ARC Book Review: In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Neely Tubati Alexander
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: March 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course…

Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that she’ll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. It’s actually fine—after her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway.

Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer.

Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip can’t lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she can’t fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, he’s trying to win back his true love. Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solve—at least she’s prepared for that.

Thank you Emi Battaglia Public Relations for the ARC.

NOPE.

I tried really hard to find an enjoyment level in this one but I just could not connect from the beginning. While I liked the initial idea of the spontaneous trip with plenty of forced proximity to find some feelings, this was left with me wanting a whole lot more than I was given.

There were so many random scenes that I don’t feel like they truly helped the story move along. Random side tangents and way too many drunken kisses that wasn’t allowing for true connection. Both Charlie and Sloane had some small, good banter moments, but also spent way too much time arguing for no reason.

I was excited about the gaming content and instead received a sleaze-ball group of men who were so very stereotyped that it made me frustrated. It’s many men, but it’s not all men and I wish it wasn’t entirely forced. This did not have the intended effect on me. There were GLARING red flags from the beginning that honestly would have stopped the book after three chapters.

I will consider this my last book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 brief open; low explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of cheating, sexism in the workplace

Book Review: In the Orbit of You by Ashley Schumacher

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Rating: ★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Ashley Schumacher
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: March 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the Orbit of You is a YA story of enduring love from acclaimed author Ashley Schumacher, where a personality test reunites two friends and makes them second guess their careful plans.

It’s been years since Nova Evans last saw Sam. She was too young then to understand why he had to move away―and what it had to do with the cuts and bruises he got from home and never wanted to talk about. All she knew is that they promised to find each other when they were older, something she thought was impossible thanks to her and her mom moving around constantly. Until she bumps into Sam in her new school, and realizes he has clearly forgotten their childhood promise.

Sam Jordan has a plan for his accept his college football scholarship, date his girlfriend Abigail, and―most importantly―hide how much he wants to do something, anything other than The Plan™ his parents and coaches have set before him. It doesn’t matter if sometimes he finds himself thinking about the new girl he met in the cafeteria, a girl who reminds him of a past that hurts to remember.

When a school-wide personality test reveals Nova and Sam to be each others’ top matches―not only that, but a match of 99%, the highest in the school―they begin to remember why they were such close friends, all those years ago. As well as the myriad of reasons this new-yet-familiar, magnetic, sparkling thing between them will never, ever work out.

In the Orbit of You is a story about the enduring and changing nature of friendship, of the strange struggle between who you are and who you want to be, and finding your voice after trauma.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the free final copy.

WHYYYYY.

I thought this was going to be a solid four star. I’ve read a previous book by this author and enjoyed it. But then two critical scenes happened that glossed this book into 300 pages of gray area, emotional, turned physical cheating. And I just can’t don’t like those kind of stories. I know high school kids make mistakes, but the way it was handled and processed frustrated me a lot.

At the heart of the story was a soft second chance romance from two young people who were each other’s closest friend when they were little. I had such hope for the direction of this story. There were soft moments of remembrance and some insightful reconnection. Everything feels shadowed by the treatment and ignorance towards the girlfriend. Abigail deserved better.

Feeling flustered by this one y’all. I would love to try Schumacher’s next book and crossing my fingers the dynamic is better.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: house fire, mentions of child abuse

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Book Review: Infinity + One by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length: 327 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 8th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When two unlikely allies become two unwitting outlaws, will two unforgettable lovers defy unbeatable odds?

Bonnie Rae Shelby is a superstar. She’s rich. She’s beautiful. She’s impossibly famous. And Bonnie Rae Shelby wants to die.

Finn Clyde is a nobody. He’s broken. He’s brilliant. He’s impossibly cynical. And all he wants is a chance at life.

One girl. One boy. An act of compassion. A bizarre set of circumstances. And a choice – turn your head and walk away, or reach out your hand and risk it all?

With that choice, the clock starts ticking on a man with a past and a girl who can’t face the future, counting down the seconds in an adventure riddled with heartbreak and humor, misunderstanding and revelation. With the world against them, two very different people take a journey that will not only change their lives, but may cost them their lives as well.

Infinity + One is a tale of shooting stars and fame and fortune, of gilded cages and iron bars, of finding a friend behind a stranger’s face, and discovering love in the oddest of places.

IT WAS GOOD.

Another enjoyable Harmon read. I wouldn’t count this in the favorites column though, but I did like the story and had a hard time putting it down.

I love way Harmon’s stories are crafted. They’re lyrically written with characters that FEEL. I love the tangled web of emotions and life and everything in between that comes together. Bonnie and Finn had this undeniable immediate chemistry. Not one generally for insta-love I did think this was pretty well accomplished. I was invested in the story from the beginning and freaking out at the end waiting for the HEA to happen.

There’s many layers to this that I loved. Coping with grief and loss of a sibling. Dealing with the stress of a tough career. Handling tough situations you didn’t mean to be a part of and all within falling in love with the last person you thought you’d meet.

A beautiful story. I’m loving catching up on Amy Harmon’s backlist!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: suicide attempt (the book starts with this), suicidal thoughts, gun violence, car wrecks, incarceration, loss of a sibling (from cancer) and (from gun violence)

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ARC Book Review A Noble Scheme (The Imposters #2) by Roseanna M. White

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House Fiction
Release Date: March 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Gemma Parks is known throughout high society as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talent to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the elite firm’s members through her columns. Yet her clandestine work would be more exhilarating if it weren’t for the constant presence of the gentleman who broke her heart.

Graham Wharton has never had eyes for anyone but Gemma, and she left his soul in tatters when she walked away from him. When the Imposters take on a new job to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin, Graham is determined to use the time with Gemma not only to restore the missing boy, but also to win back the only woman he’s ever loved. As they trace the clues laid out before them, Graham must devise a noble scheme to save the boy’s life and heal their hearts.

Christy Award-winning author Roseanna M. White whisks you away to Edwardian-era England in an exhilarating tale of glamor, intrigue, and romance set among high society’s most elite–and most dangerous–families.

Thank you to Bethany House Fiction for the eARC.

UNEXPECTEDLY DEEP.

Since this was book two in a series I didn’t read the summary and found this book much heavier than I expected. Not a bad thing, but a thing to note to be prepared to read the trigger warnings first.

Once the plot started to unfold my heart started to hurt. The second chance romance between Graham and Gemma was fought for. The resilient nature of both of them to stubbornly hold on to things and watching those walls crumble was beautiful. I loved how faith was worked into this story and the meaningful moments that were given to these characters to find a way back home.

The mystery was good, I enjoyed the themes throughout the book and how the story was uncovered. I think the Imposters group is a great little found family and I like seeing them work together to solve the crimes before them while supporting each other through their trials.

I’m very much looking forward to Yates book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a baby (recounted and discussed throughout), kidnapped children, near suicide, loss of a child (recounted)

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