Reads
february 2024 romance reads
Finlay Donovan is Killing It
Book Link: Finlay Donovan is Killing It
Book Pick: The Dash – January 2024
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is an engaging story full of unexpected connections and characters. Following the lives of various characters, ranging from a widowed aquarium janitor to a meandering thirty-something to a wise and aging octopus, this story explores the nuances of community, family, and finding joy in one’s life. It is heartwarming, compelling, and pleasantly surprising. This book is an absolute must-read for those who appreciate a well written story about people and life.
Book Link: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Book Pick: September 2022
Beach Reads 2022
the things we cannot say
The Things We Cannot Say is an engaging historical fiction that uses characters in present day to unravel a family’s secrets from World War II. The story is full of romance, family ties, the woes of war, and the beauty and unpredictability of life. Get a few chapters in and you won’t be able to put it down!
Book Link: The Things We Cannot Say
Book Pick: April 2022
The Personal Librarian
Based on the life of Belle de Costa Green, The Personal Librarian is an important novel showcasing the remarkable career of a woman facing insurmountable odds in New York City in the early 1900’s. Belle’s story is inspiring and courageous; a testament to her determination, sacrifice and unmatched abilities as a personal librarian for one of the wealthiest families in America. While telling Belle’s story, Benedict and Murray thoughtfully include the rich history of the times, from the lavish parties and patriarchal society to the growing unrest between the races, while telling Belle’s unforgettable story. If you like inspiring stories, motivated women, and a good historical and cultural dive, this is a great read for you!
Book Link: The Personal Librarian
Book Pick: March 2022
The Love hypothesis
If you told me I would love a romantic comedy based in scientific academia, I’m not sure I would believe you. Yet, here I am grinning after finishing The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. It is the perfect combination of STEM and steam. Olive, a loveable and awkward grad student working to earn her PhD finds herself in an unexpected situation with an intimidating, but surprisingly hunky professor. Full of that getting to know you, unsure of yourself tension and a strong cast of best friends and roommates this book will have you rooting for Olive and her crew until the very end.
Book Link: The Love Hypothesis
Book Pick: February 2022
The Social Graces
The Social Graces by Rene´e Rosen is a perfect walk through old New York with the socially elite families of the late 19th century. Focused on the infamous social feud between Alva Vanderbilt (new money) and Mrs. Astor (old money), Rosen takes us to all their fabulous parties, lunches, opera nights, and cottages in wonderful detail. She also aptly details the social rules and hierarchies of the times, while rightly recognizing the impact these women had on furthering women’s rights by pushing boundaries and finding beneficial ways to use their influence. The story is engaging, enlightening, and lavish, making an excellent historical fiction read.
Book Link: The Social Graces
Book Pick: January 2022
The Santa suit
In need of a little Christmas cheer? This is the book. It reads just like a Hallmark movie, with the coziest setting, affable characters, and all the festivity of the season. Set in a small North Carolina town, Ivy Perkins, a new resident, unknowingly moves into the town’s most beloved farmhouse house and quickly finds herself embracing the country and Christmas spirit…and maybe a new romance. A perfect, short and sweet holiday read.
Link: The Santa Suit
Book Pick: December 2021
Rock paper scissors
If you are looking for a little thrill in your October (or anytime) this is the book for you. In Rock Paper Scissors, Alice Feeney delivers an eerie, suspenseful story full of unexpected people, places, and twists. As the story of Mr. and Mrs. Wright’s imperfect marriage unfolds on a weekend away at a desolate chapel converted to a house, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems and there is no certainty as to who can be trusted. Get ready to turn those pages with this one!
Link: Rock Paper Scissors
Book Pick: October 2021
A court of thorns and roses
Mythical, romantic, thrilling, and suspenseful are a few words that describe Sarah J. Maas’s, A Court of Thorns and Roses. This book, the first of a five book series, was an excellent change of pace for me and an exciting step into the folklore/fantasy genre. The story follows a conflicted, impoverished huntress, Feyre, who is unexpectedly required to pay a debt and is forced to live in an magical realm adjacent to her human realm. In the new realm, Feyre encounters richly developed mythical characters, including a swoon-worthy love interest, and discovers that nothing is as it appears in her lavish new world. Action-packed, with some steamy romance along the way, this compelling story will keep you engaged until the very end. I’m already looking forward to indulging in the next book, A Court of Mist and Fury.
Link: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Book Pick: September 2021
the rose code
Kate Quinn’s The Rose Code is a fantastic read. There is a lot to love about this WWII historical fiction based on the infamous Bletchley Park. The three lead female characters, each from substantially different backgrounds, unknowingly embark on a life-changing adventure to help with the war efforts. These three determined and resilient women, with a cast of other interesting and equally developed characters, find themselves trying to live their lives while trapped in the secrecy of code breaking. This book has it all – the warmth and laughter of friendship, the angst of wartime romance, the urgency of pending death, betrayal, suspense, and adventure. The Rose Code is a top contender for my favorite book of 2021 – a must read (it’s long, but it’s worth it)!
Link: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Book Pick: August 2021
Sparks like stars
Sparks Like Stars is an engaging historical fiction that almost reads like a memoir. The story follows the life of Sitara, a young child living in 1970’s Afghanistan, and her unexpected and emotional journey to becoming an oncological surgeon in New York City. Sitara’s journey is powerful, challenging, and resilient and a testament to the importance of family and heritage. Things to love about this novel are the immersive storytelling, emotionally compelling adventure, beautiful sentiments on life, wisdom, and humanity as well as Nadia Hashimi’s unforgettable depiction of a flourishing and welcoming 1970’s Afghanistan. In addition to things to love about the novel, there are many things, from international politics to emotional trauma, that will provoke interesting thoughts and discussion. Enjoy the read!
Link: Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi
Book Pick: May 2021
The Four Winds
Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds is a consuming, sweeping historical fiction full of heartbreak, courage, sacrifice, and love. Based in the years of the Great Depression, Hannah’s cast of spirited and determined characters face the consequences of the Depression compounded by the devastating Dust Bowl. After suffering these unbearable circumstances and the betrayal of ones she loves, Elsa and her two young children embark on a perilous journey from Texas to California to find a better life. Through Elsa and her children, Hannah provides a gritty taste of the difficulties rural families faced during this time: poverty, hard labor, hostility from residents, inadequate resources and exclusion from proper medical and educational services. However, Hannah uses these harsh elements to develop a story of hope and resilience fortified by the love of friends, family, and generous strangers. This novel is an inspiring reminder that we are neither the first nor the last to endure difficult times and that we are all capable of having the heart of a warrior.
Link: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Book Pick: March 2021
If I Never Met YOU
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane. This book has it all: romance, fun, office gossip, flirtatious banter, a dreamy, perfectly imperfect man, best girlfriends, and jealous ex’s. However, all of the typical romance elements are artfully balanced and intertwined with Laurie, the jilted attorney, and her introspective journey to rediscovering her confidence and self-respect. While surviving a devastating breakup, navigating chauvinistic office dynamics, and participating in a charade romance, Laurie finds herself asking a lot of hard questions, embracing things she loves about herself, acting with confidence, and addressing issues of her past with strength and clarity. She even helps some of those close to her along the way. The dialogue is witty, the characters are loveably flawed, and the romance is unpredictable, creating the perfect amount of anticipation. I highly recommend this book – especially to those of you that don’t mind learning a few new British phrases and love a good Harry Potter reference.
Link: If I Never Met You
Book Pick: February 2021
Don't Look for me
Before reading Don’t Look for Me by Wendy Walker, make sure you clear your schedule – you won’t be able to put it down! This compelling read takes you to a sleepy, small town to follow the disappearance of a grieving mom, Molly Clarke, and as the search for Molly unfolds, so do the characters’ complicated and secretive lives. With each character uniquely motivated by grief, disappointment, love, or greed, the circumstances of Molly’s disappearance become unbelievably complex enabling the story to maintain a matchless unpredictability. I highly recommend this engaging and suspenseful read.
Link: Don’t Look for Me
Book Pick: January 2021
What YOu wish for
What You Wish For is an inviting read set around a beloved school in the island town of Galveston, Texas. This book hosts a cast of characters, from affable and wise to quirky and guarded, that journey through a school year full of unexpected events and discoveries. Throughout the journey, there is an uplifting emphasis on living with joy while navigating difficult experiences. Katherine Center’s dialogue and quotable lines mixed with the schoolgirl crush romance make for a dynamic story that keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
This was my first Katherine Center read. I can’t wait to check out her other books that also have great reviews!
The Jane Austen society
Do you need to know all about Jane Austen and her writing to enjoy this book? No.
Do you need to be a fan of Jane Austen to enjoy this book? At least a little bit.
A charming, historical fiction to add to your list if you are looking for a warm and subtly complex read. The Jane Austen Society is a character-driven novel that explores the burdens of grief, but remains uplifting by fulfilling the characters through community, kindness, and a common bond – a love for Jane Austen novels. The small village the story is set in controls the pace of the novel, and the curiosity of the developments in the characters’ lives and their pursuits pull you in and keep you rooting for their success.
The Scent KeepER
The Scent Keeper – an enchanting coming-of-age novel about a young girl navigating her transition from isolation to community through her senses. Erica Bauermeister’s rich descriptions of feelings and memories associated with smells will pull you in and the development of the story will captivate you. This book has a little something for everyone to enjoy, from an almost magical element to the pain of loss and discovering hard truths about people. I recommend it as a must read!
The Alice network
The Alice Network – it’s an adventure, a vendetta, and a romance all in one. Set in a counterbalance of WWI and the years after WWII in Europe, this historical fiction by Kate Quinn takes readers on a journey of self-fulfillment, revenge, and healing. Living through the main characters, two unconventional yet redeemable women, makes for a compelling read about espionage and the realities of being a woman during those times. I give this book 4.5/5 stars and recommend it as a good read that reaches the “I can’t put this down” point in the later chapters!
The Great Alone
The Great Alone – a teenager’s wild, emotional, and delicate adventure through life with a turbulent family on the Alaskan frontier. This Kristin Hannah novel will having you feeling elated, frustrated, and sorrowful all at the same time. It will also make you wonder if you could have the strength and resilience of the main character, Lenora Albright. If you are looking for a quick, light-hearted read, this is not the book for you. This novel is an investment to read, but the journey it takes you on is worth every page. I recommend it as a good read.
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