It is time for the first book recap of the year! My goal for this year was to read a book a month and so far I am outpacing myself doubling that number with 8! These few months were filled with some major home run reads, as well as not so fantastic picks, so let’s jump into the book reviews!
Beach Read by Emily Henry: My first book of the year I rated 5/5 stars! It was a very easy and sweet read. Perfect beach read, pun intended. January heads to a little beach town which has some sour memories left after her Dad passes. January, an author, is needing to spark her creativity again while struggling financially. She happens to reside next to one of her college nemesis Augustus, an author himself, in which they butt heads throughout the summer. This book has a sweet spin on reinventing yourself and finding out that anything can happen.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell: I feel like I am going to say a lot that this book is a new favorite in the course of these reviews, but I found some really good reads the past months! I rated this book 5/5! If you love a good suspense and mystery book, this is the one for you. Libby receives a note on her 25th birthday where she finds who her birth parents are and that she is inheriting a huge abandoned mansion. But with that comes a lot of learning of her past and what stories are held within the house.
The Ever After by Sarah Pekkanen: This book was my least favorite of the bunch with a 2.5/5 star rating. Sarah is part of the author duo that writes some of my favorite books An Anonymous Girl, The Wife Between Us and and You are Not Alone. As the book wasn’t bad, it didn’t captivate me and keep me reaching for my book. Josie is a married mother with two young girls. She happens to borrow her husbands phone one morning to find out that he is cheating. You go through the emotions Josie feels and how she plans to keep her family together.
Girl with No Job- The Crazy Life of an Instagram Thirst Monster by Claudia Oshry: Claudia is the co host of the popular podcast the Morning Toast and runs the huge Instagram meme account Girl With No Job. As a huge fan of the podcast, Claudia, and seeing her comedy tour, I had to read the book. I don’t know if I would suggest the book if you have never followed or heard of Claudia. If you are aware of her, it is great insight into her life through loss, celebrities, body confidence and more. Her funny tone really does come through in the book!
Even if it Kills Her by Kate White: This book is the next installment of the Bailey Weggins Mystery Series. Any of the books in the series are always 5/5 stars. A classic mystery book, almost like current day Nancy Drew. Baileys friend from college Jillian asks for her help in solving the murder of her entire family that happened years ago after the man locked away for the murder is found innocent. This book makes you want to keep turning the page with each chapter ending on a major cliff hanger.
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams: This book started off really slow in the beginning for me and then picked up half way through so I rated it 3.5/5 stars. Gavin is a major league baseball player who’s marriage is falling apart. As he takes some time apart from his wife and two daughters, Gavins friends step in and invite him to the Bromance Book Club where they read romantic novels to better understand the female mind. The book is very sweet as you see Gavin work to win his family back. This is now a series of 4 books I believe, each one covering a different character we are introduced to from the original book. I just picked the second book up and look forward to reading!
The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine: Now I have to say I think this is my favorite book of the year so far. Definitely 5/5 stars! This is the same author who wrote the Last Mrs Parrish which is one of my favorite books. Kate’s mother is found unexpectedly dead in their home. In preparation for the memorial, Kate reaches out to her estranged former best friend Blaire, as she was very close to her mother. Soon after the memorial, Kate begins to receive ominous texts threatening herself and her family from an unknown number. Kate doesn’t know who she can trust anymore, her father, her husband? One thing is for sure is that Kate is very grateful Blaire is back in her life.
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle: This book was not a common read I would reach for but I loved it and rated it 5/5 stars! Dannie is a plan each detail kind of girl. She knows exactly how her life should play out in the next 5 years, that is until she has a “dream” and finds herself in an apartment she doesn’t know, sleeping by a man she doesn’t know and with an engagement ring that isn’t the one she just received from her current fiancé. This book pulls at your heart strings, shows true love from friends and signifiant others.
And that wraps up the books from the last 4 months! Any new reads I need to add to my list? Excited for the next batch!
