Happily Never After by Phoebe MacLeod
Goodreads blurb: A BRAND NEW feel-good romantic comedy from Phoebe MacLeod, TOP TEN BESTSELLING author of The Fixer Upper 🧡 Laura Spalding has life all worked a flourishing writing career, a lovely home, a cute dog, and a handsome boyfriend Angus.
Then, plot twist, Angus walks out, leaving Laura with sole charge of Meg the dog, and a serious case of writer’s block. With the deadline on her latest novel looming, Laura gives in to her agent’s suggestion that she go on a writer’s retreat. Perhaps two weeks in the South of France will help her find inspiration again?
But when Laura arrives in the idyllic village of St-Antonin-Noble-Val, she’s surprised to discover the other guests are less than thrilled to have a published author in their mix. Only non-writer Finn is willing to give her the time of day, and they immediately become close. And, incredibly, Laura finds she can write again.
Then a surprise arrival at the retreat throws everything off course, and Laura realises that there’s more to life than professional success. Should she risk everything to follow her heart?
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
My take: 3.25 out of 5. A sweet romance bloomed in a writers retreat. Bonus points, one of the writers is a mystery writer so you get a book within a book too (and a good book at that I want to read that one too). Who does not want to be in retreat in the South of France? For that the vibes of this book are great! How annoying Magnus is in this book, makes me question how she could be so crazy to be with him 10 years! Also her definition of attractiveness is so flawed
Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture by AJ Wolfe
Goodreads blurb: A fascinating and enlightening deep dive into the infamous Disney Adult community from the woman behind the popular website The Disney Food Blog.
Disney Adults are grown-ups who derive singular, almost obsessive, joy from all things Disney. They devote countless hours and millions of dollars to Disney offerings, whether or not they have children. They’re avid fans of the films, devotees of the Disney theme parks, collectors of the vast world of Disney merchandise, cosplayers who dress in clothing inspired by Disney characters.
Their ranks are so large and their cultural impact so distinct that they have their own moniker and are an economic force unto themselves. They’re often maligned in the larger culture and put on a particularly high pedestal of cringe. But in truth, their obsessive fandom hints at a universal desire for pleasure and joy, for magic and escape.
There are darker sides to Disney mania that can’t be ignored, but the ranks of the Disney Adult community are broad, deep, and ever-growing. Disney Adults are a telling microcosm of modern America, highlighting the value we place on magic and escapism, and what we deem to be “acceptable” sources of joy.
Disney Adults dives deep into a misunderstood subculture, exploring the lives and experiences of a fascinating community to better understand its devotees’ unwavering passion for all things Disney, why it offends, and why it matters.
my take: 3.5 out of 5. I thought I was a Disney adult, or at least thats what we thought with my friends but reading this Im def a Disney Adult light. Its a fascinating read and validates some of the things I do love about Disney. The whole nostalgia side of it is so well explained but there is some crazy peeps in here too.
Gabriela and His Grace by Liana De la Rosa
Goodreads blurb: A scandalous arrangement between a hellion heiress and destitute duke reveals truths that neither can outrun…. As the youngest and most rebellious daughter of the overly protective Luna family, Gabriela Luna Valdés claws after her freedom in any way she can. This time, her hunger for adventure has led her aboard a windswept ship bearing for her homeland, away from a mob of fumbling British suitors. But Gabby can’t escape her father’s expectation that she settle down to find a proper husband—a compromise she’s unwilling to make.
For Sebastian Brooks, Duke of Whitfield, the trip to Mexico is his last chance. His last chance to rectify his family’s estate and refill their dwindling coffers. And his last chance to match wits with the sharp-tongued but deliciously tempting Gabriela.
When Gabby finds herself in need of a hasty escape, Sebastian agrees to assist her…but their close proximity sparks a red-hot passion that could ruin all their plans. With scandal looming, can Sebastian convince Gabby his regard is sincere or will she sail away with his heart?
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
My take: 3.75 out of 5. The final installment of the Luna sisters, having reviewed here Ana Maria and The Fox and Isabel and the Rogue previously. It might be my favorite of the series, because we have had more time with all the characters, as these two figure prominently in the other two, and all the other actors make appearances. But Also it’s great because Gabriella was always the most impulsive and fun so you knew her book was going to bring the shenanigans. It was however, as predictable as I expected because this romance was called out from book 1. However the ride is great and they have such good banter.
Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding
Goodreads blurb: It’s a truth universally acknowledged—well, by Elizabeth Bennet anyway—that there’s nothing worse than summer in the Hamptons. She should know: she’s lived out there her whole life. Every June, her hometown on the edge of Long Island is inundated with rich Manhattanites who party until dawn and then disappear by September. And after twenty-five years, Lizzy wants to leave, too. But after putting her own dreams on hold to help save her family’s failing bakery, she’s still surfing the same beach every morning and waiting for something, anything, to change. She’s not holding her breath though, not even when her sister starts flirting with the hot new bachelor in town, Charlie Pierce, and he introduces Lizzy to his even hotter friend. Will Darcy is everything Lizzy Bennet is not. Aloof, arrogant…and rich. Of course, he’s never cared about money. In fact, it’s number one on his long list of things that irk him. Number two? His friend Charlie’s insistence on setting him up with his new girlfriend’s sharp-tongued sister. Lizzy Bennet is all wrong for him, from her money-hungry family to her uncanny ability to speak to him as bluntly as he does everyone else. But then maybe that’s why he can’t stop thinking about her. Lizzy is sure Will hates everybody. He thinks she willfully misunderstands them. Yet, just as they strike an uneasy truce, mistakes threaten Charlie and Jane’s romance, with Will and Lizzy caught in the undertow. Between a hurricane and a hypocritical aunt, a drunken voicemail and a deceptive party promoter, the two must sift through the gossip and lies to protect the happiness of everyone they love—even if it means sacrificing their own. But when the truth also forces them to see each other in an entirely new light, they must swallow their pride to learn that love is a lot like surfing: sometimes the only way to survive is to let yourself fall.
My take: 3.75 out of 5. I am a sucker for a Jane Austen book or adaptation so I really enjoyed this. It felt modern and relevant without loosing any of the Austen Integrity. I thought the concept of NY/Hamptons’ made for a really good setting and the surfing aspect was a great. I thought Mrs. Bennet couldn’t get worse, but this might be the most annoying version, though quite appropriate.
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
Goodreads blurb: One family. Four generations. A secret son. A devastating addiction. A Texas family is met with losses and surprises of inheritance, but they’re unable to shake the pull back toward each other in this big-hearted family saga perfect for readers of Mary Beth Keane and Claire Lombardo. Ryan and Lillian Bright are deeply in love, recently married, and now parents to a baby girl, Georgette. But Lillian has a son she hasn’t told Ryan about, and Ryan has an alcohol addiction he hasn’t told Lillian about, so Georgette comes of age watching their marriage rise and fall. When a shocking blow scatters their fragile trio, Georgette tries to distance herself from reminders of her parents. Years later, Lillian’s son comes searching for his birth family, so Georgette must return to her roots, unearth her family’s history, and decide whether she can open up to love for them—or herself—while there’s still time. Told from three intimate points of view, The Bright Years is a tender, true-to-life novel that explores the impact of each generation in a family torn apart by tragedy but, over time, restored by the power of grace and love.
my take: 4.25 out of 5. This is a hard but beautiful book to read. It delves deep on family dynamics and addiction and how seemingly perfect structures can dissolve due to the bottle. I loved the time jumps and how flawed but thoroughly complex and real the characters were. ITs painful but heartwarming all at the same time. You might need a palate cleanser after it.
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