Evvie Drake Starts Over

A Novel

By: Linda Holmes

Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Linda Holmes

New York Times best seller

Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today

"Everything a romantic comedy should be: witty, relatable, and a little complicated." (People)

A heartfelt debut about the unlikely relationship between a young woman who’s lost her husband and a Major League pitcher who’s lost his game.

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR

In a sleepy seaside town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth "Evvie" Drake rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house nearly a year after her husband’s death in a car crash. Everyone in town, even her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and Evvie doesn’t correct them.

Meanwhile, in New York City, Dean Tenney, former Major League pitcher and Andy’s childhood best friend, is wrestling with what miserable athletes living out their worst nightmares call the "yips": he can’t throw straight anymore, and, even worse, he can’t figure out why. As the media storm heats up, an invitation from Andy to stay in Maine seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button on Dean’s future.

When he moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie’s house, the two make a deal: Dean won’t ask about Evvie’s late husband, and Evvie won’t ask about Dean’s baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken - and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more. To move forward, Evvie and Dean will have to reckon with their pasts - the friendships they’ve damaged, the secrets they’ve kept - but in life, as in baseball, there’s always a chance - up until the last out.

A joyful, hilarious, and hope-filled debut, Evvie Drake Starts Over will have you cheering for the two most unlikely comebacks of the year - and will leave you wanting more from Linda Holmes.

Praise for Evvie Drake Starts Over

"A quirky, sweet, and splendid story of a woman coming into her own." (Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times best-selling author of Daisy Jones & the Six)

"Effortlessly enjoyable...[a] pitch-perfect...adult love story that is as romantic as it is real." (USA Today)

"Charming, hopeful, and gently romantic...Evvie Drake is great company." (Rainbow Rowell, number one New York Times best-selling author of Eleanor & Park)

©2019 Linda Holmes (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Holmes writes with an easy warmth about kind people who are trying their best but messing things up anyway. . . . A warm and lovely romance, perfect for readers of Rainbow Rowell and Louise Miller.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The charm of Holmes’ novel comes not only from a genuine friendship between Evvie and Dean that develops into a sweet romance but also from watching amiable Evvie stumble through the process of finding herself in a realistic way. A warm and funny book that will utterly captivate fans of Abbi Waxman and Taylor Jenkins Reid.”—Booklist (starred review)

“A quirky, sweet, and splendid story of a woman coming into her own . . . Linda Holmes’s voice is lively and warm, the setting of small-town Maine is pitch-perfect, and the character of Evvie Drake is refreshing in her imperfections—an absolute delight.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones & The Six

So credit worthy!

A wonderfully fun, sweet, poignant listen for any and everyone who has ever felt a little bit stuck or broken. So hopeful. Terrific characters, great writing and of course a fun sweet little puppy at the end.

Wonderful Easy Listen

I loved this book. It wasn't too mushy, it didnt take any crazy twists or turns, it was just a lovely story narrated very well.

I usually only listen on the way to work, but I listened at work and at the gym until I was finished.

Didn’t want it to end!

After the first few chapters, I checked to see how many chapters were left because I had to figure out how to pace myself so I didn’t finish it too fast. I sat in the garage at work so I could finish a chapter. I loved it!!

Light, predictable story line.

Narrator great, not sure why all the f-bombs. Don't believe they add anything to the story line.

Didn’t live up to the hype

Unfortunately I didn’t care for this book. I was excited to read it since it has been so popular, but I found Evvie to be obnoxious and hard to sympathize with. It was alright enough that I kept listening. I may have enjoyed it more, but Julia Whelan narrated and I can’t stand her narration. I typically look for her name and try to avoid her work, but forgot to check this time. I honestly have the hardest time listening to her and feel that her narration actually adds to my dislike towards characters. Her male voice is SO bad and the female voice always make them seem pathetic.

An Okay Read

This is a nice book with nice people. It is just okay. It isn't literature that is going to change your life. The ending is too abrupt. The worst thing about this book was the use of the same voice for three different characters. I really hate that. It isn't a book I am mad that I read but it isn't one I would read again.

A swimming pool book, but overrated

It was an enjoyable listen, but I think I purchased it because it was on a “best of” list—- not sure of that or which list. However, it definitely had rave reviews from readers. That’s the mystery. I thought it was good, but not great. Good chick-lit choice for a plane ride or waiting in carpool line, but totally forgettable.

Like catching up with an old friend

Good narration. I enjoyed the story, and while I had a hard time picturing what Evvie looks like, I found her a well, developed, believable person. A conflict that she had with another character, though, felt a little surprising to me. A different conflict with a different character, however, was the fireworks & drama I was expecting, and it was incredibly well-written, leaving me (almost) as drained and emotional as the ones involved. This is a nice, enjoyable novel that reminds me a little of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, though that one was truly delightful and surprising, while Evvie Drake feels comfortable and pleasant, in the best way.

Great book!

Loved the story and characters in this book. Hope to see another by this author soon.

Very light reading

The storyline is very light and good for long drives. It will not compel you to listen every chance you get. Did not care for the performance of the reader.