Tag: book review

Video AND Written Review! The Summer I Turned Pretty {Jenny Han}

Video AND Written Review! The Summer I Turned Pretty {Jenny Han}

At least twice every summer I decide that I should try iced coffee and at least twice every summer I’m reminded why I don’t drink iced coffee.

So I’m going to write this blog post as usual…NO SPOILERS! However, at the verrrry end of this post I will put a link to a video that I made where I discuss a huge storyline that I thought was going to happen throughout the entire story…and I could not have been more WRONG, lol. I’ll also link the trailer for the Amazon Prime miniseries.

The Summer I Turned Pretty {Jenny Han}

Audiobook Cover Photo Credit: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis of The Summer I Turned Pretty {Jenny Han}

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

My Review of The Summer I Turned Pretty {Jenny Han}

So obviously I might be the last person on the planet to read this one…but I finally did! Well, I listened to it as an audiobook. Shortest audiobook ever–6 hours! I listened over the course of 3 days.

Going into it, my expectations weren’t exactly high as I did NOT love To All the Boys I Loved Before (you can read my thoughts HERE). I definitely liked this book more than that one! However, I still have the same thought as I did with To All the Boys I Loved Before…it’s just so YA. I know, I know, it’s meant for YA readers but as an adult, I love when YA books can also appeal to all ages. Jenny Han’s writing is just…for teens. NOT adults. Does that make sense??

My 4 biggest complaints with The Summer I Turned Pretty:

  1. The back and forth timelines. Holy hell was this annoying. I don’t mind a back and forth if they go in chronological order but this one…Sweet Jesus. “The Summer I was 10 Years Old” to “The Summer I was 15 Years Old” to “The Summer I was 12 Years Old”. Maybe reading this as a physical book to flip back and remind myself what year we were in would have made this more tolerable?
  2. This book reads like a memoir. I hate memoirs.
  3. I had an obvious prediction from the very beginning that I was 1,000 % sure was going to happen and…it didn’t. Would have made a great storyline if it did! It seemed so obvious to me, I wonder if that was the intention? To make the reader think the story was going in a totally different direction? *** Watch my video below where I discuss this but know that I give away some MAJOR spoilers. You’ve been warned. ***
  4. LACK. OF. CHARACTER. DEVELOPMENT. The only character that was properly developed with Susannah. Everyone else just seemed so surface level.

This book did hold my attention and after listening to a few psychological thrillers in a row, it was a nice break. Do I feel invested in these characters enough to read the other 2 books in the trilogy? I do not. Moving on…

Video Where You Can See How My Mind Tried to Turn Something Really Beautiful Into Something Really Scandalous

If you haven’t yet read this book and have plans to in the future, do NOT watch my video as I give away some huge spoilers! If you HAVE read this book or don’t plan on reading it, enjoy this video where you can see how my mind tried to turn something really beautiful into something really scandalous. Somebody please watch this and tell me that your mind also went straight to this…

The Summer I Turned Pretty is now a miniseries on Amazon Prime! I think the casting is super weird.  NONE of these characters (especially Belly) look even remotely close to how they looked in my head while reading! Here is the trailer:

Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:

The ending that Jenny Share created in her head would have been a much more interesting ending than Jenny Han created on paper.

Have you read this book? Have you watched the miniseries? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments 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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Why I Should Never, EVER Have Read A Court of Thorns and Roses {Sarah J. Maas}

Why I Should Never, EVER Have Read A Court of Thorns and Roses {Sarah J. Maas}

The look of a girl who hated the book she just read.

I hate the fantasy genre. I know this about myself. I didn’t enjoy Harry Potter. I didn’t enjoy House on The Cerulean Sea. I don’t do faeries, I don’t do sprites, I don’t do talking owls or whatever that owl in Harry Potter is.

Remarkably Bright Creatures with a talking octopus? Absolutely loved it. The talking octopus was the best part of the entire book. Go figure.

So obviously you’ve heard of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. It’s everywhere. It has an actual CULT following. You can’t scroll Bookstagram without seeing post after post about how amazing this series is. Well, until you check Book Coffee Happy’s Insta that is 😉

Goodreads Synopsis of A Court of Thorns and Roses {Sarah J. Maas}

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.

At least, he’s not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.

My Review of A Court of Thorns and Roses {Sarah J. Maas}

WHY I thought I should read book #1 of this series (A Court of Thorns and Roses) I’ll never know. I was doomed from the start. I obviously had FOMO and just wanted to see what the hype was all about.

I listened to it as an audiobook and made it 33% through which really…is 33% more than I ever would have imagined I would last!

33%…I’m impressed that I made it that far!

It wasn’t bad, it was just…fantasy. People turning into animals, magic all over the place, etc. I kept googling terms that I assume are well known to people who enjoy this genre but I had no idea what they were.

I did hear that this book gets hot and steamy which is honestly what I think made me hang on for as long as I did, lol. Love me some steam! 33%, zero steam, talking faeries, aaaaaand I’m out.

Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:

Don’t ever give into FOMO.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments 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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I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. SO. MUCH. (and a vagina cake picture)

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. SO. MUCH. (and a vagina cake picture)

While taking this picture of one of the gorgeous roses currently growing on our backyard rose bushes, a rose thorn got me straight in my palm. IT HURT. Blogging in dangerous.

Ok before I begin writing this blog post, I need to give a huge shout out to my girl Dye Girl! When I told her that I was about to start reading Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World, she informed me that there is an order to Abby Jimenez’s books. Who knew?!? Certainly not me! While I do believe these books can all be read as stand alone novels, reading them in order allows for character cross over between books….which I LOVE. Incredibly glad I listened to her! So that very day, I went straight to the library and checked out books 1-3.

**Side Note: Dye Girl is the creator of my favorite tie dye shirt of all time (and I own LOTS of tie dye shirts). The colors are amazing and it’s so ridiculously soft. If you love tie dye (or ever want to buy me a present), check out her website (linked above)!**

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. SO. MUCH.

First up, Book #1: The Friend Zone!

Goodreads 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.

My Review of Book Review: The Friend Zone {Abby Jimenez}:

I absolutely loved it.

What an adorable book with such lovely characters! Thank goodness this is book #1 in the series because I am most definitely NOT ready to say good-bye to these characters or these storylines.

I truly can’t remember I stayed up way too late reading a book because I very literally couldn’t put it down. This was that book for me. Amazing.

Hair Salon + Book + Dunkin’ = JOY.

This book was such an easy read…I could have flown through it in 1 day. If you have an upcoming vacation, this would be such a perfect vacay book to bring with you! Just make sure you also bring the rest of the series along…there’s no way you won’t want to continue reading once you finish.

WHY DID I NOT READ THIS BOOK YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS FIRST RELEASED?!

Most Random Side Note (Vagina Cake Picture):

While researching this author, I came across a super fun fact. She once created a cake that was supposed to look like a geode and the photo went viral because it looked so much like a vagina. Now you can order a “Vagode” cake and have it shipped anywhere in the country! Aaaaaaand now I love her and her books even more..

Photo Credit: Daily Mail

Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:

Read this series. Start with this book. Order a “Vagode” cake.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below (NO SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK OR ANY BOOK IN THE SERIES)!

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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The Main Characters in This Book Call Each Other Fartheads.

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 of Thank 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 of Thank 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

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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I Was Wrong. So Very Wrong. This Book is AMAZING. {Part 2}

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 of Remarkably 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 of Remarkably 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

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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The Big Book Disappointment of 2023

The Big Book Disappointment of 2023

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

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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Book Giveaway (3 signed copies): Ugly {Kelly Vincent}

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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Click HERE for the 13 best books I read in 2022

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Audiobook Review: The Inmate {Freida McFadden}

Audiobook Review: The Inmate {Freida McFadden}

My husband caught my hat from the t shirt cannon at a basketball game we went to a few weeks ago. It’s massive, I can’t see anything because it covers my eyes, the front is furry, the bull is shiny, it’s all kinds of insane, and I love it so much!

I feel like with the way my reading habits have been lately, this blog should be named AUDIObook Coffee Happy 😉 I tend to go through phases when it comes to audiobooks…I listen to them back to back to back to back and then I take a break??? Obviously right now I’m in the middle of a major audiobook binge. If audiobooks aren’t your thing, just remember that many, many audiobooks can also be found in print! Here is one of the many audiobooks that I have listened to recently:

The Inmate {Freida McFadden}:

Photo Credit: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis of The Inmate {Freida McFadden}:

There are three rules Brooke Sullivan must follow as a new nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum-security prison:

1) Treat all prisoners with respect.

2) Never reveal any personal information.

3) Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates.

But none of the staff at the prison knows Brooke has already broken the rules. Nobody knows about her intimate connection to Shane Nelson, one of the penitentiary’s most notorious and dangerous inmates.

And they certainly don’t know that Shane was Brooke’s high school sweetheart—the star quarterback who is now spending the rest of his life in prison for a series of grisly murders. Or that Brooke’s testimony was what put him there.

But Shane knows.

And he will never forget.

My Review of The Inmate {Freida McFadden}:

So it held my interest long enough that I listened to it fairly quickly but…SO MUCH of this story was so incredibly unbelievable…and not the good kind of unbelievable.

The kind of unbelievable where there is NO WAY that so much of this story could have ever happened! Just so completely unrealistic in so, so many ways. A true work of fiction indeed, lol.

So many plot twists which I love…some predictable, some not. Overall it was just eh. The first half of the story was way more interesting than the 2nd half (shouldn’t it be the other way around??)

Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:

Would I recommend it? I guess….??

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

*Follow me on Instagram* (I am VERY active on Instagram and usually update my Instastories daily)

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Audiobook Review: Do Not Disturb {Freida McFadden}

Audiobook Review: Do Not Disturb {Freida McFadden}

Crumbl Cookies, you have my heart.

Hiiiii! How are you? I have been on such an audiobook kick lately! I listened to this one a few weeks ago over the course of a few days. This is my 2nd Freida Mcfadden book. You can read my review (and book synopsis) of The Surrogate Mother HERE.

Photo Credit: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis of Do Not Disturb {Freida McFadden}:

Quinn Alexander has committed an unthinkable crime.

To avoid spending her life in prison, Quinn makes a run for it. She leaves behind her home, her job, and her family. She grabs her passport and heads for the northern border before the police can discover what she’s done.

But when an unexpected snowstorm forces her off the road, Quinn must take refuge at the broken-down, isolated Baxter Motel. The handsome and kindly owner, Nick Baxter, is only too happy to offer her a cheap room for the night.

Unfortunately, the Baxter Motel isn’t the quiet, safe haven it seemed to be. The motel has a dark and disturbing past. And in the dilapidated house across the way, the silhouette of Nick’s ailing wife is always at the window. Always watching.

In the morning, Quinn must leave the motel. She’ll pack up her belongings and get back on the road to freedom.

But first, she must survive the night.

My Review of Do Not Disturb {Freida McFadden}:

I appreciate the writing…so many different storylines and so many characters all weaved together.

The actual story? Eh. I wasn’t nearly as invested in it as I should have been. An easy listen but one I most definitely wasn’t racing to listen to at every chance I got. I kept waiting for it to get better but it just never did. Fell flat for me. And while my predictions did keep changing as I read, I found one major part of the ending to be pretty predictable. Eh.

As an audiobook? Another eh. I hated Nick’s voice.

Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:

I would skip this one. It’s fine…but there are way better audiobooks out there!

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

*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)*

*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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Click HERE for the 13 best books I read in 2022

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Where I’ve Been, An Audiobook Review, What I’m Reading

Where I’ve Been, An Audiobook Review, What I’m Reading

I saw this painted on a bathroom wall yesterday…love it 🙂

Where I’ve Been

CONSUMED WITH MY FIVE WIVES. That’s it. Not some big dramatic story…just absolutely enamoured by this 9 year old reality show that only lasted 2 seasons and I’ve devoured every single episode over the past 3 weeks, lol. It’s wonderful and a million times better than Sister Wives (which I also watch). These wives are better, the husband is a TRILLION times better in every single way, and their relationships are all so beautiful. 5 wives, 1 husband, 24 children.  While I still don’t understand why anyone would choose this lifestyle,  I CAN appreciate the beauty of the relationships between the wives (personally I would choose finding some wonderful BFFs and knowing that they AREN’T sleeping with my husband…??)  If you have no idea what this show is, here’s a preview:

Watch this show. You’re welcome.

An Audiobook Review

I have listened to a few audiobooks recently including this one by Kierseten Modglin!

Note: This book is not to be confused with The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth! Same title, totally different book. You can read my (GLOWING) review of Sally Hepworth’s book HERE!

Photo Credit: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis of The Mother In Law {Kiersten Modglin}

There’s something strange about Loren’s new mother-in-law…

When Loren meets Jack, she’s sure he’s the man she’s been waiting for—a perfect husband and a father for her young daughter. Shortly after their wedding, their plans to start a life together are put on hold when the couple receives word that Jack’s father has died.

In an effort to appease her new husband, Loren invites her mother-in-law, Coralee, to stay with them while she grieves. When strange things begin to occur just after her arrival, Loren questions how much she knows about the woman she invited into her home.

One calculated move after the next, Coralee attempts to drive a wedge between Loren and her new husband. Jack believes his mother’s strange behavior is just further proof she needs their help, but Loren isn’t so sure. As Coralee’s actions become increasingly sinister, Loren is pushed to her breaking point and she realizes she must do whatever it takes to get rid of her mother-in-law for good.

What she doesn’t know about her new family could kill her…

My Review of The Mother In Law {Kiersten Modglin}:

Eh.

It was boring. Not much else to say. I hated all of the characters, I found the storyline way too far fetched, and I will never for the life of me understand allllll of the actions of the main character.

It held my interest enough to finish listening which is more than I can say for a bunch of other books/audiobooks I’ve started reading/listening to recently.

And…something happened that has NEVER happened to me EVER in the history of ANY book I have EVER read. Are you ready? There was a big twist at the end that I…didn’t understand. Like, the wording was so strange and I just didn’t understand what happened. Ummm huh??? I tried googling the ending but to no avail. If you have read this one (and understand the ending), please message me so we can discuss! I have a big question!

Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:

Sally Hepworth’s book was a MILLION times better than this one. Read hers instead.

What I’m Reading

Still reading this beauty! Just not as quickly as I would like…#myfivewives. I’ll post my full review once I finish reading!

Have you watched My 5 Wives???

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)*

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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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Click HERE for the 13 best books I read in 2022

Book Coffee Happy’s most viewed posts of 2022 can be found HERE

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