I received this book for free from Disney Books and Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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The Throwback List by Lily Anderson Published by Hyperion Avenue on October 5, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Coming of Age, Fiction / Small Town & Rural, Fiction / Women
Pages: 406
Format: ARC, eBook, Hardcover
Source: Disney Books and Rockstar Book Tours
Buy on Amazon, Buy on Bookshop
Goodreads
Welcome to Sandy Point, Oregon: a sleepy beach town that's home to a giant anchor statue, a sometimes-karaoke-bar, and Frosty's questionably legendary Sunday Sundae Surprise. A town Jo, Autumn, and Bianca thought they'd left far behind when they graduated high school, finally moving on to greener pastures than the midway point for tourists heading to the Goonies house. But life seldom goes according to plan. Bianca Boria-Birdy, former prom queen and valedictorian, has always been an overachiever. As she juggles managing the family tattoo parlor, caring for her grandmother, and adjusting to a new marriage, Bianca's schedule becomes stricter than ever, with no room for disruption. What she really needs is a vacation, but not even Bianca Boria-Birdy can achieve the impossible. Autumn Kelly used to be an actress. Now she teaches drama at Sandy Point High. She may have had to kiss her movie-star dreams goodbye, but molding the next generation of performers has given her life meaning in a whole new way. Until the sudden reappearance of her ex-best friend throws everything off-balance. Jo Freeman has it all together. With a cool job in Silicon Valley, connections at the trendiest fitness studios, and a down payment on her dream condo, she's well on her way to reaching every one of her goals before thirty. Or she was, before she got fired and landed right back home with her parents and teenage sister. When Jo finds an old bucket list in her childhood bedroom, it sets the three women on a path that brings them closer to one another with each task. And it just might lead to a life none of them could have planned.
Today is my stop on The Throwback List by Lily Anderson Book Tour, hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my review and be sure to enter the Giveaway!
Going Home Again
Estranged friends, jealous former classmates, and a bucket list that unites them. (Lol! I like that for a movie teaser don’t you?)
The Throwback List by Lily Anderson is a contemporary novel about three young women in their twenties who working out who they are and what their next step in life will be. The catalyst for The Throwback List adventures is Jo Freeman, who returns home to Sandy Point, Oregon after being laid off from her social media manager position in California. She enlists her former best friend, Autumn and her former enemy/high school competition Bianca along with Bianca’s husband and Autumn’s brother to help her complete her old throwback list while she is in town.
Friendships and Changes
This book touches on how old friendships from one stage of your life either evolve, end or become stagnate. I’m sure many can relate to the transition from high school to college being one of finding new friends, embracing parts of your identity that you had previously shunned and moving onto new interests. And also knowing that the gap left between high school friendships and present-day adulting can be a challenge to repair at times.
Making Lemonade With Lemons
One thing all of the main characters have in common is that they had plans for their life to go in one direction, but in of course goes in another. I think right now especially, we can all relate to that. I like how the characters work through their disappointments. The Throwback List brings them together and centers joy in their lives as they work towards who they want to be as adults.
Fave Moments
I can’t spill on that because it would be a spoiler! But my fave moment is towards the end of the book and it involves two people. The rest is for you to investigate on your own. I will say that I like the banter between the friends, especially between Jo and anyone else.
Find the Book at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
What is one thing you wished you had done when you were a teenager that you would still consider doing now as an adult?
About Lily Anderson:
Lily Anderson is the author of The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You; Not Now, Not Ever; and Undead Girl Gang. A former school librarian, she is deeply devoted to Shakespeare, fairy tales, and podcasts. Somewhere in Northern California, she is having strong opinions on musical theater. Find her online at www.mslilyanderson.com.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
Giveaway Details
3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE THROWBACK LIST, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveawayBook Tour Schedule
Check out the other stops on the book tour!
Week One:
| 10/1/2021 | brittreadsalattebooks | Excerpt & IG Post |
| 10/2/2021 | Amani’s Honest Reviews | Excerpt |
Week Two:
| 10/3/2021 | Rajiv’s Reviews | Review |
| 10/4/2021 | The Pages In-Between | Review |
| 10/5/2021 | BookHounds | Excerpt |
| 10/6/2021 | @curlygrannylovestoread | Review |
| 10/7/2021 | Lexijava_Bookish | Review |
| 10/8/2021 | The Book Review Crew | Review |
| 10/9/2021 | Cocoa With Books | Review |
Week Three:
| 10/10/2021 | Kait Plus Books | Review |
| 10/11/2021 | @bookisheclectic | Review |
| 10/12/2021 | Sometimes Leelynn Reads | Review |
| 10/13/2021 | More Books Please blog | Review |
| 10/14/2021 | A Bookish Dream | Review |
| 10/15/2021 | @enjoyingbooksagain | Review |
| 10/16/2021 | My Fictional Oasis | Review |
Week Four:
| 10/17/2021 | Zainey Laney | Review |
| 10/18/2021 | @moonlight_rendezvous | Review |
| 10/19/2021 | @jypsylynn | Review |
| 10/20/2021 | The Momma Spot | Review |
| 10/21/2021 | The Phantom Paragrapher | Review |
| 10/22/2021 | coffeebooksandmascara | Review |
| 10/23/2021 | Lifestyle of Me | Review |
Week Five:
| 10/24/2021 | Perusewithcoffee | Review |
| 10/25/2021 | Pagesofyellow | Review |
| 10/26/2021 | cindysloveofbooks | Review |
| 10/27/2021 | Popthebutterfly Reads | Review |
| 10/28/2021 | two points of interest | Review |
| 10/29/2021 | Fire and Ice | Review |
| 10/30/2021 | BookBriefs | Review |
Week Six:
| 10/31/2021 | Phannie the Ginger Bookworm | Review |
I sometimes shudder when I think about the bucket list I drew up in my teenage. Nothing there I would like too have right now.
Lol! I never made one that I can remember, but I could imagine it being very different than one I would make today.