3.5 stars.

A sweet novel about a woman going through a divorce and trying to find out exactly who she is. Her grandmother's story is entwined in with both women's love of Patsy Cline.

Part of it was after Effie (the main character) has a near death experience she now is able to see dead people. It was so well handled and I got dang attached.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

I absolutely loved this book. It was funny, upsetting and I went through all the emotions. I felt like I was on a journey with Effie as I felt a strong connection with Effie, who by the way I absolutely loved.a definite recommend
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are my own.

It is very much a secular and new age book. Apart from the idolizing and basic worshiping of Patsy Cline, there are mentions of tarot cards, manifesting, auras, etc.
Effie sees and talks to dead people. Grandma's pov/letters don't make any sense to the story. There was also a point where there was conjuring up "spirits." I had to DNF at that point as this is far beyond what I am comfortable reading. Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

This was a slow start, but once I got into the book (around 1/2 way) I could not put it down. Effie is learning to reinvent herself as a woman and mother after a divorce. When she goes in for a "refresh" something happens during surgery that leaves her seeing dead people. While trying to figure out what comes next, she seeks guidance from her grandmother and singer Patsy Cline. While also making an unusual friend in Cameron. The story has two timelines - letters that Lola (effie's grandma) writes to Patsy Cline and Effie's present day perspective. I truly enjoyed the characters, the unexpected twists and turns and the incredible growth experienced. I loved the family relationships, the connection to friends and the overall positive feeling the book left me with.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This has the unusual conceit of entwining Effie with her grandmother Lolly's letters to Patsy Cline. This is all about Effie finding her bliss and it's nicely done. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I loved the way Effie’s life and her grandmother’s intertwine, with Patsy Cline’s works (I love Patsy!) as a guiding force. Our connection to artists we love plays such a big part in our lives. It’s only natural that in each stage of our lives those songs influence and speak to us in different ways. If you liked the family love and drama of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, If We Ever Get There will be a great read for you!

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced reader's copy of this publication.
Cute story. Not a huge fan of the letters to Patsy and the back and forth so I downgraded the stars for the content. But overall I enjoyed this storyline. The characters were easy and likeable and made for a quick read.

After almost twenty years of marriage, Effie Baker and her husband are getting divorced. So, she decides it's time for a mommy makeover to help boost her confidence. When she wakes up, she could've sworn she died and saw a vision of Patsy Clein telling her to make things right with her life. Make what right exactly? She's not sure. She does know that her grandmother Lolly is a huge fan of Patsy Clein. So maybe she's connected somehow? While figuring this out, she's also juggling a brand new job, a mysterious stranger, her ex Daniel, and daily life with three kids.

Oh my heart! It's been quite a while since I've read a book where I've felt such a deep connection with the characters. Effie is such a sweetheart. She's the type of wife and mom who takes care of everyone but herself. Then, one day, she's blindsided by her cheating husband. Her whole life is upturned, and now she's trying to find herself and who she is as a single woman. The writing in this is phenomenal. It will have you hooked from the very beginning. You will not want to put it down. You'll be laughing, you'll be outraged on Effie's behalf, and you will also be in tears. For anyone who has ever felt like you are not enough but need reassurance to know that you are perfect just the way you are, this is the perfect book for you.

IF WE EVER GET THERE
Laura Barrow

After reading CALL THE CANARIES HOME last year I was expectantly waiting Laura Barrow’s sophomore novel. I adored Canaries (and it was my fave post/photo I’ve done) so as soon as I heard about IF WE EVER GET THERE I was thrilled. I try to only skim blurbs so I have something to look for and seeing that this was not only the title of a Patsy Cline song but that Patsy herself was a part of the book… well, I was sold. Thanks to Laura and Brilliance Publishing I was also able to read this immersively.

The themes of this book hit home for me. I went through a VERY similar journey as Effie (minus the vision of Patsy.) So I related strongly to the book. Inhaled is the only proper word to describe my reading of this. I couldn’t put it down.

Written in dual pov, Effie and her grandmother Lolly’s lives are woven seamlessly. The side characters had depth and one in particular put a huge smile on my face. (Won’t spoil anything, I’ll just say the spirit moved me.) The audio narration by Megan Tusing fully encapsulated Effie and Lolly. My reading was enriched by the audio.

Thank you to @katerockbooktours for including me in this tour and @brilliancepublishing for the audiobook. Also, thanks so much Laura, for helping me through your work. These thoughts are my own.

The concept of this story is unique. Effie, our main character, is coming out of surgery, she has a vision of Patsy Cline giving her life advice. “Time to set things right.” She has no idea what to make of it but makes it her goal to figure it out. This leads to interesting situations.

In the background throughout this book is Effie's grandmother. As a young woman, she was obsessed with Patsy Cline and addressed all of her diary entries to her. The chapters alternate between Effie's story and the grandmother's diary entries to Patsy Cline. Each one of Effie's is titled by one of Cline's songs. Indirectly, the grandmother and Patsy Cline give Effie strength throughout the book.

The story is multi-layered, marriage break up, infidelity, managing life and bizarre outside influences. I had to suspend my beliefs a little but there were some humerous situations! In the end, this is a story of acceptance and self-realization. It's a little fluffy on the surface but has lots of substance underneath the fluff.

I found the second half of the book to be more interesting than the first half. The story seemed to flow better and it was easier to immerse myself in it. Perhaps as Effie came into herself, so did the story.

I'm rating this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I appreciate a great romance, especially one that has tragedy, complicated family dynamics, hope and a good dose of humor, in addition to love. If We Ever Get There delivers all of the above through two delightful main characters, Effie and Lola.

Effie is a mother who has devoted so much time to her family that being a mother is basically her identity. When her marriage falls apart, she feels overwhelming blame and failure, seeking to boost her morale through plastic surgery. Unexpected complications with her surgery equals unexpected new perspectives and, most definitely, unexpected new skills. She can now communicate with dead people. Grab yourself a drink, get comfortable and see where this new ability takes Effie and who she is destined to meet.

Lola is Effie's grandmother, who tells her coming-of-age story through letters to her role model, Patsy Cline. We all have someone who inspires us, and in this case, it is a famous singer. Lola is finding life difficult at times, but the guidance and inspiration from Patsy is her compass and her strength to tackle life's dilemmas.. This adoration of an icon is passed down through generations and delivers a unique element to this story. The line of communication between Patsy Cline, Lola and Effie is strong, delivering a compelling ending.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are my own. What a lovely read!

DNF about 50 pages in. The writing is good, the concept is interesting, but I’m not finding myself pulled in enough to continue reading (lacking the “must keep reading!” desire). This is very personal and not a criticism of the book, please do give it a chance!

Following the life-altering upheaval of her personal life, Effie undergoes a "mommy makeover" that unexpectedly ends in temporary death, leaving her with the ability to speak with the dead.
After her husband leaves her for a younger woman, Effie takes on a new job and encounters a new ghost named-Cameron, her boss’s deceased brother. She finds herself driven not only to aid Cameron but to also rediscover her own sense of self. This novel is an enjoyable reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent oneself.

Effie's journey in "If We Ever Get There" is a heartfelt exploration of resilience and self-discovery. Laura Barrow masterfully weaves together themes of family, love, and finding one's voice against the backdrop of a captivating storyline. Effie's encounters with the spirit of Patsy Cline add a whimsical touch to the narrative, drawing readers in with intrigue and charm. Barrow's writing style effortlessly balances light-hearted moments with deeper reflections, creating a story that resonates long after the final page. "If We Ever Get There" is a must-read for anyone seeking a tale of empowerment and hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of If We Ever Get There by Laura Barrow, in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! Effie was portrayed so realistically it was like sitting with a friend. This was a captivating, realistic, and heartfelt portrayal of a woman remembering who she was and discovering who she is now.

I look forward to reading more by Laura Barrow.

Laura Barrow takes you on a heartfelt journey as you follow Lola’s diary entries from the 60’s, addressed to the one and only Patsy Cline, and the present day life of Lola’s granddaughter, Effie.

Effie’s life has taken somewhat of an unexpected detour; relationship trouble has left her putting the pieces of her life back together. As someone who is a natural “people pleaser”, Effie must navigate life as a single mother of three. With the help of her best friend Grace (everyone needs a Grace in their corner!), her new boss, and a -very- unexpected new friend, Effie must learn how to start putting herself first- just as her grandmother, Lola, learned to do in the 60’s.

Barrow writes of the beautiful journey Effie encounters while wading through her current situation. I loved the journal entries from Lola, watching her confidence and independence as a woman blossom through her relationships; with her mother and with Wallace. It was such a delight when Lola’s entries began to cross over with Effie’s life. Along the way, I found myself smiling and encouraging Lola while sympathizing, rooting for, and sometimes wanting to shake some sense into Effie!

This novel is a wonderful reminder that nothing in life is promised. Dust off and chase those dreams and goals you’ve once set for yourself, it’s not too late!

If you loved the movie Ghost, then 5is book will please you. Effie is ,an aging three teens, an ex husband, a less than encouraging mother, and turning 40. The mysterious stranger starts Effie on a journey of self discovery and healing. Throw in the letters of her grandmother for nostalgia

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union publishers, for letting me access this advanced reader copy with its inviting cover. In If We Ever Get There, Laura Barrow pens the story of a woman scorned who first blames herself for her husband’s infidelity then loses her identity in its aftermath. Poor Effie. Her husband of nineteen years has cheated on her with a younger woman, who is not much older than their teenage daughter. Effie hopes if she changes her body and amps up her wardrobe, he may return to her. Enter Patsy Cline.

Barrow’s whimsical portrayal of Effie's hallucination in surgery (or some sort of fantastical result from a medication reaction) and her grandmother Lola’s journal filled with letters to Patsy Cline lead her to realize that the change she needs to make comes from within. The reader follows Effie on her journey to healing. If We Ever Get There is a fun read about serious topics, with Barrow’s typical wink and a smile style that immerses the reader in an easy story filled with serious topics like infidelity, distrust, the struggles of motherhood, and intergenerational love. Though Effie annoyed me at first with her attempts to reunite with her husband, when her path shifted, I applauded her new choices. Readers who enjoy stories about women’s self-realization against the odds will enjoy this novel and certainly anyone who has been cheated on by a spouse will understand the mindset that Effie has and how difficult it is for her to believe in herself again. This positive review is my personal opinion and is not made in consideration for access to the ARC.

I loved, loved, loved If We Ever Get There by Laura Barrow!! The country music element was such an amazing surprise, song lyrics, dual pov, second chance romance trope- I mean this is only a few of the things that made me love this book! Hooks you right from the beginning & keeps you wanting more!! READ THIS BOOK!!!

Thank you NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for the ARC copy of this book.

Effie is a 40-year-old mother of three teenagers who has been left by her husband of almost 20 years. She has surgery and it seems like she died and was brought back to life. When she saw the light she also saw singer Patsy Kline and she doesn't know what to make of that. Little does she know that her life will change very much.
I really enjoyed reading this book but I have to say it took me a while to get into the story. After the part where Effie met Cameron though I was hooked. I loved the story and especially the throwback parts to Lolly's youth. Really a great story with relatable characters. If you enjoyed watching the series "Ghostwhisperer" this book is definitely one for you.