Lily’s Library: In a Jam

A Review of “In a Jam” by Lily Lauritson

Content Warning: Adult scenes, Toxic Relationships, Familial Trauma, Incarceration, Insecurities.

I would like to begin this review with a question. The question is, what would you do if your grandmother left a beautiful farmhouse and tulip farm to you in her will with the only stipulation being that you must be married within a year? Well, I don’t know about you, but I would pack up my things, extend my time watching HGTV, and find a husband. However, our main character, Shay Zucconi, does not exactly feel the same way. Which is completely understandable seeing as this news is brought to her just days after her ex-fiancé left her the day of their wedding. Awful, right? In this adorable and fun romantic-comedy, author Kate Canterbary takes Shay and readers to the small town of Friendship, Rhode Island, where Shay discovers there is much more waiting for her than just a farm.

After Shay is quite literally abandoned by her ex-fiancé, she takes it very hard and spends her days dying her hair pink and getting an impulse tattoo while taking up residence on her best friend’s couch. Pretty soon, the little bubble she had made out of day-drinking and sleeping at odd times is popped when her step-grandmother’s lawyer informs her that a farmhouse and tulip farm have all been left to Shay. Seeing this as an opportunity to start new, Shay packs up her belongings and makes the road trip to Rhode Island from Boston with the intention of spending the summer fixing up the house and selling it. No way was Shay going to get married just for her step-grandmother’s farm. Right?

Wrong. Once local farmer and businessman, Noah Barden, hears about the return of Shay Zucconi to Friendship, he is perplexed to say the least. I mean, this is the Shay Zucconi that he was in love with during high school when her mother had sent her to live with her grandmother. This is the Shay Zucconi that every boy fawned over, and local mothers loathed because of her own mother’s wealth. This is the Shay Zucconi that was so far out of Noah’s league (according to him) that he never told her how he felt and now he’s resenting everything that has ever existed. But, once Shay begins to tutor his niece, Gennie, in order for her to get into first grade next year, his iceberg heart begins to melt. All of sudden, Noah isn’t left with the burden to care for Gennie alone and has someone else his age to complain to about the mothers of Friendship waiting for their chance with him. Soon, Noah begins to lean on Shay in more ways than one.

As a guise for Shay being able to keep her grandmother’s farm while allowing Noah part of the land for his business, the two get married. Yep. Legally married in the state of Rhode Island all for the sake of a tulip farm. Honestly, I can’t blame them. In order to keep up appearances and distance themselves from the rabid PTA moms seeking out Noah, the two make their fake marriage a real one. Shay moves in with Gennie and Noah, gets a teaching job at the local school, and helps the duo sell their jams and produce at farmer’s markets each weekend. Although, soon both realize that this “fake” marriage is beginning to feel a little too real.

After many ups and downs including jerk ex-fiancés, Gennie running away, and both Noah and Shay confronting their insecurities that stem much further back than either realize, they decide to let go of the weights holding them back from each other and go all in. A once fake marriage turns into a beautiful real one-let’s be honest it was always real. For both of them. -and Noah and Shay continue to grow their businesses by transforming the tulip farm into a rental wedding space and by never missing another weekend farmer’s market. In a sweet and endearing conclusion, Shay, Noah, and Gennie are all thriving and enjoying the life that they have built together.

Kate Canterbary does a wonderful job of distracting readers from the real world by providing a vibrant one on the pages filled with small town gossip, homemade jam, and gentle love that makes the reader extremely jealous. It’s me, I’m the reader.

A Playlist for Shay, Noah, Gennie, and the Incredible People of Friendship, Rhode Island
– Always Gonna Be by Dan & Shay (Friendship’s Theme)
⁃ Heavan and Back by Dan & Shay (Shay and Noah’s Theme)
⁃ Live off by Lainey Wilson
⁃ Nothin’ Crazy by Megan Moroney and Mackenzie Carpenter
⁃ Feel Like This by Ingrid Andress

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