It’s official, Ruby Landers is now one of my favourite authors. Saving Graces was the third novel of hers I listened to, narrated by the fabulous Quinn Riley, and I feel extremely lucky that I still have two books to look forward to that are already published.
Saving Graces is the last instalment in the Grace Notes trilogy, Rosalie’s story. Not only do we get a delightful age gap between Rosalie and twenty-six-year-old Kinsey, Cassidy’s bandmate, Ruby Landers also gives us the backstory on how Savannah and Rosalie met, how they became best friends, how the Rachel Carlson Center came to be, how Savannah’s career started. All the questions you may have had while reading the first two books are answered, and even though the ending is well-rounded, the author leaves the door just open enough for more if she ever feels like it.
As with the previous books in the series, while the story is well plotted and exciting, it’s the characters who won my heart. I love all these people so much and every time Ruby Landers adds one, or develops a previously side character’s story, they become my new favourite. Dual timelines can sometimes feel confusing, but I loved getting to know Rosalie at a teenager and as an adult simultaneously. Her relationship with Savannah is one of the most touching friendships I’ve read, and all her questioning and soul-searching about falling for a younger woman, a friend of one of her protégés—Lane, Savannah’s nonbinary nanny and the MC of Graceless—far from highlighting her vulnerability, instead bolster strength she didn’t remember, shattering her insecurities. It took me a bit longer to warm up to Kinsey, whom I couldn’t get a handle on at first. I wasn’t sure whether her nonchalance was indifference or respect. Rosalie deserves all the respect in the world and I was ready to fight Kinsey if she didn’t treat her well, but it quickly became clear that she was being considerate and mindful of Rosalie’s boundaries.
Saving Graces isn’t only Rosalie’s book, however. It’s also the perfect conclusion to the trilogy, with Savannah and Brynn on one hand, Cassidy and Lane on the other featuring prominently, as well as Coral, giving the reader closure where they’re concerned as well. And then there’s Rachel, Rosalie’s sister, whose story arc broke my heart.
In the audiobook, Saving Graces is followed by the novella Two Tickets—prequel to the Grace Notes books—and if I hadn’t already been sold on Ruby Landers’s writing, this achingly sweet story would have done the trick. After her best friend broke his leg, Maggie finds the unexpected courage to invite the office hottie, August, on a road trip to Vegas to see Twice Struck, Savannah Grace’s band. I sometimes feel much too old to relate to characters in their twenties, but these two… They’re so lovely and charming and I didn’t want to let them go.
As always, Quinn Riley nails the narration, her voices, tone, pace always on point. It’s such a joy to listen to her, and I don’t have the words to explain how incredibly happy I am that she gets more and more sapphic books to narrate.
I also want to mention how perfect Cath Grace‘s covers are for these books. They’re consistent yet different, each fitting the story it accompanies while also clearly identifying the books as a whole.
I’ve often mentioned how ambivalent I feel about ratings, how unfair they sometimes feel, but in some cases—and this is one—a 5⭐️ rating is extremely easy to settle on.
Experience Saving Graces:
Amazon (audiobook – ebook – paperback)
This post contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on this blog at no additional cost to you.
Jude in the Stars 