The cover of In Every Possible Way was the first thing that caught my eye, but I also love a bit of magical realism in my romance stories. So I would’ve read this anyways! Today I want to tell you about this book and what I thought. Keep on reading to find out.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an eARC to read and review. This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.
One woman’s luck changes in an instant when she hits her head and wakes up in Ireland, in this whimsical, whirlwind romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.
After yet another disastrous date where Jess is too awkward, too earnest, too whatever, she’s ready to put her romantic daydreams aside. Other than an enchanting Irish accent, her latest date is no prince charming. Then the night goes from bad to worse when she’s mugged in the parking lot and hits her head. Hard.
Hard enough that when Jess wakes up, she’s in Ireland.
The first person she meets is Eamonn, a quiet, gruff mechanic. Since Jess is stranded with no passport, cell phone, or way to get home, Eamonn becomes her reluctant knight in shining armor.
Over the next forty-eight hours, they meander through the cobblestone streets of Dublin and explore the Irish countryside, sharing their deepest fears, quiet hopes, and softest aches. It’s a connection that is as electrifying as it is terrifying, because what if Jess falls asleep and Eamonn vanishes like a dream? But a love like this—touched by magic and a little bit of luck—is never quite as it seems.
Review
In Every Possible Way met my expectations and then some! I’m normally not a big fan of romances that feel a bit like instalove, but it just worked in this story. Our main character has the worst day ever and then gets mugged. When she wakes up she’s in Ireland, she just happens to be in front of Eamonn’s (her date’s brother) house and garage. Jess has no clue how she got there though, because she’s in Ireland!
This mix of romance and magical realism is just what I needed in this story. Jess and Eamonn are total strangers, but you feel the connection from the start. And how does Jess tell Eamonn she has no clue how she ended up in Ireland. I think both of these characters needed each other though. Eamonn did things in his past he wasn’t proud of and I guess he doesn’t feel like he deserves love? Jess isn’t necessarily happy with what she’s doing with her career, but just sticks with it. I think the journey these two go on was just what they both needed.
Eamonn is a character with a heart of gold that doesn’t think twice about helping Jess and giving her a tour. I will say that while these two were exploring places in Ireland, it made me want to pack my bags. On top of that, I was smiling a lot during this book, because the connection that these two had? So good! The touch of magical realism really worked and I just didn’t want this story to end. I love how the author decided to have this book end and see everything come full circle. In Every Possible Way had me laughing, swooning, and even tearing up. Both of these characters were so special! I will be reading Alicia Thompson’s backlist very soon!
If you were to wake up somewhere completely different than where you are now, where would you want to wake up? This book definitely shows us it can lead to very interesting things. Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
