Clover met Elliot shortly after a breakup with a cheating boyfriend, and the sparks were immediate—just not at all romantic. They became close platonic friends, their relationship sustained by deep affection. In fact, Elliot swore he’d be the best wingman a friend could be in order to help Clover find the love of her life. But he died before that could happen, and Clover, devastated, sought solace for her grief. She left her busy Chicago life to vacation in a bed and breakfast in cozy Franklin. Surprisingly for her, she finds a home and new friends there, and also rekindles her close relationships with her female friend Reese and Elliot’s brother Everett. But as she heals and works on rebuilding her life, she catches occasional glimpses of a man who resembles Elliot far too strikingly to be a coincidence. Is she hallucinating, or are there secrets in her friend’s past that she never knew?
Written by Tessa King, MY WINGMAN is an intensely sweet story, sometimes almost cloyingly so, like the fancy coffee drinks Clover favors. Its first-person present-tense perspective draws the reader into Clover’s mind and heart, letting us see the world through her eyes. At times her tone veers into the melodramatic and overblown: “My emotions are swirling within me, a flurry of shock, empathy, and a growing sense of certainty that something extraordinary is unfolding. I struggle to keep my own emotions in check, to be strong for him, to offer the comfort he so desperately needs.” But on the whole, that fits well enough with the tone of the story, which is the purest comfort food. It won’t satisfy the cynic or those who can’t suspend disbelief in the face of nearly Dickensian-level coincidences, but it’s very suitable for those who might need a bit of extra hope to brighten their day.
The book is full of warmth, loving friendships new and old, opportunities, and personal growth. There’s even an adorable child for extra brightness and charm. The focus of the book stays on Clover’s recovery, healing, and growth—rather than having her dependent on being in a relationship for her well-being. All in all, it’s a life-affirming, hopeful, and satisfying read.
Tessa King’s MY WINGMAN offers a gentle story about recovering from deep grief and restarting life again. It’s a fine comfort book for those in need of the literary equivalent of a hot cinnamon roll.
~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader