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Release date: January 31, 2017

Publisher: HQN Books

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Blurb: 

Ainsley O’Leary is so ready to get married—she’s even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn’t anticipate is being blindsided by a breakup he chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half sister, Kate, who’s struggling with a sudden loss of her own.

Kate’s always been the poised, self-assured sister, but becoming a newlywed—and a widow—in the space of four months overwhelms her. Though the sisters were never close, she starts to confide in Ainsley, especially when she learns her late husband was keeping a secret from her.

Despite the murky blended-family dynamic that’s always separated them, Ainsley’s and Kate’s heartaches bind their summer together when they come to terms with the inevitable imperfection of relationships and family—and the possibility of one day finding love again.

Review: 

Every time Higgins releases a new book and I finish reading it I think, this is her best one yet, it’s my favorite, she’s topped herself again. She’s that’s good you guys, her work gets stronger and she was already extremely talented to begin with. I don’t even have to read the blurb for her novels, I’m reading it no matter what, but when I did read the blurb for this one I was thrilled. Her last book, If You Only Knew was also about sisters and she has such a gift for writing about these complicated relationships with humor and insight. 

This flips back and forth from both Ainsley and Kate’s point of view, which I love, multiple narrators are my thing and Higgins does this flawlessly. Ainsley is the younger sister and she’s been dating the same guy for eleven years. She knows they’ll get married one day, but life keeps getting in the way. When she gets dumped instead of proposed to she’s shocked and humiliated. Did I mention that he chronicles this in his blog and it goes viral? Yikes. Kate is the older sister and after decades of being single she’s finally found love and married Nathan. Bliss is short though when he dies in a freak accident and she’s devastated and broken. Ainsley and Kate have never been close, but can they lean on each other when they both need it the most? 

What makes Higgins book standout to me is the amazing characters she creates. I completely related and felt a deep connection to both Ainsley and Kate and by the end I felt like they were both friends of mine. Their journeys are messy, heartbreaking, raw, honest and so very real. Besides the sisters, this book is chock full of fantastic secondary characters that you’ll both love and hate. From Eric the pompous ass who dumped Ainsley, to Daniel the Hot Firefighter and Jonathan, Ainsley’s  robotic like alien boss, to my favorite, Gram Gram. She is so sassy, she’s shamelessly looking for love and not too proud to use Tinder, she cracked me up! Leo and Jenny from If You Only Knew also make several appearances and I adored checking in with them. 

Reading a Higgins book is like eating my ultimate comfort food for me, they just always make me feel warm and cozy by the end. Her books are full of so much heart, you can’t help but feel as if you’re experiencing what the characters are right along with them. If you haven’t read any of her books yet, I urge you to give them a shot. You can pick up any of them, but as I said earlier, I feel like they get better with each one, so start with If You Only Knew then try this one. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, in fact I think you’ll discover your new favorite author. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Claire at Little Bird Publicity for my review copy. 

About the Author: 

Kristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of 16 novels, which have been translated into more than twenty languages. Her books have received dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from Kirkus, The New York Journal of Books, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Booklist. She is a five-time nominee for The Kirkus Prize for Best Work of Fiction, and her books regularly appear on the lists for best novels of the year of many prestigious journals and review sites.

Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, their freakishly beautiful, entertaining and sarcastic children, two overly frisky rescue dogs and an occasionally friendly cat.

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Release date: February 21, 2017

Publisher: Berkley Publishing 

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station, waits at a certain place on the platform, finds her favorite spot in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her… 

It all starts with a classified ad. During her commute home one night, while glancing through her local paper, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her; a grainy photo along with a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com. 

Other women begin appearing in the same ad, a different one every day, and Zoe realizes they’ve become the victims of increasingly violent crimes–including murder. With the help of a determined cop, she uncovers the ad’s twisted purpose…A discovery that turns her paranoia into full-blown panic. Zoe is sure that someone close to her has set her up as the next target. 

And now that man on the train–the one smiling at Zoe from across the car–could be more than just a friendly stranger. He could be someone who has deliberately chosen her and is ready to make his next move… 

Review: 

Mackintosh’ debut, I Let You Go was one of my favorite reads of 2016 so naturally I was so excited to read I See You but I was also slightly apprehensive. The overall plot, superb writing style and massive twist in ILYG was so stunning that I wondered if her sophomore novel would be as strong. I shouldn’t have worried one bit as ISY was brilliant and though it was different, it was just as engaging and addictive. 

Zoe is just an average woman living her life and I appreciated that she’s a middle aged woman and someone any of us could know or actually be. That’s what made this book so chilling, you can really envision this situation playing out in real life. When she first sees her picture in an ad in the paper she’s confused, but not overly concerned. As she begins to put the puzzle pieces together though she becomes paranoid and very worried. I can’t say I blame her, I would be too! We’ve all experienced the feeling of being watched before, but imagining how that would feel when you’re certain the person watching you has sinister motivations is so unnerving. When you add in that this is all happening during her generally uneventful daily commute, you have a claustrophobic environment that adds so much to the intensity. Zoe is surrounded by so many people, but that doesn’t make her safe, in fact many crimes are committed everyday without anyone even noticing, creepy stuff! 

Kelly is the police officer that helps Zoe and I warmed to her character just as much as I did to Zoe. She’s tenacious, determined and a total rule breaker, especially when she feels she’s doing the right thing. This is heavy on the police procedures, but it’s not dry or boring as Mackintosh’s knowledge of such things is apparent and interesting. (She’s a former officer herself) Besides being told from the two women’s point of view, there are terrifying passages from the person behind the website that add something very ominous to an already dark plot. 

I’ll stop with the plot details there, but if you’re already a fan of Mackintosh you’ll like this. As I said earlier, this is different but still very solid, edgy and dark AND she’s an extremely talented writer and storyteller. She crafts very well developed characters that are also wholly relatable making for a very gripping read. I was never able to pinpoint who the baddie was though at some point I was convinced every character was involved, and the ending was fantastic, throwing a sucker punch of a twist in the final page. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Berkley Pub and Abby at Crime by the Book for my review copy. 

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Release date: February 15, 2017

Publisher: Penn Publishing 

Genre: Sports Romance 

Blurb: 

Former collegiate athlete and successful sports agent, Charlotte “Coach” Coachman, is a straight shooter who has a very strict policy—no dating clients. The loves of her life are coaching little league basketball and managing the careers of her players, leaving no room for men. 

Coach hasn’t met an athlete she couldn’t handle and a deal she couldn’t close—until she meets Alex Parker—the NHL’s most notorious bad boy both on and off the ice. 

Alex is the best defenseman in the league, breaking records along with hearts. He’s made a name for himself as a womanizer, and after a scandal involving the owner’s granddaughter, Alex is traded to Philadelphia. Still reeling from the loss of his father, Alex is on a downward spiral, drowning himself in booze and women, until Coach takes him under her wing. 

She might be attracted to the sexy hockey star, and certainly not immune to his charms, but Coach can see that Alex needs her help, and coaching players is what she does best. Now that the lines are blurred and the passion between them is too strong to deny, Coach has to decide if Alex is worth making an exception to her rules.

Review: 

So, confession time for me. I’ve never read a sports themed romance in my life. (Sorry Jill!) But when my friend and fellow blogger Jillian Quinn told me she was releasing the first book in yet another new series for her, I couldn’t resist. I loved her debut, Corrupt Me and couldn’t wait to read another one of her hot and sexy romances! This one had a similar style to it, her writing really has a groove and flow to it that appeals to me and for a girl who doesn’t watch sports much less read about them, I was surprisingly interested in that aspect. 

When I read a romance, more than with any other genre, I want characters that speak to me on some level. In a thriller I can hate most or even all of the main players and still enjoy a book. But in a romance? I want a connection and I easily felt one with both Parker and Charlie. He’s a typical bad boy, but man does he have some serious charm. Did you guys see that cover?! I may have kept flipping back and forth just to get another glimpse of those abs. Besides having a pretty face I really liked that underneath his macho exterior he was a bit of a softie. His way with kids, especially fans was totally swoon worthy. Charlie was just an awesome character. She’s a bad ass sports agent who takes no prisoners, but she has her own issues and though she doesn’t show her softer side to just anyone, she’s got a vulnerability that made me feel for her. 

I’m a sucker for a storyline with people who shouldn’t or can’t be together and Quinn played this one perfectly. Charlie takes her job very seriously and her boss and father figure has a strict no dating policy between clients and agents, so no matter how badly she wants Parker, she can’t go there. The chemistry between these two was HOT and the sexual tension was heavy. Parker is so cocky and Charlie is so flirty with him, it was both adorable and sexy. With all that being said, there’s much more to this book than just sex scenes, the characters are well developed and I really felt like I knew AND liked them both by the end. This was such a fun read, I devoured it in a couple of hours and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in this series. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

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Release date: February 16, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: 

What if the person you love most in the world was in terrible danger … because of you?

Three years ago, Toni’s five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace. 

But Toni believes her daughter is alive. And as she begins to silently piece together her memories, the full story of the past begins to reveal itself, and a devastating truth.

Toni’s mind is trapped in a world of silence, her only chance to save herself is to manage the impossible. She must find a way to make herself heard. She must find her daughter. 

A compelling, gripping thriller with a breathtaking twist that will keep you awake until the early hours. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and The Sister.

Review: 

I’m starting to think Slater’s books need to come with a warning label: Do not start reading this unless you’re prepared to sacrifice sleep and be so consumed that nothing will take your attention from it until you’ve turned the last page. I read this on Valentine’s Day and my poor husband fell asleep while waiting for me to finish reading 😂 whoops! 

I loved Slater’s debut, Safe With Me and I can safely say that I loved Blink even more! I also did a buddy read for the first time with Annie at The Misstery and Danielle at The Blonde Likes Books and it was SO fun. Even though we all finished at different times it was really great to be able to discuss theories and opinions with these two fabulous ladies, can’t wait to do this again! 

This is told partly in flashbacks from three years ago and partly in the present day and from multiple points of view, and this structure is flawlessly executed by the author. There’s a woman in a coma in the present day portions and she’s suffered a stroke and is now a victim of locked in syndrome where her body is physically unable to move, yet her mind works just fine. She can hear the doctors talking about the possibility of ending her life, yet she can’t let them know that she’s still very much aware. Can you even imagine?! Shudders. Toni is a single mom to Evie and narrates the flashbacks. Her husband Andrew died and she’s just trying to survive, even though she’s having a really hard time. There are several other perspectives but you’ll have to read those for yourself, you guys know I don’t do spoilers. 

This is relentlessly paced, there was no way that I was able to put this down until I figured out exactly what was really going on. Having read so many thrillers I was distrustful and suspicious of everyone, but every single character was so very twisted and untrustworthy that it was impossible to decipher who was really up to no good here. I was mislead so many times my head was spinning and by the time the big twist was revealed I was gobsmacked, what a truly killer turn things took. This was a cleverly crafted psychological thriller and I cannot wait to see what Slater comes up with next! She just signed a new four book deal with Bookouture and I couldn’t be more excited for her. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. 

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Release date: February 7, 2017

Publisher: The Dial Press

Genre: Chick Lit 

Blurb: 

Part love story, part workplace dramedy, part witty critique of the false judgments we make in a social-media-obsessed world, this is New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella’s most timely and sharply observed novel yet.

Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. The final, demeaning straw comes when Demeter makes Katie dye her roots in the office. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she’s desperate to make her dad proud.

Then, just as she’s finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

Sophie Kinsella is celebrated for her vibrant, relatable characters and her great storytelling gifts. Now she returns with all of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers to spin this fresh, modern story about presenting the perfect life when the reality is far from the image. 

Review: 

I’ve been a huge Sophie Kinsella fan since her Shopaholic series and Becky Bloomwood is one of my favorite chick lit characters of all time, so naturally I’m always excited when she releases a new book. Though this wasn’t her best book, I still enjoyed it as it provided a much needed escape from reality. 

Katie is a fairly typical character that I’ve come to expect in a Kinsella book, she’s an average woman with plenty of quirks who manages to get herself into awkward situations that are always good for a laugh. She’s got a charm about her that makes her endearing even when she’s behaving inappropriately. She’s trying to live the life she’s always dreamed of but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Her boss Demeter is a nightmare, think shades of the Devil Wears Prada and her flat in London is nowhere near as glam as she had hoped it would be. 

I admire Kinsella’s characterization, I can usually connect with her protagonists and Katie was no exception. This was a bit formulaic and predictable as far as plot, but that didn’t keep me from being pretty engaged in Katie’s life. It was a light read and sometimes I need a break from all the thinking that comes from reading so many thrillers. The constant guessing and trying to work out the plot twists can be really fun but also tiring, so it was nice to be able to just lose myself in a book and relax. 

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to The Dial Press for my review copy. 

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Release date: February 7, 2017

Publisher: Gallery Books

Genre: Horror, Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

An unforgettable horror novel from bestselling sensation Ania Ahlborn—hailed as a writer of “some of the most promising horror I’ve encountered in years” (New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire)—in which a small-town boy investigates the mysterious disappearance of his cousin and uncovers a terrifying secret kept hidden for years.

Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. They’re well aware that the first forty-eight hours are critical and after that, the odds usually point to a worst-case scenario. And despite Stevie Clark’s youth, he knows that, too; he’s seen the cop shows. He knows what each ticking moment may mean for Jude, his cousin and best friend.

That, and there was that boy, Max Larsen…the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now, fear is reborn—and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth may be too horrifying to imagine.

Review: 

I don’t usually read horror, I’m not even sure why as the handful of books I’ve read I enjoyed, but when I saw not one, but THREE of my favorite bloggers raving about this one, I knew I had to read it! I’m talking about Sam at Clues and Reviews, Abby at Crime By The Book, and Danielle at Books Vertigo and Tea, thank you ladies for the awesome recommendation!

I was a bit skeptical when I first started this one, it was on the slow side and there wasn’t much to be afraid of. I needn’t have worried because as the book progressed, so did the creep factor. This is broken up into three parts; part one is told by Stevie a ten year old boy. His cousin and best friend Jude is missing and he’s frantic with worry. Part two is told from Rosie’s perspective, she’s a young woman living deep in the forest of Deer Valley, Oregon with her husband and she desperately wants a child. Part three is when things really start to get intense and downright horrifying as the storylines merge together. 

Even though the pacing for the beginning of Jude’s story was a bit slow for me, I was very taken in by his character. This poor kid, he lives with his detached mother, his abusive stepfather and his jerky older brother. His only friend is Jude and he’s lost and frightened without him. He stutters and does this odd rhyming thing when he speaks, so as you can imagine school is a nightmare for him. On top of all of that, he’s struggling in regards to his mental health and no one seems to care very much. I wanted to take care of this sweet boy and give him the love and affection he deserves, he really got under my skin. Then there’s Rosie whose one wish is to be a mother and when she miscarried, my heart broke. I don’t want to discuss her too much as anything I would say would be a spoiler, but my heart really went out to her. 

The setting of the small town of Deer Valley that’s surrounded by a dense forest was a perfect backdrop for the horrors Ahlborn created. From the trees that seemed to whisper secrets to the people who dared to venture into the forest to the animals who seemed otherworldly in a highly disturbing way, the author absolutely nailed the atmosphere of this book. This one is gory and graphic, I was chilled to the bone many times while reading. Have you ever been watching a scary movie and kind of watched with one eye open? That was me reading this. The epilogue was utter perfection, I was petrified and pleased by it, and by now you guys now how much a strong ending means to me. If you’re a mystery/thriller fan who doesn’t mind supernatural elements and graphic descriptions, give this one a chance. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

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Release date: February 10, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Chick Lit

Blurb: 

If you keep dangerous secrets you’ll pay the ultimate price… 

In the South of France, playground of the rich and famous, world renowned chef Dexter Franklin is organising a night to remember. As he opens the doors to his exclusive restaurant for the first time, he’s handpicked a list of guests, as hot and dazzling as the St Tropez sun itself: 

Mew Stanton: Fashionable, beautiful and a notorious TV chef, Dexter’s ex-girlfriend has all the ingredients for success. As her books fly off the shelves, a secret from her past is about to surface with explosive consequences. 

Holly Lydon: Ex girlband star who has fallen on hard times. Forced to make ends meet she’s having to sleep her way to the top. Now she’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons. 

Rosita Velázquez: Brazilian actress extraordinaire and girlfriend of Dexter’s brother, Leland. When she’s in town everybody needs to know about it, but this is one show-stopping entrance she’ll live to regret. 

Three women have a past with Dexter and a grudge to bear against him. As fireworks ignite in the jet set capital of Europe, there’s murder on the menu. Who will be served their just desserts? 

The sun is setting in the South of France. Pour yourself a glass of champagne and sit back for a read of revenge, regrets and shocking revelations that will have you hooked to the very last page. 

Review: 

Nigel May is back with his sixth book or as he calls it, his sexy six pack, I love that! This is only the second book of his that I’ve read but I’m packing the other four the next time I head to Mexico. Full of deceit, betrayal, glitz, sex and scandal they are THE definition of a beach read. I was dreaming of a warm beach, a lounger and a cocktail the whole time I was reading this and with the majority of this taking place in St. Tropez, it was easy to escape to a stunning locale (in my mind at least!)

When the book begins, Cher a famous burlesque dancer (think Dita Von Teese) has been strangled in her dressing room and the murderer was never found. Now it’s five years later and Dexter Franklin wants revenge for many reasons, and he has planned a night that won’t easily be forgotten that coincides with the opening of his new restaurant. He meticulously plans for this evening, taking care to ensure that several very important guests are in attendance. There’s Mew, a fellow celebrity chef and ex pop star, Holly who was in the same girl group as Mew, Leland, his estranged brother, Rosita, a Brazilian actress and Leland’s girlfriend and D.C. a food critic. Each and everyone of them has several juicy skeletons in their closets and most of them have slept with each other at some point. There are all the key ingredients necessary to mix a volatile cocktail, mainly drama, sex and scandal and May delivers on every level exceptionally well.

This book is hot and steamy, it’s always fun to get a glimpse at how the other half lives and Nigel May books are officially my guilty pleasure. I love the campy feel of his novels, there is so much bitchiness, the claws are always out especially amongst the women, but the men can be brutal as well. He knows how to create characters that you love to hate, but there are always a few, that despite their spoiled behavior still manage to wrap me around their fingers. This was a total page turner and by the end, opening night of Dexter’s restaurant, I was dying to see how things would play out. The best way for me to describe this is to say it’s a gutsy, glossy, glam thriller that makes for a titillating read. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. 

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Release date: February 7, 2017

Publisher: The Overlook Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

After his “gripping thriller debut” (Kirkus) Knife Music and sophomore “page turner” (Examiner.com) The Big Exit, David Carnoy’s Detective Hank Madden returns in this bicoastal caper that pits dreams against reality, where nothing can be taken at face value.  

Twenty years after the unsolved case of Stacey Walker’s disappearance went cold, a Silicone Valley executive hires the retired Menlo Park Police Detective Hank Madden to find her body and track down her missing husband, the prime suspect in her unsolved murder. Four months later, author Candace Epstein is pushed in front of a car near Central Park. Her editor Max Fremmer becomes entangled into the investigation of her attempted murder, though he is adamant that he is uninvolved. As he digs into Candace’s background to clear his own name, Fremmer grows suspicious of his client’s connection to a nefarious institute for lucid dreaming on the Upper East Side and its staff whose stories never seem to add up—all while an unexpected link emerges to Detective Madden’s investigation in California.

As similarities arise between the cases on each coast, Detective Madden and Fremmer forge an unlikely partnership to expose what misconduct lurks beneath the façade of the Lucidity Center—but can they unravel the secret that links their investigations together in time, or are they only dreaming? Carnoy’s Lucidity stuns with complex detail that will keep readers guessing until the final, satisfying jolt.

Review: 

You know how sometimes you read the same genre so often that things begin to feel stale? I especially feel this can be true when you read a lot of mysteries, it’s hard to come across something fresh and different, I can’t imagine how hard it is for authors to come up with something new and exciting! There was something really noteworthy about Lucidity, it gave me a new vibe while I was reading it that I really appreciated.

There are two separate narratives here; Hank Madden is a retired detective in California who has been hired to investigate a cold case as a PI and Max Fremmer, a “book doctor” and spin instructor from New York who’s client and friend, Candace was just pushed into traffic and is not expected to make it. Each chapter flips back and forth between the two men and both storylines were engrossing. There were definitely similarities between both cases, but the way Carnoy weaved them together was truly effortless and impressive, it sure kept me on my toes.

Both Fremmer and Madden were fantastic characters, the type where you feel like you could actually encounter people exactly like them in real life. Fremmer was a funny guy, his dialogue reminded me of Harlan Coben’s style and I mean that as a huge compliment, because as a writer I feel he can do no wrong. Everything about this was sharp and witty, like I said earlier it just felt really fresh. Madden was equally interesting, he was one of the last cases of polio in the US, he’s a sexual abuse survivor and a decorated cop.

I loved hopping back and forth from the east to the west coast, it kept things exciting. There were several well executed turns and red herrings along the way and things didn’t play out how I was anticipating. Besides the two amazing protagonists there was a great cast of eccentric characters to spice things up, and the concept of lucid dreaming was trippy but a really cool addition.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Chelsea at The Suspense is Thrilling Me and the author for my review copy.

Three people will each receive a ecopy of Lucidity! Open internationally as long as you can receive an email from me with the file 😜

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Amazon|Author Website
Release date: February 9, 2017

Publisher: Pink Bloom Press

Genre: NA/Romance 

Blurb: 

Alice Brown fell in love with Jack the day she moved into her freshman dorm. Problem is, she’s been stuck in the friend zone ever since. After another meaningless breakup, she’s ready to confess her feelings to Jack.

Jack Sullivan has mistaken friendship for love once before and has vowed never to do it again. A varsity sports player, he’s determined to enjoy college with no strings attached.

Peter Wells is Jack’s best wingman. He enjoys his popularity as team captain and when he meets Alice, he’s ready to steal her heart.

When Jack sees Alice and Peter together, jealousy hits him hard. But will he break his vow to never date a friend?

Review: 

I loved the first Camilla Isley book I read, Love Connection so when I saw she was releasing a new book that was slightly different I was intrigued. LC focused on adult relationships whereas Friend Zone was about a group of college aged young men and women trying to navigate dating as well as friendships and school. I don’t read a ton of NA books but I have to say that I really liked this one! 

There are several narrators here, but the chapters are clearly labeled and it didn’t take me long to work out who was dating who and who lived with who. The two main protagonists are Alice and Jack. Alice has been in love with Jack since they met, but Jack is a player and he pushed Alice firmly into the friend zone straightaway. When Alice decides to try and forget about her feelings for Jack she starts dating his close friend and teammate, Peter. Of course Jack being a typical, clueless guy gets jealous and starts wondering if he should’ve dated Alice when had a chance. 

All of the characters here are attending Harvard and there’s a good mix of personalities and backgrounds. You have Alice and Jack who are both majoring in chemistry, Madison and Haley are Alice’s roommates and do computer coding and literature, respectively. Jack’s friends are mainly athletes, then there are a few chapters from Alice’s ex boyfriend Ethan and his new girlfriend Rose. It sounds like too much, but I promise it wasn’t confusing especially as they all interact with each frequently making it easy to establish their connections. I think that’s actually what set this apart from a typical story where friends turn to lovers for me. There were many side stories and relationships to follow and it kept me engaged. 

This was a really lighthearted and fun read, I’m all for some drama and they way they were hooking up and breaking up constantly made for some juicy scenes. Alice and Jack exchanged cute and playful banter that made me go awww, out loud a few times and I couldn’t help but root for them to figure it out and date each other already! Overall it was a cute and entertaining book that I read in a few hours. 

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.