Thank you so much to Scribner for the advance eARC!
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Audio for the complimentary audio!

This book is out now!


"Nothing matters, as long as you have love."

Ethan has become one of my favorite authors and humans and when he announced his next book was going to be taking place in Delaware, I was super excited! It is very common from those in Pennsylvania to escape to the beaches of Delaware specifically Rehoboth. I am very connected to the town as I have been spending my birthdays there for the last 6 years and I just love the whole vibe of the town.

Ethan has a way with his words that puts you there in the setting and really paints the town for you. This I believe was the first time Ethan strayed away from the multi point of view to single point of view. And honestly I am so happy that we stayed in Jack's point of view because I was just so drawn to his story. He has this opportunity to sell his family's restaurant and retire after working hard for many years and you really see the complicated feelings he has towards this decision. We get to meet the folks who help make up Schmidts and how Jack is involved in their life and how they are involved in his. And it really goes to show how much your co workers and place of business really can become a second home.

"He thinks we are all just small things, each person just a sum of days."

I do love the layers that Ethan put throughout this book with the different characters. Jack himself has all these dimensions and you see him even as a grown man still work through things that made such a big impact from when he was younger. He still is grieving his mother whom he lost as a teen, past relationships, his friendships everything that makes a person. I was actually surprised we got so much of him reflecting and coming to peace with his mother's passing as an older man. He learns some unexpected news that really changed his life from that moment on. There are some heavy topics within Jack's story and I hate to use the word refreshing but it has a topic that we don't always see the male side of it and I feel like that is very important to have out there.

I paired my reading with the audio and the narrator Chris Henry Coffey was SO good! I really felt like he became Jack throughout the book. His voice sounded like an everyday man you would encounter. I highly recommend listening by audio if you are an audiobook listener.

The writing is such beautiful and I have seen other reviews say this is a slow build and I have to agree. But it was the best slow build because when that moment happened (and you'll know), I wanted to keep going just to see what was going to happen. And one thing I always praise Ethan for is, he doesn't overdo things by dragging situations out longer than they need. His books are on the shorter side and I always feel like they are the perfect length and they pack a punch. With that being said, him and I will be having a discussion on that ending because this may be the first time where I wanted more. And once you read, you'll know what I mean and I think you will feel the same.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a warm hug, set in a beach town centered around a restaurant with characters you feel like you know!