Tag: blogmas 2022

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

12/14 Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

12/15 Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

12/16 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}

12/17 Blogmas 2022: The 13 Best Books I Read in 2022

12/18 Blogmas 2022: Review of the Christmas Book With One of the Prettiest Book Covers I Have Ever Seen

12/20 Blogmas 2022: My Favorite Book Coffee Happy Posts of 2022

12/21 Blogmas 2022: 11 Non Book Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

12/22 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Instamom {Chantel Guertin}

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!*

*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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Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Instamom {Chantel Guertin}

Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Instamom {Chantel Guertin}

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?

My Review of Instamom {Chantel Guertin}:

It was…good. Not great but good!

As someone who LOVES Instagram and follows tons of influencers, I loved the premise of this story and a behind the scenes look at how these people live their lives. Definately my favorite parts of the book were the parts where Kit would discuss her influencer status and all that it entails to be successful.

That being said, I didn’t enjoy the relationship between Kit and Will. In fact, it was so forgettable that I just had to pick up the book to even remember Will’s name, lol. I found their relationship completely unbelievable and I never felt whatever spark they claimed that they had. Eh.

The overall message of the book was a good one although I disliked so many of the characters that the delivery just wasn’t there for me. I found myself struggling to finish the book and never wanting to pick it up although it was an easy read!

Eh…if you’re looking for a light, easy book this one is ok although honestly, I’d probably just skip it.

Bottom Line:

Eh.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

12/14 Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

12/15 Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

12/16 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}

12/17 Blogmas 2022: The 13 Best Books I Read in 2022

12/18 Blogmas 2022: Review of the Christmas Book With One of the Prettiest Book Covers I Have Ever Seen

12/20 Blogmas 2022: My Favorite Book Coffee Happy Posts of 2022

12/21 Blogmas 2022: 11 Non Book Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

Xo,

Jenny

Clearly this wasn’t my favorite book but you might love it! Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, 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!*

*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

Blogmas 2022: 11 Non Book Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

Blogmas 2022: 11 Non Book Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

Gifting a book to someone else is a tricky thing unless you are 100% sure it’s a book that they want to read. There are plenty of other wonderful gifts that any book lover would be so lucky to receive!

Gift Idea #1: Book of the Month Membership

I’m not a member but I’ve heard such great things! Check out their website to learn more.

Gift Idea #2: Book Light

If you have been following me for any length of time, you know my ongoing struggle with finding the perfect book light. Well friends, I HAVE FOUND IT! (Fun fact: I receive messages ALL. THE. TIME. from people asking what book light I recommend.)

HERE is a link to a post I wrote about the very best book light I have found (and I have gone through many, many book lights). This one is fantastic! Although I do wish it came in pink…

Gift Idea #3: Candle

Might I suggest my most favorite holiday smelling candle…Bath and Body Works Winter Candy Apple??? It’s perfecton. I currently own 7 of them and burn them daily throughout the holiday season.

Gift Idea #4: Gift Card to Thrift Books

I’ve never actually bought anything from this website but it looks so amazing, I’m intrigued!

Gift Idea #5: Electric Fireplace/Crackler

Love mine so much. You can read about them both HERE.

Gift Idea #6: Book Weight

I will always and forever think that this looks like something….dirty. It’s not. It allows me to read a book hands free (aka while I dry my hair) and it’s the book accessory you never knew you needed. I explain this little gem in more detail HERE.

Gift Idea #7: Gift Card to Barnes and Noble, Half Price Books, or even better…INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES!

Can’t go wrong with a gift card. Ever. Especially when one can use it to buy books.

Gift Idea #8: Book themed Mug

Here are mine. They are gorgeous. HERE is where I bought the one on the left and HERE is a blog post solely dedicated to the one on the right.

Gift Idea #9: Book Tote

I’m obsessed with mine! I bought mine on a recent mountain vacation (post HERE).

Gift Idea #10: Book Clothes

Literally wearing mine as we speak! Here is a picture of me typing up this blog post 🙂

And lastly….

Gift Idea #11: A Recommendation to Follow Book Coffee Happy 🙂

Ha ha but seriously…if you know a book lover, please tell them to follow me on the various platforms (my blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)! I would love to have them join our little book loving community that I created 🙂

What else would a book lover be thrilled to receive as a gift??

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

12/14 Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

12/15 Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

12/16 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}

12/17 Blogmas 2022: The 13 Best Books I Read in 2022

12/18 Blogmas 2022: Review of the Christmas Book With One of the Prettiest Book Covers I Have Ever Seen

12/20 Blogmas 2022: My Favorite Book Coffee Happy Posts of 2022

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!*

*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

Blogmas 2022: My Favorite Book Coffee Happy Posts of 2022

Blogmas 2022: My Favorite Book Coffee Happy Posts of 2022

Last week we stopped at a gas station to get gas. While my husband was filling up the tank, I was sitting in the car…and watched as this drove by right in front of our car. It was so random and awesome, lol.

It has been such a wonderful year here on Book Coffee Happy! I’ve reviewed so many amazing books, hosted some wonderful giveaways, have written some really fun blog posts, have attended some incredible literary events, etc. I’ve made some delightful new friends this year…authors, publishers, fellow book bloggers, and so many more.

Here are my favorite posts that I’ve written over the past year categorized by month. As always, THANK YOU for visiting my little corner of the Internet. Thank you for always supporting Book Coffee Happy and for always supporting ME! Xo!

My Favorite Book Coffee Happy Posts of 2022:

July:

(most definitely NOT a favorite but the one and ONLY post I wrote in all of July, omggg):

I Have Covid.

August:

2 New Books and Which One I’m Currently Reading

September:

Latest Library Book Haul

October:

Road Trip Adventures, Best Bookstore EVER, 4 New Books!

November:

Thankful for Book Coffee Happy.

December:

Blogmas 2022: The 13 Best Books I Read in 2022

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

12/14 Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

12/15 Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

12/16 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}

12/17 Blogmas 2022: The 13 Best Books I Read in 2022

12/18 Blogmas 2022: Review of the Christmas Book With One of the Prettiest Book Covers I Have Ever Seen

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!*

*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

Blogmas 2022: Smash or Pass Book Tag

Blogmas 2022: Smash or Pass Book Tag

I originally saw this book tag on One Book More and knew that I wanted to participate! Let’s GO!

Smash or Pass Book Tag:

Bookish Tropes

Eh not a huge fan of the overdone ones so overall PASS. Enemies to lovers, love triangles, etc.

Alternating POV

Smash but only if it’s done in a way that isn’t annoying or confusing. This one is a hard one to get right but when an author does, it’s a wonderful way to read a book!

Ambiguous Endings

PASS. Authors, please wrap up every single storyline and tie everything together with a beautiful bow. This also applies to series finales of television shows. Please and thank you.

Non/Fiction

Smash! I love non fiction and have turned to books throughout my life. HERE is my list of non fiction recommendations for pregnancy, new parents, baby showers, etc.!

Historical Setting

Smash. 5 that instantly come to mind are THIS BOOK, THIS BOOK, THIS BOOK, THIS BOOK, and THIS BOOK (click each link to read the book synopsis and my full review). Absolutely loved them all!

Morally Grey Characters

Smash. Love them, especially when they switch back and forth and ESPECIALLY in thrillers! The best!

First Person POV

Smash. When done well, I love reading books with a first person POV.

Audiobooks

Overall smash BUT there are aspects of it that are most definitely pass! I explain allll my feelings about audiobooks (good and bad) in THIS POST.

Re-Reading

Pass. I mean, I’ve done it but overall I would rather enjoy a new-to-me book than go back and reread one.

Classic Novels

SMASH when I was younger but PASS now that I’m older, lol. I used to LOVE to read classic novels (I once filled an entire binder with my thoughts and feelings on The Catcher In The Rye‘s characters, plot, settings, etc. when I was in high school just for fun)…

Annotating

Pass. Haven’t actually done this since college.

Cracking Book Spines

SMAAAAAAASH! I crack pretty much every book that I read. Always. Love it. And I dog ear, too…

Smut

SMASH. ALL. DAY. I looooooooove hot smutty sex scenes (add THAT to things I wasn’t planning on saying on the Internet today). Some of the hottest sex scenes I’ve read are in THIS BOOK and I loved every second (and aside from the hot sex scenes that book is just awesome in every way….a definite must read).

Character Driven Books

HARD. PASS. I typically enjoy plot driven books a million times more than character driven books…

Past/Present Split Timeline

Again, when done correctly this is a wonderful way to tell a story. However, I’ve found that there is a fine line between doing this correctly vs confusing the reader…

Heavy World Building

HARD. PASS. Not much more for me to say about this other than just…NOT. FOR. ME.

If you just read this book tag, consider yourself tagged! Please link back to me if you post on your blog. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to answer any of these in the comments…I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

12/14 Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

12/15 Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

12/16 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}

12/17 Blogmas 2022: The 13 Best Books I Read in 2022

12/18 Blogmas 2022: Review of the Christmas Book With One of the Prettiest Book Covers I Have Ever Seen

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!*

*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

Blogmas 2022: Review of the Christmas Book With One of the Prettiest Book Covers I Have Ever Seen

BLOGMAS 2022: Review of the Christmas Book With One of the Prettiest Book Covers I Have Ever Seen

Annual holiday drive thru AKA one of my favorite family holiday traditions! This lit up tunnel was STUNNING!

Ok so WOW. My little book blog BLEW UP with page views yesterday…apparently you guys really liked my list of the 13 best books I read in 2022! I hope you found some good suggestions as obviously every book on that list is coming at you highly, highly recommended. If you missed that post, HERE it is :). It’s filled with the very best books I read this year (and I read many, many, MANY books this year)…

Review of the Christmas Book With One of the Prettiest Book Covers I Have Ever Seen:

The Christmas Bookshop {Jenny Colgan}

I received this book during last year’s holiday season from a wonderfully kind blog reader. I couldn’t get my hands on a copy and I desperately wanted to read it! I’m still not over the generosity of this person. SO AMAZINGLY KIND!!! You can read about that lovely gesture HERE.

So halfway through reading Joanne Demaio’s Winter Novels, I pivoted my reading plans and basically stopped everything to read this book! You can read all about that decision HERE.

Out of the 8 holiday books that I was excited to read, THIS book was the one that I was the MOST excited to read (you can read that post with the other 7 titles HERE).

Can we talk about this GORGEOUS cover??? It’s BEAUTIFUL! The colors are so bold and amazing. Bookshop AND Christmas?! Absolutely love everything about this cover!

Goodreads Synopsis of The Christmas Bookshop {Jenny Colgan}:

When the department store she works in closes for good, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. She doesn’t want to move in with her perfect sister Sofia, in Sofia’s perfect house with her perfect children and her perfectly ordered Edinburgh life.

Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want Carmen there either. Her sister has always been sarcastic and difficult. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs a retail assistant for his ailing bookshop, so welcoming Carmen might still have some benefits for everyone.

At Sofia’s behest, Carmen is thrown into the daily workings of old Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the streets of the old dark city. Can she use her design skills to revamp the store and bring it back to popularity in time to benefit from Christmas shopping traffic? Can she choose between bad boy literary rock star Blair and quiet Quaker student Oke? And will she heal the rift with the most important people of all: her family?

My Review of The Christmas Bookshop {Jenny Colgan}:

It’s a beautiful story! So descriptive and lovely with wonderful characters and beautiful settings.

In our hotel room last Christmas Day! We took a staycation in downtown Chicago and this book came along for the journey!

My ONLY complaint…so…the bookshop was just 1 of the many storylines in this book. I wanted the bookshop to be the MAIN storyline. I wanted this entire book to revolve around a lovely Christmas bookshop

I think I went into reading this book thinking it was a light, easy read and wasn’t prepared for the depth that it provided. At ANY OTHER TIME during the year, I would have wholeheartedly welcomed that depth but during the holiday season I really just want light, easy, fluffy books.

I did love that I found myself googling picturesque Edinburgh (and various tree types that were mentioned throughout the story) and seeing pictures of the exact area where the fictitious bookshop is supposed to be. What a stunning backdrop for this story! If you do read this, I highly suggest doing a bit of research on this beautiful area. It helped to have a bit of background knowledge when reading the descriptions of the area.

Side Note: One of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen.

Bottom Line:

A beautiful book…just don’t expect the majority of it to be about the bookstore, lol.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

12/14 Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

12/15 Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

12/16 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}

12/17 Blogmas 2022: The 13 Best Books I Read in 2022

Xo,

Jenny

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, 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!*

*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 ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

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

Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}

Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}

Obsessed with how this picture turned out…

Goodreads Synopsis of The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}:

Every year at Christmastime, Will and Ella Sullivan, and their father, Henry, come to a family agreement: Christmas is a holiday for other people.

At their brownstone in Harlem, stockings go unstuffed, tinsel unstrewn, gifts unbought, mistletoe unhung, chestnuts unroasted, carols unplayed, cookies uncooked, a tree un-visible, and guests uninvited.

Until guests start arriving anyway. In pairs and sixes, in sevens and tens—they keep coming. And they stay. For twelve long, hard, topsy-turvy, very messy days. That’s when the Sullivans discover that those moments in life that defy hope, expectation, or even imagination, might be the best gifts of all.

My Review of The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas {James Patterson, Tad Safran}:

This book is…cute.

I definitely found myself smiling throughout reading. The descriptions in my head of what was happening in each scene were hilarious and delightful. It’s nearly impossible to write this review without giving away so many spoilers so I will just leave it at this: Not what I was expecting (not even close, lol) but a cute little holiday read. Would make a precious movie.

I LOVED the ending.

Such a short book, such an easy read. Chapters were just a few pages each…the best! I WILL say that I was expecting so much MORE from James Patterson which leads me to believe that he had very, very little with the actual writing of this book, lol.

Bottom Line:

Would I recommend it? Eh…it’s cute…but there are WAY better holiday books out there.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

The Mommy Clique Giveaway Winner Video:

Thank you to everyone who entered! If you missed it, HERE is the giveaway post with the awesome book synopsis and my review.

The video of me choosing the winners:

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

12/14 Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

12/15 Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

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

Xo,

Jenny

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, 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!*

*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*

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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.*

*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

Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

Blogmas 2022: The Holiday Book I’m Most Excited to Read NEXT Holiday Season

Loving this scent! Obvi not nearly as much as my beloved Winter Candy Apple but it’s a good one…

Here are 2 screenshots of the exchange I had with a blog reader last week:

I mean, that’s QUITE the positive book recommendation! I don’t know this blog reader in real life but I DO know that she has been reading my blog for quite some time and she knows my taste in books. This message exchange made me want to read this holiday book NOW! I put it on hold at my library but sadly, it’s still not in…and I’ve got other holiday books that I’m not so patiently waiting to read (I’m looking at you, Winter Novels)! Considering that I’m always DONE and so over reading holiday books by January, I will need to put this one to the side for now.

So Blogmas 2023….the first official holiday book that I will be reading will be…Once Upon a December!

Goodreads Synopsis of Once Upon a December {Amy E. Reichert}:

With a name like Astra Noel Snow, holiday spirit isn’t just a seasonal specialty–it’s a way of life. But after a stinging divorce, Astra’s yearly trip to the Milwaukee Christmas market takes on a whole new meaning. She’s ready to eat, drink, and be merry, especially with the handsome stranger who saves the best kringle for her at his family bakery.

For Jack Clausen, the Julemarked with its snowy lights and charming shops stays the same, while the world outside the joyful street changes, magically leaping from one December to the next every four weeks. He’s never minded living this charmed existence until Astra shows him the life he’s been missing outside of the festive red brick alley.

After a swoon-worthy series of dates, some Yuletide magic, and the unexpected glow of new love, Astra and Jack must decide whether this relationship can weather all seasons, or if what they’re feeling is as ephemeral as marshmallows in a mug of hot cocoa.

Sounds so cute, right?? Have any of you read it?? I’d love to hear your thoughts…BUT ABSOLUTELY NO SPOILERS!

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

12/14 Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

Xo,

Jenny

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, 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!*

*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

Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

Blogmas 2022: INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVEAWAY (2 Signed Copies): The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}

I have such an amazing giveaway for you today! I’m so excited to share Barbara Altamirano’s fantastic book, The Mommy Clique. I absolutely loved this book and I found these women FASCINATING…

Goodreads Synopsis of The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}:

Life in suburbia is typical and ordinary-just the same old same old. Only, not in this neighborhood. Here, the impressively large homes and pure green lawns hide a much darker reality that is far from mundane.

When Beth moves back to her hometown in Connecticut to care for her ailing mother, she is forced to confront not only the ghosts of her youth but the other mothers on her street. There is Elise, the queen bee, who determines the fate of everyone and is all-controlling. There is Kelly, Elise’s sidekick and most sycophantic supporter, who secretly longs to have a voice and power of her own. There’s Ronnie, the informer, who, with her intelligence and investigative skill, digs up dirt on the others in service to the queen. And then there’s Gail, the wannabe, who is constantly striving to feel as important and valued as the others.

Looking for some mom friends, Beth seeks a place for herself within this mommy clique. Turns out they do have an available role for her: it’s called the target.

My Thoughts on The Mommy Clique {Barbara Altamirano}:

These women are HORRIBLE. Every single one of them! It was fascinating to see how each of them stayed “friends” with the others despite knowing how completely toxic their relationships were. I couldn’t believe that not one of them had the strength to simply walk away…I would have been out the door so fast that nobody would even have had time to try to stop me, lol 😉

What I found the most interesting about this book is how often I found myself rooting for certain characters just to change my mind a chapter later.

As a mother who has seen many, MANY “Mommy Cliques” and who has been a member of “Mommy Cliques” myself (thankfully NOTHING like the clique in this book, omg), I found everything about this book simply fascinating. Any mother would be able to relate to at least one of these characters at some point while reading this book.

Moms, read this book.

This is one of those books where you read it…and then go and hug your friends tightly. It doesn’t matter what your friends are like because ANY friends in real life have GOT to be better than the “friends” in this book!

The Mommy Clique was such a quick read…you could easily devour this one in 1 or 2 days.

A Conversation With Barbara Altamirano, in Her Own Words:

What would you say are the biggest differences between the “Mommy Clique” in this book and real life “Mommy Cliques?”

Thankfully, I think real life “Mommy Cliques” are nowhere near as intense and conniving as the characters in this book. One of the first editorial reviews I received referred to the book as a suburban satire. This seems a good way to describe it since the vices of the mothers are exaggerated so that they are much worse than in real life.

Which Mommy in this book would you say you most relate to and how?

I would say I relate the most to Beth, since her personality is the closest to mine. However, I would not have continued to try to be a part of this group once I saw what they were like. I’m pretty sure I would have run the other way as fast as I could!

Where can your book be purchased?

The book can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at my website, barbaraaltamiranoauthor.com.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Would you like to win a signed copy of The Mommy Clique? I have 2 signed copies to give away! If you are a US resident, your signed book will be mailed directly to you. If you are an international follower, an ebook will be emailed to you.

To be entered, just leave a comment below (on this blog post)! Your comment can be about anything!

You must comment below to be eligible for the giveaway and you must comment here on this blog post (not on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

Giveaway will close tomorrow (12/15/22) at 6:00 pm CDT and the 2 winners will be randomly chosen and announced here on my blog on Friday (12/16/22).

I will post a video here on Friday of me choosing the winners!

Good luck! Can’t wait to read your comments!

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/7 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

12/8 Blogmas 2022: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Making Me HAPPY!

12/9 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Audiobook Review: Maybe Someday {Colleen Hoover}

12/10 Blogmas 2022: The Christmas Book I Started Reading and Didn’t Finish

12/11 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Christmas in Winter Hill {Melody Carlson}

12/12 Blogmas 2022: 2 Books For Upcoming Blog Giveaways

12/13 Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

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!*

*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

Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

Blogmas 2022: Non Holiday Book Review: Skinny {Donna Cooner}

Do you remember back in August when I told you that I read this book but was saving my review to publish during Blogmas???

Goodreads Synopsis of Skinny {Donna Cooner}:

Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful. These are the words of Skinny, the vicious voice that lives inside fifteen-year-old Ever Davies’s head. Skinny tells Ever all the dark thoughts her classmates have about her. Ever knows she weighs over three hundred pounds, knows she’ll probably never be loved, and Skinny makes sure she never forgets it.

But there is another voice: Ever’s singing voice, which is beautiful but has been silenced by Skinny. Partly in the hopes of trying out for the school musical—and partly to try and save her own life—Ever decides to undergo a risky surgery that may help her lose weight and start over.

With the support of her best friend, Ever begins the uphill battle toward change. But demons, she finds, are not so easy to shake, not even as she sheds pounds. Because Skinny is still around. And Ever will have to confront that voice before she can truly find her own.

My Review of Skinny {Donna Cooner}:

I randomly saw this book on a shelf and it’s synopsis immediately drew me in. I thought it sounded so interesting. Having never heard of Skinny or of Donna Cooner, I was excited to buy it!

What a beautiful book in every way. I fell in love with these characters and had a hard time saying good-bye to them once I finished reading. Donna Cooner told this story from the perspective of someone who has had gastric bypass surgery. Having had this surgery herself (she talks about it in her acknowledgements), the depth of knowledge and understanding into the thoughts, feelings, and actions of the main character were so incredibly thought out and well written. It’s a beautiful story, and one that made me smile, cry, and feel all the feelings.

I’m surprised (and sad) that this book isn’t more popular (it was published 10 years ago). It deserves to be.

Another book with a similar topic (although quite different from Skinny) that I also LOVED is Starfish {Lisa Fipps}. You can read my review of Starfish HERE.

Bottom Line:

Absolutely loved it.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself