I appreciate a great romance, especially one that has tragedy, complicated family dynamics, hope and a good dose of humor, in addition to love. If We Ever Get There delivers all of the above through two delightful main characters, Effie and Lola.

Effie is a mother who has devoted so much time to her family that being a mother is basically her identity. When her marriage falls apart, she feels overwhelming blame and failure, seeking to boost her morale through plastic surgery. Unexpected complications with her surgery equals unexpected new perspectives and, most definitely, unexpected new skills. She can now communicate with dead people. Grab yourself a drink, get comfortable and see where this new ability takes Effie and who she is destined to meet.

Lola is Effie's grandmother, who tells her coming-of-age story through letters to her role model, Patsy Cline. We all have someone who inspires us, and in this case, it is a famous singer. Lola is finding life difficult at times, but the guidance and inspiration from Patsy is her compass and her strength to tackle life's dilemmas.. This adoration of an icon is passed down through generations and delivers a unique element to this story. The line of communication between Patsy Cline, Lola and Effie is strong, delivering a compelling ending.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are my own. What a lovely read!

DNF about 50 pages in. The writing is good, the concept is interesting, but I’m not finding myself pulled in enough to continue reading (lacking the “must keep reading!” desire). This is very personal and not a criticism of the book, please do give it a chance!

Following the life-altering upheaval of her personal life, Effie undergoes a "mommy makeover" that unexpectedly ends in temporary death, leaving her with the ability to speak with the dead.
After her husband leaves her for a younger woman, Effie takes on a new job and encounters a new ghost named-Cameron, her boss’s deceased brother. She finds herself driven not only to aid Cameron but to also rediscover her own sense of self. This novel is an enjoyable reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent oneself.

Effie's journey in "If We Ever Get There" is a heartfelt exploration of resilience and self-discovery. Laura Barrow masterfully weaves together themes of family, love, and finding one's voice against the backdrop of a captivating storyline. Effie's encounters with the spirit of Patsy Cline add a whimsical touch to the narrative, drawing readers in with intrigue and charm. Barrow's writing style effortlessly balances light-hearted moments with deeper reflections, creating a story that resonates long after the final page. "If We Ever Get There" is a must-read for anyone seeking a tale of empowerment and hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of If We Ever Get There by Laura Barrow, in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! Effie was portrayed so realistically it was like sitting with a friend. This was a captivating, realistic, and heartfelt portrayal of a woman remembering who she was and discovering who she is now.

I look forward to reading more by Laura Barrow.

Laura Barrow takes you on a heartfelt journey as you follow Lola’s diary entries from the 60’s, addressed to the one and only Patsy Cline, and the present day life of Lola’s granddaughter, Effie.

Effie’s life has taken somewhat of an unexpected detour; relationship trouble has left her putting the pieces of her life back together. As someone who is a natural “people pleaser”, Effie must navigate life as a single mother of three. With the help of her best friend Grace (everyone needs a Grace in their corner!), her new boss, and a -very- unexpected new friend, Effie must learn how to start putting herself first- just as her grandmother, Lola, learned to do in the 60’s.

Barrow writes of the beautiful journey Effie encounters while wading through her current situation. I loved the journal entries from Lola, watching her confidence and independence as a woman blossom through her relationships; with her mother and with Wallace. It was such a delight when Lola’s entries began to cross over with Effie’s life. Along the way, I found myself smiling and encouraging Lola while sympathizing, rooting for, and sometimes wanting to shake some sense into Effie!

This novel is a wonderful reminder that nothing in life is promised. Dust off and chase those dreams and goals you’ve once set for yourself, it’s not too late!

If you loved the movie Ghost, then 5is book will please you. Effie is ,an aging three teens, an ex husband, a less than encouraging mother, and turning 40. The mysterious stranger starts Effie on a journey of self discovery and healing. Throw in the letters of her grandmother for nostalgia

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union publishers, for letting me access this advanced reader copy with its inviting cover. In If We Ever Get There, Laura Barrow pens the story of a woman scorned who first blames herself for her husband’s infidelity then loses her identity in its aftermath. Poor Effie. Her husband of nineteen years has cheated on her with a younger woman, who is not much older than their teenage daughter. Effie hopes if she changes her body and amps up her wardrobe, he may return to her. Enter Patsy Cline.

Barrow’s whimsical portrayal of Effie's hallucination in surgery (or some sort of fantastical result from a medication reaction) and her grandmother Lola’s journal filled with letters to Patsy Cline lead her to realize that the change she needs to make comes from within. The reader follows Effie on her journey to healing. If We Ever Get There is a fun read about serious topics, with Barrow’s typical wink and a smile style that immerses the reader in an easy story filled with serious topics like infidelity, distrust, the struggles of motherhood, and intergenerational love. Though Effie annoyed me at first with her attempts to reunite with her husband, when her path shifted, I applauded her new choices. Readers who enjoy stories about women’s self-realization against the odds will enjoy this novel and certainly anyone who has been cheated on by a spouse will understand the mindset that Effie has and how difficult it is for her to believe in herself again. This positive review is my personal opinion and is not made in consideration for access to the ARC.

I loved, loved, loved If We Ever Get There by Laura Barrow!! The country music element was such an amazing surprise, song lyrics, dual pov, second chance romance trope- I mean this is only a few of the things that made me love this book! Hooks you right from the beginning & keeps you wanting more!! READ THIS BOOK!!!

Thank you NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for the ARC copy of this book.

Effie is a 40-year-old mother of three teenagers who has been left by her husband of almost 20 years. She has surgery and it seems like she died and was brought back to life. When she saw the light she also saw singer Patsy Kline and she doesn't know what to make of that. Little does she know that her life will change very much.
I really enjoyed reading this book but I have to say it took me a while to get into the story. After the part where Effie met Cameron though I was hooked. I loved the story and especially the throwback parts to Lolly's youth. Really a great story with relatable characters. If you enjoyed watching the series "Ghostwhisperer" this book is definitely one for you.

Sometimes we just need a light-hearted book about finding or rediscovering yourself when faced with unwanted adjustments to life, ie, when your well ordered life falls apart. In this fun book, our main character is totally defined by her role as a good wife and mom but is handed a rude wake-up when she discovers her sob husband a) doesn't value her and b) he's been cheating with a 20-year old. She goes in for a bit of surgical 'enhancement' but wakes up hearing ghosts. Long story short, she makes the most of this, redefines and stands herself, and forges a new life. Oh, and Patsy Cline is involved.

I received this book from NetGalley.

The first thing that doesn't sit right with me is that there were some complications in the surgery but Effie doesn't know what they are? The doctor never told her and she never asked? That just seems weird. And when she's still thinking about it weeks later, why doesn't she contact the doctor?

The book itself is very slow going. A third of the way in and I feel like not much has happened. The story itself is fine but honestly the letters to Patsy aren't my favourite. They lack something.

62% in and I feel like nothing has happened. The book is super slow and not much happens at all.

78% in and I'm struggling. Also, Effie doesn't seem to speak to Teagan. Yes, Teagan doesn't treat her the best, but when does Effie sit down and really try and find out what's happening in her life. It all seems a bit thrown in. So much focus is on work, Daniel and Cameron and very little on her children. Then why give one of the children such a storyline? Also the point is for her to help Drew accept Cameron's death so he can move on, but so far she's done very little to aid that.

I finally finished the book and honestly it wasn't for me. Overall it was just too long, too slow and not enough happened. Also, nowhere on the blurb do I ever remember it saying anything about how she can speak to spirits and I think that should be rectified.

📖 29 / 100 in 2024
✍️ Contemporary Fiction
⭐️ 4.5 stars (rounded up for Goodreads)

If We Ever Get There by Laura Barrow

for readers who enjoy ....

country music, dual perspective, near-death experiences, song lyrics, epistolary books, pickleball, second chance romance, teenagers, Patsy Cline, the afterlife, chapter titles, sugar cookie candles

(Thank you to @netgalley for the advance digital ARC copy!)

Newly single after her high school sweetheart cheats, Effie decides not to (I) Fall to Pieces by choosing herself every day, inspired by her grandmother Lola, a Crazy Patsy Cline fan, who once learned to find her own answer to That’s My Desire.

A great read for anyone who’s had to put their life back together again, this heartfelt yet light read takes us along on Effie’s journey to prioritize herself after 19 years of putting her focus on her husband and family.

Effie’s character arc was believable, interesting, and engaging. Even though I’m not a big country fan, I enjoyed the musical references throughout the book. The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston is an excellent comp for this book and this would be a satisfying next read following that one.

Although I tend not to like fiction told through letters, I made an exception for Lola’s letters to Patsy, which was a wonderful way to tell her side of the story. Just like Effie, I had a close relationship with my grandmother and this novel was a sweet reminder of our similarities.

When I started this I was worried it was going to be a cowboy romance, (not my thing) but apart from the reference to country music it wasn’t. I enjoyed the story , Effie, the Mum was relatable, the ghost element was unexpected but not silly.
Was quite a unique book.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If We Ever Get There was one of the most interesting books I have read for quite some time. I don't usually read books of this style, as I tend to focus more on romance etc, but this was a really refreshing change. The story follows Effie, in the wake of her husband's betrayal, trying to navigate a life she's never had to lead before. Woven in between segments of the story are her grandmother's letters to her hero, Patsy Cline. It's a really clever way to intertwine two women's stories, as they both struggle to work out what to do with their lives and relationships.

To be completely honest, I found the first half of the story quite slow. I struggled to get as into the story as I would like, but after the introduction of the spirits, namely Cameron, the story really grabbed my attention and I couldn't put the book down. The development of the characters was fantastic; they're witty, rational, and complex. I thought that the portrayal of Effie coming to terms with what her husband had done, and how she was going to move on from that, was so realistic and, I would even go so far as to say, comforting that it really felt like you were on the journey with her.

The only reason why this story isn't a 5/5 is due to the struggle I had at the beginning with getting into the story, but overall, I really enjoyed reading it!

If We Ever Get There by Laura Barrow was an uplifting story of h0w Effie gets her mojo back, and it was a pleasure to see her character development throughout the book. Each of Effie's chapters is cleverly titled with a Patsy Cline song, but you don't need to be a Patsy Cline fan to appreciate the story.

This book perfectly portrays how women tend to get lost in the roles of serving their families and spouses, and putting their own needs, wants, and dreams on hold. Very relatable. It also explores the complex relationship between mothers and daughters. How mother's want what's best for their daughters, but can have a different idea of what that is than their daughters. And how daughters just want the freedom to be who they are, and to know that they are loved and supported despite those different visions.

Romance is a part of the story line, but not the main part. I love how Effie found herself again, but didn't rely on a romantic partner for her identity/sense of self worth. So many stories depict that for us to live "happily ever after" we must be in a romantic relationship. Here, Effie becomes complete on her own, just as she is.

I rate If We Ever Get There 4/5 stars. Highly recommended for those who enjoy uplifting women's fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Effie find her confidence and make her place in the world.

I've had Laura Barrow's first book, Call the Canaries Home, on my TBR list for awhile now. After reading If We Ever Get There, I will definitely be moving it up in priority on the list!

Thank you so much to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. These are my opinions.

"If We Ever Get There" stars Effie, a woman that is enduring a separation from her husband of nineteen years after some infidelity. She undergoes a procedure that has left her with some strange unintended side effects. She has an idea of what a marriage should look like, and struggles on whether to reconcile their marriage. Along the way, we get to see Effie's grandmother, Lola, and the letters she wrote to Patsy Cline. We get to experience life after separation with Effie, as she gets a job, balances co-parenting teenagers, and finds herself again.

First of all, this was so beautifully written. It was incredibly immersive, and hard to put down. This even had me tearing up at certain points. Laura Barrow created characters that were witty, kind, and could be empathized with. I felt drawn to some experiences that Effie experienced.

It is wild that this is the author's second book ever, because Laura writes like she's been writing books for years.

This review will be pretty short and sweet, because this book is sweet.

What a fascinating, unique premise! I loved reading Lola’s story via her letters to Patsy Cline, interspersed with Effie’s story of her family and her fading marriage and her new job, etc. The fact that there was an extra touch of the paranormal here just made it all the better for me. I would have liked an explanation, towards the end of the book, of what actually happened to her during her surgery, to make her ghost-seeing a bit more understandable. However, it all felt totally believable to me. The sub-story between Effie and her daughter was a realistic, sweet touch and I also found the ending totally satisfying.

The way that Effie’s story paralleled Lola‘s story was not completely evident until the end, and I appreciate it that the author didn’t give it away at the beginning.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was hooked from the start with Effie’s near death experience. It lead her to see ghosts which changed her life for the better. Her relationship with her Grandma who had dementia was so respectful and heartwarming. I really enjoyed getting to know Effie as a mother, friend and wife.

this book was fair. not my absolutely favorite book by any means, but overall pretty entertaining. 3.5/ 5 stars