The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Damoff is a truly truly excellent writer. Her characters are the true definition of three-dimensional. They are all flawed and working so hard to become better versions of themselves and jump off the page so well that you find yourself rooting for each of them and missing them so so much when the story is over.

This story is filled with so much trauma and grief. How broken we each are regardless of our upbringing (and sometimes because of our upbringing) and how we internalize so much grief and self-blame/shame even when the things that happen to us aren’t because of us and how much harder that makes it for us to then be in healthy relationships of our own. How do we save ourselves and our families and how to we form healthy marriages and families when we have so much of our own work to do?

I enjoyed every single second I spent with this book. I felt sad, laughed out loud, full of love and full of frustration but most of all I just cheered them on and on hoping for them to get the healing and happy ending they deserved. What a gift when a book can make you cheer for the main characters so much.

with gratitude to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh Man.

I’ve always been a fan of Hepworth’s novels but this one stands out amongst the others.

There’s no way to finish this book and not to fall completely in love with Mabel and not to find yourself cheering for her, wanting to hug her and apologize to her on behalf of the world and truly cruel people that ruin it.

It’s hard to say that I loved reading this book because so much of it is so sad. So much of it was spent with me trying to jump into the pages of the book and protect Mabel. And also it’s such a sweet, dear, at times funny, and mostly devastating book.

The audio is truly fantastic and brings both of the mabels to life so well. A true gem from Hepsworth.

with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Last One Out by Jane Harper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With any Jane Harper book you’re guaranteed to read a story seeped in atmosphere and deep in character development. That’s where this author shines and where her novels stand out. In Last One Out, Carralon Ridge, the town, is so atmospheric that it’s a character of its own. The town people’s relationship with the town is a major part of the story.

And so are each of the characters, their history, their connection, their sense of loyalty and betrayal.

On its face this story is not as twisty and interesting as many of Harper’s other novels. But it still has all of her characteristic style so if you go in with the right expectation you will enjoy this story a lot.

And the audio is absolutely excellent, transporting the reader to Australia adding just the right texture to the story.

with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a complete fun ride this book was! I love Monaghan’s voice and it shines through in this novel. This is the story of Dolly, a single mom to Gus, competent daughter to a dad who’s set in his ways, and sister to a brother who doesn’t like to leave the front porch (or wear pants), and she has a sister too who lives further away and is not involved enough.

When her childhood house almost burns down, Dolly comes home to help out her Dad for the summer. A chance encounter where she’s helping Stewart (the rich son of the rich family their island is named after) turns into a thing and Dolly gets an offer she can’t refuse because it will mean she can truly help her dad and make sure her house is saved.

And of course things don’t go as planned. There’s so much good in this book but the best part, for me, is what an awesome character Dolly is. She’s strong, kind, capable and will not take crap from anyone. I love her.

Monaghan knows how to write characters and she knows how to do dialogue. She made me laugh and feel so much joy while reading this one.

with gratitude to netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am glad for people who are brave enough to tell their stories. To many, it might look like Belle’s privilege meant that her story wasn’t as interesting to share or that she had no right to be so hurt or she should not have been so dumb as to stop working, change the prenup and put herself into the position she put herself in.

People love to judge others. People feel entitled to tell you which stories deserve to be told. People think they would have done differently if it were them. People love to watch and point and laugh and judge and judge and judge.

It’s so easy to be a critic.

It’s hard to choose to put your life on paper anyway. And these stories deserve to be told. I’m grateful she did.

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Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About: A Memoir by Isabel Klee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I discovered Isabel Klee on instagram just a few weeks ago. And, of course, I fell down a rabbit hole and had to watch all the videos of all her fosters. Her ability to tell their story with so much love and so much humanity made it impossible not to keep scrolling for more. This is how I knew she would be an excellent writer.

And I was not wrong.

This is the story of Klee’s twenties in NYC. The detours she takes, the mistakes she makes, the friends who save her and love her. The men who love her, the men who betray her. The dogs she loves and the dogs who love her back. There’s so much heart and soul in this book. Everything is shared with tenderness, generosity and kindness.

This book reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to be loved. It reminds us that loving a being that’s been hurt can be hard but also oh so worth the work. It reminds us that we can do the hard work of healing ourselves and others. And, more than anything, it reminds us that dogs are such a gift and we are so very lucky to get to love them.

You will laugh and cry through this beautiful memoir and find yourself rooting for Isabel and every single rescue who was lucky to be fostered by her, deeply loved and given to forever homes with gratitude. And of course, Simon. Simon who is the kindest dog and shares Isabel’s extraordinary caring heart. The world is a better place because it has Isabel and Simon (and Jacob!) in it.

with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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