I recently got on this really random kick of wanting to read cozy mysteries, especially ones with cats on the cover. This does not have a cat on the cover, but I was scrolling through Libby and this was a comp title on their lists. I thought, “Hey I am going to Scotland in a few months; I should read this.”
Oh boy was this a great choice!
Firstly, I love when a book makes me want to kick my feet an squeal. And let’s just say, I did a lot of that.
Secondly, this narrator was fantastic! Her range of accents and voices was really impressive.
The book takes place on a remote Scottish Isle. The main character moves here to be a doctor and starts living in the church. On her first night, she is confronted with lots of people’s worst nightmare, a dead body. While trying to solve the murder as the medical examiner, she also tries to navigate her new setting which made me laugh.
I am really wanting more of this book. All of the characters, especially Laird Ewan Campbell, are so wonderful and lovable. I want more of the story and the romance since it only ended up being nearer to the end of the book.
Was this a good romance book? Funny you should ask…
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Book Review:
This book was unremarkable (and I will say that about fifteen times in this review). It had nothing super crazy. The couple was not phenomenal, but they weren’t boring.
I thought the premise was unique and the way the story was written was unique, but it was confusing at the beginning.
It will be something I can recommend to people who like romance books. It is a fun romance, but nothing remarkable.
Book Characters:
Chani is fun. I liked her voice a lot in the book. She was not the most profound narrator, but she also wasn’t the worst. She was unremarkable.
Gabe, her co-main character, was also not super remarkable. He won’t be at the end of my favorites list, but not on the top.
Book Romance:
Undeniably, the romance was great. I love the lost love found again trope. It really makes me happy.
While this wasn’t a remarkable romance, it was good. I had fun. It made me happy, and it was a bit different. That is all that matters.
I really enjoy books where the romance isn’t toxic. Yes, the characters don’t know how to deal with their own drama, but their relationship isn’t unhealthy. They do have fights and a little miscommunication, but they are all things that they can fix.
Ease of Reading:
It was a bit confusing in the beginning. The format was past and present storytelling, mixed in with articles from the past and present. It was a bit confusing in the beginning but eventually, I got the hang of it.
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Funny You Should Ask Cover
Title: Funny You Should Ask
Author: Elissa Sussman
Published April 12th, 2022 by Dell
Genre: Romance
Pages: 352
Synopsis:
“A restless young journalist with big dreams interviews a Hollywood heartthrob–and, ten years later, it’s clear that their time together meant more than meets the eye in this sexy, engrossing adult debut novel.
Then. Twentysomething writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. While her former MFA classmates are nabbing book deals, she’s in the trenches writing puff pieces. Then she’s hired to write a profile of movie star Gabe Parker. The Gabe Parker–her forever celebrity crush, the object of her fantasies, the background photo on her phone–who’s also just been cast as the new James Bond. It’s terrifying and thrilling all at once . . . yet if she can keep her cool and nail the piece, it could be a huge win. Gabe will get good press, and her career will skyrocket. But what comes next proves to be life-changing in ways Chani never saw coming, as the interview turns into a whirlwind weekend that has the tabloids buzzing.
Now. Ten years later, after a brutal divorce and a heavy dose of therapy, Chani is back in Los Angeles, laser-focused on one thing: her work. But she’s still spent the better part of the last decade getting asked about her deeply personal Gabe Parker profile at every turn. No matter what new essay collection or viral editorial she’s promoting, it always comes back to Gabe. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. She wants to pretend that she’s forgotten about the time they spent together, years ago. But the truth is that those seventy-two hours are still crystal clear, etched in her memory. And so . . . she says yes.
Chani knows that facing Gabe again also means facing feelings she’s tried so hard to push away. Alternating between their first meeting and their reunion a decade later, this deliciously irresistible novel will have you hanging on until the last word.”-Goodreads
I received an ARC of We Deserve Monuments from sweepstakes on Net Galley. I want to thank Net Galley and the publisher.
The Book:
We Deserve Monuments cover pulled from Goodreads
Title: We Deserve Monuments
Author: Jas Hammonds
Expected publication: November 29th, 2022 by Roaring Brook Press
Genre: YA, LGBTQIA+, Romance
Pages: 257
“What’s more important? Knowing the truth or keeping the peace?
Seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson is convinced her senior year is ruined when she’s uprooted from her life in DC and forced into the hostile home of her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty. The tension between Avery’s mom and Mama Letty makes for a frosty arrival and unearths past drama they refuse to talk about. Every time Avery tries to look deeper, she’s turned away, leaving her desperate to learn the secrets that split her family in two.
While tempers flare in her avoidant family, Avery finds friendship in unexpected places: in Simone Cole, her captivating next-door neighbor, and Jade Oliver, daughter of the town’s most prominent family—whose mother’s murder remains unsolved.
As the three girls grow closer—Avery and Simone’s friendship blossoming into romance—the sharp-edged opinions of their small southern town begin to hint at something insidious underneath. The racist history of Bardell, Georgia is rooted in Avery’s family in ways she can’t even imagine. With Mama Letty’s health dwindling every day, Avery must decide if digging for the truth is worth toppling the delicate relationships she’s built in Bardell—or if some things are better left buried.” –Goodreads
My Review:
We Deserve Monuments is an epic book. It was fun, emotional, and very complex. I had my e-reader on me at all moments of the day trying to devour this book.
Plot:
This was a more character-driven story, but the plot was not horrible. We got to see some different conflicts take place. The character development was actually very good in this story.
This story is very sad though. I mean I was tearing up in front of my roommates as I read this book. So many happy and sad tears. This book had me so emotional.
Characters:
Avery encapsulates the meaning of awesome. She is temperamental but has a real love for the people around her. She is not afraid to stand up to the people around her who are trying to belittle her. I envy her and her lip ring she has, but I could never get one because I am too chicken.
Simone, the love interest, creates a safe place for Avery. There is not toxicity in their relationship that I noticed which is such a nice thing I have been trending more towards reading. Simone is the sunflower girl and now whenever I see a sunflower I think of this amazing book!
Jade was a little annoying. I understand some of her hurt, but her response shouldn’t have been so dramatic.
Mama Letty was the real star of the entire novel. I loved hearing her slowly start to love her granddaughter and slowly open up to her family.
Setting:
This book takes place in some boondock Georgia called Bardell. It was a little confusing how a small town could have an extraordinarily fancy hotel when there didn’t seem to be any tourist attractions nearby. I don’t think Avery did a lot of looking around the town though, so I could be wrong.
There is also a restaurant in the middle of nowhere that I wish was real. It is a safe haven from the world outside for multiple characters in this book. I want to be able to visit this place and dance the night away.
Romance:
There is quite a cute little romance between Simone and Avery. They were too cute to handle at times. There was some tension about Simone’s sexuality in the first half. It is so interesting to read about these things that happen to everyday people.
Quality of Writing:
As this was an ARC, this was not the final draft. It will need some last-minute edits on commas and some spelling. But other than the writing was so good. I loved the symbolism that persisted. This author really can suck you in and make you feel so connected to the events and characters in the book.
What I Liked:
LGBTQIA+ representation
Happy couple stuff
Focus on the familial relationships and less on romance
The COVER
What I Didn’t:
Some questions weren’t answered at the end, but I won’t fault it for that too much
Oh, weather girl! Here is the review where I gush about the book, Weather Girl.
The Book:
Weather Girl cover pulled from Goodreads
Title: Weather Girl
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Published January 11th, 2022 by Berkley
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Adult
Pages: 330
“Ari Abrams has always been fascinated by the weather, and she loves almost everything about her job as a TV meteorologist. Her boss, legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, is too distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, the station’s news director, to give Ari the mentorship she wants. Ari, who runs on sunshine and optimism, is at her wits’ end. The only person who seems to understand how she feels is sweet but reserved sports reporter Russell Barringer.
In the aftermath of a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up to solve their bosses’ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell.
Working closely with Russell means allowing him to get to know parts of herself that Ari keeps hidden from everyone. Will he be able to embrace her dark clouds as well as her clear skies?” -Goodreads
Weather Girl Review:
This is one of my favorite books of 2022 thus far! It will be the easiest review I have written in a while because I have LOVED IT!
Weather Girl has everything I love: Washington, rain, spice, drama, and a scheme to get their bosses together!
I was born and raised in Washington state, so I was excited to pick this book up at The Strand, especially since I was so far from home. My least favorite thing is when books or movies have location plot holes, such as it takes X amount of hours to get somewhere when it really only takes X, or the two places the person lives and works are on literally the opposite end of the state. This book represented Washington so well! I even heard a mention of this itty bitty town called Darrington. A few friends from college live there and so I rushed to text them about their town being in a book.
Photo by A Bookie’s Books
The writing was so beautiful and stunning in the Weather Girl book. Romance book with this simple style of writing has been hard to come by that didn’t make me feel stupid in a month or two, like Heartstopper.
I loved the number of weather puns that Solomon sprinkled in. Sometimes I didn’t notice them, and then my brain had a “Hold on, what did that say?” moment and it was a good laugh. Some of them were glaringly corny but in the best way.
I devoured Weather Girl in a few days. This is largely related to the two main characters because they were so fun.
The protagonist, Ari, has depression, and she struggles with hiding that from her love interests and friends. She is frustrating at times, but in the end, she makes the right decisions. It was fun falling in love with her. I also went through a similar experience to her, a breakup, so when I opened the book we were at the same place in life.
Russel was amazing! He is one of my top love interests for the year. He is a “fat hero,” as I saw in many reviews. He is sexy and knows exactly what to say. He never does anything toxic or weird. He cares for his family and for Ari in ways I wish a man would care for me.
I love to see representation and this book served it. Both Ari, Russel, and many side characters, are Jewish. There is also talk about body image, stretch marks, and other things not normally mentioned in books. It is not all lean, mean bodies in this book.
I love everything about Weather Girl. The romance was exciting and fun. I have a new love for the rain. It was nice to see my home through this book while I was gone. This book should be read by anyone from Washington or looking for a cute, sweet romance. I hope you all liked my review of the book Weather Girl.
“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” -That Artsy Reader Girl
“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” -That Artsy Reader Girl
This week’s theme:
Most Anticipated Books Releasing In the Second Half of 2022
We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo
Woman Without Shame by Sandra Cisneros
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake
Wherever the Wind Takes Us by Kelly Harms
Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell
Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton
Some of these sound so good! I have also already read We Deserve Monuments, so I hope everyone checks that out and checks out my blog that will come out on July 28th about that book.
I am excited to get some of my preorders like The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber. I will probably preorder/pick up these other books as soon as I can.
Published July 9th 2020 by HarperCollins Children’s Books
Genre: Contemporary, YA, LGBTQIA+
Pages: 433
“It was all sinking in. I’d never had a crush on anyone. No boys, no girls, not a single person I had ever met. What did that mean?
Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day.
As she starts university with her best friends, Pip and Jason, in a whole new town far from home, Georgia’s ready to find romance, and with her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her ‘teenage dream’ is in sight.
But when her romance plan wreaks havoc amongst her friends, Georgia ends up in her own comedy of errors, and she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms thrown at her – asexual, aromantic – Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever.
Is she destined to remain loveless? Or has she been looking for the wrong thing all along?
This wise, warm and witty story of identity and self-acceptance sees Alice Oseman on towering form as Georgia and her friends discover that true love isn’t limited to romance” –Goodreads
My Review:
This is going to be the shortest review ever!! I am trying to avoid saying anything wrong and there is seemingly a lot of controversy about this book these days.
The story was cute. I liked the self-discovery we went on with Georgia. I liked seeing her friends’ lives through her eyes. I felt like I also learned about asexual/aromantic sexualities. I did not understand completely understand, but now I fully comprehend and respect the author for creating that understanding.
Oseman has a nice YA style writing. I definitely don’t think this is my favorite by them, (Heartstopper has my heart).
The main character of the book was so-so. I thought that the story was great, but sometimes the character just didn’t do anything. It seemed like we were exploring their sexuality, but that was it. We weren’t doing anything else with the main character. I don’t think that is wrong but I love it when characters have more. What I mean is Georgia had no interests that really drove her. Does that make sense?
I don’t think the book was bad, but I do not feel qualified to talk too much about it. It was mainly about sexuality, and I have seen mixed reviews about the representation in this book. Since it is the only thing this story really has (meaning there is no real plot), I don’t feel like I can say too much due to my lack of authority on this topic. Let me know what you think if you have read this book.
“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” -That Artsy Reader Girl
This week’s theme:
Book Quote Freebie – choose the theme with which you want the quote to be around
I am choosing self-love/empowerment quotes!
“Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man.” – The Love Hypothesis
“There is a time for stillness, but who hasn’t also wanted to scream with delight at being outdoors? To simply announce themselves and say, I’m here, I exist?” -World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks and Other Astonishments
“You do not yield” -Kingdom of Ash
“Roses have both petals and thorns, my dark flower. You needn’t believe something weak because it appears delicate. Show the world your bravery.” -Stalking Jack the Ripper
“Come at me, world. You can’t damage the impermeable.” -Heart Bones
“Feelings were not stagnant. Neither were opinions or beliefs and if we stopped believing people were capable of change, then the world might as well be left to burn.” -A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
“There is always more than one way to see the world. Those who claim otherwise would have you dwell forever in the dark.” -Sorcery of Thorns
“Happiness isn’t some permanent thing we’re all trying to achieve in life, it’s merely a thing that shows up every now and then, sometimes in tiny doses that are just substantial enough to keep us going.” -Reminders of Him
“There was nothing more dangerous than a woman who knew her own worth.” -The Atlas Six
“You aren’t a flower, you’re every blossom in the wood blooming at once. You are a tidal wave. You’re a stampede. You are overwhelming.” -Crooked Kingdom
“Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests?
Sophronia’s first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy–won’t Mumsy be surprised? Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.
Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers’ quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship’s boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot–one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card.
In this sequel to New York Times bestselling Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail’s distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season.” –Goodreads
My Review:
This review is going to be pretty short because a lot of the things I said in the review about the first book still hold true for this book.
I loved it. I do think it gets a little repetitive, but each little adventure they have is different. This time they go to London.
This time we get a little bit more of the romance between Sophronia and Soap. It makes me so happy whenever I heard them interacting. He literally was so charming.
Felix, the other love interest, was also really charming. I think it could go either way and I would be happy with the outcome. But, I definitely would prefer Soap since he is such a kind person.
I love how Sophronia is not concerned with the romance that was budding up between the two men. She is not bothered but is developing feelings. She is more concerned with learning how to be good at espionage and about her friends thethan she is about the men in her life.
The names get even more ridiculous and its just so fun. This book series is just so fun!
It says YA but I honestly think this is for anyone. I think everyone should check these out.
