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3.5 ⭐️s rounded up

By chapter 4, I was already reaching out to my book-reading besties recommending this book. The first scene in the hotel lobby,: 🤣🤣🤣!! I compared the author’s wit and funny truisms on human nature to Fredrik Backman (one of my favorite authors of all time.)

Then there’s a shift. The humor went from whip-smart yet relatable to almost slapstick. I still enjoyed the book, but where before I was laughing like, “That’s so funny, because that’s so true�� I was now gasp-laughing at things that were silly or absurd.

I don’t think the promo blurb for this book does right by potential readers. I won’t wordsmith the perfect sentence, but something like: Phoebe checks in to her bucket-list hotel, prepared to check out of her life by the morning. Then she meets the wedding people. Something that hints at a topic that could possibly trigger some people, especially when they’re expecting a 100% light-hearted, girl power friendship, rom com beach read. Personally, I wasn’t bothered by the initial dark mindset of the main character, but I’ve read other reviewers who were.

I hesitate to include this because�� side tangent, but pandas/panda breeding strategy are briefly mentioned in this book. It’s cute and funny in a work of fiction, but not an accurate portrayal of pandas. I worked in the education department of a zoo with a world-renowned panda program, so let me reassure you that pandas aren’t sad at being housed alone. They are solitary animals. Even in the wild, other than mating and mothers raising their young, pandas spend most of their life on their own. Imagine an introvert forced to be around other people all of the time, and you’ll understand the stress “group housing�� would impose on animals that prefer “me time.�� Also, panda porn is not a proven or wide-spread breeding strategy. While humans are visual creatures, pandas rely much more on scent. So no, zoos are not showing panda porn behind-the-scenes.

Despite my quibbles, if you’re a fan of books that mix darks with lights, this is a great book to check out.

The narrator, Helen Laser, was fantastic! I looked her up and she’s voiced several other audiobooks I’ve really enjoyed, so props to casting such a talented and experienced actor.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.