Libby HubscherRecensioner

Funny and salty, warm and therapeutic, If You Ask Me is such a sweet second novel from Libby Hubscher. This is a story about finding in life what feeds the fire of your soul, even if it means walking through a few fires to get to that point, to cross that line.

Lines are something that Violet—the hot-mess, self-help advice columnist—knows a lot about. Falling in line, toeing the line, and playing by other people’s rules of perfection is a hard habit to break for our narrator, and despite the fear of being scorched, she desperately wants to cross that line, to be vulnerable, inviting people into the furnace of her pain instead of white-knuckling it on her own.

There’s so much to love about this book. Here are a few that hooked me:

About the Book:
This book is about sisters named Marin and Sadie Cole, Marin being the safe sister and Sadie being the absolute opposite. But how could Marin take any risks after taking risks killed their mother. Marin didn’t know how Sadie was able to do it until Saba. When a sister trip goes horribly wrong Marin finds herself trapped alone and without any of her things on an island called Saba. What's the only thing that could make it worse? Sharing it with a man who “stole” her sister's spot on this trip, Lucas Tsi. But will this actually be the worst trip for Marin or will it finally be her breakthrough on living her life to the fullest.

Review:
This book made me feel so many emotions. I really related to Marin in being the sister that has never been a risk taker. I think it is a book about self development, learning to love, growing, and the power of family. As someone who has sisters, it makes you think twice about what you have and how not to take life for granted. The romance in this book was definitely a slow burn, which isn’t always my favorite, but it was beautiful. I knocked it down to four stars only for that reason because I feel I didn’t quite care for the love interest. The thing I loved most about this book is the definition of family. Throughout this book you see Marin struggle to grow out of her shell and with the help from people around the island you get to see her blossom. I would say if you are looking for a hot romance book this may not be your forte, but if you want to read a beautiful book about growth and relationships and overcoming your fears, this is one of the best ones I have read!

I feel emotionally wrung out after reading this novel. Bittersweet ending!

Sophie Doyle has lost her job as trainer for the Boston Red Sox because she followed her beliefs. Now she is forced to take a temporary job at a boarding school for the arts, where she is surprised to discover that her three roommates are all men. She gets along well with two of her roommates, but the third, Jonas Voss, can't seem to stand her, especially after she tries to play the piano that is situated in her room. However, Sophie is determined to win Jonas over and makes it her mission to find something that will make him like her.

Play for Me is an entertaining rom-com with likable, realistic characters. The protagonists have emotional backstories that add to their development. The plot, while somewhat predictable, is cute but also laced with real world problems, such as Parkinson's disease and abuse. The supporting characters add more layers to the book because each one of them has a major impact on the main characters and their story arcs. For some reason, I found it difficult to connect with the characters, but overall, Play for Me is a very enjoyable romance.

Sophie Doyle lost her dream job as a trainer for the Boston Red Sox when she kept the star pitcher out of a crucial game and the Sox lost the World Series. She also lost her live-in boyfriend who was the team doctor. She's become persona non grata in all of Boston.

She does find a new job as a trainer for a private school in New Hampshire. The only drawback is that the school focuses on the Arts and sports run a very distant second. She also finds herself sharing an apartment with three guys. Two of the guys are a couple and are very friendly and welcoming. Not so much the third. Jonas Voss is the director of the orchestra and is a real grouch.

Sophie generally has a sunny, optimistic personality, but losing her job and moving away from Boston and her father who is in an assisted living facility has been hard on her. However, she tries to make the best of things and even institutes some therapy for the music students many of whom are suffering from repetitive strain injuries.

She learns the Jonas used to be a concert pianist until an injury sidelined him. While orthopedic medicine doesn't give him much hope of a cure and return to his career, Sophie feels that therapy can possibly help him. As the two work together, they begin to fall in love but with Sophie's goal to return to Boston and the Red Sox and Jonas's goal to resume his career in Europe, it doesn't look like their relationship has much of a future.

I enjoyed this contemporary romance. I found the characters engaging and well-rounded people with compelling backstories.

I really loved this story. It was well-paced and I enjoyed it from the start, it made me laugh and cry, and cry a lot. But it was such a nice heartwarming romance and finding-yourself-type of story.
It made me treasure my sisters that much more and my partner that much more. It was an enjoyable read and it reminds you to savour every moment.

a little deeper than a normal romcom, but a quick read

steaminess: 0/5½

I almost never read book blurbs and pick books by a combo of recommendations, title, author and cover design. However, I went back and read the blurb for this after finishing and I would say the cover and blurb do not convey the tone of this book. Because of the way the author has structured the book I understand why, but I can see why reads may feel like this book was a punch in the gut if they were expected a lighthearted romcom/romance, which I was.½

When advice columnist Violet Covington walks in on her husband of twelve years having sex with another woman in their bed, Violet's "perfect" life explodes. She's angry and heartbroken and her feelings find their way into her advice column. All of a sudden Violet is putting the perfect Southern woman facade aside and getting real with the people who ask her for advice.

When she burns her husband Sam's stuff - expensive suits, autographed Michael Jordan poster and all - in her front yard, a busybody neighbor calls the fire department. That's when Violet meets Dez who is new in town with a heartbreak of his own and who likes Violet just the way she is.

But being real isn't always a blessing. Her boss and best friend has troubles dealing with the new, unfiltered Violet's columns, and old friends are taking sides in the Sam versus Violet conflict. Then there is Dez who is always there when Violet has problems and offers unwavering support. But can Violet afford to take a chance and fall in love again?

This was an entertaining story that hits on the themes of infidelity and infertility and building a new life after heartbreak. I found myself rooting for Violet and wanting her to take the leap into a new, happier future. Dez was a sweetheart and wonderful character too.

This is like if Beach Read was mixed with Eat Pray Love and had a not-fun surprise cancer plot. (The writing is also aggressively fine)

I loved this little book! An island paradise, funny mishaps, a love story, some heartbreaking truths our character has to learn - but, most of all, it's about living. Living. Your. Life. Not being afraid... taking risks... reaching out to do what makes you happy, instead of what makes you feel safe. All of us could use a little more of that in our sometimes ant-farm lives. Highly recommend.

I've been struggling to review this book - not because I didn't like it, but because I haven't been able to quite grasp the words I want and not spoil the story.

Marin has played it safe all her life, for good reason, and her adventure loving little sister pitches the idea of a sisters trip to Saba. MEET ME IN PARADISE thus starts out with all the feels of a light-hearted rom com - the plane ride and all the zany disasters Marin endures on the way to Saba is the perfect set up.

However, her sister Sadie has the other plans for her - plans to push cautious Marin out of her comfort zone and get her to experience life again. And THAT part of the story is a pure delight! But when Sadie finally arrives in Saba, Marin learns that she's been hiding a secret, and that part of the story just ripped my heart out.

The main characters are really well drawn, and the side characters are so interesting - I hope we haven't seen the last of them.

Alternately laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, and heartbreakingly sad, Libby Hubscher's debut novel is wonderful and will stay with you long after the last page is turned. This is a story about sisters, the sacrifices we make for those we care about, grief and hope. Grab some tissues - you're going to need them, and you'll be glad you read this book.

This is a romance and a sister novel all rolled into one. This is not my sort of book. The character were well developed and the setting was beautifully described, but the motivations of some of the characters was weak. I think if I liked this sort of book, I would have given it a 4.