Happy First Line Friday! Today I am linking up with Reading is My Superpower and featuring Susannah B. Lewis’ latest, Della and Darby.

“Mrs. Rosie Permenter, a sixty-eight-year-old hypochondriac with self-diagnosed bursitis, bronchitis, and the bubonic plague, was a regular at the clinic.”

Della and Darby by Susannah B. Lewis

The Basics

Title: Della and Darby

Author: Susannah B. Lewis

Publication Date: February 7, 2023

Genre: Southern Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 3 Stars

From the Back Cover:

In this small Mississippi town, everyone has long memories and loud opinions.

Twins Della and Darby Redd may be identical in appearance, but they couldn’t be more different. Della is outspoken, obsessed with purple, and desperate to be accepted by her peers. Darby is introverted, creative, and sees no need to speak to anyone besides her sister and grandmother, Birdie. Due to a tragedy from their past, all three women’s lives have been blanketed in judgment, scandal, and rumor, preventing them from experiencing true peace and contentment in their small town of Clay Station, Mississippi.

When the sisters enter the final year of their twenties, Birdie and Della begin planning an elaborate thirtieth birthday bash. Della believes the party will finally win her acceptance with the in-crowd and dreams of bringing her boss, Dr. Brian Faulkner, as her date. But when Darby begins to form an unexpected friendship with her goofy coworker, Cliff, she learns through him about a scandalous secret involving Dr. Faulkner that is sure to end in disaster. Telling her sister the truth will force them both to face the reality of who they have become—and whether they still have a place in each other’s future.

In her latest novel, beloved Southern author Susannah B. Lewis explores the burden and blessing of family legacies and the moments along the way for which to give thanks and celebrate.

My Review

I have enjoyed Susannah B. Lewis’ writing in the past, so I was eagerly awaiting the release of Della and Darby. However, it didn’t live up to the charm of Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton for me. I liked the concept of a story about identical twin sisters, but I couldn’t relate at all to Della. She was stuck in the past, still trying to impress the girls who bullied her in school so many years ago, and treated her sister very poorly. Things did start to turn around towards the end of the book as the character growth was evident in both girls. Overall, this was still a good story that highlighted the power of friendship and forgiveness.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday! For today’s edition of First Line Friday, I’m linking up with Reading is My Superpower and sharing a fun new rom-com by debut author Becca Kinzer.

“Henry grimaced, not sure which irritated him more – the persistent ache in his knee or the relentless voice in his ear.”

Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer

The Basics

Title: Dear Henry, Love Edith

Author: Becca Kinzer

Publication Date: January 31, 2023

Genre: Christian Romantic Comedy

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

He thinks she’s an elderly widow. She’s convinced he’s a grumpy old man. Neither could be further from the truth.

After a short and difficult marriage, recently widowed Edith Sherman has learned her lesson. Forget love. Forget marriage. She plans to fill her thirties with adventure. As she awaits the final paperwork for a humanitarian trip to South Africa, she accepts a short-term nursing position in a small Midwestern town. The last thing she needs is a handsome local catching her eye. How inconvenient is that?

Henry Hobbes isn’t exactly thrilled to have Edith, who he assumes is an elderly widow, dumped on him as a houseguest for the summer. But he’d do almost anything for his niece, who is practically like a sister to him given how close they are in age. Especially since Edith will be working nights and Henry works most days. When he and Edith keep missing each other in person, they begin exchanging notes—short messages at first, then longer letters, sharing increasingly personal parts of their lives.

By the time Henry realizes his mistake—that Edith is actually the brown-eyed beauty he keeps bumping into around town—their hearts are so intertwined he hopes they never unravel. But with her departure date rapidly approaching, and Henry’s roots firmly planted at home, Edith must ultimately decide if the adventure of her dreams is the one right in front of her.

My Review

This charming story stole my heart right from the beginning! In this rom-com with an epistolary flair, Henry and Edith’s relationship starts off as a comedy of errors, with neither of them realizing the other was the one they were sharing a house with. The spark between them jumped off the page, and their witty banter made me laugh out loud! While this is a fun story, it’s not without its serious moments as they are both forced to face where their choices in life have gotten them and how they want to move forward. If you are looking for a light-hearted yet heartfelt story, in the style of Bethany Turner and Melissa Ferguson, you will love this book. I can’t wait to read whatever Becca Kinzer writes next!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.