A Fine Mess: A Sweet RomCom

by Allie Schaefer

Some messes are bigger than others. I never planned on returning to Walleye Point. The small-town whispers and high school mean girls were memories I had left behind. But life has a funny way of pulling the rug out from under you—losing my job was bad enough, then came the call about Grandma's illness. So here I am, back at the house that time forgot, wading through a sea of memories and clutter that Grandma insists is all treasure.

Then there's Nicholas Moretti, the youngest of the Moretti clan, who's supposed to have it all figured out. His latest grand plan? Turning the chaos of my grandmother's house into a chic waterfront hotel. But as we start spending more time together, the line between irritation and attraction blurs. I'm standing in the way of his perfect project, and surprisingly, I'm also falling for him.

Now, as bulldozers threaten and old secrets emerge, I have to decide what I'm fighting for—my past or a possible future with Nicholas. Can I clean up this mess without throwing away a chance at love? Dive into "A Fine Mess," where hearts and history collide, proving that the biggest challenges can lead to the most unexpected romances.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

222 pages, Paperback

Published June 13, 2024

Reviews

[Diane]

Sweet clean romance set in contemporary Western New York area. First in a series.

[Anneli]

A Fine Mess by Alison Stone is a gentle, clean rom-com set against the cluttered charm of Walleye Point. When career-driven architect Elizabeth Graham loses her job and her grandmother falls ill, she returns home, only to find Grandma’s bungalow overflowing with decades of “treasures.” Enter Nicholas Moretti, the youngest son in a family of developers who plans to transform the ramshackle house into a chic waterfront hotel—much to Elizabeth’s dismay.

What works best here are the relatable stakes and the small-town atmosphere. Elizabeth’s grief over her lost job, her worry for Grandma Lin’s hoarding, and her curiosity about her mother’s mysterious past give her journey real depth. Nicholas, haunted by a broken hockey career and an overbearing father who pits his sons against one another, isn’t the perfect prince charming—he’s a guy trying to prove himself while wrestling with family expectations. Their partnership clearing out Grandma’s bungalow becomes a tender backdrop for their self-discovery.

Yet, for all its sweetness, the romance itself feels muted. Elizabeth never quite lets her guard down, and Nicholas’s affections come almost entirely through helpfulness (fixing Elizabeth’s car, hauling boxes, bringing food); their shift from “just a fling” to something more serious happens without a clear confession or emotional crescendo. By the time Elizabeth decides to stay in Walleye Point, it’s implied she’s in love—but the buildup never gave me enough reason to feel that pull.

In addition, Grandma Lin’s cantankerous behavior barrages drag the middle chapters into tension with little payoff or redemption until the very end.

In the end, A Fine Mess is a pleasant, clean read. Fans of quiet, character-driven romances will find plenty to enjoy, but readers craving emotional fireworks or a boldly developed love story might feel a bit underwhelmed. It’s a tidy escape...just don’t expect sparks to fly.

[Kellie Bennett]

This one had so much potential, but ended up being hard to get through. It really needed a good proofread. The biggest problem (though there were others) for me was POV. Too many times to count the narrator switch from first person to third person and then back again. Frustrating and distracting.

[Gretchen]

1.5 stars. Choppy. Really hard to feel for Granma Lin when she is so nasty. The house sounds like a hoarders paradise - what exactly were the treasures she was hoarding? I guess it was the lake view. Disjointed. Why does Nicholas fall so fast when she is so closed off? Meh.

[Gillian J]

Good story and kept my attention. Needs a little editing, the story is in first person, but a couple times it acknowledged the first person character by name instead if 'I'. Confused me the first time I read it, but it happened a couple more times after that. Otherwise, cute story

[Denice]

a fine mess

This is a fun storyline, with great characters, some fun witty banter and sweet romance. There is forgiveness for years old wrongs and relationships mended. A wonderful, heartwarming story.

[Jennifer Chappell]

Meh. The dialogue was very choppy and everything felt disjointed. It also felt repetitive. I feel like it needed a good edit. It was clean.

[Cassandra Allison]

fabulous story

This is a great,sweet,clean romance. The author has written about second chances as well as the need for forgiveness is universal.