What a way to end an incredible reading year! I ended up reading & listening to a lot more than I thought I would this time of the year, but a holiday season without any travel plans or sporting events left me with quite a bit of extra time on my hands. I'm so glad I was able to spend that time reading/listening to such entertaining books! Click the links for the standalone reviews of each title. There were several books in the running for the best of the month, but ultimately my most favorite read in December goes to The Plight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart. Between the witty banter, steamy romance, and family dynamic, this … [Read more...] about December Book Review Round Up
Book Reviews
Tender is the Flesh, by Agustina Bazterrica
What a way to end an incredible reading year. Tender is the Flesh, by Agustina Bazterrica is one of the best books I've read to date. Quick summary: a dystopian world where animal meat is contaminated with a deadly virus and human cannibalism is legal. This is all you need to know going into this one and quite frankly, going in blind is the best way to read this one. First of all, this is the shortest book I read this year. Right around 200 pages so I got through this incredibly quick, but wow does it pack one heck of a punch. I'm literally sitting here after reading the last page with my jaw on the floor thinking, "WTF DID I … [Read more...] about Tender is the Flesh, by Agustina Bazterrica
The Bodyguard, by Katherine Center
After my last few reads, I was ready for a palate cleanser. I kept seeing The Bodyguard, by Katherine Center all over BookTok so I decided it was time to dive in. I had a full day of house cleaning post Christmas festivities, so I listened to this one on Audible. Hannah is a bodyguard and recently hired to protect superstar Jack Stapleton from his stalker while he visits his family on their ranch. Jack doesn't want his family to know he's in danger, so he pretends Hannah is his girlfriend. Like any predictable Hallmark movie, boy and girl fall for each other, but things get really complicated. I have to admit that I didn't get the … [Read more...] about The Bodyguard, by Katherine Center
The One, by John Marrs
Alright, so I guess I've completely abandoned by holiday book tour. That was fun while it lasted, but let me just tell you that The One, by John Marrs is JUST as much fun. A simple DNA test to match you with your perfect partner for whom you are genetically made for. Would you take it?! This sci-fi romantic thriller explores this concept and let me just tell you now - it's executed perfectly! If you're not a fan of sci-fi, please don't let the categorization deter you from reading this book. This is such a clever concept and told so well through five different POVs. The chapters are relatively short and make for such a quick … [Read more...] about The One, by John Marrs
The Change, by Kirsten Miller
So many people have been urging me to read The Change, by Kirsten Miller. Since I'm finally enjoying the holiday break, I decided it was time to dive into this 500+ page book and give her a go. So glad I did. Three menopausal women band together to get revenge on the men responsible for killing teenage girls in their community. Each possess supernatural powers and while I know that sounds a little hokey, trust me when I say it absolutely works in this story. I truly wasn't expecting to love this one as much as I did. I expected I would get a little bored and it would drag with it being as long as it is, but I didn't feel that way at … [Read more...] about The Change, by Kirsten Miller
We All Want Impossible Things, by Catherine Newman
Taking a detour from my holiday book tour and picked up We All Want Impossible Things, by Catherine Newman. Oh, I'm SO glad I did...even though I still have tears in my eyes. Ash and Edi are best friends and have been almost all of their lives. Edi is a married mom of 7-year-old Dash living in New York. When she's diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer, Edi decides to move to a hospice in Massachusetts (close to Ash) to shield her son from the harsh realities of her disease. Ash becomes Edi's primary caretaker and spends her days taking care of her friend and reminiscing on life. One is trying to hold on while the other is learning … [Read more...] about We All Want Impossible Things, by Catherine Newman
Lovelight Farms, by B.K. Borison
Continuing on with my holiday reading journey, I picked up Lovelight Farms, by B.K. Borison. Truth - I knew nothing about the story going into this one, but loved the cover so had to give it a shot. Stella has always dreamt of owning a tree farm, so when she has the opportunity to make Lovelight Farms her own, she goes for it...at an extremely heavy price. So much is working against Stella and her farm and her dreams seem as though they're crashing down around her. When Stella learns about an IG influencer sponsored contest with a prize of $100K, she knows she needs to enter - that prize money is sure to save her dreams! Enter her … [Read more...] about Lovelight Farms, by B.K. Borison
The Afterlife of Holly Chase, by Cynthia Hand
Need a cute book to read this holiday season?! Look no further than The Afterlife of Holly Chase, by Cynthia Hand. An unexpectedly darling YA that definitely checked all the boxes for me! Holly is a terribly entitled teenager who's visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. Each urge her to change her ways or she'll be met with an untimely death, but Holly is UNBOTHERED. She keeps the pace with her horrible attitude and dies as foretold, only to wake up working for Project Scrooge as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Right off the bat, you must know that this is a modern day retelling of A Christmas Story (as I'm sure you could infer). … [Read more...] about The Afterlife of Holly Chase, by Cynthia Hand
A Bookshop Christmas, by Rachel Burton
If you're a fan of a bookish kind of read, A Bookshop Christmas, by Rachel Burton is a cute pick for the holiday season. After Megan loses her husband, she moves from London to NYC and works in her parent's old bookshop. Not ready to move on from the loss, the grieving widow keeps to herself and her close circle of family and friends. When she unexpectedly runs into Xander Stone (a prize winning author), she realizes she might be ready to take a new step forward. I really wanted a holiday romance when I picked this one up. What I got was a lot different than what I expected. The romance was definitely there, but the Christmas was … [Read more...] about A Bookshop Christmas, by Rachel Burton
Single & Ready to Jingle, by Piper Rayne
In theory, Single & Ready to Jingle by Piper Rayne should be the cutest little holiday read ever to hit the shelves, but this one didn't check all the boxes for me. A fun & festive read, but after the last two I felt like this one paled in comparison. Kenzie loves Christmas. Andrew is the Grinch. The two go out on a blind date and their meet cute is anything but charming. They leave the date on a sour note, but Kenzie isn't finished with Andrew just yet...and if she has anything to do with it, Andrew will be in the holiday spirit in no time. So let me just start by saying that I think I would've enjoyed this one more if I … [Read more...] about Single & Ready to Jingle, by Piper Rayne
A Cross-Country Christmas, by Courtney Walsh
If you need a lighthearted, feel good read to get you into the holiday spirit, let A Cross Country Christmas, by Courtney Walsh be the one. Lauren doesn't love Christmas and rarely, if ever, makes it back home to the Midwest to celebrate the holidays with her family. She prefers busying herself with work instead. But things are different this December as her brother & sister-in-law are having their first baby and they really want Lauren home for the occasion. Lauren hates flying, so her brother arranges for her to catch a ride home to Illinois from California with his good friend, Will. A cross-country road trip with her longtime … [Read more...] about A Cross-Country Christmas, by Courtney Walsh
The Plight Before Christmas, by Kate Stewart
I wanted to start off Christmas month with a charming holiday read and just happened to find The Plight Before Christmas, by Kate Stewart while browsing through the Amazon bookshelves. I hadn't heard anything about this book beforehand and can't figure out why everyone isn't talking about it. Hands down one of my favorite reads to date! Whitney isn't having a very happy holiday season. She didn't get the promotion she thought she would, her car breaks down, and now she's stuck back at home for the holidays with her family...and her first love, Eli. The college boyfriend who broke her heart. Eli wants her back, but does Whitney want … [Read more...] about The Plight Before Christmas, by Kate Stewart
November Book Review Round Up
November was a great month for reading with the exception of one that I had too push through to finish. I wanted a month of cozy, memorable reads and for the most part that's exactly what I got. I was able to read + listen to six books in November and really enjoyed my picks! Click on the links below for the standalone reviews of each title. Eliza Starts A Rumor was the perfect read to start my month. I really loved this one! I cozy, sisterly hug with depth and substance. Such a fun read with more thought provoking themes than I anticipated. Fast paced and hard to put down, for me anyway. Loved this one so much! If you're a fan of … [Read more...] about November Book Review Round Up
Always in December, by Emily Stone
I wanted to kick off the holiday season with a Christmas read and thought this book would fit the bill. Always in December, by Emily Stone isn't exactly what I expected, but an okay read nonetheless. Every December, Josie writes a letter to her parents whom she lost on Christmas many years ago. On her way to mail the letter, she bumps into Max (well, hits him with her bike, lol). They end up hitting it off, spending the holiday together after he misses his flight, and then wakes up one morning to find him gone without so much as a goodbye or a number where he can be reached.Fate brings Josie and Max back together again several times … [Read more...] about Always in December, by Emily Stone
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, by Rachel Linden
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
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
