I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed this audiobook. I loved that the story continued where many books would have ended it. I hope there are more books about these brothers. The narrator was perfect, too.

I recently discovered author Jill Shalvis and I’m hooked! This is the fourth book in the Sunrise Cove series, a sweet romance that can be read as a stand alone.

Each book has been such a comfort read, and Jill somehow writes these heartwarming stories while also tackling hard hitting issues effortlessly.

*many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy

This is a popular title with many readers, so understand that this is just one opinion and appears to be firmly in the minority.
I got off-track in this book on the first page. Little things add up and jar me out of my willing suspension-of-disbelief. I'll show you my examples, and if they resonate, you'll probably be driven crazy like I was. If they don't, then I think you will love this book. This is the first page/opening of the story:

"Harper Shaw was a single snack-getting-stuck-in-a-vending-machine away from an anxiety attack. [She isn't standing at a vending machine, or in an office, or anyplace with a vending machine, so this is a confusing analogy] But hey, that was what happened when you decided nothing in your life sparked joy. You wiped your slate clean like an Etch A Sketch and started over.
A heavy sigh came from the shotgun position of her car.
“I know, I know.” Harper leaned forward a little, squinting into the dark night, broken up only by the white slashes of snow coming down. “We’ve been on the road for twelve hours and you’re hungry and bored. I get it, believe me. Who knew it could snow in Tahoe in July? But hey, it’s pretty, right?”
No response from the peanut gallery, so she reached into the passenger seat for her skinny popcorn [is this signaling that she is thin? just generic virtue-signaling?], pulling the huge, one-pound bag into her lap to munch on. “The point is, we agreed to stop being Eeyore. It never gets us anywhere or anything but heartbroken and shoved aside. We’re done with that. We’re only looking at the silver linings now. Positive thinking. Gotta dream it to live it and all that crap.” Sure, she was exhausted and frazzled on the inside, but she meant it. She’d just turned thirty and a corner on her life path. If it didn’t bring her joy, then forgetaboutit [Ugh.]. And speaking of joy, she found some driving over the majestic summit, taking in the staggeringly high peaks that were nothing but inky outlines against the stormy night sky.
She was pretty sure her beat-up sneaks weren’t going to stand up to this storm, and she didn’t have any sort of warm boots. She reached for her phone to access her notes and start a new list before she remembered—she no longer made lists. [Ok so she just reached for her phone while driving at night in a snowstorm. I'm expecting an accident now, and our hero to rescue her and berate her for using her phone while driving--but no...]
They hadn’t brought her joy. They, along with her ex-almost- fiancé, Daniel, had brought only pressure, unrealistic expectations, and heartbreak.
But she still had Ham. Aka Hambone, her 125-pound, five-year-old perpetual puppy Bernese Mountain rescue. The perfect male, he was loyal, sweet, and always kind. His only fault was that he got carsick—like, really carsick—unless he had his huge head out the window. This meant Harper was currently freezing, even with her heater blasting. [His face would be crusted with snow, right? And his nose--frostbite?? Not a cute image.]
Most of her belongings were in a moving pod that would arrive next week. But the things that mattered most to her were in this car. Ham, of course. Her mom’s recipes—one of only two things she had of the woman she’d loved more than anything. She also had her own beloved and essential baking tools, including her mixer and food processor, not to mention her jar of homegrown, irreplaceable sourdough starter and a tin of her chocolate and mint chip cookies, both out of this world, if she said so herself. She planned to use them to bribe people into wanting to be friends with her, because she could really use some. Or even one. [Is she going to give away the cookies--even though she is trying to start a bakery business? Is she only going to give free cookies to potential friends, and turn others away? Ok it will probably be at her house, but still it seems wonky.]

When I have this many questions on the first page, it's just not going to work for me. So I stopped and shook my Etch-a-Sketch and moved on.

The Sweetheart List, the fourth book in the Sunrise Cove series is a great addition to this series. I love that this series is all about friendship, new beginnings and found family. In this story, Harper Shaw needs a fresh start. She packs up what she wants to keep, especially her fur baby, and gets rid of everything that doesn't bring her joy. She heads off to Sunrise Cove at Lake Tahoe, the last place she remembers being completely happy. She rents a storefront online, with plans to open a bakery. She arrives early and finds the store and the apartment that comes with it, are not ready, in fact the apartment is basically uninhabitable. With the helps of her handsome neighbour who runs the bar next door, she gets everything ready and livable. Of course, it helps that he is her landlord. When she meets teen runaway, Ivy, she feels for her and takes her in. Has she found her new life and family?

I really enjoyed The Sweetheart List. It is a feel good, hopeful story that is a wonderful read for a summer day, sitting outside in your garden or by the pool. Harper has lived a tough life and was lucky to come out as put together as she was. Bodie Campbell was a grumpy, swoon worthy character with a heart of gold and baggage of his own. I loved reading about the growth of their friendship first, then a bit more. There were parts of the story that were a bit unbelievable, especially the parts involving Ivy, but I just went with it. This was an uplifting story, with wonderful characters who grew along the way, found family, romance and a trope that I love, grumpy vs sunny. Overall, this was a delightful story that I enjoyed by and in the pool. The audiobook was narrated by Andi Arndt, a narrator I have listened to many times, although often with a male partner. She did a good job with her voices, expression and tone. The pacing was a tad slow, but you would be able to speed the book up to your liking. I listened at 1.6 speed and it was perfect for me. I recommend this story in any format.

I really enjoyed this book that was a lovely mix of romance, new beginnings, relationship and family secrets and angst, and a nice dose of humor. The two main characters, Harper and Bodie, are total opposites in some ways, yet have some very basic experiences in common. They're surrounded by gorgeous geography, quirky friends and family members, and (yay!) an awesome dog. The only thing missing is recipes for the yummy things Harper bakes up in her newly established bakery and Bodie's bar food. Yes, this book made me hungry! Somehow I've missed reading any of Jill Shalvis' books up to now, but now I want to go back and read the previous books in this series, and get into her backlist as well.
Last, but certainly not least, I listened to the audio version of this and Andi Arndt's narration was impeccable, as usual - in fact it's was what attracted me to reading this one with my ears vs my eyes.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Duuuuude! Jill Shalvis has written an awesome book and Andi Arndt just knocked it out of the park bringing it to life with her narration! This book is definitely on my beach read must listen list for all my friends! Fantastic characters with a depth of emotions and written to be fully alive on the page, the narration just breathes that last little bit of life into the characters to make them feel alive! A story of second chances, overcoming self-doubt and starting over to make a life that you can find your happiness in with a dash of romance to make all of us swoon a bit! I'm definitely going to have to look for more Jill Shalvis books, how have I been missing this author! I have to admit that Andi Arndt is one of my favorite narrators so her breathing life into this book with her narration just makes it all that much better! This book is definitely a heart grabber and you won't want to leave the Tahoe area after reading it!

“Her breath caught. ‘You’re . . . serious about me?’ ‘Very.’ He grinned. ‘Even before you let me taste your . . . cupcakes.’” 😂 🧁

I loved this book! It is the perfect summer beach read. It’s sugary sweet and the brother banter was so genuine and believable I found myself frequently smiling and chuckling and their dynamic. Just a pure and enjoyable story!

“‘Oh, honey, don’t you get it yet? No one knows what they’re doing. Even people who love each other are going to act irrational or get mad, and sometimes you’re just going to have to realize that you’—she gently poked him in the chest with her finger—‘yes, you, are the asshole.’ He choked out a laugh.” You tell him Mom!! 👏🏻😂👏🏻😂

The audio was fantastic!! With different tones for each character I was absolutely lost in this story. This book is Sunrise Cove book #4 but I had no idea it was a series, so it can absolutely be read as a stand alone. I will be adding more books by this author to my tbr asap!

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books, Harper Audio, and the author for the ARC and ALC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Sweetheart List
By:Jill Shalvis
Pub Date: 6/13/2023
Publisher: Harper Audio

Another cozy Jill Shalvis romance! Harper trying to escape a life where she hasn’t been happy recently lands at Lake Tahoe to open a bakery to start over. Things don’t go as planned cause nothing is ready when she arrives but not being afraid of hard work it doesn’t bother her.
When she heads to the bar next door to get the keys she meets Brody, one of her 3 landlords. All 3 are brothers and always helping each other out. He warns her nothing is ready, but with nowhere else to go, she intends to sleep in the bakery and get to work first thing tomorrow. Until she hears somebody come in the back door and finds a teenager, Ivy looking for a place to stay.
Has Harper and Ivy get to know one another and start to share their secrets. Harper stumbles upon a truth Ivy hasn’t told her.
While getting to know Ivy, she’s also getting to know Brody, but could this truth change everything?

I really enjoyed how family focus the book was. Not only does Brody have two brothers, but he has a mom who wants to be very involved in her children’s life as well as nephews and sister in laws. You learn just a little bit about each of the brothers relationships too.

Add this to your beach read list this summer!

This is my first Jill Shalvis book, and I loved it! I found it very fun that it wasn’t just a typical romance with the POVs switching between the two love interests. Ivy enters the picture and adds a nice touch of connection between all of the characters and their different struggles. While I wouldn’t call it a heavy read by any means, it is also not too light and fluffy. I am definitely interested in reading some other books by this author.

4⭐️

I really enjoyed this one!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for my advanced audio copy of The Sweetheart List!

This is probably my favorite Jill Shalvis to Date!
After requesting this ALC and getting approved I realized that it was #4 in a series. You don't have to read them in any order. I started with book one and listened to them all. I enjoyed some more than others but overall they're all worth a read.

The Sweetheart list was narrated by Andi Arndt. She did an amazing job. I've heard her narrate quite a few books and I'm sure if you're an avid audiobook listener like I am, you'll recognize her voice.

This story was fun to read, easy to follow and very heart warming.

Overall- Definitely recommend. I look forward to reading more by this author.

The Sweetheart List has all the hallmarks of a Jill Shalvis story. It's a gentle story with enough drama/conflict to avoid sticky sweetness, a truly enjoyable read. When the protagonist, Harper, leaves her stressful city life, for a small town with the dream of opening her own bakery, she discovers the joys of living in a smaller community, and the bonds with neighbors that arise when you know most of the town. Among those people are her grouchy landlord, Bodie, and her originally prickly, but genuine new best friend. Toss in a newly arrived runaway who Harper takes under her wing, and the story sings with interesting characters and fun dynamics. The narrator does a good job with distinct voices for each character, none of which grated on my ears, which is a definite plus. I highly recommend giving this one a listen.

Harper decided to pack up her things and move back to Lake Tahoe to open up her bakery. Upon arriving at her new home, she meets her new landlord Brodie who is also the owner of the tavern next door. Harper also meets Ivy, a troubled teenager who left her home to find her biological father.

I thought this book was sweet and heartwarming. Harper was fearless, and she was determined to take on the world by herself until she met both Ivy and Brodie. Harper and Brodie had great chemistry together, and it was easy to root for their relationship. Ivy helped bring a different perspective to the story, and I loved how both Harper and Brodie welcomed her with open arms. The ending almost made me cry. I loved that the conclusion included the significance behind their backstory and how their relationship went full circle. The audiobook was great to listen to, and Andi Arndt did an excellent job as the narrator. The Sweetheart List is a touching story about the importance of family and second chances.


Thank you to NetGallery and to Harper Audio for giving me a copy of the audiobook.

This is a very sweet feel-good listen with the lightest romance.
The story reflects on found family, building trust, caring for oneself after a breakup, runaway teens, ptsd, loss of a parent, and so much more.
It’s like listening to a Hallmark movie but in the best way.

I LOVE books about starting over and second chances and this book honestly made me smile. I will most definitely recommend it to all of my friends for their summer reading lists!!

First and foremost, I want a dog like Ham!

Harper moves to Sunrise Cove for a fresh start. Almost instantly she encounters the grumpy Bodie, and mysterious runaway Ivy. Ivy's side story was as interesting as the main story, even if it was slightly predictable. The slow burn romance, the stories of the bakery, hard parental situations, and finding your place in the world are all wonderfully told and the narrator was superb.

I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Having read another Jill Shalvis book in this collection of Sunrise Cove novels, I had an idea of what I was getting into, but The Sweetheart List was even more delicious than expected.

I loved how Harper, Bodie, and Ivy all got POVs, and had really clear motivations. The cast of side characters (Brodie's brothers, Shay and her Abuela, etc) were all so much fun to read about as well. This book was heartwarming and somewhat predictable, but comforting - and I will never say no to a happily ever after.

Great for fans of...
- Gilmore Girls small town adorableness
- a loveable meddling family
- smart banter and word play between our MMC and FMC
- a runaway teen who isn't quite what she appears
- amazing baked goods
- self discovery
- emotional romance (with one little bit of open door action)
- a sweet dog (who gets carsick easily)
- and an epilogue that fast forwards two years and provides great closure

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook, I knew of Jill Shalvis but had never read anything by her but this audiobook really hit the spot: I wanted something totally different from what I had been reading, most of which were historical fiction titles with heavier topics. I appreciate that this is a lighter read but still gave me something to think about regarding relationships, honesty and how we treat the ones we love.

Cute story. Can be read as a stand-alone. Typical woman returns to a town she hadn't been to in years and falls in love. Also has a twist to it involving a man finding out he has a daughter. Nothing new, but would be an easy beach read.

Thank you to Harper Audio and to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook.

This is the first book I have read by this author. I requested it because I liked the premise of the book and thought it sounded interesting.
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I was not at all disappointed with this book. I enjoyed the storyline of this book . It has some serious topics, but also some funny moments as well. I really liked how she blended this story, and I will definitely be reading more titles by this author as well as recommending it to people I know.

Also I listened to this book as an audiobook, and the narrator was fantastic!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eAudiobook, The Sweetheart List.

What would you do when everything falls apart? Well, Harper got rid of everything that did not spark joy in her life and I think she really found herself in this novel. This novel offered romance, family drama, love, healing and was a sweet read.

I thought the book really focused on Harper, Bodie and Ivy which I loved, because it didn't have too many characters to try to remember and chase around the novel. All the characters were well developed and easy to understand their histories and where they were going. Excited for another book in this series to read about where they are going to end up.