Book Review: “The Bounce Back” by Addie Woolridge

“The Bounce Back” by Addie Woolridge (2021)

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Synopsis:

Aspiring artist Neale Delacroix should be on top of the world. She’s landed a spot in an exclusive art program that’s sure to be her ticket to success, but then her best shot at stardom goes up in flames—literally. When her relationship follows suit, Neale finds herself a stone’s throw from rock bottom.

Her heart broken and her dream deferred, Neale decides to work a soul-crushing nine-to-five job until the heat dies down. However, that’s not exactly what happens when she meets Anthony, a sizzling coworker with a perfect smile.

Convinced that she breaks everything she touches, Neale’s sworn off art and men. Yet her creative spirit still beckons, and she can’t get Anthony out of her head. She’s caught in that familiar space between daydreams and responsibilities, desperate to find a new way forward. With her future hanging in the balance, Neale must decide if she is down and out…or ready to bounce back.

Page Length: 320 pages

Review:

The Bounce Back follows the story of Neale, an aspiring artist who has her life unravel and then her relationship soon after. Upset and feeling like a failure she decides to quit art for good and leave her artist life behind. She works on transitioning to a 9-to-5 job all while navigating new relationships and dealing with her own. But when the opportunity strikes for her to go back to the art world, will she take a chance?

This novel is a fun rom-com beginning to end with wacky shenanigans that Neale gets into, witty banter with the characters, and a blooming romance with her new co-worker at Happy Hearts. As a person that used to work at a Hallmark store, Neale working at a card company made me happy. It’s the place that further intensified my love for stationery! On top of all this, you have Neale trying to reassess her life and try to be more independent from her family. She realizes that she’ll never never be able to stand on her own feet if she’s being coddled her whole life.

I really liked the romance between Neale and Anthony, and how he helped her to realize her full potential. It was nice to see their relationship grow from a friendly co-worker into something deeper. I also think that even though this novel is a rom-com, most of all it’s a story about finding yourself which I think all readers can resonate with at some point in her life. Like Neale, I could relate to failing something I know that I’m good at and have been so hard on myself that I wanted to completely give up. She works hard at trying something different and works through her conflicting emotions to see if she wants to try art once again.

Full of laughs, a good self-discovery narrative, and a cute romance, The Bounce Back is a book you should add to your TBR.

Final Verdict: