Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️

by @alliesamberts – After LOVING The Write Place, I had been meaning to read The Write Time forever, and when I saw that the audiobook (beautifully narrated by @thornsnroses.co) was now available, I took it as a sign!

If you are new to Allie’s books, she is the type of writer who you can tell thinks of her characters as people she loves and cares about. This comes through in the gentle way she treats each of them in her beautiful stories.

When Jenny met Ben nine years ago, she was in a committed relationship and was contemplating her future. She had a long-term boyfriend; they’d just moved in together, and she had her teaching job. She was thinking about milestones like marriage and starting a family. However, when her personal life took a drastic turn, Jenny abandoned the idea of love and long-term relationships. She opted for commitment-free hookups instead. Ben, who had been smitten with Jenny since they met, hated her boyfriend’s ill-treatment of her. After they broke up, Ben thought he might have a chance with Jenny, but instead, he watched as she made one poor decision after another. Despite his attempts to win her over, fate never seemed to be on their side. Now, almost a decade later, both are single and teaching English across the hall from each other. Ben sees this as his last chance to win Jenny over. But the question remains: can Jenny let go of her past and open herself up to love?

I recommend reading The Write Place first because many past events referenced in this book are developed in the first book in the series. Now, let’s talk about Jenny and Ben. They are fun, complex, and full of life. They can sometimes aggravate each other, but their adorable quirks make them all the more endearing. Their characters are infused with so much heart that you can’t help but root for them. After years of friendship, the thought of risking what they have is scary, and this tentativeness is beautifully portrayed in Allie’s writing. Between the teachers, their families, friends, and co-workers, Allie creates a universe in which the characters have so much love but have also endured a lot. They call each other out when needed, stand by each other during tough times, and even though they frustrate each other, they always come through in the end. I hope you’ll read this series; it is truly special.