Title: Babe in the Woods
Author: Jude Hopkins
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Book Blurb:
It’s September 1995, the first year of the rest of Hadley Todd's life. After living in Los Angeles, Hadley returns to her hometown in rural New York to write and be near her father. In addition to looking after him and teaching high school malcontents, Hadley hopes to channel her recent L.A. heartbreak into a play about the last moment of a woman’s innocence. But she seeks inspiration.
Enter Trey Harding, a young, handsome reporter who covers sports at the high school. Trey reminds Hadley of her L.A. ex and is the perfect spark to fire up her imagination. The fact that Trey is an aspiring rock star and she has L.A. record biz connections makes the alliance perfect. She dangles promises of music biz glory while watching his moves. But the surprising twist that transpires when the two of them go to Hollywood is not something Hadley prepared for.
My Review:
Can aspiring writer Hadley find inspiration to write her play? Babe in the Woods is a throwback to the 90s with a fresh twist on coming home, seeking your dreams, and finding inspiration where you least expect it. This is not a romance. I repeat, this is not a romance. This is women’s fiction. The crux of this story is the journey Hadley takes to self-discovery. There’s a lot to like in Babe in the Woods. The characters are relatable. The narration is full of emotions. The one thing I didn’t care for is how slow the plot progression is. The dialogue is smart, funny and drives the story home.
Let’s talk about the characters. Hadley is a jaded woman who blames her heartbreak on the men she ‘falls’ for. She’s a modern woman and her take on love is completely opposite of mine. I still connected with her, though, thanks to the writing. Many women will relate to her and her plight.
Trey is a modern rake, the sort of hero who sweet talks women to get his needs met. He’s not the kind of man I normally enjoy reading. But many readers will love his charm.
The setting is 1990s and the descriptive narration is flawless. I loved reading of a time not that long ago, when I was young and single. The story brought such nostalgia. The narration is filled with nuances and intricate detail.
If you’re looking for a slow-paced story with a heroine unsure of her path, you’ll love Babe in the Woods.
My Rating: 4.75 stars
Buy it Now:
Author Biography:
Jude Hopkins has published essays in The Los Angeles Times, Medium, Women Writers, Women’s Books and poetry in numerous journals and magazines. Her work can be found on her website https://www.judehopkinswriting.net/.
Social Media Links:
Twitter/X: @heyjudenotjudy
Website: https://www.judehopkinswriting.net/
Reviewed by: Nancy