The Simple Life by Tara Sivec Book Review

The Simple Life by Tara Sivec

Standalone Romantic Comedy

There is a reason Tara Sivec has been one of my top 3 authors for the last 6 years, and she totally reinforced that position with the perfect Autumn escape. The Simple Life was everything I love about Tara’s writing (and more!) in a small-town setting.

Brooklyn couldn’t wait to get out of her small Montana town and live out her fashion dreams in the Big Apple. She was doing just that, working for a top fashion magazine, going to all the hot parties, rubbing noses with all the stars, and had the perfect boyfriend. But all that disappeared in the blink of an eye, so when she had to go home to take care of her dad, she needed to leave New York. Perfect timing.

I loved her dad! Tara writes the best fathers. When her cantankerous dad couldn’t take much more of Brooklyn at home with him, he arranged for a job for her at the pumpkin farm she grew up playing at. The farm was owned by her best friend Ember’s family, but now it’s run by Ember’s older brother who was Brooklyn’s arch nemesis (that she may have had some fantasies about) growing up. He is back in town as well, a single dad with two daughters, and he has turned the farm into a thriving business. They are so busy he needs a nanny for his girls. Haha, Brooklyn and her Louboutins on a farm with sticky kids was funny as hell!

“Cookie Brooke” and “Cunty Clint” were so freaking hilarious with their childish banter and simmering attraction.

“He’s standing so close that if I take a deep breath, my boobs will bump into his chest. I’d like to insult him like I did yesterday and tell him he smells like shit, but my brain has suddenly gone to mush. He doesn’t smell like horse shit. Not even close.”

They had awesome chemistry.

“This is nothing like my fantasies. I have been masturbating to all the wrong things for years.”

I loved watching Brooklyn lose the New York and grow into country living even though she has every intention of going back as soon as her dad is better. She had fantastic character growth throughout the book.

“I watch the three of them sitting on a blanket, with Grace and Brooklyn’s backs resting against a tree, and Mia curled up in Brooklyn’s lap, with Brooklyn’s chin resting on Mia’s head, and I want to drop to the ground and cry like a baby at how beautiful the sight is.”

Even when they get together, the banter never ends.

“Fighting with you every day for a month has made me happier than getting along with someone else all my life.”

I have so many great quotes highlighted, I had a really hard time with this review because choosing was impossible. I read The Simple Life twice because I didn’t review it right away, so when I went to pull quotes it just pulled me right back in, and I loved it just as much the second time. It is the perfect way to spend a fall afternoon with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee, a blanket, and a big goofy grin on your face. Just keep a tissue handy, because you may shed a few tears as well.

Likes:

I loved her relationship with Ember, her BFF.
Her dad!
The kids were awesome. But Mia and her sugar addiction just cracked me up.
Brooklyn’s character growth.
Tara’s snarky one-liners.
You can kind of feel the real Tara in this book. She grew up with a family pumpkin farm.
The town bet. lol
“Princess Truffle Butter”
Tara’s way of weaving in deep emotion and poignant moments without ever bringing down the tone of the book.
As always, her side characters are as good as her main ones.
I read the whole book twice with a goofy grin on my face.

Dislikes:

None.

The Down & Dirty:

Books like The Simple Life are the reason I love reading so much, it was a perfect feel-good Fall indulgence. The Simple Life made me laugh and swoon and smile and just enjoy every single word. It’s got some of my favorite themes: A single dad, enemies-to-lovers, and friend’s big brother, but it was a creative take on all of them. Once again Tara Sivec proved why she has been a top three author of mine for 6+ years. I highly recommend indulging in The Simple Life. You won’t regret it.