Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail
Ratings61
Average rating3.9
15
Ratings61
Average rating3.9
An interior designer learns to rebuild her love life from the ground up with zero blueprints in this new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn't Care.
For Astrid Parker, failure is unacceptable. Ever since she broke up with her fiancé a year ago, she’s been focused on her career—her friends might say she’s obsessed, but she’s just driven. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn’s renovation that will be broadcasted on a popular home improvement show, Innside America, Astrid knows this is the answer to everything that is wrong with her life. It’ll be the perfect distraction from her failed love life, and her perpetually displeased mother might finally give her nod of approval.
However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru’s granddaughter and lead carpenter for the inn’s renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Jordan is determined to preserve the history of her family’s inn, particularly as the rest of her life is in shambles. When that determination turns into a little light sabotage, ruffling Astrid’s perfect little feathers, the showrunners ask them to play up the tension. But somewhere along the way, their dislike for each other turns into something quite different, and Astrid must decide what success truly means. Is she going to pursue the life that she’s expected to lead, or the one she wants?
Featured Series
3 primary booksBright Falls is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2022 with contributions by Ashley Herring Blake.
Reviews with the most likes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Honestly, I didn't expect much because the plot sounded just like a fun queer read but nothing more.
I guess I was wrong lol
I fell in love with astrid and how she explored her identity, I was surprised by some plottwists (in a romcom??), and I enjoyed the general setting in bright falls.
Also, it well pretty true to tone when it comes to queer sex which was surprising.
The only thing hindering me from giving 5 stars was the immense display of queer folk. Generally, I love how many different sexuality and gender identities were present in this book (literally all of her friends, her sister, the filming crew, even the baker staff). All that was a bit over the top for me tbh.
But still a great read with lovable characters and a feel-good atmosphere :)
The first 100 pages could've been condensed to 50 but it was cute and I was entertained
I want to yell from the mountain tops about how much I love this series. I am head over heels for Jordan and Astrid. This book was so swoon-worthy. I fell asleep reading this book at 11 pm and woke up at 3 am and kept going on a work day. I loved their discovery of their true passions. I loved the descriptions that the author gives of the way the characters look, the way their clothes look, the way their designs look. I felt like I was in the Everwood with the Blue Lady the whole time. I'm happy that Isabel is having a mini redemption like Astrid had in the first book. I loved the cherry stem/drunk on the swings scene, I loved that the author mentions other famous queer romance books in front of the rainbow bookshelf, I didn't love Natasha or Simon, but the way this book hooked me in, I can overlook anything I didn't like.
my unedited review from 2023 when i read this book for the first time - (Be nice to me I was not a smart kid, still not but im not 16 anymore)
I loved Delilah green which is why it pains me to say but I didn't enjoy this book,
There are a lot of things that get brought up that seem important but arnt
< I spent the first half of the book assuming Jordan was widowed when in fact her wife had just left her, astrid felt like a completely different character then in the first book >
This book would have been better off as a stand alone with completely new characters in my option.
