Gracie Harris Is Under Construction, Kate Hash (Review by Sara D’Onofrio)

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

So, when I read the blurb on the back cover for this book, I think I went into it thinking there was going to be a lot more, let’s say, not suitable for work scenes. What I didn’t expect was to read such a devastatingly beautiful story about grief, loss, and the process of finding yourself again through the process. Kate Hush did a stunning job at writing this story in such a way that you forgot you were reading fiction. One thing that I particularly enjoyed was how there were several points in the story where I expected things to go a certain way, and the author just took it in the opposite, less predictable direction. For example, I expected Ben’s death to end up being the result of him doing something nefarious, and a way for the reader to disconnect with him and connect more with Josh. But no, by allowing Ben’s death to just be a tragic accident and their marriage to really have been a solid one, it gave the reader such an authentic look at Gracie’s grief. I also expected the miscommunication trope to play such a larger role in this book, and it was refreshing how once they connected, they embraced being open, honest, and just living in their moment together. Their third act break-up was so brief, and it was a pleasant surprise how quickly and maturely Josh and Gracie came back together. The storyline in this book never felt childish or surface level. It was deep, raw, and beautiful to watch unfold. For me, and this is unbelievably subjective, I wanted more detail about their intimate scenes. Not because I selfishly just wanted to know more, but I think it would have also added another layer to their connection. Gracie had expressed just needing the quick physical connection with others, but I would have enjoyed getting to know how different it felt with Josh, and the time he took to make her feel comfortable and safe. I just wanted to sit in the connection longer! Obviously, I really enjoyed it though!