Che-Michelle Tales

Lost Book Review: Make a Scene will have you Make a Scene! This captivating novel will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.

Cue the Confetti!  Sound the trumpets.  The goal of finishing books off my unread list is happening as of May 5th, 2023. I have completed at least three more books that I have had on my list.  Mimi Grace’s “Make a Scene,” Christopher Moore’s “Noir,” and Jenette McCurdy’s “I’m glad my mom’s dead.” I did buy a few books, but…but… but… I finished all but two in April.  This blog is not about my bad habit of buying books. This blog discusses the juicy Goodness of “Make a Scene.” The book starts with a gut punch. Imagine your cousin is engaged and getting married to your ex-boyfriend.  Yes, that’s how the book begins, and I gasped at the salacious nature of the first chapter.  I was hooked; I wanted to know all the journalistic details: “How, Why, When, What, Where, did you fight your cousin?” I love how the book opens because within one chapter, we, as the readers, learn more about the main character’s personality and family structure with an opening such as this one.  Retta is not the only main character; we are introduced to Duncan!  Duncan is a tall cup of strong coffee. The way he is described is a chiseled Olympian.  Duncan has his issues; he runs a business with his best friend, dealing with a business owner leaving threatening notes on him, his employee’s car, and his family dynamics. 

This book falls into the troupe of fake relationships. I read two books this year where people are faking relationships. The first one I read this year was “The Neighbor Favor”  https://chemichelletales.com/2024/11/28/love-next-door-with-the-neighbor-favor/  and “The Partner  Plot” review to come (I’ve been busy).  I have come to enjoy these troupes when they have character growth and both characters become better people.  In all of the books I have read, Mimi Grace and Kristina Forrest have done a fantastic job exploring the fake relationships troupe while not making it corny. In Retta’s case, I 100% would have found the hottest guy to take to her cousin’s wedding for the same damn reason.  Maybe on my other blog, I will recount when I searched for a wedding date so I would not have to deal with my ex at my best friend’s wedding—another story for another blog. 

The story indeed follows Retta and her hijinks.  Yes, Retta does have a few comedic hijinks, but nothing cringe-worthy. Once Duncan and Retta meet, the story finds a nice pace and flow that keeps you enthralled and wondering what will happen next. While not overshadowing the main characters, the side characters add depth and intrigue to the story. They do what the supporting cast should do. Help push the protagonist in the right direction.  To set up some tension between the protagonists so they have a challenge. 

Overall, I love this book. The dialogue flows and brings you into their world.  All of the characters are dynamic and provide depth. Some adult themes within the book are hastily written but still keep you captivated with the story. I love Retta; she is the epitome of an Awkward woman who misses the signs, overthinks, and yet is a solid character filled with love and concern.  Duncan is described as a playboy but a solid man working through personal and business issues.

I read this book in May 2023 and can’t remember what wine I drank or if I drank anything with this book.  I have a thing for romance novels and Rose wine.  As of 2024, I fell into the Malbec Rose wine trend. (I am unsure if this is a trend, but it might happen in 2025.)  I have been drinking a Malbec Rose’ It’s an outstanding balance of strawberries and raspberries with a hint of acidity that gives this Rose’ Malbec a signature bite.  I feel like this wine compliments Retta’s personality, which is sweet but sarcastic.  I hope you read this book; it also pairs well with baked goods, so get your favorite cookies or cupcakes.  I feel like I wrote a blog post for this book.

Until Next Time,

Che Michelle

P.S. Is it wrong that I want to recreate some of my favorite book covers for engagement photos? LOL, it’s not happening ( yet… NAW), but I think it would be cool for anyone getting married or just wanting cute couple photos to recreate some of these romance novels for their wedding/engagement photos.