Julie's Review: The Serial Killer Games

Author: Kate Posey
Series: None
Publication Date:  April 29, 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 328
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Genre bending 
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Summary: Dolores dela Cruz has been dying to spot one in the wild, and he fits the mold perfectly: strangler gloves, calculated charm, dashing good looks that give a leg up in any field . . . including fields of unmarked graves. The new office temp is definitely a serial killer. Jake Ripper finds a welcome distraction in his combative and enigmatic new coworker. He hasn’t come across anyone as interesting as Dolores in a long time. But when mere curiosity evolves into a darkly romantic flirtation, Jake can’t help but wonder if, finally, he’s found someone who really sees him, skeletons in the closet and all. 

Until Dolores asks Jake’s help to dispose of a body . . . ~amazon.com

Review: Honestly, this book doesn't fit into any one genre and it wasn't at all what I expected in the best way. I really don't want to say too much because it will give away the plot but I can't believe this is a debut. Dolores and Jake are fun characters; the back and forth between them had me in stitches. Jake definitely fell first but I would say that Dolores "Dolly" fell harder. I mean Jake is all kinds of green flags and maybe just one red flag. 

Ms. Posey takes a rom-com, true crime, drama and puts a whole new spin on it. There are a lot of themes in this book but I came away with thinking about found family and what it means to be a family, because it's not always blood relations. The secondary characters are a hoot and add a lot of color to the novel. I also loved the corporate aspect since that is where I have spent my career. I will definitely be aware of temps from now on. 🤣

If this one isn't on your radar, please put it there. I don't think you'll be disappointed. It definitely kept me turning the pages until the very end. I can't wait to see what Ms. Posey writes next because I'm positive it'll be a fresh take on something. 

Julie's Review: Bluebird Day

Author: Megan Tady
Series: None
Publication Date:  December 3, 2024
Publisher: Zibby Books
Pages: 344
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Strained mother/daughter relationship with forced proximity resolution
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Summary: Alpine skiing G.O.A.T. Claudine Potts and her daughter, Wylie, have been bred for gold medal glory. They’re skiing their way to fame, but this gilded future is cut short when a fall forces Claudine’s retirement and Wylie’s debilitating anxiety sends her off the slopes. With the collapse of their ski careers, their relationship falters and now it’s been years since Wylie and Claudine have even spoken. They live on opposite coasts, pursuing different passions, until a chance opportunity to pair up in a European fitness competition drives them back together. Can this duo survive snow-buried regrets and family secrets and have the happy reunion they’re hoping for? Set in a dreamy Swiss village with a colorful cast of characters, Bluebird Day will make readers laugh and swoon, as Claudine and Wylie slalom through the complicated terrain of lost ambition, past mistakes, and mother-daughter love. ~amazon.com

Review: I don't ski. I mean I've tried it once and HATED it. It is not something I care to do again but I can understand why people do it because of the skill and adreneline that comes from doing it. I can't imagine having a mom that was so good at her sport that you were expected to continue in her footsteps but failed. This is the issue that hangs between Claudine and Wylie. 

Family relationships are never easy and some are HARD. Wylie cut off her mom 2 years ago when Claudine was less than supportive of her decisions in life. So now when Wylie is in a bind, her mom is the only one she can think of to help her out. She's not quite ready for the emotional toll it will take on her. 

Claudine, on the other hand, is excited about the idea of spending time with Wylie and to try to mend their relationship. Claudine has been in therapy and working on herself and her expectations of others. 

There's a great case of characters they are shut in with, who actually in a lot of ways move the plot along. This is definitely a character driven novel with a bit of a plot about Wylie's parentage. 

Julie's Review: Pictures of You

Author: Emma Grey
Series: None
Publication Date:  November 12, 2024
Publisher: Zibby Books
Pages: 416
Obtained: Publisher
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: When your brain protects you, how do you reconcile your life?
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Summary: When Evie Hudson wakes in an unfamiliar hospital room, she thinks she’s fresh out of a teenage party with her best friend, Bree. Except, Bree isn’t around anymore and high school was years ago. Evie had just survived the crash that killed her husband, Oliver―whom she can't remember either. After suffering a traumatic loss of memory, she’s left to connect the dots. But how? Enter: Drew, a promising photographer whose chance encounter with Evie unravels the elusive details of her marriage and her husband’s death. As Drew watches Evie stitch the story of her life together, secrets emerge that might shatter both of their worlds. This tangled second-chance romance leads Evie to question every decision she ever made. This time around, she’s seeing all the things she missed–and the life she gets to choose...again. ~amazon.com

Review: This book is magnificent in the story it tells and the way it is told. The way it works is way from the present back to high school when the story started for all of them. Except Evie can't remember it at the present time and all Drew can remember is their past. Evie doesn't understand why all the people she knew at 16 are no longer in her life; including her parents. The only thing she knows is that her husband Oliver is dead and she's not clue what happened and where to go. 

Drew doesn't quite know what to do when Evie reappears in his life except that he knows it complicates it. In fact, their reunion is going to throw both of them for a loop. As Evie begins to unravel her life, she wonders exactly how she got to where she is and if she can undo it. Has her accident given her a second chance?

I absolutely loved this book. It is filled with fear, heartache, hope and love. As the story unfolds it is not comfortable to hear about Evie's life. It is even more painful to see how distrustful those she loves are of her and how she doesn't understand why. The story of Evie's life is a painful one; as a reader you kind of see what's coming but the reveal happens to us as the same time Evie. 

I can't dive too deep or it'll give the book away and this is one you want to experience on your own. I will be circling back to her other novel The Last Love Note and can't wait to read whatever else she writes. 

Julie's Review: The Banned Books Club

Author: Brenda Novak
Series: None
Publication Date:  September 17, 2024
Publisher: Mira
Pages: 368
Obtained: Publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Returning home is never easy but really not when you were involved in a scandal 
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Summary: Despite their strained relationship, when Gia Rossi’s sister, Margot, begs her to come home to Wakefield, Iowa, to help with their ailing mother, Gia knows she has no choice. After her rebellious and at-times-tumultuous teen years, Gia left town with little reason to look back. But she knows Margot’s borne the brunt of their mother’s care and now it’s Gia’s turn to help, even if it means opening old wounds. As expected, Gia’s homecoming is far from welcome. There’s the Banned Books Club she started after the PTA overzealously slashed the high school reading list, which is right where she left it. But there is also Mr. Hart, her former favorite teacher. The one who was fired after Gia publicly and painfully accused him of sexual misconduct. The one who prompted Gia to leave behind a very conflicted town the minute she turned eighteen. The one person she hoped never to see again. When Margot leaves town without explanation, Gia sees the cracks in her sister’s “perfect” life for the first time and plans to offer support. But as the town, including members of the book club, takes sides between Gia and Mr. Hart, everything gets harder. Fortunately, she learns that there are people she can depend on. And by standing up for the truth, she finds love and a future in the town she thought had rejected her. ~amazon.com 

Review: I have never read a Brenda Novak book, so I went in blind and I'm happy I did. This was a bit heavier subject matter than I expected even having read the summary but I was fully involved in Gia's coming back to her hometown. 

Margot's own struggles and how badly she needed Gia home were front and center as well. I understood why she wasn't honest with her sister, they weren't really that close, but I wish she would have told her. Gia's past is almost immediately thrown upon her when she gets some of the people together at a local bar for Banned Books Club. Gia is tough and won't let people run her out of town again. She's been through a lot and is not the same person she was at 17. She also pulls a stunt to help Margot that put herself in danger and her family. 

Margot is finally learning how to stand up for herself and become her own person. She's been stuck in a situation for so long that she has no other option but to disappear even when her own mom is dying. While Gia might have to be strong to come back home and face her past, Margot is the stronger one of the two given what she has to do. 

The Banned Books Club is about facing the past, standing strong for your truth, family and moving on. 

Julie's Review: Take Two, Birdie Maxwell

Author: Allison Winn Scotch
Series: None
Publication Date: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 367
Obtained: Purchased
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Communication is key
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Summary: Birdie Robinson thought she’d gotten everything she wanted out of life: fame, adoration, and an A-list Hollywood career. But after an on-set feud goes viral, she leaves L.A. for the one place where no one would think to find her: her hometown. She’s startled to stumble upon a love letter from a former boyfriend asking for a second chance. And there’s just one issue: the letter was unsigned and she’s not sure which ex sent it. Still, a public reunion with an ex-boyfriend could turn the wave of public opinion back in her favor. Life imitating art. What could go wrong? Elliot O’Brien, star reporter, knows that life isn’t an actual rom-com. Case in point, he’s spent two decades repressing his long-simmering feelings for his twin sister’s best friend, Birdie. But with his journalism career cratering and Birdie back in their hometown at the same time he is, he realizes that chronicling her search for her long-ago ex may be his opportunity to right some wrongs. As they hit the road in an ancient RV, Birdie and Elliot retrace her romantic history for clues to who wrote the letter and come face to face with their own romantic missteps, all while grappling with whether happy endings are found only on the big screen—or whether their own happier ever after could be closer than they both ever imagined. ~amazon.com

Review: If you've been reading this blog for any period of time, you know I've been a big Allison fan for a long time. Her latest, Take Two, Birdie Maxwell is wonderful. Not only is it heartfelt, humorous but it's about self-discovery and being honest with those around you. How misunderstands left cleared up end up festering for years. Birdie is at the height of her career as the darling of film, when she lays into a beloved director and it's caught on film. Except instead of the public backing her up, it goes against her even though she is in the right. So, Birdie goes home with her tail between her legs only to find things are exactly great there either. As she goes through boxes of her stuff from her room, she runs across a letter that she's never seen and it turns out to be someone declaring their undying love for her. Birdie figures what better way to get back into the good graces of the public than to find who wrote her the letter. 

This is where Elliot enters the story. As a journalist, Birdie feels he is the right person to join her on this journey because he'll make her look good but also she just wants some company. One has to ask though, is this the best decision given their history? 

I loved how the POVs were from both Birdie and Elliot; it was important to get their perspectives on their connected history. One of the best things I think for Birdie was that things weren't exactly how she always remembered them; that the other person might have experienced things a little differently than her. Unfortunately, all of this is front and center and it doesn't make Birdie look good all the time. 

I did love seeing how Birdie was able to reflect on her past and have some revelations about her behavior. I absolutely loved the ending and what led to the big reveal. There are a lot of laugh out loud parts in the book as well. 

Ms. Scotch will continue to be an auto-buy author for me and I look forward to reading what she writes next. 

Jenn's Review: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

Author: Matthew Sullivan
Series: None
Publication Date:  June 13, 2017
Publisher: Scribner
Pages: 338
Obtained: purchased
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Mystery
Rating: 3/5
Bottom Line: Ultimately, didn't work for me
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Summary: Lydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs — the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store's overwhelmed shelves. But when Joey Molina, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore's upper room, Lydia's life comes unglued. Always Joey's favorite bookseller, Lydia has been bequeathed his meager worldly possessions. Trinkets and books; the detritus of a lonely, uncared for man. But when Lydia flips through his books she finds them defaced in ways both disturbing and inexplicable. They reveal the psyche of a young man on the verge of an emotional reckoning. And they seem to contain a hidden message. What did Joey know? And what does it have to do with Lydia? As Lydia untangles the mystery of Joey's suicide, she unearths a long buried memory from her own violent childhood. Details from that one bloody night begin to circle back. Her distant father returns to the fold, along with an obsessive local cop, and the Hammerman, a murderer who came into Lydia's life long ago and, as she soon discovers, never completely left. ~amazon.com

Review: This is not my usual read and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about the novel. It’s a novel about secrets and their destructive nature set in a book store, how could it go wrong?

I’m still trying to put my finger on it. While the mystery was intriguing and unfolded nicely, the novel just didn’t grab me. There are shifting story tellers, a technique I generally find off putting, but it was well done; one person’s perspective dovetailed into another so it was not confusing or jarring.

I guess my biggest complaint is that I never connected with any of the characters. While I found myself empathetic many times, none of the characters drew me in. In fact, some characters seemed more like a plot devices than true characters in that they were abandoned once they had served their plot advancement. While most brought about their own destruction or pushed their destruction on others.

Did I appreciate the twisty intrigue? Yes, it’s what kept me reading. Did I feel satisfaction upon completion? Not really. It won’t be a read I recommend.

Julie's Review: Meet the Benedettos

Author: Katie Cotungo
Series: None
Publication Date:  December 5, 2023
Publisher: Harper Perennial 
Pages: 256
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Interesting reality tv twist on a classic 
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Summary: An A-list movie star moves to Los Angeles--next door to a family of five eligible sisters--in this irresistible novel where The Kardashians meets Pride and Prejudice, from the NYT bestselling author of Birds of California. Every family is complicated, and the Benedettos are no exception. A few years after a reality TV show skyrocketed them to pop-culture fame, the five twentysomething sisters are living together in their parents' crumbling McMansion, nearly broke and teetering towards rock-bottom. Lilly, the sensible second-eldest sister, is all too aware that her family is viewed as a spectacle, but she's focused on holding herself and her family together, and unlike her siblings she tends not to care what the world thinks. The Benedettos' fortunes finally appear to be brightening when Charlie Bingley, the dashing star of Captain Fantastic, moves into their Los Angeles neighborhood with his friend Will Darcy in tow. It isn't long before Charlie falls for the warm and lovely eldest sister, June. Lilly has no such luck: the arrogant and judgmental Will Darcy, a man plagued by his own private demons, seems ready to clash with her at every turn--yet the two can't seem to stay away from each other. And while the Benedettos' matriarch sets to work encouraging a potential match between Charlie and June, there are plenty of others in the community who are determined to steer these eligible young men away from a ridiculous family of reality show has-beens...Katie Cotugno brings a big, boisterous cast of characters to life in this deliciously sprawling LA story--a thoroughly fresh and modern tale about a family that's "famous for being famous," the ways that preconceived notions make fools of us all, and how unexpected romance can bloom despite the odds. ~amazon.com

Review: I am probably not the right reader to entice with a Kardashians tagline but I'm glad I ignored that and read the novel anyway. I do understand why they would use that though to attract readers who love some reality tv. It's also been a long time since I've read Pride and Prejudice but I remember enough to draw the parallels. 

Lilly and Will are the central characters in Meet the Benedettos and they initially they are attracted to each other but of course someone says something which leads to some hard feelings. They are thrown together because Will's best friend, Charlie, is interested in Lilly's older sister June; plus they live in the same neighborhood. 

While this is a love story it is more a story of family, reckoning with the past and moving forward. Both Lilly and Will have a lot to deal with when it comes to figuring out where they go from the place they are at. For Will, it's dealing with his recent mental health issues and reverberating issues from his parents death years ago. Lilly is dealing with being infamous now that her families reality show is over and the demise of their family "fortune". She's also the sister who feels like she's in charge of everyone else, even if this isn't the case. She feels like she's the most responsible so she carries the weight on her shoulders. 

I enjoyed the story overall and how the characters grew up a bit. The biggest revelation with Mari at the end of the book. She was always the one in the background; the mysterious one. 

If you are a fan of family stories or reimagines of classics,  you will want to grab Meet the Benedettos. 

Julie's Review: What You Do to Me

Author: Rochelle B. Weinstein
Series: None
Publication Date:  October 17, 2023
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Pages: 363
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction; Historical Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Music and love always go together
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Summary: Journalist Cecilia James is a sucker for a love song. So when she stumbles across a clue to the identity of the muse for one of rock’s greatest, she devotes herself to uncovering the truth, even as her own relationship is falling apart. While writing an article for Rolling Stone, Cecilia works to reveal the mystery that has intrigued fans and discovers a classic tale of two soulmates separated by fate and circumstance. Rock star Eddie Vee once sang with his soul, dedicating love songs to Sara Friedman, his inspiration and first love. Now, Eddie takes refuge in anonymity, closed off to the past. Sara, too, has distanced herself from their love, moving thousands of miles away to live the life she once railed against. As Eddie and Sara tentatively open up to Cecilia about broken dreams, she struggles to give them a happy ending. In the process, she learns that broken hearts can be healed―even her own. What You Do To Me is the story of a love song and of the triumph of the heart over the greatest of odds. Even for those who have written off love forever. ~amazon.com

Review: A song can transport you to a moment or a person or even a time period in your life. Sometimes it'll spark a memory you have forgotten or it just helps your mood. We all have a song or probably many that can do this for us. Not only that but there are song where you wonder who or what the inspiration was and that is what Ms. Weinstein explores in What You Do to Me? 

Cecilia James is an up & coming journalist at Rolling Stone but she needs that big break to get her own byline but at what expense. She's in Miami for another meeting when she happens upon a lady sitting on a bench upset about the tragedy marker. She also leaves a piece of paper behind, which is what sets Cecilia on a path to find out the truth behind one of the most famous songs and who is behind it. 

The story is told by Cecilia in the 90s and Sara in the 70s/80. I loved Sara's voice and reading about her struggles with falling in love with someone where she knew it was impossible but trying to find a way to make it happen. Sara is trying to live her life while honoring the traditions of her faith but her mom has much stricter rules. I loved the closeness of Sara's family but I could also see how suffocating it would be for a young women who wants to experience life outside her bubble. She's trying to define her own life while still trying to live into her family expectations. 

CeCe is dealing with some unresolved baggage from her parents marriage and divorce. She's never forgiven her father for walking out on them and has her deceased mom on a pedastal. When things go south for her in her relationship, she has no one else to turn to but her dad and his wife, Tori. It is here where Cece begins to heal and let her walls fall down. It is also the story of Sara and Eddie that helps her heal as well and figure out what she really wants. 

This is a pretty emotional book; well at least it was for me. I loved both women's journey to figuring out their lives. Both of them were dealing with things that were holding them back from the lives they wanted and yes they were different but obstacles are obstacles. 

I will read anything Ms. Weinstein writes but this is definitely her best novel so far! If you haven't read her, you really should. 

Julie's Review: The Summer of Songbirds

Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Series: None
Publication Date:  August 1, 2020
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Pages: 368
Obtained: Purchased
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Sign me up for adult summer camp but only if it's Holly Springs
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Summary: Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything for, and begins to realize how much she has used the camp to avoid facing difficulties in her life. June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, during a fateful summer at camp. They’ve all helped each other through hard things, from heartbreak and loss to substance abuse and unplanned pregnancy, and the three are inseparable even in their thirties. But when attorney Daphne is confronted with a relationship from her past—and a confidential issue at work becomes personal—she is faced with an impossible choice. Lanier, meanwhile, is struggling with tough decisions of her own. After a run-in with an old flame, she is torn between the commitment she made to her fiancé and the one she made to her first love. And when a big secret comes to light, she finds herself at odds with her best friend…and risks losing the person she loves most. But in spite of their personal problems, nothing is more important to these songbirds than Camp Holly Springs. When the women learn their childhood oasis is in danger of closing, they band together to save it, sending them on a journey that promises to open the next chapters in their lives. ~amazon.com 

Review: I did go to summer camp but it was church camp and we didn't have all the freedoms that Camp Holly Spring provided BUT I did have a blast. No long-term friendships but that doesn't mean that I don't remember people fondly. I think what Daphne, Mary Stuart and Lanier find at Camp Holly Springs is rare and extraordinary. To be that close 25+ years later and to count on each other on a daily basis is something I admire. 

I love how they rally around June and figure out a way to try to save Camp Holly Springs. They each have their strengths and count on that to pull of the plans they put in place. This is of course while 2 of them are wrestling with their love lives. They also don't keep secrets from each other so when Daphne's profession causes her to keep something from Lanier, she feels guilty but she does have a child she needs to think of as well.

Much of the book focuses on Daphne and Lanier with Mary Stuart being the secondary character but she is one of the reasons why the trio works. Each of them bring something to their friendship; even if they have their fights. 

I love the way Ms. Harvey writes her female characters, their friendships and sisterhood. She has a knack for making you want to walk into her books to chat and befriend her characters. Plus she always has the most gorgeous settings for her novels. 

If you haven't read her books, then you can start here or go to her backlist. Either way, you won't be disappointed. 

Julie's Review: The Coffee Shop of Curiosities

Author: Heather Webber
Series: None
Publication Date:  August 1, 2023
Publisher: Forge Publishing
Pages: 320
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Sometimes you have to take chances to live
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Summary: A mysterious letter. An offer taken. And the chance to move forward. When Ava Harrison receives a letter containing an unusual job listing one month after the sudden death of her ex-boyfriend, she thinks she’s being haunted. The listing―a job as a live-in caretaker for a peculiar old man and his cranky cat in Driftwood, Alabama―is the perfect chance to start a new life. A normal life. Ava has always been too fearful to even travel, so no one’s more surprised than she is when she throws caution to the wind and drives to the distant beachside town. On the surface, Maggie Mae Brightwell is a bundle of energy as she runs Magpie’s, Driftwood’s coffee and curiosity shop, where there’s magic to be found in pairing the old with the new. But lurking under her cheerful exterior is a painful truth―keeping busy is the best way to distract herself from the lingering loss of her mama and her worries about her aging father. No one knows better than she does that you can’t pour from an empty cup, but holding on to the past is the only thing keeping the hope alive that her mama will return home one day. Ava and Maggie soon find they’re kindred spirits, as they’re both haunted―not by spirits, but by regret. Both must learn to let go of the past to move on―because sometimes the waves of change bring you to the place where you most belong. ~amazon.com

Review: There is something special about Heather Webber's books for me. Perhaps is the bit of magic that she sprinkles along the way but I think it's also how she writes her characters. From the eccentric, to the secretive to the hurting, all of them are key parts to the story she's weaving. The story begins and ends with Ava but it is her journey that ends up bringing the small town together and healing old wounds. 

I loved all of the characters in this novel and the interpersonal relationships even if they were complicated at times because well life is complicated. Dez and Maggie have always had a special father/daughter relationship but lately Dez has been acting odd and Maggie is getting concerned. Maggie has her own health issues to worry about and she needs to take care of herself but she's too busy worrying about and taking care of the town. Plus there's all kinds of rumors abound about Dez selling the coffee shop that Maggie's mom opened before she disappeared years ago and Maggie can't let it go. Plus an old flame of hers and re-emerged and wants to rekindle what they had. 

Then there's the mysterious Sam who Ava finds herself drawn to him and of course his dog, Norman. Ava who is still working through the grief of her friend, Alexander and trying to live a normal life. She's worried about her own health issues she had when she was younger. 

I loved the matching of the curiosities from the coffee shop with people that seemed random but really put them on their correct path in life. 

If you are a fan of Sarah Addison Allen's novels, then you should definitely pick up Heather Webbers's books. 

Julie's Review: Charm City Rocks

Author: Matthew Norman
Series: None
Publication Date:  June 6, 2023
Publisher: Dell Books
Pages: 368
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction; Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Mr. Norman does it again
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Summary: Billy Perkins is happy. And why wouldn’t he be? He loves his job as an independent music teacher and his apartment in Baltimore above a record shop called Charm City Rocks. Most of all, he loves his brainy teenage son, Caleb. Margot Hammer, on the other hand, is far from happy. The former drummer of the once-famous band Burnt Flowers, she’s now a rock-and-roll recluse living alone in New York City. When a new music documentary puts Margot back in the spotlight, she realizes how much she misses her old band and the music that gave her life meaning.  Billy has always had a crush on Margot. But she’s a legitimate rock star—or, at least, she was—so he never thought he’d meet her. Until Caleb, worried that his easygoing dad might actually be lonely, cooks up a scheme to get Margot to perform at Charm City Rocks. It’s the longest of long shots, but Margot’s label has made it clear that any publicity is an opportunity she can’t afford to miss. When their paths collide, Billy realizes that he maybe wasn’t as happy as he thought—and Margot learns that sometimes the sweetest music is a duet. ~amazon.com 

Review: Matthew Norman is a can't miss author for me. His sense of humor is right up my alley and he always has clever insights on life. I have loved each on of his books and Charm City Rocks is no different. This one is a love letter to his home city of Baltimore and 90s girl bands. 

Billy Perkins loves his life. He likes teaching students music, loves living above a record store and really loves spending time with his son, Caleb. He doesn't even mind sharing the kid with his ex, Robyn. It works well for the 3 of them, 4 if you count the co-dad, Aaron. Things are going to change though even if none of them are completely aware. The biggest change will be set off by Caleb himself and lead Billy to meet his teenage crush, Margot Hammer. 

Unlike Billy, Margot doesn't love her life. Her daughter, Poppy, definitely doesn't think she's happy. In fact it's been a long time since she's been happy because she lost what made her the happiest...her music. Since her epic meltdown on the MTV Awards she's shielded herself from the world in her loft in NYC. Being thrown into a situation she doesn't know how to handle in a city she's not familiar with she goes into a bar and the rest it history. 

Except it's not always easy and being a famous rock star that is back from the oblivion has some drawbacks. Like thrusting Billy into the limelight and making Margot deal with issues she thought she buried. 

I just adored this book. It's about 2nd chances at life and love but it's also about family. It's really just a feel good book that I suggest you read. 

Julie's Review: The Second Ending

Author: Michelle Hoffmann
Series: None
Publication Date:  May 30, 2023
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 352
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Redefining yourself no matter what your age
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Summary: Prudence Childs was once the most famous kindergartner on the planet. After teaching herself to play piano at age three, she performed at the White House, appeared on talk shows, and inspired a generation to take up lessons. But as adolescence closed in, Prudence realized that she was being exploited and pushed into fame by her cruel grandmother, so she ran away. Broke and alone, she took a job writing commercial jingles, which earned her a fortune but left her creatively adrift. Now forty-eight, with her daughters away at school, Prudence agrees to compete on a wildly popular dueling pianos TV show to reconnect with her inner artist. Unfortunately, her new spotlight captures the attention of her terrible ex-husband, Bobby, who uses the opportunity to blackmail her over a long-buried secret. If she doesn’t win, she won’t just be a musical failure; she’ll also be bankrupt and exposed in front of millions. Her on-air rival, virtuoso Alexei Petrov, a young internet sensation with a massive audience and a dreamy Russian accent, has problems of his own. His demanding parents made him a technically flawless pianist but left him without friends, hobbies, or any kind of life outside his music. As they prepare to face off onstage, the retired prodigy and the exhausted wunderkind realize that the competition is their chance to prove to their bad exes, tyrannical family members, and, most important, themselves that it’s never too late to write a new ending.

Review: I find that as I get a bit older, I have loved reading about more mature characters and how they are approaching life as certain points in their lives are coming to an end. This is the case for Prudence Childs, her daughters are now out of the house in college and her husband still has to travel for his job. So to say she is a bit bored and lost is an understatement. Her husband tries everything he can think of and then he has her childhood piano delivered. This brings back memories of her not so happy childhood and she's not sure she wants to play it again. Then of course life throws her a curve ball when her ex-husband shows up trying to blackmail her. 

The Second Ending is funny, hopeful, and reverent. Prudence hasn't had an easy life and that has made her hard in some ways but her resilience is what endeared her to me. I also really liked Alexei and the fact that they understood each other even with their age difference. I liked how Alexei started to live the life he wanted, how he wanted control and how that gave him some peace. It also helped his relationship with his parents. 

This is a great novel about new beginnings and finding your passion or rediscovering it. 

Julie's Review: There Are No Rules for This

Author: J.J. Elliott
Series: None
Publication Date:  May 16, 2023
Publisher: She Writes Press
Pages: 248
Obtained: Emi Battaglia PR
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Novel that packs an emotional punch
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Summary: People like Feeney Simms don’t commit suicide. Beautiful, charismatic, mother of two, wife to a handsome, successful husband, beloved by her friends—this is not the typical picture of a tortured soul. But one summer night, Feeney drives to the beach and swallows a handful of pills. No note, no explanation, nothing. Like that, she’s gone. Faced with this loss, Ali, Max, and Liddy, Feeney’s closest friends, are left reeling, grappling with the devastating cocktail of grief, guilt, and anger that’s left in the wake of a suicide. In a desperate attempt to avoid further loss, the three women make the unorthodox (and very Feeney-like) decision to hold their own funerals while they are still alive—and the experience changes each of them in ways they couldn’t have imagined. ~amazon.com

Review: If you have dealt with someone dying by suicide then this book may not be for you as it could be triggering but it could also be healing. I have not dealt with this situation myself, so I can't judge if Ms. Elliott's characterizations are true to life but they felt like it while reading There Are No Rules for This. 

How would you react if one of your closest friends took their life by swallowing pills? What if they were the happiest and most centered person you knew? The one that always had the answers to any question you had. This is what Ali, Max and Liddy are launched into when their friend Feeney's husband calls to let them know she's gone. At first they are all dazed and going about their days on autopilot. The funeral isn't what they envisioned since her mom and sisters take it over. Max decides that they should throw their own funeral for her in the way they believe she would want to be remembered. 

What There Are No Rules for This shows is that people grieve in very different ways and go through a whole host of different emotions. Including being pretty selfish with their thoughts on who knew Feeney best. The fact of the matter is, they all saw what she wanted them to see. In the end, it begs the question how well do we know those who we believe we are closest to? Are we all ever really fully honest with those around us? 

I thought that Ms. Elliott represented the roller coaster of emotions in dealing with a death by suicide and how the people left behind deal with the ramification. 

Julie's Review: Love Buzz

Author: Neely Tubati-Alexander
Series: None
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 304
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Stunning debut
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Summary: A wretched maid of honor. A hangover from hell. Raucous Mardi Gras crowds. There isn’t much Serena Khan is enjoying about this four-day New Orleans destination bachelorette party for her semi-estranged cousin, the bride-to-be. UNTIL sparks fly with a handsome stranger, who—like her—is also from Seattle, at the ladies’ last stop of the evening, a Bourbon Street bar. After their conversation is cut short, Serena is overwhelmed by the desire to find the charming man with the brooding eyebrows, but her list of clues is pretty short:

His name is Julian

He lives on Chamber Hill

He works at a tech company

He loves Lil Wayne and Nirvana

The need to find him is, for Serena, both irresistible and totally irrational. In a few short weeks, her college alumni magazine is featuring her in a “Life at Thirty” feature, cementing her as a success story. She will have officially achieved the safe, stable life her late mother insisted upon. Julian is not part of the plan. As she combs Seattle for her New Orleans flame, stripping away the perfectly curated life that would have made her mother proud, Serena must decide if the pursuit of real passion is worth it, and fast, before she destroys the life she always thought she wanted. In a sharply funny, thoughtful, and romantic debut combining the wistfulness of Rebecca Serle with the witty sizzle of Emily Henry, Neely Tubati-Alexander prompts us all to ask if the life we’re living is a life worth loving. ~amazon.com

Review:  Love Buzz captured me from the opening lines and didn't let me go. If I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it or thinking about reading it. That says something to me about a debut novel, that it pulls you in so easily. What could have been a novel about only the "meet cute", it was so much more than that. Serena is on a trip that she didn't even want to take for a bachelorette who she hasn't been close to in 8 years but yet she's in New Orleans bored out of her mind. That is until a mysterious stranger approaches her at the bar and sets her life in a tail-spin. 

Serena has always played it safe. It is how she honors her mother and the hard work her mother had to do for her to go to college and make a better life for herself. She has a plan and that plan does not take into account meeting a handsome stranger and having feelings you've never had before. She is methodical and strategic definitely not whimsical and dreamy. 

I really can't tell you much more or I'll give away the whole story. Ms. Tubati-Alexander does a fantastic job of describing someone who is really having a total change of heart regarding her life. What it's like to question every choice you've made and who it is you are trying to make happy with those choice? It's also about letting go of the past and realizing that your view isn't the only one, especially when dealing with grief. 

I will tell you this, I'm buying a copy of this book and will pre-order anything Ms. Tubati-Alexander writes in the future. She knows how to tell a beautiful story. 

Julie's Review: The Aubrey Hepburn Estate

Author: Brenda Janowitz
Series: None
Publication Date:  April 18, 2023
Publisher: Graydon House
Pages: 368
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Wasn't expecting the twist but as usual a great story
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Summary: When Emma Jansen discovers that the grand Long Island estate where she grew up is set to be demolished, she can't help but return for one last visit. After all, it was a place filled with firsts: learning to ride a bike, sneaking a glass of champagne, falling in love. But once Emma arrives at the storied mansion, she can't ignore the more complicated memories. Because that's not exactly where Emma grew up. Her mother and father worked for the family that owned the estate, and they lived over the garage like Audrey Hepburn's character in the film Sabrina. Emma never felt fully accepted, except by the family's grandson, Henry—a former love—and by the driver’s son, Leo—her best friend. As plans for the property are put into motion and the three are together for the first time in over a decade, Emma finds herself caught between two worlds and two loves. And when the house reveals a shattering secret about her own family, she’ll have to decide what kind of life she really wants for herself now and who she wants to be in it. ~amazon.com 

Review: I've been a big Brenda Janowitz fan since reading The Dinner Party and her writing gets better with each book. How do you leave the past behind when it keeps coming into your present? Even more daunting how do you reconcile the past that is true with the past that you thought was your truth? Emma has very fond memories of growing up in a fancy estate where her parents helped to run the household. It's also where she fell in love with her childhood best friend, who was the grandson of the estate owners. Of course it isn't that easy since his grandfather and her mother forbade them from being together. What do you do when your other childhood best friend buys the property and wants to tear down the main house to build a housing community. She's not on board and even joins a local organization to stop Leo from building it. 

Emma is in quite the quandary with Leo and Henry. It is so easy for the 3 of them to fall back into the roles they had as teenagers. Except are these the roles they are supposed to be in as adults. Emma also has her own journey she needs to take part in and figure out who she is, who she wants to be and how she reconciles the past. 

What I loved about this story was the meaning of home and how it doesn't always have to be tied to a physical place. As someone who has fond memories of her childhood home, it is hard to let go of, even though you know the memories you made there are what counts. This is something that Emma has to learn as well. 

I liked the tie to Audrey Hepburn but it's definitely not what you think when you go into the book, which makes in better in my opinion. 

If you haven't read any of Ms. Janowitz' books, I highly suggest you go and read her back list or start with this one! 

Julie's Review: The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise

Author: Colleen Oakley
Series: None
Publication Date:  March 28, 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 352
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Delightful story about friendship and life
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Summary: Twenty-one-year-old Tanner Quimby needs a place to live. Preferably one where she can continue sitting around in sweatpants and playing video games nineteen hours a day. Since she has no credit or money to speak of, her options are limited, so when an opportunity to work as a live-in caregiver for an elderly woman falls into her lap, she takes it. One slip on the rug. That’s all it took for Louise Wilt’s daughter to demand that Louise have a full-time nanny living with her. Never mind that she can still walk fine, finish her daily crossword puzzle, and pour the two fingers of vodka she drinks every afternoon. Bottom line: Louise wants a caretaker even less than Tanner wants to be one. The two start off their living arrangement happily ignoring each other until Tanner starts to notice things—weird things. Like, why does Louise keep her garden shed locked up tighter than a prison? And why is the local news fixated on the suspect of one of the biggest jewelry heists in American history who looks eerily like Louise? And why does Louise suddenly appear in her room, with a packed bag at 1 a.m.  insisting that they leave town immediately? Thus begins the story of a not-to-be-underestimated elderly woman and an aimless young woman who—if they can outrun the mistakes of their past—might just have the greatest adventure of their lives. ~amazon.com

Review: You know how some books and characters just bring you joy? Well this is definitely one of those books for me. From the moment I started reading the first page, I knew I was in for an adventure. Tanner has been kicked out of her house by her mom because "it's time". Luckily she can move in with a friend of the family, Louise Wilt, to be her caretaker which pretty much means being her driver to appointments and her weekly bridge game. Tanner doesn't have the first clue about caregiving but she can handle driving. 

Louise is set in her ways since her husband died a few years prior and breaking her hip put a cramp in her style. She likes to be independent and do her own thing so when her daughter insists she get a live-in caretaker, she's none to happy. Plus she's a little on edge since getting a letter from someone in her past. 

Tanner isn't there long before Louise is telling her to pack up her stuff and head out. Tanner really doesn't have a choice because Louise can't drive and really she doesn't have much else going on. 

These 2 cracked me up. Louise has some great one-liners while making points with Tanner. Tanner is still trying to figure out her life after her accident. She's so uptight and serious which is why Louise loves to rib her so much. 

This novel is full of heart, joy and laughter. It is not without some poignaint moments as well. I loved this book and it will definitely be one of my favorites for 2023. If you haven't read Colleen Oakley yet, this is a great place to start. 

Julie's Review: The Comeback Summer

Author: Ali Brady
Series: None
Publication Date:  May 9, 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 480
Obtained: Authors - Sisterhood of the Traveling ARC
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: A book about sisters and their relationship is always a must read for me and this one hits all the points
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Summary: Hannah and Libby need a miracle. The PR agency they inherited from their grandmother is losing clients left and right, and the sisters are devastated at the thought of closing. The situation seems hopeless—until in walks Lou, an eccentric self-help guru who is looking for a new PR agency. Her business could solve all their problems—but there’s a catch. Whoever works with Lou must complete a twelve-week challenge as part of her “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program. Hannah, whose worst nightmare is making small talk with strangers, is challenged to go on twelve first dates. Libby, who once claimed to have period cramps for four weeks straight to get out of gym class, is challenged to compete in an obstacle course race. The challenges begin with Hannah helping Libby train and Libby managing the dating app on her sister’s behalf. They’re both making good progress—until Hannah’s first love rolls into town, and Libby accidentally falls for a guy she’s supposed to be setting up with her sister. Things get even more complicated when secrets come to light, making the sisters question the one relationship they’ve always counted on: each other. With their company’s future on the line, they can’t afford to fail. But in trying to make a comeback to honor their grandmother, are they pushing themselves down the wrong path? ~amazon.com

Review: Any book about sisters will get an automatic add to my TBR list/pile because I think it's one of the most important relationships you can have. You learn a lot about someone with how they relate to their sister. I'm very lucky because my sister is my best friend but trust me when I say it wasn't always that way. Hannah and Libby relied on each other from a very young age since their parents weren't the most stable. The only stable adult was their grandmother, GiGi, whom they worshiped. So it was only natural for them to take over GiGi's PR business when she passed but it's not as easy as she made it seem and they are bleeding money. A miracle in the name of Lou comes into their office with an offer to be her PR firm but they both have to first complete a 12 week challenge that focuses on their opportunities. 

For Libby that means training for an obstacle course race which is way out of her comfort zone but she has her sister by her side for this challenge. Hannah has to go on dates because she's not really comfortable with social interactions but Libby offers to do the hard work, swiping on the dating app and initial conversations. Of course things don't go as either of them planned but they do learn about themselves and each other. 

It's always the journey that is the most interesting part of the story and that is the case in The Comeback Summer. Libby discovers that her body is stronger than she ever thought about and that she doesn't have to always take care of everyone, maybe it's ok for someone to take care of her for a change.  Hannah learns that she's always relied on other people and not herself but that she can't keep doing that in order to spread her wings and fly. Most of all they learn that the roles they have taken on for each other need to be broken and turned into something new if they are going to have the type of relationship both of them want. 

I must say that there is nothing better than Chicago or it's suburbs in the summer. Ali Brady definitely caputured that in their 2nd novel. It is magic and definitely something to experience if you've never done it. Chicago gets a bad rep in the news and I loved how they highlighted the good things about the city here. 

I would highly recommend you put this on your list for it's release date in May!