Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

An interior designer who is never without the perfect plan learns to renovate her love life without one in this new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care. For Astrid Parker, failure is unacceptable. Ever since she broke up with her fiancé a year ago, she’s been focused on her career—her friends might say she’s obsessed, but she knows she’s just driven. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn’s renovation, which will be featured on a popular HGTV show, Innside America, Astrid is thrilled. Not only will the project distract her from her failed engagement and help her struggling business, but her perpetually displeased mother might finally give her a nod of approval. However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru’s granddaughter and the lead carpenter for the renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Jordan is determined to preserve the history of her family’s inn, particularly as the rest of her life is in shambles. When that determination turns into some light sabotage to ruffle Astrid’s perfect little feathers, the showrunners ask them to play up the tension. But somewhere along the way, their dislike for each other evolves into something quite different, and Astrid must decide what success truly means. Is she going to pursue the life that she’s expected to lead or the one that she wants?
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Reviews

Photo of Cloudface
Cloudface@cloudface
5 stars
Apr 12, 2023

I literally could not put this book down. I stayed up until 2 AM reading, passed out, then immediately picked it back up the next morning and didn’t get out of bed until I was finished reading it. There were multiple moments that made me smile, laugh, and blush and press my face into my pillow because the characters had so much chemistry it was killing me. I didn’t think it would be possible, but I might love this book even more than Delilah Green Doesn’t Care. I think it’s because the first book laid the groundwork for Astrid’s character development which happened in this one, so reading felt like a natural progression with great payoff. Her queer awakening, her realizations about her career and her relationship with her mother were all so well done. Jordan was a great character as well, and seeing her gain her own confidence throughout the story was wonderful.  Also, just like with Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, the sex scenes were perfect - I love how much thought this author puts into her characters’ personalities and how that would influence the way they have sex. I’m also a big fan of the way she incorporates consent into those scenes.  So basically, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book about Iris, and any other romance books Ashley Herring Blake may write in the future.