Simply Starstruck

by Aspen Hadley

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Two years after losing her husband, Kate Evans is finally learning how to breathe again. One year after her aunt uproots her and her young son back to Colorado, she’s starting to believe that maybe—just maybe—this new life could work.

Then three very different men walk into her world.

There’s Alec, young, carefree, and always ready for fun.

Nate, a steady, divorced dad who feels safe, familiar, and everything Kate thinks she should want.

And Jess, the literal boy next door—who also happens to be a movie star straight out of every girl’s dreams.

Between water slides, competitive croquet, and moments she never planned for, Kate is forced to confront grief she’s tried to bury—and the possibility that love might still be waiting for her.

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Book Details

Genre

Romantic Comedy

Subgenre

Celebrity / Rockstar, Small Town

Audience

Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑🫑

Profanity

1 None

Violence

1 None

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

1 None

Publication Date

November 13, 2018

Language Versions

English

Fiction Form

Novel

Sensitive Themes

Grief or loss of a loved one

Representation

Single-parent or widowed-parent protagonist

Simply swoony!

This was really good - it starts out a little slow as it builds the story, yet somehow it still managed to be engaging the entire time.Kate is a bit of a mess, but so very sympathetic and easy to like. The supporting characters are excellent as well.Best of all is one of my favorite elements - the witty dialogue!So why only 4 stars? Well, I get where Kate was suffering from a form of abandonment as well as grief, but the confusion & angst went on a bit too long & a bit too far - to the point that it seemed like she should have been getting counseling (actually, given the state of grief from which we're told Cass rescued her, she needed it from a ways back)Jess is a wonderful guy, practically too good to be true, but I liked that the author doesn't make him a complete saint - he's human enough that he gets tired of giving Kate space and says so.The supporting characters are used to full effect. Cass & Zinn, Ethan & Wes. So warm, fun, & funny. I love the scenes with the Sullivans - game night was hysterical! Even the lesser, more 2D characters help to really build & flesh out the story.By the time I finished the happily-ever-after epilogue, I was in a complete state of contented warm fuzziness. 🥰*Clean romance level: passionate kisses

Hard to get into

I just couldn't get into the book. I tried but nothing was interesting. Sorry. I will definitely try more from this author tho

Fun chick lit-style read

Aspen Hadley is a new-to-me author, but one whose voice immediately made me feel as though I’d put on a comfy pair of jammies and settled in for movie night with my bestie. First person point-of-view works so well when you have an engaging narrator, and Kate Evans is definitely that, with her mix of self-deprecating honesty and wry humour.As the entire novel is written from Kate’s point of view, this reads a little more like chick lit than contemporary romance, and the story is as much about Kate sorting herself out as it is about who she eventually ends up with. To begin with, I had a little difficulty believing she was an adult with an eight-year-old son, and I was honestly a bit annoyed with the way she behaved. She came across as immature and didn’t exactly show her best side (and I’m not just talking about her yoga pants and slightly embarrassing mishaps!). But this changed as I got further into the story, and I gradually found myself absolutely and completely absorbed by the inner turmoil Kate was experiencing over the developments in her life.I won’t spoil anything by mentioning who she ends up with, although it was fairly obvious from the outset, but I loved him from the beginning. His temperament was the perfect balance for Kate, and he ramped up the romance quite nicely at the end! If you’re looking for a fun chick lit-style read, this is a great addition to your TBR.

Bookstruck ;)

I could not put this book down. I have read a lot of romance, and found this one is different in a great way. This book pulls you into Kate’s story, and is funny at times, thoughtful and bittersweet at others. I enjoyed reading about Kate’s personal growth and her fun, quirky side. Her aunt Cass and Zinn kept me laughing at their feistiness as well. Happy reading!

Great romantic comedy

I really enjoyed this quirky and fun romantic comedy. It had me laughing a lot, with some toe-curling romance thrown in as well. Being inside Kate -the protagonists- head was a hoot. She is so funny! Her thoughts on sweatpants alone were hilarious. Jess was a perfect swoony hero, and I loved his character. A great clean read for sure!