Read with me:
The theme for me this month was reading physically. My physical TBR shelf was piling up with no relief in site, so I tried to force myself to stop binge requesting books from the library and read what I actually own for a few weeks! I’m so glad because I finally got to get through some I’ve been wondering about for months, and I forget how nice it is to look at a pretty cover all the time!
I still managed to squeeze in a ton of library books though, and I went full force on listening to audiobooks that I always get via Libby.
It Happened One Summer. Tessa Bailey: 3.5 Stars
Version: Kindle via Library
Wow, wow, wow, this book. I was not expecting so much about this one. First of all, this is definitely, 100% only appropriate for 18+ readers! I’ve read spicy books before, but I usually went into it knowing how they were going to be. This one was definitely on the same level as The Idea of You, which I rated here.
The level of steam was fine, but not knowing beforehand how much it was really impacted my experience, so I’m here to warn you! Now that that’s out of the way, I am OBSESSED with these characters, the couple and the town. The plot and the character development was a 10/10 for me.
Piper and Brendan are no joke. I love them equally together and separate, and I feel like that’s something you don’t get out of a lot of romances. No one is trying to change the other, and they are both really supportive throughout. The whole plot is essentially if Alexis Rose from Schitt’s Creek got shipped off to a tiny, coastal town with just her sister. It’s hilarious, witty, romantic and the male main character just gets all the bonus points here!
The Hawthorne Legacy, Jennifer Lynn Barnes: 4 Stars
Version: Kindle via Library
Bookstagram for #1 in this series here.
I’ve been on a series YA series kick recently. I’ve been reading the Inheritance Games series, listening to the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and also reading the Tokyo Ever After series!
Honestly I think this one is at the bottom of my list out of the three of those, but that doesn’t at all mean I don’t recommend or like it. I think that just speaks to how good the other two are if anything. What this one had going for it for me personally was how much I thought it lived up to the first one. That’s really hard to do, but I think this one was right on par.
If you haven’t heard much about this one, put it on your radar! I can’t see many people not liking it.
Good Girl, Bad Blood, Holly Jackson: 4 Stars
Version: Audiobook via Libby
Bookstagram review for #1 in this series here.
Starting this review out with a reminder to consume this series audibly if you can at all and that’s accessible to you. The format is just so much better that way! I rated the first book in this series higher, and I think most of that is contributed to the fact that it was more report focused and we got a lot more of those audio snippets and report entries which was just so fun and unique.
Instead of a report, Pip’s running an extremely successful podcast that has put her on basically the entire world’s radar as a junior internet sleuth. Her friend comes to her with a desperate plea to help find his missing brother, and as much as Pip wants to listen to the lessons she learned last time and stay away, she just can’t help feeling like something huge is going on.
This tied up some loose ends that were in the last book, and I really enjoyed seeing how the characters arced. Again, I really missed the heavier focus on audio and report entries, but I think this was a solid second in the series. I will definitely pick up the third one although I can’t tell what that one is really going to dive into. Maybe her first year at college?
Book Lovers, Emily Henry: 5 Stars
Version: Paperback
So many people were waiting on this book for 2022, and I’m so happy to report it did live up to the hype! I always get worried with books with a ton of hype like this, but luckily it was so good. I’m so obsessed with books that are about the publishing industry or set in a library/book store, so this one was perfect for me.
It wasn’t solely focused on a cheesy romance, and I think that’s what I like about it! This is my new favorite Emily Henry book, so make sure you pick it up!
My Body, Emily Ratajkowski: 3 Stars
Version: Audiobook via Libby
I feel conflicted about this one. If you don’t know who Emily Ratajkowski is, she’s basically one of the most famous models of this time period- she’s really known for her nude modeling work and does mostly photos instead of runway. She’s really popular on Instagram, and I didn’t realize until reading this book just how many mini-scandals she’s been involved in against her will.
This reads really descriptively, and I can’t believe how well she recalls memories and details from events to paint a certain picture. She also narrates the audiobook, and that’s a really powerful feature throughout. The main premise of the book doesn’t interest me a ton, but I’m still glad I read it. She’s basically explaining how she got to where she is now and contemplates a lot of issues surrounding sexuality, women owning their image and work, the price you pay for fame in this industry, etc.
Woman on Fire, Lisa Barr: 4.5 Stars
Version: Hardback
This book truly has it all! It’s got all the right elements of historical fiction, thriller, mystery, romance, all of it 👏
If you give me absolutely any story relating to the underbelly of the art world, I will *immediately* put it on my list. I was so happy with this one.
Jules Roth will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. When she lands the journalism job of her dreams, it’s not exactly what she was expecting. She’s plunged into the deathly art world overnight to uncover the location of a painting that was stolen in WWII and has been missing ever since. There’s a host of lovable characters who come along with her for the chase, and we meet an abominable villain who is also looking for the same painting and will do anything to get it 🔪
Magnolia Palace, Fiona Davis: 4 Stars
Version: Audiobook via Libby
This was an enjoyable audiobook! I heard about “Miss Manhattan” aka Angelica who is one of our main characters in this story, when I was listening to My Body earlier this month, so it was a really fun crossover event to read this so quickly afterward.
The perspective switches back and forth between Angelica, who has been a muse for New York’s most famous artists in the turn of the century NYC and a struggling British model trying to support her family in 1960s NYC. At first I felt like the stories didn’t go together very well, but then it really all wraps up nicely. I recommend the audiobook version of this!
I did absolutely hate Miss Helen though.. haha
Arsenic and Adobo, Mia P. Manansala: 3.5 Stars
Version: Audiobook via Libby
Hmmm, this one was interesting! I’m glad I listened to it, because I think I would have gotten a little bored if I had went that route. I learned a ton about the Philippines culture, their food, family relationships and more. I felt a little tired of all the food descriptions after a little while, but overall I think it was worth it. The story was predictable, but it wasn’t really aggravating for me personally.
From Blood and Ash, Jennifer L. Armentrout: 3.75 Stars
Version: Kindle via Libby
I’ve seen this everywhere, and it seemed like the next natural series to read after A Court of Thorns and Roses (my new favorite fantasy series of all time). It was a very, very slow start, but fantasy books almost always are. There’s so much information to learn at first, and it felt really hard to care about everything going on.
Then, the last 20% comes on, and I felt absolutely ob.sessed. with it. I still don’t like it as much as Sarah J. Maas’ books, but I think I’m going to slowly work my way through the rest of the city.
Beware, it’s 18+ content only!
Hook, Line and Sinker, Tessa Bailey: 3 Stars
Version: Kindle via Libby
Ugh, I definitely liked It Happened One Summer more. This one is about Hannah (Piper’s sister) and Fox (Brendan’s best friend). Hannah has to overcome her “bad” habit of being the supporting character in everyone else’s life aka not being the main character ever, and Fox has to overcome everyone’s perception of him basically being a man hoe. It kind of felt overwritten? I think this could have been about half the length that it was, and I actually think Piper and Brendan have way better chemistry. This one was also very spicy, the intentionally spicy scenes weren’t as wild as It Happened One Summer, but instead spicy things were talked about on almost every page because of Fox’s issues he was trying to overcome.
Also need to note that this one is 18+
Portrait Of a Thief, Grace D. Li: 4 Stars
Version: Kindle via Libby
This was the May Literary League pick, and I’m so thrilled I read it because it was partially set in my exact town. That’s never really happened to me before, and it was a really cool experience to imagine myself exactly in the places mentioned.
Essentially this book is about a group of Chinese Americans on a mission to recover art that was stolen (and refused to be returned) from China. They have a year to steal back five statues at some of the most famous museums across the globe. Tensions run high, relationships form and fall apart and so much more.
You’re reading this more for the actual idea of what’s going on than the finer details of the plot. It’s very hard to imagine this being realistic in any way, and I definitely missed the finer research and details in typical heist books or movies. I personally want to hear how somehow would actually go about this, but I was still intrigued throughout.
Rock Paper Scissors, Alice Feeney: 4.5 Stars
Version: Physical via BOTM
This has been sitting on my shelf for months, and I definitely should have read it this winter, but it was actually so good even on Memorial Day Weekend.
Set in the remote Scottish Highlands during an intense winter storm, Mr. and Mrs. Wright have checked into a weekend getaway with many intentions both public and hidden. When things start going wrong around their accommodation (as has been the case in their marriage), tensions and suspicions run high.
The story is told in anniversary letters written from the wife’s perspective, as well as current day perspective from the wife, husband and someone living near the chapel the couple is staying in. I think there were a few plot holes here and there, but ultimately it was just so good, and I loved the twists and turns. Lastly wanted to mention this one is SUCH a quick read, so not too big of a commitment at all.
Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner: 5 Stars
Version: Audiobook via Libby
Yikes, this is so hard to listen/read. I realized halfway through that this is written by the Japanese Breakfast lead, and I’ve been so into them since they were nominated for best album at the Grammy’s this year. After that really cool realization, I was so interested in just how talented Michelle Zauner is.
She has a really good way with words. Even though it was an easier writing style, this topic is just so heavy. It was mainly about Michelle painfully losing her mom to pancreatic cancer and also losing one of her last remaining links to her Korean heritage. Don’t go into this one lightly, the language and imagery around losing a parent is very heartbreaking throughout.
The Unhoneymooners, Christina Lauren: 3.5 Stars
Version: Kindle ebook
UGH I have mixed, mixed feelings about this book. I absolutely loved the main characters’ banter in the beginning, and everything was on track for me to absolutely love this one, and then something about it just fell a little flat for me.
Olive and Ethan have two things in common. Firstly, their siblings are marrying each other, and secondly they both despise each other. When a wedding buffet disaster wreaks havoc on the entire wedding party except them, they reluctantly agree to use the all expenses paid honeymoon to Hawaii in place of their siblings. The main catch- they have to pretend to be their married siblings and act like newlyweds the entire trip.
I don’t usually love enemies to lovers, but their banter was just SO funny. I think the combination of enemies to lovers with fake dating was what made it so much better for me.
Once they get home from the honeymoon though, I just didn’t like where the plot went from there as much. I don’t think Olive and Ethan would actually make it as a couple haha
Hotel Nantucket, Elin Hilderbrand: 5 Stars
Version: ARC via Netgalley
Publication date: June 14, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC coming out June 14. Ah this book was so enjoyable. I think summer is the perfect time to read it, and I’ve never wanted to visit Nantucket more.
The story follows employees, guests and resident ghost of the Hotel Nantucket, the newest establishment on Nantucket with a long and complicated history. The property is supposedly cursed, but that doesn’t stop a slightly egotistical billionaire from reopening it, just to impress a world-famous hotel reviewer and finally earn her first “five key” review.
I thought all the characters were perfectly developed and synced, and if you’ve read the Blue Bistro, there is such a fun character cross over here. This was one of my favorite ever from this author, much lighter and lower stakes than some of her books can be.
The only warning I will give though- if you don’t like a lot of characters in a book, this one might not be for you! I was easily able to keep all the characters straight even listening on audio, but if that’s something that usually throws you off then this might not work as an easy beach read.
Read with me:
