Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Goodreads blurb: William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him. So it’s a relief when his skill on the basketball court earns him a scholarship to college, far away from his childhood home. He soon meets Julia Padavano, a spirited and ambitious young woman who surprises William with her appreciation of his quiet steadiness. With Julia comes her family; she is inseparable from her three younger sisters: Sylvie, the dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book and imagines a future different from the expected path of wife and mother; Cecelia, the family’s artist; and Emeline, who patiently takes care of all of them. Happily, the Padavanos fold Julia’s new boyfriend into their loving, chaotic household. But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable loyalty to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most? Vibrating with tenderness, Hello Beautiful is a gorgeous, profoundly moving portrait of what’s possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher, the book comes out March 28th, 2023
My Take: 5 out of 5. No notes just wonderful. This was Gut wrenching and emotional and had all the things I love: history, family, romance, drama, redemption. So cleverly written. I was invested in this, I passionately reacted to the characters and loved every minute. Its different point of views could get complicated, but it doesn’t it just provides so much color to this story. I read most of this book on a plane and I have to admit it was a tad embarrassing how much i cried reading it. I was in full blown tears during the end, with a stash of Kleenex by my side. The only thing i need to do now is run to read Dear Edward because how had I not discovered this author?
Just My Type by Fallon Ballard
goodreads blurb: Lana Parker has never been single for long. After a disastrous break-up with her high school boyfriend, Seth Carson, Lana’s bounced from long-term relationship to long-term relationship. She’s an expert girlfriend, even acting as the resident dating and relationship columnist for one of Los Angeles’s trendiest websites. But now, at the age of thirty, Lana suddenly finds herself single again, and she’s determined to stay that way, no matter how challenging.That is, until her high school ex, Seth, now a journalist in his own right, takes an assignment at Lana’s site. Ready to put down roots after years of traveling and freelancing, Seth becomes not only Lana’s colleague but also her competitor. With their combative relationship history–and undeniable chemistry–they quickly find themselves pitted against each other in a battle of wits: writing an article series that goes against dating type. For Lana, that means writing about staying single and embracing it. For Seth, it’s learning to settle down and become boyfriend material. Whoever’s is most popular wins a highly coveted columnist spot that either could only dream of. But when the two square off against one another, it’s not only their careers on the line–it’s also their hearts.Â
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher, the book comes out February 7th, 2022
My take: 4.5 out of 5. Such a good rom com. This had a how to loose a guy in 10 days vibe and that is always a good thing. I loved all the characters and I love how wonderfully the characters developed through the tasks, the book and their interactions. Their self awareness was cute and genuine and i fell right with them. A must read romance for me. Also how could I not love a book when one of the characters states: I’ve taken solace in pop culture since I was young and this blog has become the place where I get to show my appreciation. – yup felt seen.
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
goodreads blurb: Beach Rules:
Do take long walks on the sand.
Do put an umbrella in every cocktail.
Do NOT run into your first love.
Sam’s life is on track. She has the perfect doctor fianc�, Jack (his strict routines are a good thing, really), a great job in Manhattan (unless they fire her), and is about to tour a wedding venue near her family’s Long Island beach house. Everything should go to plan, yet the minute she arrives, Sam senses something is off. Wyatt is here. Her Wyatt. But there’s no reason for a thirty-year-old engaged woman to feel panicked around the guy who broke her heart when she was seventeen. Right? Yet being back at this beach, hearing notes from Wyatt’s guitar float across the night air from next door as if no time has passed–Sam’s memories come flooding back: the feel of Wyatt’s skin on hers, their nights in the treehouse, and the truth behind their split. Sam remembers who she used to be, and as Wyatt reenters her life their connection is as undeniable as it always was. She will have to make a choice
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher, the book comes out June 6th, 2023
My take: 4.5 out of 5. This might be your book of the summer for 2023. Totally in the Every Summer After and The Summer I turned Pretty vibe, and equally as wonderful and engaging. I really enjoyed the mix of the two timelines and how screwed up but wonderful Sam is. Additionally plenty of twists you don’t see coming so that is always a nice surprise. Annabel Monaghan was one of the wonderful surprises this year with Nora Takes Off and she delivers and even surpasses expectations with her second book.
Anatomy of a Meet Cute by Addie Woolridge
Goodreads blurb: there is none. This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher, the book comes out March 7th, 2023
My take: 2.5 out of 5. I sometimes don’t read a lot of the blurbs before I read an ARC, so this one got me by the name – great meet cutes are my favorite part of romances. However I should have gotten a hint when there was no description on goodreads or amazon that this might not be great. Anatomy of a meet cute is because it happens in dental school and the two characters meet when they collide with each other in the hallway of the school. First of all, in meet cute senses this is the most generic of them al. If you are going to have meet cute in the title make it epic. Take a page from Just Haven’t met you yet and lets have mixed up baggage or a mixed up call of The Man I Neve Met . Apart from that I really forgot most of the book once it was done. It was cute and a fast read, but with all the other fabulous romances I’ve read even just this month, this just didn’t cut through the noise.
Tati's Tidbits 