The Best Medicine

I’ll admit, I started listening to *The Best Medicine* with skepticism—another small-town romance where the heroine’s only flaw is being too successful? But Tracy Brogan quickly won me over with Evelyn Rhoades, a heroine who’s as flawed as she is formidable. Evelyn isn’t just annoyed by Bell Harbor’s meddling; she’s genuinely irritated, and her frustration feels earned. The banter between her and the town’s resident handyman, Jack, is electric, but what makes this story sing is how Brogan avoids clichés. Jack isn’t a brooding alpha or a perfect saint; he’s messy, kind, and refreshingly respectful of Evelyn’s boundaries. Amy McFadden’s narration is a masterclass in balancing humor and heart. Her Evelyn is sharp and no-nonsense, with a delivery that made me laugh out loud during one-liners, while her softer, more tender moments carried genuine weight. If I had one critique, it’s that the secondary characters—especially Evelyn’s best friend—sometimes blur together, and the pacing stumbles slightly mid-book with a subplot that feels a bit dragged. But these are minor quibbles in a story that’s ultimately warm, engaging, and deeply satisfying. Perfect for a cozy weekend listen, but with enough bite to keep it from feeling saccharine.