fiction – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Trish Doller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: March 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

On the road to love, you don’t need a GPS…

Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been travelling the world on her own in her vintage Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, stopping only long enough to replenish her adventure fund. She doesn’t do love and she doesn’t ever go home.

Eamon Sullivan is a modern-day cartographer who creates digital maps. His work helps people find their way, but he’s the one who’s lost his sense of direction. He’s unhappy at work, recently dumped, and his one big dream is stalled out—literally.

Fate throws them together when Carla arrives in Dublin for her best friend’s wedding and Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. But what should be a simple drive across Ireland quickly becomes complicated with chemistry-filled detours, unexpected feelings, and a chance at love – if only they choose it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

A TALE OF TWO BOOKS.

I have really enjoyed Doller’s previous two books and definitely jumped at the chance to read this when it hit my e-mail. And I have some THOUGHTS Y’ALL.

First half of the book:

We’ve got an insta-love + a one night stand (on repeat) situation. I was not of fan of this at all. It’s not necessary in my mind. I want to more than that. Some of the traveling was fun and gave me some wanderlust to see Ireland. When they were hanging out I liked those quieter moments and that some connection was at least being made between Eamon and Carla. Good nuggets about live and doing what you love too.

Second half of the book:

Then, around halfway a total script was flipped, and I felt like I was reading straight fiction. Granted, I loved the dementia storyline with Carla’s father and feeling that heartbreak and love and support. It was tender and pulled at all of my emotions. So this second half was not bad in the least, just wholly different than the first half. I missed Eamon.

I think if both of these main plot lines would have been woven together a bit better I would have enjoyed this more. I love Doller’s writing style and the ease of which I can fly through her books. There’s a great balance of heavier topics + romance that I am endeared towards and characters that are wonderful too. I was missing that woven feeling between everything to feel fully invested in both sides of this tale.

**Note, there is totally still a romantic HEA. That was never in question.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: multiple open door; medium explicit
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: taking care of a parent with dementia, parental abandonment

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Book Review: The Wedding Season by Katy Birchall

February 7, 2023July 3, 2022 GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Author: Katy Birchall
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: May 3rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Freya Scott is getting married. Her wedding to Matthew, her long-term boyfriend, is the first of eight in her calendar this year, and as someone who prides herself on being meticulously organized, Freya is intent on making it the perfect day to remember.

But when Matthew calls things off hours before they walk down the aisle, Freya’s entire life plan goes up in smoke. Humiliated and heartbroken, the last thing she wants is to attend a summer of other peoples’ nuptials on her own.

Fortunately, her friends have an idea: together they devise a series of outrageous challenges for Freya to complete at each event, designed to distract her from Matthew and what might have been. From getting stuck in an old church bathroom and needing to be rescued by the vicar to making out with a barman at a French chateau, Freya realizes that despite herself, she might just be having fun.

By the time the final wedding arrives, she will discover that the road to a happy ending sometimes has unexpected detours, that “I do” is only the beginning––and that perhaps her own love story isn’t over just yet.

GREAT READ.

I’m not really a fiction reader. I either lean towards fantasy or romance, but I picked this up on a friends recommendation and it did not disappoint!

I really loved the vibes of this entire book. I found myself laughing out loud and cheering Freya on after a devastating break up at very much the wrong time.

Her friends were lovely and they were incredibly supportive and just there for her. I looove a good friend moment and this delivered. There’s also a subtle romance that had me smiling too.

I do wish the ex plot line didn’t take up the ENTIRE book. I thought we had essentially moved past his awfulness until he showed up late in the game which made me give a big sigh.

Still a great read about moving on when plans drastically change. Leaning in to the chaos of life and trying new things, and just maybe falling in love.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary fiction
Language: some strong
Romance: make-outs

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Book Review

Book Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

September 22, 2022May 12, 2022 GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Emily Henry
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Release Date: May 3rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An insightful, delightful new novel from the number-one New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming….

Nora Stephens’ life is books – she’s read them all – and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away – with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again – in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow – what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

EXPECTATIONS.

I’m going to start with saying that this felt more like a book about sisters than it did a romance. And if I had known that prior I think I would have enjoyed it more. For too long I sat there wondering WHERE IS THE ROMANCE.

Admittedly, the romance did show up (after 25%) and I was charmed. I adored Nora and Charlie. I was laughing so much at the absolute perfect banter and chemistry between them. The forced proximity between the two was one of my favorite aspects. I liked the small town setting and the slow unraveling of feelings that heated up right on cue.

The main plot with Nora’s sister, Libby grew on me [though, good heavens stop calling her Sissy]. I think both showed some improvement as they reconnected. I liked seeing Nora’s perspective change and really diving into why she feels the way she does (and the responses it causes). These two have the kind of bond I love seeing in sibling books.

Not my favorite of Emily Henry’s books, but still a fantastic read. I look forward to more!

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: multiple brief open door
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, anxiety/panic attacks, stroke (parent, not on page), grief and loss depiction

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Book Review

Book Review: The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

August 18, 2021December 29, 2020 GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Fiction
Length: 260 pages
Author: David Baldacci
Publisher: Warner Books
Release Date: November 4th, 2001
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon must get from Washington D.C. to L.A in time for Christmas. Forced to travel by train, he begins a journey of rude awakenings, thrilling adventures and holiday magic. He has no idea that the locomotives pulling him across America will actually take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart, as he rediscovers people’s essential goodness and someone very special he believed he had lost.

The Christmas Train is filled with memorable characters who have packed their bags with as much wisdom as mischief … and shows how we do get second chances to fulfill our deepest hopes and dreams, especially during this season of miracles.

WHAT A RIDE.

Am I clever yet?

I didn’t have any sort of expectations going into this. I picked it up at a free little library years ago, and chose this past Christmas to finally read it. I also listened to it on audio and thought it was well read there too. It had fun train sounds between chapters that added to the atmosphere.

This book had its ups and downs. I liked Tom and thought the concept of riding a train during Christmas was a solid idea. I’ve never ridden one so it was fun seeing how everything is set up for a passenger train. Tom ran into a large cast of characters on his travels. Some of it felt a bit scattered, but things came mostly together by the end to not leave wide plot holes.

I liked the soft second-chance romance. It sweet and fit in nicely. I thought they had chemistry and were clearly still into each other. I thought Tom and Ellie were able to finally communicate and work things out together which was was nice to see.

The ending was a bit improbable, but I guess with the other antics and hijinks of the story it worked out well enough. This felt Christmas-y and was a quick read. A nice holiday choice.

Overall audience notes: