Very Sincerely Yours
Ratings14
Average rating4
Sweet rom- com and this quote spoke to me:
“Teddy didn’t believe in guilty pleasures as a concept. She figured if you liked something, whether it was the Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme or the music of boy bands from the late nineties (okay, so those were both examples from Teddy’s life), why feel guilty about it? The world was a tough, cruel place. Why not find joy wherever you could, grab that joy by the metaphorical joy reins, and hold on tight?”
— Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey
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3.5 stars, rounded up because it was the right book at the right time, and because I am a sucker for any love story that includes letter-writing. Almost unbearably sweet and adorable story of Teddy, who is dumped by her horrible boyfriend, moves in with her 2 BFFs, and starts writing to the “hot Mr. Rogers” local kids TV show host. To her surprise, he writes back, and their letters become more and more personal. Eventually Everett wants to meet in person, but how can Teddy tell him that they've already encountered each other in several incredibly embarrassing (for Teddy) situations?
Teddy is pretty much a Mary Sue (everyone immediately loves her, except her ex, but of course he wants her back) and Everett is a perfect guy whose only flaw is “works too much on a show that helps children express their feelings.” The author does have a nice light touch, and I suppose Teddy's journey from doormat to independent woman is admirable, if a tad unrealistic (after years of being in an emotionally abusive relationship, all it takes is her friends encouraging her to “do one thing that scares you ever day” to find her mojo).
9 times out of 10, I would have given this book a pass, but I was going through some heavy shit at the time, and something light, fluffy, and totally unmoored from Real Life was right up my alley. Not sure I'd read anything else by this author, but if you are looking for serious escapism or the literary equivalent of a Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan movie, this might be your cup of tea as well.
I really enjoyed Teddy's growth and the development of her friendships after leaving an abusive relationship. However, I wasn't sold on Everett, his general personality seemed to be this is a pretty shitty friend who works with children so really he must have a heart of gold