I read this children’s book after seeing another review. The illustrations are painted and are stunning. What a beautifully told story between the winI read this children’s book after seeing another review. The illustrations are painted and are stunning. What a beautifully told story between the wind and the grass. Would recommend for a child maybe over 4, I am not an expert in that department. I’m in awe of the paintings and it is what drew me to the book. The kindle e-book is on sale right now too. ...more
RTC as I have a lot to say about this. It was incredible.
Huge thanks to Goodreads, their giveaway has in no way influenced my rating, nor was I under RTC as I have a lot to say about this. It was incredible.
Huge thanks to Goodreads, their giveaway has in no way influenced my rating, nor was I under any obligation to review the book after reading it. ...more
Given her accolades and the provided author bio our author is incredibly intelligent and talented. This really shows in this book. I have The Poppy WaGiven her accolades and the provided author bio our author is incredibly intelligent and talented. This really shows in this book. I have The Poppy War on my TBR and seriously need to think about bumping it up. I loved this book, when I was reading it I did not want to put it down. There is so much discussion to be had about this book and I can hardly formulate a review. Up until about 30 pages from the end of this book it was a glowing 5 stars from me. I’m having mixed feelings about the very ending, which is also hard to articulate. I wanted to post my brief thoughts and can hopefully revisit this as I think on it all more. I will say I tabbed away pages of parts that were of note and of interest, which to me always signifies a great book. Hopefully I will revisit this review and add to it after some thought on how to compose all my thoughts. Leaving it at a 4.5 for now. ...more
I devoured this book. In one sitting I was easily 35-40% in. It is a short quick read for sure. So if you’re on the fence, know it won’t take long. ItI devoured this book. In one sitting I was easily 35-40% in. It is a short quick read for sure. So if you’re on the fence, know it won’t take long. It would be an understatement to say this is exactly my kind of book. I have in my notes that I actually texted someone about the book while I was reading it and said “You will love! The premise is chefs kiss and the set up of the book and how she tells the story is amazing.” I also loved the location descriptions and places she visits and mentions. I found this to be super unique and original which made me all the more excited to read it. This right here is why I love reading so! The anticipation of what happens next and the full circle of emotions. I related strongly to some parts of the storyline but due to spoilers will not elaborate.
Thank you to our author, Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be available March 19th 2024, I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it as much as I did....more
I squealed when I was approved for this one! Not only for the book itselNo more waiting, out now! Happy Pub Day!
Alexis Hall fans will love this book!
I squealed when I was approved for this one! Not only for the book itself but because I find our author so intriguing. If you haven’t pulled up articles on them yet and enjoy their books, get on it! Alexis Hall is a pen name so to speak, but look into it yourself.
This book would make a really cute movie. It would be a fantastic “Holiday/Christmas” read if you can even stand holding off. I know for Alexis Hall fans that will be very hard to do. It had some laugh out loud moments and quite the cast of employees and family that surround our protagonist and his boss.
So what are you signing up for with this read? Well, fake amnesia first and foremost, and our MC getting closer and closer with his BOSS. As the two become closer the truth will be harder and harder to tell, you’ll have to read to find out how this all plays out.
For me the second half of the book moved a little faster and that’s where I became hooked. I really enjoyed it overall and have already recommended it. You will really enjoy this bunch of characters and how they all end up intertwining. Plus if you want a book to get you into the “spirit” this is a good one for that.
Thank you to our author, Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be available on October 17th, 2023. I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it also....more
This book really blew me away. I had very high hopes for this book but was trying not to set my expectations too high. It far exceeded my expectationsThis book really blew me away. I had very high hopes for this book but was trying not to set my expectations too high. It far exceeded my expectations! I requested this book because to this date one of my all time favorite books is by our author, Where the River Ends, from 2008. I still love it enough that I gifted a copy to my mom last year because it was still on my mind. But let’s discuss the here and now.
I would warn of triggers and suggest that you do your own research if there are some you avoid. Some I would mention, but not limited to are, infertility, addiction, and pregnancy loss.
I haven’t read any other reviews yet because I don’t want to put other review ideas in my head. I have a feeling somewhere someone else may have or may also mention that in the best way possible the character Maybe Joe Sue in this book reminds me of Evelyn Hugo. Now not exactly, those are some giant shoes to fill, but she did come to mind. In this story Maybe Joe Sue is a movie star who hires MacThomas Pockets to be her bodyguard. This story has two very fascinating timelines, a before and after. The before being their working relationship, and the after, following once they have parted ways. Even after parting “Pockets” is the only one that truly knows “Joe” and scoops in to save her. It is always fascinating to me when I end up rooting for the “bad guy”, and loving the strung out movie star. It’s really hard not to with this wonderfully told story. It all comes together perfectly.
Thank you to our author, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was available on October 3rd, 2023. I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it as much as I did.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
What’s not to like! I knew I wanted this before it was even published. Our author is talented, funny and a great artist too!
I have read most of our aWhat’s not to like! I knew I wanted this before it was even published. Our author is talented, funny and a great artist too!
I have read most of our authors previous books ‘The Field Guide to Dumb Birds …’ both the world and North America ones. They are equally as funny and informative.
I loved the art in this book, the knowledge that was presented in an easy, fun, humorous way and that I could have read it in one sitting. It is one I will refer back to often and am glad it’s part of my library now. ...more
I know books set in pandemic times aren’t for everyone but if you read them or are open to reading them and enjoy literary fiction you may like this bI know books set in pandemic times aren’t for everyone but if you read them or are open to reading them and enjoy literary fiction you may like this book. It has a set up I really like also in which it contains three main sections, April 5th 2019, April 5th 2020 and April 5th 2021. In each of these sections we check in with a family comprised of Isabel, Dan, Nathan, Violet, Robbie, Garth, Chess and Odin. For me brushing up on the summary actually helped me this time around, giving me my footing as to who is who and how they are all connected and related.
This is my first book by our author and not only did I like the format I loved the style of the writing and the characters. I especially liked checking in with them annually during unprecedented times. There is rightfully so a mix of emotions and pivotal changes. I wanted to follow their relationships and dynamics to see where it all lead to. I would say it is character driven and while it may seem like I listed a lot of characters they are brought together seamlessly.
I know you can read the synopsis but I think Goodreads has summed it up much better than I can in these couple paragraphs. “As the world changes around them, a family weathers the storms of growing up, growing older, falling in and out of love, losing the things that are most precious—and learning to go on—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Hours … From the brilliant mind of Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham, Day is a searing, exquisitely crafted meditation on love and loss and the struggles and limitations of family life—how to live together and apart.”
A giant thank you to our author, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be available on November 14th, 2023. I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it also....more
So much buzz about this that I couldn’t resist. I loved it and stand with the hype! I can’t remember where or who but someone mentioned this was a croSo much buzz about this that I couldn’t resist. I loved it and stand with the hype! I can’t remember where or who but someone mentioned this was a cross between Hunger Games and something else. The Hunger Games comparison was what made me decide I was gonna go for it and I can for sure see that in it. Such a creative story, so much detail, such great characters and suspense. Can’t wait for the second one.
I listened to this on audio and boy was it a long audio. It was narrated by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton. I’m not so sure I would give the narration 5 stars, I struggled with it a bit but overall it wasn’t a deal breaker...more
This book has very mixed and polarizing reviews. I found myself on the side of enjoyment actually. I feel as if this book is a lot like our authors prThis book has very mixed and polarizing reviews. I found myself on the side of enjoyment actually. I feel as if this book is a lot like our authors prior book Such a Fun Age in terms of moral and ethical situations and thoughts. I’m wondering how this comes into play for those that read that prior novel. Did they like both, dislike both, one of each. Was just something I was curious about, I liked both and as I mentioned thought it had a similar feel. This one was more on the academia side with a younger group of characters. That being said there we an awful lot of characters in my opinion, somehow I did manage to keep them straight but initially I was wondering if it might be a deal breaker for me. I found the characters very interesting off the get go. The accuracy of their conversations verbatim was super interesting to me. There were times and chapters where it felt slow and if maybe it wasn’t going anywhere. Overall I just think it was a slower paced book. It for sure makes you ponder moral issues and rights and wrongs. I considered wishes and regrets, shame and remorse. I thought about courage, and feelings of guilt. It packs a lot into the story overall.
Thank you to our author, Netgalley and Putnam Books for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be available on January 9th, 2024. I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it also....more
If you read and enjoyed Spells for Forgetting by our author I highly recomOut now! Happy Pub Day June Farrow!
This is now a Book of the Month choice!
If you read and enjoyed Spells for Forgetting by our author I highly recommend getting this one. Spells was in my top 10 books read I 2022 and this has a very similar vibe. This was a 5 star for me.
A perfect cozy fall vibe here readers! We have it all in this book. A small town with a generational curse on the women of a family, a mysterious door that appears. Some mystery and romance to top it all off.
Our author really has a way with creating a setting you can really visualize and set yourself in. This book included a non-linear time line and I don’t think that is always smooth to conquer and it was very smooth and seamless in this story. I didn’t get lost or lose track of what was going on and that’s super important for me in a book like this. Our characters! I really enjoyed our protagonist, her feelings and back story were so well developed. It’s very easy for me to say I loved this one and recommended it.
Thank you to our author, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be available on October 17th, 2023. I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it also....more
I love a good non-fiction book and this was very good in my opinion. While I believe it was written by a “not so” ghost writer it was narrated by PrinI love a good non-fiction book and this was very good in my opinion. While I believe it was written by a “not so” ghost writer it was narrated by Prince Harry himself and felt so authentic.
It begins before his mothers passing and ends to almost the current day covering the birth of his child/children. It was incredibly emotional and raw at times and it is obvious how vulnerable much of it is also.
I continue to recap bits and pieces of it to anyone around that will listen to me. I so appreciate the way mental health is represented and protected in this book. It is a long one but was so worth it in my opinion. ...more
This book was a voters choice in my book club. I did vote for this option as I was not interested in one and one I had already read. This one, while iThis book was a voters choice in my book club. I did vote for this option as I was not interested in one and one I had already read. This one, while it was historical fiction, seemed like the way to go. I don’t always enjoy and connect with historical fiction but with the library aspect of this one and given the authors history and experience with the subject matter I was very curious. I listened to it on audio and it was narrated by Nicky Diss, Sarah Feathers, Esther Wane, and Janet Skeslien Charles. Great narrators for this novel too.
I think this is a very significant read and is incredibly well written. I had ebbs and flows with this one. Sometimes I was more invested and connected than others. I truly don’t think it was the book I think it was me.
We discussed in our book club and I want to note that after having discussions in my book club and hearing others thoughts and opinions and how they interpreted things always makes me appreciate a book more. Once the others bring up things I had not thought about or other view points the books always click more for me. So I’m glad to have had that experience especially with this book. Similarly to reading others reviews and thoughts here or elsewhere.
Overall my feelings are kind of neutral on this book. I think it’s a very important book to read but isn’t one of my favorites. ...more
This was cute! I enjoyed it much more than I expected. Sometimes unrealistic ideas don’t come across on paper but this one made anything seem possibleThis was cute! I enjoyed it much more than I expected. Sometimes unrealistic ideas don’t come across on paper but this one made anything seem possible. I was fortunate enough to win this e-book from a Goodreads giveaway and read the book in conjunction with the audio book narrated by Kerry Gilbert, who did an amazing job! I enjoyed the plot, the characters and even the ending!
Huge thanks to Goodreads, our author and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for providing giveaways. Their giveaway has in no way influenced my rating, nor was I under any obligation to review the book after reading it. ...more
I was blown away by the creativity and planning that must have come into play for this book. That alone is going to bump up my review. I really liked I was blown away by the creativity and planning that must have come into play for this book. That alone is going to bump up my review. I really liked this. It felt fresh and new and in a category all its own. To me it had some realistic elements that weren’t all glitter and rainbows but was overall a feel good book that has left me with a smile on my face.
Imagine your favorite childhood author holds a contest on an island he lives on and you are a participant as an adult! So well thought out and articulated this was! Everything was so visible in my head and unique. We have a very talented author on our hands here. Rounding up to a 5.
A giant thank you to our author, Netgalley and Ballantine Books - Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was published on May 30th, 2023. I hope you love it also....more
Books are after all, often judged by their covers. This one has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen in a while. That being said Happy PUB DAY!
Books are after all, often judged by their covers. This one has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen in a while. That being said it is only fitting that I direct you to APerfectVintageBook.com where not only can you preorder the book you can quite literally buy the cover art by Elizabeth Lennie which I think is so great! No this is not sponsored, I just really thought this was a nice touch. Here you will also find the playlist for the book. A full circle vibe of seeing, hearing and reading.
This story follows Lea Mortimer in France who is a very talented consultant who transforms French properties that need a makeover and a lot of TLC. We are talking large estates in the country and flipping them into popular functioning hotels.
Typically our protagonist is an independent single woman on a mission when it comes to her job. This time her best friend and cousin Stephanie joins her with her daughter who is in her late teens. She is very determined to not mix business with her personal life, but let’s be honest things don’t always go as planned. Including some age gap trope romances.
I found this book to feel very original and unique. It felt unlike anything else I’ve read. I saw it recommended by our authors marketing partner Mackenzie Newcomb and it is safe to say if she recommends a book on her socials that I too will enjoy it. This story has it all, the location, powerful family dynamics, good characters and romance. I think it would make a perfect summer/beach/vacation read.
A giant thank you to our author, Netgalley and Orsay Press for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The publication date will be June 6th, 2023 and I hope if you choose to read it you love it also....more
Unintentionally I read this book right after spending time in California, Malibu and the surrounding areas. I had also recently been waHappy PUB Day!
Unintentionally I read this book right after spending time in California, Malibu and the surrounding areas. I had also recently been watching a series that takes place in the 70’s so I had the perfect mindset of time and place for this book. It takes place a little earlier but I think both factors actually enhanced my experience as a reader. This is admittedly my first book by our author and it was a really good one to read first.
I especially enjoy and seem to gravitate to books with sibling relationships and story lines. This book is a wonderful story about two sisters in California totally immersed in the culture of surfing, especially the very early days of women in the sport during the 60’s. In a time where the expectation of women is to be domesticated the family represented in our book are trail blazing in a sport that is still made up of primarily men. Not only does this book involve the sport of surfing, sunshine and swimsuits it also tells a story that I really enjoyed of dedication, ambition and competition. It has layers of chosen family and family that doesn’t choose each other. At times it is raw, vulnerable and full of emotion and at other times it is hard core cut throat competition. I thought our characters were really well developed with adequate back story and layers. The setting was so descriptive and well described I could easily put myself into the scenes in the book. Overall I really liked this book and would recommend it.
Many thanks to our author, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be released on August 8th, 2023 and I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it also....more
*Published and if you enjoy secrets, family dynamics and our authors love and familiarity for Cape Cod you may enjoy this!*
I loved our authors memoir*Published and if you enjoy secrets, family dynamics and our authors love and familiarity for Cape Cod you may enjoy this!*
I loved our authors memoir ‘Wild Game’ so I ran to request this one. I’m so glad I did.
Families, secrets, Cape Cod and an incredibly complicated sibling relationship, I’m in!
Somehow this book covers so many topics but never feels like our author was trying to check off all the boxes. Every topic is woven in perfectly and feels so natural to the flow of the story. As the Goodreads synopsis notes you can also tell how very familiar our author is with the setting, feeling as if you are there. I’ve always been obsessed with sibling dynamics and fiction on family dramas, this one really delivers. The characters and situations presented feel real and accurate. I felt the story line was great and the characters were well developed. I love reading about normally flawed and believable characters and this book is full of them. If you also enjoy these things I would highly recommend this book to you.
Many thanks to our author, Netgalley and Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be released on July 11th, 2023 and I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it also....more
It was really neat to experience a novella after reading books one through four in the graphic novel series. I really enjoyed it. The same perfect NicIt was really neat to experience a novella after reading books one through four in the graphic novel series. I really enjoyed it. The same perfect Nick and Charlie and some real life issues they are facing. I did read the “official order” of the books but also read they can basically be read as a stand alone or in any order on our authors website I believe. This seemed just fine to me as a stand alone but labeled as 1.5 in the Solitaire series. I would recommend the graphic series first though before this one. Love the diversity, representation, and our characters. There are some illustrations in the edition I read but they were minimal. A quick one day or weekend read. ...more
Sometimes you can judge a book by a cover. This cover caught my eye, simple but it really drew me in.
This *Now published and one of my 5 star reads!*
Sometimes you can judge a book by a cover. This cover caught my eye, simple but it really drew me in.
This is going on my list immediately of my favorite books I’ve read in 2023. I have never read anything by our author and this was a fantastic start to that. I loved this book and not only during reading, but of course upon completion, was recommending it. I loved Rachel, appreciated her story, and am sad I’m done with the book now.
This is one of those that is very hard to talk about all that was so impactful and memorable without giving away spoilers. There were so many “wows” & “I did not see that coming”. I was invested the whole time but then around halfway it was unputdownable for me. Talk about wanting to know what happens. I will let you peek at the synopsis on this one but I did go in fairly blind for the most part aside from the summary.
I believe this had an authors note that said our author wrote this during the pandemic lockdown. Not only was it written then, it was in place of another that was supposed to be written. I’m glad the universe worked in the way in which it did because I would not have wanted to miss out on a book like this!
I would warn of triggers for this one, and again out of respect for spoilers will let you do your own research. While they were present I was impressed with how they were handled.
A giant thank you to our author, Netgalley and Knopf publishing for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is June 27th, 2023. Mark your calendars! I hope you love it also....more
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