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The Bounce Back
In this delightfully fiery rom-com from The Checklist author Addie Woolridge, even the worst situations have a silver lining.
Aspiring artist Neale Delacroix should be on top of the world. She’s landed a spot in an exclusive art program that’s sure to be her ticket to success, but then her best shot at stardom goes up in flames—literally. When her relationship follows suit, Neale finds herself a stone’s throw from rock bottom.
Her heart broken and her dream deferred, Neale decides to work a soul-crushing nine-to-five job until the heat dies down. However, that’s not exactly what happens when she meets Anthony, a sizzling coworker with a perfect smile.
Convinced that she breaks everything she touches, Neale’s sworn off art and men. Yet her creative spirit still beckons, and she can’t get Anthony out of her head. She’s caught in that familiar space between daydreams and responsibilities, desperate to find a new way forward. With her future hanging in the balance, Neale must decide if she is down and out…or ready to bounce back.
Aspiring artist Neale Delacroix should be on top of the world. She’s landed a spot in an exclusive art program that’s sure to be her ticket to success, but then her best shot at stardom goes up in flames—literally. When her relationship follows suit, Neale finds herself a stone’s throw from rock bottom.
Her heart broken and her dream deferred, Neale decides to work a soul-crushing nine-to-five job until the heat dies down. However, that’s not exactly what happens when she meets Anthony, a sizzling coworker with a perfect smile.
Convinced that she breaks everything she touches, Neale’s sworn off art and men. Yet her creative spirit still beckons, and she can’t get Anthony out of her head. She’s caught in that familiar space between daydreams and responsibilities, desperate to find a new way forward. With her future hanging in the balance, Neale must decide if she is down and out…or ready to bounce back.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2021
230 people are currently reading
2955 people want to read
About the author
Addie Woolridge
7 books206 followersBorn and raised outside Seattle, Washington, Addie Woolridge is a classically trained opera singer with a degree in music from the University of Southern California, and she holds a master's degree in public administration from Indiana University. Woolridge's well-developed characters are a result of her love for diverse people, cultures, and experiences.
Woolridge currently lives in Northern California. When she isn't writing or singing, Woolridge can be found baking; training for her sixth race in the Seven Continents Marathon Challenge; or taking advantage of the region's signature beverage, wine.
Woolridge currently lives in Northern California. When she isn't writing or singing, Woolridge can be found baking; training for her sixth race in the Seven Continents Marathon Challenge; or taking advantage of the region's signature beverage, wine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
October 26, 2021
The Bounce Back is listed as a rom-com. And while it does have some funny moments IMO romance is not the main aspect of the story. To me this reads more like women's fiction.
This book can be read as a standalone. However it is connected to The Checklist.
The narrator is 28 year old Neale Delacroix (3rd person POV).
There were some things that I really enjoyed about this book. I loved Neale's sisters Billie and Dylan. And I really enjoyed the relationship between the three women. I also really liked seeing the growth in Neale's character. Art is a big part of the story. And I think that was a really fun part of the book.
I did enjoy the romance aspect. Although I wish that it had been a bigger part of the story. Also unless I completely missed it I wish that there had been more mention about the diversity of the characters. There is one amazing lesbian character. And one who uses the term THEY. But I honestly did not realize that the main male character was black. I would have loved that to be more a part of the story.
I do wish that Neale had been a more likable heroine. She definitely grew on me as the story progressed. But overall she was not my favorite.
The Bounce Back is a book that focuses on the bond between sisters. It shows us about failure and growth. And there is an enjoyable romance.
*The Checklist is Dylan's book (Neale's sister).
Thanks to netgalley and Montlake Romance for allowing me to read this book.
July 18, 2021
arc kindly provided by netgalley and the publisher.
disclaimer; i haven’t read ‘the checklist’ - perhaps that would’ve given me more of an idea into the characters?
oof, this book wasn’t for me. i struggled throughout all of it and skim read the majority, which i really hate doing. i tried, trust me.
I think the main issue is that this is portrayed as a rom-com, which it definitely is not. I went into this with the complete wrong idea, which set me up to be let down. This book is definitely more like women’s fiction and had I known, I wouldn’t have requested an arc.
there’s nothing exceptionally wrong with the writing, but the way Neale is portrayed and written makes her come across as an immature teen scrounging off mum and dad, when she’s in her late twenties, just about to get her first “real” job.
I think the author was intentional in making the mc come across like this for it to work with the storyline, but I just couldn’t get into it and definitely couldn’t relate.
the one factor that should be noted is the inclusivity of gender, race and sexuality in this book - something that is often overlooked in m/f romances. I highly commend the author for the clear attention to detail in the characters backgrounds and preferences, but unfortunately, this just missed the mark for me.
disclaimer; i haven’t read ‘the checklist’ - perhaps that would’ve given me more of an idea into the characters?
oof, this book wasn’t for me. i struggled throughout all of it and skim read the majority, which i really hate doing. i tried, trust me.
I think the main issue is that this is portrayed as a rom-com, which it definitely is not. I went into this with the complete wrong idea, which set me up to be let down. This book is definitely more like women’s fiction and had I known, I wouldn’t have requested an arc.
there’s nothing exceptionally wrong with the writing, but the way Neale is portrayed and written makes her come across as an immature teen scrounging off mum and dad, when she’s in her late twenties, just about to get her first “real” job.
I think the author was intentional in making the mc come across like this for it to work with the storyline, but I just couldn’t get into it and definitely couldn’t relate.
the one factor that should be noted is the inclusivity of gender, race and sexuality in this book - something that is often overlooked in m/f romances. I highly commend the author for the clear attention to detail in the characters backgrounds and preferences, but unfortunately, this just missed the mark for me.
July 16, 2021
Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review..
I was disappointed I thought I thought i was going to read a rom com that's what it was marked as and it was not
The Bounce Back is a women's fiction. The story was just okay I'm giving it 3 stars 🌟🌟🌟
Happy Reading 📚
Lisa
I was disappointed I thought I thought i was going to read a rom com that's what it was marked as and it was not
The Bounce Back is a women's fiction. The story was just okay I'm giving it 3 stars 🌟🌟🌟
Happy Reading 📚
Lisa
March 20, 2022
I wanted this book to work so badly. I was excited to read a romance that was centered around POC and written by a black author, and the story just never got there for me. The whole time I was reading, I was waiting for something to happen that would really pull me in and it never did. I ended up skimming most of the book.
This book is not a romance. It is marketed as one, but 100% reads as women’s fiction, which is great, except when you go into it expecting a romance.
I could not stand Neale, practically from the start of the book. She is 28 years old, but acts like a child, giving up after one mistake, and being washy with everyone and everything. I understand that it was an intentional choice by the author to aid the storyline, but I was annoyed with her constantly.
Another thing that really bothered me was the fact that I felt like I knew more about the side characters than I did about Neale and Anthony. The main things I knew about Neale were her being a “failed” artist and she was a now self-proclaimed “secular nun”. As for Anthony, I knew he drew the greeting cards and did parkour. The main characters had no depth, and their relationship was merely surface level.
I also felt like I had no concept of how much time had passed. It felt like we were missing so many things that led up to their relationship, and it went from coworkers who just met to friends that have crushes on each other.
I wanted to love this, or even just enjoy it, but nothing about this book worked for me.
This book is not a romance. It is marketed as one, but 100% reads as women’s fiction, which is great, except when you go into it expecting a romance.
I could not stand Neale, practically from the start of the book. She is 28 years old, but acts like a child, giving up after one mistake, and being washy with everyone and everything. I understand that it was an intentional choice by the author to aid the storyline, but I was annoyed with her constantly.
Another thing that really bothered me was the fact that I felt like I knew more about the side characters than I did about Neale and Anthony. The main things I knew about Neale were her being a “failed” artist and she was a now self-proclaimed “secular nun”. As for Anthony, I knew he drew the greeting cards and did parkour. The main characters had no depth, and their relationship was merely surface level.
I also felt like I had no concept of how much time had passed. It felt like we were missing so many things that led up to their relationship, and it went from coworkers who just met to friends that have crushes on each other.
I wanted to love this, or even just enjoy it, but nothing about this book worked for me.
January 26, 2022
Audiobook Review: "The Bounce Back" by Addie Woolridge, new author to this reader/listener is the story of Neale, the daughter and sister of famous artists and an inspiring artist herself and attractive co-worker Anthony. I wouldn't call it much of a rom-com as it was more along the lines of women's fiction from my listening. I like Adenrele Ojo as a narrator and she did a good job of narration which prompted my 3-Star rating. Enjoyable listen.
August 11, 2021
The Bounce Back was a delightful read. My favorite parts were the family dynamics between the sisters, the consideration of "failure" and the opportunities it provides for growth, and - of course - the potential boyfriend. Addie Woolridge created a boyfriend worthy of her protagonist's interest and admiration! She is great with dialogue that moves the story forward. I also appreciated her respect for diversity in her cast of characters.
November 4, 2021
I loved this book. It was a sweet story about learning to take responsibility for you decisions and finding the inner strength and determination to move forward. It was funny, charming and a lot of lessons were learned. I particularly enjoyed the diverse cast of characters, her love interest and the relationships between Neale and her sisters. Highly recommend.
December 26, 2024
2.75 rounded up
The book had a very chaotic intro that honestly made me feel not super excited about the story, not because it wasn't well done but I'm not a big fan of reading about people who are super immature and a mess for too long and its hard to know if a story will be balanced enough.
That being said I was actually liking it way more than I thought despite some annoying things and the overall premiss. I did think several things
The book had a very chaotic intro that honestly made me feel not super excited about the story, not because it wasn't well done but I'm not a big fan of reading about people who are super immature and a mess for too long and its hard to know if a story will be balanced enough.
That being said I was actually liking it way more than I thought despite some annoying things and the overall premiss. I did think several things
January 15, 2023
It was a very cute book. I had to get use to the main characters name because it was unique and kept getting excited that it was a gay love story. Ooops, no this is hetero love..that’s cool. Now, the back and forth I was over her. Get your life together! LOL!!
November 2, 2021
I thought the story was unique and I liked it.
February 4, 2022
Failure as triumph
I wasn't sure that I would enjoy this book based on Neale's persona in book 1. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This book brought up very important questions relating to "making it" at such a poignant age. What really is failure? How do you know you're doing life right? Overall, it was a good read that was thought provoking.
I wasn't sure that I would enjoy this book based on Neale's persona in book 1. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This book brought up very important questions relating to "making it" at such a poignant age. What really is failure? How do you know you're doing life right? Overall, it was a good read that was thought provoking.
September 7, 2022
This was cute! The greeting cards were a very unique element and I enjoyed getting to know all the characters. I felt like the side characters definitely stood out more than the main characters, but this was overall a really cute and enjoyable story!
March 25, 2025
Neale was spoiled and lazy when it came to her art. I love how she flourished when it came to her 9 to 5. I had hoped that would spill over, but she just needed a kick in the butt. Good read overall.
February 26, 2022
I enjoyed this book! It starts with Neale's latest art piece literally going up in flames… Followed by her parents ‘suggesting’ she moves out… And her ‘boyfriend’ breaking up with her… But Neale has a plan to turn everything around, which includes getting a 9-5 at a small singing-greeting-card business and swearing off art and men (though her new coworker Anthony is hard to avoid).
The beginning hooked me and I read a chapter before bed for most of January. And laughed a lot!! There are bunches of hope and resilience that was uplifting to read about. The art elements were super interesting, too.
I will say the second-hand embarrassment was REAL with this book. I also wanted more complexity out of Anthony. I felt like the romance was not giving what it was supposed to give. It gives women’s fiction energy, though it’s marketed as romance. The romance was just more of a subplot, which I don’t mind. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.
You might like THE BOUNCE BACK if you like...
❤️ THE CHECKLIST- you don’t have to read it first, but I’d recommend it! I really liked it.
🧡 exploration of failure
💛 sweet slow-burn
💚 funny characters
💙 second chances
💜 sisterhood
The beginning hooked me and I read a chapter before bed for most of January. And laughed a lot!! There are bunches of hope and resilience that was uplifting to read about. The art elements were super interesting, too.
I will say the second-hand embarrassment was REAL with this book. I also wanted more complexity out of Anthony. I felt like the romance was not giving what it was supposed to give. It gives women’s fiction energy, though it’s marketed as romance. The romance was just more of a subplot, which I don’t mind. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.
You might like THE BOUNCE BACK if you like...
❤️ THE CHECKLIST- you don’t have to read it first, but I’d recommend it! I really liked it.
🧡 exploration of failure
💛 sweet slow-burn
💚 funny characters
💙 second chances
💜 sisterhood
August 10, 2021
Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher, & author for providing me with an advanced copy of #TheBounceBack in exchange for my honest review.
Addie Woolridge really created a lovable mess in heroine, Neale. From page one, I cringed with second-hand embarrassment for her spectacular career ending flop and moved swiftly into righteous indignation as everyone who should have been in her corner seemingly couldn’t wait to kick her while she was down. I admit, I spent most of the book irritated by her family’s attitude toward black-sheep Neale, even though there was a definite kernel of truth in it.
I got excited as Neale began to grow more confident in her Happy Hearts greeting card job and who wouldn’t? Anthony embodied everything that Neale deserved but had never gotten from a love interest.
Even while cheering Neale on as she found her stride at Happy Hearts, I could feel the impending doom approaching. She was so convinced that she had to be someone new that she couldn’t detach from her rigid idea of Old Neale (bad) vs. New Neale (good).
Finally, after some decidedly brutal (and mean) communication with her siblings and Anthony, Neale makes the final leap of faith to fully blend Old & New Neale to find a life she can thrive in and be proud of.
I really enjoyed the book and devoured it in one sitting. I think most young adult women can identify with the imposter syndrome that Neale feels throughout the plot; the insecurity and anxiety were really spot on and relatable without making the atmosphere too somber. The hard topics are treated with a dose of good old- fashioned self-deprication and humor whenever possible.
Finally, I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters in the book. Addie Woolridge was able to introduce a cast of characters from diverse backgrounds, sexualities, and gender identities without making them feel tokenistic or two-dimensional. I value that kind of representation in what I read, so big kudos for that in addition to an engaging and enjoyable plot line.
I highly recommend #TheBounceBack by Addie Woolridge and definitely encourage you to read it once it’s published in October 2021.
Addie Woolridge really created a lovable mess in heroine, Neale. From page one, I cringed with second-hand embarrassment for her spectacular career ending flop and moved swiftly into righteous indignation as everyone who should have been in her corner seemingly couldn’t wait to kick her while she was down. I admit, I spent most of the book irritated by her family’s attitude toward black-sheep Neale, even though there was a definite kernel of truth in it.
I got excited as Neale began to grow more confident in her Happy Hearts greeting card job and who wouldn’t? Anthony embodied everything that Neale deserved but had never gotten from a love interest.
Even while cheering Neale on as she found her stride at Happy Hearts, I could feel the impending doom approaching. She was so convinced that she had to be someone new that she couldn’t detach from her rigid idea of Old Neale (bad) vs. New Neale (good).
Finally, after some decidedly brutal (and mean) communication with her siblings and Anthony, Neale makes the final leap of faith to fully blend Old & New Neale to find a life she can thrive in and be proud of.
I really enjoyed the book and devoured it in one sitting. I think most young adult women can identify with the imposter syndrome that Neale feels throughout the plot; the insecurity and anxiety were really spot on and relatable without making the atmosphere too somber. The hard topics are treated with a dose of good old- fashioned self-deprication and humor whenever possible.
Finally, I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters in the book. Addie Woolridge was able to introduce a cast of characters from diverse backgrounds, sexualities, and gender identities without making them feel tokenistic or two-dimensional. I value that kind of representation in what I read, so big kudos for that in addition to an engaging and enjoyable plot line.
I highly recommend #TheBounceBack by Addie Woolridge and definitely encourage you to read it once it’s published in October 2021.
July 4, 2021
* aspiring artist
* f/m coworkers romance
* black heroine x black hero
* Asian side character
* non binary side character
* sapphic side character
Neale is a twenty eight years old artist. After burning down her and her friends show, she was not only compared to her successful family but also told that her carrier is over. Not wanting to disappoint her parents, who find her irresponsible and dependent on them, Neale finds a job and moves into her boyfriend's house. Well, expect she's not, because her boyfriend broke up with her and she lied about the job. The only solution is to find a new place to live, find a job (a real one this time), and give up men altogether.
So, this is how Neale ends up with weird roommate, boring nine-to-five job and cute coworker. She tries to fits into real, adult world.
At first, I thought it would be JUST a rom com but it's so much more than that. Even though, the romance is a part of this story, this book is about
a journey of self-discovery and getting out of a comfort zone. Neale is a messy and chaotic character. Wherever she moves there is a fire (sometimes literally).
I think Sarah's and Neale's "conflict" was unnecessary. I don't like when women are presented as mean just to make other women feel insecure. Especially if it was never mentioned ever again.
On the one hand, I didn't like how Neale treated Anthony. He was the most considerate man and I wish she wouldn't deceive him. I understand she wasn't in the right place but she kept changing her mind about their relationship, and no wonder it could have confused him. But, on the other hand, it has so much to do with her character development. It was amazing to see her fighting for her dreams, pride, herself and relationship.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
* f/m coworkers romance
* black heroine x black hero
* Asian side character
* non binary side character
* sapphic side character
Neale is a twenty eight years old artist. After burning down her and her friends show, she was not only compared to her successful family but also told that her carrier is over. Not wanting to disappoint her parents, who find her irresponsible and dependent on them, Neale finds a job and moves into her boyfriend's house. Well, expect she's not, because her boyfriend broke up with her and she lied about the job. The only solution is to find a new place to live, find a job (a real one this time), and give up men altogether.
So, this is how Neale ends up with weird roommate, boring nine-to-five job and cute coworker. She tries to fits into real, adult world.
At first, I thought it would be JUST a rom com but it's so much more than that. Even though, the romance is a part of this story, this book is about
a journey of self-discovery and getting out of a comfort zone. Neale is a messy and chaotic character. Wherever she moves there is a fire (sometimes literally).
I think Sarah's and Neale's "conflict" was unnecessary. I don't like when women are presented as mean just to make other women feel insecure. Especially if it was never mentioned ever again.
On the one hand, I didn't like how Neale treated Anthony. He was the most considerate man and I wish she wouldn't deceive him. I understand she wasn't in the right place but she kept changing her mind about their relationship, and no wonder it could have confused him. But, on the other hand, it has so much to do with her character development. It was amazing to see her fighting for her dreams, pride, herself and relationship.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 13, 2021
Although this is being marketed as a rom-com, it is definitely not. It’s just straight-up Fiction, possibly Women’s Fiction. Once you get over that misinformation, you can enjoy the book for what it is. The story is told from Neale’s point of view and focuses on her growth from someone who is kind of failing in a career as an artist and living with her parents, to someone who has a job and is willing to be more brave and open with her art and with her life.
I found this book tough to get through because Neale reads like a teenager. I get the sense that that’s what the author intended, but it didn’t work for me. I also never got the sense that she was all that into the idea of being an artist and for half the book I was expecting her to realize that she was only on that path because of her parents and sister. I found the second half of the book more satisfying because she began to “grow up” but even then it felt like a lot of telling and very little showing.
Probably the most frustrating thing was that she starts her first “real” job, at the age of 28, and she somehow manages to completely revolutionize the company after having worked there for one month and not having any prior experience in the sector or in any business environment. It was weird to have the book start off by saying she’s not very competent only to turn around and have her be more competent than those around her (who have been successfully doing these jobs for years) without any actual on-page growth occurring. It made it hard for me to connect with her.
The very big pro for this story is that it is incredibly inclusive in terms of race, gender identity, and sexuality, which is so refreshing and lovely to read. The second half also picked up in terms of pacing which made it a breeze to finish.
I found this book tough to get through because Neale reads like a teenager. I get the sense that that’s what the author intended, but it didn’t work for me. I also never got the sense that she was all that into the idea of being an artist and for half the book I was expecting her to realize that she was only on that path because of her parents and sister. I found the second half of the book more satisfying because she began to “grow up” but even then it felt like a lot of telling and very little showing.
Probably the most frustrating thing was that she starts her first “real” job, at the age of 28, and she somehow manages to completely revolutionize the company after having worked there for one month and not having any prior experience in the sector or in any business environment. It was weird to have the book start off by saying she’s not very competent only to turn around and have her be more competent than those around her (who have been successfully doing these jobs for years) without any actual on-page growth occurring. It made it hard for me to connect with her.
The very big pro for this story is that it is incredibly inclusive in terms of race, gender identity, and sexuality, which is so refreshing and lovely to read. The second half also picked up in terms of pacing which made it a breeze to finish.
November 25, 2021
~3.5⭐Rating~
"She knew it was unreasonable to feel left out of the successful-sister club, especially since she had been invited to the workout and declined because only monsters chose spin over sleep."
After accidentally setting herself on fire and in turn ruining everyone else’s art work Neale finds herself on the outs of the art community, but determined to fix this and prove that she can be a successful independent woman she puts her all into her new job at a greeting card company where she helps find music for their cards. This is where she meets charming artist Anthony, just maybe things are starting to look up for Neale.
••
The Bounce Back was definitely a completely different story from The Checklist, as much as I wanted to love reading Neale’s story this one just did not stand out as much for me. The main reason being it had been marked as a romcom and the actual romance was very much in the backseat for most of the novel. If anything this book was more of a woman’s fiction read.
••
Neale’s character was an interesting one, she had her moments that just came across as immature and childish but at the same time there was a lot to her that was very real and relatable. I think we can all relate to the struggle that is finding your passion and then turning it into a career. I will say that I loved the relationship she had with her sisters and that we got to see Dylan again.
••
As for our hero Anthony, he was such a great character, I liked that he didn’t jerk her around. He was very upfront about how he felt and what he wanted. If anything she was the one to mess him around. However together as a couple they were really cute. This was definitely a slow burn romance.
••
The Bounce Back is a great story of finding ones self and the journey Neale takes to finding her place. If you are looking for a good woman’s fiction this is the book for you.
"She knew it was unreasonable to feel left out of the successful-sister club, especially since she had been invited to the workout and declined because only monsters chose spin over sleep."
After accidentally setting herself on fire and in turn ruining everyone else’s art work Neale finds herself on the outs of the art community, but determined to fix this and prove that she can be a successful independent woman she puts her all into her new job at a greeting card company where she helps find music for their cards. This is where she meets charming artist Anthony, just maybe things are starting to look up for Neale.
••
The Bounce Back was definitely a completely different story from The Checklist, as much as I wanted to love reading Neale’s story this one just did not stand out as much for me. The main reason being it had been marked as a romcom and the actual romance was very much in the backseat for most of the novel. If anything this book was more of a woman’s fiction read.
••
Neale’s character was an interesting one, she had her moments that just came across as immature and childish but at the same time there was a lot to her that was very real and relatable. I think we can all relate to the struggle that is finding your passion and then turning it into a career. I will say that I loved the relationship she had with her sisters and that we got to see Dylan again.
••
As for our hero Anthony, he was such a great character, I liked that he didn’t jerk her around. He was very upfront about how he felt and what he wanted. If anything she was the one to mess him around. However together as a couple they were really cute. This was definitely a slow burn romance.
••
The Bounce Back is a great story of finding ones self and the journey Neale takes to finding her place. If you are looking for a good woman’s fiction this is the book for you.
October 27, 2021
The Bounce Back by Addie Woolridge is the first book that I've read by her and I loved it. While it was a little light on the romance portion of the rom-com I still enjoyed the book overall. While The Bounce Back might not have been heavy on traditional romance aspects, there were some between Neale and her very attractive coworker Anthony, I think to a certain degree there was a romance with Neale finding herself after she feels lost. And maybe that makes this a women's fiction book more than a romance but I wasn't too disappointed by it all and honestly I could see there being a second book that focuses less on Neale growing as an individual and growing into being part of a couple.
Neale Delacroix is the youngest of three girls in a family full of famous artist, with an exception of her werido oldest sister, Dylan, who has a normal job. Because of that Neale feels the enormous pressure to succeed, but when her art performance ends with her costume catching fire, the sprinklers going off (ruining everyone else's art) and getting kicked out of the art collective she is part of she thinks she's had enough kicks. But Neale keeps getting kicked when she's down, her family basically thinks she's a loser and her "we don't do labels" boyfriend breaks up with her. So Neale decides she's done with art and men once and for all, and decides to get a white collar job at a local greeting card company. While working at Happy Hearts doesn't make her heart sing with love her sizzling coworker, Anthony, sure makes her want to give up her vow to never date a man again. But soon Neale has to realize some hard truths about herself and she needs to confront them before she can find her niche in the world.
Neale Delacroix is the youngest of three girls in a family full of famous artist, with an exception of her werido oldest sister, Dylan, who has a normal job. Because of that Neale feels the enormous pressure to succeed, but when her art performance ends with her costume catching fire, the sprinklers going off (ruining everyone else's art) and getting kicked out of the art collective she is part of she thinks she's had enough kicks. But Neale keeps getting kicked when she's down, her family basically thinks she's a loser and her "we don't do labels" boyfriend breaks up with her. So Neale decides she's done with art and men once and for all, and decides to get a white collar job at a local greeting card company. While working at Happy Hearts doesn't make her heart sing with love her sizzling coworker, Anthony, sure makes her want to give up her vow to never date a man again. But soon Neale has to realize some hard truths about herself and she needs to confront them before she can find her niche in the world.
October 14, 2025
An Artist's Growth, Learning to Stand Strong
The Bounce Back by Addie Woolridge is a charming Kindle Unlimited find. The story follows Neale, a woman forced to rediscover herself after two major blows, one to her career and another to her heart. Through heartbreak, self-doubt, and a touch of creative chaos from her parents, she learns the importance of setting boundaries, communicating clearly, and advocating for herself professionally and personally.
This book isn’t about dramatic romance or over-the-top passion. In fact, it’s very low on spice and high on introspection, relying on character growth instead of explicit scenes. Neale’s journey, alongside Anthony's steady nature, the handsome, supportive love interest, gives a slow build that feels mature and believable. Their dynamic, especially related to the art world, offers what it means to find purpose in a relationship.
Woolridge writes women who are intelligent yet flawed, and shows them learning as they go. That said, the ending left me slightly conflicted. Just as Neale finally starts to come into her own, she boldly decides to leave her stable job after landing a single big break in her art career. While empowering in one sense, it felt a little impulsive and unrealistic. Begging the question, did she truly learn her lesson, especially considering the stability she fought so hard to regain?
Still, The Bounce Back delivers love stories about loving oneself, loving those around us, and the resilience to wait for that steady kind of love. The kind of love that helps you rediscover a new normal in finding balance. Definitely a palette cleanser between heavier reads, great for art/theatre/poetry enthusiasts. This book will have you smiling.
The Bounce Back by Addie Woolridge is a charming Kindle Unlimited find. The story follows Neale, a woman forced to rediscover herself after two major blows, one to her career and another to her heart. Through heartbreak, self-doubt, and a touch of creative chaos from her parents, she learns the importance of setting boundaries, communicating clearly, and advocating for herself professionally and personally.
This book isn’t about dramatic romance or over-the-top passion. In fact, it’s very low on spice and high on introspection, relying on character growth instead of explicit scenes. Neale’s journey, alongside Anthony's steady nature, the handsome, supportive love interest, gives a slow build that feels mature and believable. Their dynamic, especially related to the art world, offers what it means to find purpose in a relationship.
Woolridge writes women who are intelligent yet flawed, and shows them learning as they go. That said, the ending left me slightly conflicted. Just as Neale finally starts to come into her own, she boldly decides to leave her stable job after landing a single big break in her art career. While empowering in one sense, it felt a little impulsive and unrealistic. Begging the question, did she truly learn her lesson, especially considering the stability she fought so hard to regain?
Still, The Bounce Back delivers love stories about loving oneself, loving those around us, and the resilience to wait for that steady kind of love. The kind of love that helps you rediscover a new normal in finding balance. Definitely a palette cleanser between heavier reads, great for art/theatre/poetry enthusiasts. This book will have you smiling.
November 7, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book early. Rating and review are my own.
The Bounce Back tells the story of Neale, a young artist who just messed up big time. She ruined her performance art piece in a dramatic and embarrassing fashion and got kicked out of the local art collective. To top it all off, she just discovered her whole family thinks she can’t make it on her own AND her boyfriend is a twat that won’t commit to their “non-linear” relationship. Neale is determined to prove that she can be responsible and take care of herself. So, she gets a stable job, gives up art, and is determined that she will not fall for hot co-worker Anthony. Now, if only she can stick to those plans.
I liked the idea of the Bounce Back and the story had similar vibes to Act Your Age, Eve Brown, which I loved. Unfortunately, I had a much harder time connecting with the characters. In addition to her life going sideways Neale also had an issue standing up for herself against her family, she never felt very passionate about anything other than stubbornly sticking to the whole “I am going to be boring Neale now”. I also had a hard time connecting with Anthony as a love interest. Every time he was on screen it was how beautiful he was, but I hardly felt any personality to him at all, and almost no actual connection with Neale other than being hot. The story was more about Neale’s personal growth than her romance which is fine if you know that is what you are getting into.
The book was an enjoyable and quick read but frustrating at times and not as much of a romance as I would have liked. If you like stories about personal growth and less focused on romance then you may like this one more than me.
The Bounce Back tells the story of Neale, a young artist who just messed up big time. She ruined her performance art piece in a dramatic and embarrassing fashion and got kicked out of the local art collective. To top it all off, she just discovered her whole family thinks she can’t make it on her own AND her boyfriend is a twat that won’t commit to their “non-linear” relationship. Neale is determined to prove that she can be responsible and take care of herself. So, she gets a stable job, gives up art, and is determined that she will not fall for hot co-worker Anthony. Now, if only she can stick to those plans.
I liked the idea of the Bounce Back and the story had similar vibes to Act Your Age, Eve Brown, which I loved. Unfortunately, I had a much harder time connecting with the characters. In addition to her life going sideways Neale also had an issue standing up for herself against her family, she never felt very passionate about anything other than stubbornly sticking to the whole “I am going to be boring Neale now”. I also had a hard time connecting with Anthony as a love interest. Every time he was on screen it was how beautiful he was, but I hardly felt any personality to him at all, and almost no actual connection with Neale other than being hot. The story was more about Neale’s personal growth than her romance which is fine if you know that is what you are getting into.
The book was an enjoyable and quick read but frustrating at times and not as much of a romance as I would have liked. If you like stories about personal growth and less focused on romance then you may like this one more than me.
July 28, 2021
An amusing book overall, this book reminded me a little of Bridget Jones' Diary. Neale had a really bad art exhibit, after which she found out that her parents were concerned because she wasn't really focused. For someone in her late 20s, perhaps this is a reflection of Generation Z (or is it Y?) but I have to admit that as a character centric reader, I wasn't a fan of Neale. She was very flighty and even though I appreciate quirky characters, I felt like she wasn't a very compelling character. It could have been a function of aiming for humor and as I noted, there were moments when I was amused. I thought her growth, which felt like the main focus of this story, came too late in the story. That's a personal preference though and in that vein, Neale missed the mark a little here, especially since this book was told from Neale's perspective.
The romance was with her and Anthony, one of the people who was at her "boring job" (her description) at a greeting card company. I found him sweet and respectful and enjoyed their interplay overall although the push pull from Neale again was difficult to appreciate. I liked the supportive characters, like Neale and Anthony's boss, Rich, and her roommate, Corinne, as they added color to the world. Overall, the story progressed along well but I just wish I liked the main character a bit more than I did. I give this book 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this advanced read.
The romance was with her and Anthony, one of the people who was at her "boring job" (her description) at a greeting card company. I found him sweet and respectful and enjoyed their interplay overall although the push pull from Neale again was difficult to appreciate. I liked the supportive characters, like Neale and Anthony's boss, Rich, and her roommate, Corinne, as they added color to the world. Overall, the story progressed along well but I just wish I liked the main character a bit more than I did. I give this book 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this advanced read.
July 28, 2021
An amusing book overall, this book reminded me a little of Bridget Jones' Diary. Neale had a really bad art exhibit, after which she found out that her parents were concerned because she wasn't really focused. For someone in her late 20s, perhaps this is a reflection of Generation Z (or is it Y?) but I have to admit that as a character centric reader, I wasn't a fan of Neale, especially in the first half of the book. She was very flighty and even though I appreciate quirky characters, she felt like she wasn't a very compelling character. It could have been a function of aiming for humor and as I noted, there were moments when I was amused. I thought her growth, which felt like the main focus of this story, came too late in the story. That's a personal preference though and in that vein, Neale missed the mark a little here, especially since this book was told from Neale's perspective.
The romance was with her and Anthony, one of the people who was at her "boring job" (her description) at a greeting card company I found him sweet and respectful and enjoyed their interplay overall. I also liked the supportive characters, like Neale and Anthony's boss, Rich, and her roommate, Corinne, as they added color to the world. Overall, the story progressed along well but I just wish I liked the main character a bit more than I did. I give this book 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this advanced read.
The romance was with her and Anthony, one of the people who was at her "boring job" (her description) at a greeting card company I found him sweet and respectful and enjoyed their interplay overall. I also liked the supportive characters, like Neale and Anthony's boss, Rich, and her roommate, Corinne, as they added color to the world. Overall, the story progressed along well but I just wish I liked the main character a bit more than I did. I give this book 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this advanced read.
November 14, 2021
Some books just make you want a pedicure!!
I’ll start by saying poor Neale. I was very concerned Neale was going to take herself out by self sabotage. The entire time she’s a sinking ship ignoring all the rescue boats headed her way. I kept wanted to yell at her it’s okay to have a happy ending in all aspects of your life even when you feel undeserving. The happy endings may not come all at once or even while it seems one area of your life is a dumpster fire.
Neale the baby of the Delacroix clan is an aspiring artist. After a career meltdown, all the pieces of her life to take the same path. Her parents put her out and her not so boyfriend calls it quits. She quickly learns you got to do this you don’t like in order to survive. This for Neale includes working a traditional 9-5, moving in with a roommate and focusing on getting her life together.
While this story is lighter on the romance side, I still enjoyed it. I think it allows the Neale and Anthony to maintain an innocence in their romance. It took a very natural turn and was a complete 360 to her previous situationship. Neale was behind the 8 ball in her life so it made sense her romance would follow the same path.
Things worth mentioning: there’s a Pretty Woman and Spideyverse mention. If you’re in your own rediscovery journey just prepare yourself for a little drag because Corinne read me to the filth.
Overall, I would recommend The Bounce Back to my fiction and romance readers. Thanks to Addie Woolridge for the advance reader’s copy!
I’ll start by saying poor Neale. I was very concerned Neale was going to take herself out by self sabotage. The entire time she’s a sinking ship ignoring all the rescue boats headed her way. I kept wanted to yell at her it’s okay to have a happy ending in all aspects of your life even when you feel undeserving. The happy endings may not come all at once or even while it seems one area of your life is a dumpster fire.
Neale the baby of the Delacroix clan is an aspiring artist. After a career meltdown, all the pieces of her life to take the same path. Her parents put her out and her not so boyfriend calls it quits. She quickly learns you got to do this you don’t like in order to survive. This for Neale includes working a traditional 9-5, moving in with a roommate and focusing on getting her life together.
While this story is lighter on the romance side, I still enjoyed it. I think it allows the Neale and Anthony to maintain an innocence in their romance. It took a very natural turn and was a complete 360 to her previous situationship. Neale was behind the 8 ball in her life so it made sense her romance would follow the same path.
Things worth mentioning: there’s a Pretty Woman and Spideyverse mention. If you’re in your own rediscovery journey just prepare yourself for a little drag because Corinne read me to the filth.
Overall, I would recommend The Bounce Back to my fiction and romance readers. Thanks to Addie Woolridge for the advance reader’s copy!
October 12, 2021
First, romance readers don't like to be misled. This is (women's) fiction, not romance. Secondly, kudos to the author for a lot of representation and diversity with main and supporting characters.
Neale Delacroix is 27, the daughter and sister of famous artists and an inspiring artist herself. When her latest multi media art installation burns her career down her family forcers her to grow up. She gets her first regular job, leaves her parents house, gets an apartment and a roommate. She swears off art and men. But her job includes handsome co-worker Anthony and her sister comes to town and invites her to be part of her art show.
Neale is a mess of a character. I think the author almost goes too far with her immaturity because it runs the rest of alienating the reader instead of cheering for her. I like how Neale tries to buckle down at her job but updating the greeting card company seems a stretch. I think my favorite parts were the interactions between her and her two sisters. But even then there is a lot of misunderstanding and hurt feelings. Thank you to NetGalley and the Montlake for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Neale Delacroix is 27, the daughter and sister of famous artists and an inspiring artist herself. When her latest multi media art installation burns her career down her family forcers her to grow up. She gets her first regular job, leaves her parents house, gets an apartment and a roommate. She swears off art and men. But her job includes handsome co-worker Anthony and her sister comes to town and invites her to be part of her art show.
Neale is a mess of a character. I think the author almost goes too far with her immaturity because it runs the rest of alienating the reader instead of cheering for her. I like how Neale tries to buckle down at her job but updating the greeting card company seems a stretch. I think my favorite parts were the interactions between her and her two sisters. But even then there is a lot of misunderstanding and hurt feelings. Thank you to NetGalley and the Montlake for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2022
I tried so hard to like this book because the premise seemed interesting enough. However the entire book promoted toxic family relationships and was heavy with gaslighting- and yet at the end we are supposed to believe that was good for the protagonist (so in a way the writing is perhaps gaslighting the reader?). The actual "art" scene that is supposed to be the foundation didn't make sense to me, and the actual performances described seemed very improbable for the success the book claimed they would have. This is labeled a romcom but there was very little comedy. The romance plot lacked development and there were so many cringey moments, I was pulled out of the actual story more times than I was actually in it. The author also wrote from a 3rd person perspective but almost to a fault. The characters were described as Neale's mom and dad, but then their actual names were used almost as pronouns and it felt backwards and weird- it had me stopping frequently and asking who we were actually talking about. Overall disappointed- I was looking for a quick, light-hearted read and just left this book feeling icky.
Read
May 3, 2022After a disastrous show, performance artist Neale Delacroix trades in the stage for corporate America.
This book is basically about a twenty-eight-year-old who decides to start “Adulting” with the help of her roommate, sisters, and cute new co-worker. I would classify this book as women’s fiction with a splash of romance. I know teen me would have loved to read a book centered around an eccentric and loving family of Black artists living in Washington state.
The book is light and humorous. Woolridge notably creates a wonderfully diverse and inclusive community in a way I wish more authors (and editors) would. Neale is an easy character to root for though at times she does come off as (for lack of a better word) a bit like Mary Sue. She is always able to make things work in her favor and anyone who slightly questions her is a villain 😒
I gather this book is a part of a series that follows the three Delcroix sisters. While I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by starting with book two, I can see the appeal of going back to the first book.
This is from Amazon’s Montlake Imprint. I know Amazon is an evil corporation 😈 but I find that I enjoy books put out by this imprint.
This book is basically about a twenty-eight-year-old who decides to start “Adulting” with the help of her roommate, sisters, and cute new co-worker. I would classify this book as women’s fiction with a splash of romance. I know teen me would have loved to read a book centered around an eccentric and loving family of Black artists living in Washington state.
The book is light and humorous. Woolridge notably creates a wonderfully diverse and inclusive community in a way I wish more authors (and editors) would. Neale is an easy character to root for though at times she does come off as (for lack of a better word) a bit like Mary Sue. She is always able to make things work in her favor and anyone who slightly questions her is a villain 😒
I gather this book is a part of a series that follows the three Delcroix sisters. While I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by starting with book two, I can see the appeal of going back to the first book.
This is from Amazon’s Montlake Imprint. I know Amazon is an evil corporation 😈 but I find that I enjoy books put out by this imprint.
February 18, 2024
This felt more like a general fiction (womens fiction?) than a romantic comedy it was marketed as. Had I known that earlier, I could've centered myself better for this story. I didn't think this had a lot of comedy elements, it was more somber and even sad at times. I also didn't feel the family love at all, instead I really felt Neale's family pushed her down and overrode her in a lot of things. Yes, it worked out in the end, but the way they went at it was all wrong in my opinion.
There is some romance in this book, but it's definitely a subplot. Anthony as a character was lovely but he was a side character, not main character. For me, Neale and he worked really well as friends and maybe they would've been better had they stayed that way. The romance didn't really speak to me.
I did like the writing style and I feel the pacing worked for me. We also got a good sense of Neale's inner growth and seeing her come more comfortable in herself and understanding her failures and growing from them was really good to see. I just wish I had known this going in, I would've enjoyed it more.
There is some romance in this book, but it's definitely a subplot. Anthony as a character was lovely but he was a side character, not main character. For me, Neale and he worked really well as friends and maybe they would've been better had they stayed that way. The romance didn't really speak to me.
I did like the writing style and I feel the pacing worked for me. We also got a good sense of Neale's inner growth and seeing her come more comfortable in herself and understanding her failures and growing from them was really good to see. I just wish I had known this going in, I would've enjoyed it more.
July 26, 2021
Book: The Bounce Back
Author: Addie Woolridge
Star Rating: Three Stars
Publication Date: 26th October 2021
I was pretty disappointed as I was looking forward to reading a fun romantic comedy as advertised but this was a. women's fiction through and through.
The Bounce Back is all about how the lead character is trying to get her life back on track but a complicated relationship with her family isn't helping anything.
The novel is full of humour and it was written in a very lighthearted manner which is an element that I really did enjoy.
Maybe if I had read Woolridge's previous book 'The Checklist' I would have enjoyed this one more as 'The Bounce Back" is based on a minor character from that previous novel I believe.
Overall, I found this book a slow burn and tough to get through as I think I delved into it with the wrong mindset. I might give it another go after I read 'The Checklist'.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Addie Woolridge
Star Rating: Three Stars
Publication Date: 26th October 2021
I was pretty disappointed as I was looking forward to reading a fun romantic comedy as advertised but this was a. women's fiction through and through.
The Bounce Back is all about how the lead character is trying to get her life back on track but a complicated relationship with her family isn't helping anything.
The novel is full of humour and it was written in a very lighthearted manner which is an element that I really did enjoy.
Maybe if I had read Woolridge's previous book 'The Checklist' I would have enjoyed this one more as 'The Bounce Back" is based on a minor character from that previous novel I believe.
Overall, I found this book a slow burn and tough to get through as I think I delved into it with the wrong mindset. I might give it another go after I read 'The Checklist'.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2021
This was a follow-up or deep dive on one of the minor characters in The Checklist. The Checklist was a great book. I found the characters in that book enjoyable. However, the characters in The Bounce Back were less enjoyable. I loved Dylan in The Checklist. However in this book, she was a busybody. The main character, Dylan, was okay. Nothing was developed as far as why she acted the way she did. Was she changed at the end of the story or was she just doing what was easier since she didn’t like her job? What was Billie’s real reason for coming back to town? The sisters seemed to look down on Billie. Overall, the book was good. I’m hoping the next book about Billie returning to town dives deep into why she returned to town. I feel their could be a great story full of detail and more information about how she grew closer to Dylan as an adult since she was closer to Billie growing up. Thanks for the ARC.
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