“‘All writers have demons, Grayson. Nasty little guys that will chop you up and feed you to the pigeons down below.‘”
The Audacity of Sara Grayson – Joani Elliott
Thank you, NetGalley and Post Hill Press, for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Available for purchase on Tuesday, May 25th!
My Rating
In Summary of The Audacity of Sara Grayson
Sara Grayson finds herself in a predicament when her mother – a famous author – dies and leaves her with the task of finishing her bestselling suspense book series. Sara has no idea why her mother would make this her dying wish, especially since she isn’t a famous author herself and she is already under the immense burden of picking up the pieces of her life as a thirty-two year old, divorced, greeting card writer. Despite pressure from herself and a publisher that doesn’t believe she can do it, Sara takes on the challenge. However, writing the final book to her mother’s series means that she must uncover some deep, dark secrets that her parents kept hidden in order to appropriately connect with her family’s legacy and properly give the series the grand finish it deserves.
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Realistic dialogue | Slow start; hopefully readers don’t put it down before things get good |
| Strong characterization; Believable, likable characters | Love interest seems almost too perfect in his personality |
| Family drama element intriguing | A few puzzle pieces of the plot aren’t explained |
“He looked back at Sara, his head tilted slightly. ‘Don’t underestimate the power of your roots.’ She sighed. ‘Even when it hurts?’ He met her gaze. ‘Especially when it hurts.”
The Review
This novel is the definition of a feel-good novel. Plus, who doesn’t love books about books?
If you are a writer, love reading, and/or enjoy family drama, then pick up this new release. It is SO. DARN. CUTE.
This novel feels like a lighthearted read – especially with the well-crafted dialogue and imagery – but covers serious topics of heartache and loss.
I will be honest that I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this one simply based on the synopsis, but the author successfully creates characters that readers want to connect with and understand. Additionally, the family secrets were not obvious; I actually felt like I was going on Sara’s journey of self-discovery with her. That’s not an easy thing for a writer to accomplish!
The relationships built are strong overall. There are various romantic, sibling, and parental relationships that many readers can relate to. These characters are built with realistic people in mind (okay, maybe not everyone can relate to being a famous author…) and it’s hard not to root for them to find success and growth.
If you are impatient with slow books, be aware that this one starts slowly; however, do NOT put it down! It picks up midway and this is when Sara begins to unravel the secrets her family has hid from her. Trust me, it’s worth the patience.
The Audacity of Sara Grayson Book Information
- Published: 2021
- Publisher: Post Hill Press
- ISBN: 9781642937824
- Format: EBook (NetGalley ARC)
- Length: 400 pages
Archetypes & Anecdotes 
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