Book Review: Hostage {Clare Mackintosh}

Book Review: Hostage {Clare Mackintosh}

Goodreads Synopsis of Hostage {Clare Macintosh):

You can save hundreds of lives. Or the one that matters most.

A claustrophobic thriller set over twenty hours on one airplane flight, with the heart-stopping tension of The Last Flight and the wrenching emotional intensity of Room, Hostage takes us on board the inaugural nonstop flight from London to Sydney.

Mina is trying to focus on her job as a flight attendant, not the problems of her five-year-old daughter back home, or the fissures in her marriage. But the plane has barely taken off when Mina receives a chilling note from an anonymous passenger, someone intent on ensuring the plane never reaches its destination. Someone who needs Mina’s assistance and who knows exactly how to make her comply.

It’s twenty hours to landing. A lot can happen in twenty hours.

My Review of Hostage {Clare Mackintosh}:

Do you remember when I was deciding which to read of 2 books that had similar sounding stories (you can read that post HERE)? I ended up choosing the other book and absolutely LOVED IT (you can read my review of that amazing book HERE).

The subject of plane hijacking is obviously quite a heavy one and most definitely NOT one that I wanted to read back to back books about. I let a few months pass and then when I saw Hostage on the library shelf, I decided that enough time had passed between reading the 2 and I was ready to dig in!

My thoughts?

I liked the other book more. A lot more.

Hostage is good….very good. The other book is incredible.

Hostage had some interesting storylines and plot twists but none that completely grabbed me in the ways in which the other book did. I couldn’t put the other book down! I could (and did) put this one down. Often.

I WILL say that the actual way in which this story was told from the various perspectives and timelines was VERY interesting.

There was a ridiculous number of characters in this book and it was hard to keep everyone and all of their backstories straight. Shocking storylines weren’t nearly as shocking as they should have been because I didn’t know who anyone was and kept confusing the characters. I found myself flipping back to different parts of the book to refresh my memory of who everyone was. I can only imagine how frustrating listening to this as an audiobook would be.

On a side note…the editing. I must start by saying that I’m absolutely sure that editing a book is a VERY, VERY tough job. That being said, the editing in this book was…how can I say this…I’ll just give an example instead. There was a paragraph that clearly was rewritten to include more description. How do I know this? Because BOTH paragraphs made it into the final printed version of the book one right under the other. In all of my years of reading many, many, MANY books that was indeed a first for me. Yikes.

Bottom Line:

Read the other book. It’s AMAZING.

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

Xo,

Jenny

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2 Books. Same Author. Loved 1. Didn’t Love The Other.

2 Books. Same Author. Loved 1. Didn’t Love The Other.

Didn’t buy. Should have bought.

I have a very love/hate relationship with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books. One True Loves? Loved it (although for some reason I never reviewed it on here). Malibu Rising? LOVED it (review HERE). The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo? Hated it (review HERE). So it comes at zero surprise that after listening to 2 of her older books as audiobooks, I loved one and didn’t love the other. Ugh.

**Before I get a million messages asking if I’ve read Daisy Jones and the Six, the answer is no. Nothing about the synopsis of that book appeals to me! I’ve heard it’s wonderful but I have absolutely no desire to read it.**

Book #1 (Loved): After I Do

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis of After I Do {Taylor Jenkins Reid}:

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

My Review of After I Do {Taylor Jenkins Reid}:

Omg I absolutely loved this book. It was so raw and so unfiltered! I definitely hugged my husband tighter after finishing this book. I was ALL IN while listening to this one as an audiobook and found myself listening whenever I had a few extra minutes. Such a perfect book to listen to as an audiobook.

I absolutely loved each character in this book!

That being said, there was one pretty major storyline that I found to be completely unrealistic. Other than that, this book is perfection 🙂

Why did it take me so many years to read this book??? Highly, highly recommend!

Bottom Line:

If you are married, read this book. And then go and hug your spouse.

Book #2 (Did Not Love): Maybe in Another LIfe

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis of Maybe in Another Life {Taylor Jenkins Reid}:

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

My Review of Maybe in Another Life {Taylor Jenkins Reid}:

What a horrible book to listen to as an audiobook. The entire book is comprised of 2 separate stories which alternate back and forth. Both stories have the same settings, characters, etc. IT. GOT. SO. CONFUSING. Maybe in print the distinction between the 2 stories would be more clear but as an audiobook…man, this book just didn’t work as an audiobook.

Because it was telling 2 completely separate stories at the exact same time, nothing really had a proper chance of being developed. Characters, storylines, etc. It all just felt so rushed and so predictable.

And…I hated the ending. Like…I HATED the ending.

Bottom Line:

Maybe this one is better as a book and not as an audiobook? Still wouldn’t change that awful ending, though…

Have you read either of these books? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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Long Time, No Blog

Warning: This blog post is going to be alllll over the place 😉

Hiiiii ❤️

Oh MAN have I been busy! My family took a 4 day mini vacation over Spring Break, I have been planning a massive PTO fundraiser, and day to day life has just been insane in all of the very best ways. Busy and happy over here 🙂

In book news, I’m still reading this gem and am loving it!

At the waterpark while on our family’s mini vacation!

I’ll post my full review once I finish but in the meantime, I’ll just say to preorder this one STAT (link to preorder HERE)! It officially releases 5/17 and I know it’s going to be HUGE! I adore Rochelle Weinstein (both as a person and as an author) and I absolutely love her books and writing style (you can read my reviews of 2 of her other books HERE and HERE).

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

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

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

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


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

In other book news, I returned these books to the library a few days ago without even cracking open the covers because I wasn’t able to renew them for any longer. I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. Have you read any of these? I think they all sound great!

I’m currently listening to this audiobook which has been on my TBR for years. I’ll post my review once I finish listening!

Photo Credit: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis of The Flat Share {Beth O’Leary}:

Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…


Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window… 

In coffee news, a brand new and beaaaaautiful Dunkin’ opened literally walking distance from my house with a drive thru. It’s an actual dream come true! It officially opened 4 days ago and I’ve already gone twice. Welcome to the neighborhood, new friend 😉

And because this blog post isn’t random enough, here is the 750 calorie Crumbl Cookie that I inhaled last night and the STUNNING candle holder that I recently bought from Bath and Body Works.

#worthit
So, so pretty 💗

I’m currently working on a wonderful giveaway coming soon for SUPER interesting book! Stay tuned…

I told you that this was going to be a VERY random blog post! How are you? What are you currently reading? I hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Xo,

Jenny

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

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Reminders of Him and Ugly Love {Colleen Hoover}

Reminders of Him and Ugly Love {Colleen Hoover}

I am either a HUGE Colleen Hoover (or as diehard booklovers all know her: CoHo) fan or…I’m lukewarm 😉

I’m not entirely sure why (maybe because this one is such a recent release?) but for some reason Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us is extremely popular right now…everyone is reading it! I read that book many, many years ago and I loved it. I still think about it! If you haven’t yet read that one, make sure you do. It’s so, so wonderful.

That being said, I wasn’t a huge fan of November 9. I read it years ago (possibly once I finished It Ends With Us?) and I was just so underwhelmed. Eh.

I’m dying to read Verity! I’ve heard it’s amazing. I’ve been on my library waitlist for the audiobook for awhile now and I’m not so patiently waiting.

When her newest book was released this past January, I was so cautiously optimistic about it as I had read some GREAT reviews. Hoping that I would love it as much as I loved It Ends With Us, I downloaded the audiobook of Reminders of Him and started listening…

{One of the biggest issues of listneing to books as audiobooks is that I can’t take pretty pictures of them for my blog!}

Photo Credit: Target.com

Goodreads Synopsis of Reminders of Him {Colleen Hoover}:

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing. 

My Review of Reminders of Him {Colleen Hoover}

Ahhhh I loved this book so much! It’s a BEAUTIFULLY written story with deep, meaningful characters and an intricately woven plot. I listened to this one literally whenever I had an extra minute in my day because I couldn’t get enough. I never wanted it to end! Definitely read (or listen to) this book, it’s so amazing. Such a beautiful story.

Once I finished listening to Reminders of Him, I was NOT ready to move on to another author/genre. I wanted MORE! More CoHo, more love story. I downloaded Ugly Love about 20 minutes after I finished listening to Reminders of Him.

Photo Credit: Target.com

Bottom Line:

I never wanted this book to end.

Goodreads Synopsis of Ugly Love {Colleen Hoover}:

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.


They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly. 

My Review of Ugly Love {Colleen Hoover}:

I really, really liked it. I wouldn’t say that I LOVED it but I would say that it was very good. A bit cringy (is that a word?) at times with the way that Tate allowed for herself to be treated.

The story was good, the characters were…unlikable. All of them. Eh.

A few points to note:

The backstory of Miles was way more intriguing than the book’s present day story.

The audiobook’s male narrator was creepy and the way he pronounced the name “Rachel” made it sound like a stalker was describing her. Every. Single. Time.

I had a very strong prediction that turned out to be completely wrong. I must say…I think my ending would have been better.

Also, throughout the entire book I kept forgetting that Tate was a girl and not a boy because of her name. So there’s that.

Bottom Line

Very good. Not CoHo’s best but very good.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Do you enjoy Colleen Hoover books? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

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The First Book I Put Down Without Finishing in 2022

The First Book I Put Down Without Finishing in 2022

👑

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

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

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

Aaaaaaaand I made the wrong choice.

The First Book I Put Down Without Finishing in 2022:

Goodreads Synopsis of Tweet Cute {Emma Lord}:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So what am I reading next?

Obvi.

Goodreads Synopsis of Instamom {Chantel Guertin}:

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

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

Fingers crossed I love it!

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

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

Xo,

Jenny

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My 2nd Audiobook…Which Book Did I Select?

My 2nd Audiobook…Which Book Did I Select?

FAVORITE SEASON! FAVORITE WEATHER!
Snow Happy ❄️

I have been on the library waitlist for this one for WEEKS and my name doesn’t appear to be moving up anytime soon. My new hobby is proving yet again that audiobooks can be SO much easier to get a hold of (although you really aren’t holding anything? I digress.). As soon as I finished listening to my last audiobook, I immediately started the search for my next audiobook. I typed in the title of this one and…IT. WAS. THERE. Just waiting for me to download. It took 5 seconds. Audible FOR THE WIN.

My 2nd Audiobook:

Picture Credit: Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis of Reminders of Him {Colleen Hoover}:

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

I will post my thoughts as soon as I finish listening! Have you read this one? I’d love to hear your thoughts but ABSOLUTELY NO SPOILERS PLEASE!

Mia and Nattie: One Great Team Giveaway Winners Video:

Thank you so much to everyone who entered! I hope you are having a wonderful day and are reading (or listening) to a wonderful book!

Xo,

Jenny


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

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

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Book Review: My Darling Husband {Kimberly Belle}

Book Review: My Darling Husband {Kimberly Belle}

When I was choosing my first audiobook (more about that HERE), so many from my TBR came to mind. However, when I saw that I could listen to My Darling Husband over a MONTH before it’s book release date…DONE.

Image: Audible.com

Goodreads Synopsis of My Darling Husband {Kimberly Belle}:

Jade and Cam Lasky are by all accounts a happily married couple with two adorable kids, a spacious home and a rapidly growing restaurant business. But their world is tipped upside down when Jade is confronted by a masked home invader. As Cam scrambles to gather the ransom money, Jade starts to wonder if they’re as financially secure as their lifestyle suggests, and what other secrets her husband is keeping from her.

Cam may be a good father, a celebrity chef and a darling husband, but there’s another side he’s kept hidden from Jade that has put their family in danger. Unbeknownst to Cam and Jade, the home invader has been watching them and is about to turn their family secrets into a public scandal.

My Review of My Darling Husband {Kimberly Belle}:

I. LOVED. IT.

I was allllll in and couldn’t get enough of this awesome plot.

So I only have 2 things that I DIDN’T like about this book (audiobook):

1. I figured out almost all of the major plot twists very early on and I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. I kept thinking that I had to be wrong because so many of them seemed so obvious….but nope. Right on the money. UGH.

2. The son’s actions and way of speaking made him seem significantly younger than he was. This bothered me throughout the entire book.

Aside from these 2 imperfections, this book (audiobook) was GREAT! It takes place over the course of 1 day so this made it a PERFECT first audiobook listen for me. It was so easy to pick up again after leaving off knowing it was still the same day. I would have to assume listening to an audiobook that takes place over a larger span of time wouldn’t be as easy to follow…am I wrong?

I really loved this one and listened whenever I got the chance. One of the most surprising places I found myself listening was very late in bed one night! I knew I only had about 20 minutes left in the audiobook so I put in my earbuds, closed my eyes, and let someone read me a bedtime story! It was great…but…the ending of this book was so intense that I couldn’t fall asleep for HOURS after I finished listening. Not so much a peaceful bedtime story. Oops.

Clearly I don’t have anything to compare it to but I really loved the voices on the audiobook, especially Jade’s. Her voice was perfect 🙂

If you have never listened to an audiobook, I highly suggest starting with this one for the pure fact that the entire book takes place over the course of 1 single day. So easy to follow while listening.

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!

Xo,

Jenny

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

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

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

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It’s a Beautiful Weekend to Read a Good Book

It’s a Beautiful Weekend to Read a Good Book

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

Hello!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book #1: Tweet Cute {Emma Lord}:

Goodreads Synopsis of Tweet Cute {Emma Lord}:

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

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

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

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

Book #2: Instamom {Chantel Guertin}:

Goodreads Synopsis of Instamom {Chantel Guertin}:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Xo,

Jenny

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

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

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I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. SO. MUCH.

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

My daughter bought the most delicious smelling candle and it’s burning as I type up this post! It smells amaaaazing in here!

When I checked this book out of the library, I had never heard of it. I’m SO GLAD I randomly stumbled upon this gem on a shelf! I love this book so, SO very much and I couldn’t wait to share it with you. You’ll love it, too 🙂

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

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

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

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

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

My Review of The Last Chance Library {Freya Sampson}:

As you are well aware, I am a HUGE fan of libraries. A book all about saving a library? Ummm yes please!

I loved every single word of this book. What a BEAUTIFULLY written story! If you are a book lover (which if you are reading this blog one would assume that you are) this book is a MUST READ.

The characters were delightful….the whole book was delightful! I smiled, I laughed, I cried. I absolutely loved it. Such a beautiful story. I finished reading yesterday and I have not stopped thinking about this book since. I simply cannot recommend this one highly enough. It’s perfect.

Bottom Line:

If you love libraries, you will LOVE this special book.

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

Xo,

Jenny

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Are You Currently Reading?

I’ll post my review once I finish reading!

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

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

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

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

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

What Did You Recently Finish Reading?

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

Goodreads Synopsis of The Charm Offensive {Alison Cochrun}:

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

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

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

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

Goodreads Synopsis of Woman on Fire {Lisa Barr}:

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

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

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

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

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

Xo,

Jenny

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

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

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

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

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

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