Great Big Beautiful LIfe by Emily Henry

My Rating: 4.0

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still chasing her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and a full-on human thundercloud. When both land on balmy Little Crescent Island, it’s for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet the octogenarian who claims to be the infamous Margaret Ives. Once a tragic heiress, former tabloid darling, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandal-ridden) families of the twentieth century, Margaret’s life is as mysterious as it is compelling.

Margaret invites Alice and Hayden to stay for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose who gets to tell her story. Over the course of that month, secrets unravel, histories collide, and both writers find themselves pulled into something far bigger than a simple biography.

I was in the mood for a fluffy palate cleanser, so naturally I turned to Emily Henry. I’ll admit, Imay be showing my age, but I skimmed over some of the more explicit romance scenes (yes, I know rom-com is Henry’s signature). That said, the rest of the story completely engrossed me. I loved the cast of characters and was especially drawn into the slow, layered unfolding of Margaret’s life. Overall, Great Big Beautiful Life was a fun, bubble-gum read—light, engaging, and perfect when you want a story that goes down easy but still has heart.

Vera Wong's Guide To Snooping by Jesse Q,. Sutanto

Vera Wong Rating: 4.4

Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure trove: Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.

Online, Xander had it all: a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.

Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.

If you read the first book in this series, you know that Vera is a hilarious meddling Chinese woman looking to help people, whether they want her to or not! This is a light, easy read and you have to suspend reality (no pun intended with the social media theme) and just go with it. I highly recommend the audio version which does a great job with Vera's accent. Delightful.

Thanks to @shoegaljeana for bringing this to the top of my queue.

Vera Wongs Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

My Rating: 4.9

Spunk Vera Wong lives above her tea shop in San Francisco. Vera has one customer, the same customer, every day. No matter as Vera stays busy checking up on her adult son. One morning, Vera comes downstairs and finds a dead man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera doesn’t know what comes over her, but after calling the cops like any good citizen would, she sort of . . . swipes the flash drive from the body and tucks it safely into the pocket of her apron. Why? Because Vera is sure she would do a better job than the police possibly could, because nobody sniffs out wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands. Vera knows the killer will be back for the flash drive; all she has to do is watch the increasing number of customers at her shop and figure out which one among them is the killer.

This was such a great book. I HIGHLY recommend that you get it on audio as the fabulous narration added so much to the story. While all of the characters were well done, Vera was such a great character and so full of energy and good intentions. I was laughing and cheering for Vera through the whole book.

The Connelly's of County Down by Tracey Lange

 

My Rating: 4.6

When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems.

Despite this dealing with some heavy issues, it was actually very light and easy to read. It felt part beach read and part romance...and I loved it! 

The Star Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

My Rating: 4.1

A trio of second-born daughters set out on a holiday with their Great Aunt Poppy through the lush Italian countryside to break the family curse that says second daughters in their family will never find love,

I loved Aunt Poppy and her feisty spirit. Lucy grew on me through-out the book and I loved the ending for Emilia that is wasn't wrapped up in a typical bow. A fun light read with some great characters.

Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst

 My Rating: 4.9

Francesca is a workaholic and struggles to make time for her teenage daughter Allegra. Allegra loves her Grandmother Sophia who is much more patient and understanding of her. When Sophia suggests they all take a trip to Italy, Francesca says she can't get away from work and Allegra isn't interested in spending her summer trapped with her mother. In a quick turn of events, all three find themselves on a trip of a lifetime - that will forever change their lives.

I was pleasantly surprised by the substance that this storyline had. It was a love story - of Italy, of the 3 generations of women as well as with each woman. Thoroughly enjoyable! I highly recommend the audio version.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

My Rating: 4.4

As young girls, Tully and Kate make a pact to be best friends forever. Tully was abandoned by her mother at an early age and this has meant she is constantly striving to prove her worth to the world. Kate was raised in a loving secure family and that is all she wants for herself. Two different girls that are inseparable.

This covers thirty years of turbulent friendship. It was equal parts fluff and depth. Hannah is such a strong writer that even though this light plot that can't compare to her current books, it pulls you in and makes you want more.  Thanksfully, there is a book 2 which I will be reading in the near future.

The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher

My Rating: 3.5

This is the story of two women who are both the second wives of Italian brothers, It is told in alternating perspectives between each of the women.

This is a story of lies, history, being a step-mother and trying to forge your place in a family as a second wife. At times this really pulled me in and the author's writing had real promise but unfortunately the majority of the book felt rather formula.

Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My Rating: 3.2

Having recently moved back to L.A., Hannah goes out on the town with her best friend Gabby. She reconnects with her old boyfriend Ethan. Then the plot splits into two storylines - like Sliding Doors. In one version, she goes home with Gabby and in another version she goes home with Ethan. It goes back and forth between each version of the story.

This is a fluffy easy read and follows the author's format of her early books. It doesn't compare with her current books (Daisy Jones & The Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ) which I hope are indicative of the new direction she is going with her writing but, it was a fun light read.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

My Rating: 4.0

Evvie is a widow and everyone feels sorry for her - not knowing that she was going to leave her husband the night he died.

Dean is a major league pitcher who suddenly can't throw straight, and has no idea why.

When Dean moves into the apartment in the back of Evvie's house, they both agree to not talk about their biggest issues - her being a widow and his not being able to pitch. This is the start of an unlikely friendship that grows into more.

I honestly didn't know if I was going to stick with this one. It was fluffy, wholesome  and predictable. Once I adjusted my expectations, I quite enjoyed it.

One Day In December by Jose Silver

My Rating: 4.0

Laurie is on the bus and at a stop, she makes eye contact with a man that she knows is 'the one'. She spends almost a year with her best friend Sarah looking for 'bus boy'. She is trying to come to terms with never finding him and instead is thrilled that Sarah has met the man of her dreams - Jack. When Laurie finally meets Jack, he is 'bus boy'.

Part of me loved this. I fell in love with Laurie, Sarah and Jack and the many twists and turns of their lives. I loved that this was told from all three of their perspectives (I definitely saw Hugh Grant as Jack!). Another part of me felt this had a cheezy Harlequin Romance feel but thankfully that was only for a very small part of the book. This was a sweet endearing story of star crossed lovers, friendship and fate. Definitely recommend the audio version.

Side Note: this is my first and only book I have added to the 'romance' category.

Forever Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My Rating:  3.2

Elsie meets the love of her life and within weeks, they elope. Nine days later, he is hit by a truck and killed. None of his family or friends even know that Elsie existed.

I have read several books by this author:

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
• Daisy Jones and The Six
• One True Loves (which I knew would be lighter than the above two)

and I loved them all. I realized that this book was written previously when the author seemed to be in to lighter books but since I enjoyed One True Loves (which was also written previously and lighter), I thought I would give it a try. Unfortunately this book didn't work for me. It felt that the plot line was too contrived and fluffy and none of the characters had any depth. I think I will stick to her more current books when she seems to have taken her writing up a notch.

The Better Sister by Alafair Burke

My Rating: 4.6

Chloe is married to Adam and raising his son Ethan. Chloe's husband just happens to be her sister Nicky's ex-husband. When Adam is murdered, Chloe reluctantly allows her estranged sister back into her life.

I enjoyed this quick read domestic thriller. There were enough twists and turns that I didn't have a clue of who did it until very near the end.

The Banker's Wife by Cristina Alger

My Rating: 4.5

Matthew and Annabel are living in Geneva for Matthew's job that is working as a banker at Swiss United.  A couple boards a private plane bound for Geneva, when the plane disappears. It's wreckage is uncovered in the Alps with Matthew as one of the passengers.

Marina is a journalist who is engaged to Grant. Marina's future father-in-law is running for President. As she starts exploring the story of Swiss United, she realizes that she is disturbing things that some want to be left alone.

Love that this is filled with strong smart female characters! You get pulled into the world of offshore banking and the twists of this mystery/thriller. The writing is not nobel prize worthy but it was a fun entertaining read and I would read more by Alger.

Emma In The Night by Wendy Walker

My Rating: 4.7

Three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared. When Cass shows up on her mother's doorstep without her sister Emma, a game of cat and mouse ensues.

This psychological thriller had lots of layers. Every chapter got more twisted as it revealed their history and the depravity of the characters. While I knew that Cass couldn't be trusted, I didn't see the ending or the many twists that happened. Loved it! This was great on audio.

The One by John Marr

My Rating: 4.6

This was such an interesting premise: what if there was a simple DNA test you could take and you would know who is your match...the one for you. That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA who found the gene that identifies each person's soul mate. Would you be tested?

Millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love.

This book centers on the lives of five very different people who have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love.

I loved this and it made me wonder, would I take the test. I loved the ending and agree wholeheartedly with the conclusion!

Don't Wake Up by Liz Lawler

My Rating: 1.5

Alex wakes up with a man standing over her who isn't a doctor insisting she make a choice or face horrific consequences. Once Alex re-awakens unharmed, no one believes anything happened to her. Then some truly unbelievable things start to unfold.

All the characters were shallow but Laura was so ridiculous she felt thinner than the paper of the page - horrifically stupid. The plot was EXTREMELY unrealistic but I tried to go with it.  Wrong decision as the author had so many holes in police investigations, doctor protocol and most especially how to make a character sympathetic or even likable. Top all of that off with the audio version being an American accent of a supposedly British book. UGH! Definitely don't waste your time. I have to wonder at the positive reviews as this book was truly awful.

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

My Rating: 3.4

Three neighbors, Ange, Fran and Essie, all have secrets. When Isabelle, a single woman, moves into this family cul-de-sac, everyone wonders why. As they get to know Isabelle, secrets start to be revealed

I enjoyed the multiple POVs and how it made you feel the absolutely and total exhaustion of motherhood. It also captured many nuances of Australia life. The reason I didn't rate it higher is that none of the characters had depth and all felt a bit of martyrs with their woe is me or hard done by attitudes for things in their life. It felt that no one had passion and they were all quite flat. Still, I would read more by Hepworth.

What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty

My Rating: 4.6

Alice wakes up on the floor of a gym.  Apparently she has fallen off a treadmill and hit her head. She is worried if her first pregnancy baby is ok. She is whisked off to the hospital only to discover that it is 10 years past what she last remembers - and she has three children! As Alice tries to piece together everything that she has missed in the last 10 years, she also tries to figure out how she got to this point in her life and if this is where she wants to be.

In typical Moriarty fashion, she has come up with a unique plot that makes you wonder "how would I feel if that happened to me!".  I found this very intriguing from the first page and, as it unfolded, I kept wanting to know how it would end. Wonderful easy read. 

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

My Rating: 4.9

Alicia is a famous painter with an affluent life and very in love with her husband Gabriel. This makes it so shocking when Alicia shoots Gabriel five times in the face. Not only that she would shoot her husband but, that she chooses to be silent...not one word since the crime. She is now in a criminal asylum.

Theo is a criminal psychotherapist who wants to work on Alicia's case and help her that he goes to the extreme of getting a job at the criminal asylum and getting assigned to her case.

The story unfolds from there.

This gives background on both Theo and Alicia as well as their current day interaction. I have been put off lately by all the thrillers that don't deliver so didn't have high hopes for this one. I am happy to say, it delivered! This may be the best book of this genre that I have read.  Thoroughly enjoyed it!