Toni and Addie Go Viral by Melissa Marr

Toni Darbyshire is in Scotland presenting at an academic conference when she finds out that her deceased grifter father has one last surprise for her – he managed to get her mother to sign for a lien against her house. Toni was hoping to be able to sell the house to afford her mother's memory care home.

Disheartened by this last act from a father she could never count on, and hoping against hope that her literary agent best friend can sell the novel she wrote as a break from her dissertation, Toni is very open to an encounter with a beautiful women dressed in a Victorian nightie (and Victorian appropriate undies).

Addie has been cyber stalking Toni as Toni makes Victorian history accessible for her, and she desperately wants a part in a stage play (aside – I would go see the play as described, it sounds really good!) to launch her acting career. Following Toni into a bar dressed in a Victorian nightie seems like a really great way to possibly get to know her....

Okay, I loved this book. Melissa Marr touches on a bunch of my favorite tropes, and while she also does one of my least favorite things (“just TALK to each other” I hiss at the book as I keep reading), in this particular book, it actually makes sense, so she's forgiven for that.

I was also touched by Marr's descriptions of Toni's mother – I watched my mom go through dementia as well and many things had me nodding my head. (Luckily, I never had a shoe thrown at me, although I did have to take away her knitting needles.)

Compulsively readable and recommended for adults as it's pretty spicy.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.