Title: If He Had Been With Me
Author: Laura Nowlin
Rating: 4/5
Comments: It’s actually heartbreaking. It’s a story about childhood best friends, Finn and Autumn, whose moms are also best friends. As they enter high school, they grow apart despite being neighbors. With Finn a star athlete and Autumn an outcast, they do not run in the same crowds and their friend groups don’t get along. They both feel the pressures of being a teenager while dealing with issues at home. I found it very relatable as I thought back to my years in high school. It’s a beautiful story of love, heartbreak, depression, tragedy, and betrayal.
Title: The Villa
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Rating: 3.5/5
Comments: Eh. Nothing special. It’s about two childhood friends who are both authors (like what are the chances?) and spend the summer in an Italian villa. The point of the trip is for them to bond and work on their next books, but tension grows because it’s been a long time since they’ve spent that much time together. There is a second narrative about another group of young friends who spend time in the same villa in 1974. The story from the past reminded me of Daisy Jones but not as good. Idk neither storyline really interested me and the ending is just not it. If you’re going to read Hawkins, let it be The Wife Upstairs.
Title: You Shouldn’t Have Come Here
Author: Jeneva Rose
Rating: 1/5
Comments: Lame. Sooooo lame. It’s so…. dumb. There is no real story line. The characters are unlikeable. It almost feels like a thriller parody… Definitely read The Perfect Marriage if you’re looking for a book by Rose.
Title: Strange Sally Diamond *RRN
Author: Liz Nugent
Rating: 4.3/5
Comments: I really really enjoyed this. It is a story of an outcast, Sally, who is only strange because of her circumstances. The book starts with Sally putting her dead father’s body in the trash and not giving the strangeness a second thought. Her decision to dispose of her dad sparks media attention and opens a can of worms Sally did not anticipate. The story of her infancy and upbringing are revealed and Sally’s strangeness is explained. Simultaneously, we getting the POV of another strange character who is crucial to the plot and has their own revelations. This is a story of how truly impactful one’s childhood is and without trusted adults around, a child is doomed from succeeding normally in the world. I grew to really love Sally and her willingness to challenge everything she does and knows. And although the ending is not exactly what I wanted to see, I understand Nugent’s decision. Highly highly recommend!
Title: Daughter of Mine
Author: Megan Miranda
Rating: 4.5/5
Comments: Could not put down. I read pages 101-354 in one sitting. I was up until 1am (which is very late for this 30 year old) because I could not stop. It is pretty spooky- I don’t know if that was the intention but I found myself getting a bit spooked which doesn’t normally happen! It’s about a father who dies and leaves his house to his stepdaughter Hazel instead of his biological sons. The sons resent Hazel and contest their father’s choices. Her father’s death forces her to return to her hometown which leads her to believe her father is trying to tell her something from the grave. I had several predictions and none of them were right which is always appreciated. Def add to your list!
Title: Famous Last Words
Author: Gillian McAllister
Rating: 3/5
Comments: Juice is not worth the squeeze. I don’t even know what the famous last words are- LAME. The story is about a woman whose husband is accused of orchestrating a hostage situation. It takes way too long to figure out what happened and none of the stuff in between is that interesting. Even the ending is not that satisfying because it doesn’t seem that realistic. Don’t bother.
Title: Love and Other Words
Author: Christina Lauren
Rating: 3.9/5
Comments: A wee bit predictable but cute. We meet Macy is who engaged to some guy she only knew for a year when she runs into her childhood love Elliot. We learn what kept them apart for all that time and what’s keeping them apart now. There are a few lessons to learn: Don’t lose yourself in a relationship, don’t settle for anything less than pure happiness, and don’t ignore your gut. It’s a cute, easy read that would be perfect for the beach this summer.
Title: Funny Story
Author: Emily Henry
Rating: 3.7/5
Comments: People We Meet on Vacation is still my fav by Henry but this isn’t awful. It is kind of a funny story when Daphne and Miles get dumped and fake being together to make their exes jealous. Daphne moves into Miles’ place as his roommate and it takes more than a minute for them to warm up to each other. Daphne is annoyed she can always smell weed (justice for stoners) and can’t hear over Miles’ TV volume. Eventually, the ice breaks and they start getting along. I’m sure you can predict what part of the story is kind of funny.
Title: Be Ready When the Luck Happens
Author: Ina Garten
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Loved. What a gem on this earth Ina is. We are so lucky to watch her, learn from her, and be touched by her. Her life is incredible. From growing up in a home without love. To falling in love with Jeffrey as a teenager. To traveling the world. To opening her store in The Hamptons. To becoming a Food Network star. She is truly one of a kind. I loved hearing her story in her own words. I distinctly remember watching her as a child and then seeing her on my great aunt’s TV. At that point- I did not know her name was Ina Garten. I thought maybe “ina garten” was “in the garden” in another language but my aunt cleared up my assumption. I feel like it’s not that crazy of a thought! But I have spent many an hour watching Ina make roasted chicken for Jeffrey. Oh and Jeffrey- what an interesting fella he is all on his own. I highly recommend even if you haven’t watched a minute of Barefoot Contessa– but you’re truly missing out if you haven’t.
Title: Darling Girls
Author: Sally Hepworth
Rating: 2.5/5
Comments: Don’t waste your time. It’s about three foster sisters who were fostered by Miss Fairchild- an evil bitch who has no business caring for vulnerable children. One day years later, they learn a body had been found on the property of Wild Meadows, where they lived with Miss Fairchild. We go on this drawn out, uninteresting journey to find out whose body it is. Another case of the juice not being worth the squeeze. Read The Good Sister by Hepworth before this one.
Title: One by One
Author: Freida McFadden
Rating: 2/5
Comments: Dumb. I think my issue with McFadden sometimes is that she doesn’t make the us like the characters enough for us to feel something when something happens to them. Three couples decide to take a trip together but after their car breaks down, they never make it to the hotel. They all begin dying… one by one… And I did not care one bit because there is not enough character development for me to be invested. Don’t read.
Title: The First Shot
Author: Liv Constantine
Rating: 4/5
Comments: I love a little backstory and this is exactly what this is. As we prepare for the movie adaptation of The Last Mrs. Parrish, I wanted to be fully prepared. This novella is the perfect introduction of Amber and how she does whatever it takes to get what she wants. The Mrs. Parrish series is very good!!! Highly recommend.
Title: The Boyfriend
Author: Freida McFadden
Rating: 3/5
Comments: Not as bad as One by One but still pretty meh. It’s about Sydney, a 34-year-old New Yorker looking for love. She meets Tom by chance when she’s on a date with another guy and then shortly discovers her friend Bonnie was killed. Tom and Sydney start seeing each other while an NYC serial killer is murdering and taking locks of hair as trophies (including Bonnie’s). We are also getting Tom’s backstory the entire time which makes you think a certain way. I enjoyed Sydney but I don’t love how McFadden shares the thoughts of a character. The thoughts are rather juvenile and basic and never sophisticated or plot-moving. Sydney’s thoughts and lack of depth made me want to shake her through my speakers but again, she is more interesting than every character in One by One. Yes the ending is surprising but kind of random. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it.
*RRN = Read Right Now!
Sarcastically Callie 