Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon

Main Chracter Energy by Jamie Varon

Published by Park Row Books ISBN 9780778334200

Trade paperback, $18.99, 320 pages

In Jamie Varon's delightful debut novel, Main Character Energy, Poppy Banks feels like her life is at a dead-end. She hates her job writing listicles for a Buzz Feed-type website, and has given up on her dream of writing mystery novels.

It doesn't help that her younger brother is a successful writer of romance novels or that her mother is constantly on Poppy to lose some weight and improve her appearance in hopes of landing a husband.

The only person who understands Poppy is her mother's sister Margot. Margot and Poppy's mother had a falling out years ago and don't speak, and if Poppy's mom knew that once a year Poppy meets with Margot she would not be happy. Margot encourages Poppy to keep writing, that something will happen. Margot wants Poppy to be the main character in her own story.

When Poppy gets word that Margot has died, she is shocked to discover that Margot left Poppy her French villa. One of the stipulations of Margot's will is that Poppy must live in the villa for six months and finish writing one book, then Poppy is free to keep the villa or sell it.

Margot ran a successful writing residency for women at the villa, a fact that surprises Poppy. Upon arriving at the villa, Poppy meets Sebastian, Margot's dear friend, and his nephew Oliver who worked for the writer's residency.

Poppy comes to like the beautiful French Riviera, and the people she meets at the villa, including the women who are the new writers in residence. Oliver is not bad on the eyes either, and the attraction appears to be mutual. 

She could be happy living in France, but the money she would make from selling the villa would help her wipe out her student and credit card debt. When two businessmen make her an offer to buy the villa and writing residency from her, she is tempted to take them up on it.

But first she must finish writing her book, and that is proving to be difficult. She can't seem to get out of her own head, and her brother's success and mother's critical words don't help.

Main Character Energy may inspire readers to ignore the negativity in their own lives and follow their own dreams. I loved the setting of the French Riviera, I could feel the sun on my face as I read it. There is an important surpise at the end, but it is one I guessed early on as many readers probably will, but guessing it doesn't take away from the joy of this sweet story.

Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on the Fall 2023 Blog Tours.