zibby books – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Emma Grey
Publisher: Zibby Books
Release Date: November 12th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

If you knew then what you know now, would you make the same choices? Imagine having a second chance with the one you never forgot.

From the author of the global breakout bestseller The Last Love Note comes the story of a young woman struggling to piece her life back together in the wake of a tragic accident, and the man who gives up everything to help her.

When Evie Hudson wakes in an unfamiliar hospital room, she thinks she’s fresh out of a teenage party with her best friend, Bree. Except, Bree isn’t around anymore and high school was years ago. Evie had just survived the crash that killed her husband, Oliver—whom she can’t remember either. After suffering a traumatic loss of memory, she’s left to connect the dots. But how?

Drew, a promising photographer whose chance encounter with Evie unravels the elusive details of her marriage and her husband’s death. As Drew watches Evie stitch the story of her life together, secrets emerge that might shatter both of their worlds.

This tangled second-chance romance leads Evie to question every decision she ever made. This time around, she’s seeing all the things she missed–and the life she gets to choose…again.

Thank you Zibby Books for the gifted ARC.

HOLY TWIST.

This book took me on a JOURNEY. I’m quite confident this is my new favorite book involving amnesia. I usually struggle with the handling but this hit all of those spots so well. The romance was angsty and filled with incredible tension as you start to unravel Evie’s life and what memories she is missing.

The flashback sections were exactly what I was hoping for. Adding in the notes to build those reveals at the end. If you think you can guess EVERY single place this book will go I am impressed because I was blindsided plenty.

I loved the intensity of feelings, the themes of forgiveness, and just how complicated the cycle of abuse can be. There’s many moments that squeeze your heart and make you yearn for that elusive HEA.

My one little 1/2 star issue was that the ending was a bit abrupt. I was hoping for something else to close off a few things.

But anyways, two books in and I’m an official Emma Grey fan girl.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: low – moderate
Romance: closed door
Violence: low
Content Warnings: abuse is the main theme (mainly psychological and emotional), loss of a parent (cancer), grief depiction, mentions of suicide ideation

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Author: Elle Evans
Publisher: Zibby Books
Release Date: April 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Competition for a bridal magazine cover unleashes frenemy mayhem and family sparring in this hilarious, frothy debut. Olivia “Liv” Fitzgerald, soon-to-be-lawyer, can talk anyone into anything. Well, almost anything. When her scheming aunt throws her cousin, Kali, into a competition for a bridal magazine cover alongside Liv’s best friend, Leighton, all hell breaks loose. To save the day, Liv only has to

a) Secure the Southern Charme cover for Leighton,
b) Keep Aunt Charlotte happy and Kali’s wedding running smoothly,
c) Finish her final year of law school and nab a coveted NYC big-law job, and
d) Win over the guy of her dreams.

What, like it’s hard? With sparkling prose, debut author Elle Evans gives us a hysterical, moving twist on the classic bride wars story. Readers will root for Liv as she balances her schemes, dreams, and double Maid of Honor duties, discovering that integrity might be more important than smooth talking―even if it means she can’t please everyone at once.

Thank you to Zibby Books for the gifted ARC.

A BIT TOO MUCH DRAMA.

I went in with good hopes about this one. It sounded charming and humorous and full of hijinks. Buuuut I think those shenanigans crossed a line into the ridiculous and I was increasingly frustrated with what was happening.

There were some cute moments and I liked seeing Olivia work things out for her life. She gets walked all over a bit before finally apologizing and going after the things she want too. I wish the focus would have been more on Olivia and not the other two brides.

Also, to note, this isn’t a romance. It’s fiction with a tiny dash of romance. I really wish Will had played a larger role in the story too.

Overall audience notes: