The Book I Am The Most Excited To Read This Summer

The Book I Am The Most Excited To Read This Summer

Chillin’ at one of my favorite places on the planet…my bestie’s pool! Fun fact: Unbeknownst to me, her landscaper entered the pool area JUST as I was taking this selfie while she was inside of the house. It was awkward for both of us.

Earlier in the week I had quite the adventure literally CHASING a book around town. I wanted to buy a copy of this book so badly and I was on a MISSION. I documented the entire ordeal on Instagram Stories throughout the day but I never revealed the title of the book :).

I had been on the library waitlist for weeks and I had a feeling that my name wasn’t moving up to the top slot anytime soon. And then last Monday, I received the following message from my dear friend and book twin, Jana:

Straw that broke the camel’s back? Check. I LOVED 28 Summers SO MUCH! If you haven’t yet read 28 Summers, you must read it ASAP…it’s so wonderful (except for the tiny fact that the entire beautiful story is centered around horrible infidelity…read my review HERE).

The very next day after receiving this message from my book twin, I set out on a mission. I started at Barnes and Noble where I was told that not only did they not have any copies but NO BARNES AND NOBLE in the AREA had any copies. Everyone is reading this book right now! I left the store feeling a bit discouraged but also even more intrigued to find myself a copy…

Bookstore #2: Barbara’s Bookstore in Hawthorn Mall. They had 3 copies! Barbara’s Bookstore for the WIN!

**So many of you messaged me asking if I tried looking for the book on Amazon or Target. I had not because I really wanted to buy it from a bookstore. I so rarely buy books (I love my library so much) so when I do actually purchase a book, I just love the experience of shopping in bookstores and supporting the book community!**

The Book I Am The Most Excited To Read This Summer:

I’m hoping to start reading either tonight or tomorrow…I’ll share my thoughts as soon as I finish! My expectations are obviously HIGH for this one, fingers crossed I’m not disappointed…

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below but ABSOLUTELY NO SPOILERS, PLEASE!!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

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Happy Summer, What I’m Reading, Delicious Lunch

Happy Summer, What I’m Reading, Delicious Lunch

Hi 💕

Happy Summer!

Now that my kids are done with school, it is officially SUMMER over here! Although summer is not my favorite season (I’ll take a freezing cold blizzard over the summer heat any day), I love all of the extra family time summer allows. Bring on pool days, backyard time, picnics, and summer concerts! In fact, I’m enjoying a lovely sunny day in our backyard as I’m typing this blog post. I am sitting at our table typing while my son is next to me drawing a masterpiece 🙂 A lovely summer day, indeed.

What I’m Reading:

Remember when I was debating which book of the 2 that I recently bought to read next (I talked about it in THIS POST)?

I chose to start with Lease on Love by Falon Ballard!

I’m about 200 pages in and I have SO many thoughts (some great, some…not so great). I’ll post my full review when I finish! In the meantime, here’s the synopsis from Goodreads:

After getting passed over for an overdue—and much needed—promotion, Sadie Green is in desperate need of three things: a stiff drink, a new place to live, and a one-night-stand. When one drink turns into one too many, Sadie mixes up a long-ignored dating app for a roommate-finding app and finds herself on the doorstep of Jack Thomas’s gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone. Too bad she’s more attracted to his impressive real estate than she is to the man himself.

Jack, still grieving the unexpected death of his parents, has learned to find comfort in video games and movie marathons instead of friends. So while he doesn’t know just what to make of the vivaciously verbose Sadie, he’s willing to offer her his spare bedroom while she gets back on her feet. And with the rent unbeatably low, Sadie can finally pursue her floristry side hustle full-time. The two are polar opposites, but as Sadie’s presence begins to turn the brownstone into a home, they both start to realize they may have just made the deal of a lifetime.

Delicious Lunch:

And because sometimes I like to post random pictures of my food on my blog, here’s a picture of the GORGEOUS fish poke bowl I ate for lunch a few weeks ago. How absolutely beautiful is this?! Loved it!

I hope you are reading (and eating!) something fabulous today! Happy Summer!

What are you currently reading? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

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I Bought 2 New Books Last Night!

I Bought 2 New Books Last Night!

My daughter and I had some very special mommy/daughter time yesterday. We saw an amazing play (The Sound of Music), and when it was over we headed to the mall. We had exactly 1 hour to shop before our dinner reservations at Maggianos…the perfect amount of time for each of us to choose 1 store for a little pre-dinner shopping.

She chose Claire’s (obvi). I chose the bookstore (obvi).

1 set of fake unicorn nails (her), 1 adorable headband (me), and 2 newly released books (also me) later, we called our mini shopping excursion a success. We then went to the restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and I introduced her the complete joy known as olive oil and parmesan cheese for dipping the bread. Aaaaaaand obviously we stopped at Crumbl Cookies on our way back home because I apparently live there now.

According to Crumbl, this cookie that I inhaled in about 3 minutes flat last night was: “A tasty graham cracker cookie decorated with honey butter frosting, a light drizzle of honey, and Teddy Graham®️ Crackers”.

Opening a Crumbl so close to my house continues to be a complete (although delicious) disaster. I really wish they had opened a salad bar instead.

So what 2 books did I buy at the mall?

New Book #1: Book Lovers {Emily Henry}:

Ok so I’ve been wavering for months on if I would be reading this one. I’ve heard such great things but I was NOT a fan of Beach Read (you can read my review of that very boring book HERE). And then last week, my cousin told me that she loved Book Lovers so much that she’s already read it TWICE! That definitely swayed my opinion! I’ll post a full review once I finish reading…

Goodreads Synopsis of Book Lovers {Emily Henry}:

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.

New Book #2: Lease on Love {Falon Ballard}:

So this one is alllllll over Bookstagram and apparently EVERYONE loves it. I really shouldn’t go by what everyone else is loving because quite often I feel the opposite (again, HERE is my review of Beach Read)…Fingers crossed I love this one! I’ll post my review once I finish reading…

Goodreads Synopsis of Lease on Love {Falon Ballard}:

After getting passed over for an overdue—and much needed—promotion, Sadie Green is in desperate need of three things: a stiff drink, a new place to live, and a one-night-stand. When one drink turns into one too many, Sadie mixes up a long-ignored dating app for a roommate-finding app and finds herself on the doorstep of Jack Thomas’s gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone. Too bad she’s more attracted to his impressive real estate than she is to the man himself.

Jack, still grieving the unexpected death of his parents, has learned to find comfort in video games and movie marathons instead of friends. So while he doesn’t know just what to make of the vivaciously verbose Sadie, he’s willing to offer her his spare bedroom while she gets back on her feet. And with the rent unbeatably low, Sadie can finally pursue her floristry side hustle full-time. The two are polar opposites, but as Sadie’s presence begins to turn the brownstone into a home, they both start to realize they may have just made the deal of a lifetime.

Now for the big question: Which of my 2 new books should I read first???

Have you read either of these books? What did you think (NO SPOILERS PLEASE)? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

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What I’m Currently Reading (Loving), What I Recently Read (Amazing), What I Think I’ll Read Next (Excited)

What I’m Currently Reading (Loving), What I Recently Read (Amazing), What I Think I’ll Read Next (Excited)

I dropped my favorite candle holder yesterday and it broke. Sad.

I love when Book Coffee Happy can participate in WWW (which is supposed to be published on Wednesdays but today is actually Monday)! The Three Ws: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

Thanks so much to Sam from Taking on a World of Words for hosting this fun weekly post!

What Are You Currently Reading?

Thank you to Melissa Amster from Chick Lit Central for sharing your copy of this one with me! I started reading it yesterday and I’m already ALL IN…

Goodreads Synopsis of He Gets That From Me {Jacqueline Friedland}:

As a young mother with a toddler and a live-in boyfriend, Maggie Fisher’s job at a checkout counter in downtown Phoenix doesn’t afford her much financial flexibility. She dreams of going to college and becoming a teacher, options she squandered when she fled her family home as a teenager. When Maggie stumbles onto an ad offering thousands of dollars to women who are willing to gestate other people’s babies, she at first finds the concept laughable. Before long, however, she’s been seduced by all the ways the extra money could improve her life. Once she decides to go for it, it’s only a matter of months before she’s chosen as a gestational carrier by Chip and Donovan Rigsdale, a married couple from New York.

After delivering twin babies and proudly handing them off to the Rigsdales, Maggie finally gets her life on a positive trajectory: she earns her degree, lands a great job, and builds a family of her own. She can’t fathom why, ten years after the fact, the fertility clinic is calling to ask for a follow-up DNA test.

What Did You Recently Finish Reading?

I will have my full review of this gorgeous book posted soon but for now I’ll just say…YOU NEED TO PREORDER THIS ONE STAT (it publishes 5/17). Link to preorder at the bottom of this post!

Goodreads Synopsis of When We Let Go {Rochelle B. Weinstein}:

A moving novel of family and forgiveness and of hope and healing by Rochelle B. Weinstein, the USA Today bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends.

When Avery Beckett is proposed to by Jude Masters, a widowed father and the man she loves, it should be a time of great joy. Instead, Avery is on edge. She’s wary of the idea of family, doubtful of happy endings, and too afraid to take the leap. It’s the kind of fear that comes from having secrets.

Before Avery commits to a new life, she must reconcile with the one she left behind.

When Avery returns to her childhood farm in the North Carolina mountains, she’s surprised to be saddled with a companion: Jude’s teenage daughter, Elle, who’s grappling with the loss of her mother and the complicated emotions of first love. On a path of mending wounds and breaking down walls, Avery and Elle form an unexpected alliance. It’s giving them the courage to move forward. And for Avery, everything she needs to confront the past.

An emotional tale of mothers and daughters, loss and acceptance, When We Let Go is about the lessons that come from heartbreak and the healing it takes to embrace the joy of a second chance.

Thank you to Emily Giffin for sending me an advanced copy of your newest book! I can’t wait to read it! Meant to Be publishes 5/31…link to preorder at the bottom of this post 🙂

Goodreads Synopsis of Meant to Be {Emily Giffin}:

A restless golden boy and a girl with a troubled past navigate a love story that may be doomed before it even begins in this irresistible new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed and The Lies That Bind.

The Kingsley family is practically American royalty, beloved for their military heroics, political service, and unmatched elegance. When Joseph S. Kingsley III is born in 1960, he inherits the weight of that legacy. Growing up with all the Kingsley looks and charisma, Joe should have no problem taking up the mantle after his father’s untimely death. But he is also a little bit reckless, and can’t seem to figure out how to channel the expectations of an entire country.

No one ever expected anything of Cate, on the other hand. She, too, grew up in a single-parent household–just her and her mom scraping by in their small apartment. As a teenager, though, Cate is discovered for her looks. Modeling may be her only ticket out of the cycle of disappointment that her mother has always inhabited. Before too long, her face is everywhere; though she is always aware that she’d be a pariah in her social circles if anyone knew her true story.

When Joe and Cate’s paths cross, their connection is instant. What remains to be seen is whether their relationship will survive the glare of the spotlight that follows Joe everywhere. And just as they find themselves in the make-or-break moment, the tragedy that seems to run in Joe’s family right alongside all that privilege will repeat itself.

In a beautifully written novel that recaptures a gilded moment in American history, Emily Giffin tells a story of a love that may or may not have the power to transcend circumstances that seem arrayed against it . . . and the difficulty of finding your way to the place you belong.

Have you read (or are planning on reading) any of these 3 books? What are you currently reading? What have you recently read? What do you think you’ll read next? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

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4 Books I Recently Started but Didn’t Finish

4 Books I Recently Started but Didn’t Finish

Hiiiii!

How are you? I hope that you are having a lovely weekend.

A Crumbl Cookies has opened up way too close to my house. I’ve already gone twice. This cannot be a good thing. Omg.

Last night. 2nd time here in 12 days. Fuck.
Trip #1
Trip #2

DELICIOUS. Holy hell.

4 Books I Recently Started but Didn’t Finish

You know the emoji of the orange face with the swear word symbols written over it’s mouth? Insert 4 of those emojis right here.

Each of these books sounded so promising! So wonderful! So engaging! But alas….nope.

One Year Gone {Avery Bishop}:

I stand by that this book has so much potential to be amazing. Unfortunately the beginning just didn’t hook me in and I was bored. I made it to about page 50 and called it quits.

Goodreads Synopsis of One Year Gone {Avery Bishop}:

“Sometimes teenagers run away… Give her a few days. She’ll be back.”

That’s what the police tell Jessica Moore when her seventeen-year-old daughter, Wyn, vanishes. All signs point to this being true. But days become weeks. Weeks become months. And Jessica begins to fear the terrible truth—that she may never see her daughter again.

Then, one year later, when all hope seems lost, Jessica gets a flurry of text messages from Wyn that freezes her blood: mom. please help. i think he’s going to kill me. But Wyn’s terrified plea comes with a warning not to call the police. Her kidnapper wears a badge.

As Jessica’s fears are raised again, so are the stakes. Delving into the months leading up to Wyn’s disappearance, Jessica stumbles upon information that could put her own life in danger. With each revelation, the nightmare deepens. Now she must decide just how far she’ll go to bring her daughter home. 

A Good Neighborhood {Therese Anne Fowler}:

Photo Credit: Amazon

I listened to this one as an audiobook and to be honest, I think it was just too heavy for an audiobook. While I am listening to a book, I am doing a million other things: cooking, laundry, makeup, etc. This book was just too….MUCH…to fully appreciate while doing all of those other things. I made it about 40 percent though before calling it quits. I did Google the ending and very honestly, I’m so glad I stopped listening when I did. Also, this cover is WAY TOO SIMILAR to the cover of one of my all time favorite books so that angers me because THAT book is amazing but THIS book is not.

Goodreads Synopsis of A Good Neighborhood {Therese Anne Fowler}:

“Sometimes teenagers run away… Give her a few days. She’ll be back.”

That’s what the police tell Jessica Moore when her seventeen-year-old daughter, Wyn, vanishes. All signs point to this being true. But days become weeks. Weeks become months. And Jessica begins to fear the terrible truth—that she may never see her daughter again.

Then, one year later, when all hope seems lost, Jessica gets a flurry of text messages from Wyn that freezes her blood: mom. please help. i think he’s going to kill me. But Wyn’s terrified plea comes with a warning not to call the police. Her kidnapper wears a badge.

As Jessica’s fears are raised again, so are the stakes. Delving into the months leading up to Wyn’s disappearance, Jessica stumbles upon information that could put her own life in danger. With each revelation, the nightmare deepens. Now she must decide just how far she’ll go to bring her daughter home. 

One Night on The Island {Josie Silver}:

The biggest disappointment of all of these books. I had been waiting for MONTHS for this one to be released and was so excited to start reading. I made it to about page 70 before I accepted the truth….man was it boring. In hindsight, I’m not entirely sure why I was so excited about reading this book considering that I wasn’t a huge fan of One Day in December (you can read my review HERE). I’m thinking that this author and her writing style just aren’t for me.

Goodreads Synopsis of One Night on the Island {Josie Silver}:

Spending her thirtieth birthday alone is the last thing that dating columnist Cleo wanted, but she is going on a self-coupling quasi-sabbatical–at the insistence of her boss–in the name of re-energizing herself and adding a new perspective to her column. The remote Irish island she’s booked is a far cry from London, but at least it’s a chance to hunker down in a luxury cabin and indulge in some quiet, solitary self-care while she figures out her next steps in her love life and her career.

Mac is also looking forward to some time to himself. With his life in Boston deteriorating in ways he can’t bring himself to acknowledge, his soul searching has brought him to the same Irish island in search of his roots and some clarity. Unfortunately, a mix-up with the bookings means both solitude seekers have reserved the same one-bedroom hideaway on exactly the same dates.

Instantly at odds with each other, Cleo and Mac don’t know how they’re going to manage until the next weekly ferry arrives. But as the days go by, they no longer seem to mind each other’s company quite as much as they thought they would…

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous {Suzanne Park}:

Photo Credit: Amazon

Remember above when I said that The Good Neighborhood was just too deep for an audiobook? Well this book is the polar opposite….it wasn’t deep ENOUGH and it felt so juvenile. Yes it’s YA but…ugh. If you follow me on Instagram, I had mentioned last week about the audiobook I was listening to which used the phrase, “Look, I don’t got no beef with you”. It made me roll my eyes….who talks like that??? Well, apparently the characters in this book do. 35 percent in and I was officially over it.

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend will be filled with love and BOOKS!

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

Have you tried Crumbl???

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny




This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

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Sprained Ankle.

Well that was quite the unintentional break that I took from blogging! Ugh. It’s been…well it’s been a bit stressful for me over here and unfortunately blogging just kind of took a back burner for the past few weeks. I’m so sorry! The catalyst for all of the stress is that I sprained my ankle last month and it’s made me quite sad. I wish I had some big elaborate story of how it happened but alas, I do not. I was walking towards a book (always) and I fell down a stair. In my own house. A stair that has been there since we bought the house 12 years ago. I was so laser focused on the book (again, always) that I simply forgot about the stair. I flew across the room and absolutely nothing about the scenario was graceful or feminine. So for the past 4 weeks, I’ve been elevating and icing my poor ankle 3 times a day. It’s SO much better but still very much healing. I’m totally ok! I’ve still been out and about, working, etc. just trying not to overdo it.

Although I have most definitely been out and about, pretty much anytime I’ve been home I’ve been doing the good ol’ icing and elevating (I’m still doing this 3 times each day). Here are some glamorous scenes from the past month, lol:

**NOTE: The above pictures were all taken within the first two weeks of my injury and I was using frozen peas like a boss. However, I have since ordered an AMAZING little contraption off of Amazon and I highly recommend it! Much better and fancier than the peas! I tried to link it for you but Amazon says it’s now unavailable. Aaaaand now my book blog has turned into a medical device discussion. Lovely.**

If you are new blog reader, you should know that this definitely happens to me more often that it should. Since I have started blogging, I have broken my elbow (story HERE) and broken my toe (story HERE). One miiiiiiiight call me clumsy. That’s not true….EVERYONE calls me clumsy. Lord.

Like I said, I am feeling SO much better and I even wore high heels for the first time since all of this happened! Saturday night was the best night filled with love and support for the beautiful Lisa Barr. I feel so honored that I was invited to her amazing book launch party! I will definately elaborate on this party and all of it’s amazingness in a future blog post but for now, here’s a photo of me from the party (wearing big girl high heels with a bum ankle, lol):

(If you haven’t yet read Lisa’s newest book, it’s a MUST READ. Here is a link to my blog post all about it: Book Review: Woman On Fire {Lisa Barr})

The GOOD news is that being off of my feet has given me PLENTY of time to read! I’ve read 3 books and have listened to 3 audiobooks since I fell! I will work on writing and getting those reviews posted ASAP.

Book I’m Currently Reading:

Goodreads Synopsis of The Paris Apartment {Lucy Foley}:

Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.

The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.

The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge

Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.

Audiobook I’m Currently Listening To:

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis of The Woman Next Door {Natasha Boydell}:

Sophie is a happily married mum of two who considers herself lucky—until her beautiful and highly successful new neighbour Angie moves in along with her charming husband and four talented children. The two women couldn’t be more different, but after a storm brings them together, an unlikely friendship develops. As their children grow closer, so does their bond.

But the alliance between the families is a wake-up call for both women. Angie’s success makes Sophie consider whether she really is as satisfied as she makes out. And Sophie’s uncomplicated marriage forces Angie to look at her own and accept that it’s not as perfect as it seems. Both women vow to change.

But their decisions may not lead where they expect, in this absorbing novel about risks and relationships by the author of The Missing Husband that explores whether the grass is always greener on the other side of the garden fence . . .

I’ll let you know how both of these books are once I finish reading and listening!

And because this post isn’t all over the place enough, here is a photo of the most delicious candle that is lit next to me as I’m typing. I randomly bought it from Charming Charlie’s in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue a few months ago but am lighting it for the first time right now! It’s truly divine (see what I did there?!)

Love 💗

Happy Saturday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

Xo,

Jenny

Click the images below to order the books through my Amazon affiliate links. When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

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*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

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The First Book I Put Down Without Finishing in 2022

The First Book I Put Down Without Finishing in 2022

👑

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I’ve been on such a GREAT reading streak…since…NOVEMBER! I’ve read some amaaaaazing books over the past few months!

A few weeks ago I asked which of these books should be my next read:

I even created an Instagram poll asking for your thoughts which yielded a completely inconclusive result….so…I was forced to make the decision on my own.

Aaaaaaaand I made the wrong choice.

The First Book I Put Down Without Finishing in 2022:

Goodreads Synopsis of Tweet Cute {Emma Lord}:

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.

This book is…fine. Eh. Felt like a YA novel. Yes, it IS a YA novel but the best YA novels don’t FEEL like Ya novels. Does that make sense? This book is written for teenagers. As all YA novels are! However, I think a good YA novel can and should appeal to adults as well. This one did not.

It wasn’t bad, it was just…boring. So boring. And unrealistic. So unrealistic.

130 pages in and…I’m over it. Moving on.

Good bye wonderful reading streak. I have loved you so! The CUTEST holiday book series, Nanny Needed, The Last Chance Library, My Darling Husband, and a few more wonderful books with blog reviews coming soon!

So what am I reading next?

Obvi.

Goodreads Synopsis of Instamom {Chantel Guertin}:

It’s the influencer’s golden rule: know your niche. Kit Kidding has found hers on Instagram, where she gets paid to promote brands and share expertly curated posts about her fun, fabulous, child-free life. Kit likes kids just fine, but she passionately believes that women who choose not to become mothers shouldn’t have to face guilt. Or judgement. Or really hot chefs who turn out to be single dads.

Will MacGregor is aggravating, sexy, persistent, averse to social media, and definitely a bad idea. As soon as Kit learns his parenting status, she vows to put their scorching one-night stand behind her and move on. But Will and Kit are thrown together on an Instagram campaign, and the more time she spends with him—and his whip-smart, eight-year-old daughter, Addie—the more difficult it is to stay away, much less sustain what Will so cleverly calls her “Resting Beach Face.” Kit’s picture-perfect career path is suddenly clashing with the possibility of a different future—messy, complicated, and real. Which life does she truly want? Will she have to re-invent herself? And will love still be waiting by the time she figures it out? 

Fingers crossed I love it!

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

Have you read either of these books? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below (absolutely no spoilers please)!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

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It’s a Beautiful Weekend to Read a Good Book

It’s a Beautiful Weekend to Read a Good Book

Unbeknownst to me, there was a car waiting for me to finish taking this selfie because I was standing in the very middle of the road. Oops. I hope the man was entertained watching me do this although I’m pretty sure he was not. Also, I took this picture a few days ago and it makes me happy that my local Dunkin’ is still using holiday cups.

Hello!

I’m currently reading an advance reader’s copy of this gem:

It’s official publishing date is set for March but I was luckily enough to have been sent an early copy! I’ve been reading this book nonstop for the past few days. I’ll post my full review once I finish reading but for now I’ll just say this: PREORDER YOURSELF A COPY TODAY (preorder link at the bottom of this post).

How is the weather where you are? Here in Chicago it is COLD, snowy, and beautiful :). A perfect weekend to curl up with a good book while enjoying the freezing temperatures from INSIDE. This candle has been burning strong all weekend over here and my house smells so amazing:

It’s DELICIOUS. Highly recommend! I posted this on Instagram yesterday:

I spy Woman on Fire AND the Strawberry Pound Cake candle, lol!

After I finish reading Woman on Fire, I’ll be starting one of these 2 books. I can’t decide which! If you have read either of these books (or even if you haven’t!), please let me know which you think I should read next (NO SPOILERS)!

Book #1: Tweet Cute {Emma Lord}:

Goodreads Synopsis of Tweet Cute {Emma Lord}:

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.

Book #2: Instamom {Chantel Guertin}:

Goodreads Synopsis of Instamom {Chantel Guertin}:

In this #funny, #wise, #emotionally compelling look at modern love and finding your true path, a proudly kid-free influencer meets the ultimate #dealbreaker . . .

It’s the influencer’s golden rule: know your niche. Kit Kidding has found hers on Instagram, where she gets paid to promote brands and share expertly curated posts about her fun, fabulous, child-free life. Kit likes kids just fine, but she passionately believes that women who choose not to become mothers shouldn’t have to face guilt. Or judgement. Or really hot chefs who turn out to be single dads.

Will MacGregor is aggravating, sexy, persistent, averse to social media, and definitely a bad idea. As soon as Kit learns his parenting status, she vows to put their scorching one-night stand behind her and move on. But Will and Kit are thrown together on an Instagram campaign, and the more time she spends with him—and his whip-smart, eight-year-old daughter, Addie—the more difficult it is to stay away, much less sustain what Will so cleverly calls her “Resting Beach Face.” Kit’s picture-perfect career path is suddenly clashing with the possibility of a different future—messy, complicated, and real. Which life does she truly want? Will she have to re-invent herself? And will love still be waiting by the time she figures it out?

Don’t both of these books sound so cute? Which one should I read next????? Hellllllllp!

What are you currently reading? What do you think you will read next?

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend filled with love and BOOKS!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

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Book I’m Currently Reading (Amazing), Book I Recently Read (Perfection), Book I’m Reading Next (SO EXCITED)

Book I’m Currently Reading (Amazing), Book I Recently Read (Perfection), Book I’m Reading Next (SO EXCITED)

This was on the cover of a recent issue of Jewish Chicago (JUF Magazine). How gorgeous is this?!

I love when Book Coffee Happy can participate in WWW! The Three Ws: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

Thanks so much to Sam from Taking on a World of Words for hosting this fun weekly post!

What Are You Currently Reading?

I’ll post my review once I finish reading!

Goodreads Synopsis of The Last Chance Library {Freya Sampson}:

June Jones emerges from her shell to fight for her beloved local library, and through the efforts and support of an eclectic group of library patrons, she discovers life-changing friendships along the way.

Lonely librarian June Jones has never left the sleepy English village where she grew up. Shy and reclusive, the thirty-year-old would rather spend her time buried in books than venture out into the world. But when her library is threatened with closure, June is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save the heart of her community and the place that holds the dearest memories of her mother.

Joining a band of eccentric yet dedicated locals in a campaign to keep the library, June opens herself up to other people for the first time since her mother died. It just so happens that her old school friend Alex Chen is back in town and willing to lend a helping hand. The kindhearted lawyer’s feelings for her are obvious to everyone but June, who won’t believe that anyone could ever care for her in that way.

To save the place and the books that mean so much to her, June must finally make some changes to her life. For once, she’s determined not to go down without a fight. And maybe, in fighting for her cherished library, June can save herself, too.

What Did You Recently Finish Reading?

Do you remember when I bought this book from the most adorable little independent bookstore in Door County, WI? I recently finished reading this GEM and I can’t wait to share all of my thoughts with you! I’ll be guest blogging on Chick Lit Central at the end of the month where Melissa Amster and I will be sharing our thoughts on this one AND we will also be hosting a giveaway for it as well! Stay tuned for details…

Goodreads Synopsis of The Charm Offensive {Alison Cochrun}:

Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.

Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.

As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.

Ahhhh I’ve had my advanced reader’s copy of Lisa Barr’s newest book for MONTHS! I’ve been saving it to read and review closer to it’s publication date and seeing as that date is 3/1…the time for me to read this one is NOW! I’m so excited, I absolutely loved The Unbreakables (you can read my review of that amazing book HERE). I can’t wait to dig into her newest ASAP!

Goodreads Synopsis of Woman on Fire {Lisa Barr}:

From the author of the award-winning Fugitive Colors and The Unbreakables, a gripping tale of a young, ambitious journalist embroiled in an international art art scandal centered around a Nazi-looted masterpiece–forcing the ultimate showdown between passion and possession, lovers and liars, history and truth.

After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual–and very secret–assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel’s most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan’s help to find it. But Jules doesn’t have much time; the famous designer is dying.

Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family’s millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis’s grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux’s clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he’ll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.

A thrilling tale of secrets, love, and sacrifice that illuminates the destructive cruelty of war and greed and the triumphant power of beauty and love, Woman on Fire tells the story of a remarkable woman and an exquisite work of art that burns bright, moving through hands, hearts, and history.

Have you read any of these 3 books? What did you think (no spoilers)? What are you currently reading? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

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Best First Line of a Book Ever!

How beautiful is this bookmark that one of my preschool students gave to me for the holidays? The little flower in the crystal ball is my favorite part. 🌸

I started reading a new book last night and to say that I absolutely LOVE the first line would be a serious understatement.

How incredibly TRUE is that?!?

That beauty of a first line belongs to this book:

Synopsis of The Last Chance Library {Freya Sampson}:

June Jones emerges from her shell to fight for her beloved local library, and through the efforts and support of an eclectic group of library patrons, she discovers life-changing friendships along the way.

Lonely librarian June Jones has never left the sleepy English village where she grew up. Shy and reclusive, the thirty-year-old would rather spend her time buried in books than venture out into the world. But when her library is threatened with closure, June is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save the heart of her community and the place that holds the dearest memories of her mother.

Joining a band of eccentric yet dedicated locals in a campaign to keep the library, June opens herself up to other people for the first time since her mother died. It just so happens that her old school friend Alex Chen is back in town and willing to lend a helping hand. The kindhearted lawyer’s feelings for her are obvious to everyone but June, who won’t believe that anyone could ever care for her in that way.

To save the place and the books that mean so much to her, June must finally make some changes to her life. For once, she’s determined not to go down without a fight. And maybe, in fighting for her cherished library, June can save herself, too.

I’ll post my review once I finish reading!

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

What is the first line of the book you are currently reading? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

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