Flying Solo

Holmes (Evvie Drake Starts Over) returns to the cozy everytown of Calcasset, Maine for a new story about what it means to choose your own path. Laurie Sassalyn has valued privacy and independence above all else, much like her Great-Aunt Dot. When Laurie returns to her home town to settle Dot’s estate, she finds herself entangled anew with Calcasset in general and in ex-boyfriend Nick in particular. Meanwhile, the discovery of a wooden duck prompts an escalating battle between Laurie and a scam artist determined to maneuver it away from her. Julia Whelan’s grounded narration expresses both Laurie’s generally sunny disposition and her struggles to reconcile her conflicting desires for Nick with her principles of autonomy. Whelan perfectly captures the relatability of conversations among old friends even when decades have passed. She also excels at humorous internal monologue and slides in just the lightest touch of Maine accent where most appropriate.