Ribbonwood

Ohhhhh my god Ruby Landers is far and away my fav romance author. Sweetly written and with a little bit of mystery woven in, I always finish her books feeling a genuine sense of hope and happiness. I loved Grace Notes so much that I put off reading this for almost TWO MONTHS, worried that I wouldn't like it as much. I should have picked it up as soon as it released.

I absolutely adored Ribbonwood. Absolutely seeping in atmosphere and full of complex, dynamic characters with palpable chemistry, I was absolutely hooked from page one.

Lara is such a beautifully complex character. Turning years of mistreatment and mischaracterizations into armor to protect her and other women, all while cutting herself off from the same community she's helped. It's not surprising that the book begins and ends with vivid descriptions of how the town's residents see her; Lara is the absolute center of this story.

Ollie, in comparison, is a little more straight forward, but her personal issues are still handled masterfully. Struggling to slow down after years of focusing solely on her career have finally caught up to her, watching Ollie reconcile with her hometown was incredibly heartwarming.

Together, Ollie and Lara have so much chemistry. Their history is obvious, but it's clear from their first interaction that both women are way more than their high school selves. Watching both of them learn to truly see each other for the first time and fall in love with one another was extremely captivating. These are two complex characters with a complex relationship, but the core of that relationship burns with such intensity that I couldn't help but be entranced by every single moment.

Ollie's family and Lara's bonfire community helped give Ribbonwood the warmth it needs; despite the town's darker aspects, the closeness of its' residents shines through. Landers' depicts partner violence with the weight it deserves, and the town's casual misogyny is confronted in a beautifully satisfying way.

This was an absolutely captivating work, one I couldn't put down from start to finish. Absolutely recommended.

I received an advance copy in exchange for a review, but all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.