Another fantastic installment in the Written in the Stars Series
This author has been on my radar after her novel Written in the Stars was one of my favourite books of 2020. I’ve listened to the audiobook, also narrated by Lauren Sweet, and absolutely loved it, so grabbing the audio for Ms. Bellefleur’s latest release was a no-brainer to me.
Margot Cooper doesn’t believe in love since her heart was broken a decade ago. But when Olivia Grant reappears in her life as the planner of her best friend’s wedding, Margot starts to have feelings again. Feelings for the same person who broke her heart. When Olivia has an emergency and needs a place to stay, Margot offers to help. As they rekindle their old relationship, will history repeat itself?
This is book 3 in the Written in the Stars series by this author which started with the book with the same title and continued with Hang the Moon which I didn’t read because I’m not into m/f romances. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the previous books as they are all stand-alone stories. The series follows a group of friends, owners of a dating app and a social media-based astrology business. As all of Margot’s friends start to pair off, she’s the odd one out, the fifth wheel in the group. This book is her turn to find true love.
Count Your Lucky Stars is a romantic comedy based on the second chances trope but in a way it could also be considered a friends-to-lovers book. Margot and Olivia have been best friends since kindergarten until when they were 18, they became lovers. Their fling lasted just one week but its consequences persisted until the present. Immaturity and miscommunication played a big role in pushing Margot and Olivia apart but, as it happens many times in real life, they both were able to resume their bond where they left a decade after. However, misinterpretation and fear of history repeating itself threatens to get in the way of their happily ever after.
This was another entertaining and funny rom-com with a little angst on the side. The novel balances humor, romance and angst as there is a bit of them all, in good proportion. Both main characters are adorably human in their strengths and shortcomings and their chemistry is off the charts from the start. The romance increases slowly but surely the level of heat until it’s scorching. The first sex scene is absolutely fantastic. Ms. Bellefleur writes the increasing mutual attraction really well reflected in little moments, shared looks and awkward chats.
The dialogues are one of this author’s strengths, this story mostly shows and doesn’t tell, giving it a very cinematographical feel, which I always appreciate in a story. Even though it’s a second chances romance, there are no long narrative flashbacks. Just some references here and there. The story develops strongly in the present not the past.
As with book one, Lauren Sweet did another fantastic job in the audiobook version. Her narrative tone is exactly what a rom-com needs. Her delivery of the funny moments and the acting of the different emotions were absolutely perfect. As a bonus, her performance of the sex scenes brings all the heat to life. Another highly recommended story. 5 stars.
Length: 11 hours
