A rom-com filled with emotions, fun and romance

After this book has been recommended to me by a few friends, I had to check out the audiobook version. This is the first time I come across both the author and the narrator but I’m super happy I gave them a chance.

Twelve years ago, Delilah Green left the small town of Bright Falls in Oregon and her step-family to move to NY to pursue her career as a photographer. When her step-sister Astrid asks her to come back to photograph her wedding, Delilah wants to refuse. She wants to leave Bright Falls and its inhabitants, especially her family, in the past but the money is too tempting to pass. Back in Bright Falls, she meets Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s besties, and she decides that maybe it’s a good chance to have a bit of no-strings fun. At first, Claire isn’t too enthusiastic about the idea of a short-lived entanglement with Delilah but it’s hard to resist…

At first glance, this is a return to hometown, no strings attached romantic comedy with the setting of a small town. If it would have stopped there, this novel would have been perfectly fine. However, Delilah Green Doesn’t Care is much more than that. It’s a family drama, soul-searching exploration, and a character’s road of self-redemption. All wrapped up in a feel-good, self-deprecating and humorous story.

It’s very good when a romance has two likable main characters with great chemistry together and Delilah and Claire have it in buckets. The author just had to put them together in a room for the sparkles to ignite. It’s so hard to create such powerful chemistry from the start and Ms. Herring Blake achieves it effortlessly. But even better is the cast of secondary characters, all well-rounded, realistic, and full of depth.

I mentioned the role of humour in this novel. This is the glue that ties the whole plot together and makes sure that the story doesn’t sound like a melodrama. It’s not the ridiculous, slapstick kind, it’s a gentler, more intelligent form but as effective:

“Astrid’s velvety voice filtered through the phone. Like an American Cate Blanchett, except more stick-up-your-ass and less queen-of-bisexuals.”

Humor, romance and emotional moments are all well-balanced and none of them overpowers the other.

This is the first time I’ve listened to Kristen DiMercurio and I absolutely loved her performance. Her voices are distinct and they all reflect each character perfectly. Her delivery of the humorous passages, as well as the emotional ones, is perfect. Thanks to both the brilliant writing and the amazing narration, I could see the story develop in my mind’s eye. If you are looking for a rom-com filled with emotions, fun and romance, this one is for you. 5 stars.