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9 Days & 9 Nights by Katie Cotugno isa book that I have been anticipating since I first heard the news of a 99 Days sequel. Molly and Gabe are back, but in an awkward situation, and the story is very realistic. I liked the book, but I did have a couple of issues with it, such as all the pointless drama. I didn’t love this one, but I do think that many will appreciate this sequel.
Series: 99 Days #2
Author: Katie Cotugno
Also by this author: 99 Days (99 Days #1)
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Rating:
Series Rating:
The irresistible sequel to the bestselling 99 Days.
Molly Barlow isn’t that girl anymore. A business major at her college in Boston, she’s reinvented herself after everything that went down a year ago . . . after all the people she hurt and the family she tore apart.
Slowly, life is getting back to normal. Molly has just said “I love you” to her new boyfriend, Ian, and they are off on a romantic European vacation together, starting with scenic London. But there on a Tube platform, the past catches up to her in the form of Gabe, her ex, traveling on his own parallel vacation with new girlfriend Sadie.
After comparing itineraries, Ian ends up extending an invite for Gabe and Sadie to join them on the next leg of their trip, to Ireland. Sadie, who’s dying to go there, jumps at the prospect. And Molly and Gabe can’t bring themselves to tell the truth about who they once were to each other to their new significant others.
Now Molly has to spend nine days and nine nights with the boy she once loved, the boy whose heart she shredded, without Ian knowing. Will she make it through as new, improved Molly, or will everything that happened between her and Gabe come rushing back?
Review: 9 Days & 9 Nights by Katie Cotugno
This book picks up a little while after 99 Days, and Molly is back but on a European vacation with her new boyfriend this time. The trip is going well until she meets her ex and his girlfriend, and her boyfriend invites them to tag along. It is interesting how this book shies away from the typical contemporary fluff and ventures into more serious, angsty territory. It focuses on what real-life relationships are like, without all the happily-ever-after, and this makes it all the more believable. I wouldn’t say that you have to have read 99 Days before picking this one up, but I would definitely recommend it for the context.
❀ Molly has Matured
I enjoyed Molly’s character throughout most of 9 Days and 9 Nights, but there are definitely moments when I didn’t. She has definitely matured since the first book, and she continues to transform during this story as well. She goes through so much that I couldn’t help but sympathize with her. That being said, I didn’t like how she is always blaming everybody else for her actions. I found that she could be kind of a jerk, but doesn’t face many consequences. I get that not all of her personality is supposed to be likeable, but I just couldn’t get into the book without liking the main character a lot of the time.
❀ Drama-Filled
While I mostly enjoyed the book, I did have a couple of issues with it. It is very heavy on drama, and that’s just not my thing. Molly and Gabe’s relationship seemed very back and forth, and everything between them became too much for me after a while. I enjoy some drama, but literally the entire book was them bickering. As well, I felt like the book dragged a bit in places. This is probably because it outlines each of the 9 days in its own chapter, and there isn’t always excitement in each one. However, I do appreciate that the story covers some important topics, and it is very realistic.
❀ Second Chances
9 Days & 9 Nights by Katie Cotugno is a story about a giving love a second chance. The main character is realistic, and she has her flaws. I did enjoy the book, however, all the drama annoyed me, and I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped.
About Katie Cotugno
Katie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of messy, complicated, feminist love stories. She studied Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College and received her MFA in Fiction at Lesley University.
Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, and Argestes, among others.
The great loves of her life include child's pose, her little sister, and mozzarella and honey sandwiches. She lives in Boston with her husband, Tom, and her dog, Avon.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.