This was a sweet and heartfelt read that really hit me in the feels. Gracie Harris Is Under Construction beautifully balances themes of grief, love, and finding yourself again after loss.

Gracie is such a relatable, layered character, and her journey is one of immense growth and self-discovery. Watching her navigate the messy process of healing while trying to honour her past and embrace her future was incredibly moving. Her interactions with Josh, the charming contractor, added a light, tender touch to an otherwise emotional story.

The setting of the ramshackle mountain house was so vivid—it felt like its own character in the story, perfectly mirroring Gracie’s inner transformation. The writing is warm and engaging, making it easy to connect with Gracie and her world.

This book is about resilience, second chances, and learning that it’s okay to rebuild, even when life feels shattered. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves stories with heart, depth, and a touch of romance.

Beautiful, sad but tender, It's one of those books that will stay with you for a very long time. It's emotional and cute at times yet always respectful of how heavy the themes can be. I cried and I laughed and I am so very grateful that I picked it on whim. I will be thinking about these characters for a long time. I couldn't stop reading it from the first page and when I had to stop (because life) I was thinking about the book. Thank you to the author for sharing this story with us and I hope this debut novel is just the start to many more!

I LOVED this one! This was a great first read of 2025; Gracie's story immediately had me drawn in, and Kate Hash's writing was just what I was looking for in a novel like this, Likable characters, good character development, great witty banter, a wonderful sense of place, and just smart writing overall.... my only "complaint" was is this based on Nora McInerny's life? Although TBH it's not really a complaint, but so much of Gracie Harris reminds me of Nora.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Add this one to your TBR... it's a good one.

Gracie’s story hit me like a quiet storm; unexpectedly gentle yet impossibly powerful. This book isn’t just about love after loss; it’s about rediscovering life itself, piece by piece. The writing balances heartache and hope so seamlessly that I felt every emotion with her; the fear of moving on, the guilt, the tiny flickers of joy that slowly grow. It’s a book about second chances, not just in love but in how we live, dream, and let go of what could’ve been. Tender, uplifting, and so beautifully human, this story left me with a full heart and a reminder that even broken pieces can create something breathtaking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me with this ARC of Gracie Harris is Under Construction by Kate Hash.

This is the best book I've read in a long time. I was hooked early on and was so taken by the emotional journey this book led me on. Going into this, I didn't know that this was the authors debut novel and when I found that out I was so impressed! I will definitely be adding this author to my insta-buy list! The way she wrote was so engaging and emotional and I was so captivated by her emotions and what she went through.

I cried so many times and I hi-lighted so many sad and funny lines. I loved that even with the seriousness of the topic at hand, It was a really great balance.

The book follows the main character, Gracie Harris, after the death of her husband, Ben. A year later, she is still picking up the pieces. One of the biggest things that was left unattended to was the vacation home they bought together in the small town of Canopy, barely a week before he died. The house is a fixer-upper to say the least.

Gracies real estate agent just so happens to have a brother, Josh, who is.a general contractor and is willing to help Gracie with repairs. So with her kids off to camp for the summer,, she hunkers down in Canopy to write her memoir while Josh works on the house.

Personally, I loved Josh from the moment he was introduced. I think that he was the perfect person for Gracie and I don't have one bad thing to say about him. Romance was not the focus of this book by any stretch but it was a very well done sub plot and it was essential in helping Gracie move forward in her grief journey.

I'm a sucker for any book that has a main character who is a writer. As an aspiring author I find it relatable and inspiring so that was a really fun element as well.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Penguin Group Dutton , via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gracie Harris is Under Construction 4.5⭐️

First, thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC of Gracie Harris is Under Construction by Kate Hash. I was so excited to get the opportunity to preview this debut novel and it did not disappoint.

I will preface by saying while this book is a romance, it is dominated by the topic of grief. If you are a crier, like me, you may be ugly crying in just the first chapter, be warned. This book however, is beautifully written and doesn’t shy away from the tough topics. I think this book could be incredibly cathartic for a reader in a similar situation or experiencing grief of any kind.

Gracie Harris is a realistically flawed main character. She is experiencing the worst year of her life and learning to live in her new reality as a young widow/single mom while also navigating a new career that brings unexpected fame. I found her to be very relatable and funny. Even when she made mistakes it was easy to see why and to continue to root for her.

The author has a beautiful way of talking about the writing process that it made me want to read Gracie’s book and I’m not even a memoir lover. I liked that tidbits of the memoir made it into the story and that we got to read some of the essays/pull quotes from the column.

The romance in my opinion was not the star of the show but I do think the tension was palpable between Gracie and Josh from the start. A closed door romance felt appropriate given the main story line. I think open door may have been too much or taken away from the story. Josh was a wonderful love interest/MMC but honestly I thought he was a little too perfect. I loved how supportive and understanding he was but I find it hard to believe any man would be this perfect. It was also a bit of tease that the ex fiancée was so hyped up for that plot line to only last a few pages.

I also wish her kids had been a little more involved. It seemed too neatly wrapped up to have them at camp for the entirety of the story only to come home and immediately accept Josh, a new home, and completely different family dynamics. They seem like pretty easy going kids but I’m not sure it would ever be this easy in real like.

Overall, I am so happy to have taken a chance on a debut novel and I will for sure be on the lookout for future work by this author.

This was heartbreaking at times with the grief process but overall, I truly loved this book. I love second chance romances due to a death of a spouse and this was just very well written

#GracieHarrisIsUnderConstruction #NetGalley

Nine chapters in and still could not get into this book.

Grief and second chances is a trope that has hit the contemporary romance market. It’s a tough sell as the author has to balance a FMC’s first love abruptly cut short with being receptive to a second one that the reader could realistically accept.

Wish the author hadn’t relegated her kids to the sidelines. Only at the start and end do they make much of an appearance. Weaving in Gracie’s relationship with Ben could have better developed too.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Penguin Group Dutton , via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

5!! I don’t even know where to begin to explain how much I love this book. Gracie Harris, a single mother of two, lost her husband, Ben, over a year ago. Now, with summer here, her children are away at camp, she’s working on her memoir, and a charming contractor named Josh is renovating her home. This is a story of grief, love, and learning how to move forward in life.

First, let me acknowledge how beautifully written this book is. It strikes the perfect balance between romance and Gracie’s deeply personal journey through grief. It’s often tricky to craft a romance that doesn’t overshadow character development, but this book does it flawlessly. We see Gracie grow and heal as she falls in love with Josh. And Josh, wow! He never outshines Gracie but instead offers just the right amount of support. I also loved the word choice in this book, I can tell it was carefully picked. I am a firm believer that words matter, and here they are so intentional. A standout example is Gracie’s desire to “move forward” rather than “move past” or “get over” the loss of her husband. This distinction honors the Gracie who loved Ben while showing how the present-day Gracie has changed and continues to grow.

The romance? Absolutely breathtaking. From the moment they meet, it’s the quintessential “look of love” moment. Josh and Gracie had a connection like no other. It was palpable throughout the pages, much like the tension. A quiet yearning for one another that was shown through words and looks. What sets their relationship apart and makes it so special is how they first build a genuine friendship. They become each other’s safe place, someone they can trust completely. Honestly, it makes me go insane to think about how perfect they are for each other.

This book touched me deeply. Every part of it was emotional, and it’s been a while since I felt such a strong connection to a story. I loved every single page. I could gush about it for hours. By the third act, the tears were flowing, I was absolutely wrecked, but in the best way. I think some of those tears were from sheer disbelief at how beautifully everything wrapped up. I’ll end with my favorite quote: “...good people wait, and are worth waiting for.”

Take a chance on debut authors. Read this book—you won’t regret it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton imprint for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kate Hash's debut novel is a can't miss. I did not want to put this book down, once I started reading it. Gracie's story is so sweet and well written. Highly recommend for readers of Sophie Sullivan and Falon Ballard. Can't wait to read more from this author.

This book gets into the mess of grief, love, and finding strength in yourself all over again. The sharp, emotional writing leaves you with all kinds of feelings, and I couldn’t stop rooting for Gracie.

I fell in love with Gracie and her family from the first few pages of this novel. Hash’s writing is excellent and drew me in. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.