Before I let Go by Kennedy Ryan
Goodreads blurb: Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything. It couldn’t save their marriage. Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had. Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It’s hot. It’s illicit. It’s all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around? Award-winning and bestselling “powerhouse” author Kennedy Ryan is at her absolute best in this compelling, scorching novel about hope and healing, and what it truly means to love for a lifetime (USA Today).
My Take: 4.25 out of 5. A beautiful and heart wrenching exploration of grief, marriage and relationships. Really enjoyed the dual narrations and how you could get so much insight into the relationship whilst looking at the two points of view. Also a great book on the effects of counseling and working of yourself, and how trauma can knock you off your path for a bit. Im so looking forward to read the other books in the series.
Why did I choose it: Im always on the search for a great romance, and this was recommended by many bookstagramers.
Read this if you like(d): 7 years in June, Marian Keyes, are into psychology, looking for some diverse reads
Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Goodreads blurb: In this rom-com about rom-coms, in the spirit of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, a hopeless romantic teen attempts to secure a happily-ever-after moment with her forever crush, but finds herself reluctantly drawn to the boy next door. Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar – and maybe snag him as a prom date – even befriend Wes Bennet. The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic-comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in. But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love – and rethink her own ideas of what happily ever after should look like.
My Take: 3 out of 5. As a daydreamer and rom com obsessed person you would think that I would have enjoyed this book a lot. But alas i Think YA is grating on me because as much as I loved every romantic movie reference, I was as annoyed at our main character. The cute parts that I was loving started to get dampened by her dumb decisions so it became a wash of a book. I rally enjoyed the writing, great pace and great descriptions.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Goodreads blurb: What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter? After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life. But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie,” and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.
My Take: 3.5 out of 5. – I loved the creative format of this addictive tale, in podcast style. I totally recommend the audiobook, i loved the narration and the podcast feature works really well in that format. As for the story, I was very engaged and loved the twist and turns it took. It was a 3.5 and not higher for me because the end was just a tad weird for me, but in general a great thriller and one that you will devour. Highly recommend .
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Goodreads blurb: After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5. A cute premise that I did not fall into. I loved that this was a monster rehabilitation story, and it starting a cafe was ridiculously cute. It was recommended by a friend, and a guy friend at that, so i ordered it in Libby right away. But it sadly did not live up to my expectations. Not only did they not meet them but all way below. My issue is that I wasn’t engaged. I really did not care about them, and ended up finishing the audio book at 2.5x just to know what happened. Maybe is it that the conflict wasn’t enough for me, or that the conflict was confusing. I still cant pinpoint it just knew that i didn’t even want to read the short story at the end.
A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Goodreads blurb: A tender and touching novel about a young woman who discovers the family she has always longed for when she spends a life-changing summer in North Carolina. Present Keaton Smith is desperate for a fresh start. So when her mother needs someone to put her childhood home in Beaufort, North Carolina, on the market—the home that Keaton didn’t know existed until now—she jumps at the chance to head south. Keaton’s grandparents died in a tragic car accident before she was born, so she’s eager to learn more about the family she never met. But even though she has help from her charming next-door-neighbor, his precocious ten-year-old son, and a flock of endearingly feisty town busybodies, Keaton soon finds that she has more questions than answers. 1976: After meeting her adoring husband Townsend, Rebecca “Becks” Saint James abandoned the life she knew and never looked back. Forty years later, she’s made a name for herself as the best hostess North Carolina has ever seen. Her annual summer suppers have become the stuff of legend, and locals and out-of-towners alike clamor for an invitation to her stunning historic home. But she’s struggling behind the façade. Becks strives to make the lives of those around her as easy as possible, but this summer she is facing a dilemma that even she can’t solve. And as the end of the season looms, she is brought to a decision she never wanted to make. As both Keaton and Becks face new challenges and chapters, they are connected through time by the house on Sunset Lane, which has protected the secrets, hopes, and dreams of the women in their family for generations. For fans of Summer of ‘69 and The Notebook , Last Summer on Sunset Lane explores the power of family, the bonds of friendship, and the boundless nature of love.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher. it comes out July 2, 2024.
My Take: 4.25 out of 5. – A beautiful town. a beautiful seaside and a beautiful man are always a good combination, and this is what this book brings. The kid next door was adorable, and it elevated the meet cute to extreme cuteness level. Also the band of women in the town are funny and powerful and great comic relief. I loved the guide Becks leaves, such, even if a bit antiquated but still relevant advices in being a hostess, they were quite adorable. My only issue: Why was the house referenced as a narrator at the start only, i felt like that was a lost great narration technique and we just got a taste of it. A great book to read by the water this summer, with some beautiful family depth to it.
Why did I choose it: I really enjoy Kristy Woodson Harvey, so getting to read her summer book early was a treat.
Read this if you like(d): other Kristy Harvey books or Elin Hilderbrand
Tati's Tidbits 