The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman Publisher: Amazon Pub Date: 12/1/2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lucas enjoys his quiet and solitary life, but everything changes when his apartment board insists on investigating a misplaced frying pan. Their relentless meddling turns his peaceful existence upside down in this witty, laugh-out-loud short story.
Overall, I really liked The Answer Is No! It’s a bit silly, but I love how Backman weaves heartfelt and resonant quotes about finding happiness, the importance of community, and protecting your inner peace. I truly felt for Lucas as he was dragged into a situation he never asked for and that had nothing to do with him. That said, I loved his interactions with everyone. I was amazed at how Backman managed to infuse so much depth into his characters in such a short story.
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage Publisher: Dial Press Pub Date: 4/15/2025
Thank you PRH Audio for the free advanced copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After being left at the altar, Camille Ashwood moves into her dream house only to discover her next-door neighbor is her first love, Dusty Tucker. As old feelings resurface, the two must confront their past and decide if love deserves a second chance.
Wild and Wrangled is the final book in the Rebel Blue series. This has been one of my most anticipated April reads! I found it to be a solid book to the series ending. I loved Cam’s character so much and my heart went out to her. I appreciated the dual timeline with her past and present POVs which helped explain her history with Dusty and gave us a glimpse on how she met Gus. I really loved how Lyla was able to incorporate the other couples from the series and showed where they are now. While I enjoyed getting glimpses of Dusty’s perspective, I was yearning for more character growth from him. Overall, it was a sweet ending to the series. I’m looking forward to what Lyla writes next!
The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy Publisher: Lake Union Publishing Pub Date: 4/8/2025
Thank you Amazon Publishing & Brilliance Publishing for the free copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Denny Voss, living a quiet life in rural Minnesota, finds himself unexpectedly charged with murder after a series of well-meaning but chaotic misadventures. As he awaits trial, he unravels painful family secrets and learns what it means to take control of his future.
The Sideways Life of Denny Voss is the first book I’ve read by Holly Kennedy. This gave me strong Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and The Maid vibes. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I devoured it. I ended up finishing it in a single day and absolutely loved it! Andrew Eiden did a fantastic job narrating. He truly brought the story to life! Holly Kennedy did an exceptional job capturing Denny’s perspective. I felt so much empathy for him. I loved how certain characters showed their love for him in quiet but powerful ways. I also really enjoyed the multiple subplots and how well-developed each of the supporting characters were. I didn’t anticipate any of the twists and I had no idea how the story would turn out which made the reading experience even more engaging. There was one chapter near the end that made me cry which is something that rarely happens when I read so be prepared with tissues and maybe give your fur baby an extra cuddle. Overall, this was a 5-star read for me and I highly recommend it!
Swept Away by Beth O’Leary Publisher: Berkley Pub Date: 4/1/2025
Thank you Berkley Romance & PRH audio for the free copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zeke and Lexi wake up lost at sea after their houseboat drifts away. As they work together to get home, their unexpected time together sparks a deeper connection that neither of them saw coming.
I’ve read all of Beth O’Leary’s books so I was really looking forward to Swept Away. I enjoyed it and ended up finishing it in a day because it had the perfect blend of romance, adventure, and a touch of mystery. I loved how the author built a genuine connection between Lexi and Zeke even though their relationship started as a one-night stand. While their physical attraction to each other is undeniable, it was great to see their deeper layers unfold as they worked together to survive. The forced proximity of being stranded at sea added tension and excitement which kept the story engaging. There’s a surprising twist at the end that completely caught me off guard and the author kept me on my toes the entire time. Overall, I highly recommend picking this one up!
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava Publisher: Gallery Pub Date: 3/4/2025
Thank you Simon Audio and Libro.FM for the free audiobook copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Sloane Caraway, a habitual liar, lands a nanny job with a wealthy New York family after a small deception. But as she gets closer to them, she realizes she’s not the only one keeping dangerous secrets.
Count My Lies is GMA’s March pick. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. The premise sounded promising, but the execution fell flat. The writing felt more like telling than showing which lacked depth though it was slightly entertaining. This book was essentially a bland mix of The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Housemaid, but without the intrigue that made those stand out. The characters were one-dimensional and the Taylor Swift references felt overused. I found the twists along with the ending to be predictable and underwhelming. The ending was especially unrealistic. Overall, it left me surprised that this was chosen as a book club pick. I would not recommend picking this up.
Wild Side by Elsie Silver Publisher: Bloom Books Pub Date: 3/4/2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Wild Side by Elsie Silver, Tabitha marries Rhys, the man she swore to hate, to keep custody of her nephew, Milo. But as they live together, Tabitha sees a different side in Rhys which she can’t resist.
Wild Side is the third book in the Rose Hill series which features Rhys and Tabitha. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books first for the best experience. I’ve noticed a pattern in Elsie Silver’s books where the third book in a series becomes my favorite like Powerless in the Chestnut Springs series and The Front Runner in the Gold Rush Ranch series. Wild Side deserves all the stars! This is my favorite in the Rose Hill series so far. I loved how Elsie built up Tabitha and Rhys’s backstories, allowing us to see their individual healing journeys as well as their growth together. She also seamlessly integrated Milo, Tabitha’s parents, and other Rose Hill characters while keeping the story moving. The slow burn in this book was chef’s kiss! The epilogue was beautifully written. Now I can’t wait for the final book in the Rose Hill series, Wild Card!
Story of My Life by Lucy Score Publisher: Bloom Pub Date: 3/11/2025
Thank you Bloom Books for the free advanced copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Hazel impulsively buys a house in rural Pennsylvania to break through writer’s block, she discovers inspiration in the town’s rugged charm and her grumpy yet attractive contractor, Cam. But immersing herself in small-town drama might complicate more than just her next novel.
Story of My Life is the first book in the Story Lake series. I had mixed feelings about it. I liked the plot which felt like a mix between Things We Never Got Over and Maggie Moves On. Hazel was sweet and I loved learning about her writing process. However, I wasn’t a fan of Campbell’s character. He was immature, ran hot and cold, threw temper tantrums, and needed to communicate like an adult. The romance between Hazel and Cam felt abrupt and awkward which shifted strangely from grumpy interactions to friends with benefits. On a positive note, the quirky supporting characters and charming small-town setting were highlights. Overall, the story’s pace was too slow and uneven for me. I missed the usual element of mystery that Lucy Score typically includes. Even though this book wasn’t my favorite, I’m still looking forward to reading Zoey and Gage’s story next.
The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez Publisher: Amazon Pub Date: 3/1/2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fall Risk was my February Amazon First Reads pick.
Charlotte, wary from a past stalker, and Seth, freshly divorced, have no interest in romance this Valentine’s Day. But when they get trapped together, their guarded hearts start to soften, leading to an unexpected and humorous connection.
The Fall Risk was such a cute and sweet romance short story. I was amazed at how Abby managed to pack so much depth into a short format while keeping it light and heartwarming even while tackling serious topics. Charlotte and Seth’s backstories were a bit wild, but they made for an entertaining read. I also loved how she tied in John and Holly from The Worst Wingman Ever which was a fun touch. The found family/friend group was endearing. The banter between Charlotte and Seth was a highlight. The ending felt a little too neatly wrapped up and sappy for my taste. Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable read!
Back After This by Linda Holmes Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub Date: 2/25/2025
Thank you Random House for the free advanced copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Podcast producer Cecily Foster is reluctantly thrust into the spotlight, hosting a series about her own dating life under the guidance of a controlling influencer. Torn between sparks with a charming photographer and the pressure to follow her mentor’s rules, Cecily must decide whether to trust her instincts or risk losing her shot at real love.
Back After This is the third book I’ve read by Linda Holmes, and the premise initially sounded intriguing. At first, I enjoyed getting to know Cecily’s character especially her personality at work, but the book’s pacing quickly became slow and drawn out. I wasn’t a fan of Eliza’s character and kept hoping she would improve, but she never did. Most of the characters felt underdeveloped, especially Will, whose backstory and personality were barely explored. The conversations between Will and Cecily felt stilted and their connection seemed based more on repeated encounters than genuine chemistry or spark. Cecily, as a protagonist, came across as a workaholic who relied too much drinking and lacked hobbies or interests outside her job. Her friendship with Julie felt one-sided where Cecily seemed to sacrifice unnecessarily for Julie who didn’t ask for such devotion and placed her friend on an undeserved pedestal. By the time I reached the 60% mark, I found myself bored and tempted to DNF, but since I’d made it so far, I pushed through. Unfortunately, the ending was underwhelming and it felt like the author added unnecessary descriptions and filler dialogue to meet a word count. Overall, this book confirmed that Linda Holmes’ style may not be for me.
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone Publisher: Dial Press Pub Date: 3/4/2025
Thank you Dial Press and PRH Audio for the free advanced copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lenny, reeling from the loss of her best friend Lou, takes a babysitting job for single mom Reese and her daughter, Ainsley, only to clash with the brusque yet grief-savvy uncle, Miles. As they navigate their respective struggles, an unlikely partnership helps Lenny rediscover herself and find love amidst the healing process.
Promise Me Sunshine is the first book I’ve read by Cara Bastone. I have mixed feelings about it. The premise was unique and intriguing. The themes of grief and moving on were portrayed well. Lenny and Miles’s relationship seemed promising. I enjoyed watching their friendship develop and evolve into something more, but it didn’t seem strong enough. The second half of the book took an odd turn. The pacing felt uneven, with some scenes dragging unnecessarily, and some of the dialogue came off as cringey. While I appreciate a slow-burn romance, the way Lenny and Miles eventually came together felt disjointed. Lenny’s grief over her best friend was understandable, but at times her behavior seemed overly immature and frustrating. Her character development didn’t align well with the overall story. As for Miles, I found myself wanting more insight into his perspective as his character didn’t seem like fully fleshed out. In fact, many of the characters felt underdeveloped which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, I found it to be a decent read. People who are fans of friends-to-lovers might enjoy this.
Asha Reads 