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
Book Reviews
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
The People We Keep, by Allison Larkin
If you enjoy the "found family" trope, I personally think you'll love The People We Keep, by Allison Larkin. Be sure to hold on tight to you're heartstrings though because this is a read that's certain to tug at them. April is a 16-year-old girl who's mother passed away and her father is absent most of the time only to drop by on occasion. Left to fend for herself, April drops out of high school and works at a local diner. April eventually leaves her small town after a fight with her dad with no intention of ever returning. The People We Keep finds us following April along her journey of self-discovery and the search to find a place … [Read more...] about The People We Keep, by Allison Larkin
Maybe in Another Life, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I'm at the point right now where I feel like TJR can't write a bad story. Maybe in Another Life was INCREDIBLE. Maybe I'm biased because I just adore her writing so much, but I thought this one one excellent. Maybe in Another Life is a story about the choices we make and how they impact our fate. Hannah Martin is almost thirty, jobless, no place to call home, and fresh out of a relationship with a married man. After moving back to her hometown of L.A., Hannah heads out to a bar with her best friend, Gabby. While at the bar, Hannah meets Ethan, her high school boyfriend. He asks Hannah to come home with him at the end of the night, … [Read more...] about Maybe in Another Life, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Greenwich Park, by Katherine Faulkner
I was so excited to finally sit down and devour Greenwich Park, by Katherine Faulkner. I've had this one on my TBR for several months and after reading, I'm wondering why I waited so long to start! Such a great story! This debut novel is told from three different female POV's. Such a great flow to the story...compulsively addicting. In Greenwich Park, we meet Helen & Daniel, Serena & Rory, and Katie & Charlie. Siblings, significant others, and friends...some hiding big secrets. Those secrets are threatened to be exposed when Helen meets Rachel at her prenatal class. But who IS Rachel? And what does she want? … [Read more...] about Greenwich Park, by Katherine Faulkner
Never Coming Home, by Kate M. Williams
Never Coming Home, by Kate M. Williams, has been on my TBR for a minute so I was excited to start the month with this one. A pretty easy, compulsive read, this is just what I thought it would be. Wildy unbelievable, but SO good! Never Coming Home is all about a group of ten young influencers who travel to the invite-only resort Unknown Island for a weekend. No one over 21 is allowed and an angel investor is funding the trip so it's completely free to those invited to visit. But if it's too good to be true, well, then it definitely is. Unknown Island isn't quite the destination social media portrays it to be (hello, Fyre Fest!!!) and … [Read more...] about Never Coming Home, by Kate M. Williams
July 2022 Reading Wrap-Up
Between traveling with my boys and spending lots of time outdoors with family & friends, I only ended up reading five books this month. That said, they all packed a punch in one way or another and I couldn't have been happier with what I was able to fit in! I don't have a "least favorite" book this month either...I genuinely loved each of them, all for different reasons. Here's a wrap-up of what I read (click on the links for detailed reviews of each). Book Lovers, by Emily Henry was the first book I read in July and ohmiword...what an INCREDIBLE start to the month! There was nothing I didn't love about this one. This is the … [Read more...] about July 2022 Reading Wrap-Up
Last Summer on State Street, by Toya Wolfe
A book that wasn't on my radar, but I immediately bought after watching my favorite BookTok'er rave about it....Last Summer on State Street, by Toya Wolfe was the perfect read to finish July. And I'm absolutely blown away that this book is the author's debut novel...BEAUTIFULLY written! Last Summer on State Street reads more like a memoir than YA and recounts the summer of 1999 in the Robert Taylor Homes housing projects in Chicago. The story is told from the perspective of Felicia (FeFe), both as a 12-year-old child and in hindsight as an adult. FeFe and her friends spend their summer days playing Double Dutch, but increasing gang … [Read more...] about Last Summer on State Street, by Toya Wolfe
Cover Story, by Susan Rigetti
If you've been intrigued by the story of Anna Delvey, or if you've watched the Netflix series, Inventing Anna, pick up a copy of Cover Story, by Susan Rigetti. While the author doesn't specifically state that this book is based on Anna's incredible con, I think it was definitely inspired by the scam! Cover Story follows the diary of Lora Ricci who is hired by Elle magazine for a summer internship. While at Elle, Lora meets Cat Wolff...magazine editor and heiress to a family fortune. Lora and Cat form an unexpected friendship and Cat hires Lora as her ghostwriter. Lora gets caught up in Cat's glamorous lifestyle and eventually the … [Read more...] about Cover Story, by Susan Rigetti
Nora Goes Off Script, by Annabel Monaghan
If Nora Goes Off Script, by Annabel Monaghan isn't the perfect "beach read", I don't know what is! Okay, so I didn't read this on a beach, but I did read it in the mountains. On a balcony. In the rain. In ONE sitting. I could NOT put this down! Compulsively delicious...I only wish it were 500 pages longer! I couldn't get enough! Nora is a screenwriter who's latest screenplay (based on her recent marriage/divorce/narcissistic ex-husband) gets picked up for the big screen. Shoot location?! Her house. The actor set to play her ex-husband is Leo, former Sexiest Man Alive. After filming wraps, Leo offers Nora $7,000 if she'll let him … [Read more...] about Nora Goes Off Script, by Annabel Monaghan
Back in the Burbs, by Avery Flinn & Tracy Wolff
If you're looking for a palate cleanser after reading something dark or heavy, I'd love to suggest Back in the Burbs, by Avery Flynn & Tracy Wolff. Mallory is a 35-year-old divorcee who caught her ex-husband cheating and lost her job (her ex was her employer). Jobless and living with her parents, Mallory agrees to take ownership of the house she unexpectedly inherited from her late Aunt Maggie...a move that was HIGHLY discouraged by her family. Aunt Maggie's house is in disrepair and Mallory has quite a project on her hands in addition to her unsupportive parents, verbally abusive ex-husband, and a (very handsome) rule following … [Read more...] about Back in the Burbs, by Avery Flinn & Tracy Wolff
Book Lovers, by Emily Henry
I'm not sure why I waited to so long to dive into Book Lovers, by Emily Henry. This one has been on my TBR forever and the only regret I have about this one is not reaching for it sooner. I LOVED IT!!!! Nora, a literary agent, and her sister, Libby, head to Sunshine Falls, NC for the month of August on a sister trip. While in the small town of Sunshine Falls, Nora bumps into Charlie, her professional rival. This one is an enemies to lovers trope, so you can probably guess how it all ends, but it's what's in between the first and last page that absolutely had me smitten. Right off the bat, let me tell you that I'm a HUGE Gilmore … [Read more...] about Book Lovers, by Emily Henry
