Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh
Goodreads blurb: Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things . . . Rosie Waterman has one to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn’t been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does–puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she’s been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie’s been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?
When she’s offered a job as the director of a regional theatre’s production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance–even though she’s only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she’ll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the “regional theatre” is actually in a retirement community, and the “actors” are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever. Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn’t turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It’s not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
MY Take: 4.75 out of 5. This was a book absolutely made for me, I could not have related to this more. IS this book perfect, maybe not but was it perfect at the moment for me, yes! AS a theater geek I loved the theater setting, the references and all the call outs. There is a For Good non ironic duet in this book and that tells you why I loved it. But even if you are or not a theater person, you will stay for the beautiful relationship stories. The evolution of Rosie is amazing, but really the cast of characters at the retirement home are the stars of the show and I loved how it all evolved. The banter and the flirting is also really well done, and it has humor to boot. Also as an ending, 5 out of 5 stars, absolutely amazing way to end the conflict (without any spoilers). Run to read this book when it comes out for me and let me know. I loved her previous Th Summer of Yes, and now I am currently going through all the back catalog I had not read! Aside comment, I finished this book a few days before I went to see Gypsy on stage and it was such a perfect combination!
Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler
Goodreads blurb: Two estranged best friends find that a long-abandoned treasure hunt might be the key to a fresh start—for both their futures and their feelings, from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler. Last week, Nina Hunnicutt was a professor about to move into a gorgeous new apartment with her long-term boyfriend. Now, she’s single, unemployed, and living with her parents. Even more surprising is the fact that Quentin Bell, her childhood neighbor (and okay, fine, crush), is also back in town—and wants to resume the treasure hunt that ended their friendship almost two decades ago. Hoping the reward promised to whoever finds the rumored riches left behind by the town’s eccentric turn-of-the-century seltzer magnate will help her get her life back on track, Nina agrees. Granted, last time the search resulted in a broken heart and seventeen years of silence. But Nina’s older and wiser now—surely things will be different. Except, Quentin is also older and wiser…not to mention distractingly handsome. As they resume their hunt, Nina and Quentin begin to rediscover all the things they once loved best about each other. But unlike the treasure, the secrets that left them empty-handed the first time refuse to stay buried. If there’s any hope of finding what they’re looking for—and for a future together—Nina and Quentin will have to be brave enough to excavate their past as well
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
My take: 3.75 out of 5. I found the whole treasure concept a bit absurd but it grew for me. However its the least interesting part of the story, their relationship and the things they have to go through was the best part of the book, the hunt was a gimmick. A gimmick that wasn’t really necessary given that their were already deposited in their childhood houses, but still i guess it got them to spend time together! The ending as cliche as it could have been was absolutely beautiful, and the Note, not going to put any spoilers here, but could not have been lovelier.
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Goodreads blurb: A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison. Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending… even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.
My take: 4.5 out of 5. Was there any doubt that I was not going to jump at a book that claims to be inspired by Sleepless in Seattle?, not a chance. I am a lover of Meg Ryan movies, and this whole series will be my roman empire (the next books are inspired by You’ve got Mail and When Harry Met Sally!). There was also a huge possibility of me being disappointment because how can you touch greatness? I am glad to report that I was not disappointment at all. The book is lovely, the characters are adorable and the banter is top notch. As per Sleepless in Seattle you even have a great meddling kid involved! It is obvious how this one is going to go from the start, as all romances really, but the ride is a beautifully curated banter on the air, and the little easter eggs are very rewarding.
For the Record by Emma Lord
Goodreads blurb: An electrifying rom com of rivalry and redemption, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Daisy Jones and the Six, from New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord. Once the most notorious rivals in the music scene, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze electrified audiences as their bands clashed on stage. But behind the scenes, their simmering tension grew into something more — until suddenly both bands fell apart, and the idea of Mackenzie and Sam did, too. Two years later, Sam has traded the rockstar lifestyle for a quiet life raising the son he didn’t know about. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is dealing with a postoperative change in her voice by only singing under a pseudonym. The only way to revive their public careers? A joint comeback album. With fans over the moon and their futures on the line, Sam and Mackenzie face their biggest challenge yet: giving up the old rivalry and learning to work together. But as old sparks fly and new secrets emerge, they set off a chain reaction neither of them could have anticipated — one that proves that sometimes, the greatest hits are the ones yet to be written.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
My take: 4 out of 5. Music meets romance is always a good trope for me. The buildup of this relationship is excellent, there is so much history and the tension that has been building is very well developed. You do not get to wonder why there is beef/history etc. you get to live through it. The music writing scenes are great and I just wish there was an audio accompaniment of the songs. For one of the few times I actually really do agree with the blurb: for fans of Emily Henry and Daisy Jones and the Six. It has the music insider and the emotion through song of daisy Jones, but the quick banter, great characters and lovely romance developed by Emily Henry. A sweet and quick read for the summer. I think one of my favorite things are the savory concoctions that Ben keeps creating, I kind of want to go buy them.
This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer
Goodreads blurb: An intimate and lyrical celebration of great love, great art, and the sacrifices we make for both. For fifty years Abe and Jane have been coming to Central Park, as starry-eyed young lovers, as frustrated and exhausted parents, as artists watching their careers take flight. They came alone when they needed to get away from each other, and together when they had something important to discuss. The Park has been their witness for half a century of love. Until now. Jane is dying, and Abe is recounting their life together as a way of keeping them going: the parts they knew—their courtship and early marriage, their blossoming creative lives—and the parts they didn’t always want to know—the determined young student of Abe’s looking for a love story of her own, and their son, Max, who believes his mother chose art over parenthood and who has avoided love and intimacy at all costs. Told in various points of view, even in conversation with Central Park itself, these
My take: 2 out of 5. This was such a disappointment for me. I usually love all of Read with Jenna book club offerings and this one looked even more up my alley with the Romance and Central Park. I was not into it. Was it maybe because I read it in audiobook. I would definitely not recommend reading it in audiobook because it should have had multiple narrators. By not doing that and with all the character changes sometimes you got lost as to in which chapter we were. But also the writing is its own thing. I understand what they wee trying to do, but it slowed it down, it felt repetitive and at some point lost me. We are also talking about this great love story, and I really never gelled with them as character or with their love story. It didn’t feel interesting to me, and given that that dictates the rest of the book it felt flat. The only character that spoke to me was Central park. The chapters with Central park speaking were great! This felt to me like someone trying to highbrow romance but ruining the emotion of a romance in the process
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