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Release date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Graydon House

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

Blurb: 

With wry wit and boundless heart, Eva Woods delivers an unforgettable tale of celebrating triumphs great and small, seizing the day, and always remembering to live in the moment.

“It’s simple, really. You’re just meant to do one thing every day that makes you happy. Could be little things. Could be big. In fact, we’re doing one right now…”

Annie Hebden is stuck. Stuck in her boring job, with her irritating roommate, in a life no thirty-five-year-old would want. But deep down, Annie is still mourning the terrible loss that tore a hole through the perfect existence she’d once taken for granted—and hiding away is safer than remembering what used to be. Until she meets the eccentric Polly Leonard.

Bright, bubbly, intrusive Polly is everything Annie doesn’t want in a friend. But Polly is determined to finally wake Annie up to life. Because if recent events have taught Polly anything, it’s that your time is too short to waste a single day—which is why she wants Annie to join her on a mission…

One hundred days. One hundred new ways to be happy. Annie’s convinced it’s impossible, but so is saying no to Polly. And on an unforgettable journey that will force her to open herself to new experiences—and perhaps even new love with the unlikeliest of men—Annie will slowly begin to realize that maybe, just maybe, there’s still joy to be found in the world. But then it becomes clear that Polly’s about to need her new friend more than ever…and Annie will have to decide once and for all whether letting others in is a risk worth taking.

Review: 

It’s very rare for me to read a book that touches me on such a personal level, even if I relate to the characters in a major way or if the storyline reaches someplace deep inside my heart I don’t often feel truly moved and inspired by a book. I think this is one of those magical moments where I picked the perfect book at the right time, Something Like Happy was exactly the type of book I needed and I didn’t even realize it until I was done.

Woods was inspired by the 100 days of happy posts that we’ve all seen floating around social media and I’ll be the first to admit, sometimes I’ll roll my eyes at them. No ones life is that great every single day, right?! That’s not the point though, it’s about creating your own happiness by making small changes. The concept behind it is so simple yet so pure, can’t we all find something each day to bring us our own slice of happiness? It can be as easy as eating a piece of cake or doing something kind for a stranger. But these small things can truly change our outlook and make us happier, even if only a bit happier, right?! That’s what Polly thinks and if anyone has a reason to be angry and bitter it’s her. She’s thirty five and only has months to live but when she meets Annie she convinces her to join in her happiness project despite Annie being a very unwilling participant. Annie is at the lowest point of her own life and is angry and bitter and would prefer to stay that way. Once you find out why Annie is so broken it’s easy to understand her behavior. But Polly is persistent and before she knows it the two have actually become real, true friends.

The themes here are heavy, you have loss, grief, pain, heartache and much more. But this isn’t a depressing read, it’s truly uplifting and inspiring without being cheesy. Friendship is so important to this story and the relationship that blossoms between Annie and Polly is honest and beautiful. Polly especially oozes positivity but she’s not fake, she’s just making the most of the time she has left and it was a truly gorgeous thing to witness.

If I’m ever feeling down or throwing myself a pity party I’ll pick this book up again, it’s exactly what I need to read to quit feeling sorry for myself and embrace the life that I was given. It really gave me a new, fresh perspective and inspired me to celebrate the little things and to be truly grateful for all that I have. Happiness is a choice and though it may not always be an easy choice, it’s definitely a state of mind. 

Overall rating: 5/5

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Release date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Genre: YA

Blurb:

Dear Best Friend,

I can already tell that I will hate everyone but you.

Sincerely,

Ava Helmer

(that brunette who won’t leave you alone)

We’re still in the same room, you weirdo.

Stop crying.

G

So begins a series of texts and emails sent between two best friends, Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two best friends will document every moment to each other. But as each changes and grows into her new life, will their friendship be able to survive the distance? 

Review: 

I love epistolary novels, there’s something really addictive about them, I think it’s because I feel like I’m getting an up close and personal look into someone’s life because letters/emails/texts are so personal. The format of this worked well for me, it’s all emails and texts between two eighteen year old best friends who are starting their freshman year of college at different schools. These two are polar opposites each dealing with their own issues and I found it to be a really timely read that I think will be a hit for the younger YA crowd.

This was a highly diverse read as Gen is trying to figure out her sexuality and Ava has mental health issues, it really hit on several hot button topics that are hugely relevant today. Ava is sort of naive and uninformed and she struggles to understand Gen’s sexual preferences and behaviors. Gen is mostly patient with her but there were a few times where I felt like she was too harsh with Ava. These two had the type of friendship with no boundaries and when Ava would ask a question (albeit one that’s not politically correct) Gen would bite her head off, she was flat out mean to her.  I get Gen’s frustration but I think Ava felt like it was a safe place for her and she genuinely wanted to become informed and in no way meant to offend her friend. It was just a bit over the top for me. 

This was a cute, funny,  fast paced read and the dialogue was hip and current. Ava and Gen have a fantastic banter and their exchanges really read like that of best friends. I didn’t really like either of them but that didn’t stop me from reading it, but then again these two were born the same year I graduated high school, so as far as being able to relate to them on a personal level… 😂👵🏻

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

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Release date: September 1, 2017

Publisher: Legend Press

Genre: Crime Fiction

Blurb:

Be under no illusions by her kind face and eloquent manner… This woman is guilty of murder.

Grace Bannister is distraught after her daughter’s body is found in a Leicestershire country lane. With her family falling apart and the investigation going nowhere, Grace’s only solace is the re-emergence of Faye, an old friend who seems to understand her loss.

DI Will Jackman delves into the case, until a family tragedy and a figure from his past threaten to derail him.

When the police discover another victim, the spotlight falls on Grace. Can Jackman find the killer, before she is convicted of a crime she didn’t commit?

A gripping thriller perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, S.J. Watson, B A Paris and Sophie Hannah 

Review:

This is the third book in a series but I jumped in here with no issues whatsoever. Isaac provided enough pertinent background information concerning Jackman’s personal life that I felt I had a firm grasp on what type of man he is. It seems he’s had a rough time as of late and my heart truly went out to him, he was one of those characters that I warmed to almost instantly. 

It opened with a very strong prologue as Grace is on trial for murder, then it jumps back to ten months before. Grace’s daughter, Jo was murdered and I had a hard time reconciling this grieving mother with a supposed cold blooded killer. What had happened in the preceding months between her daughters death and her trial? Let’s just say that I couldn’t have predicted anything and was shocked several times along the way. 

Though this is firmly a police procedural, and a very well accomplished one I might add, it dips it’s toe into some other genres which was a pleasant surprise for me. You get a dash of courtroom drama giving it a legal thriller feeling and when Grace bumps into an old school friend, Faye and swiftly rekindles a friendship there was definitely a psychological thriller vibe. I admire the way Isaac was able to blend all these genres without things feeling overdone and convoluted, it was executed seamlessly.

Per usual I’ll not be discussing the plot in detail, but the ending was fantastic, one that had some gasp worthy moments right within the final pages, I LOVE that! I’ll definitely be following this series from here on out, Isaac has a new fan in me. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

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Release date: September 19, 2017

Publisher: Dutton Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

The New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Causes delivers his most captivating and suspenseful Department Q novel yet—perfect for fans of Stieg Larsson. 

Detective Carl Mørck of Department Q, Copenhagen’s cold cases division, meets his toughest challenge yet when the dark, troubled past of one of his own team members collides with a sinister unsolved murder.

In a Copenhagen park the body of an elderly woman is discovered. The case bears a striking resemblance to another unsolved homicide investigation from over a decade ago, but the connection between the two victims confounds the police. Across town a group of young women are being hunted. The attacks seem random, but could these brutal acts of violence be related? Detective Carl Mørck of Department Q is charged with solving the mystery.

Back at headquarters, Carl and his team are under pressure to deliver results: failure to meet his superiors’ expectations will mean the end of Department Q. Solving the case, however, is not their only concern. After an earlier breakdown, their colleague Rose is still struggling to deal with the reemergence of her past—a past in which a terrible crime may have been committed. It is up to Carl, Assad, and Gordon to uncover the dark and violent truth at the heart of Rose’s childhood before it is too late.

Review: 

Before I get into my review I wanted to share my series overview with you guys again. If you haven’t read any of the books in the Department Q series yet it will catch you up and enable you to jump right in! 

The Scarred Woman had one complex, elaborate plot, there were so many plot threads that I kept wondering how in the world they would all come together?! Don’t get me wrong, there wasn’t too much going on and I wasn’t overwhelmed or anything like that. It actually made the book really exciting, it just made me think really hard about where things were headed. At one point Carl and the rest of the Department Q team are working on five different cases at once and trying to figure out if they’re related or not. When the puzzle pieces started to fit together I was truly blown away by how intelligent and well thought out this book was. 

Department Q is down to just Carl, Assad and Gordan as Rose is dealing with some severe mental health issues. I thought the author did a remarkable job of tackling a sensitive subject with delicacy and sensitivity as he explored Rose’s mental health. Her illness puts extra strain on her fellow team members and adds an additional layer to the story. 

One of the biggest surprises here (for me at least) was how funny this book was! It’s definitely not a comedy or anything and it’s still very dark but there was a ton of humor added. Carl himself has a very dry wit and ironic sense of humor. Assad mangles several common phrases and Carl is always quick to correct him and every time I snorted with laughter. It made Assad so adorable and endearing though there is a sense of mystery surround his background that I’m hoping is explored further in the next book. These characters are extremely well drawn and well considered, you can tell that Adler-Olsen did his homework. 

I do want to point out that this is a rather dense read with heavy themes such as mental illness, benefit fraud, prostitution, etc. It was just under five hundred pages but I never felt like it was overdone at all. It’s set in Denmark and the sense of place is excellent, having never been there myself I felt like I had a strong grasp of what it’s like there and how it would feel to live there. 

Since I didn’t end up having the time to read the first six books before I jumped into this one I was a tad apprehensive about forming a connection to the characters but I shouldn’t have worried. I will be going backwards and reading some of the earlier books though since I enjoyed this one so much! I just wanted to encourage those of you who may be hesitant to start with the seventh book, do it! I don’t think you’ll regret it. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

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Release date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

Blurb:

Mothers and daughters, sisters and cousins–they lived for summers at the lake house until a tragic accident changed everything. The Summer That Made Us is an unforgettable story about a family learning to accept the past, to forgive and to love each other again. That was then… For the Hempsteads, two sisters who married two brothers and had three daughters each, summers were idyllic. The women would escape the city the moment school was out to gather at the family house on Lake Waseka. The lake was a magical place, a haven where they were happy and carefree. All of their problems drifted away as the days passed in sun-dappled contentment. Until the summer that changed everything. This is now… After an accidental drowning turned the lake house into a site of tragedy and grief, it was closed up. For good. Torn apart, none of the Hempstead women speak of what happened that summer, and relationships between them are uneasy at best to hurtful at worst. But in the face of new challenges, one woman is determined to draw her family together again, and the only way that can happen is to return to the lake and face the truth. Robyn Carr has crafted a beautifully woven story about the complexities of family dynamics and the value of strong female relationships. 

Review: 

Wow this book was such an emotional read, way more than I was expecting it to be! There were highs and lows, ups and downs and I loved every minute of getting to know the dysfunctional Hempstead family. When I say dysfunctional I’m not even sure that word accurately describes things, this is a family steeped in tragedy going all the way back to the summer of ’89 and to say the events of that fateful summer messed them all up something fierce is putting it mildly.

Megan’s dying wish is to reunite her shattered family. At one point they were all super close and twenty seven years later most of them hardly speak at all. Jo and Lou are sisters who married brothers and they each had three daughters. They spent magical summers at their family lake house and life was pretty damn perfect for those summer months. When the youngest child, Bunny drowns the family is completely broken. Jo and Lou don’t speak and the daughters all mostly went their separate ways as well. Twenty seven years later and they’re back, for better or worse.

What makes Carr’s books standouts for me is her phenomenal characterization. Almost immediately I find myself invested and engrossed in the lives of her characters and this may be my favorite book of hers to date. I can’t even pick a favorite one here because they were all so real and raw, but Megan definitely wormed her way into my heart. I also really liked Krista, she is fresh out of prison after serving twenty five years and she was just such a unique women’s fiction character with her own type of spunk. 

The plot mostly focused on repairing the families fractured relationships while slowly revealing secrets from the past and there were quite a few doozies. I’m always fascinated by complex families and hidden stories and there were so many here. There was one little twist that I totally didn’t see coming, twists in women’s fiction always through me for a loop because I’m not waiting on the edge of my seat for them like in a thriller. 

Despite it being a highly evocative read it’s still very much a lighter read with substance. Carr’s trademark charm and easy writing style is in full effect making the perfect combination for a late summer read. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to Little Bird Publicity for my review copy. 

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Release date: September 1, 2017

Publisher: BQB Publishing

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb:

A reserved wallflower discovers that reality TV is the perfect backdrop to develop her confidence in this lighthearted rom-com. Megan Malone is the ultimate homebody. When her sister talks her into going on The Leftover, a local version of the TV show Survivor, she isn’t sure she’ll make it past the first vote. Meanwhile, Cane Trevino is nursing a broken heart by joining the show as a medic. With time away from his regular job and a dozen contestants to distract him, he hopes he can finally get over the woman he thought was “the one.” 

Review: 

I’m a huge fan of reality TV so when I first read the blurb for The Leftover I was soooo in. When people ask what my other hobbies are besides reading/blogging I always want to say I’m a reality TV aficionado (😂😳) so the idea of two of my favorite pastimes merging was pretty much the perfect combination for me.

Megan is the sweetest character, she’s not your typical chick lit heroine. She’s awkward, goofy and clumsy but she is so cute and endearing. When her sister talks her into taking her spot on the local version of Survivor she is beyond nervous but figures she’ll get voted off pretty quickly, so why not give it a shot? Then she finds out Cane, a local celebrity is the shows medic and things get a little complicated because she has a pretty major crush on him.

As much as I like romance novels to break things up between my beloved crime novels I’m not a huge fan of love scenes. I always feel uncomfortable reading them and find myself skimming over them. I was so relieved when I realized this was a clean romance and even more relieved when it wasn’t cheesy whatsoever. It was infused with so much humor and funny moments and the burgeoning romance between Megan and Cane was sweet and easy. 

This was an light, breezy read with a completely relatable and lovable protagonist. I was rooting for Megan from page one and loved seeing her gain self confidence and become comfortable in her own skin. This was one of those books that just makes you happy, you can’t help but smile while you’re reading and sometimes that’s exactly the type of book that I need!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.