ENTERTAINMENT REALM

Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick. Publisher: NAL (May 2014). Contemporary fiction. Paperback. 336 pages. ISBN13: 9780451465856.

“She’d seen the northern lights in Sweden and fed baby elephants in Thailand. She’d danced at Carnival in Brazil and gone snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. She’d traveled all over the world having once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
But she’d never had a garden.
She’d never learned to play the piano.
She’d never let herself fall completely in love.”

Flight attendant Summer Benson lives an itinerant life, barely unpacking her suitcase, staying in one place or in one relationship for very long. Summer’s smart and independent. She doesn’t want to rely on anyone but herself. However, on a flight to Paris she considers accepting her current boyfriend’s proposal when disaster strikes. After a scary crash, he unexpectedly breaks up with her by her hospital bedside. She’s been the one to break-up with guys in the past.

Devastated and unsure about her next stage she heads to Black Dog Bay, Delaware known as the perfect place to recover from a breakup. The seaside town is idyllic with its Better Off Bed-and-Breakfast, Eat Your Heart Out bakery and Whinery bar. The town’s built itself as a breakup haven. A place for the broken-hearted to heal, to recover and gain the strength to move forward.

“Summer had never seen herself as the marrying type, and in fact had strict rules in place: Never stay in one place too long. Never stay with one man too long. She knew what would happen if she broke these rules. If she needed a man more than he needed her. She had experienced the fallout firsthand.”

Summer clicks with several locals including bookstore owner Hollis, Whinery bartender Jenna and boutique owner Beryl. She also starts dating the mayor Dutch Jansen. Of course she spars with him at first and claims he’s not her “type” and she’s never dated anyone like him before but that’s exactly why they work. Of course when things seem perfect they’re not. The town’s meanest, wealthiest resident Hattie Huntington holds a longstanding grudge against Dutch Jansen’s family. She’s bitter and making things as complicated as possible for everyone in Black Dog Bay as possible. Summer will do anything to protect her temporary new town even if she must give up her first-ever love.

Cure for the Common Breakup is a wonderful weekend/ summer read. There are both quirky and touching moments. You’ll immediately get wrapped up in Summer’s story.

RATING: ***/5

–review by Amy Steele

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for review from NAL/ Penguin.

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