Dr. Strange Beard (Winston Brothers Series, 5)

I hate to be the person to brag but, I FREAKING KNEW THIS BOOK WOULD BE AMAZING!!! I feel like Roscoe has been the forgotten brother in this series. But from book one, he’s always been the one that intrigued me the most. I just had the feeling that there was so much more to him than what we originally knew. And while everyone has been excited for Billy’s book or letting the other Winston Brothers claim their hearts, I’ve just been sitting (not so) patiently, just waiting for Roscoe. And oh man. This book. THIS FREAKING BOOK!. I don’t even know what I expected from this book but it met every single one of those unknown expectations and surpassed everything my mind could have even conjured for it. I’m just going to give it to you straight: Dr. Strange Beard is my favorite book in this series. And possibly my favorite book that Penny Reid has written to date. I really didn’t think that was possible because I love Drew and Cletus’s books (not to mention her countless other amazing books outside of this series) something fierce but the way this book made me feel throughout reading, the way I’m feeling right now just tells me that I read something special. I know without a doubt in my mind I’ll be rereading this book asap. I’m already debating if I should go back after I get some rest and start all over again from the beginning. And as someone with a TBR pile taller than the Empire State Building, rereading is a freaking privilege and not something I do often. Heck, most books I'll read once and I’m ok with not reading again. But there’s no way I’m going too long without visiting Simone and Roscoe again. It’s so hard to talk about this book without spoiling anything! I want to explain the plot but then I also feel like telling you anything, even the smallest clues would be a huge spoiler and could possibly hinder your reading experience so I’m going to keep it as vague as possible. As we know from the previous books, Simone and Roscoe were childhood best friends but then one day when they were sixteen, they stopped talking and avoided each other at all cost. No one really knows what happened except that while you used to see them joint to the hip (there were never Simone without Roscoe, and vice versa) now you’d never seen them within 100 feet of each other. Now 10 years later, Roscoe and Simone are both 26 and because of…circumstances, they can no longer avoid each other. That’s all I’m going to say on the plot. But trust me, this book will surprise you in all the best ways. I kept thinking that I knew what had happened, and what would happen throughout this book and over and over this book surprised me. The amount of times I gasped out loud and was kept repeating, “OMG I CAN’T” (can’t what, you may ask? I have no idea lol. I can’t breathe, I can’t believe this, I can’t read anymore because my hurt is bursting from my chest, I can’t believe that the kind of love that Simone and Roscoe have actually exists and that I’m witnessing it, etc. honestly take your pick because I felt every single one of those emotions and more) is insane. I love Simone and Roscoe soooo much. If there is one thing that I kept thinking throughout reading this book, it was that. I love Simone and how strong, funny and amazing she is. I could relate to her in so many ways and she surprised me because the way she thought, or her feelings on certain things were so similar to my own unsaid thoughts (and often things I felt but never knew how to articulate) that it left me feeling shocked and connected to her in a way I don’t often feel to characters. And then there’s Roscoe. Sweet, amazing, soulful Roscoe who owns my heart and soul. I love EVERYTHING about him. But most importantly I love how he loves Simone. I want a guy like Roscoe so bad. To think that there is someone out there who could love and cherish me the way he love Simone, honestly my heart hurts just thinking about them. I’m really, really glad that this book was 100% focused on Simone and Roscoe because I was initially worried that the rest of the gang would take away from their book but that didn’t happen at all. We definitely got so many great scenes with the rest of the gang and I love catching up with them all and seeing where they were at now in life but I liked that their scenes didn't take away from the romance but rather worked perfectly into the book. There are only two things that are minor concerns about the book: 1. The fact that the book is over and now I won’t get to read more about Simone and Roscoe. (I’m not ready to move on from them. I am desperate for more of them. Please oh please let them get their own spin off series like Cletus and Jennifer or even a small novella, hell I’ll even take bonus scene. Ugh just anything!! Because I love them so much and I want to read about them forever and ever) 2. The time jump was a tad confusing at times. The way that random events were just dropped casually and then not really even explained was kind of jarring because I’d be SHOOK, jaw on the ground and then the dialogue just continued like nothing happened and I’m literally, like “?!?!?!?!”. And then I got confused because it felt like I was supposed to just know this stuff and I started wondering if this stuff had been mentioned in the previous books and I just forgot but the fact that some stuff was really shocking, like literal bomb drops, I feel there’s no way I’d forget them. I have a feeling these will be things that are clarified in future books but they definitely threw me for a loop when I first read it, considering how things were last left off in the previous books. I’m so happy that this book more than lived up to my expectations and I’m so happy that Penny wrote Roscoe and Simone’s story. Fans of this series, you will not be disappointed! In fact, I think Roscoe’s book is going to take quite a few of you by surprise and have you wondering how you could have ever brushed the youngest Winston brother to the side in the first place. Job well done by this author and a top favorite for the year for me!! EVERYONE READ THIS BOOK!!

Dr. Strange Beard is the fifth installment in the well-loved Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid. This book is centered around the youngest of the siblings, Roscoe, and Simone, the girl (now woman) he grew up with. This book jumps five years after the previous book in the series, Beard in Mind, and takes place ten years after Roscoe and Simone stopped being best friends. Let's start with the time jump. I had no idea this book was going to fast forward five years through the lives of characters I enjoy. I wish I could have been a voyeur to some of the milestones mentioned in this story. I think I understand the need for the gap but it still leaves me a little sad. I think the surprise of it added to that. The blurb mentions that ten years have passed since Roscoe left Simone's life but that doesn't give me an obvious indicator that years have passed since the last book. I would have had to check a chart or have a memory much better than I possess. There are two things Penny Reid has never shied away from: Difficult subject-matter and Current events. To top that off, she enlists "Sensitivity Readers" to assess the story and writing to help ensure she represents her characters properly and sensitively (this is my impression, not the author's words). I wish more authors would do this. Dr. Strange Beard has an element that is rooted in history and present time. I have seen authors use similar situations as something that comes across as a thoughtless gimmick done more for attention than any real purpose. Reid manages to incorporate a social injustice in an informative and organic way but also changes the perspective so the other main character lives through something that has him coming to a similar conclusion in his life that leads to a lovely lightbulb moment. The same can be said for Roscoe's challenges; they are handled well and bring awareness to something I didn't know I needed a better perspective of. That most likely doesn't make much sense but I don't want to give anything away and I don't have sensitivity readers. Just know the writing is smart and aware. The overall storyline feels realistic to me (for a story involving an undercover FBI agent). The relationship between Roscoe and Simone is genuine and I really appreciate what it takes to make it feel that way. They have challenges together and apart but they act their age and work through issues. I will say this story feels denser to me than the others in the series. There are many moments where the descriptions are long-winded and plentiful and I found myself skimming (I've never done this with a Penny Reid book). That was surprising to me but not off-putting, either. Dr. Strange Beard is not my favorite in the Winston Brothers series but I still enjoyed it and felt it was worth every minute of my time. The story is relevant, meaningful, and has great lead-ins for future books. I only wish the story was thinned out a little bit and I was better prepared for the jump in time. Those two issues took a little bit of adjusting and that is why my rating is a 3. Definitely pick this one up and if you haven't started this series yet, get on that!

Mrs. Reid has the unique ability to make us see the world in a different light with each book she writes. Dr. Strange Beard is a particularly enlightening. She doesn’t just give her readers a story. Oh no she doesn’t. She gives us an experience. A carefully crafted, one of a kind, INCREDIBLE and PECULIAR architecture of words. A masterpiece of feels and emotions. Jaime has been a fan Penny Reid’s story-telling since her very first book. Roxie is a new recruit and fangirl of the Winston brothers and Green Valley, Tennessee. Welcome aboard the beard train Roxie!! We both had been looking forward to Simone and Roscoe’s story. With all the little hints and clues in previous books we’ve built up an appetite for this mysterious Winston and his childhood friend. We were hungry to learn their story. We quickly discover that not everything is how it seems. There are a lot more secrets unraveled in this book than in previous books. The hits began very early in the book and just kept coming, leaving us with our mouths hanging open. From, “OMG, Did I just read? Holy moly that did not just happen!” to, “Hold me!” and “WTF?!?” We experienced a turbulence of emotions as the youngest brother navigates his way through a torrid of emotions. It’s been 10 years since Roscoe and Simone’s friendship abruptly ended. They’ve actively and successfully stayed out each other’s paths until a one chance encounter sets them on a path neither were expecting. Suddenly she is back in his life, and when we say back we mean BACK. She is everywhere and the feelings he so carefully tucked away are also back. Roscoe is such a unique and unconventional hero. He’s been a bit of a mystery throughout the series, so we weren’t quite sure what to expect from him. From the start you’ll notice hints of the secrets that are a part of who Roscoe is and why he reacts to Simone the way that he does, and you’ll be dying to piece them together to figure him out. What you’ll eventually learn won’t be something you were expecting but if you’re like us, you’ll be intrigued. It’s part of that Penny Reid magic that makes you want to learn and will force you to think and hypothesize. Simone was a character that took us a little longer to fall in love with. Pretty much all that we knew about her prior to this book was that she was Roscoe’s best friend and that they had some sort of history. You’ll finally learn the details of their history and how she fits into the Winston family’s ongoing story and we were so here for it. Through Simone’s eyes you get an eye-opening experience into a lot of issue’s that have long affected our society but seem to be extremely prevalent as of late. Penny Reid explores a sensitive topic with her unmistakable voice and, you guessed it, has you questioning what you thought you knew and wondering what you can do to know more. There are so many different layers to this story. It’s not just a second chance love story of two childhood friends. It’s a story of family, of misconceptions, discriminations, forgiveness and second chances and you should read it, ASAP. Our review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the rest of the Winston’s and their partners/families. Each brother is charismatic and swoony in their own way and Ashley is the heroine we all want to be. Reading as they each experience their own love story is a ride we won’t soon forget. Together they are an unstoppable force leaving readers with hearts eyes every single time. Now we just wait for Billy’s story…I’m not sure we’ll survive.

I should probably wait to write this review, as I’m still reveling in the beauty of Simone and Roscoe’s relationship. But I won’t, because feelings. Dr. Strange Beard is a story about Simone Payton and Roscoe Winston, two best friends who have known and loved each other for as long as Simone can remember. One event when they were sixteen breaks up the friendship and causes what becomes ten years of silence. When they speak to each other again, a flurry of events ensue. I cannot get enough of this story and, not for the first time with Reid’s books, wish there was more. That’s literally my only complaint. But alas, I know that stories can’t go on forever. (But why not, though?) Let me get into the why of it all: - The characters are beautifully written. I’m a sucker for good character development, and Reid has it in spades, always. I know Penny must have done extensive research on the tragedies that befall black people in the United States because the interplay of helplessness, fear, and anger with one of the characters was just too real. Usually, I don’t like to mix my romances with my lived experiences as a black person, but this was amazingly done. Even outside of that, Simone is a fierce, hilarious, delightfully unaware (at first) heroine that deserves and craves Roscoe’s love even before she knows it. Her relationship with her parents and siblings is complex, wonderful. The inner workings of her mind are beautiful to read and see play out. Roscoe is also beautifully written. His devotion to Simone is straightforward, and at first, heartbreaking. His take on the world is almost as clinical as Simone’s, which is funny, given that he is a hopeless (almost literally) romantic. He and Simone, as they say, are suited because of this. And watching him navigate the angst that comes with being with someone you’ve known forever- but have to navigate an adult relationship with - is both heart wrenching and irresistible. - I love that there are small details that tie each book in the series to the others. We learn some pretty heavy things in the other stories (no spoilers for the other books!) and they make a reappearance here in the form of one-sentence / scene reminders. It makes this book a standalone but also gives readers an opportunity to remember the parts about the other stories that they may have loved. In an effort to not make this review too long (and to avoid spoilers), I’ll stop there. But suffice it to say that I loved this book. If I could give it more stars, I would. Highly, highly recommend.

Penny Reid is among my top five favorite authors and I have read a number of her books multiple times. I love both the humor and intelligence woven in Reid's novels. I have learned about everything from bit-coins to Artificial Intelligence by following up on topics from her books. In Dr. Strange Beard, Roscoe has an eidetic memory. The term 'super-recognizer' was used and that led me to a great article in the New Yorker anout London's police force. The problem with that was I realized I was willing to abandon the book for the article and actually enjoyed the article as much as the book, which is not a good sign. The concept of never forgetting a face or experience is an interesting idea to explore in a novel. Roscoe is emotionally drowning in a sea of faces and memories that haunt him. Given his upbringing, the negative memories far outweigh the positive, so he restricts his life to avoid the potential of adding more pain. The happy, flirty local vet is a persona he adopts to mask his issues. Part of the problem is that Reid's books are littered with characters who are extreme. Janie, from Neanderthal Seeks Human, was an incredibly interesting character. Her quirks and language play were like nothing I had ever read. Now, it seems as if Reid's novels are packed with people having extreme psychological issues. Cletus and Shelley from previous stories immediately pop to mind. Simone is struggling with her own issues of wanting to live a life without feelings, an emotional desert as opposed to Roscoe's tsunami of experiences. The problem for the reader is that while it is interesting to learn about such psychological issues, it is hard to relate to such extreme characters. It is ironic that in a book featuring a hero with an extreme memory, the reader is assumed not to have one at all. Lengthy passages, sometimes pages long, from earlier in the book are repeated multiple times throughout as if the reader wouldn't remember having read them or would be unable to do a word search to look back if needing a refresh. I found this annoying in that it interrupted the pace of the story and began to feel like padding, which Reid's books never require. There are few authors more gifted with the ability to come up with a great turn of phrase that you want to incorporate into your own lexicon. "The element of surprise was my favorite, even if it wasn't on the periodic table." Reid's tradition of putting interesting quotes at the beginning of chapters is alive and well. My favorite was one which said that people will forget what you said or did, but never how you made them feel. I like how each of the sons featured in these books references something they have learned from their southern mama. '"...when on a date -- it was the women's job to dress like the painting and the man's job to dress like the frame." Sometimes, though, Reid hits the reader over the head multiple times with the same phrase. Simone makes an observation early in the story that she would much rather rely on Google Maps or a Sherpa to guide her, than trusting her feelings. This was brilliant the first time, but less enjoyable on the seventh encounter. A huge issue is that the major plot line in the novel centers on the death of two dozen men in two years. Juxtaposed against multiple pages of extraneous clown depictions and the quirkiness of all things Winston, this serious aspect of the book became less believable. Without giving anything away, there are multiple threads left hanging including Darrell's situation and something Billy does late in the story during a crisis. Near the end of the book, one of the characters says, "I can't answer that, because it doesn't make sense to me either." Exactly! I vacillated between a three and four star rating. The decision came down to how I felt about the romantic connection between the lead characters. The magic that existed between Janie and Quinn, Sandra and Alex, or Ashley and Drew was ultimately missing. Years of Simone not even thinking about Roscoe while he was living with a Simone-sized hole in his heart was resolved too easily. For Reid aficionados, this will still be an auto-buy. Perhaps just tempering your expectations will lead to a more satisfying experience.

A guy who remembers everything proves trying to forget about the love of his life is easier said than done. I cannot wait for Billy's book- I'm actually sad to know that his romance hasn't taken place yet and he's lived so long in his life without the love of his life (in my guess- Claire!)I read all of the winston brothers books super fast. Cletus and Roscoe have been my favorites. Shout out to Jethro and Duane. Beau bringing up the rear- but still with a book I read in the span of 3 days. These books are great for romance novel lovers- which I would now consider myself! BUT they didn't make the required reading list because of the high level of steam. If you're up for a steamy read, or up for skimming parts of a fun series- then these ones are for you! what i liked--I love an interracial couple. It might be because I'm a little biased (hollar to all the other mixed kids out there!) but I love reading about an interracial couple. You know, I had never read a story with interracial protagonists until I was an adult. And I read a lot of YA... just saying. (Seriously, I'm saying that it's a real thing that kids grow up reading books but not seeing themselves or their possibilities in the books they read.) I should also note that the most diverse protagonists I have ever read have been in romance novels! (This actually really nails why I am so into reading romance novels right now. I love a romcom and I LOVE reading a story involving people of color. I didn't know I was missing that until .... well until I noticed).This book also tackled some racism- what it's like to be an affluent black family living in the south. Simone had real conversations with her friends about how to support her, and how she wanted to handle situations that directly influenced her. Can we talk about how all of Penny Reid's heroine's are freaking awesome? She always writes smart heroines who aren't twiddling their thumbs when a smarter man comes and whisks them away. So far her heroines have been an actress, a business owner, an FBI agent\scientist, and a teacher who brought STEM to her school. Also, all of them were independently financially stable (or were by the end of the books) so that's pretty cool to me. what i didn't like-- I was kind of confused in the ending- let's just say there was a lot going on with the towns biker gang and I'm not sure I followed all of it. (This could be partly because, as previously stated in other reviews, I'm not into this plotline so I may be skimming sections involving the biker gang). Now that's not to say that she won't write more about it in the next books and it will all resolve itself - but as is, I was confused. I did actually reread part of the ending to try to clarify some biker gang madness and I still didn't follow it all. while reading you should--- Watch: Miss Congeniality Listen: New Light by John Mayer Eat: Donuts from a mom and pop shop

Roscoe Winston has an eidetic memory, which is currently unfortunate, because he does not want to remember Simone Payton and all the time they spent together growing up. It's the last Thursday of the month, she's not supposed to be in Greenvalley, but there she is, working a shift at Daisy's Nut House. Now he can't decide what he wants more, to continue avoiding Simone, or to get a doughnut. Armed with a plan to get doughnuts and have as little interaction with Simone as possible, Roscoe's plan is halted when someone else he'd prefer to completely forget forever shows up. Darrell's back, and, big shocker, needs something from his youngest son. Simone Payton insists that she's over being ghosted by her best friend when they were 16. Definitely over it. So seeing Roscoe in the parking lot of her mom's restaurant after 10 years of zero contact should be easy. Right? Simone has a huge secret, all she needs is to re-gain Roscoe's trust and get his help while trying to keep him in the dark about who she really is now and what she's honestly doing. There's one small problem, he won't even make eye contact with her. I love Penny Reid. I love her books. I love her writing style, her characters, all of the details that don't get over looked, and her sense of humor. And yes, I generally have to google something while reading her books, whether it be an event or person or word or random facts like armadillos carry leprosy, who knew?! Penny Reid, that's who. Her books are smart and more often than not include a current issue/event as part of the plot. Dr. Strange Beard was no different, bringing up the issue of racism. Roscoe and Simone's story quickly became one of my favorites. It's very sweet with plenty of angst thrown in. My heart hurt a little bit for Roscoe, ok, my heart hurt a lot for him. Being able to remember events in such vivid detail, and recalling exact emotions as though it just happened, would make rejection and moving on from it so much more difficult. Of course he ghosted Simone for self preservation reasons. Simone has to learn and realize that she can't base her feelings and relationships on the mistakes that she's seen others in her life make. A lot of bombs were dropped in the infamous chapter 3 (it was all over her fb fan page), that's one of my favorite chapters. I know, they're only characters, but in my mind they're all real people, and I loved the updates on all of the Winston's (since story line wise, this books comes 5 years after Beard In Mind). Even the shocking ones. It makes the anticipation for Billy and Claire's books that much better. I can't wait to see what she does with them. This was another marvelously stunning Penny Reid book.

Simone Payton was ghosted by Roscoe Winston way back when they were both 16. Up till that point in time, they'd been the best of friends, growing up together, each an integral part of the other's lives. Inseparable ... until the day Roscoe forced their separation. Avoiding her whenever possible, even to the point of rudely walking away from her and blatantly ignoring her when necessary, that's a wound that never healed, but instead, with the increased absence afforded by adulthood, has merely been pushed to the side and ignored. Of course she wondered from time to time. She questioned what she could have possibly done to deserve such treatment from the guy who had been her best friend in the whole world, but much as she might wrack her brain, she can't remember doing or saying anything that could justify his radical change in behavior. Roscoe, on the other hand, is literally incapable of forgetting. Not just her words, but her inflection, what she was wearing at the time, everything about that experience is etched firmly in his brain. Naturally, time, circumstance, a serial killer and the FBI set the two of them onto a collision course, and long held secrets wont be the only casualty. Once again, with Dr Strange Beard, Penny Reid has woven a tale that intermingles elements of weird and wonderful, cryptic and obscure, whimsical and perturbing into a tale that despite it's many threads, and references to other works in the series, is nevertheless beautifully lucid, and artfully compelling. Both protagonists are tantalizingly flawed both in ways that will undoubtedly endear them to the reader, and drive the story. The main subplot, that continually drives them together is both complex and well thought out, and the combination of new characters introduced for this book, and existing characters from previous books revisited serves to not only richen the story-line, but deepen the experience of being within the world of Green Valley. To be perfectly honest, I closed my previous read at 1AM and debated whether to take a quick peek at Dr Strange Beard before going to sleep or not. Five and three quarter hours constitutes a quick peek, right? Then when I finally woke up for the day at around 8AM, I dove back in the first chance I got until there were no pages left to turn. A great read that induced the whole gamut of emotions from the pain of rejection to fierce protectiveness, the slow burn of unquenchable unrequitedness to the sharp sting of grief, Penny Reid delivers all of this while in her own inimitable way broadens the reader's perspective enabling us to perceive unimagined vistas of the mind, and promoting ruminations that will no doubt return to mind for days and weeks to come.

This read really got me. It wasn't belly laugh funny like some of the others in the series, but it just seemed to hit the right tone for the characters and their story. Emotions like regret, missed chances, nostalgia, lust, love, anger, and fear just leapt off the page and lodged themselves in my heart. I think this really was another triumph for Penny, and I appreciated the realness she injected into the story.

Wow, I was not expecting this story but it was perfect! I've really enjoyed all of the books in this series and thought nothing could top Cletus and Jennifer's book but I loved this so much. I didn't read any of the excerpts or descriptions before beginning as I love Penny Reid's writing so much I wanted to save it until the book was released. I feel like I need to go back to the beginning of the series and re-read every scene with Roscoe because I completely missed this character. I loved the depth of feeling and emotion he connects with his memories and how steadfast he is in his loyalties. The contrast with Simone's thoughts and feelings worked so well. There is the usual fast paced plot and intriguing storyline but the reason I keep coming back to these books are the exceptional characters. Thank you for another brilliant book! Can't wait to see what happens next.

There is always something delightful in her stories, from the quirky but not over the top characters to the witty dialogue. Dr. Strange Beard is no exception, and I enjoyed it from start to finish. I loved Roscoe’s portrayal especially - somehow his quirk does not overpower who he is and his personality, which is a feat considering how peculiar his condition is. The resolution might just be a bit rushed to me, or lacking a substantial amount of angst, but that’s a matter of taste, not execution: it is written in the same precise but witty style as the rest of the book. I’m waiting for the next one already!

As a fan of the Winston Brother series, this book was impatiently wanted. And it didn't disappoint. There was some difficult times, some very emotional times, but mostly I had a good time. When you love a series, it's not only the characters of the current book that you're interested in, but nearly most of them. So in the beginning, I found it hard to concentrate on Roscoe and Simone. But as the book progress, you discover two characters with the kind of personalities I really love in Penny's book : smart, special, alluring and unique, and you fall under the spell all over again. Also of note, a little more action and danger than usual, but it was to be expected. In the end, Dr Strange Beard is a book to be read and re-read, with enough depth to give you something new to contemplate at each and every read. And who doesn't like to go back to backwoods Tennessee and partake on some small town relationships updates, MC drama and beautiful, bearded scenery?

I just finished Dr Strange Beard and want to say thank you to the author for writing such an amazing book. I have all her books in ebook and audio and listen and read them again and again. The characters are always so interesting, lovable and different. The stories are never predictable and so colourful and descriptive. I feel like I am there. I have cried, laughed and bitten my nails through this whole story. Well done. I am now waiting with baited breath for 2019 for Billy and Claire. I will read the Professor newsletter story and Abram’s 3 books until then. Roscoe and Simone are a new favourite of mine.