Review: Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler (Blog Tour)

About the Book 

Genre
Romance

Format
E-ARC

Publisher
Berkley

Release Date
May 23, 2020

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A starry-eyed romantic, a cynical writer, and (the ashes of) an elderly woman take the road trip of a lifetime that just might upend everything they believe about true love.

Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process.

She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.

After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.

But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own.

My Review

This is a unique take on the opposites attract storyline.  We have a trusting, perhaps a bit naive, heroine in Millicent Watts-Cohen and a cynical, sarcastic hero, Hollis Hollenbeck.  These two very different personalities on a long road trip can only be described as unusual, to say the least.  

Millie is determined to fulfill her elderly friend’s, Mrs. Nash, last wish - to deliver her ashes to the woman she fell in love with 80 years ago.  A strange, romantic reunion of sorts.  Millie does her research and learns where the woman now lives, but she can’t waste any time in delivering the ashes and reuniting the women, even if it’s more symbolic than anything else.

It means Millie must get from DC to Key West, Florida as soon as she can.  Of course, she runs into problems right from the start when the airline has problems, and all flights are halted.  Hollis is, also, stranded at the airport.  So, they decide to team up for a road trip they will never forget.

Millie and Hollis’ differences are quite apparent, but at the same time they find themselves drawing closer together with each passing mile.  The odds might be against them, but Millie and Hollis do make a good team.  They meet many quirky people along the way and find themselves in wacky situations.  They are thrown together more than they like and their romance sizzles right off the page.

It's actually two romances in one book.  We have Millie and Hollis in the present day as we look back on Mrs. Nash's 1940's romance story.  They blend very nicely to give us this enjoyable read.

This is a "feel good" romance with many LOL scenes mixed together.  It makes for a fun beach read this summer.

This is Sarah Adler’s first book and she’s off to a great writing career.  I look forward to reading more books by this author.

For reading challenges:

NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2023

FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.