Sloth Goes Places - Maine

 

Sloth Goes Places is a feature where I share books I have tracked from previous Literary Escapes reading challenge hosted by Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book.

Today we are looking at books set in ....

Maine

Maine is a beautiful New England state well known for its lobsters. Sloth did have the pleasure of visiting Maine twice and a good time was had by all. 

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Effie Olsen's Summer Special by Rochelle Bilow
Published by Berkley on April 30, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

These childhood best friends swore they’d never speak again. But that was before a surprise summer reunion gives them a chance to turn up the heat.

Effie Olsen thought she’d never settle down on the tiny Maine island where she grew up, but she’s returning from a whirlwind sixteen years as a professional chef in far-flung countries for one summer and one summer only. Her hometown boasts one of the best restaurants in the US, and lucky for her, Brown Butter needs a sous chef. Effie is eager for a chance at redemption after her last job went up in flames, but reluctant to set down roots in a place that reminds her of the ghosts of her past.

Until, that is, she runs into Ernie Callahan, her onetime best friend who now works in the very same restaurant. Early morning swims and late-night games of truth or dare with Ernie remind her of what she’s been missing while traveling the world. He knows her better than anyone, and it doesn’t hurt that his smile lights her up brighter than the lighthouses dotting the craggy coastline.

But Brown Butter has a secret that’s bursting at the seams, and if Effie doesn’t keep it, her job will vanish into the foggy Maine air. As summer draws to a close, she realizes a second chance at her dream job and the perfect guy are both within reach. The salty seaside town of Alder Isle is the key to Effie’s sweet ending.... All she has to do now is learn to let her heart lead the way.

I LOVED this book! I wore a grin from beginning to end, and I found it hard to set this one down. I just wanted to keep spending time with Effie and Ernie. I loved all the history they shared and the ease with which they were able to resume their friendship. Things were the same but they were different, and that was a good thing for both Effie and Ernie. As much as this was a romance, it was also about Effie's personal journey. I was happy she was able to find her happy in a place she thought she left behind, and the future looked bright for her.

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Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Published by Ballentine Books on June 25, 2019
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

In a sleepy seaside town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth “Evvie” Drake rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house nearly a year after her husband’s death in a car crash. Everyone in town, even her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and Evvie doesn’t correct them.

Meanwhile, in New York City, Dean Tenney, former Major League pitcher and Andy’s childhood best friend, is wrestling with what miserable athletes living out their worst nightmares call the “yips”: he can’t throw straight anymore, and, even worse, he can’t figure out why. As the media storm heats up, an invitation from Andy to stay in Maine seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button on Dean’s future.

When he moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie’s house, the two make a deal: Dean won’t ask about Evvie’s late husband, and Evvie won’t ask about Dean’s baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken—and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more. To move forward, Evvie and Dean will have to reckon with their pasts—the friendships they’ve damaged, the secrets they’ve kept—but in life, as in baseball, there’s always a chance—up until the last out.

I absolutely loved EVERY second of this book! At first, I was won over by the humor. I audibly laughed so many times, and laughing is one of my favorite pastimes. Then, the romance took a hold of me, and I was swooning and smiling and just enjoying watching Evvie finally know what it's like to be properly loved by someone. And, finally there was all the deep emotional stuff. Some of it was really painful, but I was so proud of Evvie and the way she finally conquered her past and starting making her future.

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This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Published by Headline on April 2, 2013
Age/Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

It's been a long time since I read this book, but it still evokes warm and fuzzy feelings for me. It was a sweet and fun celebrity romance where the small town played a big role. I was utterly charmed by G and E and didn't want it to end.

Have you read any books set in Maine?
Let us know in the comments!