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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
MY REVIEW:
Genre | Tropes: Romance, Contemporary, Christian Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐
This book made me cry tears of sadness and happiness. Evangeline is the main female character and she suffers from an immune disease called Alopecia Totalis, meaning a complete loss of hair on all of her body.
Learn More About Alopecia – NIH Article
Learning about Evangeline’s condition was eye-opening for me as I’ve heard about it, but wasn’t all that familiar with it. We follow her struggle throughout this book to see herself as anything other than unwanted by everyone. She was engaged when the condition starts and he leaves her and calls off their engagement because he is so uncomfortable with her condition.
Evangeline moves to a new neighboring small town to start over. She wears her wig and pretends like nothing is different about her. This is one of the elements of the story that really pulled at my heart. Her struggle to love herself no matter how others viewed her.
But her co-worker at the library eventually introduces her to her cousin Tai through a hilarious set of circumstances. Tai is a perfect cinnamon roll character because he is sweet all the way to the core, and he falls for Evangeline hard and fast. Much of the book is spent with these two characters exploring a friendship that is strained because of Evangeline’s self esteem issues. But Tai never gives up on helping her see her own beauty. There were so many lines in this book that made me tear up because of Tai trying to help her see this on her own.
The author does an astounding job at conveying the pain this character is experiencing and extrapolating that across the spectrum of those that have Alopecia. It’s emotionally taxing and without a good support system, can be debilitating to anyone. While Evangeline’s character does have a great support system in her family and new friends, the tragedy of her experience with her fiancé colors everything for her afterwards.
It’s an emotional road, this book, but very worth reading and I loved every single second of it!
My Favorite Line
“Now you listen to me and you listen to me well, Evangeline Victoria Kelly. Whoever told you you’re not a heroine is a list. A heroine is determined. Compassionate. She loves unconditionally, and she doesn’t need a man to rescue her. She may be flawed, but she never stops learning and growing or making the world a better place for the people around her. You are a heroine, Angel. Don’t let anyone tell you or make you feel differently, do you hear me?”
GET IT HERE:
Can a librarian’s matchmaking mischief lead to a love that rewrites their stories?
If the covers of every romance book ever published didn’t convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn’t heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what’s a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that’s what. Armed with library patrons’ check-out histories, she’s determined to make at least one love connection–even if it’s not her own.
Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn’t surprise him when the town’s quirky new librarian believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can’t help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline’s secret matchmaking scheme, he’s not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can’t judge a book–or each other–by the cover.
“With a uniquely heartfelt message, lovable characters, and laugh-out-loud moments, Sarah Monzon’s novel is a delight!”–MELISSA FERGUSON, bestselling author of How to Plot a Payback
This is a sweet he-falls-first, opposites attract, matchmaker romantic comedy with disability representation. Perfect for fans of books about books and kisses-only romances.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Monzon
Winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.
Looking for book recs…
Adventures in Literature 
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