The Writing on the Wall

By: Nicole Pyland

Narrated by: Carolyn Eve

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

This is book one in the Holiday series.

Weston White just got dumped, right before the New Year, and she hasn’t ever felt particularly lucky in love. Her only love has been writing and working on this novel that she’s been trying to finish for years now. Finally, feeling like she’s ready to put it out to the world, she decides to get a literary agent to help her get published. Little does she know, her book getting published would be the second best thing to happen to her this year.

Annie Halifax is the third-generation part owner of The Halifax Agency, a literary agency that’s been dying on the vine for years with the advent of self-publishing. Her job is to carry the torch for the family and ensure the agency doesn’t go under on her watch. When her father decides to retire and instead puts her uninterested and sometimes flighty older sister in charge, Annie is left to figure out why - and to find her new place either at the agency or somewhere else entirely.

When Weston meets Annie, she’s taken aback instantly - but navigating through getting her first book published, while also falling in love with the agent representing her, isn’t easy. And with Annie trying to find out what her future looks like at the agency on top of it, things get complicated.

Watch these two women try to make things work just in time for Valentine’s Day.

©2021 Nicole Pyland (P)2022 Nicole Pyland

Cute and Realistic. A Fun Read.

I’ve enjoyed Pyland’s work, this being the fourth book from her. I’m glad to jump into a new series from her and The Holiday series seems like the perfect one. I did the thing where I don’t read anything about the book before diving into it so there were no spoilers. So learning what it was about as it opened up was really nice.

The Writing on the Wall was one of those books that I just flew through. Pyland’s writing made this such an easy book to enjoy. The main characters were both insanely likable and each one of them had their own unique thing they brought to the table. I liked the dynamic since they were supposed to be working together, but it wasn’t the typical boss-employee relationship, instead, it was a writer and an agent.

Each woman had their own issues and I like that Pyland didn’t hide them. The “oh no, this is what’s going to break them up” issue that came up was perfect for this and honestly felt like the least amount of a stretch in a romance novel I’ve read in a while. This one just felt very realistic and like it was something that would happen AND how each person would react to it happening.

Overall, I thought that The Writing on the Wall was a really fun and enjoyable read. Couple that with the excellent narration by Carolyn Eve and it’s a book that I flew through, enjoyed, and left me with a smile on my face.

The makings to be a complete hit

The Writing on the Wall has the makings to be a complete hit just like Pyland’s Chicago series. Pyland does an amazing job of setting up the characters for future books. The friend group is full of fun characters but the one I’m most looking forward to reading about is Scarlett.

I absolutely loved this story and I was shipping WAlly by the end of chapter one. Their moments of cuteness made me giggle and smile. It honestly brought back the fuzzy feeling I got while reading The Chicago Series and I can’t wait to see where this new holiday series is going to go.

I only gave performance four stars because at certain times it got hard to tell who was speaking. The overall listening experience was entertaining and full of energy.

Marvelous Beginning to a Series

Weston White has been working on her first book for five years and had created a new universe to support a series. When she seeks out a literary agent she meets Annie Halifax of Halifax Publishing. As part owner Annie is determined to sign Weston and get her a deal with one the the big five publishers.

My new favorite scene in a romcom is Weston and Annie discussing making cakes and pies and rolling pins. A funny series about six friends and their paths to love. Great narration.

Great Book!

I really enjoyed this book. Nicole Pyland can be relied on to deliver a great story and terrific main characters! ready to read another!

I was so excited...

To listen to this book.
I love the plot, the premise and so many things about this book.
HOWEVER...I couldn't give full marks because a book about writings hound be edited better.
I kept wondering who published this, without the main elements being addressed.
2 writers, talking and working in the business, not once did they talk about the plots, titles, or story ideas of said book that was supposed to be so good.
Genre-bending, a sure best seller and not once did the reader get a glimpse as to what she was writing about.
Also shouldn't a goodwriter, have the sense as to not end almost every speach-tag with she laughed?

And I was so disappointed when Annie got the tour of Wes apartment and didn't mention anything about her reaction to the white walls of her writing room.

How can you name a book Writing on the wall and not mention that?

Writers in Love

This is the first book of the new Holiday Series. The series starts on New Year's Eve with 6 friends that get together every year for this party.

This first book is about Weston and Annie. Wes is a writer and has been trying to get published. Annie is a literary agent at her family's business. Annie LOVES Wes's book and believes it will be a huge hit. Even with their initial attraction, this was definitely a slow burn. I loved their "baking" banter!

I like how we get a peek into each character and start to see their personalities. They are a close knit group who like to banter, but also show their vulnerability. This is typical realistic take and well-written by Nicole Pyland.

Annie's attraction to Wes causes the normally composed, on top of it person she usually is to become very scattered. Then, Annie's sister, Aubrey, comes back into the picture and the waters get murky for a while. Annie's relationship with her sister, Aubrey went from being a villain story to well, I don't want to spoil it. I liked this outcome better.

I read the book first. I really enjoyed listening to the characters come to life. The narrator, Carolyn Eve, did a great job with all of the characters she had to balance.

Nicole Pyland is such an excellent series writer, and this is a great beginning to the newest series.

Different Theme

I listened to this one straight through. A couple of times I felt it was a little slow but not annoyingly do. Based on writers and their agents and a love development between the 2.

Narration was perfect I really enjoyed the story and hated for it to end.

Do You Have A Favorite Rolling Pin?

The first book in Nicole Pyland's HOLIDAY SERIES takes you along the journey of Weston (author) & Annie (agent) and if you can balance professional and personal life to find your happy ending. Weston & Annie have great chemistry, which makes their conversations fun & flirty. FYI: They are NOT in a bakery when it's asked " Do you have a favorite rolling pin?" and you must read/listen to find out the answer. Nicole has the incredible talent of creating relatable characters, making us feel a part of their lives, and wanting to be included in the friend group. Carolyn Eve's narration brings the story to life with her amazing ability to portray each of the character's personality and feelings with just her voice. Nicole is one of my favorite authors and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Sooo....do you have a favorite rolling pin? ;)

The writing on the wall

Before I listened of course I read it. I have to say reading it, wasn’t really my kind of story. Of course that made me very hesitant to listen to it. But I did! And I really liked it! I didn’t think that was possible, but it was. Carolyn Eve really brought the story to life for me! So I have to say was an awesome listen!!!

So enjoyed this this audio…

Enjoyed the introduction to the friends and I’m already looking forward to listening to all their courtships. Enjoyed Annie transformation and Weston was adorable throughout.