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Polly Potter has never considered herself a strong, bold woman. She does excellent work at her office but her boss and others have taken advantage of her, made her do lowly tasks, and taken credit for her work. Her longtime partner, Chris, does not appreciate her and treats her as a live-in maid. But she has carved out some small things for herself, in part joining a writing group and crafting a novel based on her own life. Her main character, Sabrina, has similar challenges and decides to reclaim her life.
Finally, one last thing at work and one last thing at home push Polly over the edge and she decides to be a bit more like Sabrina. She quits her job, leaves her partner and goes out to the coast, where she had a beautiful childhood vacation. But just as Polly arrives in the coastal town, she ends up hitting her head, blacking out, and being taken to the hospital. And when she wakes up, she only knows her name: Sabrina.
Sabrina is taken in by a kind older woman and given opportunities to work and rest a bit so she can try to recover her memory. She is shaken by the memory loss and the big question mark that is her past but starts to build friendships and a bit of a life for herself. She works at the woman’s son’s restaurant and finds she has some smart ideas to help Teddy defend the delicious eatery from a big chain horning in on the neighborhood. And as time goes on, she finds herself attracted to the good man.
As memories return bit by bit, Sabrina knows she is loving her new life but wonders if she has obligations in her old one. Should she be Polly? Is she still even her? And will she be accepted as she is in her new life?
The Accidental Rewrite is a gentle, thoughtful book, with a main character who has been let down far too many times by people who should have treated her better. She is a bit fragile and unsure. It’s a little sad to read what she’s experienced and how she feels about herself. The publisher writes that it’s “witty” and “hilarious” and “heartwarming,” and I can only agree with the last one. I went into it expecting a different tone than I found. But as I adjusted, I came to appreciate the book for what it actually is: a story about a woman who’s stronger than she thinks coming into her own at last.
There’s no insta-love in the novel; the romance builds slowly, realistically and cautiously. (And I did appreciate that.) The romance is just a part of the story, rather than the focus. If you’re looking for a sweet book about found family, self-discovery, and friendship, check out this novel.
Rated: High (just over the line from moderate). Profanity includes 8 uses of strong language, around 35 instances of moderate profanity, about 15 uses of mild language, and roughly 50 instances of the name of Deity in vain. There are no intimate scenes; there is some kissing. There are references to adultery. A few scenes involve mild violence and peril.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
