Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Book Review and Giveaway: New Uses for Old Boyfriends

After growing up in privilege and marrying into money, Lila Alders has gotten used to the good life. But when her happily-ever-after implodes, Lila must return to Black Dog Bay, the tiny seaside town where she grew up. Everything has changed in the past ten years, and it’s up to Lila to take care of everything...but she can barely take care of herself.

Even as Lila opens a vintage clothing shop and tries to reunite with her ex, she realizes that sometimes it’s too late for old dreams. She’s lost everything she thought she needed but found something—someone—she desperately wants. A boy she hardly noticed has grown up into a man she can’t forget...and a second chance has never felt so much like first love.

Melissa Patafio:

Every Beth Kendrick book I read gets better and better, and not just because of her wonderful writing. I also love that she sets the book in Black Dog Bay, the same town from her previous novel, and introduces us to a new main character. I now feel like I know the town and the people even more as she brings back previous characters to make an appearance in the life of the new lead. The way she weaves their lives together is pure genius.

I am also extremely impressed by how much time and research must have gone into this book, from the intricate details of famous fashion designers of decades past, to making sure she kept specifics of previous main characters' stories intact with the books that came before this.

New Uses for Old Boyfriends was a fun, witty, and enchanting read. I felt as if I was right there in the tiny, fictional Delaware beach town. Once I started reading, I could barely put it down and enjoyed every page. Beth Kendrick has a way of really pulling you into her characters lives and making you feel every emotion and interaction that they encounter. I'm sad to have finished so quickly but I'm really looking forward to the next adventure, hopefully we will meet another addition to Black Dog Bay!

Melissa Amster:

This is now the fourth book of Beth Kendrick's that I've read (I have some major catching up to do) and her writing style never fails to impress me. It's so genuine with snappy dialogue and funny moments, while also showing her characters' flaws right off the bat. I liked the premise of New Uses for Old Boyfriends. It would be so much fun to open a vintage shop in a quaint beach town. There were some recurring characters from her previous novel, Cure for the Common Breakup, so read that before starting this one, or you'll know everything that happened to Summer Benson since that book ended. It was also nice re-visiting places from that novel, as well as some of the secondary characters. (I'd like to see Jenna from The Whinery get her own novel soon.)

When I tweeted about how much I liked this book, Beth kept tweeting to wait for the ending because it was just that powerful. Well, it was powerful and intense, but I felt that the conflict came and went too quickly. There was no time to dwell on what happened or get upset for the characters because they picked up and moved on so quickly from what had happened. I also wish that Mimi, this one stuck-up woman that no one seems to like, would get her comeuppance. There was definitely an opportunity for it, but that came and went. I hope she'll be back in another book about Black Dog Bay so that someone can put her in her place. (That's not the only reason I want more books to take place there though!)

Overall, I had a great time reading this novel and just breezed through it. I wanted to go vintage shopping afterward (but I'll settle for my local thrift store for now). And as usual, I have casting ideas in mind! (Now that Nearlyweds is a made-for-TV movie, there's always hope for another...)

Lila: Rachel McAdams
Daphne: Kristin Chenoweth 
Malcolm: Matt Lanter
Ben: Adam Brody

Thanks to BookSparks PR for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have one copy for a lucky US reader!

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

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US only. Giveaway ends February 16th at midnight EST.

More by Beth Kendrick:

38 comments:

Janine said...

I always wanted to own my own clothing and accessories consignment store

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Books, books, books! And I entered this in the Rafflecopter box instead of my name. Oops!
Connie

Milena said...

I would have an antiques store. I love old things and the stories they tell

Unknown said...

I always wanted a book store. Then I started shopping in thrift stores and found out I love the feeling of a "find". So it would have to be a thrift store...with books.

AiringMyLaundry said...

I want to read this!

I'd be selling cookies. I wouldn't make them though because they'd taste funky. I guess I'd hire a baker and sell them.

Kimberly V said...

Books and anything book related.

Suzanne said...

Easy - Wine, Wine, and More Wine. Would give me the perfect opportunity to learn more! Nothing beats my corner wine store (literally called Corner Winery), I love going in there and chatting with the owners who know everything about wine! Perfect job!

S.Sabia said...

I would love to open a used book store one day!

Jeryl M. said...

I would sell either hat or shoes.

Heather said...

Scrapbooking supplies!

traveler said...

I would have a children's clothing store.

Nova said...

i would have vintage & antique finds...

Anonymous said...

Books and tea and chocolates! Linda W frogz60@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Books, of course. It would be fabulous to own a small bookstore.

SuzyQ4PR(at)aol(dot)com

TinaB said...

Books & Cupcakes, what else?!?!

Hailey Fish said...

If I were a store owner, I would be selling books easy to afford as well as clothes and jewelry.

Book Lover in Florida said...

I think I would operate a hot chocolate reading nook shop with yummy goodies and comfy reading furniture for purchase :)

Holly said...

Hair and beauty supplies!

Anita Yancey said...

I would sell books. In my store I would sell both new and used books.

Bonnie K. said...

In my early twenties, I had entertained the thought of owning a used book store. I would still be interested if I had the capital.

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

Carl Scott said...

Almost certainly books and I'd keep at it till I totally ran out of money (jk)

Linda Kish said...

Candy. I always liked the penny candy store I went to as a child.

jodi marinich said...

i would love to sell vintage clothes

susieqlaw said...

Makeup, books, magazines, organic foods, and organic home products!

Glenda H. said...

That's funny...a lot of other people have mentioned they would sell books and that was my first thought!

holdenj said...

Books, for sure!

Meg Munson said...

I would love to own my own coffee shop!

Jessica said...

My shop would have artesian bread and a tea and coffee corner to enjoy it every morning.

Jessica said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bn100 said...

books

Lisamarie said...

I would definitely be a book seller.

rubynreba said...

I would sell antiques.

Rhonda J G said...

Antiques, books, music, old fashioned coffee house

Shelby N. said...

Books! If it weren't for ebooks I totally would want to own a cozy little cute bookshop.

Jencey Gortney said...

I have always wanted to own my own Indie bookstore.

Unknown said...

Books of course!

Nancy said...

I definitely think I'd be selling books - I'd have to sample each item before I sold it!

tracy webb said...

I would own a book store.