after a long and colorful life. Dot's house was Laurie's refuge growing up, since she was smack in the middle of five kids, her and four brothers, and sometimes the cacophony was more than Laurie could bear.

Laurie is about to turn 40, and recently ended an engagement. During the course of the book she is coming to realize that she is a happy loner -- she definitely doesn't want kids, and while she loves her friends and family, she really cherishes having her own space and defining the outlines of her own life.

So, Dot, who had many friends and lovers, is in many ways a beacon for Laurie. On returning home, she re-connects with her first love Nick and discovers that there is still a strong bond and current running between them. But in no way is she ready to move home give up her firmly established existence. She also discovers a carved wood duck decoy which spins off into an interesting mysterious sidebar in the book.

I loved these characters, and I really liked the honest way they dealt with relationship challenges and adult life. There is not a conventional happy ending in this book and that was just perfect. Just good people trying to figure it out. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and the lovely story of Laurie and her Aunt Dot at the heart of it. A little mystery, romance and the theme of finding oneself when it who you are doesn’t look like everyone around you. Four star read and I will definitely look forward to reading this author again!

I went into this book knowing very little about it, and it was my first by Holmes. I really appreciated the way she portrayed a main character who valued her independence, did not want to get married, and did not want to have children. I wish there were more characters, particularly in books with a love story woven in, that featured characters making these choices. I expected the plot to drag on a be a little boring, but I actually flew through this book and enjoyed it. It was a cozy read, and I think I enjoyed it more as I read it shortly after returning from a long weekend in New England. I appreciate the author’s writing style and will definitely keep her on my radar for future releases!

Evvie Drake Starts Over was one of my favorite books of 2019, so I was so so excited to get an ARC of Flying Solo. And, while I did enjoy Flying Solo, it didn't blow me away like Holmes's first book. I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe it was a bit slower, or I didn't connect with the protagonist as much? Maybe my expectations were a bit high. Overall, Holmes's writing style still drew me in, heartfelt and raw.

Having loved Evvie Drake Starts Over, I was over the top excited for Flying Solo. While I enjoyed this one, it left a bit to be desired for me. There were some subtle references to Evvie, and I am always a sucker for Easter Eggs when authors provide them, which was fun. Overall, Flying Solo was enjoyable but not a must-read for me.

3.5 Stars

Thank you to Random House Ballantine for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Linda Holmes' debut title was excellent, but this one was even better. I loved the story of adults acting like mature adults; none of the overdone misunderstanding/miscommunication tropes. This was one a joy, beginning to end.

Linda Holmes famously from NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour is out with her second novel, and is quickly becoming one of my go to authors. Her books are so delightful, but she is so good at adding a complexity to her characters that just gives these stores so much substance.

Laurie has come home to take care of her beloved Great Aunt’s estate. Her best friend June is by her side through this trying time. And she has an instant connection with HS ex-boyfriend Nick who happens to be recently divorced.

Laurie hires a service to assist with the cleanup and while everything appears to be going swimmingly and she can return to Seattle soon, she comes across a strange item in her Aunt’s possession, a decoy duck. Laurie cannot understand why her aunt would have kept something like hurried. As she sets to uncover more about this artifact, a few shenanigans arise, that help drive this story.

Such a charming read, and I was sad it was over. I am so looking forward to Holme’s writes in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Flying Solo, Laurie is struggling with turning forty, being unmarried, and out of a regular job. She goes back to her hometown to clean out her great aunt’s house after her death. Growing up with 4 loud brothers, Dot’s house became a peaceful place for Laurie. Dot has left boxes and boxes of Polaroid photos behind of her travels all over the world and a few men friends she had along the way. One day, Laurie finds a wooden duck decoy buried in a quilt chest and goes on a journey of discovery about who made the decoy, where it came from, and why Dot has it and kept it hidden in the first place. While finding answers about the duck, Laurie discovers a lot about herself along the way. Working with her friends on the house and solving the mystery of the duck, Laurie figures out a lot about herself and that it’s ok to be different from what the world expects of you at age 40. This was a fun second novel from Linda Holmes. Evvie Drake even gets a mention!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Finally! A romance where the heroine who is very much independent, older, and is more concerned about being her own person rather than being in a relationship.

Books like this are rare. You read my rant about the typical rom coms and here instead we have the antithesis of one that yet, still very much has heart. It’s smart and tender about Laurie who is about to turn 40 and after escaping from a marrying a man very not for her, she flies back to her small hometown in Maine where she comes across a mystery, second chances, self-discovery, and love. Love doesn’t always mean romantic and this book sets up what it’s like to love and be loved from all types of people, places, and things. If you want a look at a life well loved and travelled, read no further. (It’s also a fast read if that is your thing.)

The only hiccup, and it is small, is that the ending seemed a bit forced. I get what Holmes was going for but it could have been better written. And oh! The heroine is plus size. Always a plus in my book.

Flying Solo is a novel by Linda Holmes, author of Evvie Drake Starts Over. Laurie Sassalyn returns to her Maine hometown, Calcasset, to handle the estate of her great-aunt Dot, who was a dynamic adventure seeker who lived to be ninety-three. In going through the belongings of her beloved aunt, Laurie finds boxes of Polaroids, travel memorabilia from around the world, and a mysterious wooden duck at the bottom of a cedar chest covered by blankets. Laurie’s natural curiosity is piqued, even more so when she discovers a love letter to the “old maid” Dot that ends with a very cryptic line mentioning ducks.

In speaking with the estate agent who is to help Laurie dispose of the property, she is told that the duck has no value, but then the dealer is anxious to give her $50 anyway, leading Laurie into doing a little investigation of her own. This leads to a twisted caper involving her best friend June, her actor brother, and her one time boyfriend, as they unravel both the shoddy dealer and her aunt’s secrets. In doing so, Laurie must figure out how this fits with her own past and future and decide if her vision is the same as Aunt Dot’s.

With wonderfully drawn characters and a twisted plot, Flying Solo is a story you won’t soon forget. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Flying Solo is a sweet, cozy romance about second chance love.
The story was just ok for me. I found myself getting distracted as I read on and on. I’m not sure why but it did not keep my interest as much as I had hoped it would.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I adored Evvie Drake so had high high high expectations for this one. I did like it, a lot, but not as much as Evvie. But that’s ok, they are completely different books (duh). I loved the characters in this one, the setting was great, the whole duck thing was fabulous, I loved learning about her great aunt’s life as well. Loved the nod to Evvie Drake.

I love how she writes families and friends, the relationships feel so realistic and authentic. Her writing is witty and fresh, and I laughed several times. I found the whole book very heartwarming overall. I really liked Laurie and how true she stayed to herself, even if part of me wanted her to want the things I wanted, lol. But truthfully I liked that it was different.

Overall, I really did like this one. I thought it was a sweet romance/women’s fiction with a side of mystery. I will continue to read anything this author publishes.

When you’re a woman nearing your 40s and have never been married, how does society perceive you? How do you perceive yourself?

This heartwarming novel focuses on Laurie, a single 39-year-old who returns to her hometown in Maine after calling off her own engagement. The only daughter in a family full of sons, she is tasked with the family duty of cleaning out her single great-aunt’s house after she passes. As Laurie sorts through photos and memorabilia collected from the many places that her Aunt Dot traveled, she finds a mysterious wooden duck. This sparks her curiosity as to its origins, and when it is taken, she enlists the help of others in the community to retrieve it and figure out Aunt Dot’s true past. Along the way, she reunites with an old love, and must reconcile her feelings with the security and love that she has for the new life she’s built away from her hometown. She learns what it means to be loved, to be secure, and to be truly content.

What I Love About This Book:
-This is not your average small town romance novel. There’s a realism that women will appreciate when they read this book. As a woman who got married in my 40s, I could relate to Laurie. My desire to get married in my 20s didn’t happen, so then I started to travel and create a life of my own that didn’t rely on anyone but myself, a life that I was proud of and loved. Laurie’s concern about giving up the life she built as a single woman to pursue a committed relationship is not something you encounter often in these kinds of novels. It introduced a different kind of internal conflict, one that many will relate to and appreciate.
-The witty banter between the characters, especially with Laurie and Nick, was so cute! I absolutely loved it.
-The case of the missing wooden duck was one of my favorite parts. Was I curious and a little skeptical about how interested I would be in a wooden duck when I started this book? Absolutely. But I found it to be cute and endearing, as well as humorous. Growing up in a small town, this all felt like something that could happen in my community.

In all, I enjoyed this book. It’s charming, different, and definitely worth reading. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this book.

This book is so lovely. I have been a longtime fan of Linda Holmes from her work at NPR and really enjoyed her first book, and this one was even better. I love a hot librarian, and all of the characters in this book felt so real and lived-in. I hope Holmes continues to write books in this Maine universe for many years to come.

I enjoyed Flying Solo, but not as much as Evie Drake Starts Over.

What I liked:
- Small town vibes
- Coastal Maine
- Dynamic characters
- Overall message that you can define for yourself what a happy & healthy likes looks like
- Independent women
- Family themes

However, something about the duck plot didn't quite work for me. I couldn't quite take it seriously and it felt very random.

3.75/5 stars

If you would have told me I’d be invested in a book whose plot centers on a wooden duck, I would have said you were nuts…

Yet here we are! Laurie is turning 40 and has just ended her engagement. She’s coming to terms with the idea that she does not want to be married. She goes back to her small Maine hometown to pack up her beloved aunts home. She spent a lot of time with her aunt and used her home as a sanctuary to get away from her 4 brothers growing up. As her aunt never had children, she decides to take on the responsibility to take care of her her things and she is determined to make sure her aunts legacy is properly honored.

When she’s packing things up she finds a mysterious wooden duck. Laurie is a wildlife journalist, so its origins are very interesting to her- so she calls a local businessman to come over and appraise. I will be honest- for the first 50 or so pages I was on the fence. We didn’t get to meet her aunt- so why did I want to watch Laurie pack up all of her crap?! However, once things got going I really enjoyed it. There’s a great supporting cast of characters including an altruistic librarian ex boyfriend and I loved the Maine setting. There was a bit of a mystery and I liked that our MC was a woman who was very comfortable with her choice to take a more non traditional path in life. There’s a small nod to the authors previous book, EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER, and I loved thinking about what happens to a persons legacy once there are no more branches on their family tree. This would be great if you’re looking for a character driven summer story with characters to root for.

Many thanks to @penguinrandomhouse for my free copy!

It's hard to top Evvie Drake, for sure, but this one had a lot of the same small town charm given it was set in the same fictional town. It took a bit longer for the story to get going, and was a bit more predictable when it did eventually get there. I did eventually find myself rooting for the characters, despite some of their more annoyingly headstrong moments. I really wanted to know a lot more about Dot and her life, but also about Ginger and Joe. I felt like we didn't get nearly enough about these characters, but maybe in a subsequent book we'll hear more about them and their lives. Overall a solid read, and I will happily keep reading Linda Holmes' charming stories set in small town Maine.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Evvie Drake Starts Over, and was excited to see another book that took place in this town. I thought this book was fantastic and found it to be extremely enjoyable. The characters were relatable, the wit was great, and I liked that the main character didn't change who she was and adjust major things about herself to be in a relationship. I gave this book 5 stars because it was simply an enjoyable book.

Pros:
The mystery of the duck was so interesting and I liked that Laurie figured out the whole story behind the duck with the support of those around her.
I loved Laurie's character. She was independent and intelligent and I really liked how she was so content with knowing what she wanted in life and not being ashamed to admit it and diverge from the common path that so many people take. That said, I liked how June helped Laurie approach the conflict with Nick towards the end of the book, as it felt like a needed conversation to address a legitimate concern of Laurie's that entering into a relationship would eliminate her independence and identity.
The solution that Nick and Laurie came up with for their relationship was very refreshing and was a nice way of showing that sometimes you need to do things your way even if it's not the way everyone else does it and it's not how the world tells you that you should do things.

Cons:
This may be my own desire for vengeance, but I really wanted Matt to get busted and have his business shut down. Once it was revealed the truth behind his business and nature, I strongly sympathized with Laurie and wanted Matt to go away.
While it was slightly touched on when Ryan entered the story, I think it would've been nice if Laurie had been closer with at least one of her brothers as an adult. As a kid I get why she wasn't close with her siblings, but I would've liked to see more positive sibling relationships.