ho there, howdy, and good morning ❤️ i cannot express how excited i was to get a chance to read this — not only do i love sarah adler, but this book seemed engineered for me in a lab. childhood best friends, a treasure hunt for a mysterious local legend (and maybe the spark between them…), a woman in academia, and all set in maryland no less??? she did this for me!

needless to say, it did not disappoint. there was such a perfect balance in both the characterization and relationships presented in this book; nina and quentin had individual issues as well as interpersonal ones that felt nuanced without becoming too heavy handed. i especially liked how nina was portrayed as realistically struggling with her anxiety while still using some of the tools she learned from her therapist — i feel like sometimes protagonists either completely flail the entire time or heal a little too quickly/magically, so i appreciated her growth a lot!

i also really enjoyed the treasure hunt aspect of it all. it did feel like it briefly fell a little to the wayside around the middle (maybe just because there was a bit less detail?), but ultimately it picked up a lot and the resolution was so worth it to me!! i actually wept like a little baby at the 95% mark — that means i’m now 3 for 3 in terms of sarah adler books making me cry, by the way. i can’t recommend any of her books enough!

I flew through this one and really enjoyed it. The treasure hunt is fun, even if it’s a little - “the real treasure is the friends we made along the way.”
I really liked these two characters and the backstory. I do think it moved a tiny bit fast for me from a relationship standpoint. Not quite enough time relearning each others as adults and a lot based on feelings at fifteen years old. And the jokey nickname of cookiepuss did give me the ick every time. That said, would still definitely recommend!

Really a 3.5 stars read. While the plot lines and characters are simple (in the sense that we have back stories but we really don’t delve too deeply into any of them) this is a heartwarming and fun read. I would have like to see more of their banter and silly scenes watching this friendship develop into a relationship. We spend so much time going backwards/looking to the past we don’t get to see how they interact as adults.

There was a great scene when the main characters are pretending to be engaged to get access to a specific room, that is the dynamic I wanted to see more of. When the main characters finally kissed and had their moment it was cute but it didn’t have me screaming for joy/excitement.

Both timelines message was maybe it’s the love we realize has always been there. Enjoyed this but wanted more.

'Finders Keepers' was delightful. A sweet second chance romance about realizing what's really important and finding who you want to be. Childhood best friends who had a falling out run into each other while back in their hometown 17 years later. Both recently single and jobless, they decide to try and solve the local treasure hunt they were working on as teenagers. And maybe they find more than treasure. I've read both of Adler's previous books and she just keeps getting better! Bonus points for the MCs being in their 30s,

Unfortunately this book didn’t keep my attention, I loved the idea of the plot and was really interested to see it all play out. The pacing was slow and I found some of the characters actions to be slow to move the story forward. I am hoping to pick this back up when I’m in the mindset for a slower story!

I absolutely adored this book! I've loved everything I've read from Sarah Adler so far, and I this is no exception. This book was very fast paced and fun, and I loved the treasure hunt premise. I thought that Nina and Quentin were such great main characters and love interests; they were very strong and relatable individuals, and I really loved reading about their past relationship, as well as their relationship in the current time! Nina and Quentin had great chemistry, and I loved watching their relationship rebuild and redevelop. I also really liked the side characters! Nina's mother was such a fun character. The humour in this book was also really well done, and it had me laughing out loud. Overall, this is one of my new favourite rom-coms, and I would completely recommend it! :)

Another absolute hit by Sarah Adler! She has such a fun writing style, and I devoured Finders Keepers so quickly. I am already recommending it to patrons and have it on our purchase list. Highly recommend. It's adorable.

As an elder millennial, this book had a lot for me to relate to. I felt like the main character was just anxious enough, just quirky enough, and really made me feel like we could be friends. I enjoyed this open door romance and the side/main quest for the romance to happen through.

Dnfed at 30%
really disappointed to dnf this one but the writing style was just not for me, I cannot say that there’s anything wrong with the book, we just did not click, and if i carried on to finish it, i felt like the rating I would give wouldn’t be reflective of the effort of the author.

Nina’s life is in shambles and she just wants to spend a quiet summer in her childhood home to gather her strength, lick her wounds, and rebuild. Too bad when she arrives her childhood best friend, who completely ghosted her after their almost kiss - is also back home too. He wants to forgive and forget and finish what they starts all those years ago - to find the hidden treasure left by an eccentric billionaire tycoon nearly a century ago.

What’s to love…
- second chance romance (childhood friends)
- treasure hunt and a bit of adventure
- self-discovery
- a red-hair MMC (my weakness!)
- cheeky humor + goofy MCs
- slow burn A++ tension
- a bit of a story within a story as we learn about the elusive Julius Fountain

What’s not to love…
- long-winded inner thoughts some might find a little frustrating (me, i’m that someone)
- lack of communication drove me a bit bonkers - I feel I’m always a bit frustrated with lack of communication in romance books!

CUUUTE

okay, i have to be brutally honest, nothing will beat gretchen acorn and her sexy goat farmer man and ghost friend (Happy Medium)

and i will FOREVER have a soft spot in my heart for Mrs. Nash's Ashes (because it was my first Sarah Adler)

but i will read anything this woman writes!! and i will have a GOOOOOOD time doing it

read if you like:

- second chance romance
- slow burn
- friends to strangers to friends to lovers
- small town
- treasure hunting

spice level🌶️ — i would say there are one and a half spicy scenes? so 🌶️🌶️ ish?

tamer than other romance books (even tamer than other sarah adler's, actually) but still has that open door aspect that some people prefer (and others prefer to avoid)!

Finders Keepers is one of the best romance novels I’ve read in ages. The rekindled relationship of estranged childhood friends Nina and Quentin is by turns heartwarming, quirky, and scorching hot. I loved their inside jokes, their complicated history, and the humor and vulnerability of their window conversations. Sarah Adler’s clever writing kept me riveted as I flew through the pages. Every line of dialogue is a gem. Highly recommended!

Okay, you have to trust me when I say keep on reading it even though it’s a bit slow. Why? Because I was feeling a tiny bit bored in the beginning that I wanted to DNF it, but I kept pushing through. Thank goodness that I did because it’s such a cute romance that I enjoy so much. Just pushed through the slow beginning, and it’s going to catch up.

Besides the slow start in the beginning, I truly enjoyed the endless banter between former childhood friends reuniting again. It may have been some years since Nina and Quentin last saw each other, but their feelings for one another aren’t lost. It may be some bitterness and angst at first since they haven’t spoken or seen each other for so long. Yet, the rivalry between Nina and Quentin is stronger than ever when they decide to pick up their treasure hunt again.

I know what you are thinking: why spend time with each other when there are still hurt feelings between Nina and Quentin? Because they still love each other. Nina and Quentin just need to confront the past. And the past is a doozy during teenagers years.

Thank you to Berkley for allowing me access to the digital ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 stars! WOW. Sarah Adler's books keep getting better and better - I was enchanted by this book within the first 20 pages. Just as Nina says that one can't help but feel something around Quentin, the same very much applies to this story. I absolutely LOVED it and I adore the two characters she's written and how relatable their mental health struggles are. Nina especially was relatable to me, as someone who also gets anxious and jumps to conclusions sometimes (and also makes sounds like EEP! when scared lol). The writing was SO well done, the plot was super engaging (and I loved the history lesson at the end of the book!), and the 90s nostalgia and the banter between the two main characters had me giggling out loud frequently. I do wish we had a bit of closure on MacDonald, because I was really starting to like her the last time we interact with her on the pages.

I have to call out the spice for two reasons: firstly, the tension building between the Nina and Quentin felt electric and was incredibly well written. Like, that one scene in Sprangbur during the private tour? (IYKYK, not giving spoilers here) Hot. Damn. Which is why, secondly, the way some of the spice written later in felt kind of... vague? Slightly glossed over? Again, keeping this spoiler free.... there were times where the spice was super open door, got me really invested... and then suddenly felt like the door was closed almost all the way. It was a lot of foreplay but then somewhat anticlimactic with the descriptions of what followed (which is funny since the scenes typically related to the opposite of "anticlimactic"). It was almost a disservice to the characters after pining after each other for over 17 years. Now, it could very well be because I had an ARC and there might be some changes to the final book when its published in a few months, because I don't recall feeling this way with either of her previous books I've read.

And that last bit still not enough to keep this book off of my favorites list and continuing to recommend it to everyone to read. Highly recommend!

Finders Keepers has a lot going for it. The main male and female characters are likable and well developed. I loved their inside jokes and the childlike nature of their relationship. The mystery/quest to find the treasure didn’t really resonate with me. I never completely connected to the story behind it, and I didn’t really care about the characters in the past enough. I think if I had made more of an emotional connection to it, it would have made the story much richer for me. But the relationship between Quentin and Nina was enough to keep me engaged. Bonus points for the conversations with the moon. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

I feel conflicted about this one because while the premise was cute and I liked the overall plot, I just couldn’t really get into these characters. I didn’t really feel any tension or chemistry and I was often wondering if I cared if they got together at all. However, the overall plot and premise were fun and did keep me turning the pages.

In Finders Keepers, Sarah Adler has served up a heartwarming, hilarious, and just the right amount of spicy tale featuring childhood sweethearts, a treasure hunt, and a little touch of magic. Yeah, I said it—magic!! Meet Nina, She’s had one of those months, and now she’s back home in her small town, trying to figure out what the heck comes next. Enter Quentin, her childhood BFF who also happens to be back in town to prep his house for sale. They haven’t spoken in years, but suddenly, Quentin’s knocking on her door like, “Hey, remember that treasure hunt we were obsessed with when we were 15? Wanna finish it?” Which, okay, is extremely random, but Nina agrees (because who can resist the allure of an old mystery?) and thus begins the most charming and hilarious journey of rediscovery.

It’s equal parts cute and nostalgic but with a sprinkling of suspense and mystery to keep you flipping the pages. The treasure itself is almost secondary to watching Nina and Quentin’s relationship evolve—from old friends to maybe-something-more—but the hunt adds this great, adventurous layer to the story. It also helps them confront their past, and like, I won’t spoil it, but the reveals? Chef’s kiss.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the e-arc!

Well written second chance at life and love novel.

Nina and Quinton are both coming off of job changes, breakups and moving back home. For a distraction they renew their attempt from when they were teens to find a buried treasure on an eccentric property in their hometown.

Learning that life plans at any age should be written in pencil as one needs to adapt and adjust to all those things one cannot control in life and love
.
Would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Sarah Adler's romances! The premises are always so quirky, the characters so real, the banter hilarious, and the romances so swoony and satisfying.

A rom com that has great characters and a great story. Part mystery, part steamy romance. I couldn't put this one down!