Captivated
Romance (fade to black)
Published 2024 by Putnam Books
soundtrack: August – Taylor Swift
Moving, warm, teaming with just enough humor for happy tears and depth for sad ones, ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ will be on my shortlist for favorite romances of the year.
Ali is stuck. Between losing her mother, her unfulfilling marriage turned impassioned divorce, and the nonstop nature of raising three kids, she struggles to find herself among all the mess in her life. Enter Ethan, full of bold laughter, a love of skateboarding, and lots of eye contact. But it is summer, and she has the kids, and he lives out of town, so how could it be anything more than a summer romance? Just wait! The chemistry!
Annabel has a true talent for capturing the nitty-gritty of everyday life and making it romantic. This book feels comfortable like your favorite t-shirt, soft and a little worn, yet always makes you feel good. The crux of the plot is simple everyday life, and I love how she captures so much of the undulating emotions of motherhood in her words. It is refreshing to read about a late-30s woman who still feels like they don’t quite have it all figured out and is still learning who she wants to be. The romance is enchanting and yearning. I swoon at how much they notice each other. Plus, much of this book focuses on family dynamics, and I was captivated by their complexity.
{light spoiler ahead}
I had the absolutely stellar luck to see Annabel on tour. While I was excited to read ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ after hearing her speak, I had no idea what an absolute imprint this book would make on my heart. While I am not grieving a parent or in an unhappy marriage, I am a mother, a daughter lucky enough to have a loving mother, and I was once a young teen who was bullied by the mean girls at school and a witness to how that impacted my parents. I cannot remember the last time a book gutted me the way I cried reading this one. The mother-daughter dynamics are masterfully intricate, and the details of how those shape womanhood and the experience of being a mother are relatable.
This book reminded of the other Monaghan book I read this year Nora Goes Off Script and Funny Story by Emily Henry as both books featured women who needed to find themselves in addition to finding love.
I LOVED every sun-filled moment of this fast-paced, lived-in novel and recommend it with the highest praise!