Contemporary Archives - Page 8 of 20

Book Review:: Everything’s Coming Up Rosie | Courtney Walsh

With a title like Everything’s Coming Up Rosie and such a cute cover, who could resist this new release from Courtney Walsh and Thomas Nelson Publishing?! Luckily, it’s not all flash, but substance too. Don’t miss this adorably sweet five-star read about chasing dreams and accepting who you are.

Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh Book Cover

Rosie’s dream has always been to make it big as an actor. For years she’s had half a foot in the door, getting just enough jobs to keep her going, but her big breakout moment remains elusive. She’s on the verge of a full out existential crisis when she applies to every possible job she can think of willy-nilly style, and takes the first (and only) job she’s offered. When she shows up in Wisconsin, she realizes she should have actually read the job description, because putting on an entire production as a director is a bigger bite than she’s qualified to chew, even if it is ‘only’ for a retirement community’s theater program.

Oh, this book. I want every young girl to read this. Rosie has a dream she’s chasing, but she’s never stopped to think about why she’s chasing it, and if it’s really even what she wants. As she slogs through the problems she’s facing with the play, she gains confidence, experience, and friendships along the way. In the end, the situation she thought was just going to pay the bills until she moved on to bigger and better things turned out to be just the thing she needed to become her happier, healthier self. New and improved Rosie!

There is also a very sweet romance subplot with a man called Booker. He won he over quickly when he shrugged and said “I’m a hard person to know”. With a line like that, you just know someone else put that into his head. The friendship he and Rosie have is so sweet and romantic and a little bit risky, because opening up your heart is always a risk.

I was blown away by this book. Every aspect was just done so well, and I was fully engaged. There were a few ways that seemed plausible for the plot to go, but it still kind of surprised me, and I was proud of Rosie and her ultimate decisions.

This is a book I would put into the ‘feel-good’ category, which, to me, is hard to achieve. If you need a lift in spirits this summer (or ever), Rosie’s got your back!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Everything’s Coming Up Rosie
Author:: Courtney Walsh
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Thomas Nelson
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 10m
Audiobook Narrator:: Jorjeana Marie
Published:: June 10th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

My (Not So) Perfect Life | Sophie Kinsella
When Alec Met Evie | Jenny Proctor
The Last Love Note | Emma Grey
The Tourist Attraction | Sarah Morgenthaler

Book Review:: All the Perfect Days | Michael Thompson

Every choice we make effects innumerable other choices in our lives. Some of them can change our trajectories entirely. It might not even feel like a big decision at the time – looking back it is sometimes the smallest things that trigger the biggest changes. For Charlie, a small-town doctor, it’s a lesson learned the hard way in All the Perfect Days, a new novel by Michael Thompson.

All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson Book Cover

See, one day Charlie has an episode when he’s helping a patient. There’s nothing medically wrong with him, but it keeps happening. When one of his patients dies unexpectedly, he realizes what is happening to him. Though he isn’t sure yet if it is a blessing or a curse, he sees how many days a person has left to live.

It is one of the age-old questions, isn’t it? If you could find out when you were to die, would you want to know? The same idea is explored in another book I read this year by another Australian author, Here One Moment, by Liane Moriarty. As you can imagine, it’s not a straightforward answer. As Charlie struggles with this new ability, he’s forced to confront questions of morality, chance, trust, and honesty. When you know when it ends, will it change the decisions you make along the way?

I absolutely loved this novel. It is thoughtful and well-executed, showing all the sides of the cube. There are many implications and permutations of this phenomenon, each of them interesting and meaningful not just to the characters, but the way we think about our lives, all in a highly readable story.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: All the Perfect Days
Author:: Michael Thompson
Genre:: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:: SOURCEBOOKS Landmark
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 48m
Audiobook Narrator:: Ryan Ennis
Published:: May 21st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Last Love Note | Emma Grey
Wished | Sarah Ready
If I Were You | Cesca Major

Book Review:: Not A Strong Enough Word | Allie Samberts

Okay folks, get ready to swoon over Allie Sambert’s new novel Not A Strong Enough Word. This book about second chances completely won me over.

Not A Strong Enough Word by Allie Samberts Book Cover

Scarlett once had it all: the dreamy boyfriend, the massive book deal and critical acclaim that promised to launch her career as a literary writer into the stratosphere. But it was too much, and she had to walk away.

Five years later, she’s written another book, and she thinks she might be ready to dip a toe back into publishing, but she’s determined not to get swept away by the pomp and circumstance this time. No. matter. what.

Her agent negotiates a deal with an imprint of her old publishing house, one more focused on the wellness of their authors, and her new editor turns out to be the ex-boyfriend she walked away from without saying goodbye.

Working with Ryan again reminds her of how things once were. Not the worst of it, but the most of it. The good things that had been overshadowed by the doom. He never forgot her, and, still in love with her way with words (if not the writer of them), he’s committed to getting her new book out into the world, even if he never gets answers to the questions that have been haunting him since she disappeared on him.

Oh, these characters. Their connection. So much swoon, so much heart-tugging romance vibes. Absolutely mastered in this book.

I went ahead and gave this one five big fat stars, but if I’m being honest, I think the flashbacks didn’t do a lot to help this book. I can see why they were added when the characters have so much history, but I almost think it could have just been explained well enough in the narrative from the two perspectives.

If you’re looking for a book that’ll have you in all the feels, you can’t go wrong with this one!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Not A Strong Enough Word
Author:: Allie Samberts
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Indie
Length:: 316 pages
Published:: May 14th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

What Happens in Amsterdam | Rachel Lynn Solomon
Hate Mail | Donna Marchetti
This Summer Will Be Different | Carley Fortune
Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross

Book Review:: My Friends | Fredrik Backman

I don’t think there are adequate words to describe the feeling I had when I saw that I was approved for an advanced copy of Fredrik Backman’s new book. Though I’ve only read about half of his bibliography, he is one of my all-time favorite writers. The way he balances humor and heartbreak, light and darkness, the good faces of humanity and its more sinister counterparts is frankly remarkable. My Friends is no exception. While Beartown (which is, quite frankly, a masterpiece) uses beautifully dynamic characters to tell the story of an entire town and their reaction to an event, My Friends relies almost exclusively on its characters to dig deep into the themes of art and friendship.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman Book Cover

The simple premise of the story is a young delinquent artist with nothing in the world except what she can carry on her own back is bequeathed a priceless painting after a chance-encounter with the world-famous artist who painted it. On the long journey to sell it to an art dealer, she learns the story of the three figures in the distance of the piece. But the beauty of a Backman book is not in the premise, is it? It’s in the flawless execution of character and the interwoven interactions between them.

This is a story about friendship. Specifically, the steadfast kind of friendship you form in your young years that makes an impression on the rest of your life. They don’t always last forever, but the memories do, so much so you can close your eyes and almost smell them. It’s a story about hardship, and adversity, and our reaction toward it. It’s the story of being different and realizing that sometimes that’s okay. It’s the story of recognizing a secret piece of yourself in someone else, and the everlasting bond that can forge. It’s about brotherhood, and sticking together, and a little bit of violence.

It’s also about art. Something many can and frequently do call frivolous and unnecessary, but speaks to each of us in our secret souls. No one can deny the effect of ‘good’ art (this is absolutely a different thing for different people, but that’s a discussion for another time and place). Good art is impossible to ignore. It stops us in our tracks. Overwhelms us to the point of tears, sometimes, and goosebumps dimpling our skin. It lingers with us, preoccupies us, moves us, and sometimes catalyzes us to change.

I am always bowled over by Fredrik Backman’s writing, and though this novel is a bit grittier than some of his other work, it is about a raw and meaningful side of humanity it is sometimes too easy to look away from. It’s important to see and understand the hardships of young people, in particular. It’s important to listen.

I hope this is not the last book he decides to write, as I’ve seen him consider. With a gift like his, the world is a little bit brighter with every sentence he writes. (Even his social media captions enthrall me, if we want to get to the truth). Thank you, Atria, for the opportunity to read this novel before it is released to the rest of the world. It is a privilege, and I hope this review finds at least one person it might inspire to read it.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: My Friends
Author:: Fredrik Backman
Genre:: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 448 pages
Audio Length:: 13h 7m
Audiobook Narrator:: Marin Ireland
Published:: May 6th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Most Fun We Ever Had | Claire Lombardo
Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid
Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McCaughey
Intermezzo | Sally Rooney

Book Review:: Not Safe For Work | Nisha J. Tuli

I judged this book by the title. That was enough to spark my interest. Alright, I also judged it by the cover, which is also hot. Basically I couldn’t wait to read Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli (a new author to me)!

Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli Book Cover

Tris is a brilliant engineer in a male-dominated field. She’s experienced some effed-up-shiz over the years (including a total douche of an ex who violated her trust and privacy bad enough to scar), and she is thisclose to being completely fed up and leaving. She’s been passed over for promotions she was clearly the best candidate for and glossed over time and time again. So when her name was called to go to a professional development retreat in Hawai’i, she almost couldn’t believe it. When it became clear she was just a diversity pick, she decided to make a few extra demands of the company’s money. What she couldn’t wiggle out of is who else is going on the three-week retreat: Rafe Gallagher, the boss’ son and her personal nemesis.

Let’s start with the good stuff. I found Tris to be such a refreshing character. She is smart and spunky in a sassier way than what I typically find. I was proud of her multiple times in this story for speaking up for herself and not taking less when she deserves more. Rafe is such a sweetheart. He always had his heart in the right place and was so easy to root for. Such a cinnamon roll! Also all the tropey stuff you expect in a book like this was done well and I was locked into the story all the way through. Plenty of swoony moments!

Then there were a few things that got under my skin: I put Tris’ sass under the good category, but she really took it too far on multiple occasions. Even as she was saying something she’d be thinking ‘why did I say that, why am I ruining this moment?’. Maybe if it only happened once that would be okay, but it was multiple times, which brings me to the next flaw in this story…there is way too much repetition! Work retreats can obviously be a lot of the same stuff, but man I couldn’t have picked out one night among the others with all the same people there, the same arc of chemistry then sass then a ruined moment capped by having to go back to the same suite (*raises eyebrows suggestively*). It was too repetitive to ignore how repetitive it was, if you get what I mean. Aaand, if I’m going to list those things, I might as well throw in the fact that I didn’t feel Rafe’s feelings for Tris were quite justified enough for the depth of them once they’re discovered. Professional admiration only takes you so far, as does general hotness. I was left wanting more on that front.

Obviously with a rating from me of 4 stars the bad was nowhere near outweighing the good, and I absolutely recommend this book for romance lovers. This would be an awesome read poolside or on a beach somewhere. It just didn’t quite reach my stratospheric 5 star criteria.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Not Safe for Work
Author:: Nisha J. Tuli
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Forever
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 30m
Audiobook Narrator:: Soneela Nankani
Published:: May 20th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Paradise Problem | Christina Lauren
Not in My Book | Katie Holt
Sunshine and Spice | Aurora Palit

Book Review:: An Italian Wedding Adventure | Leonie Mack

Things don’t always go as we expect them to. Sometimes the wrong question at the wrong time can lead to heartbreak and humiliation. And sometimes, you get to face the past that has haunted you for years, even if you don’t want to.

An Italian Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack Book Cover

That is the case when Sophie’s new client wants to have a destination wedding at the top of a mountain. She knows who to ask for the expertise she needs, but hopes that the man who broke her heart no longer works there. After he rejected her impromptu marriage proposal years ago, she never fully recovered, and though she’s a professional and will do whatever it takes to serve her clients, she’s not sure she’ll have the strength to face Andreas again.

I really enjoyed this European vacation romance. The characters were fun and unique and I learned quite a bit about mountain climbing actually, which is always refreshing. I thought the conflict between the characters was authentic to their personalities and the romance and plot felt very natural. It’s quite an escape, traveling with the characters to the tops of mountains, relearning one another and making the most of the time they know they’ll have to spend together, even if it’s the last thing they want to do.

If you’re looking for a fun and flirty adventurous romance to pack on a summer trip this year, I think An Italian Wedding Adventure is a great option. It’s got heart, humor, and grand gestures that will melt your heart like a popsicle in the sun.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: An Italian Wedding Adventure
Author:: Leonie Mack
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Boldwood Books
Audio Length:: 9h
Audiobook Narrator:: Karen Cass
Published:: May 9th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The DNA Duology | Christina Lauren
Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake | Mazey Eddings
Catch & Keep | Erin Hahn

Book Review:: Closer Than You Know | Debra Webb

Retired cop Vera Boyett is back in her hometown, closer to her sisters, and closer to the secret they’ve been keeping since they were kids. She’s not there long before the sheriff calls her up to help on a case that has ties back to a serial killer she helped investigate and convict a decade ago, The Messenger. Strange things start happening before it becomes clear: Vera is the next target of this torture killer.

Closer Than You Know by Debra Webb Book Cover

Wow, this novel is quite the ride! This is the second book in the series, which I didn’t realize when I signed up for the arc. While the book did a great job rooting the reader in what was happening without having read the first book, it felt a little too explain-y at times, so I feel like having the full context of book one would have helped with that.

This felt exactly like a TV show episode. Back in the day I was really into Bones, and this brought me back. Vera has a history with the sheriff in town which was actually really steamy. Though this is a crime thriller, the romance was a very nice edition for this romance-loving girlie.

There are a lot of things going on in this story. There is the killer still behind bars, a copycat of some kind, and this shadow of the secret Vera and her sisters are keeping…from everyone. Layer in the personal dramas and you’ve got a very busy book here. At times it felt a little too fast paced, which says to me I’m not connected enough to what is going on.

If you’re a fan of crime thrillers, I think this novel is right up your alley. Though I didn’t connect with it as much as I like, it did feel like skilled writing and a properly tangled and exciting plot that will keep you guessing all the way through.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Closer Than You Know (Vera Boyett #2)
Author:: Debra Webb
Genre:: Mystery Thriller
Publisher:: Thomas & Mercer
Length:: 317 pages
Audio Length:: 10h
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Published:: May 6th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: Left of Forever | Tarah DeWitt

This is not a drill! The second Tarah Dewitt Spunes romance book is here! The oldest Byrd sibling, Ellis, recaptures his life’s greatest love.

Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt Book Cover

Wren and Ellis were high school sweethearts who got pregnant at 17 and eventually divorced. Now, their precious son is off to college, and it’s time for them both to admit that their feelings for one another never went away.

Oh, how excited I was for this book, and though it’s nice as a sexy escape, I didn’t quite buy into what it was selling.

I’m tempted to say there is too much going on as it’s starting out, but I’m not sure that was the problem as much as it just felt too choppy and disorganized? If you don’t want tiny spoilers that have to do with the first 15-20% of the book, skip the rest of this paragraph, as I want to dig into something specific to explain myself real quick. I think the letter saga was meant for Ellis to realize the depth of his feelings for Wren, but…I didn’t like it. First, it was disingenuous, second, it was a weak way to tie into Ellis’ job that had no bearing on what the story ended up being, third, it was kind of unbelievable she would bear her soul to a stranger to the level she did, it never went anywhere, and also it came off kind of…idyllic? Immature? She’s writing to a fire team HOURS away from where she lives about the safety of some horses that were caught in a wild fire? I think it didn’t feel supported enough in her characterization throughout the rest of the book. In a nutshell, it wasn’t a strong start for me.

Later the two of them end up going on a road trip to drop their son off at college, making a vacation of it and trying to see if they can work out their differences and reconcile. Again, just a very cheesy premise for me. I think it didn’t seem to match up with their rich depth of history and their genuine soul connection to need all this cheese to get back to where they belong. The narrative device was just too visible for me.

HOWEVER, the actual romance between them felt so authentic. These two grew up together and were family for just as much of their lives as they hadn’t been. I don’t doubt for a second that they belong together. That aspect of the novel was very successful. Also, if you’re into a little spicy spice – you’ll enjoy this!

I think I’m being so hard on this book because I’m such a huge fan of Tarah Dewitt usually. Savor It was so good, and my favorite of hers, Funny Feelings, is must read romance material. This one is okay. Many others have loved it. I was just anticipating…more.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Left of Forever
Author:: Tarah Dewitt
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: St. Martin’s Griffin
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 48m
Audiobook Narrator:: Connor Crais and Megan Wicks
Published:: May 20th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars
Spice Rating:: 4

If you liked this book, check out…

Savor It | Tarah Dewitt
When Alec Met Evie | Jenn Proctor
Where the Black Line Ends | Meagan Williamson

Book Review:: Big Dumb Eyes | Nate Bargatze

Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite comedians. His southern boy demeanor, common sense logic, and unhurried delivery are the trifecta of funny. The guy just looks like the underdog, so you root for him, even in the stories you don’t.

Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze Book Cover

He isn’t afraid of some self-depreciating humor, obviously his book is titled Big Dumb Eyes, but what I love about his act is how gosh dang reasonable it all is. He can tell a story about walking the dog and it’s hilarious. He talks about his first car. I laughed out loud. He talks about a man who worked at a furniture story he may or may not have even met, and I was rolling. Whatever the X factor is, this guy has it.

Now, Nate has famously claimed he is not a reader. He’d ‘like to be’ he says, but books are just ‘so many words’. As such, in his own book, there are breaks. I listened to the audio version, and he plays a little bit of elevator music to cleanse the palette a little bit before jumping into the next story, as to not overwhelm you with all the words. I believe in the hard copy there are several blank pages. Hilarious, and on brand.

I was actually surprised how much I laughed at the stories in this book. Nate’s humor is one of a kind and hearing these stories of his life and childhood was so nostalgic. I’d kill to be a fly on the wall at one of his family’s board-game nights. They sound like a hoot.

I also love how comedy memoirs like this one (and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are examples of this too), the comedian will tweak the narration to actually acknowledge you are listening to the book instead of reading it on paper instead of strictly reading every single word as it appears in print. If you’re not a big reader, like Nate, absolutely you should still read this…just listen to it instead!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Big Dumb Eyes
Author:: Nate Bargatze
Genre:: Comedy Memoir
Publisher:: Grand Central Publishing
Length:: 240 pages
Audio Length:: 6h 56m
Audiobook Narrator:: The Author
Published:: May 6th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Let it Settle | Michael Gaylon

Book Review:: Parents Weekend | Alex Finlay

Parents Weekend is the perfect book to grab for your weekend thriller binge-read. It’s fast paced, engrossing, high-stakes, and fascinating. This one had me in a grip, all the way through.

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay Book Cover

It’s parents weekend at a university in Northern California, and some of the parents are very high-profile. When a group of kids never makes it to dinner on the first night, they start to worry. Yes, college kids are too cool to hang out with their parents, but not a one of them is answering their phone, and this is not the school’s first incident. Just recently a girl turned up dead. We’re thrown into a break-neck paced investigation to find out what happened to the kids and why, and if it’s already too late to save them.

I knew early on that this book was going to be a good one. The kind of characters the author chose to include, and the type of details showcased made the entire reading experience so enjoyable! The tension remained high through the whole thing, and the conclusion made a lot of sense when we finally got there, while still being twisty and surprising. I cannot imagine being an investigator in a situation like this. So many things to handle, to look into, to question…

I’ve been absolutely loving thrillers recently, and ones like this just make me crave more more more.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Parents Weekend
Author:: Alex Finlay
Genre:: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher:: Minotaur
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 15m
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: May 6th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars