I've been on a bit of a reading kick with a foodie theme this month, so it seemed fitting to continue the trend with The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, by Rachel Linden. The book blurb sums this one up perfectly..."An uplifting novel about a heartbroken young pie maker who is granted a magical second chance to live the life she didn't choose". Swoon. Oh my word how I ADORED this book. One of my favorite comfort reads this year. Right off the bat, you need to know that I LOVE magical realism. It's one of my favorite genres, especially when done well. And this one is definitely that. One Italian Summer meets This Time Tomorrow meets The … [Read more...] about The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, by Rachel Linden
lifestyle
Very Sincerely Yours, by Kerry Winfrey
I absolutely adored Waiting for Tom Hanks, so when I saw that Ms. Winfrey had written yet another rom-com, I knew I had to read it STAT. Very Sincerely Yours, by Kerry Winfrey was just the cutest rom com! Teddy Phillips is a thirty-something woman working at a vintage toy store and just dumped by her longtime boyfriend. She writes into the host of a popular kids show, Everett's Place, for advice and comfort. Everett St. James, the show's host, is drawn to the letters he's receiving, both honest and vulnerable. He and Teddy, aka "Theodora", write each other back and forth forming an unlikely relationship while never having met....until … [Read more...] about Very Sincerely Yours, by Kerry Winfrey
The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living, by Louise Miller
Something about the title of this book screamed "Hallmark Movie!!!" to me, so I had to pick up my own copy and see if my thoughts were spot on. The City Baker's Guide to Country Living, by Louise Miller was equal parts endearing a charming and I'm SO glad I finally read it! Olivia Rawlings is an executive pastry chef at a Boston dinner club. After she inadvertently starts a fire in the club with her baked Alaska dish, Olivia relocates to Guthrie, Vermont and lands a job baking at the Sugar Maple Inn. Livvy and her dog, Salty, move into the sugarhouse on the inn's property and immerse themselves in the small town life. She becomes close … [Read more...] about The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living, by Louise Miller
The Simplicity of Cider, by Amy E. Reichert
The Simplicity of Cider, by Amy E. Reichert has been on my TBR for a minute and I figured it was the perfect time of the year to (finally) pick it up. I'm so glad I did! Sanna Lund and her dad, Einars, live on their family apple orchard in Door County, WI. While the business is struggling, Sanna stays devoted to making cider and tending to the orchard alongside her dad. Developers are more than interested in buying the orchard and turning it into a theme park, but the idea to Einars and Sanna is unthinkable. Einars hires Isaac Banks, a handsome father from California, for summer help on the orchard. He moves onto the land with his … [Read more...] about The Simplicity of Cider, by Amy E. Reichert
Eliza Starts a Rumor, by Jane L. Rosen
After a month of mostly average reads, I was on the hunt for something cozy and refreshing. Cue Eliza Starts a Rumor, by Jane L. Rosen. I accidentally stumbled upon this one on Amazon and it sounded like a good palate cleanser, so I picked up a copy and got to reading. Eliza Hunt is the founding admin on an FB group page called The Hudson Valley Ladies' Bulletin Board. She's also agoraphobic and rarely, if ever, gets out of her house now that her twins have gone off to college. Her bulletin board is her baby, her lifeline to the outside world. When she catches wind of a rival group board spilling all the tea and gaining all the members … [Read more...] about Eliza Starts a Rumor, by Jane L. Rosen
October 2022 Book Review Wrap-Up
October ended up being a pretty average month in the book department. I had a busy month full of work + friend and family obligations...plus a quick weekend getaway with my husband...so I was only able to squeeze in four books. I was excited about my spooky season TBR, but ended up feeling a little disappointed by the month's end. Not quite as stellar as I was hoping it would be, but every month can't be a home run! Click on the links below for the standalone reviews of each title. My most favorite book of the month was The Housemaid, by Freida McFadden. I didn't really know what to expect going into this one and it definitely … [Read more...] about October 2022 Book Review Wrap-Up
And There He Kept Her, by Joshua Moehling
Talk about finishing spooky season with a BANG. And There He Kept Her, by Joshua Moehling was more like an incredibly disturbing train wreck. I couldn't look away. I found this one randomly scrolling down the rabbit hole of Goodreads and the premise sounded intriguing, so I figured, "why not?!" In the small town of Sandy Lake, Minnesota, two teens break into the home of the elderly Emmett Burr in search of prescription drugs. What was supposed to be a quick in-and-out smash-and-grab turned into a fatal night for the teens. Emmett goes to great lengths to keep his darkest secrets from being exposed when he catches the teens in action … [Read more...] about And There He Kept Her, by Joshua Moehling
All Good People Here, by Ashley Flowers
I'm a big fan and avid listener of the Crime Junkie podcast. When I found out the host, Ashley Flowers, wrote a thriller....well, I couldn't put it on my TBR fast enough. All Good People Here was one of my most anticipated fall reads! In a nutshell straight from the book blurb, "In the propulsive debut novel from the host of the #1 true crime podcast "Crime Junkie," a journalist uncovers her hometown’s dark secrets when she becomes obsessed with the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbor—and the disappearance of another girl twenty years later." Loved the strong start to this debut novel. Hooked me from the first chapter. The rest … [Read more...] about All Good People Here, by Ashley Flowers
Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch
Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch has been on my TBR for quite a while. I love a good sci-fi thriller with a multiverse element, so I figured this one would be right up my alley. Without giving too much away because this book is impossible to review without all the spoilers, Dark Matter is a book about a guy named Jason Dessen who's living a normal life...until he isn't. Married for 15 years with a loving wife and child, Jason meets up with a friend at a bar one night, is abducted when he leaves to go home, and wakes up in an alternate reality. Or is he really waking up from a 15 year dream? Dark Matter was a mind bending, super trippy, … [Read more...] about Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch
The Housemaid, by Freida McFadden
Spooky season started off with a BANG and I couldn't have been happier to make this book my first read of the month. The Housemaid, by Frieda McFadden was a bingeworthy read I couldn't put down! Millie is an ex-con who lands a job as a live-in housekeeper for the wealthy Winchester family. Nina Winchester's temperament is unpredictable at best...she's hot one minute and cold the next. Her behavior toward Millie is contentious in one breath and over the top nice in another, but Millie is so desperate for a stable job that she reluctantly tolerates Nina's erratic mood swings. It certainly helps that Nina is rumored to suffer from mental … [Read more...] about The Housemaid, by Freida McFadden
September 2022 Reading Wrap-Up
Well September was a truly banner month for me in terms of book picks. So many great reads this month! I unintentionally picked quite a few debut novels which was a fun surprise. And while the month didn't start off super promising, it definitely ended with a bang. Click on the links below for the standalone reviews of each title. The book that was worth all the hype and then some this month is most definitely I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy. Raw and honest and so well written. I knew almost nothing about the author before downloading her memoir (other than that she was an actress on Nickelodeon's iCarly) and I walked away … [Read more...] about September 2022 Reading Wrap-Up
The Perfect Child, by Lucinda Berry
You guys. This book. The Perfect Child, by Lucinda Berry messed me up. Let's just get right into it. 6-year-old Janie (who looks more like she's a toddler because of malnourishment) is found wandering alone & abandoned in a parking lot and covered in blood. She's taken to the hospital for treatment and when it's time for her to be discharged, she's released into the foster care system. She's adpoted by her attending surgeon, Christopher, and his wife Hannah and their idyllic life changes in a heartbeat. Janie isn't the perfect child they'd always wanted and the nightmare begins. Let me just say right off the bat that this book … [Read more...] about The Perfect Child, by Lucinda Berry
The Dead Romantics, by Ashley Poston
Where do I even start?! The Dead Romantics, by Ashley Poston was such a great read! Perfect palate cleanser and just the right amount of heartwarming, hopeful, humorous, and romantic. My heart (insert tear filled eyes emoji here). Florence Day is a ghostwriter for a famous author. She's late for a deadline she absolutely won't meet and asks her (very handsome) new editor, Benji Andor, for an extension. After her request is denied, Florence is certain her career as an author will be stopped dead in it's tracks. To make matters worse, she gets a phone call that her beloved father has passed and she has to return back home to her small … [Read more...] about The Dead Romantics, by Ashley Poston
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
I kept seeing a lot of buzz about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Withces, by Sangu Mandanna and since I just decorated for Halloween, I figured it was the perfect time to get me into the spirit of spooky season. In this book, Mika is one of the few (very secret) witches in Britain. She keeps her powers hidden and stays far from other witches so as not to draw attention to herself and her powers. Orphaned as a young child and raised by strangers, Mika knows what it's like to feel alone. When she's invited to help teach three young witches how to harness their powers, Mika starts to learn what it feels like to belong and find love … [Read more...] about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy
After seeing this memoir raved about on all the platforms, I caved and downloaded I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy. The author narrates her story so I made sure to listen to this one on Audible. I didn't really know much about Jennette McCurdy prior to hearing about her memoir. I found out she was an actress on Nickelodeon's iCarly, but I never personally watched that one (a little past my time!!)...so that was all I really knew going into this book. What I learned after reading it, OH MY WORD. I was completely riveted by her story. First off, Jennette is an incredible writer. The book is fast paced and candid and I was … [Read more...] about I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy
Wrong Place, Wrong Time – by Gillian Mcallister
A few friends recommended Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian Mcallister and I'm SO glad they did. This was such a fun read! Jen is waiting up for her son late one night when she witnesses him commit murder. The victim dies in their driveway, Todd (her son) is arrested, and Jen's life starts to crumble. She goes to bed and wakes up the next morning, only it's not tomorrow...it's the day before she witnessed the murder. Every time Jen falls asleep, she wakes up to find that she's traveling further and further back in time only to learn more about her son, her husband, and what led to that fatal night in their driveway. Can she stop the … [Read more...] about Wrong Place, Wrong Time – by Gillian Mcallister
The Measure, by Nikki Erlick
I don't even know what made me pick up this book, but OH MY WORD. The Measure, by Nikki Erlick is one of the most thought provoking books I've read in a loooooong time! One morning, everyone in the world ages 22 + wakes up to find a little wooden box on their doorstep and no one knows how they got there. This global phenomenon has everyone wondering what the boxes are for. Each box contains a string...some are long, some are short....and after this story makes the news, it's determined that the strings in each box represent the measure of their recipient's life (how long they'll live). Everyone who has a box is left with the decision … [Read more...] about The Measure, by Nikki Erlick
Lease on Love, by Falon Ballard
I needed a palate cleanser after my last read, so I opted for a rom com and picked up Lease on Love, by Falon Ballard. Good gravy, I'm SO glad I did! In Lease on Love, Sadie has recently been fired from her job and needs a new place to live. After accidentally accepting what she thought was a "date" on a roommate finding app, Sadie finds herself with a new home (gorgeous brownstone!) and roommate, Jack. While Sadie and Jack and two very different people, they find themselves forming a great friendship....and eventually romance :) If you enjoy a predictable roommate to lovers trope with lots of f bombs and tons of humor, I think … [Read more...] about Lease on Love, by Falon Ballard
Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson
Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson has been on my TBR for a while, so I was really excited to pick it up and finally give it a read. A beautiful debut novel. Black Cake follows two adult siblings, Byron & Benny, who receive an inheritance from their late mother, Eleanore Bennett. Eleanor leaves behind a black cake (family recipe/tradition) and an audio recording for her children who haven't spoken to each other in eight years. Eleanore's audio message leaves Byron & Benny trying to understand who their mother was as they follow her story that spans across decades. Family secrets, unexpected revelations, and so much more. I … [Read more...] about Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson
August 2022 Wrap-Up
I guess I was in the mood for dark and twisted this month because the bulk of my books were psychological thrillers. I'm not too sad about it though because they were all pretty entertaining, some more than others. The few that didn't fall into that genre were fantastic so overall August was a great month for reading! Click on the links below for the standalone reviews of each title. My favorite book this month was written by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Maybe in Another Life was so beautiful. Of course, when it comes to TJR I'm very biased. I absolutely love the way she writes her characters and tells their stories and this one was no … [Read more...] about August 2022 Wrap-Up
The Last Housewife, by Ashley Winstead
I've had The Last Housewife, by Ashley Winstead on my radar for months now anticipating it's recent release. It's no surprise that I grabbed my copy as soon as it hit the shelves and couldn't wait to see what all the fuss was about. After finding out that her college best friend, Laurel, died while listening to her favorite true crime podcast, Shay Evans returns to upstate New York from her suburban bubble in Texas in search of the truth. She recruits the help of Jamie, the podcast host (and her childhood best friend), to find out what really happened to Laurel and face the demons of her past. I guess I didn't really know what to … [Read more...] about The Last Housewife, by Ashley Winstead
When She Returned, by Lucinda Berry
I wasn't quite ready to switch to another genre after reading When I Was You, so I decided to finally pick up my copy of When She Returned, by Lucinda Berry. Back in June, I read Saving Noah (also by Lucinda Berry) and loved the way the author wrote the story so I figured this one had to be good, too. Kate Bennett goes missing from a Target parking lot one day leaving behind her husband and young daughter. Years after a futile search to find Kate, her husband, Scott, remarries and does his best to raise their daughter, Abbi, in her absence. 11 years after her disappearance, Kate returns home and here's where the story really … [Read more...] about When She Returned, by Lucinda Berry
When I Was You, by Amber Garza
After seeing this one pop up on my "suggested for you" page over and over again, I had to pick up a copy of When I Was You, by Amber Garza to see what the hype was all about. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed at all! This suggestion was spot on! When I Was You follows a middle aged woman named Kelly Medina who becomes a little obsessed with a much younger woman by the exact same name. It's the name that draws Kelly to this younger woman and eventually they become unlikely friends. The younger Kelly has a baby boy named Sullivan and the older Kelly takes them both under her wing. And I'm stopping right here because I really don't want … [Read more...] about When I Was You, by Amber Garza
Thank You For Listening, by Julia Whelan
If you're a fan of audiobooks like me, do yourself a favor and download Thank You For Listening, by Julia Whelan. The audiobook is narrated by the author who also happens to be my most favorite audiobook narrator of all time. If she's reading it, I'm listening :) Thank You For Listening is about a once hopeful actress, Sewanee Chester, who is sidelined by an injury as the result of a freak accident and now narrates audiobooks. Sewanee, or Swan as she's affectionately referred, has made quite a name for herself in the world of audiobook narration under a pseudonym. Romance novels are Swan's specialty although she no longer narrates … [Read more...] about Thank You For Listening, by Julia Whelan
