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Title details for Flying Solo by Linda Holmes - Available

Flying Solo

A Novel

by Linda Holmes
Julia Whelan
Audiobook
2 of 2 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
2 of 2 copies available
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A woman returns to her small Maine hometown, uncovering family secrets that take her on a journey of self-discovery and new love, in this warm and charming novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over.

“A testament to the truth that love comes in all shapes, sizes, and situations.”—Jodi Picoult
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR, PopSugar
Smarting from her recently canceled wedding and about to turn forty, Laurie Sassalyn returns to her Maine hometown of Calcasset to handle the estate of her great-aunt Dot, a spirited adventurer who lived to be ninety-three. Alongside boxes of Polaroids and pottery, a mysterious wooden duck shows up at the bottom of a cedar chest. Laurie’s curiosity is piqued, especially after she finds a love letter to the never-married Dot that ends with the line “And anyway, if you’re ever desperate, there are always ducks, darling.”
Laurie is told that the duck has no financial value. But after it disappears under suspicious circumstances, she feels compelled to figure out why anyone would steal a wooden duck—and why Dot kept it hidden away in the first place. Suddenly Laurie finds herself swept up in a righteous caper that has her negotiating with antiques dealers and con artists, going on after-hours dates at the local library, and reconnecting with her oldest friend and her first love. Desperate to uncover her great-aunt’s secrets, Laurie must reckon with her own past and her future—and ultimately embrace her own vision of flying solo.
With a cast of unforgettable characters and a heroine you will root for from page one, Flying Solo is a wonderfully original story about growing up, coming home, and learning to make a life for yourself on your own terms.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 14, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781984845764
      • File size: 257580 KB
      • Duration: 08:56:37

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 16, 2022
      Holmes (Evvie Drake Starts Over) serves up a sweet romance with a side of mystery in this fun page-turner. Laurie Sassalyn, having recently called off her wedding and on the cusp of her 40th birthday, returns to her Maine hometown to clean out the house of her recently deceased great-aunt Dot. Sorting through Dot’s belongings, Laurie finds a wooden duck decoy and an old letter with an inscrutable reference to ducks. She investigates the story behind the decoy with the help of a few friends, including her high school sweetheart Nick. Laurie and Nick renew their romance, but to his disappointment, Laurie has no plans to stay in town or settle down. Meanwhile, Laurie hires a man to help clean out the house, but when he finds out the duck might have a connection to a famous artist, he swindles Laurie and buys it for much less than it’s worth. After she realizes her mistake, she and her friends hatch a harebrained scheme to recover the decoy. Holmes’s colorful cast of characters pop off the page, and the sure-footed plot entertains. Readers will be eager to see what Holmes does next.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Julia Whelan delivers a charming, romantic listening experience set in small-town Maine. Recently finding herself single again, Laurie Sassalyn comes upon a wooden duck decoy and an old letter among the belongings of her late great-aunt, Dot. After a con artist steals the decoy, Laurie and her friends set out on a heist to get it back. When Laurie reconnects with her high school boyfriend, sparks fly. Whelan nails the snappy dialogue and captures the tension of the second-chance romance. She creates realistic characters and relationships through her dynamic range of emotions. Her performance shines in her portrayal of Laurie's fierce independence and strength. While the novel seems a bit heavily focused on the decoy caper, the likable characters and heartwarming story offer plenty to root for. V.T.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from September 1, 2022

      Holmes (Evvie Drake Starts Over) returns to the cozy everytown of Calcasset, Maine for a new story about what it means to choose your own path. Laurie Sassalyn has valued privacy and independence above all else, much like her Great-Aunt Dot. When Laurie returns to her home town to settle Dot's estate, she finds herself entangled anew with Calcasset in general and in ex-boyfriend Nick in particular. Meanwhile, the discovery of a wooden duck prompts an escalating battle between Laurie and a scam artist determined to maneuver it away from her. Julia Whelan's grounded narration expresses both Laurie's generally sunny disposition and her struggles to reconcile her conflicting desires for Nick with her principles of autonomy. Whelan perfectly captures the relatability of conversations among old friends even when decades have passed. She also excels at humorous internal monologue and slides in just the lightest touch of Maine accent where most appropriate. VERDICT Recommended for fans of the thoughtful contemporary romances of Emily Henry and Marisa de los Santos.--Natalie Marshall

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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