It is a poignant and interesting take on life for women in the 1960s. When Marilyn gets caught (by the whole congregation) kissing the rabbi's son, she gets sent to stay with her aunt after refusing to marry him. She engages in a short fling while staying with Ada at Avalon, and her perspective changes. When Daniel (the rabbi's son) comes calling, she initially rejects him but comes around with Ada's insistence. The unexpected ending is the cherry on top of the whole story. One of the best books I've read in a while!

Sara Goodman Confino writes the sweetest stories. This book is no exception. I love the world she's created. I love the mischief and antics these women of such different generations get into together.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino in exchange for my honest review and opinions. This book drew me in from the first sentence and kept me flipping the pages late into the night. This might just be added to one of my favorite books of all times. LOVED IT and recommend it to everyone I know! :)

3.5 ⭐️ Started out really enjoying Marilyn’s story. I wanted to like it more than I did in the end, I found many aspects of the story predictable.

Don’t Forget to Write is such a charming and effortless read! This book pulls you in with its relatable characters and heartfelt story about second chances and the power of words. If you’re a fan of contemporary romance with a dash of nostalgia, you’ll love how the author weaves together love, loss, and the magic of reconnecting. It’s an easy, feel-good read that’s perfect for a cozy weekend!I’m

"𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘨𝘺 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨—𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘧𝘪𝘵.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦."
•
I'm not sure why, but coming-of-age or stories of self-discovery are often hit or miss for me. I remember when 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙚 was at the top of what seemed like everyone's yearly faves lists and it was only so-so for me. But I'm happy to say that this one was very much a hit!
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Marilyn Kleinman is sent away for the Summer to her great-aunt Ada's house, after being caught making out with the Rabbi's son in front of the whole congregation and then refusing his marriage proposal to save face. But what begins as a punishment, turns into a wonderful Summer of getting to know her matchmaker aunt Ada, and herself in the process.
•
Although the vibes and cover of this book give Summer, I enjoyed it so much that I would advise an immediate add to TBR. I put off reading it for a while and then wished I hadn't. I loved Marilyn and Ada's special relationship so much and I very much wish I had my own great-aunt Ada 🧡

🎥 Adding this novel to my list of books I hope will be adapted to film. If casted right, it would be SO good 🤩

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝:
- 1960s East Coast setting
- Jewish representation
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel vibes
- a sprinkle of romance
- complicated familial relationships

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was a heartfelt and witty novel that wasn’t only funny but also had emotional depth. The story follows a young woman navigating life changes and family expectations while discovering her voice. The characters were relatable and the storyline was charming. It was all just delightful!

I though <i> Don't Forget to Write</i> was a cute summer read. It's definitely a very fluffy book and the main character is a bit of a Mary Sue, but if you want something that's just fun to read on the beach, this one fits the bill.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this book.

*NetGalley review*

I don't think I could possibly love this story more than I did! The characters--perfection. The plot and historical elements--perfection. The humor and writing style--perfection. The Jewish and LGBTQ+ rep--perfection. I can't remember the last time I got so invested in characters and truly didn't want the story to end. Ada and Marilyn's relationship was effortless and they thrived off of each other. I felt a lot of different emotions throughout this story, but the biggest one was definitely a feeling of warmth and love. This was everything that I needed to read and more. Bravo, Sara Goodman Confino! You have a new fan in me and I can't wait to read everything you have out. Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Goodman Confino, and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so well executed - you connect with the characters, and are cheering them on throughout the story. Loved the confidence that Marilyn built and the relationships that were portrayed. She did a fantastic job of building the characters and providing just enough information that makes the reader want to read 'just one more chapter'.

It would be amazing if everyone had an Aunt Ada that allowed you to grow into your full potential!

Must read book and now a 'go-to' author for me.

Thank you @netgalley @lakeunionpublishing and @dontforgettowrite for sharing an amazing novel.

Goodman Confino has written a witty, humorous, and heartfelt story that grabs you by the throat right from the start. This is a coming-of-age story set in 1960s New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey. Rebellious teen Marilyn’s strict Jewish father sends her to live with her 75-year-old aunt Ada for the summer as punishment. Instead, they form a great friendship, and many great life lessons are learned. I had a big smile on my face for most of the book.

As this was a new-to-me author, this book was a great surprise to me as I enjoyed it so much all the way through. I look forward to whatever the author may have in store for us next. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I gave it five stars.

Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino is a fascinating work of women’s fiction. Set in the 1960’s, this book is a look at what it meant to be an independent woman in a time when that was extremely rare. This book starts with a bang and will quickly interest you. Readers of this genre will definitely enjoy it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

"Don't Forget to Write", by Sara Goodman Confino, is a vibrant tapestry of 1960s Americana, where the pursuit of dreams clashes with societal expectations. The novel follows Marilyn Kleinman, a young woman whose scandalous romance leads to a summer of self-discovery under the tutelage of her great-aunt Ada, a formidable matchmaker in Philadelphia.

Marilyn's character is a blend of youthful rebellion and naivety, her spirit yearning for a life penned by her own hand rather than dictated by tradition. Ada, in contrast, is a maverick in her own right—sharp, sophisticated, and unexpectedly progressive. Their dynamic is the heart of the story, offering a blend of humor and poignant moments that capture the essence of an era on the cusp of change.

The setting—a summer in the bustling city of Philadelphia and the breezy Jersey shore—serves as a perfect backdrop for Marilyn's internal and external journeys. It's a world of Frank Sinatra tunes and the allure of the Atlantic, a place where freedom seems just within reach.

The book's central conflict revolves around the tension between individual desires and societal pressures. Marilyn grapples with the choice between a comfortable, prescribed future and the risky allure of forging her own path. This dilemma is handled with a deft touch, providing enough depth without overwhelming the reader.

In terms of writing, Confino's prose is fluid, her wit sharp. The editing is tight, ensuring that the story moves at a pace that is engaging without sacrificing detail. The narrative voice is confident, and the dialogue crackles with authenticity.

Additionally, the plot, while engaging, treads familiar ground and may not offer many surprises for seasoned readers of the genre.

It's a commendable piece that captures the spirit of its time and offers a charming, if somewhat predictable, journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

I really enjoyed this book. I love everything Sara has written so this is no different. Everything is so good and she has such well developed characters. I can’t wait for her next book to come out

'Don't forget to write' is a historical novel set in the 1960s that reads very smoothly and is surprisingly funny. Marilyn is sent to her Great Aunt Ada after she misbehaves and at first this seems like hell on earth. However, the development of the relationship between Marilyn and Aunt Ada is one of the greatest strengths of this book and was a pleasure to witness. The story is well paced and not too predictable. I enjoyed this very much!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book! My sincere apologies for the late review - life unfortunately got in the way....

I loved the characters and their development in this book. The book had me drawn in from the beginning. I thought the plot was so original and definitely enjoyed the whole story.

I loved this book. It’s so beautifully written and I was completely engaged with the plot. The characters are delightful and develop well throughout. It’s one that I would definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel. This was a very fun book, even if predictable and with some stock characters. The pacing is great and the location on the Jersey shore in the 60s is the stuff dreams are made of. If only all of our struggles were this easily resolved. This type of story is how Hollywood was made. It embodies lightness and optimism. It's the kind of book you buy for all your friends because everyone will love it.

Historical fiction, gender roles, Jewish rep, Philly/Shore setting, coming of age story.

Set in the 1960's Marilyn is caught kissing the rabbi's son and is given an ultimatum - marry him or go stay with her great-aunt, Ada, in Philly for the summer to set her straight and repair her reputation. Ada is a matchmaker but has strict rules about dating for Marilyn but also lets her learn her own lessons.

Ada is fashionable and lives life as she wants, these details are in vivid color and throughout the book you grow to love her. She encourages Marilyn to live the life she's imagined.

I loved the romance, and coming of age themes, and that marriage isn't everything and creativity is worth prioritizing.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. What a wonderful read! The story is amazing and has a coming of age feel to it. I wish Ada was my Aunt she was so lovely! The story is about finding and staying true to yourself. We all need more of that!! Highly recommend and looking forward to reading more by this author.