Twice Shy

By: Sarah Hogle

Narrated by: Dorothy Dillingham Blue

Can you find real love when you've always got your head in the clouds?

Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start.

Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn't the only inheritor: she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who's as grouchy as he is gorgeous--and it turns out he has a very different vision for the property's future.

Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley's scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one's comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.

Critic reviews

One of Reader’s Digest’s 60 Best Romance Novels You’ll Read in Your Lifetime

"[A] sweet, playful romance." —BookRiot

"The perfect springtime romance." —PopSugar

"Excellent. . . [An] endearing take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. . . Readers are sure to be enchanted by this couple and their deeply felt struggle to open their hearts." —Publishers Weekly (starred)

"If fixer-upper fantasies are your thing, don't miss Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle. . . Maybell's voice and point of view make the story funny, engaging and enchanting." —NPR.org

"Hogle did a marvelous job of turning what could be a heavy and predictable tale into a lighthearted story full of surprises, redemption and love." —USA Today

"Hogle's story takes a gentle, knowing look at anxiety, its debilitating effects, and the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones in this slow-burn romance with plenty of charm and witty banter." —Country Living

"This book is the softest, sweetest book releasing this year." —Frolic

Almost gave up…

In the beginning I wasn’t feeling the book but I’m glad I kept going. I loved this story. It’s so cute and had me laughing out loud.

Great romantic story

Wholesome and adorable. Could benefit from male point of view. Enjoyed the read, narrator was good.

Just what I needed

Light, smart, funny, wonderfully written, beautifully and adorably read aloud different kind of love story that was the perfect get away. AKA: just what I needed!

Sweet , Swoony

The narrator was fantastic! She did a very good job. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book for the first 1/3, May Bell's active imagination was cute in the beginning but then became off putting. By the mid point of the book I was hooked. Wesley is a great grumpy but secretly cinnamon roll hero, responsible for some sweet swoony moments. I really liked the ending as well- though I wasn't certain if it was real or imagined Anxiety rep was appreciated and I loved that it was set in Pigeon Forge TN near my home.

Love love!

I really loved this book. Quirky, endearing and loved the characters love connection (my fave!!) And I’m not really sure what the haters are talking about so just ignore. I devoured “you deserve eachother” in a day and couldn’t get enough of Sarah hogles writing! I read tons of books and it’s not often that I get sucked into the writing style AND storyline and characters. This book is pretty pg13 but even though I’m used to more steam, I didn’t care! I want to go to the falling stars hotel and wander around myself!