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.