REVIEW: Shucked by Kate Canterbary

In Shucked by Kate Canterbary, After many hours on a plane that crossed several continents, it probably wasn’t the best time ever for Beckett Loew to have a run-in with one of the new owners of the vegan cafe that shares a parking lot with his family’s oyster bar. But that’s how he and his best friend’s younger sister, Sunny, meet again for the first time in well over a decade. Beckett finds out right away that arguing with her could become his favorite pastime. Although with the family business in shambles and his parents facing prison time for a crime they didn’t commit, it would be highly inconvenient to catch feelings for Sunny right now. Not to mention her brother Lance would hand him his butt in a sling for so much as glancing at her. But things go sideways while Beckett tries to put out figurative–and literal–fires left and right only to realize that Sunny has wormed her way into his life and most definitely his heart.

‘She propped her fists on her hips and squared her shoulders, and part of me braced for impact while the other was so fucking proud of her for refusing to take my shit that I almost smiled.’

After years of working hard to gain her independence from a family and community who only want to keep her safe from her epileptic episodes, Sunny couldn’t be prouder of opening Naked Provisions with three of her besties. That’s why when Beckett–her childhood nemesis–marches into her life, all demanding and grumpy…nope. Not happening. He’s going to have to learn to live with their business being in such close proximity to his family’s oyster bar. And he’s going to have to figure out that Sunny can take care of herself. Or she would, if people would stop running to her rescue. As weird things keep happening around the cafe and she’s in harm’s way not once but twice, Sunny can admit Beckett might have a point about her safety. But she’s still not sure it’s a good idea to let him into her heart, given their history and the fact that he’s likely leaving Rhode Island sooner rather than later.

‘What was a little stress relief between people who couldn’t stop arguing with each other over nothing? No problems there. Perfectly healthy. A happy accident of mismatched parts that fit together in strange yet very nice ways.’

With banter that was basically foreplay and a sizzling hot Grumpy/Sunshine pairing, Shucked was a laugh out loud small-town rom com that made me want to pack my bags and head to Friendship, Rhode Island immediately.

‘Whenever she was around, she generated all this energy inside me, and it grew and grew until we found something new to argue about–or I lost my mind and almost kissed her.’

CW: View Spoiler »Chronic illness detailed (epilepsy), bullying (historical), hostage situation, drug use. « Hide Spoiler

Hilarious, heartfelt, and tons of heat pretty much sums up Shucked. Kate Canterbary had me entertained from page one with the zany antics of everyone in coastal Friendship, Rhode Island, while main characters Sunny and Beckett bickered and smoldered their way through one catastrophe after another. But through it all, the warmth of community and true friendship warmed my heart and had me falling in love with the town’s adorably offbeat residents.

Aside from the antagonist(s), I swear each character Canterbary created was so ridiculously fun. We had Sunny’s, well, sunshine-y personality and spine of steel, Beckett’s grumpiness covering up that huge, mushy heart, Sunny’s three awesome co-owners of their vegan cafe, Naked Provisions, and all of Beckett’s various and unique employees at his family’s oyster bar. It might have been chaotic when all of them got involved in whatever crazy situation was happening between one or both businesses, but it was one hundred percent enjoyable and kept the storyline moving along at a fast clip.

The off-the-charts chemistry between Beckett and Sunny was what really stole the show. They butted heads from the moment he showed up stateside to fix his family’s problems–as Beckett was constantly doing & had been doing since he was a kid. The attraction was there right away. It was their history, where Sunny’s older brother Lance was Beckett’s best friend since their teens, and the arguments about their businesses that pushed them in opposite directions. But it was obvious that they had something special between them. If they’d only give it a go. It was sigh-worthy to watch broody Beckett finally cave into his feelings all while wise beyond her years Sunny held out hope that things would work out for them somehow in the end. Which of course it did in spectacular fashion.

QOTD: Do you have any local shops in your area that have fun or cute names?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: August 22nd, 2023 | Vesper Press | The Loew Brothers #1

His best friend’s little sister is not an option.

No one ever accused Beckett Loew of being the nice Loew brother, especially not Sunny duJardin. Stuck back home in the quirky town of Friendship, Rhode Island, Beckett is scrambling to save his family’s oyster bar and take care of his teenage brother. He doesn’t have time to deal with the beautiful, sunshine-y owner of the new vegan cafe next door too. His best friend’s little sister may be all grown up, but Sunny’s still a distracting pain in his side.

No one expects much from Sunny duJardin, especially not Beckett Loew. She’s not worried about her older brother’s tall, dark, and broody best friend or battles he insists on waging with her every day. She’s not the same kid he teased years ago. Now, she composts his type for breakfast.

They’re all wrong for each other.
Bitter rivals.
Complete opposites.
Off limits.

Except they can’t keep their hands off each other.
They tell themselves it’s nothing more than a steamy summer fling until secrets spill and real trouble comes their way.

CW: chronic illness (epilepsy), mention of childhood bullying, putting the fun in dysfunctional families, parents who turn into accidental criminals, incarceration, open door spice, suspense and moments of peril, happily ever after, no cliffhanger.