Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn 
Published by Kensington on February 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Romance
Pages: 366
Format: Paperback
Source: Personal Collection
Goodreads
Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.
But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.
Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back.
Honest and deeply emotional, Georgie, All Along is a smart, tender must-read for everyone who’s ever wondered about the life that got away . . . - via GoodReads
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn isn’t necessarily a book I would have picked up of my own accord. The cover doesn’t do much for me and the synopsis, while it sounds like an okay story, wouldn’t have been enough to pull me in on its own. Thankfully I have a subscription to Once Upon a Book Club and this book was one of the prior month’s book of the month. I would have missed out on a pretty amazing story without this subscription.
Georgie has always done for other people and she doesn’t know what to do when she is suddenly cut free from the career she built on that characteristic. Levi is the softest grump you will ever meet. It took me a little bit to really get into their story. Honestly, the continuous second hand embarrassment that Georgie kept dishing out was a lot to handle. I think it was genius though. George was figuring out her life: what she wanted from it and what she wanted to do with it. She made mistakes along the way but that helped develop her as a person. Not to get overly emotional about it but it helped me see that I’m not a perfect creature and it’s okay to figure things out after some trial and error and not nail it immediately.
Levi was such a great male lead. He was trouble when he was younger and he doesn’t try to downplay that. The great thing about Levi is that he is able to look at his past, own his part of it, but not excuse the people who hurt him either. It’s a pretty healthy outlook. And of course, Hank only adds to Levi’s appeal.
This was a great small town contemporary romance about two people who don’t fit, finding the places where they fit together. The supporting characters were everything they needed to be and didn’t overshadow Georgie and Levi’s relationship development. This was a great book and I truly ended up loving it!
I’m so glad you are finding some great reads now.