Tag: Contemporary

Book Review:: The Last Love Note | Emma Grey

What comes after losing the ones we love? We hold the ones we have left more dearly & live the rest of our days the best we can. The Last Love Note is a beautiful story about love, grief, healing, and a strong woman forging a new path forward with the pieces left after life shatters around her.

The Last Love Note Emma Grey Book Cover

Kate and Cam fell madly in love in college and never looked back. They married and started a beautiful family. Life wasn’t a cakewalk — they had the usual problems of early marriage: jobs to navigate, whether to expand their family & when… Then things begin to fall apart with an unexpected diagnosis.

This is a story told in two timelines. One is the past, as Kate and Cam navigate the trials and tribulations of Cam’s diagnosis, the other is the present, with Kate on a work trip with her boss, Hugh, who has become a close family friend. Kate is still processing her grief, but it’s been a few years, and her friends are encouraging her to open herself back up to possibility. And Hugh, Hugh is there to help her find her way.

I imagine this book captures the complicated feelings of widowhood quite beautifully. The guilt, the betrayal, the responsibility, and the sheer surprise of any sort of feelings stirring up again. It is both utterly romantic, and heartbreaking. It is a beautiful story, and it was beautifully written.

On the side of flaws, I would say the pacing is overall quite slow. In contrast, the opening sequence was funny and punchy, but I didn’t feel it quite matched with the rest of the story, which was much more retrospective, and, well, gloomy. It also left me a little muddled as to what I should be paying attention to, if I’m honest. I go into books blind (no blurbs), and the false romantic interest threw me off until probably 25% into the book and I realized who we were really there to watch. In retrospect, I can appreciate the details, but it takes a minute to get into. However, if you stick with it, ye shall be rewarded.

This is the kind of book that lingers. I find myself thinking of it every once in awhile, even weeks later, and when I do, I get this big warm fuzzy feeling in my chest that makes me want to read it again. If you are a sucker for true romance, and don’t mind a little bit of real life heartbreak, you’re going to love it.

Details

Title:: The Last Love Note
Author:: Emma Grey
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Zibby Books
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 32m
Audiobook Narrator:: Leeanna Walsman
Audiobook Publisher:: Zibby Books
Published:: November 28th, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

This Summer Will Be Different | Carley Fortune
In The Likely Event | Rebecca Yarros
Amazing Grace Adams | Fran Littlewood

Book Review:: In the Likely Event | Rebecca Yarros

This book may have ruined me for all other romances. I stayed up until 3 am because it is unputdownable. I am still stunned as I sit to write this more than a week later, but I will try to piece together something coherent to explain the ways in which this book moved me.

In The Likely Event Rebecca Yarros Book Cover

This is where I normally provide a quick summary of the plot. In this case, I cannot do that. Don’t read the back. Don’t read the blurb. Don’t read any other reviews. Just pick it up, and read. Trust me.

The first four chapters gave me full body chills. Chills. I had to put it down after that because it was already getting late and I knew if I started one more, I’d never put it back down. I stewed over what I’d read the whole next day until I felt brave enough to pick it back up, knowing it would knock me out, in one way or another. I was right. I didn’t put it back down until I’d read every last word.

This is a love story, and the stakes are sky high. It’s about the universe conspiring to bring two people together, as many times as it takes. It’s about enduring love, tragic love, protective love, and being there in the ways that count, even if it can’t always be physically.

It’s about bearing vulnerabilities and sacrificing what might have been for what one day could be. It’s about life, about loss, about holding onto the family you find in others, and letting go of the ones that hurt you. It’s about taking risks for those you love, and not holding grudges for all the little hurts, or the big ones either. It’s about patience, and fighting for what you know is real, even if you’re the only one who still believes it.

There is so much packed in these pages, and the longing and yearning and waiting is enough to bring you to your knees. It is shaped to pull you in and wring you out in all the best and worst ways. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this way about a book, and I’m not sure I ever will again. It is something special, and I’ll carry it with me, always. I hope you’ll read it too.

Details

Title:: In The Likely Event
Author:: Rebecca Yarros
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Montlake
Length:: 350 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 30m
Audiobook Narrator:: Carly Robins, Teddy Hamilton
Audiobook Publisher:: Brilliance Audio
Published:: August 1st, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Burn For Me | Ilona Andrews
This Summer Will Be Different | Carley Fortune

Book Review:: My (not so) Perfect Life | Sophie Kinsella

Life doesn’t always follow the plan, no matter how carefully and passionately you’ve outlined it. Even when you’re on track, the details of what you have to suffer through on the way to the end of the rainbow are often so frustrating, it might drive you to madness. Goals are not accomplished on a straight line. It’s more like a line graph with wild ebbs and flows making it look more like a Richter Scale reading than an exponential curve to success. But all the little detours move you forward, even when they seem like a step back, and eventually you learn that happily ever after looks a little different than what you once dreamed.

My (Not So) Perfect Life Sophie Kinsella Book Cover

Kat-Katie-Kat is chasing her dreams in London, working for a boss who is living a picture-perfect life. Demeter is everything Kat wants to be, except she’s also an aloof, often degrading, unapologetic bitch. Kat dreams of being a successful advertise marketer, but is struggling to get Demeter to notice she exists at all, let alone any of her design and campaign ideas. One day, a mystery man named Alex shows up needing help with a couple of things. Kat and Alex work well together, but when she finds out he’s one of the higher-ups, she realizes how out of her league he is. Then, she gets fired (not because of Alex). That was certainly not part of the plan. She’s on a desperate search for another job in her field, when her dad and step-mother call on her expertise to help launch their new glamping resort in the countryside. She’s afraid if she leaves London, she may never end up going back, but there are few other options unless she wants to sleep under a bridge in the name of staying put. The glamping endeavor gives Katie a chance to show off how great she is at her dream job. She’s so good, in fact, it accidentally draws in exclusivity-connoisseur Demeter and her family to stay. It is then Katie begins to see that a picture-perfect life isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.

This book is far more than a romance. It’s an anthem. It is self-discovery and integrity and enlightenment. Katie’s story is at once a girl-boss-revenge story and a coming-of-age reinvention, with a dash of mean-girl-justice on the side.

I was surprised how much I loved this book. It has a depth that I wasn’t expecting. I expected another run-of-the-mill contemporary romance, but this was a book all about girl power and making the most of whatever opportunity is in front of you. And standing up for what’s right, even when you don’t have to. And…yeah, sure, some romance too. Katie’s is the kind of story that sticks with you because its lessons are so meaningful, and the whole thing is just so darned endearing.

This is the kind of story that leaves you with warm fuzzies. Read this if you’re looking for something to make you feel more empowered and uplifted. If you’re not looking for just-another-romance. If you enjoy Emily Henry books, or The Devil Wears Prada (goes glamping, lol). I hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as I did!

Details

Title:: My (Not So) Perfect Life
Author:: Sophie Kinsella
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: The Dial Press
Length:: 464 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 58m
Audiobook Narrator:: Fiona Hardingham
Audiobook Publisher:: Random House Audio
Published:: July 11th, 2017
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

PS: I Hate You | Lauren Connolly
Summertime Punchline | Betty Corrello
The Rom-Commers | Katherine Center

Book Review:: The Graham Effect | Elle Kennedy

What is it about sports romance? As someone with no interest in athletics whatsoever, I never thought I’d enjoy reading them, but I got curious and picked one off of KU (Kindle Unlimited – no risk!) and just see. Well. Ahem. Since then, I’ve read my fair share, and – no one is more surprised to hear what I’m about to say than I am – they’re awesome.

The Graham Effect Elle Kennedy Book Cover

Gigi Graham, daughter of legendary hockey phenom Garrett Graham, has her heart set on the Olympics. She’s played hockey her whole life and loves the sport. Trouble is, the national team is dragging their toes in finalizing their roster, and has hinted at her weaknesses behind the goal. Luke Ryder is the new co-captain of the men’s team, which recently merged with another (rival) college that went under. He’s had to work hard for everything his whole life, and is just hoping to not screw anything up for himself this last year of college. His reputation is hanging by a thread after an incident the year before. Garrett Graham is looking for a coach for a training camp he runs for youngsters, and Ryder wants the spot – badly enough to offer to help the renowned coach’s daughter to work on her hockey weaknesses in exchange for a good word with her dad. Sparks fly and secrets begin to pile up as Gigi and Ryder pursue the futures they’ve always dreamed of.

At almost 500 pages, you really get to sit in this story for awhile. For some, that might be a turnoff, but I almost always welcome large page counts, if the story supports them. Could it have been shorter? Of course. But with all the subplots introduced, the author really gives each their time in the sun and weaves through all the subtleties, creating a story just as complex as real life can be. And each thread was tied up nicely with a bow by the end. I was personally glad to have so much time with the characters.

This is the first book I’ve ever read of Elle Kennedy, but I’ve read this is the first book in a spinoff second-generation series. I like that idea. I’m assuming that Garret Graham was a hero of one of the first-generation books. He seems like he’d have been a great leading man back in the day *eyebrow wiggle*. I feel like there is enough of him in this book to satisfy fans of the previous series too. It’s always fun to see old characters make new story cameos, right?

I docked a star because the secrecy stretches on a little long for me. It kept coming up and I felt like I was reading the same we’re not ready to reveal ourselves yet over and over (maybe if it wasn’t spelled out so frequently it wouldn’t have bothered me as much). While I found this book compelling and entertaining and sweet, it was missing some deeper X-Factor for me I can’t quite put my finger on. All the elements were there, but it didn’t quite reach 5-star status for me (I don’t hand ’em out easy!).

I’d recommend this book for those who are big fans of sports romance, or are just looking for a good college romance to sink their teeth into for the summer. The great news is, if you like it, there are a lot more to keep you busy reading for some time to come!

Details

Title:: The Graham Effect (Campus Diaries #1)
Author:: Elle Kennedy
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: EKI
Length:: 498 pages
Audio Length:: 14h 3m
Audiobook Narrator:: CJ Bloom & Teddy Hamilton
Audiobook Publisher:: Tantor Audio
Published:: October 31, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 4

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If you liked this book, check out…

Play Along | Liz Tomforde
King of Wrath | Ana Huang

Book Review:: The Unhoneymooners | Christina Lauren

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren is a fun and hilarious quick summer read that will have you turning page after page to find out what happens next. From the get go, this book grabs hold of your attention and doesn’t let go until the third act, where I personally felt it had some problems. Not enough to ruin the entire effect though, and of course, we get our happy ending.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Book Cover

Olive is the unlucky twin. Cursed, really. Ami is the one who seems to get any and everything she wants. So when Olive is (almost) the only one who doesn’t get sudden and graphic food poisoning the night of Ami’s wedding, and is the only one who can redeem the honeymoon to Hawaii Ami won, it seems too good to be true. And it is. The only other person at the wedding who didn’t eat the tainted dinner, is the groom’s brother, Ethan — the one Olive has never gotten along with — and he’s taking his brother’s spot on the honeymoon trip. They’re reluctant to go together, but figure they can avoid each other and enjoy the tropics individually…that is, until they have a few run-ins with people they know and need to team up to navigate the complications.

This thing is built on tropes, folks. Enemies to lovers, misunderstandings, forced proximity, fake dating, one bed (it is the honeymoon suite after all) — I may even be missing a few. For me, sometimes the fake dating trope can be done real badly, but I think in this book the logic tracks, despite the extremely high likelihood they wouldn’t run into anyone they know there, let alone two such someones…in the same day. It may require a bit of suspension of disbelief, but if you can get there, the antics are pretty sweet.

It all works so well — until it doesn’t. When Ethan and Olive get back to real life and the unhoneymoon is over, things, of course, start to fall apart. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the third act conflict rubbed me the wrong way in this one. The trust between the two characters was broken (no cheating – can’t leave you guys hanging like that), and for me that’s hard to recover from. However, it was one of the more fun, funny, and entertaining books I’ve read this summer. Compelling, too. If you’re anything like me, you’ll fly through it. If you’re a fan of romantic comedy or just looking for a fun vacation read, this one is a great option!

Details

Title:: The Unhoneymooners
Author:: Christina Lauren
Genre:: Romantic Comedy
Publisher:: Gallery Books
Length:: 432 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 14m
Audiobook Narrator:: Cynthia Farrell & Deacon Lee
Audiobook Publisher:: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published:: May 14th, 2019
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 3

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If you liked this book, check out…

DNAduo Duology | Christina Lauren (The Soulmate Equation & The True Love Experiment)
Funny Story | Emily Henry
PS I Hate You | Lauren Connolly

Book Review:: Funny Story | Emily Henry

Let’s talk about the new Emily Henry book —

Funny Story Emily Henry Book Cover

Daphne’s fiancé came back from his bachelor party weekend with a declaration of love on his lips. Unfortunately, it was for his childhood friend Petra, not her. She had packed up her entire life and moved to Michigan for the guy. She lived in the house he bought for them. And now? Now the only thing she has is her dream job as a children’s librarian…in the one place on earth she no longer wants to be. She has nowhere to go. Then Miles, Petra’s beau, shows up after he gets the NOTE she left him, ending their years long relationship. He wants answers, but they’re already long gone. Instead, he picks up a new roommate. Daphne & Miles are practical strangers, both mourning the death of relationships they’d put everything on the line for. In a bout of revenge, they decide to pretend they’ve found new love in each other. We know how the rest of the story goes, right? They grow closer, become true friends, help each other navigate the troubles in their lives, and the pesky little spark between them, once struck, refuses to die out.

The banter is top tier. Daphne and Miles get each other. The bond of friendship that anchors them is so genuine. They’re not just grieving together, they’re grieving the exact same thing. And when one of them is going through something rough, the other is there with immense support.

Although it is firmly inside romantic comedy territory, it has authentic depth that pulls the ol’ heartstrings. As Daphne sifts through the wreckage of her life to figure out what she even wants out of life, she has to really examine all the pieces of it. Would moving back ‘home’ solve any of her problems? Or is she just trying to run away…again?

In conclusion – drumroll please – I loved it. As far as Emily Henry goes, this ranks for me just under my favorite she’s written (Beach Read) for a solid runner-up. I loved Miles. I loved how he was revealed in layers, just a little bit at a time. I related so hard to Daphne in many ways. The difficulty of adult friendships, her self-doubt. Very little of this book felt tedious to get through (unlike Book Lovers, honestly). Although there were some things that bothered me, too.

  • The third act conflict was confusing and needlessly stressful (in my opinion). It stretched the bounds of my belief, but it wasn’t enough to ruin it for me.
  • The title. It’s explained in the opening anecdote, but other than that, it doesn’t feel like it applies in any meaningful way to the actual story. Not the only Emily Henry book to which this gripe applies though. Titles are hard. Hers are catchy. I get it.

It’s hard to go wrong with an Emily Henry book. She’s a sharp-witted writer with a modern style that is easy to read and lose yourself in. Her characters have so much complicated depth, and the narrative works long and hard to resolve their long-standing issues realistically. They’re more spunky than fluffy, and give you plenty of fodder to ruminate over long after the last pages are turned. I’d say of the four Henry’s I’ve read so far, for me this is a solid runner-up behind Beach Read (Happy Place settled at the rear).

Details

Title:: Funny Story
Author:: Emily Henry
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 395 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 23m
Audiobook Narrator:: Julia Whelan
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: April 23rd, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Summertime Punchline | Betty Corrello
Amazing Grace Adams | Fran Littlewood

Book Review:: Not in Love | Ali Hazelwood

I’ve read a few Ali Hazelwood books. Love, Theoretically, Love on the Brain, The Love Hypothesis, Check & Mate — I was expecting Not in Love to be in a similar vein, but unlike the others, which are all romances and usually contain a pretty awkward sex scene or two, this book needs to come with a disclaimer:: This Book is Pure Porn. That being said, the underlying story between the orgasms is a decent story of revenge, personal growth, and lots of obsession.

Not in Love Ali Hazelwood Book Cover

Rue Seibert works in food security science for a pioneer woman in the field who founded her own company, Kline, so the university she worked for wouldn’t own her patent. Now Rue is on the cusp of needing her own patent, just when a finance company swoops in a buys up Kline’s loan. Rue’s hero believes they’ve come in to destroy everything she’s ever worked for, so they are enemy number one. But when Rue recognizes one of the finance guys from a recent hookup, and she learns more about her boss’ history with them, the lines of her allegiance start to blur.

So let’s just jump into it and talk about the sex. This is by far the sexiest (as in literally so much sex) Hazelwood story I’ve read so far – but I haven’t read them all, so can’t say for certain it has the most. Please, enlighten me in the comments. There’s a lot of it. I know I already said that like eight different ways, but really, you need to prepare yourself. If you took away the explicit sex scenes, there may be nothing more than a novella length story in front of you. This is erotica territory.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for the two main characters, who pretty much treat sex as a biological urge and nothing more. They use a sex app (not a dating app) to find others who just want to use each other’s bodies for pleasure. They are both so detached from their feelings that that’s all they think they want or can offer someone else. I guess it did leave room for them to grow, but it was an ick for me. Sex is more than just a physical connection. Or maybe I should say sex should be more than just a physical connection. But maybe that’s my age showing? It was uncomfortable to read so much of it, and the way Eli was obsessed with Rue kind of gave me creepy-sex guy vibes. Sorry, not sorry.

One of the things Rue and Eli exchanged (other than copious amounts of bodily fluids) were all the dark pieces of themselves. Truths they’ve never told anyone before because of the shame it brings them. Similar to Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti (solid 5-Star book), I loved it. They spoke, and the other listened, and there was acceptance. The acknowledgement of their regrets and flaws and imperfect choices – it makes the connection they forge feel genuine. They’re not falling for an image of the other person they’ve built up in their own mind – they’re falling for the whole person. The real person. In that way, I found it very romantic. Then again, the same could happen in a platonic friendship, but since they’re fucking, like, all the time, let’s call it romance.

There are also storylines with themes of food scarcity, complicated family relationships, social struggles, and strong friendships. There’s some good stuff in there, you just have to wade through a lot of fornication to get there, because I’m not sure if you’ve heard yet, but there’s a lot of it.

Overall, it was a decent story. Everything that was promised had a satisfying payoff, and we get a happily ever after. If you like Hazelwood’s science-y style, you still get a bit of that, but the main course is real raunchy. It just wasn’t the one for me.

Details

Title:: Not in Love
Author:: Ali Hazelwood
Genre:: Erotic Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 55m
Audiobook Narrator:: Callie Dalton & Jason Clarke
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: June 11th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 2-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

The Tourist Attraction | Sarah Morgenthaler
The Unhoneymooners | Christina Lauren

Book Review:: Savor It | Tarah Dewitt

Brace yourselves for another lovely summer romance novel. Savor It, by Tarah Dewitt is a new release for summer 2024 and I think it’s a crowd pleaser. If you love cozy small town achingly sweet romances, look no further.

Savor It Tarah Dewitt Book Cover

Finch is a gourmet chef in New York City who’s lost his edge. After an incident in the city, his former boss whisks him off to a small-time project she’s fielding on the Oregon coast while he gets his poop in a group and is ready to come back to the big time. Bringing with him the angsty niece he’s the guardian for, he’s looking to recover his mojo and get the heck out of dodge. He’s from a small town, and another one is the last place he wants to be. But then his cute hobby-farm tending new neighbor shows up in a moment of need in a…unique cow print robe looking for her three-legged cat (Legoless) and plenty of sage advice, and suddenly his summer might not be the absolute misery he expected.

Sage (the homegirl neighbor) is still trying to find herself after a very public breakup with her high school sweetheart (everything is very public in a town as small as Spunes Oregan). Competing and winning the local summer competition will be the way she can prove to herself (and everyone else) that she is capable of anything. She just needs to find a partner for the rowing competition. When the new renters show up next door, everything clicks into place, and she might get more out of this than just a rowing partner. The thing is…he’s not sticking around. What if the feelings threatening to spark start to get out of hand? This small town is everything to Sage. She has roots here that run deep. So a future together is impossible — right?

This book felt like it could be the beginning of a successful standalone romance series (but I don’t think it is?). Sage has three older brothers, and the little town of Spunes is full of quirky characters that bring vibrant color to the world. I loved Sage’s dynamic with her brothers, and honestly, I hope she writes stories for them, too. I want to know more about the relationship of Sage’s oldest brother and his ex-wife. So much to work with there! Tarah, are you listening? 🙂

If you enjoy small town vibes, this book has them in spades. Sage’s hobby farm makes you want to shluff off onto your own acerage and adpot a giant dog, several geese, and a clydesdale. As a gardener, Sage’s garden sounds like a dream. The setting wraps around you like a hug.

Sage and Finch are good together. She’s a teacher and an aunt and she’s used to dealing with kids Finch’s niece’s age. He loves to use her ingredients as inspiration for new recipes. They have a deeper connection than just the attraction. Sometimes romance novels don’t have a hell of a lot of actual romance, but that’s not the case here. These characters fit into each other’s lives, and I loved watching them fall. It’s the kind of book that leaves you with a sweet aftertaste, you know?

I loved that the ending wasn’t the typical cliche, but to avoid spoilers, that’s all I’ll say. Yes, don’t worry, they get their HEA 😉

Spice Level: Tasteful.

Details

Title:: Savor It
Author:: Tarah Dewitt
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: St. Martin’s Griffin
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 5m
Audiobook Narrator:: Karissa Vacker & Zachary Webber
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: May 21st, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Thank You for Listening | Julia Whelan
Haunted Ever After | Jen DeLuca
The Tourist Attraction | Sarah Morgenthaler

Book Review:: Hate Mail | Donna Marchetti

Buckle up for this sweet and hilarious romance that tastes like pure candy! I bought this one on an absolute whim and it paid off big time! I enjoyed every page of this book. It was so endearing and I found myself rooting so hard for the characters. In a world of the same ol’ tropes over and over, this story was so refreshing! Ten out of ten, would recommend!

Hate Mail Donna Marchetti Book Cover

Naomi Light, Miami’s weathergirl, receives an unsigned death threat in the mail one day…and laughs. It’s not a real death threat, it’s just a note from the pen pal she’s had since fifth grade and has been estranged from for the past two years. It started with a project organized by the schools, but nothing about their relationship followed the rules. First, they kept writing long after the other students had forgotten about the project all-together — and they never said anything nice to one another. Every letter was an attempt to craft a better insult than the last. Even still, through the years, Naomi and Luca got to know one another, and they were a constant in one another’s lives. Luca wouldn’t know, but it was he who first suggested Naomi pursue a career in meteorology, and Naomi never knew that Luca kept track of her through social media through high school and beyond. They lose contact in a point of change in both their lives after high school, each of them with new addresses and no way to contact the other.

Until now.

Luca doesn’t leave a return address for Naomi on his sinister note, so, with the help of her friend, she plays along with his little game to see if she can find him anyway. She traces the steps of his life through his old addresses on the weekends, and meanwhile, a handsome hunk in Naomi’s building asks her out. They have a real connection, but what about Luca? He once wanted to meet in person, and she suspects that’s where his little game will end. Can she commit to the man in front of her with the idea of Luca lingering behind the postbox? Or does she need to track him down, meet him face to face, and finally see what lies behind the letters? The story unfolds one letter at a time in a playful and honest narrative that had me hooked from the get.

This book was the perfect balance of humor and lightness with a deeper authentic heart underneath. Did I mention there are skateboarding kittens? This one will definitely be in my reread rotation when I need a quick pick me up. What are you waiting for? If you’re a romance reader, this is an absolute must read!

Details

Title:: Hate Mail
Author:: Donna Marchetti
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: One More Chapter
Length:: 355 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 27m
Audiobook Narrator:: Norma Butikofer
Audiobook Publisher:: One More Chapter
Published:: March 14th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

PS I Hate You | Lauren Connolly
Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake | Mazey Eddings

Book Review:: This Summer Will Be Different | Carley Fortune

I sank into this book like a hot knife through butter. I savored the rich descriptions and sentences dripping with longing and heat. This is Carley Fortune’s third book and she’s made it abundantly clear she is a great writer. She knows how to set a tone. Her stories have this dark cloud over them, looming as a melancholic backdrop, not so subtly shouting how miserable the characters have made themselves with past choices. In theory, I love that. But for some reason with her books, it ends up leaving a sour taste in my mouth (though this one is not nearly as sour as Every Summer After, I must say. Girly MC really blew it in that one). But man, the writing. It’s undeniable. Take the first line for example::

I cupped my hands over my eyes so I could gulp down the view.

This Summer Will Be Different Carley Fortune Book Cover

Lucy and Bridget are the best of friends. They met as adults in Toronto, and quickly grew to be inseparable. On their first planned girls trip to Prince Edward Island, where Bridget is from and where her family still lives, Bridget is unexpectedly delayed, leaving Lucy alone for her first night on the island. She meets someone shucking oysters at dinner she has an instant firecracker connection with, and they share a night of passion together most only dream of.

In the morning, Lucy realizes…he’s Bridget’s brother — the one she made Lucy promise to stay away from after his heart was recently put through the grinder by a local.

Let the lies begin.

Instead of fessing up to what had happened on accident (I don’t think I can say innocently after a night like that!), both Felix and Lucy lie their faces off to both Bridget and themselves. There is a connection there that’s undeniable, and trying to pretend there isn’t never seems to work.

Flash forward several years, and we are days away from Bridget’s wedding when she calls Lucy, desperate to get her to drop everything and spend a few days on PEI. She won’t say what’s wrong, but it is out of character for her friend to make an ask like this. So she goes, despite her epic current workload, and the fact that Felix will be there too.

He held my gaze for less than a second. I saw him, and he saw me, and in that blink of time, something passed between us.

The prologue of this book is delicious: rich, satisfying, steamy, and leaves you craving more. Then the story begins, and falls a little flat for me. The longing continues to be just as magnetic and scorching, but…I mean…there’s just a lot of it. Most of the first half of the book feels quite repetitive to be honest. Lucy wants Felix but refuses to give in (again) to the temptation, and Bridget constantly refuses to bring up why she drug Lucy out to PEI, at, like, the worst possible time. Like, girl, just spill the deets, quit being so unreasonable here! It feels like scene after scene of Lucy and Felix trying to tip toe around Bridget, setting up about a billion little moments of L&F being alone together…which, come on. I get that making the same mistakes over and over is kind of the theme of this book (hello title), I just feel like it could have been a little cleaner.

After all that, when things finally start to progress, it does pick up. Turns out Bridget has a good reason to have this emergency pal pow-wow, and Lucy finally starts to make some progress in righting the things that aren’t working in her life. In the end, I did enjoy the book, it just seemed to take far too long to get to the point, you know?

For me, the part that shined was the physical tug between Lucy & Felix. Every sentence was dripping with magnetism. Very visceral, almost abstract descriptions. You could feel the tension. I think Fortune probably knew that, which is why there’s so much. But when you convey things that well, you don’t need as many words. Turns out too much of a good thing is still too much.

My favorite detail in the book were the seed packet/book exchanges between Lucy & Felix. What a simple and ‘innocent’ little routine that was just drenched in their true feelings. Loved it. And my least favorite thing? Can I say Lucy’s personality? Lol. She was so stubborn about things that felt inevitable. Open your eyes, girl, or stop being so miserable with your choices! Luckily she stopped getting in her own way…eventually.

I wasn’t lying when I said I savored this book. Even the paperback edition I pre-ordered is lovely. Lovely cover and smooth beautiful pages. I found myself flipping through it again and again just for the page feel. Where my other book nerds at? You know what I mean!

It wasn’t my favorite read of the summer, but it is certainly worth picking up! Carley Fortune is an auto-buy author for me. You can trust that the prose will wax poetic, even if the greater story might be a little flawed. Obviously I have mixed feelings, but I can’t bring myself to dole out less than four stars.

If you’ve read it, let’s talk in the comments. I want to know all your pros/cons on this one!

Details

Title:: This Summer Will Be Different
Author:: Carley Fortune
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 31m
Audiobook Narrator:: AJ Bridel & Carley Fortune
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: May 7th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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