I Thought You Said This Would Work

Check out my full review at https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/05/review-i-thought-you-said-this-would-work-by-ann-garvin/

This was such a great read! I absolutely fell in love with Ann Garvin's I Thought You Said This Would Work.

Guys, this book was so funny, and so sweet, and so fun. If you read the synopsis, you're probably thinking “oh my, that's a lot going on” and it totally is, and at times, it's a little absurd. I mean, a diabetic dog and a D-list celebrity? Just trust me on this, though...it's a great read!

The characters were super lovable. Even Holly, who seems angry for no reason, is likable because you can tell there's something more going on and you just really want to find out what it is. It really kept me guessing throughout the story, and I was rooting so hard for Sam to just speak up and ask Holly what the heck was bothering her.

Really, I was rooting for Sam the whole time. She's such an endearing character, and I wanted to be her friend. She has that classic “I'm a mom and that's my identity but now my kid is moving out so who am I?” kind of thing going on. I enjoy stories that deal with empty nesting, as it's such a big change in lifestyle.

Come for the escapade and slap-dash humor of two frenemies, Samantha and Holly, signing up for a cross-country road trip to retrieve their mutual best friend Katie's Great Pyrenees from California and drive him back to Wisconsin in a rickety, seen-better-days VW camper. Stay for the wacky but kind-hearted reality star who winds up becoming an intricate part of their entourage as well as a clueless ex-husband, a flirtatious animal sanctuary vet, a tweeting romance with a barely-glimpsed doctor, and a Shaman living in the middle of suburbia. But it's not all madcap mayhem; no, there's also a poignant message of forgiveness and empathy as the journey heals the fractured friendship between the two women in unexpected ways. Replete with Garvin's trademark humor and wisdom, this novel will make you laugh and make you cry, often on the same page. It's a perfect May buddy read with your best friend and a glass of wine or two.