3.5 stars.

I adore the small-town setting, though I did feel like too much was being crammed in: diner, filmmaking, painting, photography, sculpture, baking, etc. The description felt more like telling than showing — long detailed passages in straightforward everyday language — and while the pictures being painted are lovely, I have to admit that I wish the prose matched.

The characters weren’t exceptional, though definitely sympathetic; mostly they contributed to existing archetypes, and similarly, the plot seemed to be built on a foundation of tropes. (The exception is the Freckles subplot — who doesn’t want the lost dog to find his way home?) But while I’m generally a fan of diversifying the relationships portrayed (siblings, in-laws, coworkers/friends, neighbors, etc), the way Nora talks about her sister’s boyfriend makes him sound like a love interest, though nothing of the sort ever happens or is even implied beyond her observations of his tattoos and kindness and baking skill. On the other hand, the romance seemed propped up by convention and expectation — sure, Elliot’s a great guy, but I wasn’t super invested in whether they got together.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable enough read, but probably won’t leave much of an impression.