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Another great start to a fabulous reading year!! This year, I set a goal to read 100 books. I know, I know, I read over double that in 2021, but this year, I don't want to be under pressure to finish as many as last year and I don't want to be wary of the thicker reads! I hope to embrace some much longer reads this year! Wish me luck!!
But back to January....We road tripped a lot in January and I was the primary driver, so I got a TON of time to listen to audiobooks and my selections were quite varied, just how I like them. I'm a very eclectic reader. I was able to knock several books off of my TBR, many of which have been on my TBR for a while and some that are brand new. Have you read any of these books?
This story has nonlinear timelines. Meet Ada, the daughter of Kosta and Defne, and the “all-knowing” fig tree that witnessed so much over the years. Ada longs to know about her ancestors on Cyprus, an island she has never visited, and her parents’ forbidden love. Her mother has just died and her father doesn’t talk about it and is entirely engrossed in his research and writing about trees. How will she ever learn about her past?
This book was classified as literary fiction. For me, it was slow paced and the nonlinear timelines threw me off a few times. We also heard the perspective and ecology of the fig tree and various other trees, which while interesting to me, slowed things down as well. Overall, the story was beautifully written and interesting. I do enjoy reading literary fiction but have to be in the mood for it.
Overall rating - 3.5 ⭐️
This memoir/autobiography gives us an inside look into Dave Grohl’s life, choices that led him to where he is today, loads of stories about rock shows, connections he has made that have influenced him and inspired him over the years, time spent in multiple bands including Nirvana and the impact Kurt Cobain and his death had on his life. In this book, we hear from the real Dave Grohl and he is unapologetically himself in this book, f bombs and all!
I’m a big Foo Fighters fan and I’ve always thought Dave Grohl was a great guy. I was intrigued by this book and the awesome reviews it had so I wanted to pick it up and see if it lived up to the hype. It was a bit scattered and some of the stories led me wanting to learn more and understand his experiences on a deeper level, but I had to appreciate the book for what it was, a sneak peek into Dave’s life, through a collection of stories (some of which were unrelated), written by a musician, not an author. For me, the most redeeming part of the book is hearing about his daughters and the impact his mom had on his life. I loved hearing his stories from fatherhood. I do feel like I finished the book with a greater appreciation for Dave Grohl and his music and he sounds like an all-around well-rounded, and passionate guy who puts family first. He has found a way to balance music and family and be the present father that was missing in his life. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to fellow Foo Fighters fans.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Chloe Davis is a psychologist getting ready for her wedding. Local teens are going missing in her area, including one of her very own patients. The troubling events surrounding these disappearances are causing her own past traumas from 20 years ago to resurface. It was a time when teen girls were also going missing and her father confessed to the murders and was put away for life. Why does Chloe feel like the disappearances from today are somehow linked to her very own past? Can she unmask a killer for the second time in her life?
This book had me hooked from the beginning. I couldn't imagine being the daughter of a serial killer and the lifelong damage that something like that would do to a person. I loved the twists and turns, many of which were unexpected for me! I highly recommend this thriller! It will keep you second guessing yourself and who the real culprit could be.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Actor and comedian Seth Rogen wrote a memoir, cataloging a variety of funny and oftentimes appalling true stories from his own life, including tales of Jewish summer camp, drug consumption, the influence his grandparents had on his life, and many more crazy stories.
While this book was entertaining, it was also wildly inappropriate at times. There was talk of porn, illegal activities, underage drinking, and drugs....lots of drugs. I cannot in good faith recommend this book without those trigger warnings. But I did laugh at times, and listening to this book passed the time while driving on our road trip. If you listen, like I did, be sure to grab your AirPods!
Overall rating - 3⭐️
Gilda is an atheist lesbian who cannot stop herself from agonizing over the thought of death. She very accidentally finds herself getting employed as a receptionist at a Catholic church to replace another receptionist who has passed away. She also found herself impersonating the recently deceased previous receptionist, Grace, in church email correspondence with Grace's old friend, just too afraid to break the bad news to her. When some suspicious details come out about Grace's death, things get tricky and Gilda wants to put on her detective hat a bit and begins speculating about what really happened to Grace.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I adored this book. The deadpan humor, insight on the human condition, and Gilda's quirks and insights about life kept me interested and engaged in what would happen. I liked the element of mystery surrounding Grace's death and the irony of the situations that Gilda kept finding herself in. I really like books that feature atypical/neurodiverse characters and this one didn't disappoint!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Meet the Briscoe family, a family fraught with affairs, deception, drama, betrayal, tense emotions, and more. It is so twisted what these family members would do to each other, the secrets they would keep from one another, and the abuse they would inflict upon each other! And now, someone is dead, and someone is to blame, but who should take the fall?
I loved following the drama around this family and enjoyed the elements of mystery and deception. While there was incredible deceit, I was also amazed at the lengths some family members would go to protect each other in this tale as well.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Lucy's mother in law is dead and she's not surprised or particularly sad about it. Since meeting Diana, Lucy has tried to win Diana's acceptance, but Diana merely tolerates Lucy and never really lets her get close. Why? Diana has left a suicide note after changing her will to disinherit her children, and there is no cancer in her body as she had claimed. Diana is an upstanding community member and works hard for female refugees. Was her death a set up? And if so, who would want her dead?
I have loved some of Sally Hepworth's other domestic thrillers and was glad to grab this audiobook for our travels as well. While this one was a bit slower than the others I have enjoyed, I was still motivated to churn through it from start to finish in one stretch of our drive. It wasn't AS twisty as the others, but there were some unexpected turns in this one. At the end of the audiobook, it was interesting to hear a short interview with Sally and it gave me an even greater appreciation for her works.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Ted meets Lily in an airport and as they get chummy, they begin to share very revealing details about their personal lives. Ted even reveals, jokingly that he'd like to kill his wife for her infidelity and Lily very calmly replies that she would like to help. As they make this plan, Ted begins to wonder - what's in this for Lily? Lily has some secrets of her own from her past that she hasn't shared with Ted including her own personal experience with murder starting from a very early age. Will they both survive the plan that they have laid out to end Miranda's life?
This book was absolutely crazy! It will stick with me for a while. Graphic, appalling, surprising, and mysterious! I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout much of this book. Twisty in all the right ways. I recommend and if you read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Overall rating - 4.5 ⭐️
A father and daughter are living entirely by themselves in the remote Appalachian mountains. They are completely disconnected and sheltered away from the real world and have supplies delivered once a year by their dear friend, Jake. What is it that has led Cooper to raise his daughter by himself in this way? What has he got to hide? What will happen to them when Jake doesn't bring supplies this year? The two will need to face their past and do what it takes to move forward.
This book quite literally blew me away. So beautifully written, such great storytelling, and a heart-warming relationship between father and daughter. Cooper would go to the ends of the earth on account of his love for his only daughter and his only love left in his world, Finch. We need more stories like this! This was my first 5 star read for 2022!
Overall rating - 5⭐️
Molly finds the infamous and wealthy Mr. Black dead in his hotel suite. Because Molly is a bit different, it's no surprise that the police find her quite suspicious in their investigation. How will Molly get out of this situation, especially after losing her Gran just a few months ago, the only person that she felt she could truly rely on and who knew her better than anyone. Is there anyone else on her side?
This book is another example of a story that featured a neurodiverse protagonist, Molly the maid. She was so lovable and interesting to read. I loved seeing her develop in this story and find herself despite the circumstances. She learned a bit more about who she is and how to interact with others and how to work through the grief of her Gran's passing. This book was much more than just a murder mystery/whodunit! There are deeper themes and strong character development for our main character, Molly.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Lux and her boyfriend Nico are hired to charter a sail to a remote island by college best friends Brittany and Amma. This sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime to escape reality a bit for all parties involved, but when they arrive, they realize that this trip is not all it was cracked up to be. There are others on the island already. Who are these people and why are they really there? They are finding that this island is more cut off from the real world than they had originally realized and some members of this party are starting to feel trapped and questioning their island mates. Can they really trust each other?
This one was entertaining and a quick listen as an audiobook, and I enjoyed the unique setting, but overall, I think this one was a bit forgettable. The characters were unlikeable and awful, backstabbing, and unfaithful. It was alright and a bit twisty, but nothing earth-shattering. I much preferred The Wife Upstairs, another book by Rachel Hawkins that I read last year.
Overall rating - 3⭐️
Sunday gets into a terrible car accident and is forced to reunite with her family after running away from them with little explanation 5 years away. What really caused her to leave the family? After a dangerous man from Sunday's past re-enters the picture and threatens to upend the Brennans and their livelihoods, old secrets must come out and they must lean on one another like they never have before.
This one was a bit slow moving for me. While I like a good family saga and this one was somewhat entertaining, I personally felt like it was a bit repetitive and dragged on more than it needed to. Then the ending was a bit rushed for my liking.
Overall rating - 3⭐️
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Includes 30 cards for birthdays, new home, get well, weddings, etc. all housed in a beautifully designed organizer box with matching envelopes.
Includes 30 cards for birthdays, new home, get well, weddings, etc. all housed in a beautifully designed organizer box with matching envelopes.
Includes 30 Happy Birthday cards for kids of any age all housed in a beautifully designed organizer box with matching envelopes.
Includes 30 cards total (19 blank cards and 11 Thank You cards) all housed in a beautifully designed organizer box with matching envelopes.
Includes 50 cards for various holidays all housed in a beautifully designed organizer box with matching envelopes.
For such a short month, I'm pretty happy to cram so much reading in!! It was another eclectic reading month for me, but I did intentionally throw in a few romance reads to help lighten things up in celebration of the month of love!
Here's a snapshot of the books that I read this month -
*BOTM = Book of the Month, ARC = Advanced Reader Copy*
5 ⭐️ Books
4.5 ⭐️ Books
4 ⭐️ Books
3.5 ⭐️ Books
3 ⭐️ Books
Want more detailed book reviews? See below!
**Want to ship your first Book of the Month hardcover book for just $5? Be sure to use my referral code when you sign up for your subscription! Skip anytime!**
Estranged siblings must come together and put aside their differences after the passing of their mother. Eleanor Bennet, their mother, has left them a Black Cake to share when the time is right and a voice recording that details a long and arduous life that they knew nothing about! She reveals a lot about herself and where she came from because she believes that her children should know the truth about their heritage. Will this experience bring Benny and Byron back together, or will it fracture their relationship even more?
I loved this book and scored it in my January @bookofthemonth box. (Grab my referral code linked to ship your own first box for just $5)! It was fun for me to work alongside the siblings to piece together the pieces of Eleanor’s life and legacy. It had mystery, intrigue, family drama, social issues and injustices, and more. It was heavy at times but so beautifully written and the ending was fantastic!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Harry was dropped on his dreadful aunt and uncle’s doorstep as an infant and never knew the truth about his parents (who passed away) and what happened to him on that fateful day. He lives a miserable existence with his muggle (non magic folk) relatives but is soon rescued by a mysterious stranger, Hagrid, the gamekeeper at Hogwart’s school of witchcraft and wizardry. Harry always knew he was different but he feels a bit more himself at Hogwart’s. But even there, he is a bit of a celebrity, the only person who survived an attack by the evil dark wizard, Voldemort. But what ever happened to Voldemort? Is he truly gone? You’ll have to read to find out!
While the kids and I have listened to book 1 of the Harry Potter series, this is the first time that I have read this book in its entirety and this time I chose to read it aloud as a family, husband included, before the kids’ bedtime. It was such a treat to enjoy this book as a family. Of course we had a movie night to celebrate finishing the book! I know I’m late to the game getting into this series, but it’s my goal to read the whole series this year. I haven’t decided how many books I will read aloud to the kids as I know the series gets darker as it progresses. My kids are 5 and 8. I’d love any insights you may have!
Overall rating - 5⭐️
Without giving too much away, this book featured a quirky ace female protagonist in STEM, with a book set in academia. Perhaps enough said! We don’t have enough books like this! Total rom-com with a familiar trope that you will probably fall for!
I was enamored with this book from the beginning! I don’t read a ton of romance, and can’t tolerate a ton of steam. This was a bit steamier than I would normally read, but it wasn’t a huge part of the book, which I could appreciate! Again, I haven’t seen very many books featuring females in stem or romances set in academia, and for those reasons alone, I would recommend this one! Super unique in my opinion.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Sydney thinks things are going well, she has an awesome roommate, a loving boyfriend, and life is good. Little does she know, betrayal is around the corner. How will she heal? She may find someone to fill that void that is now ever present in her life. But timing is crap and this can’t work. Maybe someday.
I have a hard time with infidelity in books, especially when it’s a heavy theme that pervades the book. I hate seeing people get hurt from cheating. I borrowed this book not knowing much about what it’s about because I’ve read some other Colleen Hoover books that I’ve really enjoyed. This one fell short for me. I ended up feeling annoyed through most of it. I did like seeing a relationship build between a hearing impaired person and the female protagonist only because it was interesting to see that representation. I’ve never read a book with a profoundly deaf character! That element was great! The rest was meh for me.
Overall rating - 3⭐️
Bea is a popular plus size fashion blogger who would love to find love. She’s unexpectedly invited to a reality television show, similar to the bachelorette, called The Main Squeeze. The franchise has never had a plus-sized participant and Beatrice would love to see more women that look like herself represented. But she is reluctant to take on this opportunity because she is afraid to be vulnerable, she doesn’t think the men will want her, and she isn’t really sure that she’s cut out for love. She’s right to be reluctant because her experience on the show isn’t a cake walk at all. Who can she trust? Who is there for the right reasons? Will she get her fairy tale ending?
Admittedly, I really enjoyed this book and was hooked. I particularly enjoyed the representation of a plus sized woman on a reality show. I was rooting for Beatrice to find love the whole way through. But what I had trouble with were the cringey fat-shaming parts of this book. And Bea had her fair share of heartache on her journey to find love. I hated how much she got hurt by those she had been vulnerable with.
Overall rating - 3.5⭐️
Edith is a former ballerina and gymnast who was sent to Auschwitz as a teen. She was separated from her parents and endured unimaginable horrors alongside her sister while there. She and her sister hung on by a thread and barely made it out alive. When they were finally liberated, they continued to suffer horrors in the aftermath. The choices Edith had to make, even post-war were difficult. This is her moving tale.
I love memoirs and the world war 2 era is fascinating to me. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction and nonfiction covering this time period and this was one of the more poignant and beautiful works. Edith shows how her resilience, strength, (and ultimately her survival) were found through the choices she made and the perspectives she held throughout the challenging experiences that she faced in the concentration camp and even post-war. Read to learn how she was able to survive the unimaginable circumstances that she endured and how she was able to get ahead and find her purpose, and even make a difference for others, while living as an immigrant/refugee in America, post-war. I highly recommend this heavy and moving read.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
** spoiler alert **
Jess Davis is a single mom who was raised by her grandparents. Feeling pretty much abandoned by her parents and her daughter‘s father who jumped ship before she was even born, Jess doesn’t know if she’s cut out to be loved and wanted by someone else. She doesn’t even think she’s dating material. She’s a brainy statistician who stumbles upon an up and coming dna-based match-making company with her friend. On a whim, she decides to submit her sample and she ends up matching with the founder with a nearly unbelievable 98% rating. She’s flabbergasted as she already is not a fan of Dr. River Pena, but the company has a lot to gain if they fall in love. In fact, they offer to pay her to give it a shot. She finds that perhaps there is more to River than meets the eye, but could this really be true love?
For the majority of this book, I was just smitten with the characters and their budding romance. River began to surprise Jess in so many unexpected ways and fitting her like a glove. I couldn’t get enough of it! I also love when a protagonist in Jess’ circumstance has a shot at finding her own happy ending. Perfect February romance read!
Overall rating - 4.5⭐️
Matthew and Marisa Bishop seem like the golden couple to everyone outside their marriage until infidelity hits! They seek out the guidance and controversial therapy techniques from Avery, a therapist who recently lost her license. It turns out not all is as it seems and there is much more to uncover inside the Bishop’s fragile marriage and within their circle of friends, relatives, coworkers, and acquaintances. Who is telling the truth? Will Avery need to go deeper than she ever has before with the Bishops?
While I was able to guess a few pieces of the puzzle, this book is fraught with mysteries at every turn. I was very puzzled throughout, but put my detective hat on to try to figure out the links. In many ways, the ending was unexpected, but some of the twists and links were a bit far-fetched to be believable. I would still recommend this one to the thriller/mystery fanatic. This was my February Book of the Month main pick! Don't miss that $5 referral code if you decide to sign up for the best monthly treat to yourself!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Edward is the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash, dealing with the aftermath. This is a tale of grief, devastation, growth, and finding one’s purpose. The book flips between present day and the day of the crash. Will Edward be able to find himself and move on from this horrific event that took his entire family and many other passengers?
This book was a tough listen, especially toward the end when the book detailed the moments before the plane crab itself. The book was actually inspired by some real life plane crashes, one of which had a sole survivor. For me, it was worthwhile listen and an interesting deep dive into someone’s grief journey. I enjoyed seeing how Edward grew and found purpose, and discovered how he could make a positive difference in the lives of the people around him and for surviving family members of many of the passengers who lost their lives on that fateful day.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Gothic, Parisian locked door mystery. Jess needs a do-over and she decides to crash with her brother Ben in his Paris apartment, but when she arrives, he isn’t there! And there was something off about his last voice note to her. What is going on? And what are these sketchy neighbors hiding from Jess. As she digs deeper and deeper into Ben’s history here, she learns that there is more than what meets the eye in this apartment and its residents. What secrets are they hiding from her? Who can she trust?
I was lucky and picked this book up on pub day from my local library. I loved the pacing of this one and the twists and turns throughout. I’ve read The Hunting Party and the Guest List by Foley as well and while the short chapters/everyone’s a suspect feel was reminiscent of the other books, I think this one is my fav!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
2 pairs, Caro and younger half-brother Pauly, and Grandy and his granddaughter Sally come together, taking shelter and refuge in the High House amidst a climate disaster that threatens extinction to the human race and life on earth. The converted summer home is fully stocked by Pauly’s mother, a scientist who seemed to think of everything as this environmental threat began to rear its ugly head. But did she really think of everything? Grandy is working to instill skills in the young people of the house as his health begins to fail. What is in store for this foursome as the waters rise and the weather conditions around the world worsen?
I’m a huge fan of dystopian novels and was thrilled when @scribnerbooks & @simonandschuster contacted me to receive an advanced reader copy of this novel. It was a very quick read for me and I was appalled at the climate disasters in this book while also recognizing some parallels to our world today. I can only hope that we can begin to take the lessons from dystopian novels like this one and enact the necessary changes to make our world a better place for generations to come.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Two girls are killed, 12 years apart in this eerie, coastal town. Whodunit mystery.
I had a hard time with this one and struggled keeping all of the characters straight. So many suspects and lots of confusing details. Perhaps I was a bit distracted since I listened to this one on audiobook, but it didn’t capture me as well as many other similar thrillers have.
Overall rating - 3⭐️
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March was another excellent reading month and I'm pleasantly surprised with myself that I completed a diverse array of books totaling 16 books between digital reads, physical reads, and some audiobooks!
Here's a snapshot of the books that I read this month -
*BOTM = Book of the Month, ARC = Advanced Reader Copy*
5 ⭐️ Books
4.5 ⭐️ Books
4 ⭐️ Books
3.75 ⭐️ Books
3.5 ⭐️ Books
3.25 ⭐️ Books
3 ⭐️ Books
Want more detailed book reviews? See below!
**Want to ship your first Book of the Month hardcover book for just $5? Be sure to use my referral code when you sign up for your subscription! Skip anytime!**
This debut explores the daily nuances, heartaches, and relationships of a small town community of neighbors whose lives intersect.
This book had way too many characters for my liking. I had a lot of trouble keeping everyone straight, especially in the audiobook version of this book. There was also an overwhelming amount of loss and devastation within the lives of the characters. To me, it was an unbelievable amount of heartache crammed into one book, which made it unrelatable and unrealistic to me! With so many characters, I didn’t find myself truly invested in any of the storylines. I rarely DNF books so I pressed on and finished listening but I found this one to be boring and meh.
Overall rating - 3⭐️
Jazz’s best friend has been kidnapped and she takes it upon herself to become an amateur sleuth to investigate what has happened on her mission to save her friend! After all, the kidnapper has threatened Anika’s parents that no police can be involved! She buddies up with arch enemy Phoenix to uncover clues and crime scene evidence to analyze in Phoenix’s mother’s forensics lab. It turns out that they have drudged up a 20 year potential murder case! Can they find their missing friend before time runs out?
I don’t read a lot of YA fiction, but this was a page turner for me and I really enjoyed it! I especially liked the amateur sleuth and crime scene investigation aspects of this book. The twist was completely unexpected!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Mara inherits half of a house from her late mentor Helena, but the trouble is she needs to move in with Liam, Helena’s nephew, who also happens to be somewhat of a nemesis. He offers to buy her out, but she needs this house and will stand firm! Can they work out their differences as they get to know each other better? Will they grow to be able to stand each other? And an even better question might be - Could Helena be meddling in their futures, even from beyond the grave?
I really enjoyed this little novella, even though it had a little bit of steam, as all of Ali Hazelwood’s books do! Short, sweet, and with a little spice! Super fun!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Samantha is a school librarian with a past. In her past, she was quiet, “mousy,” and she claimed to be invisible. She has changed jobs and blossomed a bit! She was once in love with Duncan at a different school, but he didn’t know it. She kept herself hidden. Now, years later in a crazy turn of events, he steps in to lead at her school after the school has suffered a tragic loss. But Duncan has changed! What caused him to be this way? Samantha no longer recognizes the person he has become and the school that she knows and loves is now suffering from all of the changes he is making. Can she get to the root of what has happened to him? Can they both find themselves through this turn of events? Could there be something between them after all?
Once again, Katherine Center doesn’t disappoint in this one! After enjoying The Things You Save in a Fire via audiobook last year, I had to try out this one too! Great story with some light romance and light on the steam factor is right up my alley! And it involves a librarian and a school setting! That had me sold! Samantha was so quirky and likable too. I couldn’t help but root on her happiness!
Overall rating 4.5⭐️
** spoiler alert **
Katrina and Nathan are EX-romance coauthors who cut ties after completing a best seller together to everyone’s shock and surprise! They never went public on the reasons why. Fast forward to today and Katrina’s fiancé convinces her to work with Nathan once again to help advance her career (and his too). So the angsty duo reconvene in their old stomping grounds to work out their emotions on paper by co-writing once again. Why did they really split before? Will they be able to reconcile enough to finish this new book and move on?
I’ve gotta hand it to the authors of this one for a unique concept for a book, and it’s always kinda fun to read books about books, however this one fell a little short for me. Emotional cheating isn’t really a trope I like to read for one, and the flashbacks between past and present were a bit scattered and confusing to me. I did prefer the present timeline more than the past, however. It was entertaining and I finished listening to this one quickly, but in my opinion, it was lacking a bit of substance.
Overall rating 3.5⭐️
Learn how your smartphone may be negatively impacting your life, brain, and relationships. Follow this 30 day guide to break up and then make up with your phone so that you have a healthier relationship with it.
This is a must read if you even feel mildly addicted to your phone. The tips and tricks can be implemented right away to help you reclaim your life from phone addition. It’s a process but it’s doable!
Overall rating 4.5⭐️
Sadie had crossed paths with Erik before, but had her heart broken. Their encounter wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, (or so she thinks). Then they find themselves trapped together on a New York elevator and of course they have to flesh out their short lived shared history. Is there more to Erik than Sadie thought?
Ali Hazelwood knocks it out of the park again with a spicy little novella here. It was a quick and cute listen!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
** spoiler alert **
Lily’s life certainly hasn’t been easy, but she’s ready to make a life for herself in Boston after graduating college. She opens an up and coming floral shop and loves adding her own spin to the beautiful arrangements! She meets Ryle and falls head over heels for him, even though he seems like a bit of a commitment-phobe at first. Maybe there is more to Ryle than meets the eye. As she explores a relationship with Ryle, she is haunted by her past and she can’t shake thoughts of her old love Atlas from her broken past.
This was a tough read and I put it down many times, most notably after reading a spoiler on Bookstagram! I did plow through the rest of the book and I’m glad I did. While difficult to read at times, this book shed a lot of light on women in abusive relationships and why they often stay. It’s not always black and white for these women. I really appreciated Colleen’s author’s note at the end. Hearing her inspiration for the book and her own history really shed a light on this difficult issue for me.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Greta is an indie rockstar musician who tragically lost her mother and feels lost without her number one fan. She always had all of her support and she always encouraged her to follow her dreams. This is in sharp contrast to her father who marches to the beat of his own drum and has always been skeptical of Greta’s success. Following her mother’s death, Greta has the opportunity to take a trip of a lifetime, alongside her father, on an Alaskan cruise, a cruise that he should have been taking to celebrate his 40th anniversary with her mother. She decides to go. After all, what else does she have going for her? She’s been musically stagnant since breaking down on stage in front of a live audience. Will she and her father be able to draw closer on this trip after suffering such tragic loss? This book also does have a touch of romance woven into the storyline.
This book was entertaining and having gone on an Alaskan cruise a few years ago, I really loved revisiting the setting. It was lacking in some ways, just the same. For me, the romance piece was a bit distracting to the main storyline, partly because it felt a bit undeveloped to me. It was an interesting grief to follow along on and I liked seeing the character development in Greta.
Overall rating 3.75, rounded to 4⭐️ on goodreads.
This book gives us an inside look into the lives, perspectives, and circumstances of Arab women who live in the US. The book alternates between Deya and her mother Isra across time periods. Deya is coming of age at 18 and living with her grandparents. She has no choice but to marry and she’s meeting with potential suitors. She doesn’t want to get married and wants freedom. She is led to believe that her parents died in a car crash but new information and a new person from her past resurfaces and she learns that there is a lot more to her complex family history than she ever knew.
I appreciated how insightful this book was and how it highlighted and shed light on a diverse experience that I don’t have much prior knowledge of. With that said, parts of the book were tricky for me to follow with the intersecting and alternating story lines between mother and daughter. It could be that listening via audio was a bit more difficult to follow. I also found a lot of the story to be super redundant and I do realize that this was the nature of the story - history repeating itself. But because of that, it fell a bit short for me. But I am glad that I read it because this story needed to be told.
Overall rating 3.5, rounded down to 3⭐️ on goodreads.
** spoiler alert **
Katy’s mother passes away and Katy is lost. Their bond was so tight and not only were they mother-daughter, but they were best friends. Katy relies on Carol for everything and she borderline had her to make her difficult choices for her. After all, mother knows what’s best, right? Katy questions her whole life and even her marriage following the loss of her mom. She and Carol had planned a trip to Italy and Katy decides to go and immerses herself in Italy and it’s culture. She even meets someone that has her further questioning her life choices and marriage! And astonishingly, she meets Carol at 30 years old and gets to know her as the young woman who she once was. Will Katy find who she truly is without her mom through this whole surreal and fantastical experience?
I loved the atmosphere and setting of this book. I was a bit troubled by Katy’s super close relationship with her mom. They were so attached that she fell apart after her passing, and I don’t think that level of closeness is healthy. I suppose that’s important to the whole premise of this book, but it didn’t do as much for me. I was also a bit troubled by her budding relationship with the man who she met while she still had a husband back home. I’m just not a fan of the cheating/emotional cheating trope.
Overall rating - 3.25, rounded down to 3⭐️ on goodreads.
Olivia is a nonverbal orphan, trying to piece together where she came from using her mother’s journal and wondering where she really belongs. Where will she go after she leaves Merilance? Then she receives a mysterious letter from a relative who urges her to come home to Gallant. But Gallant is a place that her mother has said she won’t be safe. She has no where else to go and she longs to meet this family that she didn’t know she had. But Gallant is not what she expected at all. In fact, they are surprised when she shows up. Who wrote the letter summoning her to this place and what has become of the long history of Priors who lived and died on the grounds of this place? Moreover, what is beyond the wall?
This book was dark, atmospheric, and macabre. I don’t usually read much YA fantasy, but this one was entertaining to me. I felt like it was a bit of a mash up between Mexican Gothic and Alice in Wonderland. I recommend giving this one a shot.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
This book shares the spellingbinding yet beautiful and courageous story of Clemantine and her teen sister who ran and spent 6 years bouncing between refugee camps following the Rwandan genocide of 1994. To have to witness so much death, cruelty, and devastation at their young age is unthinkable. But their experiences were also sprinkled with moments of kindness. Clemantine and her sister were finally granted asylum in the US which gave them a chance to build new lives for themselves, but they still were not easy. Clemantine struggled with her identity and the discrepancy between her life back where she came from and her new life in America.
This books is based on a true story and this book is thought of as a memory of childhood as a Rwandan Refugee. I am drawn to stories like this one. Strangely beautiful but so, so unimaginably heavy. I am glad to have had the opportunity to learn more about this experience, as I didn’t have much prior knowledge of this event and this message needs to be heard, in my opinion.
Overall rating - 4.5, rounded down to 4⭐️ on goodreads
Henrietta and her husband Lloyd have moved into a new home in Boston. Hen is a functioning adult with bipolar disorder who illustrates children’s books. She and her husband seem to be settling in until they have a dinner party with the next door neighbors. All is going smoothly until a house tour reveals an object that may be linked to an unsolved murder case that Hen happens to have a past obsession with. She cannot shake this and becomes convinced that her next door neighbor is the murderer. What will she do with this knowledge?
I absolutely blew through the audiobook version of this book in one day while doing chores around the house. Without giving too much away, it was riveting all the way through.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
In their 16th year, the girls in this community must go away and purify themselves in what the leaders have coined the “grace year.” During this time, they must rid themselves of their magic. But not all girls will return alive from their grace year. But what’s more dangerous? The elements, the poachers who are ready to steal them away, or each other?
Although tough and gruesome to read at times, I really enjoyed this ya dystopian novel. It even had a hint of romance! Without giving away any details, I really liked the ending!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Cristian is a seventeen year old student living in communist Romania in the 1980s. He wants to be a writer one day, but of course, Romanians aren’t allowed to dream. Rules are imposed on the citizens from every direction and there are citizen spies everywhere. You can’t trust anyone. Even friends and family members betray one another! Cristian is blackmailed into informing on an American diplomat, but he wants nothing more than to expose the pain, devastation, and harsh reality of their lives to the rest of the world.
I blew through this book in 1 day. This book was stunning in all of the best ways. I love historical fiction and this was a highly informative and well-researched page-turner. I was blown away by the hardships of the Romanian people in this time period and I wasn’t aware of the events surrounding the tyranny, citizen informers, and eventual Romanian revolution. I cannot recommend this book enough. I already know it’s going to be one of my top reads of this year.
Overall rating - 5⭐️ glowing stars!
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April was a slower than normal reading and listening month for me, as the whole family came down with Covid and 3 of us are asthmatics. My ears couldn't take my AirPods for my normal listening routines for about 2 weeks out of the month and almost half of the "reading" I do is via audiobooks! So sad! And even though I was sick and you'd think I would have more time to read, I had trouble concentrating and I spent a lot of time caring for my asthmatic kids. Alas, I did get some reading and listening done this month and I'm giving myself some grace!
Here's a snapshot of the books that I read this month -
*BOTM = Book of the Month, ARC = Advanced Reader Copy*
5 ⭐️ Books
4.25 ⭐️ Books
4 ⭐️ Books
3.75 ⭐️ Books
3.5 ⭐️ Books
Want more detailed book reviews? See below!
**Want to ship your first Book of the Month hardcover book for just $5? Be sure to use my referral code when you sign up for your subscription! Skip anytime!**
This family thriller is about the drama, suspense, and devastation around Nick’s violent sexual assault and the extent to which his older brother Tony and sister in law Julia’s go to protect their own. As if it wasn’t enough for Nick to suffer from the embarrassment of being a gay male who is a victim of assault, but his attacker is out on bail and claims that Nick isn’t being truthful of the events that took place that night. What really happened that night? Does Tony have it in him to get revenge on account of what happened to his younger brother who he’s looked out for/been a father figure to his whole life?
This book had a lot of suspense, mystery, and tragedy. I do typically enjoy family dramas and mysteries, but I had a tough time getting invested into this one and I thought it dragged on a bit too long. I did find the ending interesting and enjoyed how everything wrapped up.
Overall Rating - 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️ on Goodreads
Nell’s passion lies in cartography, the study, art, science, or practice of drawing maps and the apple doesn’t fall from the tree as her late mother and now recently deceased father were both cartographers as well. She and her father, Dr. Daniel Young, have had a strained relationship ever since he fired her after an argument over what appeared to be a meaningless map. Now, her father was found dead in his office and that gas station map is coming back to haunt her. Will she be able to uncover the mystery around this map and the true, perhaps dark history about her parents?
This book was a bit of a slow burn for me, as it was a bit academic and I’m not very familiar with cartography, but I did appreciate that it was centered around a topic I’m not as familiar with. I also liked the magical realism/fantasy element in this book. This book also had mystery, thrill, adventure, a hint of rekindled romance.
Overall Rating - 3.75 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️on Goodreads
Another STEMinist novella with a little bit of spice. Hannah finds herself stranded and her arch nemesis is here to the rescue. The question is why does he risk his life to be here for her? Could the be more to Ian than she thought?
This quick read (listen in my case) was cute and kept my attention. It’s an enemies to lovers romance with a female scientist as the leading lady. Being short, this one lacked a lot of depth, but if you like some light romance with a bit of steam, I definitely recommend!
Overal Rating - 4 ⭐️
Emma is asked to return to the grand reopening of the same camp where 3 of her cabin mates mysteriously disappeared into the night during summer camp. Emma takes the opportunity with the hopes of face what’s been haunting her for 15 years. Will she be able to find closure during her time back at Camp Nightingale? Might she be able to learn the truth about what really happened on that fateful evening all of those years ago?
I flew through this one and I think it’s my favorite book by Riley Sager to date. I didn’t expect the twist at all! If you like thrillers, definitely check this one out.
Overall Rating - 4.25 ⭐️, rounded to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
April hasn’t had the easiest life and doesn’t really feel that she is loved or really belongs. She runs away to see what kind of a life she can a better make for herself elsewhere. With a bit of scrappiness, she does manage to get by, but does find herself back on the move after a few poor decisions on more than one occasion. But she also manages to meet some people along her journey (and hold onto some from her past) who do truly care about her and who feel like the “home” that she’s been missing in her life.
Some parts of this story were hard for me to get through, as so many of April’s choices were cringey, but I was intrigued and invested enough to continue to listen to hear how the story ended.
Overall Rating - 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4⭐️ for Goodreads
This book gives us a look into the lives of a teacher and her students at a boarding school for the deaf. There is so much packed into this book! Many hearing impaired individuals, especially young people face the daily struggle of having teachers, parents, school districts, and politicians governing how they will learn, communicate, and what they should do with their bodies. Beyond these struggles, the students in this tale also deal with the challenges of love, finals, teenage rebellion, school struggles, and disagreements with their family members.
This was a highly enlightening read! This book gave me a deep look at what it’s like to be hearing impaired. Through the story, I learned a lot about deaf culture and community. I am so glad that I read this book. I would have liked a more developed ending. I wasn’t really a fan of how this book wrapped up or I would have rated it higher.
Overall Rating - 4⭐️
Ashley’s father is in prison and she doesn’t know what he did to end up there, and her family won’t tell her either. Growing up hasn’t been easy for her, as she’s growing up in poverty and struggling through puberty, relationships, body image, and a strained relationship with her mother. She longs for the day that she can be reunited with her father so that she can feel complete again, but then she finally learns what her father did to end up in prison. Will she be able to come to terms with what he’s done?
While parts of this story were powerful and interesting to listen to, there was definitely some triggering content that felt quite repetitive. Not my favorite read.
Overall Rating - 3.5 ⭐️, rounded down to 3 ⭐️ on Goodreads
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is way ahead of her time as a female in the 1960s. Despite a variety of hardships in her life, she somehow comes out ahead and ends up inspiring and changing the lives of women across America on the cooking show that she stumbles upon, Supper at Six.
I really liked this one a lot. I flew through it. Some parts were quite challenging to read, and there are some triggers to be aware of, but overall, it was quirky and redemptive. I really liked the strong female protagonist with her wit, grit, and perseverance, despite discrimination in the 1960s. This book had it all, heart, history, romance, humor, and more. One of my favorite reads of this year, to date!
Overall Rating - 5⭐️
Intense travel mystery! As the title suggests, there is a death on the Nile. Wealthy and beautiful Linnet Ridgeway is found murdered, shot in the head in cold blood on a river cruise. Who wanted this lovely woman dead. Well it turns out, many did! So whodunit? Christie’s great detective Hercule Poirot is on board and he puzzles through this mystery to figure out the culprit!
While it was tough to keep so many characters straight at the beginning, it got easier as I went along! I really liked the vintage writing tone in this book. It’s the first book that I’ve read by Agatha Christie and it won’t be my last. I totally figured it out by the end and I was so proud of myself! I definitely recommend this fun read.
Overall Rating - 4.25 ⭐️, rounded down to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
Hannah is crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She’s in town for work and they have made things clear that they are just friends. Because after all, Fox has quite the reputation of being a promiscuous player. But the more time she spends with him, the more she finds herself drawn to his personality. As friends, Fox gives her some pointers on how to catch her boss’ eye, but she finds herself falling more for Fox and her feelings for her boss are starting to run cold. As for Fox, he finds himself drawn to Hannah. She’s different than other girls. He may want to spend the rest of his life with her. Who is he becoming?
This one was a bit spicier than my liking and it lacked some substance. Some of the themes were really repetitive and for me, it could have been shorter. However, I was invested enough to finish it to see how it ended.
Overall Rating - 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
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As I mentioned, May was another slow reading and listening month for me!! In fact, it was the slowest reading month for me over a year! May was completely insane with 2 trips out of town visiting family, swimming lessons for the kids starting 2x a week, the bulk of our homeschool wrapping up, and it was a busy month for me and my working from home book lady job. Hopefully I can get some more reading in now that summer is here and our homeschool is winding down a bit.
Here's a snapshot of the books that I read this month -
*BOTM = Book of the Month, ARC = Advanced Reader Copy*
4.5 ⭐️ Books
4.25 ⭐️ Books
4 ⭐️ Books
3.75 ⭐️ Books
3.5 ⭐️ Books
3.25 ⭐️ Books
Want more detailed book reviews? See below!
**Want to ship your first Book of the Month hardcover book for just $5? Be sure to use my referral code when you sign up for your subscription! Skip anytime!**
Mary Philpott ponders life, death, sickness, health, and life’s many challenges, in this powerful memoir, packed with depth, hope, and even some humor sprinkled in.
I really liked the humor and storytelling in this book! It made an excellent audiobook. I was able to relate to some of her stories of motherhood and life experiences and she shed light on some other experiences in a way that was enlightening!
Overall rating - 4 ⭐️
Leo’s life gets a bit turned around when he stumbles upon some evidence that his wife Emma (or is that her real name?) really isn’t who she says she is. Why has she hidden so much from him over all of these years? Is she being faithful to him? He thought that they were in love and happy, especially now that the worst of her illness seems to be behind them. Will he learn who the real Emma is?
I was invested in this story enough to finish, but it seemed to drag longer than it needed to and while there were some unexpected twists, they weren’t earth-shattering ones. The ending was interesting, but it fell a bit flat for me. I found myself putting this one down more than I had hoped.
Overall rating - 3.75 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
Effie is hurt when her parents got divorced, seemingly out of nowhere 2 years ago. If Mimi and her dad can get divorced when they seemed so happy, she questions her entire childhood. Now, her dad has a hot new, much younger girlfriend who seems hell bent on ruining Effie’s family, leaving her out of the house-cooling party to say goodbye to her beloved Greenoaks Victorian country style childhood home. Even after she receives an “anti-invitation,” she declines the event, but realizes that her treasured Russian nesting dolls are in the home and she has to go back to retrieve them. While sneaking around, she overhears some things and discovers a lot about her family members. She even runs into her old flame who is still as funny and dashing as ever. What will she do with this new information? Can she reconcile with her father?
This book had it all, family drama, a bit of mystery and intrigue, deception, redemption, and a hint of romance too. I really enjoyed this listen!
Overall rating - 4.25 ⭐️, rounded down to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
A pageant, Tita Rosie’s kitchen, and a murder? As you can imagine, drama ensues as this story unfolds. This is book 2 in a series. I liked Arsenic and Adobo a bit better than this one.
This book was a cozy mystery, but I wasn’t super invested in the storyline. It’s a few days post-reading it as I’m writing this and I’m having trouble remembering what happened. Decently entertaining and light, though. If you need a palate cleanser, perhaps this can be your pick.
Overall rating - 3.25⭐️, rounded down to 3⭐️ for Goodreads
Without giving too much away, this book was the perfect combination of mystery, gothic horror/haunting (but not too scary), intrigue, politics, revenge, culture, forbidden romance, and history wrapped up into one page-turner of a book.
Once I got into the story, I couldn’t put this book down! This one will stay with me for a while! I love when books are multifaceted and I’m so happy to seeing Mexican representation in this phenomenal tale. Even better that the author herself is Mexican-American. This one would also make a great fall/Halloween read.
Overall rating - 4.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 5 ⭐️ for Goodreads
Holly Darling, granddaughter of Wendy from the Peter Pan story has been through a lot in her lifetime, suffering much tragedy. Her children are challenged as well, to say the least. When one of them disappears, her mind immediately goes to Peter Pan, someone from her dark past. Will she be able to find her daughter again? To what extent will she sacrifice what she has to protect both of her children?
Interesting dark retelling of Peter Pan. Be sure to check out the trigger warnings for this book before reading. While I was relatively entertained by the story, it was really an outrageous tale, including lots of far-fetched story elements. Parts of the story were confusing and a bit difficult for me to follow too, but perhaps that’s because I’m not 100% solid on the original Peter Pan story. So while I have mixed reviews of this book, I think many others would enjoy it.
Overall rating 3.75 ⭐️, rounded up to 4⭐️ for Goodreads
Two similar teen massacre crimes, 15 years apart. 1 sole survivor at each event. This is seems vaguely familiar. Could it be the same killer? We hear from 3 perspectives in this novel - sole survivor of the original case, the brother of the original suspect who has his faith in his brother and is convinced that he was not the killer, and the FBI agent who is trying to piece together the puzzle to solve both of the cases.
I predicted the twist pretty early on in the storyline, but this was still an entertaining murder mystery/crime thriller. Nothing super earth shattering, but still fun. I listened to it from start to finish one one day!
Overall rating - 3.75 ⭐️, rounded up to 4⭐️ for Goodreads
This story follows two different families from Pakistan and Iraq who both decide to immigrate to America. We get a peek inside their cultures and we see a glimpse at what it’s like to be Muslim in modern America.
Admittedly, I was a bit lost while listening to this book. Perhaps it would have been a better one to read a physical copy of the book. While this one is described as hysterically funny, it also had a lot of dark and emotional parts. Bits of humor peeked through the heavy stuff, but I wouldn’t describe this as a funny book by any means. I liked that this book was insightful of a different experience than my own, however it parts were very difficult for me to follow.
Overall rating 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️ on Goodreads.
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My reading life picked up a LOT in the month of June and I'm not mad about it! I had a lot of opportunities to especially listen while preparing for travels and while traveling in the car or airplane! I hope I can keep up this trend!
Here's a snapshot of the books that I read this month -
*BOTM = Book of the Month, ARC = Advanced Reader Copy*
5.0 ⭐️ Books
4.5 ⭐️ Books
4.25 ⭐️ Books
4 ⭐️ Books
3.75 ⭐️ Books
3.5 ⭐️ Books
3.25 ⭐️ Books
Want more detailed book reviews? See below!
**Want to ship your first Book of the Month hardcover book for just $5? Be sure to use my referral code when you sign up for your subscription! Skip anytime!**
Alexis and Daniel meet and they couldn’t be more different from one another. Are they well matched? That’s the question of the hour. What they do know is that their chemistry is undeniable. But will they ever be able to make a relationship work?
This book had it all for me! Depth, romance, just the right amount of spice, family drama, a woman in stem. I was rooting for Alexis and Daniel to make it the entire time, despite how different their worlds were.
Overall rating - 4.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 5⭐️ for Goodreads
Gavin is a Major League Baseball player and there’s trouble in his marriage to Thea when the truth comes out that she has faked orgasms their entire marriage. When the truth comes out, emotions rise, and all of their marital woes come to a head. Thea asks for a divorce but Gavin intends to fight for their marriage. Enter the Bromance Book Club, a secret club of men who read romance novels to help them win with their ladies. Will the men and the help of the Bromance book club save Gavin’s marriage?
There’s no denying that I like a little bit of depth in my romance reads and this one has it, along with humor, a bit of steam, and one of the most unique premises I’ve seen in a romance novel. I cannot wait to devour the rest of this series.
Overall rating - 4.25 ⭐️, rounded down to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
Braden and Liv team up together to try to expose the truth about her ex-boss who is a sleazy scumbag. As they work together on this mission, they discover that there may be a bit of chemistry between them!
Another great installment in the Bromance Book Club series! I was invested in the story and I had to root for their romance!
Overall rating - 3.75 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
Noah and Alexis have been best friends for years and when Alexis’ world is overturned after being approached by a woman claiming to her sister, who also happens to have a life-changing request. Noah has been in love with Alexis for a while and when she turns to him for help, he has to grapple with the decision to pursue something further at the risk of ruining their long term friendship.
This was book 3 in the Bromance Book Club series and I really enjoyed it. It had heavy components, plus humor and romance. I like when the romance novels that I read have a little bit of depth.
Overall rating - 4⭐️
This book catalogs the story of Alice and her eventual decline as she loses her memory over time as dementia slowly overtakes her. Buy one thing that brings her and many other recreational swimmers some solace and routine of daily laps at the pool, until one day, they couldn’t any longer.
While a bit sad and depressing, the author’s insights, observations, and descriptions/prose in this book had me captivated throughout.
Overall rating 3.75 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
** spoiler alert **
Book 4 in the Bromance Book Club series shares the love story of Vlad (aka, “the Russian”) and childhood friend, Elena who were married out of convenience. They married in order for Elena to escape a dangerous situation and move to America. Vlad is a professional hockey player who becomes injured in the game and Elena chooses to get involved in helping him heal, after all, it’s the least she can do for him after all he did for her. As they spend time together, they learn that there may be more between them than just a “marriage of convenience.”
This was probably my favorite of the Bromance Book Club books so far. I haven’t read any stories like this one and it was a unique take on a marriage of convenience and how the two really write their own beautiful love story in the end amidst Vlad writing a romance novel of his own!
Overall rating - 4 ⭐️
This novel tells the story of the Sullivans, a complex family with loads of individual AND family drama. The restaurant, “Sullivans” is an integral theme of the story, but so much has happened in the last few months for the members of the family who run it, that it may never be the same!
I personally love family dramas, character driven stories, and literary fiction, that this one held my attention! While some feel like not much happened in this book, I saw a lot of character and family growth and I really appreciated that. Some may not like the underlying political lean in this book, but that didn’t bother me, in fact I think it added to the story and made it that much more relatable for me.
Overall rating - 4.25⭐️, rounded to 4⭐️ for Goodreads
Calla’s mother and father split up when she was young and at 26, she learns that her father is sick and in need of assistance in the Alaskan wild. She decides to go back with the hopes of connecting with her father who she barely knows at all. Arriving in Alaska was a bit of a culture shock for her, but she does find herself bonding with her father in her time spent there and she even meets Jonah, an Alaskan pilot, who grows on her over time.
This book held my attention somewhat, but it did seemed to drag on longer than it needed to, in my opinion.. It reminded me of our time visiting there a few years ago on a cruise. The romance in the story was a bit lackluster for me, as well. I did however like the setting and atmospheric vibe for a story set in the remote Alaskan wild. I haven’t decided if I will read the others in the series.
Overall rating - 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
Inspired by true events in our nation’s history, this book tells the story of a brave black nurse, Civil, in post-segregation Alabama who seeks justice for the wrongdoing against her patients, ages 11 and 13.
Heavy, but beautiful and powerful tale of a tragedy and the fight a brave woman went through to make things right and to seek justice for those without a voice. This one moved me to tears, which doesn’t happen often for me. A testament to the power of this story. Read trigger warnings before tackling this one. This one was particularly excellent via audiobook.
Overall rating - 5⭐️
A touching memoir about Tunde’s life and her journey to her current self today. She’s been through a lot of loss, experienced tragedy and grief, as well as personal transformation. Her story is so interesting and moving!
Being an avid Peloton user and a big fan of Tunde and her classes, powerful messages, and her energy, I was excited to give this one a listen. It was really neat to hear about her life story and how she got to where she is today. She’s such an inspiration!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Lily and Leo unexpectedly split years ago but meet again when he and his crew show up to embark on one of her fake treasure hunt adventures in the Canyonlands of Utah. It turns out that there is more to their history than they no the realized and perhaps there still could be something to be rekindled between them. Their treasure hunt takes a turn for the worst and they find themselves embarking on what seems to be a real treasure hunt, compliments of Lily’s notorious (and late) treasure hunter father, Duke Wilder. Will they find real treasure? And can they get back past hurts and find love once again?
While I loved the atmosphere and setting in the Canyonlands, the romance in this book was a bit lacking for me. I do like that they incorporated some mystery, thrill, and unexpected surprises though. I give them credit for trying something completely different. Mildly entertaining, but seemed a bit all over the place.
Overall rating - 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads
This book is set in Bright Leaf, North Carolina, the tobacco capital of the south, in historical 1946/post-war period. Maddie is an up and coming seamstress charged with the task of making gowns for the town’s most decorated and influential women, the tobacco wives, the wives of the big tobacco executives in the tow. When Maddie uncovers some surprising and dangerous truth about the big tobacco company and tobacco’s effects on health, particularly the women, mothers, and babies of the women who she is starting to form deep bonds amongst. The tobacco company reigns supreme and her town depends on it for jobs, income, and the booming economy that it has created. Can she expose the truth? Who can she trust?
The overall theme of this story is fascinating, but the book did seem to drag on longer than it needed to, in my opinion. I did enjoy the atmosphere of the setting and the complex nuances of the issue at hand.
Overall rating - 3.75⭐️, rounded up to 4⭐️ for Goodreads
Elementary school teacher Taylor and bounty hunter Myles form an unexpected bond after Taylor and her brother find a corpse in their vacation rental. The duo team up to try to solve the case. Myles is shocked to the core by how Taylor has made him feel after just a few days. She’s different from any other girl he’s ever been around. Could he change his ways to be with her and give her what she wants in a relationship (and in bed)? 🌶 🥵
This mystery/thriller/romcom had a lot going on, and way more spice than I’m used to. While I give the author credit for trying something new, this book lacked depth, in my opinion. A friend and I concluded that sometimes she wrote in heavy steam just for the sake of having extra spice in the book. Some may love that! I just don’t know if that’s for me.
Overall rating - 3.5⭐️, rounded up to 4⭐️ on Goodreads
** spoiler alert **
Macy is planning to marry her current boyfriend, a man who is a father already and who is financially stable, but something seems missing there. Then she runs into her first love, Elliot, a boy who has now blossomed into a man. Someone she hasn’t spoken to in a decade when things ended between them right before they were going to take their relationship to the next level. With alternating timelines between now and Macy and Elliot’s time together as kids, growing their friendship into something more as they bonded in her cabin closet over books and words. What will Macy do with all of these new feelings? Which relationship will she choose?
I enjoyed the depth of this romance novel. Normally I’m not a fan of love triangles, but the fact that Macy was in a relationship when she ran into Elliot didn’t bother me as much because she quickly realized what her fate should be and respected her original relationship while she figured things out. I also liked seeing Elliot and Macy grow together in the flashbacks and the twist was unexpected and added another interesting layer to their love story.
Overall rating - 4.25⭐️, rounded down to 4⭐️ for Goodreads
Recovering addict Mallory is given a chance to take a nanny job in an affluent area. She’s given her own space and opportunity to continue fitness training with nightly runs and even some swims in the family pool. She bonds with her charge, Teddy. Teddy loves to draw but in a short time, his drawings transform into something more sinister. What is really going on in his head? Is something supernatural going on? Can Mallory get down to the bottom of this mystery (with the help of an interesting neighbor and the hot landscaper)?
Some of the twists in this book were unexpected, but I was able to figure out a small part of the plot. I enjoyed it overall and it was a mysterious, atmospheric change of pace from my recent romance kick!
Overall rating - 4⭐️
Persephone (Percy) and Sam go way back. Their friendship as kids blossomed into something more and then things fell apart in one weekend. They bonded over books and working in his parents’ restaurant together. Now, she’s been invited to return for Sam’s mother’s funeral and sees Sam once again. Is there still chemistry between them? Is there a chance they can reconcile what they lost a decade ago?
I finished another book that traces two young lovers back to their connection stemming from childhood. I think Love and Other Words did it better and with more twists whereas this one was a bit predictable. I still enjoyed it. The first half dragged a bit for me, but the second half did pick up in my opinion. Another entertaining listen!
Overall rating 3.75 ⭐️, rounded up to 4⭐️ for Goodreads
Emma Blair falls in love with and marries her high school sweet heart, Jesse who later becomes a helicopter pilot. Very early in his career, he goes missing in action on a job and Emma doesn't know what to do with herself. She moves home and takes on a new job in an attempt to put her life back together. She then runs into an old friend, Sam and she gives herself permission to try her hand at love again. She finds herself getting engaged again and then Jesse is found and she has to make a choice between her husband, Jesse and her new fiance, Sam. What will she do? Who will she choose to spend the rest of her life with?
I absolutely blew through this book. I was very invested in the story to find out which love Emma would pick in the end. I had my suspicions who it would be, but I wasn't sure. I couldn't imagine being in her situation and loving two very different men from two very different times in her life. I highly recommend this one!
Overall rating - 4.25 ⭐️
Chloe has a near death experience and chooses to write a "get a life" list as she feels like she needs to learn how to "life a little," even despite her chronic illness. She decides that she needs a teacher to help her learn how to "be bad," and her apartment supervisor, Red might be the person for the job. They really are polar opposites, but you know they say that opposites attract! But Red holds his own secrets too, secrets like why he doesn't let anyone see his talent in art, and what he has against wealthy socialites. Will he be able to help her with her "Get a life," list?
I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this book and look forward to checking out the other books in this series when the mood strikes. There was a lot of humor, a good amount of spice, and enough intrigue to keep me interested in this light, fun romance novel.
Overall rating - 4 ⭐️
Without giving too much away in this dystopian tale, the Handmaid's Tale is the story of a handmaid, Offred who had a former life with a husband and daughter who she loved but had her rights stripped away when she was captured and forced to live in a home with a Commander. In her new arrangement, her only real job is to get pregnant by and hold the baby for the Commander in a new age of declining live births. Her old life is gone. Will she survive this new one and live out her new purpose?
To be absolutely honest, this was a very tough read for me. I'm not sure if it was the timing of reading this story with our current state of affairs in the USA or what, but it took a long time for me to get through this one, as it was a bit of a slog. I did wait to watch the Hulu television series until I read this book and I have to say that it seems to be one that I will like the television production better.
Overall rating 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads.
Amber envies the life of socialite Daphne Parrish. She believes that she deserves all of the good things that Daphne has been blessed with, including all of the money and power that seems to be handed to her on a silver platter. So she devises a plan to get close to the Parrishes, both Daphne, her husband Jackson, and their two girls. Watch this con artist make move after move to ultimately make her way closer to the "prize," that she desires. But what secrets are those Parrishes keeping behind closed doors?
This thriller had me captivated, but some parts were a bit triggering for me. I guessed the twist, but it was still entertaining to me as I was invested in the story about how Amber and Daphne's drama would play out!
Overall rating - 4 ⭐️
Hannah Jones enters her first academic year at Oxford and is quickly enraptured by her roomate April Coutts-Cliveden who literally has it all. How did she really get into Oxford? Was it her brains or her father's pocketbook? April is a good friend at times, but a vicious prankster at other times. April and Hannah form a close bond with an inner circle of friends but it doesn't take long for April to form some enemies. Soon, April is dead and her friends are left reeling. Hannah presents her account and evidence against a creepy porter, John Neville who has had several close encounters with her. He seems like the most likely candidate as the person to have killed April. But several years later, he has died in prison, holding to his innocence all along. A another pesky journalist approaches Hannah with new evidence pointing to Neville's innocence and it leaves Hannah questioning her past and sets her on a journey to find the real truth about what happened all of those years ago!
It took a little bit to get into this one but after that point, it quickly had me hooked and guessing at every turn on who killed April. I ended up being surprised by the ending! I was highly entertained and enraptured by the academic setting of this book and the relationships among the main characters. Definitely check this one out, especially if you are a fan of Ruth Ware!
Overall rating - 4.25 ⭐️
Rachel is fired from her luxury hotel job for something that was completely out of her control. She is a single mom and at a standstill, trying to figure out what to do next. It's clear that the father of her child isn't serious about his relationship with her or her daughter and there's not much left for her, living at home with her mom. She decides to make a big change and see where life takes her.
I did like this one more than float plan. Not sure why, though. Maybe I was a bit more invested in a story about a single mom trying to make it and find love. It was really interesting to see how Rachel chose to take a chance on a new job opportunity and was empowered to help build a new hotel while meeting someone new. It did lack a little bit of depth for me though, but entertaining for a few days' listen!
Overall rating - 3.75 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads.
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