Ahhhh my favorite time of the year is HERE! I absolutely love this season for so many reasons and participating in Blogmas just adds to the FUN!
This is my 3rd year participating in Blogmas and my 3rd official Welcome to Blogmas video where I explain exactly what Blogmas is and how Book Coffee Happy will be participating.
**Aaaaand something extra fun about this year’s welcome video is that apparently for a portion of it, included are both lipstick on my teeth AND a piece of hair in my mouth.**
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In my last post, I had asked for help picking my next book because I just couldn’t decide. All 3 sound so good! In case you missed my last post, you can read about all 3 contenders HERE.
The Book I Chose
So, which did I pick? After close consideration…a book about a bookstore will always trump the others 😉
AAAAND this book has been on my to read list since 2021 (although to be fair, one of the other condenders is also on this list)! I first talked about them HERE!
Goodreads Synopsis ofChristmas by the Book {Anne Marie Ryan}:
Nora and her husband, Simon, have run the beautiful oak-beamed book shop in their small British village for thirty years. But times are tough and the shop is under threat of closure–this Christmas season will really decide their fate. When an elderly man visits the store and buys the one book they’ve never been able to sell, saying it’s the perfect gift for his sick grandson, it gives Nora an idea. She and Simon will send out books to those feeling down this Christmas. Maybe they can’t save their bookstore, but at least they’ll have one final chance to lift people’s spirits through the power of reading.
After gathering nominations online, Nora and Simon quietly deliver books to six residents of the village in need of some festive cheer, including a single dad of twins who is working hard to make ends meet, a teenage boy grieving for his big sister, a local Member of Parliament who is battling depression, and a teacher who’s newly retired and living on her own. As the town prepares for a white Christmas, the books begin to give the recipients hope, one by one. But with the future of the bookshop still up in the air, Nora and Simon will need a Christmas miracle–or perhaps a little help from the people whose lives they’ve touched–to find a happy ending of their own….
Sounds so good, right?? I’ll have my full review of this one posted during Blogmas!
Kindle Update
I love it! It’s amazing! The only way to read a book!
JUUUUUST KIDDING. I never even took it out of the box and officially gave it to my husband last week when he mentioned that he was curious to try one, lol.
Prime Day convinced me that I needed it but in reality…I just love the feel of a physical book in my hand and I’m not ready to trade that in just to stare at another screen. Ugh.
Maybe one day I’ll actually try it??? Maybe???
Have you read Christmas by the Book? What did you think (NO SPOILERS please)? Do you love your Kindle? 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!*
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I’ve got 3 library books here all waiting for me to crack them open…which should I start with??
Hi!
Book Contender #1:
Goodreads Synopsis of The Twelve Dates of Christmas {Jenny Bayliss}:
When it comes to relationships, thirty-four-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say “Bah, humbug.” The sleepy town of Blexford, England, isn’t exactly brimming with prospects, and anyway, Kate’s found fulfillment in her career as a designer, and in her delicious side job baking for her old friend Matt’s neighborhood café. But then her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Twenty-three days until Christmas. Twelve dates with twelve different men. The odds must finally be in her favor . . . right?
Yet with each new date more disastrous than the one before–and the whole town keeping tabs on her misadventures–Kate must remind herself that sometimes love, like mistletoe, shows up where it’s least expected. And maybe, just maybe, it’s been right under her nose all along. . . .
Book Contender #2:
Goodreads Synopsis of Christmas by the Book {Anne Marie Ryan}:
Nora and her husband, Simon, have run the beautiful oak-beamed book shop in their small British village for thirty years. But times are tough and the shop is under threat of closure–this Christmas season will really decide their fate. When an elderly man visits the store and buys the one book they’ve never been able to sell, saying it’s the perfect gift for his sick grandson, it gives Nora an idea. She and Simon will send out books to those feeling down this Christmas. Maybe they can’t save their bookstore, but at least they’ll have one final chance to lift people’s spirits through the power of reading.
After gathering nominations online, Nora and Simon quietly deliver books to six residents of the village in need of some festive cheer, including a single dad of twins who is working hard to make ends meet, a teenage boy grieving for his big sister, a local Member of Parliament who is battling depression, and a teacher who’s newly retired and living on her own. As the town prepares for a white Christmas, the books begin to give the recipients hope, one by one. But with the future of the bookshop still up in the air, Nora and Simon will need a Christmas miracle–or perhaps a little help from the people whose lives they’ve touched–to find a happy ending of their own….
Book Contender #3:
Goodreads Synopsis of Blame it on the Mistletoe {Beth Garrod}:
Elle is a social medial star with the #DreamLife…or so it seems. Determined to shake up her content and gain new followers, she’s on a mission: can she find a British fan to swap with for Christmas?
Holly loves everything about Christmas. But after a mortifying mistletoe disaster with her ex, her perfect plans unravel like a bad Christmas sweater. Can Holly save the holidays when she switches places with favorite social media influencer?
Elle gets more than she bargained for when she meets the cute boy from across the street. And Holly wasn’t expecting Elle to have a handsome twin brother. This holiday is full of surprises.
Which book should I read next???
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? If not, which one sounds the best to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below (NO SPOILERS PLEEEEEASE)!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the links 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…
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I was looking for a super creepy book to read around Halloween and this one had been on my list to read forever! The perfect time of year to read a book like this…
Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo, the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex, a struggling writer, is thrilled.
Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex’s long-extinguished dream now seems within reach.
But then the women begin to die.
Trapped, terrified yet still desperately writing, it is clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Blackbriar Estate. Alex must confront her own demons – and finish her novel – to save herself.
My Review ofThe Writing Retreat {Julia Bartz}:
200 pages in aaaaaand…
Closed the book. Didn’t finish. Moved on.
So it was GOOD but there was a very weird haunted ghostlike vibe going on and I just couldn’t do it. I HATE books about ghosts (I’m looking at you, Sun Down Motel) and that part of the book just threw me so much that I couldn’t do it.
Now let me be very clear…there was no actual ghost storyline that I had encountered buuuuuut I just had a feeling about that being the direction that the book was going in and that was enough for me to call it quits. I HATED, HATED, HATED the dual storyline of the past occupants of the house and all of the weird things that lead to their deaths. I also hated Roza’s character and how much power these people all seemed more than ok giving to her.
What did I like about this book? The details of the writing process! This book is about people writing books and that part of this was interesting to me. And I loved the creepy setting. Buuuuuut that’s pretty much it. This one just wasn’t for me although I did enjoy the writing style??
Eh moving on.
Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:
I don’t do ghosts. Or books that make me think that are they going to eventually be about ghosts.
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)
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Trick or Treating was freezing! Also, while everyone else eats candy, I eat apples lol
Hellooooooo!
I’m listening to the Glee Christmas album as I type up this post and I’m just so happy 🙂
Happy Fall/Thanksgiving/Holiday season aka my most favorite time of the whole year! My house is currently a weird combination of pumpkins and snowflakes and I couldn’t be happier that this lovely time of the year is finally upon us. It snowed here on Halloween and while everyone around me was complaining, I felt like it was a magical gift to have snow this early in the season. Trick or Treating was absolutely freezing (I wore 2 pairs of pants!) and while maybe THAT part wasn’t necessarily the greatest, the beauty of the snow more than made up for it. BRING IT, Mother Nature…I’m so ready 🙂
My all time favorite candle scent is baaaaaaaaaaack!!!
What I’m Reading
The week of Halloween was also officially the time that I decided it was time to start reading/listening to holiday books! The BEST. So far this season, I’ve listened to 2 holiday audiobooks (reviews coming during Blogmas) and I started reading this beauty 2 days ago. While I currently have 4 holiday books checked out of the library, I obviously had to start with this one because it was the 2022 holiday book that I was most excited to read THIS holiday season! You can read all about why in THIS POST.
Goodreads Synopsis of Once Upon A December {Amy E. Reichert}:
With a name like Astra Noel Snow, holiday spirit isn’t just a seasonal specialty–it’s a way of life. But after a stinging divorce, Astra’s yearly trip to the Milwaukee Christmas market takes on a whole new meaning. She’s ready to eat, drink, and be merry, especially with the handsome stranger who saves the best kringle for her at his family bakery.
For Jack Clausen, the Julemarked with its snowy lights and charming shops stays the same, while the world outside the joyful street changes, magically leaping from one December to the next every four weeks. He’s never minded living this charmed existence until Astra shows him the life he’s been missing outside of the festive red brick alley.
After a swoon-worthy series of dates, some Yuletide magic, and the unexpected glow of new love, Astra and Jack must decide whether this relationship can weather all seasons, or if what they’re feeling is as ephemeral as marshmallows in a mug of hot cocoa.
Thanks for visiting my little blog today! Next up will be my thoughts on The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz….
Have you started reading holiday books yet?
Have you read Once Upon a December? What did you think (NO SPOILERS PLEASE)? 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)
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We saw Hamilton for the 2nd time! Although I liked the cast from the first time we saw it much more than this one, it was still amazing obvi!
Hiiiii! Happy Fall! I have an audiobook review for you today from a book I’ve been listening to while recently taking some gorgeous fall walks around my neighborhood. I only wish I loved the book as much as I loved the walks 🙂
***Note: This book is not to be confused with The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher. My review of THAT mess of a book can be found HERE.***
Photo Credit: Amazon
Goodreads Synopsis ofThe Wrong Family {Ellery Kane}:
He tells you he’s your father. He welcomes you into his family. And now you’re trapped…
I’ve never met my father. It was always just me and Mom, so when she died, I was completely alone. But today, years since I first mailed my DNA to Family Ties, I finally have a match. They’ve found my biological father.
When I meet Robert , he’s warm, dependable, sturdy. I’m desperate for him to like me. I want to be part of his perfect, high-flying family more than anything.
Except, I’m not so sure they are perfect. Every day, strange things go wrong in the Thompsons’ grand Lake Tahoe house. A family photo is found burning. Robert’s car is tampered with. My mother’s necklace goes missing.
Though that’s nothing compared to the horror of finding the huge family portrait violently slashed in its ornate gold frame… But someone is trying to blame me for everything—all eyes are on me. I can’t run now.
And then I receive an email from Family Ties that makes my blood run cold.
Robert Thompson is not my father.
Now I’m trapped in a house full of strangers, with no idea who I can trust. And I’m terrified my life is in grave danger…
I can’t even. The biggest twist in this whole book is literally given right in the synopsis. How dumb is that?! I freaking hate spoilers.
This book was just eh from the very beginning. A few things I didn’t see coming but none as shocking as the most UNshocking twist that wasn’t even a twist because I read it before I even listened to the book.
Everything about this book just kind of fell flat for me. Annoying characters, stupid storylines. The kind of book that you forget about the minute it’s over without ever giving it another thought.
Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:
Nope. Skip it.
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)*
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My Heart is With Israel and aBook Review: Drowning {T.J. Newman}
It’s been so awful watching from such a distance as the horror has been unfolding in Israel. My heart hurts.
It’s felt wrong and weird to continue blogging throughout all that is happening. As a Jewish person, I can’t even put into words how terrifying and heartbreaking all of this is.
Blogging is something that I do for a fun, creative hobby and it has felt too weird (and wrong?) to work on my writing my little blog when my mind and my heart are both so currently distracted.
That being said, writing this blog also provides such a wonderful distraction for me…as do reading books. I’ve always said that books can be the perfect cure when you need your mind to focus on something else.
Like me, I know that many of YOU also use books as a distraction and as an escape. I feel helpless in this entire situation but if I can help distract you or take your mind off of scary things even for a little bit by simply recommending books…that’s something I can do. Books are magic and can instantly transport you to completely different places, time periods, and even people if you let them in.
So back to blogging and recommending books it is…for me, for you, for us 🙂
**Head over to Book Coffee Happy’s Instagram account and watch my current Instastory for more of my thoughts on all of this…This morning I posted 8 minutes of me talking all about it…**
Now I WILL admit, I wish I had spent the past week reading something….anything….more uplifting than this book, lol. HOWEVER, this book was so amazing that I legit was completely absorbed while reading which was actually the most perfect distraction for me. This book is INTENSE. Like heart pounding intense. It’s AWESOME.
Goodreads Synopsis ofDrowning {T.J. Newman}:
Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.
More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives.
Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent—Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife—who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff.
There’s not much time.
There’s even less air.
My Review ofDrowning {T.J. Newman}:
If you haven’t yet read T.J. Newman’s debut novel, Falling, you must read that book ASAP. It’s AMAAAAAZING (book synopsis and my review here).
I’ve been so excited to get my hands on her newest book, Drowning, and let me tell you…it most definitely did NOT disappoint.
HOLY. HELL.
My heart was legit pounding while reading this book. I smiled. I cried (tears down both cheeks). I held my breath. It was intense and crazy and amazing and awesome.
If you are someone afraid of flying, this might not be the best choice for you…I might never get on another plane for the rest of my life after reading this…but if you can handle this topic, READ THIS BOOK.
Were parts of it a bit too technical? Yes. Did I have to Google a vast amount of aviation terms? Yes. Was all of that worth it to help me better understand this heart pounding book? HELL YES.
I really didn’t think I could love her second book as much as I loved her first but I really, really did. By the way, both books are stand alone novels…they not a series. You can read either one first. And you should definitely read them both…STAT.
The movie rights for this book have already been sold and OMG it will make such an amazing movie (the movie rights for her first book, Falling, have also been sold and that will ALSO be an incredible movie). I’m not a huge movie fan but I can’t WAIT to see both of these! I can only imagine seeing all of this on the big screen in a dark room…my heart is pounding just thinking about it…
Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:
READ. THIS. BOOK. Just not while you are on an airplane or have plans to be on one anytime soon 😉
Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Sending love and peace to all…
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!*
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Book Giveaway (Open to International Readers): Typecast {Andrea J. Stein}
Ahhhh I’m SO excited to be able to share this gem with you today! I absolutely loved this book and I so highly recommend it…
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.
My Thoughts on Typecast {Andrea J. Stein} :
Absolutely loved it.
These characters and their relationships with each other were so detailed and wonderfully written. To see those relationships (and their perspectives) change over time was so interesting to read! I loved the dual timelines as they were able to come together to eventually tell the whole story. I had some pretty strong predictions very early on as to where this story was going to go and I am happy to report that I was WRONG! I absolutely love when that happens….when a book can go in a completely different direction than the reader was thinking that it would.
The writing in this book was great and so easy to follow…I often read more in one sitting that I was intending to because I was so into the storylines! A sign of a wonderful book! What a fantastic debut novel she has written.
The character development was GREAT. I felt like I really “knew” these people! It was hard to “say good-bye” to them when I finished reading this book. I would so love for there to be a sequel…??
A Conversation With Andrea J. Stein, in Her Own Words:
What inspired you to write Typecast?
The story was inspired when I heard about a guy who made a short film about his college girlfriend, ten years after graduation. It got me wondering how that girlfriend would feel if she knew she was the subject of a film so many years later. From there, I started thinking about who that woman would be – would she be single or married? Why did the college relationship end? That was how Typecast was born.
What was the most fun part of writing Typecast?
That’s a tough question! I had fun getting to know my characters, and I definitely enjoyed spooling out the romance part of the story. I also had fun writing the children in the book – some of whose remarks just may have come from my own kids!
Without giving away spoilers, what are some takeaway messages that you hope readers will gain from reading Typecast?
One big message is about forgiveness – and especially self-forgiveness. It’s so important to recognize, and truly internalize, that the choices you made in the past were probably the best ones you could make at the time – with the information you had, and who you were as a person.
Where can your book be purchased?
Like they say, anywhere books are sold. It’s available at all online booksellers, and any brick-and-mortar bookstore can order it for you if they don’t already have it on their shelves.
Any additional information that you would like to provide about you or your book:
Bringing my debut novel into the world was an amazing experience, and I have so much gratitude for all my readers. Stay tuned for my next novel!
Book Giveaway (Signed Copy):
***GIVEAWAY DETAILS***
Open to US followers as well as International followers
Would you like to win a signed copy of Typecast? 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 on Wednesday (10/4/23) at 6:00 pm CDT and the winner will be randomly chosen and announced here on my blog on Friday (10/6/23).
I will post a video here on Friday of me choosing the winner!
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)
*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)*
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There’s a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn’t.
When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral…Did the victim jump? Was she pushed?
And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate…lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel.
My Review ofThe Soulmate {Sally Hepworth}:
Eh.
I couldn’t connect to ANY of the characters at ANY time of this book which made it hard to care what happened to any of them.
While I found the bits about their marriages interesting, I absolutely hated the bits about the businesses, investors, etc. Unfortunately, this was a major part of the book!
AND there was one pretty big storyline that was never really explained…I waited the entire book to find out more about it! I don’t want to give anything away so I won’t go into detail but I can’t imagine I’m the only reader who wanted more storyline about this…
There WAS a twist that I did NOT see coming which is always fun but overall? Eh.
The best part of this book were the insanely short chapters…some were 1 or 2 pages long! I love that so much, I flew through this book. I really do wish every book could be written in short chapters such as this.
2 Sally Hepworth books that are worth reading over The Soulmate: THIS ONE and THIS ONE.
Book Coffee Happy Epilogue:
She’s written better books.
Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
This book wasn’t my favorite but it might just be yours! 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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*The What You Do To Me book and book swag winner is announced at the bottom of this post!*
Library Book #1: The Mothers {Jennifer Gilmore}
Goodreads Synopsis of The Mothers {Jennifer Gilmore}:
Jesse and Ramon are a loving couple, but after years spent unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant, they turn to adoption, relieved to think that once they navigate the bureaucratic path to parent-hood they will have a happy ending. But nothing has prepared them for the labyrinthine process—for the many training sessions and approvals; for the constant advice from friends, strangers, and “experts”; for the birthmothers who contact them but don’t ultimately choose them; or even, most shockingly, for the women who call claiming they’ve chosen Jesse and Ramon but who turn out never to have been pregnant in the first place.
Library Book #2: Prom Mom {Laura Lippman}
Goodreads Synopsis of Prom Mom {Laura Lippman}:
Amber Glass has spent her entire adult life putting as much distance as possible between her and her hometown of Baltimore, where she fears she will forever be known as “Prom Mom”–the girl who allegedly killed her baby on the night of the prom after her date, Joe Simpson, abandoned her to pursue the girl he really liked. But when circumstances bring Amber back to the city, she realizes she can have a second chance–as long as she stays away from Joe, now a successful commercial real estate developer, married to a plastic surgeon, Meredith, to whom he is devoted.
The problem is, Amber can’t stay away from Joe. And Joe finds that it’s increasingly hard for him to ignore Amber, if only because she remembers the boy he was and the man he said he was going to be. Against the surreal backdrop of 2020 and early 2021, the two are slowly drawn to each other and eventually cross the line they’ve been trying not to cross.
And then Joe asks Amber to help him do the unthinkable…
Library Book #3: Big Swiss {Jen Beagin}
Goodreads Synopsis of Big Swiss {Jen Beagin}:
Greta lives with her friend Sabine in an ancient Dutch farmhouse in Hudson, New York. She spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a sex coach who calls himself Om. She becomes infatuated with his newest client, a repressed married woman she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss, since she’s tall, stoic, and originally from Switzerland. They both have dark histories, but Big Swiss chooses to remain unattached to her suffering while Greta continues to be tortured by her past.
One day, Greta recognizes Big Swiss’s voice at the dog park. In a panic, she introduces herself with a fake name and they quickly become enmeshed. Although Big Swiss is unaware of Greta’s true identity, Greta has never been more herself with anyone.
Bold, outlandish, and filled with irresistible characters, Big Swiss is both a love story and also a deft examination of infidelity, mental health, sexual stereotypes, and more—from an amazingly talented, one-of-a-kind voice in contemporary fiction.
Library Book #4: Stone Cold Fox {Rachel Koller Croft}
Goodreads Synopsis of Stone Cold Fox {Rachel Koller Croft}:
Like any enterprising woman, Bea knows what she’s worth and is determined to get all she deserves—it just so happens that what she deserves is to marry rich. After a lifetime of forced instruction in the art of swindling men by her mother, Bea wants nothing more than to escape her shadow, close the door on their sordid past, and disappear safely into old-money domesticity.
When Bea finds her final mark in the perfectly dull blue-blooded Collin, she’s ready to deploy all her tricks one last time. The challenge isn’t getting the ring, but rather the approval of Collin’s family and everyone else in their tax bracket, particularly his childhood best friend Gale. Going toe-to-toe with Gale isn’t a threat to an expert like Bea, but what begins as an amusing cat-and-mouse game quickly develops into a dangerous chase. As the truth of Bea’s past threatens to come roaring out, she finds herself racing against the clock to pass the finish line before everything is exposed.
Have you read any of these these books? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
What You Do To Me Book and Book Swag Giveaway Winner Video:
Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway on my last post! Here is a video of me choosing the lucky winner :
Xo,
Jenny
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