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People We Avoid by Lani Lynn Vale | Book Review

Feb. 10, 2026

People We Avoid by Lani Lynn Vale | Book Review

Okay I have to say that this second book left me with questions. I loved Creed and Birdee way more than I thought I would but there were some moments that it was a close thing. Let’s just say there is a lot to unpack here and doing it without revealing anything is difficult.

People We Avoid by Lani Lynn Vale | Book Reviewfour-half-stars
People We Avoid by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: Don't Date Him #2
Genres: Romantic Suspense

All Birdee Calvert wanted was to be normal.

She wanted the parents who didn’t divorce when she was a kid and make her life a living nightmare. She wanted the sisters who actually liked her. She wanted to live in a town where everyone loved her and didn’t have a single bad thing to say about her.

That was not the life Birdee was given.

She had the exact opposite life. The kind of life where she slunk through the grocery store with a hoodie on so no one would recognize her. The kind of life where men like Creed Daugherty didn’t give her a second look.

After years of abuse and heartache, she built walls. Big, huge, thick ones that no one could ever breach. If she didn’t put forth the effort to get to know someone, she couldn’t be hurt.

At least, that was the theory.

She never counted on Creed Daugherty hitting her with his truck. Then, deciding that once he entered her life, he would never leave it.

Though Birdee should’ve known that Creed was too good to be true.

All it takes is one mistake on her part, and Creed freezes her out. Then forces the rest of the town to make it almost impossible for her to live in Sawtooth, Montana, anymore.

Birdee only thought it couldn’t get worse.

But Creed makes sure to show her that it can and will.

The thing about rock bottom?

Once you’re there, you have nothing else to lose.

And Creed Daugherty just made himself enemy number one.


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In this series: House of BS & Lies
Other books from this Author Hail Mary , Quit Your Pitchin', Too Bad So Sad, Mess Me Up, Trash Talkin'

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review


First, Birdee I loved way more than I thought I would. In the previous book she left me not really caring about her one way or another. In this one I was rooting for her all the way. In fact, when Creed gets all peeved with her I was ready to jump through the pages and punch him in his nuts! I screamed “How dare he!” on my ipad in the middle of the doctor’s office. All I can say is that it’s a small town and they all know me well. 

Her job was let’s say interesting and freaked me out so badly but then her new job well it’s a lot to unpack. That being said, I loved the book. Everything about it was great but I did take off half a star because I still had so many questions. 

Birdie’s family wanted to punch in the face so many times and by the end we understood them and their brand of crazy better. To be honest I was expecting more drama from Creed’s side and I don’t know why given everything that happened in the first book. 

You don’t have to read the first book in the series but I do highly recommend it because you get introduced to the guys and things happen that will make better sense this time around. The good news if you follow on Instagram you may have seen that Mrs. Vale announced there will be more books in the series. Of course fans were checking out who was pairing off with whom and making suggestions. All I have to  say is well played Lani Lynn Vale, well played!

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Meet the Author


four-half-stars

About Lani Lynn Vale

Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.

When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.

Lani is married with three children, and lives in the Great State of Texas.

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