The Bloom Girls
The Bloom Girls was a fun wonderful first book in a brand new series by A.J. Pine. This sweet and heartfelt romance exceeded my expectations, and I’m already looking forward to book two!
Gabi Bloom doesn't believe in signs. She believes in photographic evidence, the view through her camera lens, and the snap of the shutter. It's why she traveled to Europe—to satisfy her wanderlust and to kick off her photography career. But in Ireland, all of that changed when Gabi gazed into the impossibly blue eyes of an American bartender. She wasn’t prepared for their intense and immediate attraction, or the fact that she’d be bringing Ethan home with her . . . as her fiancé.
Gabi's upcoming marriage is the cherry on top of her mother's current predicament. Stumbling toward forty, Alissa is a pastry chef who raised her daughter single-handedly while Gabi’s father traveled the globe. Now her baby girl is getting married after a whirlwind romance and Alissa—well, Alissa is pregnant. Again. And not only is her ex the father, he wants her back. For good. Until she can figure out that part of the puzzle, Alissa is hiding her big little secret even as she helps Gabi plan a happily-ever-after wedding. But somewhere between disaster and hope, life might just bloom in a way that is breathtakingly unexpected . . .
What appealed to you the most in this story?
I absolutely loved all the fun laugh-out-loud moments in this book! They had me rolling with laughter and even giggling about them later on. It’s actually really hard not to share some of the rip-roaringly funny incidents in the book, but there is no way I’m going to spoil anything for you, so you are going to have to read this story and have some hardy laughs!
I also loved how this contemporary work of fiction centered around Jewish families, and Pine did an excellent job drawing from her own experiences growing up Jewish in Chicago. It seems like any books that include a Jewish family are set during WWII, so it is a breath of fresh air to have a modern Jewish family featured in a story.
How “real” were the characters?
The best part of this story is how real, complicated, flawed, fun, and quirky the full cast of characters were. Their relationships and fears are just like the ones each of us experience in our own lives. Pine did an excellent job creating honest and raw feelings in each interaction through conversations/dialogue. She truly has a gift for creating a balanced story by combining humorous moments, witty banter and serious and real moments that show the depth of familial love.
What was the steam level in this book?
This is a closed door romance, but there is some steamy and detailed foreplay.
How was the pacing?
The pacing was steady and slowed down a bit towards the end.
Do you recommend this book?
If you enjoy a fun story that will make you laugh. deals with family relationships (specifically mother-daughter), and a full cast of real characters that grow and change through the storyline then you need to snag a copy of this book!
Oh! For all you Gilmore Girl fans…Pine wrote this story in homage to her favorite mother/daughter duo, Lorelai and Rory.
