Another delightfully sweet addition to the Falling for summer series set on Sunset Harbor, a small coastal Florida island town and its charming collecAnother delightfully sweet addition to the Falling for summer series set on Sunset Harbor, a small coastal Florida island town and its charming collection of residents. This story follows secret best-selling romance book author, Capri, who writes under the pen name, Sunny Palmer.
Capri has had a crush on her next door neighbor, Tristan Palmer for YEARS and when they both find themselves back on the island Capri is nervous that Tristan will discover she's loved him all this time. The chemistry between these two was top notch and I loved all of their banter and interactions.
Great on audio narrated by Ellen Quay, this might be my favorite in the series. Technically the third book, it can be read as a standalone with no problem but does feature cameos from some of the other characters in the series. You can't go wrong picking all seven up this summer if you want fun, low angst, swoony, kissing only romance reads.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! This was a standout listen that I enjoyed a whole lot!...more
I have been a HUGE fan of Sophie Kinsella since the very first Shopaholic book! Becky Bloomwood was one of the most hilarious yet utterly relatable chI have been a HUGE fan of Sophie Kinsella since the very first Shopaholic book! Becky Bloomwood was one of the most hilarious yet utterly relatable characters ever created and for that Kinsella will forever be remembered.
Sadly this most deeply personal and autobiographical story about a woman who gets diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor is based on real events in her recent life. This was a raw but hopeful read, particularly poignant for me as someone who is also a brain tumor survivor.
But as Eve in this book always says, "It could be worse" - it could ALWAYS be worse and LUCKILY (iykyk), my brain tumor was benign and I am a 26 year survivor. While my life hasn't been perfect or without challenges, I am so grateful to have had so many years. Books like this one are what drive me and feed my soul and I wish Sophie many good days to come too!!
HUGE thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy of this story. It is one I will never forget and hit so close to home for me. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I have and am so grateful the author was able to find the energy and courage to share her story with the world....more
A beautiful follow up to the first Morisaki Bookshop story, this one continues with the characters we first came to love and has Takako urging her UncA beautiful follow up to the first Morisaki Bookshop story, this one continues with the characters we first came to love and has Takako urging her Uncle to go on a vacation where she takes care of the shop while he's gone. It is also a story about love, loss and the enduring power of books to help us through difficult times. Great on audio, this Japanese translation is sure to be another bestseller! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
A plant-loving librarian-witch and all the "cottagecore" vibes had me sold on this book from the first chapter! I was SOOO invested in this new to me A plant-loving librarian-witch and all the "cottagecore" vibes had me sold on this book from the first chapter! I was SOOO invested in this new to me author's romantasy debut and I can't recommend it enough, especially for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and TJ Klune. Great on audio, this was a whimsical, feel-good, story about found family, food, love and saving the natural world. HIGHLY recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
I love that 2024 is turning out to be the year of AMAZING debuts! I immediately fell for Marcela, a plus size, Latina YA librarian working in Texas whI love that 2024 is turning out to be the year of AMAZING debuts! I immediately fell for Marcela, a plus size, Latina YA librarian working in Texas who has been hopelessly in love with her best friend Ben for years.
Sadly, when Ben gets engaged Marcela has to reconcile with her unrequited feelings AND help Ben's former pro NFL player brother, Theo with his longtime feelings for Ben's fiance, Alice.
This was a bizarre love square, fake dating romcom about learning to love yourself and trust in the love of others and I absolutely ADORED it!
I can't wait for the next Librarians in Love book (hopefully starring Marcela's bestie, Angela). It can't go without saying that Theo is definitely TOP notch book boyfriend material, planning the PERFECT date for Marcela and wanting to share in and celebrate her passion for books.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever for an early digital and finished gifted copy in exchange for my honest review! Book lovers and sports romance fans don't want to miss this great debut that will have you swooning and that was also great on audio!
This was a deliciously twisty serial murder mystery that has an undercover Black female detective, Bailey Meadows, impersonating an aspiring writer toThis was a deliciously twisty serial murder mystery that has an undercover Black female detective, Bailey Meadows, impersonating an aspiring writer to get mentored and co-author a new book with a best-selling James Patterson type reclusive writer living in a remote Topanga Canyon home.
Cut off from the internet, Bailey's search for her missing friend quickly has her own life being put in jeopardy and things get really interesting when events from the past to do with her mother come into play later on in the book.
Great on audio narrated by Dara Brown, this latest from Rachel Howzell Hall had me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want the book to end (and what an ending it was!). Highly recommended for fans of books like Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews or The plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read more books by this new to me author soon!...more
A moving story about an older bookstore employee determined to fight for the store she loves and try to convince the owners not to close it. With the A moving story about an older bookstore employee determined to fight for the store she loves and try to convince the owners not to close it. With the help of fellow staff members, she stages a lockdown and passive protest with interesting results. Good on audio and perfect for fans of anyone who loves a good story about indie bookstores and the power of books to help build communities. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
A heartwarming, feel-good book about a woman recently released from prison who finds comfort in a book club and the community of its members and gets A heartwarming, feel-good book about a woman recently released from prison who finds comfort in a book club and the community of its members and gets caught up in an affair with a Professor who is conducting research on African Grey Parrots. This was good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Colleen Hoover's Reminders of him. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a good book about books and book clubs (think the Jane Austen book club by Karen Joy Fowler)....more
I love a good women's fiction, second chance/starting over in midlife book. Throw in strong female friendships, a book club, insights in3.5 rounded up
I love a good women's fiction, second chance/starting over in midlife book. Throw in strong female friendships, a book club, insights into small press publishing/writing, single parenting and a bit of romance and this book really hit all the sweet spots for me!! Good on audio too! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
I loved the premise for this enemies to lovers slow burn romance!! When the best man gives the maid of honor's debut book a 1 star review their whole I loved the premise for this enemies to lovers slow burn romance!! When the best man gives the maid of honor's debut book a 1 star review their whole relationship gets off to a terrible start. As the best friends of their friends, Rob and Natalie find themselves constantly in and out of one another's lives as the years go by.
I really enjoyed that this story jumps forward through the years and we see how each of the main characters go through career and love ups and downs and the beautiful, but at times heartbreaking, journey Natalie and her bestie, Gabby go on as secrets and health scares tear them apart and bring them back together.
This was great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: cancer, unexpected pregnancy, parent with dementia...more
A locked door murder mystery set in a rare books library? YES PLEASE!!!!!!
I couldn't read this gothic thriller fast enough. As a librarian/archivist wA locked door murder mystery set in a rare books library? YES PLEASE!!!!!!
I couldn't read this gothic thriller fast enough. As a librarian/archivist who has worked at the Thomas Fisher Rare book library in Toronto (just like the author), this one was a pure delight! Twisty and dark and it kept me guessing right to the end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
(I must say I wasn't expecting quite as high a body count in this one considering the author's debut was not a thriller but I wasn't sad about it!)...more
Another FANTASTIC Kirsten Miller book that did not disappoint! Arguably my MOST anticipated book of 2024, I was sooo excited to receive an early ARC cAnother FANTASTIC Kirsten Miller book that did not disappoint! Arguably my MOST anticipated book of 2024, I was sooo excited to receive an early ARC copy of this one and devoured it in one sitting!
EXTREMELY relevant, this book is set in Southern Georgia and follows the happenings in one small town as an older woman, Lula Dean, advocates book banning and has her little free library taken over surreptitiously by banned books hidden inside the sleeves of more innocuous ones.
Told from multiple POVs that highlight the difficult lives of various town members, who are targeted for being Jewish, queer and a number of other 'taboo' things, this book does such a great job fighting for why it's important to stand up to hate in all forms and fight for the freedom to read books that serve to change lives and open minds.
An impassioned, must-read with tons of heart that could literally be ripped from the headlines of any American (or Canadian) town, this book will have you rooting for the underdogs and cheering for justice to be served.
I loved how secrets and wrongs from the past get dragged into the light and the way Lula Dean's own children come to save the day in the end through a Drag story time!!
10/10 recommend. I don't think I could love this book more if I tried, especially as a proud steward of a Little Free Library myself.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy, William Morrows for a physical ARC and Librofm for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest feedback.
⚠️CW: anti-Semitism, rape, hate crimes, homophobia, transphobia...more
I really, really enjoyed this marriage of convenience, dual POV romance that sees a Children's Librarian turned aspiring writer forced to help save heI really, really enjoyed this marriage of convenience, dual POV romance that sees a Children's Librarian turned aspiring writer forced to help save her writing professor's reputation by marrying him after a drunken kiss between them gets caught on video. Full of forced proximity, fake dating-ish goodness and lots of insights into the writing and publishing world. This was great on audio and is a new favorite for me by this author! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!
This is an ABSOLUTE must read for book lovers, librarians and booksellers. I was pleasantly surprised with the range and diversity of stories from peoThis is an ABSOLUTE must read for book lovers, librarians and booksellers. I was pleasantly surprised with the range and diversity of stories from people both in the States AND Canada.
There was also some great queer representation/persepectives and an important focus on the recent trend of book banning/book challenges.
So many heartwarming stories about helping readers find books that speak to them and encouraging literacy, meeting authors, etc.
A PERFECT pick for Independent Bookstore day or as a gift for the favorite book lover in your life. 10/10 recommend!!!...more
A complicated second chance romance between two former spouses who find themselves reunited in England thanks to the mystery surrounding a grandmotherA complicated second chance romance between two former spouses who find themselves reunited in England thanks to the mystery surrounding a grandmother's missing manuscript. I found this a bit heavy on the Christian influences (but it shouldn't be a surprise considering the publisher), otherwise it was a solid bookish mystery with a touch of suspense and a nice reconciliation/forgiveness story between a couple torn apart by a miscarriage. Good on audio and worth a listen for sure but overall it was just an okay read for me....more
A heartfelt family road trip story that sees three estranged sisters, their famous country singer mother and a man seeking the truth about his paterniA heartfelt family road trip story that sees three estranged sisters, their famous country singer mother and a man seeking the truth about his paternity all embarking on a two week bus adventure where secrets and past hurts will come to light and be healed with a bit of romance thrown in too. While this is a Christian imprint, the faith content wasn't too overpowering, the family dynamics were relatable and the kissing only romance delightful. I also liked the mild Cinderella references and the fact that the main character was an aspiring author trying to make a name for herself outside the shadow of her mother's fame. Great on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This is loosely part of a series but definitely can be read as a standalone.
While it took me a few beats to get into it, once I finally did, I got fully immersed in this historical fiction book about a group of Titanic 'survivWhile it took me a few beats to get into it, once I finally did, I got fully immersed in this historical fiction book about a group of Titanic 'survivors' (mostly people who found themselves lucky enough to have NOT gotten on board to begin with but were supposed to have) and who form a book club in which they discuss various banned books and share their back stories. Interesting and perfect for banned book lovers with a dose of queer romance and misdirection. Great on audio too! Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
This was another FANTASTIC, heartfelt and important YA book about Noor, a young Desi Muslim teen girl who moves to a new small town with her mother anThis was another FANTASTIC, heartfelt and important YA book about Noor, a young Desi Muslim teen girl who moves to a new small town with her mother and brother after her father divorces her mom and basically abandons the family.
The book deals with the challenges of having a parent going through depression and mental health struggles and also focuses on the importance of standing up for what's right in the face of ignorance, bigotry and racism.
When books in Noor's new school starting getting challenged and removed, she can't stand for it and takes up the cause to fight for all the books by LGBTQ and BIPOC authors, establishing little free libraries around her town that feature the banned books.
Moving and heartfelt and so, so relevant to what's going on all around the country with the increasing numbers of censorship and book banning. This was great on audio and a new favorite for me. Highly recommended for fans of books like Ban this book by Alan Gratz or the upcoming Lula Deans' little library of banned books....more
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