Review copy was received from Library, NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Backup Plan by Jill Shalvis Narrator: Andi Arndt
Series: Sunrise Cove #3
Published by HarperAudio, William Morrow on January 17, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Life Fiction
Pages: 384
Length: 9 hours, 14 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Library, NetGalley
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Amazon, Audible, Audiobook, Barnes & Noble, Apple
When Alice receives a call about an unexpected windfall, she’s stunned to learn the gift is a falling-apart-at-the-seams old Wild West B&B she once considered home—and she’s inherited it along with two strangers. Except they weren’t always strangers. Once upon a time, they were friends. One is her ex-BFF Lauren. The other is Knox, the only guy to ever break her heart, all while never even knowing she existed.
It turns out their lives are unknowingly entangled because they once separately helped the same woman without expecting anything in return. Years later, Alice, Lauren, and Knox are broken in their own way, with their own history—and secrets— causing them to start out on the wrong foot with each other. But according to the will, they must renovate and be partners in the inn for one year or else lose their inheritance.
The Sunrise Cove series continues but the books are completely standalones. Three twenty-somethings who knew each other 5-10 years ago are brought back together when Eleanor dies. Lauren is her estranged grand niece. Knox is the son of her former house cleaner. Alice is the daughter of a car mechanic, and who ran a show at the Inn back in the day. Knox is about 4 years older than Lauren and Alice who were best friends.
Lauren still lives here in town and is a librarian. Alice has done a bunch of things and is working at a lumber yard currently. Knox is a successful contractor. They decide to renovate the old Inn, afterward they can sell or hire managers. Knox and Alice have plenty of hands-on skills. Lauren does the books, and some decorating.
We mostly get Alice’s point of view. She has lost everyone, one way or another, starting at an early age. She doesn’t want to stay and renovate the Inn, as the will directs, because then she knows she will care about Knox and Lauren, who won’t care about her, and will move on after the month.
The three have a great time doing the renovation and become closer, in spite of their various personal issues, and secrets. I love how the author develops her characters with such realistic feelings and actions. I know the three of them care about each other, even if they don’t always know it or believe it. They don’t want to hurt each other. I loved seeing them become closer and move past issues. For only a month, they all grew personally with facing their fears and challenges.
I felt everything and loved the connections they built with each other and the community. There was plenty of humor with the dog, Pickle and a few personal foibles. The epilogue takes us two years into the future and is very satisfying.
Narration:
I think this is the first series with Andi Arndt narrating a Jill Shalvis book, but I love her work. There is a very small number of characters in this one and they were distinct enough. The men’s voices a bit lower and Knox especially a bit husky. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Andi Arndt
Andi’s relatively neutral US English accent is a product of a Minnesota childhood, New Jersey high school years, and Maryland/DC/Virginia adulthood. Firm grounding in both theatre and broadcasting led to full-time work in voice over.
About Jill Shalvis
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I’ve read some of her other series and this one really appeals to me because of the all stand alone thing. Great review Anne thanks
Thank you Debbie. I love everything Jill Shalvis. They are completely stand alone so you could read them out of order or only the ones most interesting to you.
I’m looking forward to reading this one! Great review. 😀
Thank you Kara. I thought it was excellent but I am a bit biased with love for this author. Her character development just hits me as real.
Another author I’ve managed to not read yet. Sounds like the ongoing series is good with the new generation.
Sophia! This has been an auto-read author for me at least 10 years. Her characters are so amazing.
I bet this was fun on audiobook!
Yes, Andi Arndt is a favorite narrator.
I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Nadene. Shalvis never disappoints me.
I have an e-ARC but I might buy the audio because I love Andi Arndt’s narration. Glad to see this was a hit for you!
Thank you Rachel. I’ve come to love the audio versions. She seems to choose a new narrator for each series. There has been Karen White, then Erin Mallon, now Andi Arndt. I think there was someone else for another series but I can’t recall right now.
This sounds really good, I love the idea that three “strangers” end up having to work together. Thanks for sharing, Anne!
I love the Lake Tahoe setting too.
I’m seeing so many good reviews about this one, now I know I’ll need to give the audiobook a try. Good to know you enjoyed the audio narration.
Andi Arndt is a long time favorite narrator.
Beautiful cover!
I like all the covers for this series. But the real life Lake Tahoe is of course, much more stunning.
Andi Arndt is like the gold standard of audio narration. 🙂 Actually, the book I’m currently listening to is narrated by her. I struggled with Alice in this one. She was such a prickly character and even though I understood why, considering her background, it still impacted her likability factor for me.
I get your point Tanya. Shalvis does a great job with the sometimes awkward, sometimes insecure, sometimes scared and sometimes prickly characters. yes I love Andi Arndt.
So looking forward to this one! The audiobook finally showed up. Great review, Anne, as this one sounds like it might be the best to date.
Thank you. I love all the Jill Shalvis books.
Great review! I really enjoyed this one too. It had such a nice balance of drama and humor. I laughed out loud every time they updated their list of rules, haha.
yes Thank you Suzanne. The rules were funny; the emails were heart-breakers.
This sounds so lovely! I enjoy her books and will have to read this one when I get the chance.
This author is amazing. It’s always so heartwarming and funny.
Her books are so much fun. I really enjoyed this one and am kind of kicking myself for neglecting her books in recent years. At least I have a lot to catch up on!
Shalvis is an auto for me. That’s not true for very many contemporary romance authors but she has great characters and a bit of humor.
I just finished this and quite liked it. Is it just me, but it feels like a month was very short for everything.
yes a month was very short for all that construction but if Knox was very experienced (it seems he was) and Alice was a big help, I think they could do it. They could work more than 8 hours a day also.