When I first started reading this book I thought the premise was interesting. I often wonder what my life would be like if I had made a different decision when I was younger. And here the story is showing the outcome of both decisions. I was also drawn in by the "christmas". Unfortunately, this book isn't very christmas-y so there was the first disappointment. 
I found it hard to actually like the main character. I didn't like how she couldn't make a decision or have the back bone to stand up for herself. That she needed others to tell her that she was doing the right thing. I felt like I was suppose to be thinking she was so wonderful for choosing to "stay", for choosing to help Dom, for making the best of the worst situation. I didn't. But I kept reading.
The two lives became repetitive and very similar. There was so many opportunities for the different lives to take different directions but it became hard to figure out at first which one you were reading. That often took me out of the story which is a big negative for me.
I was done when we got to a point where Bea did not stop the interference from her family in her relationship with Dom. It was ridiculous that she just let that happen without saying anything. I should have been done when Bea decided to met later with a guy she met on the plane but would not give her any info about himself, including his real name. Oh well. 


Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to try to read this story. 

This is my first Matt Haig book. I was not one of the millions back in 2020 or after that read The Midnight Library (and probably never will be at this point) but I was expecting this book to be as good as "they" all said the last one was. 
I tried so hard to like it. I tried to keep reading the see where this was going, it started off just all right so it took a lot of effort when I was thinking about all the other books I could be reading instead. I kept reading to try to get used to the style and to find something to grab ahold of to keep my interested. I gave it my best shot but I gave up at almost 30%. There was nothing happening, in my opinion and I did not like the main character. And things started to turn weird, and unrealistic.
And really.... who responds to a letter from a former student who really is asking for help with a "letter" like this? 

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Canada for the opportunity to try to read this book.

Well I didn't dislike it because I kept listening, but I was expecting way more from this "horror". Maybe I was expecting too much?

The first half of the story was spent establishing the family dynamics and the vacation, and I thought things were going to get started. There were little hints but nothing. The plot got a bit better in the last part of the book but I was disappointed by that. I think I drifted off at the end because then it was done. There was no big plot twist, no spooky can't handle it, no "in your face" to the family, nothing. 

The audio was good though and that helped a lot. I was able to listen at 1.70 and did not have any problems with sound or garbled words.

Neither bad, nor great. It was just ok for me. It’s a clean - no sex, no swearing - perfect for a Hallmark movie, kind of story. An easy, quick read of found family and realizing what you really want in life. 
What I didn’t like was the predictably, which was eye-rolling at times. As well as the lack of flow, disjointed and missing details that then were sometimes addressed later. It left me wondering each time something didn’t feel right if it was going to filled in later. I don’t like to be disturbed while reading, especially by the story that I’m suppose to be reading. 

Side note… I was not aware until I read the author’s acknowledgements that this is considered a christian book. If I had known that I would not have picked it to review. I prefer to read books without references to church and a bible. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to read this book.

This was a great debut book for the author. I was drawn to it by the cover, then the title! Being a bird watcher all my life and a romance story lover…. just perfect! 
This is a very open door romance with a side plot to make it interesting. A quick read, with characters you can like! There was just something from holding me back from being all in with the romance. 

A big bonus that the main character is over 40! I hope the author keeps with this age group because there is not enough books with this. I would be reading them all!

I listened to this book. The two narrators did a great job and were easy to listen to.

Overall, I like this story. It had Hallmark feels in a little package and would be great for a quick, get-in-the-mood for Christmas read. It is also a very clean romance, if you like that kind of romance. And I loved the book cover!
 
I get that this is a novella and that "things" move faster in a novella but this was just too fast. There were so many points that were left unexplained. There were too many issues that were apologized and forgiven too fast. There was a "romance" that moved from re-kindling to proposals faster than realistic. The characters could have used more development. 
I also did not like that the two sister's names were so close - Madison (Maddy) and Addie, or the weirdly placed christian references. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for the opportunity!