Tag Archives: Book of the month

Review: The Last One at the Wedding

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The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
Publisher: Flatiron
Pub Date: 10/15/2024

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Frank Szatowski is excited when his estranged daughter, Maggie, invites him to her wedding after years apart. However, when he arrives, Frank feels out of place in the luxurious world of Maggie’s fiancé and uncovers mysteries surrounding her new family that put their relationship to the test.

I loved Hidden Pictures, so I was excited for Jason’s latest book. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me, and I wish I had DNF’ed it earlier. I kept reading, hoping it would improve, but it remained boring and predictable. The characters were all extremely unlikeable and underdeveloped. The entire book is told from Frank’s perspective, with Maggie (Frank’s daughter) being a narcissist and Tammy (Frank’s sister) overly easygoing. The ending was predictable and slightly odd. John Pirhalla did a great job narrating Frank’s character. Honestly, his performance was the only thing that kept me engaged otherwise, I would have DNF’ed this.

Review: Starling House

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Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Publisher: Tor
Pub Date: 10/3/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Starling House was my October @bookofthemonth pick and is also #reesesbookclub October pick.

In the dying town of Eden, there’s a spooky house known for a vanished author, E. Starling, and his heir, Arthur. Opal takes a job there to help her brother, but the house starts feeling like home. As dark forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur must decide whether to unearth long-buried secrets or let Eden succumb to literal nightmares if they want to secure their newfound home.

I was initially drawn in by the intriguing premise of the book. I liked the illustrations scattered throughout the book and wished there were more of them. I found the choice to use first person for Opal and third person for Arthur to be a bit odd. Opal and Arthur came across as more juvenile than I expected for characters in their 20s, and their development felt somewhat flat. The footnotes in the story didn’t seem to have a clear purpose especially since they were abundant at the beginning but disappeared as the story progressed. The pacing was also off, with a very slow start, and it took a while to learn about the history of the house, which was a bit frustrating. Additionally, the book’s genre was a bit confusing—it didn’t fit neatly into a thriller or horror category, but I suppose it falls under contemporary fiction with elements of magical realism. Overall, this book wasn’t for me.

Review: Happiness Falls

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Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Pub Date: 8/29/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim begins with a family’s calm response to their father’s disappearance, gradually revealing their intricate dynamics and deep secrets. As the investigation unfolds and family bonds are tested, the story becomes a gripping mystery intertwined with themes of love, race, and human connection.

Happiness Falls was my August @bookofthemonthpick and it’s #OCBooksandBrunch September pick! I was really excited to dive into Happiness Falls especially since Miracle Creek had been one of my favorite reads. While I found the book to be fascinating, it didn’t capture my heart in the same way as Miracle Creek did. The seemingly simple premise turned out to be much more complex and I enjoyed the character-driven, slow-burning nature of the story. I was particularly intrigued by the author’s sensitive portrayal of nonverbal conditions and learning disabilities which was both caring and easy to grasp. The story is told through Mia, a 20-year-old, which didn’t quite work for me. I found Mia’s behavior to be somewhat juvenile for her age which distracted me from fully engaging with the story. I think I was also anticipating multiple points of view like in Miracle Creek. I thought it would have been interesting to delve into the perspectives of Mia’s mom or the deceive to add more depth into the narrative for Happiness Falls. Overall, I gave the book a solid 4 stars. If you’re a fan of family sagas or literary thrillers, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read.

Review: Georgie, All Along

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Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Publisher: Kesington
Pub Date: 1/24/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GoodReads Synopsis: Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.

But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.

Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back.

Review: Georgie, All Along is the first book I’ve read from Kate Clayborn and was my main February BOTM pick! This contemporary romance novel explores family dynamics, small town life, self-discovery, and healing. Georgie Mulcahy, a personal assistant, returns to her hometown and finds a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager filled with possibilities she once imagined. With the help of Levi Fanning, a former town troublemaker, she starts to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the diary but by her side, if only they can both let go of their pasts.i loved all the characters in this book and the author did an excellent job of creating each of them deeply complex. The author’s portrayal of Georgie’s inner turmoil and sense of being stuck at a turning point in life was especially well done. The exploration of Levi’s struggles with his past and efforts to reconcile with his family really had me rooting for him. I was invested in the building relationship between Georgie and Levi, as they both go through self growth throughout the novel. Overall, I adored Georgie, All Along and highly recommend!

Review: Someone Else’s Shoes

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Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Pub Date: 2/7/2023

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GoodReads Synopsis: Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope–she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.

That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag–she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself.

Review: Somebody Else’s Shoes is the first book I’ve read from Jojo Moyes and it was one of my February Book of the Month picks! This contemporary novel dives into marriage, friendship, parenting, and self-discovery. Nisha Cantor, a rich globetrotting housewife, is suddenly cut off by her husband and forced to scramble to maintain her lifestyle, while Sam Kemp is struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When Sam and Nisha accidentally switch gym bags, Sam tries on Nisha’s Christian Louboutin shoes realizing that something must change, and that thing is herself. I loved all the different characters and their complexities in this novel. There was so much going on, so many subplots, and an element of mystery that actually worked well with this book. There are some heavy subjects discussed through out the book such as cancer, depression, and infidelity. Overall, I really liked this one and can’t wait to read the rest of her books!

Review: The Family Game

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The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
Publisher: Random House
Pub Date: 10/18/2022

Thank you to PRH Audio for the free audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

GoodReads Synopsis: Harry is a novelist on the brink of stardom; Edward, her husband-to-be, is seemingly perfect. In love and freshly engaged, their bliss is interrupted by the reemergence of the Holbecks, Edward’s eminent family and the embodiment of American old money. For years, they’ve dominated headlines and pulled society’s strings, and Edward left them all behind to forge his own path. But there are eyes and ears everywhere. It was only a matter of time before they were pulled back in . . .

After all, even though he’s long severed ties with his family, Edward is set to inherit it all. Harriet is drawn to the glamour and sophistication of the Holbecks, who seem to welcome her with open arms, but everything changes when she meets Robert, the inescapably magnetic head of the family. At their first meeting, Robert slips Harry a cassette tape, revealing a shocking confession which sets the inevitable game in motion.

What is it about Harry that made him give her that tape? A thing that has the power to destroy everything? As she ramps up her quest for the truth, she must endure the Holbecks’ savage Christmas traditions all the while knowing that losing this game could be deadly.

Review: The Family Game is the first book I read from Catherine Steadman. This domestic thriller is a slow burn and Dolores strained family relationships, unraveling secrets, instinct, and truth. The first half of the book is pretty slow and I guessed the twist early. I felt that the action didn’t start till the second half of the book. I found Harriet to be extremely annoying at first and didn’t understand why she didn’t listen to the tape in one sitting. The premise sounded interesting, but I felt it wasn’t executed well. As for the audio, I think it would have been better if there was a male narrator for the tape recording. The author reads it herself which is fine, but it didn’t have that much of an impact. This isn’t a book I would recommend, but if it is on your TBR, you might like it.

Review: The Dating Plan

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The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pub Date: 3/16/2021

GoodReads Synopsis: Daisy Patel is a software engineer who understands lists and logic better than bosses and boyfriends. With her life all planned out, and no interest in love, the one thing she can’t give her family is the marriage they expect. Left with few options, she asks her childhood crush to be her decoy fiance.

Liam Murphy is a venture capitalist with something to prove. When he learns that his inheritance is contingent on being married, he realizes his best friend’s little sister has the perfect solution to his problem. A marriage of convenience will get Daisy’s matchmaking relatives off her back and fulfill the terms of his late grandfather’s will. If only he hadn’t broken her tender teenage heart nine years ago…

Sparks fly when Daisy and Liam go on a series of dates to legitimize their fake relationship. Too late, they realize that very little is convenient about their arrangement. History and chemistry aren’t about to follow the rules of this engagement.

Review: My January BOTM pick was The Dating Plan by Sara Desai. This was my first Sara Desai book and didn’t realize that was part of a series. I had mixed feelings about The Dating Plan. I enjoyed the multicultural aspects in this book. I also liked that we were introduced to several supporting characters. However, there were several parts that didn’t work for me. First, the main character was way too quirky. Her quickness didn’t really match with her personality. The storyline had some scenes that felt way too far fetched and too cheesy. The conflict-resolution of the book happened way too quickly and wrapped up too easily which seemed really odd given the circumstances. As for the writing style, it felt choppy to me. There were times where the story was dragged out with unnecessary back story or description or felt too rushed from one scene to another. Overall, it was a decent read, but not my favorite.

Review: Things You Save In A Fire

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Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center

Publication Date: 8/13/19
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

GoodReads Synopsis: From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel about family, hope, and learning to love against all odds. 
Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s excellent at dealing with other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it’s an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.
The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because she doesn’t fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don’t date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping…but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she’s worked so hard to be taken seriously?
Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt, affecting novel about life, love, and the true meaning of courage.

Review: Overall, I thought this was a pretty solid read. I definitely liked Things You Save In A Fire over Katherine’s previous book, How To Walk Away. I really liked Cassie’s character development and how she sheds light on gender inequality in her fire station along with dealing with a sick parent whom she has a strained relationship with. Overall, the writing style was very strong and the book kept me intrigued. There were some cheesy parts in here that were a bit over the top, but I was able to over look that. The only part I didn’t like so much was how rushed the epilogue was. The story started off strong and had great momentum, but at the end, everything seemed too rushed and wrapped up in a pretty bow. All in all, if you like contemporary romance, I’d recommend checking this one out. 

Rating: 4/5

Review: Necessary People

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Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak

Publishing Date: 5/21/19

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Rating: 4/5

Review: Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak was my May BOTM selection. This psychological thriller follows two friends who will do whatever it takes to become successful even if it means to destroy each other. I devoured this book! The character development in this book is phenomenal. The cat and mouse game of Stella and Violet’s friendship, strive for power and success was a wild ride. I didn’t see any of the twists coming. Stella and Violet’s rich girl poor girl theatrics did get a bit old at first, but definitely was made up by the twists made half way through the book. I also really liked how many of the characters strayed from the typical stereotypes. On a side note, I was intrigued with the journalism/newsroom atmosphere which kept the story intriguing and kind of reminded me of the TV show, Newsroom. Overall, I highly recommend this novel if you’re into psychological thrillers!

Review: Miracle Creek

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Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

Publishing Date: 4/16/19

Publisher: Sarah Crichton Books

Rating: 5/5

Review: Miracle Creek was my April BOTM pick. This legal thriller follows a Korean immigrant family and a single mother accused of murdering her autistic son. This book certainly lives up to the hype and deserves 5 stars! I really liked the premise and the complexity of the characters in this novel. The various perspectives also helped a lot while reading to give a more wholistic view of the controversial situation at hand. This is certainly a heavy read and I would recommend taking your time with this one. If you love mystery or courtroom / legal books with controversial topics, I highly recommend picking this one up!