DISCLAIMER: I was lucky enough to receive this book from BookSirens on behalf of the author. This is in exchange for an honest and unbiased review that is not compensated. I hope the prospective reader will read this review fully before making any prejudgments on the book. I will give the book my thoughts, good and bad. Also, this review contains opinions that are my own and not the author’s. My thoughts will be different from your thoughts and just know that before reading the book.

Let’s take a look at Remy’s story. Growing up with Beth in Bellhammer was Remy’s life. His grandfather, his mentor, teaches him the art of pranking. Not just pranking but pranking someone properly. Beth is determined to turn Remy’s life around. Texaco oil changes his life when he and his father start the Bell Hammers Construction Company. With Beth’s help, Remmy starts to build a great group of “merry men” carpenters. Their banter and witty remarks leave the reader wanting to laugh out loud right with the group. Suddenly, we experience an escalation in events. From poisoned wells to cancelled contracts. Remmy is sick of the Texaco Oil attacks, after their oil derricks feel on their house, that he knows there is only one thing left to do. He needs to band together his merry men to handle the situation.

Okay so here is the deal. This book gave me all of the moments I was hoping for. I wanted to just sit down and laugh to the work that Lancelot created. After all, I figured that this story was amazing since it was nominated for Glimmer Train’s Fiction Open. There were specifications I had to have in order to truly love this book. I wanted Remmy and Beth to be amazing. I was absolutely not disappointed by the result. We take a journey through Remmy’s life and the whole story is told in his perspective. I felt from the very beginning that Remmy’s journey is important and that it is a new story that needs to be heard. If I could tell Remmy one thing, it would be that we heard his amazing story loud and clear. I was rooting for him and his “merry men” every step of the way.

You know there is one thing that I do not like in a story and that is the book being the opposite of what it was advertised as. In the summary, the word hilarious was used. I am critical on that remark because I know that comedy is completely subjective. I am not one to always laugh while reading. It needs to be organic. I may crack a smile here and there, but if I laugh, it truly has to come out of nowhere.  After saying that, I did have a lot of moments in this story that I started laughing. I realized though that I would chuckle and then the laughing continued until I was full on cracking up. Hear me out. I don’t laugh like that much in a book. I think that it depends on how I am feeling. If I am upset while reading, I wont automatically crack up. The humor in this book I couldn’t get away from. It is amazing to sit down and read something that is not the same old story line that promotes laughter. This book tickles your funny bone in all the right ways.

My Rating: This specific one is hard. I was going back and forth on a rating. While I do love the book, I find myself torn about it. This is not my genre. I usually tend to learn more towards a different feel with my books. While this book is fabulous, I may not read it again. I give this book 4 merry stars. This book has given a wonderful and humorous moment in time. Since right now is so difficult, it is a completely different experience to have a seat with a cup of tea and laugh out loud. I hope that this brings a laugh to your life during this time.

I hope this review helps you in making your next book choice. Happy reading!

SECONDARY DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.