#1 BOOK IN MY LIFE! {Erin Condren Life Planner Unboxing Video}
**This post isn’t sponsored nor do I earn anything from posting about this company in any way, I’m just so in love with these planners and want to share all about them with YOU!**
If you have been following me for any length of time OR if you know me in real life, you know that I simply could not live without my Erin Condren Life Planner. I couldn’t imagine anything else on the planet ever keeping my life as organized and have loved these planners since 2012. I have written about these planners for years (I’ll link my previous posts and videos below) and my love for Erin Condren runs DEEP.
#1 BOOK IN MY LIFE:
So without further ado, I present to you my brand new GORGEOUS 2023-2024 (my first ever metallic!!) edition. This video talks all about the specifics on what the Life Planner is, how I use this planner, why I’ll never go digital, why I think this is the very best planner out there, etc. This video even has a very split second special guest surprise appearance by my husband!
2023-2024 Erin Condren Life Planner Uboxing Video:
Here is a link to Erin Condren’s website! Have fun shopping!
Planners–paper or digital?? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
Xo,
Jenny
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
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Book I’m Currently Reading (Amazing), Coffee I’m Currently Drinking (Perfection), 1 Thing Currently Making Me HAPPY!
Ahhh I used to do these posts all the time and I haven’t done one in forever!
Book I’m Currently Reading:
The Happy Ever After Playlist {Abby Jimenez}:
I cannot include the synopsis of this book because it’s actually book #2 of a series and the synopsis gives away a MAJOR spoiler from book #1!
Here is book #1 (I’ll have a review posted on here soon buuuuuuut since I’m currently reading book #2 you can safely assume that I LOVED IT):
Synopsis of The Friend Zone {Abby Jimenez}:
Kristen Petersen doesn’t do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don’t get her. She’s also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.
Planning her best friend’s wedding is bittersweet for Kristen—especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He’s funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he’d be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it’s harder and harder to keep him at arm’s length.
Coffee I’m Currently Drinking:
As part of my Mother’s Day gift, my in laws gave me a very generous Dunkin’ gift card. THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING! It has brought me such joy over these past few weeks….
Currently Making Me Happy:
Charging my Book Light
My amazing book light just got even more amazing! If you missed it, HERE is the post where I talk allll about it and it’s awesome features. I love it so much!
I bought it and I use it ALL THE TIME. In all of this time (I bought it exactly TO THE WEEK one year ago), I’ve never had to charge it even once! Until this week…
I was so pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to charge…just plugged it in like my phone! I’m not sure what I was expecting (I tend to get intimidated with anything that has wires and/or buttons) but this was a total breeze.
I didn’t think it was possible to love this book light even more than I already did but I now do! BUY THIS BOOK LIGHT (there is a link to it in the post above).
Operation Mom Signed Copy Book Giveaway Winner:
Thank you to everyone who entered! Here is a video of me randomly choosing the winner:
What are you currently reading?
What coffee are you currently enjoying?
What is 1 thing currently making you HAPPY?
Happy Friday, Book Friends 🙂 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
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)
*Please share this site 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)*
*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.*
Book Giveaway: Signed Copy of Operation Mom {Reenita M. Hora}
Goodreads Synopsis of Operation Mom{Reenita M. Hora}
Ila, a Mumbai-based teenager, is going nuts with Veena, her controlling, single mother who prevents her from stalking her pop idol, Ali Zafar. Veena wants her daughter to date real guys in the lead-up to finding a husband. But Ila decides that the only way to get her mom off her back is by finding her a boyfriend instead.
My Thoughts on Operation Mom {Reenita M. Hora}:
Ok first of all, I think this might be one of the most adorable covers I’ve seen. SO CUTE! I love the drawings, I love the hearts, I love the colors. Totally adorable.
My favorite parts of this book were the descriptions of Mumbai. Between the characters, the settings, and the storylines all told within the pages of this book, I received such an in depth description of the culture which I found so incredibly interesting.
I was also fascinated by the trials and tribulations of online dating! Omg! Being that I personally have never participated in online dating, I found the online dating parts of this book to be so fascinating!
This book is so quick, you could easily read it in 1 or 2 days. Only 215 pages! I love short books so much.
A Conversation With Reenita M. Hora, in Her Own Words:
What inspired you to write Operation Mom?
Operation Mom: My Plan to Get My Mom a Life and a Man takes inspiration from the badass cast of female characters that have been front and center all my life — my female friends and family members…and of course the males among them who cannot get in a word edgewise! I also wanted to bring readers to Mumbai, the city of chaos that molded my own young adult adventures and has shaped my identity as a storyteller and a citizen of life.
What was the most fun part of writing Operation Mom?
Being a Mumbai native, I thought I had it all figured out — I knew exactly where I wanted to set the story, the places brimming with that unique Mumbai energy and the kind of character chaos that would make your head spin. But, here’s the twist. This book is for the young adults out there, and even though I’m technically an adult now (well, at least in size, if not in maturity), I had to dive headfirst into the madness of the current Mumbai young adult scene. So, picture this: me, having a blast chatting with my school-going nephew and his pals, picking up their lingo, comparing mindsets from my time to theirs, and embracing the change with open arms. It was like stepping into a whirlwind of fun and excitement! But there was more crazy research to be done — I hopped on those long bus rides, my friend, exploring the city, and planted myself in iconic spots like Swati Snacks and Kalaghoda Cafe (yep, they’re featured in the story!). You know what I did there? People-watching and eavesdropping on conversations like a true undercover author. Research has never been this entertaining!
And then let’s talk about characters. Creating them was so much fun. I pondered over their flaws and quirks because, let’s face it, that’s what makes us beautifully imperfect beings, right? I wanted to capture the sometimes-rocky relationships between mother and daughter, friend and friend, husband and wife, and, of course, boy and girl. My aim was to sprinkle humor and heartfelt moments throughout the entire journey, embracing the rawness and authenticity of my characters. No hiding their stubbornness or intelligence, my friend! Here’s the kicker: Ila and Veena, the mother-daughter duo, are essentially cut from the same cloth. It’s like looking at the zany women in my own household, including Yours Truly, and honing in on the traits and quirks that define our perfectly imperfect selves!
Without giving away any spoilers, what are some takeaway messages that you hope that readers will gain from reading Operation Mom?
I wanted to bring to readers young adult women’s fiction set in contemporary Mumbai; to introduce a bunch of zany female characters inspired by my own family and friends. But I am SO sure they will remind you of the crazy characters that you know and love in your own world. This is a story for someone who wants heartwarming comedic relief by taking a deep dive into the beautiful messiness of family dynamics. You’ll find yourself immersed in a world filled with humor, warmth, and moments that tug at your heartstrings. Like in my favorite TV show, ‘Friends’, I wanted to create characters that you feel are like your own buddies going through the ups and downs of life. And I wanted to provide a fresh take on the coming-of-age genre, exploring the fascinating dynamics of familial relationships, especially the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter. You know, in India, it’s usually the moms playing matchmaker for their daughters, but this time, the daughter’s taking charge and turning things upside down! Finally, if you’re yearning to visit India, this book is like a little slice of Mumbai, sprinkled with humor, love, and a whole lot of heart.
Where can your books be purchased?
Operation Mom: My Plan to Get My Mom a Life and a Man is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org. Links are here:
Would you like to win a signed copy of Operation Mom? I have a signed copy 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 (6/1/23) at 6:00 pm CDT and the 2 winners will be randomly chosen and announced here on my blog on Friday (6/2/23).
I will post a video here on Friday of me choosing the winners!
Good luck! Can’t wait to read your comments!
Xo,
Jenny
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)
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The Main Characters in This Book Call Each Other Fartheads.
Gorgeous Mother’s Day flowers from my family 🙂
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how I felt about the dialogue in this book. Grown ups do NOT call each other fartheads. They just don’t. If you have someone in your life who calls you a farthead, for the love of God find yourself a new partner.
Photo Credit: Amazon
Goodreads Synopsis ofThank You For Listening {Julia Whelan}
For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger.
On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her.
As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.
If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers.
My Review ofThank You For Listening {Julia Whelan}:
Not for me. Nope. Nope.
So I loved that it was about audiobook narrators…obviously since I have been so obsessd with audiobooks lately! That part of this book and it’s behind the scenes was super interesting to me.
Something else that I found SUPER interesting about this book was the fact that the author was the narrator! I don’t think I’ve every listened to an audiobook narrated by the author before. I thought she was great (mostly…a few voices I wasn’t a huge fan of but overall she was great).
Every other part of this book? Eh. Not nearly as interesting.
SO. MANY. FEELINGS.
So. Much. Talking.
So. Much. Backstory.
So. Much. Heaviness.
And obviously the dialogue was super cheesy and unrealistic. Grown ups do not talk to each other like this!
I have so many complaints about this book but one of the biggest was the big “twist” that I literally predicted from the very beginning and spent the entire book waiting to be revealed.
If you love audiobooks, you might (most likely will not, lol) enjoy this book. If you don’t listen to audiobooks, this is definitely NOT a book for you.
The main character is named Sewanee. Her grandmother is named Blah Blah. Swanee and Blah Blah. I hate this book.
How on EARTH did Jodi Picoult and Taylor Jenkins Reid blurb the cover?!
It was boring. So boring. Although it did hold my attention enough to keep listening so there’s that.
Moving on…
Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:
The main characters called each other “fartheads”. Enough said.
Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
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
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)
*Please share this site 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*
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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.*
I Was Wrong. So Very Wrong. This Book is AMAZING. {Part 2}
I posted this on Instagram exactly a year to the DAY before I finished reading the book! So random. I posted this last year when Jenna Bush Hager was announcing that it was the book of the month for her Read With Jenna book club and I was NOT feeling it!
Many times when a book is gaining lots of attention, I don’t feel that attention is deserved (examples of this HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE).
Sometimes….sometimes…the popularity of the book is a direct and well deserved representation of the beautfully written words written inside (examples of this HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE).
There’s also the category of “Ok the book is WILDLY popular and so well loved but I have ZERO desire to read it and I’m not going to….but then eventually I will cave and read it and I will hate it just as expected”. (Examples of this HERE and HERE).
But then there’s an entirely different category. A very special category. The category of EXTREMELY popular books that I have ZERO desire to read and then I cave and read them and then…I get it. I totally get it. Every last bit of hype and praise so well deserved and I realize how wrong I was to resist reading it for so long. A few years ago there was a book that I was VERY against reading and when I finally did…it was one of the best books I’ve ever read (you can read part 1 of “I Was Wrong. So Very Wrong. This Book is AMAZING. HERE).
It’s happened again.
Photo Credit: Amazon
Goodreads Synopsis ofRemarkably Bright Creatures {Shelby Van Pelt}:
After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors–until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.
My Review ofRemarkably Bright Creatures {Shelby Van Pelt}:
A gem. A total gem of an absolutely beautifully written book. One of the very best books I’ve read.
When I tell you that I had ZERO desire to read this book, I mean I had ZERO desire to read this book. An octopus?!? Hard pass. But I promise this book isn’t like that. It’s a beautiful story with such depth and perfection. And dare I say that my favorite chapters were the ones told from the point of view of the octopus???
This book made me think and left me with a whole slew of emotions. I smiled, I cried, I felt it all. This book is wonderful.
I saw this gorgeous statue while I was shopping last weekend and I immediately thought of Marcellus! See my daughter’s shoe beneath the table? Imagine her saying, “Mom…are you taking a picture of an…OCTOPUS statue???” Why yes darling, I sure am 🙂
The one and ONLY unglowing (not a real word) thing I will say about this book was that I did find it quite predictable. I’m usually horrible at making predictions and I basically predicted this entire book. However, it didn’t even matter because the book was so incredible and beautiful.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrators were PERFECTION. I loved, loved, loved the voices of Marcellus and Tova. After I finished reading and did my own research, I was blown away to find out that the voice of Marcellus belongs to one of my favorite characters on Shrinking (side note: if you haven’t yet watched Shrinking on Apple TV….watch Shrinking, it’s amazing).
Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:
Let go of how weird this book sounds and just READ IT. It’s perfection.
Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
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
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)
*Please share this site 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*
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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.*
I bought a new candle a few days ago and put it on our dining room table. Apparently my husband has noticed it (insert eye roll emoji here).
Hi Friends!
How are you??? My audiobook game is still going strong (yesterday I finished listening to one of the best books I’ve ever read/listened to…I’ll write a blog post about it ASAP) but it does also feel nice to read an actual print book. Absolutely nothing could ever compare to holding an actual print book in my hands. The best!
Book I’m Reading
I was sent this book a while back and I’m so happy to start reading, I think it sounds great! Have any of you read it?
Adorbs Cover Art!
Amazon Synopsis of Operation Mom: My Plan to Get My Mom a Life… and a Man {Reenita M. Hora}:
Ila, a Mumbai-based teenager, is going nuts with Veena, her controlling, single mother who prevents her from stalking her pop idol, Ali Zafar. Veena wants her daughter to date real guys in the lead-up to finding a husband. But Ila decides that the only way to get her mom off her back is by finding her a boyfriend instead. With the help of her best friend Deepali, her crush Dev and her mother’s best friend Maleeka, they will come up with a plan to make it happen by setting up a profile in dating apps.
Stay tuned for my full review (and blog giveaway!!) once I finish reading!
What are you currently reading? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
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
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)
*Please share this site 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)*
*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.*
The right wick on my new candle doesn’t burn as highly as the wick on the left. For someone as Type A as I am, this is making me insane. It’s also a perfect comparison for the 2 books I am discussing on my blog today. Book #1 burns BRIGHTLY and Book #2 does…not.
UGH. That’s all I can say. I’m so disappointed. I was SO excited to read this book. It sucked.
The Big Book Disappointment of 2023
Let’s start from the beginning…
Book #1: Things We Never Got Over
I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this adorable book. A charming town, colorful characters, spicy sex scenes…this book had it all. Cheesy? Oh lord yes but somehow it all just worked. I smiled, I cried, I LOVED it. If you haven’t yet read Things We Never Got Over, it’s a must read for me. HERE is my full review (including the book synopsis).
So naturally when Lucy Score announced that a sequel was in the works, I was ALL IN. I was actually counting down until it’s release (February 21, 2023). I went to Barnes and Noble that week because I couldn’t even wait for a copy to come in at my library…I needed to own this beautiful book STAT. I couldn’t wait to dive right back into the little town with it’s interesting residents. HERE is the post where I was so excited to buy this book (how happy was I??). Reading that post now just makes me sad.
Hoooooow is this book in the same book series as the first book??? It’s so completely different than Book #1. I think a big part of it is the perspective from which it’s told. Book #1 is from the perspective of someone who isn’t from this town and is learning all of the town’s intricacies, meeting all of it’s residents, etc. It focused so much more on the town and the residents. Book #1 really only had 1 storyline that I didn’t enjoy…aaaaaand THAT storyline is the entire premise of Book #2. It makes sense….Book #1 was really introducing everything and now Book #2 dives deeper into the story but the one particular story that it dives deeply into was my absolute LEAST favorite thing about Book #1.
The main characters that I fell in love with all make such tiny appearances in Book #2 and the other, more minor characters that Book #2 focuses on are ANNOYING.
I really can’t say too much about this book without giving away spoilers from both books so I’ll just say this: everything about Book #2 is different than Book #1.
The one constant between the books is the adorable banter between the characters. Lucy Score has such a lovely way of writing dialogue! I just wish the dialogue had been between different characters and talking about different things, lol.
One more thing to note: Book #1 ends with not only 1 epilogue but also a BONUS epilogue. Book #2 ignores both epilogues and just continues the story right where it left off before them. Ummm HUH?? So now we know what happens in the future AND in the farther off future but now we are back in time to reading before any of that actually happens?? I feel like a book series should be in completely chronological order. Obviously Lucy Score shouldn’t have included either epilogue in Book #1 if she was thinking a book series might follow but she did….and now I feel like Book #2 should start right where Book #1 left off.
Basically this book is all a bit of a mess.
One thing I will say is that the covers of the books in the Knockemout series are STUNNING. Book #3 is going to be purple!
I stopped reading at page 270 out of 574 pages. I just couldn’t do it for another 300 pages and even getting to page 270 TOOK FOREVER. I should have been able to read this 600 page book fairly quickly but I was just too bored to ever want to pick it up.
I’m heartbroken, I can’t believe this second book was so terrible when the first was so wonderful. I appreciate that sequels are rarely AS good as the first but this wasn’t even in the same category.
According to reviews online, many many many others hated this book as well. More than one review I read referenced how this book “should be hidden from the light”, lol.
Moving on….but sadly not to the 3rd book in the Knockemout series, Things We Left Behind, which is expected to be released 9/5/23.
Have you read either of these books? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the images below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate links (obviously I would recommend Book #1 MUCH more than I would recommend Book #2 lol). When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)
*Please share this site 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*
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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.*
Never Ending Book, Exciting New Book Mail, Ugly Book Giveaway Winners
Newest addition to my laptop courtesy of my 11 year old daughter. She traded gibbetz (IYKYK) to one of her friends just to get this sticker for ME! Love, love, love her 🙂
Never Ending Book
Hiiiii Book Friends!
I am still slowly chipping away at this almost 600 page book but admittingly it’s taking me significantly longer than necessary to finish it!
I just need a day with zero distractions where I can hunker down and READ! Who’s with me??? Add in coffee, delicious food, and a beach. Soooo a vacation. Turns out what I need is a vacation…
Exciting New Book Mail
Look at this beauty that I received in the mail last week! I can’t wait to read it, it sounds so amazing.
Goodreads Synopsis of Typecast {Andrea J. Stein}:
Callie Dressler thought she had put her past where it belonged—behind her. But when she learns her ex-boyfriend is bringing their breakup to the big screen, she must face the fact that their history has been looming over her all along.
At thirty-two, Callie Dressler is finally comfortable in her own skin. She loves her job as a preschool teacher, and although living in her vacant childhood home isn’t necessarily what dreams are made of, the space is something she never could have afforded if she’d stayed in New York City. She knows her well-ordered life will be upended when her type A, pregnant sister, Nina; adorable four-year-old niece; and workaholic brother-in-law move in, but how could she say no when they needed a place to crash during their remodel? As Nina pointed out, it is still their parents’ house, even though their mom and dad have relocated.
As if adjusting to this new living situation isn’t enough, the universe sends Callie another wrinkle: her college boyfriend, Ethan—who Callie dumped ten years earlier for reasons known only to her—has a film coming out, and the screenplay is based on their real-life breakup. While the movie consumes her thoughts, Callie can’t help wondering if Nina and her friends are right that she hasn’t moved on. When a complication with Nina’s pregnancy brings Callie in close contact with Nina’s smart and funny architect, Callie realizes she had better figure out whether she wants to open the door to the past—or she’ll risk missing out on her future.
Sounds so good, right?? I will post my full review (and host a giveaway!!) once I finish reading….stay tuned 🙂
Ugly Book Giveaway Winners Video
Thank you to everyone who entered to win a signed copy of Kelly Vincent’s gorgeous book, Ugly (book synopsis and my full review HERE) ! I know you will love it as much as I did. Here is a video of me choosing the winners:
Happy Friday! 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
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)
*Please share this site 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*
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Book Giveaway (3 signed copies): Ugly {Kelly Vincent}
As soon as I read the synopsis of Kelly Vincent’s Ugly, I immediately knew this was a book that I wanted to read and review on Book Coffee Happy. I was so excited when I received my print copy in the mail. I love the interesting cover!
Goodreads Synopsis of Ugly {Kelly Vincent}:
Sophomore Nic Summers tries to ignore the taunts of “ugly lesbian.”
Because she’s not sure they’re entirely wrong. But she also has bigger concerns for now, including prepping for the school’s art contest. And while she isn’t certain of her sexuality, she does know her life is on the verge of falling apart when her best and only friend, Sam, drops the bomb that her family’s moving to Scotland. Together, to soften the blow and distract themselves from the inevitable, they start Operation Social Interaction for Nic—or OSIN for short—to try to find her some new friends.
But it’s an uphill battle for the introverted teen artist.
As Sam’s last day nears, Nic’s self-confidence wavers even more, and she starts questioning everything. If lesbian doesn’t feel quite right, maybe she’s transgender? It isn’t until she stumbles across the label “gender nonconforming” that things start to make a little more sense, and fall into place. But finding the right label doesn’t really tell her what to do next, and before she knows it, Sam is gone.
Mustering all her resources, Nic realizes she needs to find her own path and live her own truth.
My Thoughts on Ugly {Kelly Vincent}:
Oh this book.
I absolutely loved it. What a beautifully written story with wonderfully descriptive characters. I felt all of Nic’s emotions as well as their emotional struggles as the story went on. My heart went from smiling to breaking as I read about how people treated and reacted to Nic. This book allows the reader to feel these emotions through such a personal perspective.
The biggest emotion that I felt while reading? I just wanted to hug Nic.
I had such a hard time saying good-bye to these characters (especially Nic) when I finished reading. You know the books where you close the cover and mentally just can’t move on? That was this book for me. I’m so happy to know that Kelly Vincent is busy working on a sequel! Uglier comes out in July and I love it already.
Every teenager (and adult!) should read this book. I truly can’t recommend it enough. You will smile, you will cry, you will LEARN. This is such an important book and absolutely one of the very best I’ve read in a very long time.
For a book titled Ugly, every single thing about this book is truly beautiful.
I absolutely loved it.
A Conversation With Kelly Vincent, in Her Own Words:
What was the hardest aspect of writing Nic’s story?
This was a very personal story and revisiting things that happened in my childhood stirred up a lot of feelings I’d sort of buried. But this actually helped me write the story, because I was able to still remember how those experiences felt so I could accurately convey how Nic felt when she experienced them. So even though it was hard and got me thinking about long-buried things, it was worth it.
Without giving away spoilers, what are some takeaway messages that you hope readers will gain from reading Ugly?
You can’t always change the world and people around you, but you do have the power to change some things in your life. Sometimes it’s just a matter of thinking outside the box or being patient. As a teenager it can be hard to be patient–I remember that well–but things can change as you get more autonomy when you get older.
Where can your book be purchased?
Ugly is available at all major book retailers, including in paperback through Amazon and Barnes and Noble and in ebook for Kindle, Nook, Apple, Google Play, and Kobo. It can also possibly be ordered through your local bookstore, depending on their policies.
Any additional information that you would like to provide about you or your book:
I am getting ready to send the sequel to Ugly, currently called Uglier, out to beta readers. I plan to release it in July. I absolutely love where Nic’s story has gone–it completely surprised me. If you are interested in being a beta reader for Uglier or future books, you can contact me at kelly@kellyvincent.net. (Uglier should work as a standalone if you are interested but haven’t read Ugly.)
Book Giveaway (3 Signed Copies):
***GIVEAWAY DETAILS***
Would you like to win a signed copy of Ugly? I have 3 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 (4/20/22) at 6:00 pm CDT and the 2 winners will be randomly chosen and announced here on my blog on Friday (4/21/22).
I will post a video here on Friday of me choosing the winners!
Good luck! Can’t wait to read your comments!
Xo,
Jenny
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
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Fantastic Author Event, What I’m Reading, Upcoming Book Giveaway!
Fantastic Author Event
Hiiiii!
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I went to an amazing author event on Thursday night at the Deerfield Public Library to support my girl, Lisa Barr. She was awesome as usual and told absolutely fascinating stories! If you get the chance to go and see her speak, I would highly recommend doing so. She’s adorable, such a wonderful speaker, and I LOVE her books.
Here are some links to past blog posts of mine if you aren’t already familiar with Lisa or her work:
Is it even a trip to the hair salon without a book and coffee??? I think not.
Things We Hide From the Light is taking me FOREVER to read. It’s great, I’ve just been so focused on listening to audiobooks lately! Usually listening to audiobooks compliments my reading of physical books but in this case, it’s actually taking AWAY from the time I usually would be spending physical books. Since I have started reading ThingsWe Hide From the Light, I have listened to 4.5 audiobooks!
Things We Hide From the Light is book #2 in the Knockemout series. HERE is a link that will tell you all you need to know about book #1…definitely read book #1 before book #2. Highly recommend!
Upcoming Book Giveaway
Ahhh I’m so excited for an amazing book giveaway that will go live on Wednesday! Be sure to check my blog then for a chance to win a signed copy of one of the best books that I’ve read so far in 2023. I’ll have 3 signed copies to give away!
I hope you are having a lovely weekend 🙂 It’s GORGEOUS here in Chicago. I’m happily sitting outside and writing this blog post.
Happy.
I hope that you are enjoying a beautiful day wherever you are today!
Xo,
Jenny
Thank you so much for reading Book Coffee Happy! I would be so thankful if you could do the following to support my favorite hobby…
*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)
*Please share this site 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)*
*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.*
Book Coffee Happy 