Dear Henry, Love Edith
by Becca Kinzer
Summary
After a short and difficult marriage, recently widowed Edith Sherman has learned her lesson. Forget love. Forget marriage. She plans to fill her thirties with adventure. As she awaits the final paperwork for a humanitarian trip to South Africa, she accepts a short-term nursing position in a small Midwestern town. The last thing she needs is a handsome local catching her eye. How inconvenient is that?
Henry Hobbes isn’t exactly thrilled to have Edith, who he assumes is an elderly widow, dumped on him as a houseguest for the summer. But he’d do almost anything for his niece, who is practically like a sister to him given how close they are in age. Especially since Edith will be working nights and Henry works most days. When he and Edith keep missing each other in person, they begin exchanging notes–short messages at first, then longer letters, sharing increasingly personal parts of their lives.
By the time Henry realizes his mistake–that Edith is actually the brown-eyed beauty he keeps bumping into around town–their hearts are so intertwined he hopes they never unravel. But with her departure date rapidly approaching, and Henry’s roots firmly planted at home, Edith must ultimately decide if the adventure of her dreams is the one right in front of her.
My Review
THIS book!! It has my entire heart!! This is the first modern romance book that I have given five stars. It’s so sweet, charming, and heartwarming. It has been the BEST romance book I’ve read to date!
I loved the concept of two people misidentifying each other, yet they would see each other around town, but never knew who the other person was…and they lived under the same roof! This was not just a cute story; it was also hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud many times. I loved the miscommunication trope that happens throughout the entire story. There were such funny situations that the main characters found themselves in. It is a dual POV between Edith and Henry, so it was fun to get each of their perspectives about the other, especially when they each thought the other was an older person.
Overall, I found them to have great chemistry together. They are both likable, relatable characters. The banter was wonderful. The pacing of the story was perfect. I found myself grinning from ear to ear the entire time. It made my heart so happy. It’s a predictable romcom, but I didn’t care because I was having such a good time with it. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in about two days.
I also enjoyed how the town and its residents played a role in this story. You definitely get the small town vibes, which were so cozy. (It reminded me of the town of Middleton from the TV series, Good Witch.) We meet many of the nosy residents who start to meddle and gossip about their relationship. There are some quirky yet lovable side characters that make the story even cuter.
I also appreciated that there wasn’t any language or spicy scenes. Yet another writer who has proven you can write an amazing love story without the smut.
One thing that left me a little disappointed was the lack of faith elements in this book. It’s labeled as a Christian romance, but there is hardly any faith in it. I wouldn’t even know unless I saw the label. There were a few mentions of God, but we don’t see any spiritual awakening or change in their spiritual backgrounds. I wish there were a little more faith in it.
I think this would make a great movie adaptation, even if only on the Hallmark channel. It’s so adorable, wholesome, and comforting.
I highly, highly recommend this book!