Release Date - January 12, 2017
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 416 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**
**spoilers for the other two books in the series**
The LOL finale to the series that started with A Night in With Audrey Hepburn. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk.I love a little Hollywood magic, particularly those classic movies that feel like they transport you to another time and place. The Libby Lomax series has a little of that magic within its pages. It's part Bridget Jones, part golden age Hollywood combined to make fun rom-com style series that offers a quick read.
Fate has got it in for Libby Lomax. She realised, far too late, that her best friend Olly, is the actual Love of Her Life. Now he’s in love with the so-nice-it-hurts, Tash, and it looks like her happy ending is completely out of reach.
Things start looking up when she, quite literally, runs into the completely gorgeous Joel. Libby discovers that there is more to Joel than his six-pack, not least, the incredible fact that he honestly believes he has found his fairy tale princess in her.
And if this wasn’t enough, an unwanted guest shows up on Libby’s enchanted sofa; Grace Kelly, wearing her iconic wedding dress and convinced that Libby is figment of her imagination. But one thing that Grace doesn’t believe in is fairy tales. Grace believes that if you really want something, then you’ve got to make it happen yourself; words which give Libby hope that happy endings aren’t just for fairy tale princesses…
Libby is just as charming as in the previous two installments. Her self deprecation combined with her ability to get herself into the most embarrassing situations make her endearing. She's someone you easily root for and that is key in this type of story. She's a balance of the 'every woman' you typically get in this kind of story but has enough quirks and personality to keep her from feeling bland.
Out of the three Hollywood legends she is visited by I knew the least about Grace Kelly. Based on the portrayals of Audrey and Marilyn, I am going to guess this was a heightened portrayal. Lucy Holliday tends to take the known characteristics and gave them a dramatic flourish for these particular characters and it works. The outlandish nature of the story allows the quirkiness to feel grounded and real. She did a fantastic job in blending Libby's all to normal storyline with some magical realism.
Those expecting an answer about the magical couch may leave this novel disappointed. We don't get an explanation for the 'hauntings' that occur but I, personally, did not want one. Part of the charm of this novel is in the not knowing. It is not the important aspect of the story. The little we do know about the couch's history is enough and, like Libby, that is all we need to know.
Libby's love life has been filled with ups and downs and this book is no exception. She gets her typical Hollywood ending and drives off into the sunset with the guy that is perfect for her. I doubt anyone will be truly surprised or upset by who she ends up with, even if you happen to ship her with someone else. It is undeniable that things end as they should. It's a sweet, romantic ending that is the perfect way to say goodbye.
There is a bittersweetness to having this series end. I am not ready to say goodbye to Libby or her friends. I want to spend more time in this magical world. I am hoping that Lucy Holliday decides that Dillon needs his own story and that she writes a series with him being magically visited by three iconic Hollywood legends of his own (may I suggest James Dean and Clark Gable because I think that would be amazing). Here's hoping that Lucy eventually returns to this world and gives us a glimpse of what is going on with Libby, even if it is through someone else's story.
Libby's story ends with some laughs, some swoons, and a desire for more time spent with her and this world. Most of all however, A Night In With Grace Kelly, offers up a perfect ending to Libby's Hollywood story.
