Review: Things to Look Forward To

Things to Look Forward To
Things to Look Forward To by Sophie Blackall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A sweet, beautiful book of lovely things to look forward to. Little joys of ordinary everyday life and much to be grateful for. I loved the illustrations and this quiet, beautiful book.

with gratitude to edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: For You & No One Else

For You & No One Else
For You & No One Else by Roni Loren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Roni Loren’s Say Everything series is my favorite of all romance series. I love every single character in her stories and I love the way they talk to each other and the way they care for each other.

And this one is no exception.

Eliza and Beck make the most lovely couple. Each struggling with their own journeys and each reserved and scared and closed off for different reasons. And yet they find each other and can’t help but love each other even if they don’t want to admit it to themselves.

I love these imperfect and yet deeply kind characters who understand that the world is not perfect and that we can love and care for each other just the way we are.

Love everything about this series.

with gratitude to netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Recitatif

Recitatif
Recitatif by Toni Morrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every single thing about this short story is excellent. I read the version with Zadie Smith’s foreword and it was absolutely excellent as well.

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Review: In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss

In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss
In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a beautiful story about love, loss, grief and living life on your own terms. Loving someone enough to walk alongside them in their journey and choosing them over your own self. I loved every moment with this book.

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Review: Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman

Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman
Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this story. Eye opening, funny, thought-provoking, distressing and real all in one.

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Review: Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have savored this book over the course of many weeks. I have binged her TV show and I will have to watch it and read this again several times before i can fully internalize it. The concept of near enemy is something that will stay with me forever now that I know it and as with all of Brene’s books, my life will not be the same now that I know what I know.

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Review: Radically Content: Being Satisfied in an Endlessly Dissatisfied World

Radically Content: Being Satisfied in an Endlessly Dissatisfied World
Radically Content: Being Satisfied in an Endlessly Dissatisfied World by Jamie Varon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jamie Varon’s book is beautiful inside out. The book contains sections that start with her own journey and how she moved from a life full of discontent and striving to a life of radical contentment. Pointing out shifts and perspective changes along the way. It is like a kind friend who sits alongside you and cheers you on to live your best life and be authentically who you are. It’s not empty platitudes and it’s not copying what’s worked for her. It’s inspiring and uplifting in all the right ways.

with gratitude to edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: I Kissed Shara Wheeler

I Kissed Shara Wheeler
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Casey McQuiston’s previous two novels and I had high hopes for this one. It did not disappoint! This is the story of Chloe, Smith and Rory who have all kissed Shara right before she disappears. So even though they have nothing else in common, they band together to find and decipher the clues Shara has left behind so they can find her.

There’s so much more to the story, of course. It’s about the religious town/school they attend, how most of the kids (and adults) do not have the freedom to be who they are. How things are not what they seem. How when we look at the world, we make assumptions about others and how easy their lives must be.

It’s a fun and poignant story. I loved it.

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

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Review: One Italian Summer

One Italian Summer
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Poignant and beautiful book about mother-daughter relationships. Relationships in general and about motherhood. Loved it.

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Review: Under Lock & Skeleton Key

Under Lock & Skeleton Key
Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. A really fun locked-room mystery. Not the kind of story I usually would pick up but it was fun and interesting with memorable and well-developed characters.

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Review: The Last Confessions of Sylvia P.

The Last Confessions of Sylvia P.
The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. by Lee Kravetz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this sad and interesting story. Amazingly I have never read the Bell Jar but now it’s on my list.

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Review: The Book of Cold Cases

The Book of Cold Cases
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like Simone St. James’ stories. Her books are character-driven and the stories are always engaging. If character-driven mystery novels are your thing, I highly recommend.

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