Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

If you’ve been following the book world on social media accounts, you’ve probably noticed the huge hype that Colleen has stumbled upon. Everyone is obsessed with her work, and it’s easy to tell why!

Thank you Montlake for my gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself. The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them. The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

I’ve read quite a few “CoHo” books, so I went into this one with some expectations. They definitely lived up to them. As per usual, once I start one of her books, I can’t stop. I can devour them in 2 hours, much like I did this one. Cue the emotional roller coaster! I loved everything about this book, except there was a romance scene in the beginning that I felt was completely rushed and unrealistic. Even though it was necessary for the rest of the story, I still couldn’t seem to shake it. Regardless, it’s a book I can see myself reading again. I will forever read a Colleen Hoover book.

4/5 Stars

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

The holidays are upon us, so what better timing for a romantic comedy?!

Thank you Putnam Books for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Laura’s business trip to the Channel Islands isn’t exactly off to a great start. After unceremoniously dumping everything in her bag in front of the most attractive man she’s ever seen in real life, she arrives at her hotel only to realize she’s grabbed the wrong suitcase from the airport. Her only consolation? The irresistibly appealing contents of the case: a copy of her favorite book; piano music; and a rugged, heavy knit fisherman sweater only a Ryan Gosling lookalike could pull off. The owner of this suitcase is Laura’s dream man–she’s sure of it. Now, all she has to do is find him. The mix-up seems written in the stars. After all, what are the odds that she’d find The One on the same remote island where her mom and dad had first fallen in love, especially as she sets out to write an article about their epic romance? Commissioning surly cab driver Ted to ferry her around seems like her best bet in both tracking down the mystery suitcase owner and retracing her parents’ footsteps. And if beneath Ted’s gruffness lies a wit that makes their cab rides strangely entertaining, so much the better. But as Laura’s long-lost luggage soulmate proves difficult to find–and as she realizes that the love story she’s held on a pedestal all her life might not have been that perfect–she’ll have to rethink her whole outlook on love to discover what she really wants.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It kind of gave me some Mamma Mia vibes for some reason – I think it was the traveling plus the remembrance of parents falling in love. It’s such a light-hearted rom-com that also gives you such great character development and depth in their growth as a person. This is such a heart-warming story, I could easily find myself reading it over again! A true delight.

5/5 Stars

Heard It In A Love Song by Tracey Garvis Graves

I was really moved by the last book I had read from Tracey, so I’m excited to be back in her world of writing.

Thank you St Martin’s Press for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Layla Hilding is thirty-five and recently divorced. Struggling to break free from the past—her glory days as the lead singer in a band and a ten-year marriage to a man who never put her first—Layla’s newly found independence feels a lot like loneliness. Then there’s Josh, the single dad whose daughter attends the elementary school where Layla teaches music. Recently separated, he’s still processing the end of his twenty-year marriage to his high school sweetheart. He chats with Layla every morning at school and finds himself thinking about her more and more. Equally cautious and confused about dating in a world that favors apps over meeting organically, Layla and Josh decide to be friends with the potential for something more. Sounds sensible and way too simple—but when two people are on the rebound, is it heartbreak or happiness that’s a love song away?

Oh man, this kind of story is my favorite trope. I love me a good second chance at love. I feel like those are the most authentic love stories, and Tracey did not disappoint with that in this book. Just like her previous book I read, “The Girl He Used To Know”, he characters are so well developed and multi-layered. It’s always such a joy to read her books because of that. While their love story was a slow burn, I felt it completely necessary in this book. What I did struggle with, and tend to do so in many other books, is the alternating chapters between the character’s viewpoints. It wasn’t as seamless as I had hoped it would be. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this book.

4/5 Stars

The Rehearsals by Annette Christie

Sometimes I read too many thrillers, and I just need a good romance to lighten the load.

Thank you Little Brown and Company for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Megan Givens and Tom Prescott are heading into what is supposed to be their magical wedding weekend on beautiful San Juan Island. But with two difficult families, ten years of history, and all too many secrets, things quickly go wrong. After a disastrous rehearsal dinner they vow to call the whole thing off—only to wake up the next morning stuck together in a time loop. Are they really destined to relive the worst day of their lives, over and over? And what happens if their wedding day does arrive?

You had me at time travel with this one. I truly am a sucker for time travel books, no matter what! This was so adorable, I loved every moment of it. I fell in love with the writing, the characters, the groundhog day plot, the humor, the whit, you name it. This would also be a super great movie, just saying! This is your next perfect summer read.

5/5 Stars

A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan

Sometimes, a good title and even better cover art is all that a girl needs to pick her next read. Especially when the title has the same name as you do.

Thank you Little Brown and Company for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Remy and Alicia, a couple of insecure  service workers, are not particularly happy together. But they are bound by a shared obsession with Jen, a beautiful former co-worker of Remy’s who now seems to be following her bliss as a globe-trotting jewelry designer. In and outside the bedroom, Remy and Alicia’s entire relationship revolves around fantasies of Jen, whose every Instagram caption, outfit, and new age mantra they know by heart. Imagine their confused excitement when they run into Jen, in the flesh, and she invites them on a surfing trip to the Hamptons with her wealthy boyfriend and their group. Once there, Remy and Alicia try (a little too hard) to fit into Jen’s exalted social circle, but violent desire and class resentment bubble beneath the surface of this beachside paradise, threatening to erupt. As small disturbances escalate into outright horror, we find ourselves tumbling with Remy and Alicia into an uncanny alternate reality, one shaped by their most unspeakable, deviant, and intoxicating fantasies.  Is this what “self-actualization” looks like?

A toxic Instagram crush creates one heck of a monster in this wild ride! Is this a romance? Is this fantasy? How about science fiction? Is it comical? I don’t know how, but it’s all of the above and Beth did a great job at that! This book is so unique and makes it a must-read! There truly is no other story like it. It’s addicting!

4.5/5 Stars

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

I grew up 30 minutes away from the Chesapeake Bay, so any book that takes place in the same area is an automatic must-read for me!

Thank you Berkley for my gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Piper Parrish’s life on Frick Island—a tiny, remote town smack in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay—is nearly perfect. Well, aside from one pesky detail: Her darling husband, Tom, is dead. When Tom’s crab boat capsized and his body wasn’t recovered, Piper, rocked to the core, did a most peculiar thing: carried on as if her husband was not only still alive, but right there beside her, cooking him breakfast, walking him to the docks each morning, meeting him for their standard Friday night dinner date at the One-Eyed Crab. And what were the townspeople to do but go along with their beloved widowed Piper? Anders Caldwell’s career is not going well. A young ambitious journalist, he’d rather hoped he’d be a national award-winning podcaster by now, rather than writing fluff pieces for a small town newspaper. But when he gets an assignment to travel to the remote Frick Island and cover their boring annual Cake Walk fundraiser, he stumbles upon a much more fascinating tale: an entire town pretending to see and interact with a man who does not actually exist. Determined it’s the career-making story he’s been needing for his podcast, Anders returns to the island to begin covert research and spend more time with the enigmatic Piper—but he has no idea out of all the lives he’s about to upend, it’s his that will change the most.

Don’t look any further for the perfect beach read. This book is charming, emotional, and enchanting! You’ll cry tears of sadness and joy all in the same breath. A beautiful story of love and friendships. A beautiful story of humanity at it’s best. And to all my friends and family back home reading this review, it’s based off of Smith Island, so you just have to pick it up this summer and read it! 🙂

5/5 Stars

The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell

I was in the mood for something light, upbeat, and flirty – so I decided to dive into this one!

Thank you Berkley Books for my gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: When Royal Academy painting student Lucy Coover trips over a naked man passed out in an East End alley, she does the decent thing. She covers him up and fetches help. Trouble is, she can’t banish his muscular form from her dreams as easily. She finds herself compelled to put every detail down on canvas. What she doesn’t know is that she’s painting the infamous Duke of Weston, and that her life will never be the same. A second son, Anthony Philby thought he could flee his brutal family legacy and become his own man. Forced back to London by his brother’s death, he inherits a fortune… with strings attached. One scandal will sink his bid for independence. It’s in his best interest to burn Lucy Coover’s shocking painting and pretend he never met the bewitching young artist. Instead, he finds himself offering a devil’s bargain. He’ll save her aunt’s dressmaking shop from ruin, if she’ll seek out his missing sister, Effie. As they work together, an unexpected passion ignites between them. But the hunt for Effie leads to unexpected danger, and soon they find themselves risking everything… for a love that might destroy them both. 

This is definitely light, upbeat, and very flirty! This is the start of a new series, and I have a feeling that those who love this book will be really happy about that! First of all, I absolutely love the cover! It’s stunning! Secondly, if you are a fan of the Bridgerton series as of lately, I think this will be right up your alley! It was a little cheesy for me, but then again…I’m all for intense emotions whether good or bad. I just felt like this had a lot going on (alcohol, PTSD, emotional abuse, etc.) just to say that it included it. I’m probably not the best reader for this novel, but I can see where a lot of people are really going to love this one!

3/5 Stars

Everything After by Jill Santopolo

I love Jill’s books so much. They leave you with so many happy tears. This is one of my most anticipated reads this year and it’s finally in my hands. I’m fan-girling over here!

Thank you Putnam for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Emily has come a long way since she lost her two passions fifteen years ago: music, and Rob. She’s a psychologist at NYU who helps troubled college students like the one she once was. Together with her caring doctor husband, Ezra, she has a beautiful life. They’re happy. They hope to start a family. But when a tragic event in Emily’s present too closely echoes her past, and parts of her story that she’d hoped never to share come to light, her perfect life is suddenly upturned. Then Emily hears a song on the radio about the woman who got away. The melody and voice are hauntingly familiar. Could it be? As Emily’s past passions come roaring back into her life, she’ll find herself asking: Who is she meant to be? Who is she meant to love?

YUP. This is EXACTLY what I wanted it to be, and everything more. First love stories are my guilty pleasure. This is one of my most favorite stories yet! ALL the feels! The characters are just so real and raw – you can’t help but feel like you are Emily yourself! I wish I could read this all over again for the first time.

5/5 Stars

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Sometimes the best kind of surprises come in books that knock your socks off. Cue Final Donovan…

Thank you Minotaur Books for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Finlay Donovan is killing it . . . except, she’s really not. She’s a stressed-out single-mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: the new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written, her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors. When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer, and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet . . . Soon, Finlay discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

This book really took me by surprise! I went into it thinking it was going to be really cheesy. Instead, it was completely hilarious and had the perfect amount of of thrill for it’s murder mystery vibes. Also, if you are a fan of Panera Bread, you will love this book! Yeah, Finlay was a bit naive most of the time, but the background intrigue kept me glued to every page. Super fun and refreshing read!

4/5 Stars

Meet Me At The Lighthouse by Mary Jayne Baker

I don’t know about you, but I needed a really light fun read to get me out of the slump I’ve been since the beginning of this year started. (It’s been a whirlwind of a year already, hasn’t it?!)

Thank you Aria books for my gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Bobbie Hannigan’s life is perfectly fine, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting a bit of adventure. To throw caution to the wind and buy a lighthouse. Armed with her new purchase, she decides to turn it into a music venue with the help of local musician, Ross Mason, the first boy she ever kissed. Determined to keep things professional, Bobbie tried to forget the past, but the happily-ever-after they’re working towards is too good to resist. That is, until someone from the past crawls back to cause trouble. Can Bobbie look past the secrets Ross has been keeping from her? Or will the boy, the lighthouse, and the dream all slip away?

This really hit the spot! This book was hilarious, charming, and filled with sweet romance. I, personally, am obsessed with lighthouses, so I think I’m partial to this book more than others. The writing just flows so smoothly and the characters are so enjoyable to read about. Their witty banter really gets me 🙂 Highly recommend this one!

5/5 Stars