Montauk by Nicola Harrison

It’s 1938 and Beatrice is spending the summer in Montauk, Long Island’s playground for the wealthy. She’ll make friends and relax at the Montauk Manor with the other woman and children while her husband, Harry, and the other men work in the city and come to Montauk on the weekends. But Beatrice doesn’t feel very connected to the manor women, and finds herself being drawn towards the working class and natural beauty of the town.

It’s a fantastic historical novel about a young woman discovering who she is and happening upon a surprising romance. Away from her husband, she begins to notice the cracks in her marriage and is drawn to the simple life led by people like the manor’s laundress. The story is told at a pretty slow pace, but it’s very descriptive and set in a vibrant town and the reader gets to see the honest truths of Beatrice’s life and what she thinks about. Montauk is a very enjoyable read about a woman who learns to be strong and fight for what she wants.

Note: A copy of this book was given to me via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior

I LOVED this book. It was beautiful, whimsical, and thought-provoking. While out for a walk, Ellie discovers a barn, where a man named Dan lives and hand-makes harps. Dan is content to be by himself, but when Ellie shows up, he decides he needs to give her one of his cherrywood harps to match Ellie’s cherry socks, setting off a string of events that put the two on a path towards friendship. The two main characters were so interesting. There was great description, but the book was still fast-paced and very dramatic. The building of the friendship between Dan and Ellie was beautiful and touching, and seemed very realistic. Dan had such an interesting outlook on the world, and Ellie really grew throughout the book. I really enjoyed the entire book and can’t wait for more from this author!

Note: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Best Books of March

How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper

Andrew works at searching for the next of kin for people who die alone, but luckily, he has a loving wife and two children waiting for him when he gets home. At least, that’s what his coworkers believe. He didn’t mean for the lie to happen, but when a misunderstanding happens in a job interview, he becomes trapped in his story. But when new employee Peggy starts work with Andrew and they quickly become friends, he has to decide whether to tell the truth and risk his friendship with her.

This was a heartwarming and fascinating read about a topic I’ve never considered before- what happens to people after they die if they don’t have any family or close friends. Though the job is depressing, it makes for some interesting situations. The characters were realistic and went through a lot of great development over the course of the story. Andrew is a loner at the beginning of the story- with only online friends in model train forums, but when Peggy comes to the office, she changes his entire view of life. The friendship between the two is cute and the storyline is unique.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

When an incident at a royal wedding forces the son of the United States president, Alex Claremont-Diaz to fake a friendship with the prince of England, Henry- his sworn enemy. As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself in a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and the Unites States’ relationship with England.

Red, White, and Royal Blue is a delightful and heartwarming story about a cute relationship between two political opponents and about how we want to be remembered. Though it involved a commonly used trope- enemies to lovers- this book was unique, fun, and hopeful. This joyful debut includes realistic and motivating characters- problematic but amazing main characters, a female president, and interesting dynamics between the two boys and their families. The dialogue and humor were perfect- the author really captured how people text and talk these days. I liked the discussion of US politics and the character development of Alex and Henry as they decide what they want out of their lives, and it was overall such a great, fun read!

How To Make Friends With the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow

This was a dark but touching book about a girl named Tiger whose mother dies suddenly. Her journey is so realistic and sad. Tiger must learn to navigate the foster care system, and then relationships with her new family. You could really feel Tiger’s pain, fear, and joy throughout the whole story. The book gives an interesting view into the foster care system and the process of grief, as well as relationships with family and friends. The reader is able to see Tiger’s incredible progress throughout the book as she learns to stand up for herself, make new friends, and see that she is not alone in the world.

Note: I was provided with a copy of these books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Cape Mediterranean by Ilse van der Merwe

I was thrilled to receive a copy of this gorgeous cookbook. Cape Mediterranean is absolutely beautiful. Filled with delicious recipes inspired by South African cuisine, this it the perfect cookbook for learning new styles of cooking and types of foods and for entertaining with vibrant and healthy foods.

The photography by Tasha Seccombe is stunning and made me want to try every recipe in the book. There are more than 75 recipes, from appetizers to desserts, many of which involve seasonal fruits and vegetables. I was able to try out several of the recipes in the book, and every one was simply divine. The vanilla meringues with berry sauce and cream were heavenly, and I loved learning how to make tabbouleh- a salad of bulgur wheat, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lots of spices- which was also delicious. I’m really excited to use this book more in the future, and I’m sure the results will be amazing.

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Tweet Cute tells the story of two teenagers from New York City, Pepper and Jack. Pepper moved from a small Midwest town when her parents got divorced and her mom moved to the city to grow their small burger shop, Big League Burger, into a national corporation. Jack, on the other hand, feels like he will never live up to his twin brother and will be forced to work at his family’s neighborhood deli, Girl Cheesing, forever. But when Jack accuses Big League Burger of stealing one of the deli’s recipes on Instagram, a viral Internet war ensues, pitting the two teens and their family businesses against each other, forcing them to work out their differences face-to-face and become friends, or something more.

This was such a cute book and perfect for this time period, where businesses post sarcastic tweets and posts all the time. The internet side of things was great- it was interesting to see what tweets the two people were sending. Pepper and Jack’s relationship was really interesting to read about- the feelings between them seemed very real, as well as the relationships between the main characters and their families and the other people in the book, especially the competitive nature of Pepper and Jack’s elite school. The book is told in both Pepper and Jack’s points of view, so we get to see both sides of the story unfold. Overall, a really fun page-turner that’s relevant to today’s students with a cute relationship.

The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

When Sarah Smith, a bookshop owner, is given the opportunity to run a bookshop in Paris for six months, saying yes is a no-brainer. Of course, she’ll have to leave the handsome Ridge Warner behind, but this is going to be a holiday to remember! But will her dreams of a Parisian happily-ever-after come true?

The Little Bookshop on the Seine is a sweet and heartwarming holiday novel. Sarah, a small town bookstore owner in Ashford, has few problems- just a little financial situation at the bookshop. When her friend, Sophie, asks her to switch bookshops so that she can get over a humiliating breakup, Sarah agrees. Her boyfriend, Ridge, is away on assignment, so this seems like the perfect time for an adventure of a lifetime. You really get to see Sarah grow, open up to herself, and gain a lot more confidence. Paris and Ashford were both so beautifully described. Overall, it was a fun and cute holiday romance.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Husband Material by Emily Belden

Twenty-nine year old widow Charlotte has a seemingly perfect life- no one in her new life knows her husband’s dead, and she wants to keep it that way. But when her husbands ashes are dropped on her doorstep, Charlotte has to figure out what to do with this new twist of fate, forcing her to talk with her husband’s mother and best friend. Charlotte must learn to move on and trust others, as she deals with grieving for her husband’s death all over again.

This was a cute and fun rom-com. The writing style is light, despite some depressing subject matter. The characters are all so realistic, quirky, and amusing and you get to see how much progress Charlotte makes throughout her journey through grief and back into love, and the secondary characters were even more interesting. It’s a funny and uplifting tale about letting go of the past and loving again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House for providing me with a feee copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Meant to Be Yours by Susan Mallery

Meant to Be Yours by Susan Mallery

Summary: Wedding coordinator Renee Grothen isn’t meant for marriage. Those who can, do. Those who can’t, plan. But she never could have planned on gorgeous, talented thriller writer Jasper Dembenski proposing—a fling, that is. Fun without a future. And the attraction between them is too strong for Renee to resist. Now she can have her no-wedding cake…and eat it, too.

After years in the military, Jasper is convinced he’s too damaged for relationships. So a flirtation—and more—with fiery, determined Renee is way too good to pass up…until his flame becomes his muse.

Renee is an expert at averting every crisis. But is she finally ready to leap into the one thing that can never be controlled: love?

4 stars. Meant to Be Yours is a super fun romance, following Renee, a wedding planner, and Jasper, a novelist. Renee isn’t interested in marriage or anything like that- more of a friends with benefits situation, but, of course, things don’t go according to plan.

Renee has a lot of interesting secrets that are revealed throughout the book. The reveals really worked and the characterization is great. Jasper has PTSD from his time in the army, and this is also fascinating to read about, and the other characters are great as well. The small town everyone lives in sounds so cute and magical- the descriptions were great. The wedding planning side of things was really fun and a lot better than many of the other wedding planning books I’ve read. The book had a super sweet ending, and was overall an exciting and cute page-turner.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and this does not affect my rating or review.

The Desire Card by Lee Matthew Goldberg

Synopsis:

Any wish fulfilled for the right price. That’s the promise the organization behind The Desire Card gives to its elite clients – but sometimes the price may be more menacing than anyone could ever imagine.

Harrison Stockton has lived an adult life of privilege and excess: a high-powered job on Wall Street fuels his fondness for alcohol and pills at the expense of a family he has no time for. Quite suddenly all of this comes crashing to a halt when he loses his job and at the same time discovers he almost certainly has only months left to live.

Desperate, and with seemingly nowhere else left to turn, Harrison activates his Desire Card. What follows is a gritty and gripping quest that takes him from New York City to the slums of Mumbai and forces him to take chances, and make decisions, he never thought he’d ever have to face. When his moral descent threatens his wife and children, Harrison must decide whether to save himself at any cost, or do what’s right and break his bargain with the mysterious group behind The Desire Card.

4 stars. The Desire Card was a fast-paced read that was compelling all the way through. This type of scenario isn’t my usual cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The characters were really interesting- we got to see the main character, Harrison’s, lowest point and how he dealt with this. Harrison is a very unlikable character. He’s a heavy drinker, rude to most of the people he meets, drowns himself in work, and doesn’t spend much time with his wife and kids. There’s a lot of moral corruption in this book- in Harrison and in many of the other characters. However, we get to see Harrison and the other characters change and grow throughout the book.

The book was action-packed and a pretty fast read. Just as it was starting to get a little stereotypical, a great plot twist arrived that I didn’t see coming. Interesting, dark themes throughout the book, especially in Mumbai, where it describes the realities of impoverished people there.

The Desire Card is a thrilling book with action that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time and dark lessons about life.

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio

373 pages

Synopsis: Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents…sounds ideal—but Shane’s made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance…what’s that? 

Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time’s a ticking, and she needs a change—there’s nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She’s going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure! 

Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart. 

Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic—the possibilities are endless. 

“You’re bolder than before.”

I usually don’t like books by YouTubers, but Again, But Better really exceeded my expectations. It’s fun, it’s cute, and it’s a fast but emotional read. I loved the characters and the drama between everyone- especially Shane and Pilot and Shane and her parents- and Shane’s development throughout the book was really great.

Christine Riccio made studying abroad and all the places the people in the book visited sound vibrant and exciting with great descriptions.

The writing was not spectacular, but decent for a debut. It had an overload of references to 2011 (when the first half of the book was set) and Shane, the main character, seems very similar to the author, Christine Riccio. However, the book had a lot of funny moments and nostalgic vibes. The pacing was done very well, with a good balance between school, work, and hanging out with friends.

The plot twist was definitely unexpected, though I would have liked to know more of the background behind it, and have the ending fleshed out a bit more.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

xoxo,

Adeline

One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan

One Summer is Paris tells the story of two women, Grace and Audrey. Grace’s husband has just announced that he wants a divorce, and she must take the trip to Paris she planned for their twenty-fifth anniversary by herself. Meanwhile, Audrey, an English girl, wants to get away from her difficult home life by spending a summer working at a book shop in France (though she hates reading). When an unfortunate incident causes the two to meet, they become friends.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun vacation story, but it had darker moments and a lot of great lessons to learn about discovering yourself and successful relationships. The characters were able to grow so much and become amazing, kind, and independent people. Though a little predictable, it was a captivating storyline with very fun, relateable characters and a dash of romance and humor. Overall, a fantastic book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Morgan, and the publishes for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

xoxo,

Adeline

The East End by Jason Allen

4 stars. The East End centers around two families living in the Hamptons. Corey, a working-class teenager about to leave for college, spends his summer breaking into local mansions. One night, he breaks into the Sheffield estate, where he and his mother work. At the same time, a poolside accident is occurring with Mr. Sheffield and his lover. Unfortunately, Corey saw what happened.

The book is both thrilling and heartbreaking. It’s a crazy series of events over just a couple days, filled with threats, incorrect assumptions, and many story lines. The explosive climax was very interesting, but it came really fast, leaving a couple of threads untied. I did love most of the characterization- all of the people had such compelling backstories and motivations for doing things-, and the imagery Jason Allen used to describe the settings. The East End painted a beautiful picture of the reality of socioeconomic disparity, with memorable characters and a remarkable story line.

Thank you to Harper Collins, NetGalley, and Jason Allen for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.