Review: Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein

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Release date: June 7, 2022

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

What if you knew exactly when you’d meet the love of your life? Edie Meyer knows. When her Grandma Gloria was a young woman, she had a vision of the exact day she would meet her soul mate—and then Grandpa Ray showed up.

Since then, Gloria has accurately predicted the day every single member of the family has met their match. Edie’s day arrives on June 24, 2022, when she’s twenty-nine years old. She has been waiting for it half her life. That morning, she boards an airplane to her twin sister’s surprise engagement, and when a handsome musician sits beside her, she knows it’s meant to be.

But fate comes with more complications than Edie expected and she can’t fight the nagging suspicion that her perfect guy doesn’t have perfect timing. After a tragedy and a shocking revelation rock Edie’s carefully constructed world, she’s forced to consider whether love chooses us, as simple as destiny, or if we choose it ourselves.

Review:

I was SO into the premise of this one, the whole idea of fate and destiny is always interesting to me and I was excited to see what the author would do with the concept. I was immediately sucked in as it’s Edie’s day and when she meets a guy who seems like he could be the one I was so excited to see what would happen. So I was into it for at least the first half as Edie and Theo begin dating. I adored the relationship Edie had with her family, and especially with her grandparents and I really loved learning about her Jewish culture and heritage. But then things happen, I know that’s vague but I’m trying not to spoil anything and the story completely lost me. The romance elements I was expecting just didn’t pan out to my satisfaction and by the time I finished I was underwhelmed. Overall this was just ok for me in the end, I really liked so much of this but the end part of Edie’s journey just didn’t work for me at all.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrisey

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Release date: June 21, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

After a decade of silence, Dee and Ben reunite for a road trip they once promised to take. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Dee Matthews is the cohost of the smash-hit podcast Did I Forget To Tell You?, where she interviews family, friends, and past lovers. Nothing is off limits, except for one man (known on the show only as Name Redacted) who happens to be her high school best friend Ben. During their senior year spring break, Dee and Ben took a road trip to visit Ben’s grandma. They buried a time capsule in her backyard, pledging to return in ten years to open it. Then their friendship fell apart in spectacular fashion. They haven’t spoken to each other since.

Ben Porter’s life since that moment has been unexciting but comfortable, until his grandma reveals a family secret that flips his whole world upside down. Her dying wish is for him to stop doing what is safest and go after what he really wants. He starts by showing up on Dee’s doorstep with every intention of fulfilling their long-ago promise. Despite her reservations, Dee can’t say no. This trip could be her chance to give her listeners the Name Redacted interview they’ve been begging for–and finally put her unresolved feelings for Ben to rest.

As the miles fly by, Dee and Ben’s friendship reignites. But the closer they get to reaching their destination, the more apparent it becomes that their attraction to each other cannot be ignored. Their last adventure ended in disaster, and they’re about to find out if any hope of a future together is in the rear view mirror.

Review:

This is the second time in the last few months that I’ve read a second chance romance that I’ve really enjoyed. I’ve always said that it’s not my favorite trope, but after two standouts I may need to quit saying and thinking that. Maybe I just need them to be really well executed to adore them and I think the author did a great job here. Dee and Ben are the real stars of the show here, I mean duh they’re the main characters, but what I mean is that the majority of the book is filled with scenes of just the two of them. This gave the book a really intimate feeling as they reconnect after ten years of total silence and have to really hash out some old issues if they want to move forward together. The road trip aspect was fun and summery and there was a real sense of nostalgia as well as they spend some time reminiscing about their high school days. Ben was the cutest most lovable hero and Dee was as well, but in a neurotic but wholly endearing way. I really enjoyed my time with these two, their connection was heavily apparent and the way they bantered back and forth showed just how true their friendship was and maybe still is.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Audiobook Review: The Measure by Nikki Erlick

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Release date: June 28, 2022

Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Dystopian

Synopsis:

It seems like any other day: You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out. But today when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live.

From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise? As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined; pen pals finding refuge in the unknown; a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush; a doctor who cannot save himself; and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is a sweeping, ambitious, invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.

Review:

When I first heard about this book the premise immediately fascinated me, it’s like you cannot even imagine such a thing happening but also you kind of can. Unsettling for sure. So going into it I assumed it would be deep and maybe even heavy at times and it was, but it was also super thought provoking and insightful. The amount of questions it raises is staggering, it explores a plethora of issues and I can see this being a fantastic pick for a book club. There is SO much to be discussed here, I actually wish I had a group of people to chat with when u finished myself. I don’t wanna get too deep into the plot but you get multiple perspectives from several characters and I enjoyed hearing from each of them. You may think this one would be pretty depressing and it’s really not, yes there were sad moments but also moments of hope. It was poignant and as usual Julia Whelan gives a fantastic performance in the audio version. Definitely check it out if you want something a little meatier this summer.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Audiobook Review: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

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Goodreads

Release date: July 19, 2022

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

She’s got his back.
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindgerten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka “bodyguard”), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.

He’s got her heart.
Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.

They’ve got a secret.
When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, like a jerk, says no one will believe it.

What could possibly go wrong???
Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.

Review:

Reading a new Katherine Center book is always such a delight, her books are like a ray of sunshine that always leave me feeling warm and cozy. This was just so good y’all, it had everything I needed and more. It was heartfelt and full of emotion but it was also light and super funny too. The characters were so so lovable, I adored both Hannah and Jack and thought their pairing was perfection. Fake dating is my fave so I was happy to see the trope here and the author nailed it. This is begging to be made into a rom com movie, the writing was so vivid it already played out like a movie in my head, clearly I just adored it and can highly recommend it as an addition to your summer TBR! The audio version was fantastic and narrator Patti Murin was great.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Privacy by Nina Sadowsky

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Goodreads

Release date: June 14, 2022

Publisher: Bantam

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A therapist’s patients are the victims in a campaign to destroy her life in this unsettling and electrifying novel from the author of Convince Me.

What is the cost of carrying not only your own pain and grief, but that of so many others?

Dr. Lana Landers is good at her job. She’s an accomplished marriage and family therapist, dedicated and compassionate. When she is summoned by the police after one of her patients holds his wife hostage at gunpoint, she is able to intervene and dissuade him. Lana becomes a media sensation. But as her star rises, the target on her back grows larger.

How much can a person bear before breaking?

Not everyone is impressed by Lana’s achievements. In fact, someone is after her. And to get to her, they are targeting what matters most to her: her patients. One by one, Lana’s patients begin to spiral out of control after the receipt of unsettling “gifts.” An embezzler and his wife receive “dirty money,” bills soaked in rancid oil; a cuckold receives an audio file of his wife with her lover; a young woman receives a jar of formaldehyde that reminds her of a dreadful mistake from her past. Then Lana herself is the target of a home invasion, and when the perpetrators flee, they leave behind a message: I’m watching you.

Aided by Cal Murray, the ambitious and charismatic investigative journalist with whom she has an explosive attraction, Lana discovers that someone has it in for her. Someone with access to her patient records. Someone who wants to end her stellar reputation, her newfound success, and even, perhaps, her life.

Review:

This is my second book by the author and there is something really captivating about her writing style that really appeals to me. I love starting a book and realizing it’s both fast paced and on the shorter side too and that’s what this one had, and then the first couple of chapters were so interesting I just knew I would read it in a couple of sittings. I totally did by the way, it was addictive.

I think the strongest aspect of this one was the really tricky and fun guessing game the author created. I had several theories that changed repeatedly throughout the book and not one of them were right in the end. I was definitely surprised when all was revealed and even though it was a little bit out there and sorta wacky I still enjoyed it. Overall I found this one to be creepy and unsettling but also really entertaining in a bat shit crazy kind of way.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Wife Before by Shanora Williams

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Goodreads

Release date: June 28, 2022

Publisher: Kensington

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Samira Wilder has never had it easy, and when her latest lousy job goes south, things only promise to get harder. Until she unexpectedly meets a man who will change her life forever. Renowned pro golfer Roland Graham is wealthy, handsome, and caring, and Samira is dazzled. Best of all, he seems to understand her better than anyone ever has. And though their relationship moves a bit fast, when Roland proposes, Samira accepts. She even agrees to relocate to his secluded Colorado mansion. After all, there’s nothing to keep her in Miami, and the mansion clearly makes him happy. Soon, they are married amid a media firestorm, and Samira can’t wait to make a fresh start—as the second Mrs. Graham . . .

Samira settles into the mansion, blissfully happy—until she discovers long-hidden journals belonging to Roland’s late wife, Melanie, who died in a tragic accident. With each dusty page, Samira comes to realize that perhaps it was no accident at all—that perhaps her perfect husband is not as perfect as she thought. Even as her trust in Roland begins to dwindle and a shadow falls over her marriage and she begins to fear for her own life, Samira is determined to uncover the truth of Melanie’s troubled last days. But even good wives should know that the truth is not always what it seems . . .

Review:

If you’re anything like me when you read the synopsis for this you probably thought it sounded familiar. You would be wrong though and I was too, the author took a basic idea and put her own unique spin on it. I love thinking I have everything figured out in a book only to have the author knock me on my ass with a series of twists and turns and that’s exactly what happened here. This was super fast paced with short chapters that just beg you to keep reading and that’s exactly what I did. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next with these messy lives and I was hooked, there was definitely some juicy material here making this an ideal summer thriller. Definitely recommended as a weekend binge read, this was really addictive!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Audiobook Review: It All Comes Down to This by Therese Anne Fowler

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Goodreads

Release date: June 7, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Meet the Geller sisters: Beck, Claire, and Sophie, a trio of strong-minded women whose pragmatic, widowed mother, Marti, will be dying soon. Marti has ensured that her modest estate is easy for her family once she’s gone––including a provision that the family’s summer cottage on Mount Desert Island, Maine, must be sold, the proceeds split equally between the three girls.

Beck, the eldest, is a freelance journalist whose marriage looks more like a sibling bond than a passionate partnership. In fact, her husband is hiding a troubling truth about his love life. For Beck, the Maine cottage has been essential to her secret wish to write a novel––and to remake the terms of her relationship.

Despite her accomplishments as a pediatric cardiologist, Claire, the middle daughter, has always felt like the Geller misfit. Recently divorced, Claire’s unrequited love for the wrong man is slowly destroying her, and she’s finding that her expertise on matters of the heart unfortunately doesn’t extend to her own.

Youngest daughter Sophie appears to live an Instagram-ready life, filled with glamorous work and travel, celebrities, fashion, art, and sex. In reality, her existence is a cash-strapped house of cards that may tumble at any moment.

But when C.J. Reynolds, an enigmatic southerner with his own hidden past enters the picture, the future of the Maine cottage––and of the sisters themselves––will take on an entirely new dimension.

Review:

I knew having read the authors previous book that she writes character driven novels about family so while my expectations were set accordingly, there was still something off about this one for me. Usually when I’m engrossed in an audiobook I have no problem following along but here my mind was wandering at different points along the way and I had to really try to focus and pay attention. I think part of my issue was that I didn’t really care for any of the Geller sisters so it was difficult to be invested in their story. The whole thing just felt kinda messy and pointless but I will say between the good writing and the wonderful audio narration I did finish it so it definitely wasn’t all bad. I just think I wanted an overall better connection to the story and characters.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Audiobook Review: As Seen on TV by Meredith Schorr

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Release date: June 7, 2022

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Emerging journalist Adina Gellar is done with dating in New York City. If she’s learned anything from made-for-TV romance movies, it’s that she’ll find love in a small town – the kind with harvest festivals, delightful but quirky characters, and scores of delectable single dudes. So when a big-city real estate magnate targets tiny Pleasant Hollow for development, Adi knows she’s found the perfect story – one that will earn her a position at a coveted online magazine, so she can finally start adulting for real…and maybe even find her dream man in the process.

Only Pleasant Hollow isn’t exactly “pleasant.” There’s no charming bakery, no quaint seasonal festivals, and the residents are more ambivalent than welcoming. The only upside is Finn Adams, who’s more mouthwatering than the homemade cherry pie Adi can’t seem to find – even if he does work for the company she’d hoped to bring down. Suddenly Adi has to wonder if maybe TV got it all wrong after all. But will following her heart mean losing her chance to break into the big time?

Review:

I really liked the premise of this one and thought how the author took a typical small town romance story and flipped everything upside down was not only adorable but also clever. I adore both small town romance movies and books so many of the references made me giggle in appreciation. Small town life does not always mean cute little festivals, insta love and quirky neighbors and that’s more than apparent in Pleasant Hollow. It was a really unique take on the genre and I totally appreciated reading something fresh. I found Adi to be very relatable, she was fun and witty and said so many things that made me laugh. Finn as a sort of anti hero was still charming in his own right and I believed their relationship story as well as their chemistry. I think the narrator, Emily Lawrence was great too, she made listening an enjoyable experience. Overall a fun and light read that will be perfect this summer.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Good Husbands by Cate Ray

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Release date: June 7, 2022

Publisher: Park Row

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Three wives, one letter, an explosive secret that will change everything.

He said, she said. Who do you believe?

Review:

As of now that synopsis is short and sweet and I honestly assumed based off of that this one would be a thriller and I was wrong. Which is fine, this is waaaaayyyy deeper than a thriller and has huge triggers for sexual assault, so if you’re looking for a lighter domestic suspense this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a deeper read that is emotionally charged this may be for you.

There is a lot about this one that is uncomfortable and hard to read but it’s also incredibly powerful at the same time. It’s very much a slow burn and sometimes it was frustratingly so but I believe the payoff was worth it in the end. Each of the three women who narrates is very well developed and grappling with so many varying issues. I could empathize with each one at some point and can see this leading to some great discussions if chosen as a book club read. If you can handle difficult subject matter and know this is fiction with some suspense and disturbing themes this was a solid and thought provoking read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Audiobook Review: On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi

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Release date: June 21, 2022

Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Angie Appiah is the epitome of the Perfect Immigrant Daughter. She’s got it all: medical school credentials, a handsome lawyer boyfriend, and ride or die friends. But what happens when everything falls apart? Her boyfriend dumps her, she bombs the most important exam of her medical career, and her closest confidante and roommate pulls away, telling Angie she’s more wrapped up in herself than in her friends.

Angie is crushed. She’s always faced her problems by working “twice as hard to get half as far and until now, that’s done well for her. When did life get so complicated? Suddenly, she begins to question everything: her career choice, her friendships, even why she’s attracted to men who don’t love her as much as she loves them. And just when things couldn’t get more confusing, enter Ricky, brilliant, thoughtful, sexy, but who has wasteman practically tattooed across his forehead. For someone who’s always been in control, Angie realizes that there’s one thing she can’t plan on: matters of her heart.

Review:

I love finding a debut author to fangirl over and this was such a solid first book! It’s a mash up of some of my favorite things too, you get romance, great character growth as Angie is really going through it for the majority of the book, strong female friendships, family and cultural traditions and expectations and a side of medical drama a la Grey’s Anatomy. Seriously so much to love here for me! Merging all of that together could be tricky but in the right authors hands it works and the author worked her magic. This was such a layered read and I loved seeing all aspects of Angie’s life, it gave me such a clear picture of who she is and I was rooting hard for her. Instead of just focusing on her romantic entanglement with Ricky she goes through friend drama, work drama and family drama. There are some powerful depictions of her immigrant experience and the pressures her family placed on her to succeed, and what success looks like to them was interesting. The whole thing was relatable, insightful and just a joy to read and narrator Mela Lee is absolutely fantastic!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.