Hello hello!

I’m here. I’m alive. I’m reading.

It’s just been busyyyyy with us leaving Chicago, landing in California, being hit with some kidney stones, trying to find an apartment, trying to unpack, trying to keep the kids busy and active. Trying to be a human.

But I have not stopped reading. And I finished typing up my reviews this morning so copying/pasting the past two months of reviews! (Some are more detailed than others — those are usually the ones I typed up right after I read the book. Ha. I’m telling ya, once I’ve finished a book and start a new one, the details all exit my brain).

THERE WERE SOME GOOD ONES THESE PAST TWO MONTHS! Let me know if you’ve read any! And what you’re reading now?!

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Strangers by Belle Burden:

I just think it’s wild that this is a real story and that we all collectively – as an entire society – despise this man. Belle Burden did a beautiful job taking something so painful and raw and writing it so beautifully. The osprey parallels were just so good. I would read anything she writes!

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The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

I was really looking forward to this one because the premise sounded so promising. Unfortunately, the pacing felt a little uneven and I started losing interest around the 3/4 mark. I was committed by then, so I obviously had to finish it.

That said, Rosie Walsh writes in a way that’s incredibly easy and addicting to read which kept me turning the pages even when the story itself wasn’t fully working for me.

My biggest issue was that the plot leaned a little too heavily on coincidences. It felt like every big reveal was another “Ohhh, and this person is connected to that person?!” Too much. Overall, I wanted to love this one way more than I actually did.

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One & Only by Maurene Goo:

This was such a cute romance! I loved the magical realism woven throughout the story.

One of my favorite characters was Cassia’s best friend. I loved her commitment to NOT getting her face read or finding out who her “perfect match” was. She had made her choice, and she was genuinely happy with it.

It was such a good reminder that there may always be someone who’s a “better” or more “perfect” match, but that doesn’t mean we can’t build a beautiful, fulfilling, and joyful life with the choices we make.

Overall, this was a great read and I really enjoyed it!

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Good At Being Alive by Elizabeth O’Roark:

Had a hard time getting into this one. I didn’t love Bex’ inner monologue and didn’t love the way they communicated (or didn’t communicate) with one another.

I also feel like their love story happened rather quickly and made me wonder if I missed the part they fell in love. Ha.

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Theo of Golden by Allen Levi:

This book, this book, this book.

I’m blown away that this is the author’s first novel. The writing was so beautiful. Every chapter had me wanting to put down the book and immerse myself in my real life. Which, ironically, is the opposite effect a book has on me. But it was SO GOOD. It made me want to LOOK AROUND at the playground, make eye contact with the people I interact with daily, stop and pay attention to my kids and the beautiful things they are doing every moment of every day.

Gosh this book will stay with me forever. A book I will want to re-read. The words, the writing. OH SO GOOD.

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The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett:

What a book. I haven’t read anything quite like it.

I loved how it explored the imperfections of people and what it means to be human. How far we’ll go to protect the people we love. Even when the choices aren’t easy. I also really appreciated the contrast between the two groups of women: one willing to throw others under the bus to protect themselves, and the other fiercely loyal, standing by each other no matter what.

And gosh I loved Birdie. What an absolute gem of a human. Her sensitive heart and her willingness to show up for people (even those who, in my opinion, didn’t quite deserve that level of loyalty).

Such a GOOD book. I wish the ending had been a little longer because I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to these characters.

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Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick:

I love and appreciate a book that brings up mental health issues. I mean, I’m a sucker for a romance. But throw in some relatable anxiety, and I’m sold.

This one was a fun, quick read. Loved it!

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The Shippers by Katherine Center:

This was a fun, easy rom-com and exactly the kind of book I’d throw in a beach bag. Set on a cruise ship, it’s a childhood friends-to-lovers romance that’s pretty predictable, but sometimes that’s exactly what you’re in the mood for.

I will say, the author *really* wanted us to hate the ex-fiance. And basically every other love interest who wasn’t the childhood friend. It got a little over-the-top at times, and I found myself wishing for a bit more nuance.

My favorite part was actually the ending. I loved getting a little more insight into Jojo’s dad and why he was the way he was. It was a sweet reminder that love doesn’t always look the way we expect it to, and that some relationships are worth fighting for. I found myself just as invested in the father-daughter relationship as I was in the romance.

Overall, this was a cute, predictable beach read. Nothing groundbreaking, but it was fun, entertaining, and I had a good time with it!

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The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff:

This was such a beautifully written book. The story is full of amazing metaphors that weave seamlessly into the story.

April and Leo are jolted awake in the middle of the night when a burner left on starts a fire. They escape safely with their two children, but while their house isn’t completely destroyed, it’s no longer livable. As they’re forced to rebuild their home, they’re also forced to confront the parts of their marriage that are “burning.” Some parts are still strong, while others have begun to crumble.

I loved how thoughtfully the author explored marriage. Through both April and Leo’s relationship and April’s parents’ marriage, we see that love takes effort, communication, forgiveness, and a willingness to keep showing up for one another.

Another aspect I really appreciated was the way the author portrayed the lasting impact of childhood experiences. Our past doesn’t just disappear. It shapes our nervous systems, our relationships, and the ways we respond to conflict. It was a message that healing ourselves isn’t just for our own sake; it impacts the people we love and the families we’re building.

This was such a beautiful, deeply human story. I loved the writing, the emotional depth, and the compassion the author brought to every character.

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Some solid reads this month!

Hopefully I’ll be back to sharing more regularly soon.

In the mean time, I’ll be reading!

BYE!