If there's a book that needs to make your TBR for the summer, let this one be it. Every Summer After, by Carley Fortune, was simply magical. If you're a fan of the friends to lovers/second chance at love trope(s), you don't want to skip out on this book. Percy Fraser's parents buy a lake cottage on Barry's Bay where she spends her summers & holidays growing up. She befriends her neighbors at the lake, Sam & Charlie Florek, and develops an especially sweet friendship with Sam. They turn 18 and go their separate ways only for a family tragedy to bring them back together 12 years later. The story toggles back and forth between ... Read More
To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne
Oh, my heart. To Sir, With Love, by Lauren Layne, was such a lighthearted and charming read! A precious palate cleanser that made my rom com loving heart swell with happiness. As the author noted, this story is a modern day retelling of You've Got Mail, so if you're a fan of that movie (which I adore!), you'll definitely want to read this STAT! Gracie Cooper is a romantic at heart. Perpetually happy and optimistic, she looks for love on a blind dating app and is met with a friendship instead. Witty banter ensues between Gracie and her "sir"....could she really be falling in love with someone she's never met (did I mention he's ... Read More
Tampa, by Alissa Nutting
What did I just read? Tampa, by Alissa Nutting, made me want to bathe myself in sanitizer. I'm just going to share my honest thoughts here because I can't rate it. I don't even know where to begin. Proceed with caution. Celeste is a 26-year-old eighth grade teacher whose secret desire is to have a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy. She's a beautiful, seemingly happily married woman to everyone on the outside, but we quickly (and graphically) learn that she's the worst kind of predator. She's a closet pedophile who romanticizes and justifies her sick and twisted obsession with minor boys. The story follows Celeste ... Read More
Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus
I kept seeing recommendations for Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus, everywhere I looked. Admittedly this didn't sound like the type of book I'd usually reach for, but I figured I'd at least make an attempt...and oh my word. What a pleasant, captivating surprise! It's the early 1960's in California where our main character, Elizabeth Zott, works as a chemist on an all male team. Due to the era in which she lived, there weren't many opportunities for Elizabeth to flourish in her field and she finds herself reluctantly starring as the TV host of a cooking show geared toward housewives. Elizabeth is a single mom determined to prove ... Read More
No Exit, by Taylor Adams
I'm a huge fan of all things suspense. Stories like No Exit, by Taylor Adams, are typically the kind of books I gravitate toward. And when I read the blurb for this one, I knew I couldn't pass it up. Darby Thorne is driving through Colorado on her way to Utah when she gets caught in a blizzard. She's forced off the road and into a rest stop where she stays to wait out the storm with four other strangers. While outside of the rest stop building, she happens upon a van in which she sees a little girl's hand reaching out of a locked cage. Darby is forced to start questioning the strangers at the rest stop....to whom does the van belong? ... Read More
The Night She Went Missing, by Kristen Bird
If you're looking for a domestic suspense novel, this might be right up your alley. The Night She Went Missing, by Kristen Bird, really intrigued me. And while parts of this novel were a little hit & miss, overall it was an enjoyable read. If you're a fan of Big Little Lies, this one was written in a similar style. The story starts of pretty strong when Emily, a senior in high school at a prestigious private school, goes missing. She's out at a party with her friends one night and is nowhere to be found the next morning nor weeks after. The story is told from multiple POVs where we learn character secrets and lies....lots of ... Read More
In Five Years, by Rebecca Serle
" I saw what was coming, but I did not see what it would mean". - In Five Years Okay, Rebecca Serle. You have my attention. In Five Years might be one of my favorite books yet. Simply beautiful in every way I never expected. While I'm sure I'm probably the last one to pick up a copy of this book, I'd be remiss not to tell you how much I loved it...because I did. My eyes are still red and the pages of the last chapter or two, tear-stained. Dannie is a corporate lawyer who plans out every detail of her life and has her future all mapped out. Everything she knows is upended one night when she falls asleep and seemingly wakes up five ... Read More
Forever Interrupted, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Oh, Taylor Jenkins Reid. She's gone and done it again. Well, actually, she went and did it as Forever Interrupted is her debut novel. And what a debut it is! Heartbreakingly beautiful, this one got me all in my feels. Elsie and Ben were only married for a short time before he was tragically killed in an accident. Elsie meets Ben's mother, Susan, for the first time in the days that follow his death. Ben never told Susan about Elsie and their post death encounter is contentious to say the least. In the chapters that follow their meeting, the novel alternates between past and present giving us a glimpse into Elsie and Ben's ... Read More
The Maidens, by Alex Michaelides
I started the month with The Maidens, by Alex Michaelides because the premise sounded intriguing. I love a well written psychological thriller and fully anticipated that this one would check all the boxes for me. Hmmmm...where do I start?! Mariana is a group therapist who is called to Cambridge by her niece, Zoe, when her friend is found murdered on campus. Mariana originally goes back to her alma mater to provide a source of support for niece, but becomes involved with the murder investigation and the drama surrounding her prime suspect, professor Edward Fosca. Determined to prove he's the murderer, Mariana is relentless in her ... Read More
April 2022 Reading Wrap-Up
Between family visitors, overnight guests, a birthday party, and a brand new puppy, I was certain I wouldn't have any time to read. Consider me pleasantly surprised. I ended up reading six books again this month. One literary fiction, one psychological thriller, a dystopian suspense, a coming of age story, one contemporary fiction, and a fantasy/sci-fi/magical realism story. Here's a quick wrap-up of all my April reads (click on the links for a more detailed review of each book). My least favorite book of the month was Early Morning Riser, by Katherine Heiny. I just don't love a character heavy story without a real arc and this one ... Read More
