The Block Party Book Review

 The Block Party

Author: Jamie Day

Published: 2023

Pages: 384

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

My Rating: 4.2/5

Summary

The Block Party follows the residents of Alton Road, an exclusive cul-de-sac in Meadowbrook, Massachusetts. It opens on Memorial Day, present day, foreshadowing the murder and disastrous events that occur at this year’s annual summer block party. Then it takes the reader back to last year’s block party, where the rivalries and betrayals first unfolded. The families discover that nothing and no one is ever as it seems, and when they think they know what’s happening behind closed doors, they certainly do not know the whole picture!

My Review

I found this book to be very entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I liked that it was very fast-paced, and I think Jamie Day does a great job at creating suspense for the reader. It’s filled with so many surprises and shocking events, and really keeps you hooked until the end where all the truths come out. When you think you know what’s going to happen, something crazier happens and it won’t be what you expect. The only complaint I have is that there are almost too many characters in the book to keep track of. I liked that the plot and storyline was very intricate, but I felt like some of the characters weren’t really necessary because they didn’t add much to the overall plot. The book switches off between two different narrators; Alex, a wife and mother, and Lettie, who is Alex’s daughter. The author also includes conversations from the online community page (a take on neighborhood apps), which adds a bit of humor and comic relief to the story.

Conclusion

Overall, I think this book was a fun and engaging read. If you like juicy neighborhood dramas, or mysteries and thrillers in general, I would highly recommend this book!

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Meet Me at the Lake Book Review

 Meet Me at the Lake

Author: Carley Fortune

Published: 2023

Pages: 336

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

My Rating: 4/5

Summary

Meet Me at the Lake follows the love story of Fern Brookbanks, a 32-year-old woman, and Will Baxter, her past fling who she can’t get off her mind. Fern and Will met by chance when they were both 22-years-old. After spending a glorious day together in Toronto exploring the city, they built a connection with one another but it wasn’t the right timing. So they made a pact to meet up again one year later. Fern showed up, but Will did not. Now, Fern is back home running her mother’s lakeside resort in Muskoka even though she promised herself that she never would, especially because her ex-boyfriend is the manager. The resort is in disarray and Fern is in desperate need of a plan. To her surprise, Will Baxter shows up, nine years too late. But Will may be the only person who can help save the resort. Will is also hiding something and Fern does not know if she can trust him. What will happen when Will reveals his big secret to Fern? And can Will help Fern save her mother’s lake resort?

My Review

First off, I loved the cover of this book which is part of the reason why I decided to give it a read. I really enjoyed this book, especially because it felt like a more realistic romance compared to some other books I’ve read. The summer vibes that this book gives off is also immaculate. The beginning was a little slow, but it picks up pace the more you read it. I loved the first encounter between Fern and Will, and I think Fortune did a great job at bringing the reader along on the adventurous day with them. Over the course of the book, I grew to admire both characters and was rooting for them as they confronted their feelings and rekindled their bond. 

Conclusion

This is the perfect summer read for when you’re at the lake or the beach. It’s cute, fun, entertaining, but also heart-wrenching at the same time. This book didn’t blow me out of the water, which is why I gave it a 4/5, but nonetheless it was still a very good book. If you’re a fan of second-chance romances, I highly recommend this book!

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Tuesdays with Morrie Book Review

 Tuesdays with Morrie

Author: Mitch Albom

Published: 1997

Pages: 210

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Classics, Inspirational, Philosophy, Self Help

My Rating: 5/5

Summary

Mitch Albom reunites with his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying from ALS. During a series of Tuesday visits, we as readers get to know Morrie more intimately as he shares his perspective on life and death. He shares his experience of living with a terminal illness to help others. Over the course of the book, his health slowly declines but his passion and love of life remains in high spirits. Although he knows his time is coming to an end, he embraces every single moment he has left on earth and uses his time to leave a lasting impact on others.

My Review

I read this book awhile back but it has stuck with me ever since, so I thought I should share. 

Life moves very fast and we often get so caught up in the motions of day-to-day life. Tuesdays with Morrie will shift your mind to live in the present and fully embrace life, and all that it has to offer. It will make you take less for granted, and appreciate everything and everyone in your life. This book is filled with so much wisdom, and will make you realize so many amazing truths about life and human nature. It is so easy to take what we have for granted, and complain when things don’t go our way. Mitch Albom describes this as living a “meaningless life,” where people seem half-asleep doing things they think are important. But in reality, they are chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning in your life is to, “Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

That is one of life’s greatest lessons, and this book does an incredible job at teaching it.  Tuesdays with Morrie is easily a 5/5 for me.

Conclusion

I could not recommend this book enough. It is so sad, yet very uplifting. It truly changed my perspective on life and I believe everyone should read it at least once. It will make you pause and reflect on your own life, and inspire you to live life to the fullest. If you’re looking for a short, inspirational read, I highly recommend this book.

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Reminders of Him Book Review

 Reminders of Him

Author: Colleen Hoover

Published: 2022

Pages: 335

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult

My Rating: 3.8/5

Summary

Reminders of Him is about Kenna, a 26-year-old woman who was recently released from prison after causing the death of her boyfriend, Scotty, five years ago. She returns to the town where she grew up in hopes of regaining custody of her and Scotty’s 4-year-old daughter, who lives with Scotty’s parents, the Landry's. While in town, Kenna meets Ledger, Scotty’s best friend, who is neighbors with the Landry’s and has been helping raise her daughter. Kenna does everything she can to try and make amends with Ledger and the Landry's, in order to fight for her daughter who she has never met. Will she be forgiven for her wrongdoings, or will she be forced to leave town forever without her daughter?

My Review

I have mixed feelings about this book. This is not on my favorites list of Colleen Hoover books, and maybe that is because the overall theme is very sad and depressing which isn’t the most entertaining for me. But I do respect the overarching theme of redemption and forgiveness. Although people can make bad decisions in their life, that doesn’t mean they are bad people, and that is what Colleen Hoover showed in this book. At first, I did not really understand Kenna and why she did what she did, but as the book went on I started feeling sympathy for her at times. I was also amazed that she remained hopeful despite the mistakes she made in her life and all of the false hope that she faced. There are so many sides to the story, and so many different ways to look at it, which is why this book is so captivating. 

Conclusion

I know some other people who have read this book and loved it, but it wasn’t for me. I understand and appreciate the message that Colleen Hoover is trying to send by writing this book, but I did not find it very entertaining and every time after I would put this book down I felt sad and my mood became affected. But if you’re looking for a good cry, then this book might be for you.

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It Ends With Us Book Review

 It Ends With Us

Author: Colleen Hoover

Published: 2016

Pages: 386

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, New Adult, Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 4.8/5

Summary

It Ends With Us follows Lily, a 23-year-old college graduate, who moves to Boston to start a new chapter of her life. She meets Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon who she ends up falling in love with. But her relationship with Ryle becomes more complicated after she runs into her first love interest, Atlas Corrigan, who she had lost contact with years before. She becomes overwhelmed with questions about her new relationship with Ryle, as well as her bond with Atlas. In the end, she is forced to make tough decisions in order to do what is best for her.

My Review

I absolutely LOVED this book. It is so riveting, powerful, and inspiring. This book will get you hooked from the very start. Hoover did an incredible job at portraying and shining a light on more sensitive topics, including domestic violence and relationship abuse. At first you don’t really realize the significance of certain moments and situations, but once it all comes together it makes so much sense and is so incredibly powerful. The underlying message of this book is about finding strength to make the right choice in a difficult situation, which is a tough reality for everyone and is so relatable. 

Conclusion

This book won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance in 2016. I would say this is one of my most favorite Colleen Hoover books (with Verity being my all-time favorite). This book is not a light, fluffy romance. It is a lot more intense and emotional, but that’s what makes it so good. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a more raw, heart-wrenching romance.

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Carrie Soto is Back Book Review

 Carrie Soto Is Back

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published: 2022

Pages: 400

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Sports

My Rating: 4.5/5

Summary

Carrie Soto Is Back follows the legendary tennis player, Carrie, as she makes her return to the sport of tennis at the age of 37, with the ultimate goal of reclaiming her record. She has sacrificed a lot to become the greatest, climbing to number 1 in the world during her prime. But shortly after her retirement, her record gets broken by British player, Nicki Chan. Carrie decides to come out of retirement and make a return with her father, Javier, as her coach. She spends countless hours training and practicing out on the courts with Bowe Huntley, a tennis professional who also came out of retirement to prove his capabilities. Carrie is faced with a lot of adversity during her comeback, but that doesn’t stop her from working hard and dreaming big. Will she be able to take her record back? And what will happen if she is forced to live with that defeat for the rest of her life?

My Review

For those of you who have read Malibu Rising (my previous book review) by Taylor Jenkins Reid, you might be familiar with Carrie Soto, a minor character from that book. I was a little hesitant at first to read this book because I knew nearly nothing about tennis and its rules, but you really don’t need to know much about tennis to understand what is happening. This book really dives into Carrie Soto’s life as a professional women’s tennis player, and what it’s like to be a professional athlete. I felt like Reid did a great job of setting the scene by providing a lot of background information on how Carrie Soto got into the sport of tennis, and the impact that her father had on her throughout her life. I absolutely adored Carrie’s close relationship with her father. It brought me back to when I was a kid and my dad was my basketball and softball coach. To me, this book felt like real life and captured the realness of what it’s like to be an older female athlete defying the odds. 

Conclusion

Overall this book is very compelling and highlights the importance of never giving up. I would recommend this to anyone who has played sports in the past or is currently playing a sport, or to anyone who wants an uplifting, inspirational read!

This book has won a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction in 2022.

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Malibu Rising Book Review

Malibu Rising

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published: 2021

Pages: 400

Genres: Historical Fiction, Saga, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Fiction

My Rating: 5/5

Summary

Malibu Rising follows the history and family dynamic of the well-known Riva family living in Malibu, California. Nina is a talented surfer and supermodel. Jay, is a championship surfer, and the other brother, Hud, is a renowned photographer. Kit is the youngest of the four Riva children. Their family is a source of fascination, especially because of their father, Mick Riva, who is a world famous singer. The book all leads up to the highly anticipated, annual end-of-summer party at the Riva mansion with the attendance of famous actors, musicians, athletes, surfers, and tennis players. The wild, dramatic party forever changes the relationships between family, friends, and lovers, and leaves everyone astonished.

My Review

I absolutely LOVED this book! Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite, if not the best, historical fiction authors! I felt like each character was very well-crafted. I loved how Reid switched off between the different characters’ points of view throughout the book because I really got to know who each person was on a deep level, and know exactly what was going on inside their mind. I especially loved reading about the character of Nina Riva, the oldest sibling, who had to sacrifice a lot in her life for her younger siblings. Reid does an amazing job of not only getting you to sympathize with the characters, but also empathize with them. I truly loved everything about this book: the characters, setting, storyline, and writing (and even the cover is so cool!) This book will make you cry, laugh, and feel every emotion in between. Easily a 5/5 for me!

Conclusion

Malibu Rising won Best Historical Fiction of 2021 for the Goodreads Choice Awards. I highly recommend it! It’s definitely a great summer read. I would say that it is less of a light, fluffy beach read but a much more complex and elevated book.

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