Dolly All the Time: A GMA Book Club Pick
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4.6 • 924 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER and GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK
A hardworking single mom returns to her seaside hometown and stumbles into a fake dating situationship with a wealthy, workaholic scion, from the New York Times bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script.
“A luminous story of love, duty, and the tension between the two, Dolly All the Time is less like a novel and more like a place I never wanted to leave. This might be my new favorite!” —Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author
If they start by pretending, can they end with something real?
Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine when she moves with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.
So when she comes across Stewart Whitfield—annoyingly handsome scion of the Whitfield family—with a flat tire and at the wrong end of a very public, very humiliating breakup, it’s in her nature to help. But Stewart’s proposed arrangement ends up being more than either of them bargained for, because as public dinners and high-society benefits turn into sunset boat rides and kisses that hit her bloodstream like a ghost pepper, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself—can she really start now?
“Everything I want in a love story! Dolly and Stewart’s chemistry is off the charts, and their summer romance grips you from the very first page and sparkles like the sun.” —Elle Kennedy, New York Times bestselling author of the Off Campus series
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Money can’t buy love, but it can certainly buy a charming meet-cute in this luxurious fake relationship romance. Teacher and single mom Dolly Brick has agreed to an unusual gig: playing girlfriend to real estate magnate Stewart Whitfield. He needs to show his family he’s serious about settling down so he can be named CEO, and her family home needs a new roof. What starts out as a simple arrangement full of client dinners, charity galas, and meals at the yacht club eventually gets messy when Dolly starts falling for Stewart. This classic rom-com setup is especially fresh and sparkling as told through author Annabel Monaghan’s descriptive prose and pitch-perfect banter. There are also some clever twists in the faux lovebirds’ story that make Dolly’s situation even more complicated—and had us loving her honesty and sense of humor even more. This is the kind of rom-com where you’re not just rooting for love—you’re also rooting for a fantastic heroine.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Monaghan (It's a Love Story) takes on the fake-dating trope in this heartening summer romance. Single mom Dolly Brick returns to Whitfield, R.I., for a few weeks each summer to help her father at their family's business, the Brick Fish House. This year, after a fire breaks out in her childhood home, she agrees to stay longer to assist with cleanup. Hardworking Dolly reckons with her place in the family as she works with her father; cares for her brother, who has schizophrenia; and tries not to resent her more easygoing younger sister, Patsy. Meanwhile, Stewart Whitfield, the handsome but hapless heir to the famous, old-money family for whom the town is named, faces personal and professional challenges after a very public breakup with his fiancée. After Dolly helps Stewart with a flat tire, their photo is printed in the tabloids and he proposes a PR relationship to improve his public image, offering a hefty payout. Through fake-dating, the pair open up about their vulnerabilities and family struggles, strengthening their bond and boosting Dolly's confidence. Monaghan's sunny tale expertly balances the joy of falling in love with the realities of making difficult life decisions, dealing with anxieties, and managing stress. Throw this one in the beach bag.
Customer Reviews
Loved it!
A great read- although you knew what the plot twist was going to be it was a sweet, romantic story!
Funny all the time!
A perfect rom com! Dolly, the main character, is relatable and hilarious.
A wonderful read
This was a wonderful story of a fake relationship that goes bad. Dolly is so refreshing and real, you can’t help but fall in love with her and her family. First time reading this author and definitely won’t be my last.