Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn Published by Kensington Books on January 24, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Friendship, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Women
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: Book of the Month
“Perfect for Emily Henry fans. [This] is the love story that proves you can go home again…It’s so rich and wonderful.” – Julia Quinn on The TODAY Show
“A sweet novel that reminds you going back is sometimes the best path forward . . . and that planning is never as rewarding as doing.” —Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author
“Magnetic, witty, and expansive. The world is going to fall hard for this deliciously whimsical and captivating story, and I cannot wait to see it!” —Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis
“Outright perfection!”—Christina Lauren, Kate Clayborn Fanclub Co-Presidents and Authors of The Soulmate Equation
Indie Next Pick| #1 Library Reads Pick | Goodreads Most Anticipated Romances of the Year | Bookish Highly Anticipated Reads | Bookpage Most Highly Anticipated Romance of the Year | Paste Magazine Most Anticipated Romances of the Year | Cosmopolitan UK Best Books of the Month | Bookriot Most Anticipated Books of the Year
The acclaimed author of Love Lettering weaves a wise and witty new novel that echoes with timely questions about love, career, reconciling with the past, and finding your path while knowing your true worth.
Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.
But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.
Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back.
Honest and deeply emotional, Georgie, All Along is a smart, tender must-read for everyone who’s ever wondered about the life that got away . . .
“Absolute perfection—this is the book you are looking for. Georgie All Along is a tour de force, beautifully written and full of charming characters, rich emotion, and delicious spice. With it, Kate Clayborn solidifies her place in romance royalty.” —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author“A modern yet timeless love story.”—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Tender and sexy…features strong friendships and will appeal to fans of Emily Henry.” —Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
My Review
I chose this to be my February Book of the Month pick and I am so glad that I did. This book was everything that I hoped it would be from the cover to the blurb to the actual story it was everything. I could not put this gem of a book down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone because I loved it that much.
Alright enough fangirling over this book let me try to give you a quick look at what you will be getting when you pick up Georgie All Along. In my opinion, this book is about feeling lost, finding yourself, and mental health. We meet Georgie who has currently been laid off from her personal assistant gig in California completely lost as to what she wants to do with her life. All that she has done for the past several years is make other people happy with no regard for herself. It isn’t until Bel reaches out that Georgie finally makes up her mind on what her next move will be. Bel is Georgie’s best friend from childhood who recently moved back to their hometown and has decided she might have bit off more than her pregnant self could handle so she asks Georgie for help. Once Georgie makes it back to her home town she heads to the local store to buy milkshakes for her and her bestie. While there she runs into one of her least favorite teachers from high school and suddenly feels the way she did back then like they were giving her pitying looks and did not expect much from her. I should also mention that she runs into a broody, handsome man at the checkout who happens to save her from Mrs. Michaels (the teacher) prying eyes. This said man also ends up paying for the milkshakes she went into the store to get because sadly she forgot her money in the car. As the story goes on we discover who this man is and the kind of impact he has upon Georgie’s life and the impact Georgie has on his life.
Georgie eventually makes it to Bel and Harry’s (Bel’s husband) home where she has a good catchup and they discover their old notebook from school, their bucket list of things that they were going to do in high school. This notebook became a huge part of the story and one of the ways that Georgie discovers who she is and what she wants out of life. She takes it upon herself to complete as many of the tasks in this notebook as possible in order to discover herself. Along the way she runs into her old crush who she has decided she is no longer into which is great because he was written all through the notebook. The bucket list items that Georgie is attempting are not going as smoothly as her teenage self thought they might but she doesn’t let that stop her. She is determined to be that confident girl with a plan again. Georgie experiences some embarrassing moments in the story but none of it is wasted because it all has a part in developing who she becomes.
This was such a fun read for me and really there is not much more to say other than this book is a new favorite of mine. One that I will be rereading again at some point. I absolutely loved the depth of the characters, the mental health struggles, the feelings of being lost and then finally finding oneself, not to mention the romance. Please reader go get yourself a copy because I do not think you will be disappointed.
My favorite Quote:
But what Bel has said — that I have always lived for making things better in the moment — I think it means that what I’ve really been waiting for is something from my present. That I’ve been waiting to realize I’m okay, and that I’ve probably always been okay. (pg. 267)
Trigger Warnings:
- Parental Emotional Abuse
- Drug Addiction