2022-11-29
A struggling veterinarian and a popular influencer nudge one another to redefine the parameters of success in life and love.
Armed with charm, skill, and a brood of entertaining chickens, Nicole Jones has amassed a large fan following on social media. So, when her YouTuber boyfriend decides to dump her while streaming live, Nicole—or Chick Nic, as she is popularly known—feels desperately cornered. Bruised and humiliated, Nic relocates with her overactive avian brood to Yagerstown, where her late grandmother was born. But another challenge awaits in the form of local vet Will Lund. The dedicated doctor is displeased with Nic for making chicken-rearing appear easier and more glamorous than it really is. Although he's unsure of her dedication to her flock, Will has seen and admired Nic’s videos and finds himself nursing an uncomfortable attraction to his new neighbor. Several heated disagreements later, Nic and Will realize they share common ground: Both are dealing with life-altering difficulties. While Nic is nursing a broken heart, Will is forced to acknowledge that his vet practice has suffered irrecoverably in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. But it will take more than shared confidences for Will to finally believe that he is worthy of love and happiness. Nic and Will are instantly likable, and their search for steadiness and meaning—even roots and belonging, in Nic's case—during a difficult phase feels particularly authentic. Barry is insightful when she hints at the painful social shifts initiated by the pandemic, infectiously cheerful while describing Nic’s interactions with her clucking comrades, and especially evocative when she tackles Will’s internal struggles. But this sometimes leads to abrupt and disorienting tonal shifts, from featherlight and airy to emotionally dense and weighty.
A comforting small-town romance, with chickens.
Listeners will be delighted by narrators CJ Bloom's and Aaron Shedlock's snappy, animated performances. Full of heart, humor, and slow-bum steam.” —Library Journal, starred review
“CJ Bloom and Aaron Shedlock work together wonderfully to enhance this fun contemporary romance.… Bloom is full of energy and compassion; she uses no-nonsense pacing and provides a lower register when warranted. Shedlock adds the swoon with a slight Southern drawl. All in all, this is a fun romp with a great heart.” —AudioFile Magazine
“Chick Magnet has one of the best epilogues I’ve ever read, and it’s a perfect demonstration of why writers keep going back to small-town settings. Because underneath all the cupcakes and cruel memories, there is one great promise at the heart of a small-town romance: there’s always a first time for second chances.” —New York Times
“Barry is insightful when she hints at the painful social shifts initiated by the pandemic, infectiously cheerful while describing Nic’s interactions with her clucking comrades, and especially evocative when she tackles Will’s internal struggles.…A comforting small-town romance, with chickens.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Barry handles both characters with care and delivers a powerful message about seeking help for mental illness even as she infuses the story with ample comic relief. Pet-loving romance fans should flock to this one.” —Publishers Weekly
“Emma Barry has been one of my favorite authors in the world for many years now, and Chick Magnet only deepens my already fervent love of her writing. Her books are always crafted with exquisite care and thoughtfulness, abounding with graceful prose, extremely likable characters, rueful humor, and a thorough grounding in how good people think, work, and love. Plus, her writing is simply fun, not to mention sexy. With the release of this book, I expect new hordes of fans to join the Emma Barry Stan Club, but rest assured: I will always be the club’s president and most enthusiastic member.” —Olivia Dade, national bestselling author of Spoiler Alert and All the Feels
“One of the chief pleasures of being a romance reader is getting to watch Emma Barry’s complex, honorable characters forging themselves into stronger, happier versions of themselves. Chick Magnet is Emma Barry at the peak of her powers: hilarious and humane, it will restore your faith in the power of love.” —Jenny Holiday, USA Today bestselling author
“I could tell you all the reasons Chick Magnet is spectacular—the nuance of the emotional arcs, the witty dialogue, the delightful characters, the endearing small town—but really, all you need to know is that Emma Barry is about to become your new favorite contemporary romance author.” —Therese Beharrie, author of A Ghost in Shining Armor
“Intoxicating and deeply romantic, Chick Magnet delivers a riveting opposites attract, slow-burn-with-the-hot-guy-next-door small-town romance. I fell in love with Will Lund from the first grumpy meeting.” —Zoe York, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author
