Review: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was really late getting to this novel despite hearing raves for months. And I really wish I'd picked it up earlier ... it's a beautiful novel. It think this one will definitely be in my 2018 favorites list. This is a novel that explores the life of a man named Cyril from his birth (in the 1940s) through today in Ireland. It is about family, friendship, love, and identity. The novel tells the story of Cyril but it's so much more than just a story of one man's life. It's so fantastic! I don't want to tell you too much because it was wonderful to just fall into this book. It's a sweeping novel that just took my breath away.

One of the interesting aspects of this novel is the exploration of the political and cultural impact of the Catholic Church on life in Ireland over time. I definitely 'knew' about it but this novel really make it come alive for me. I also loved the exploration of identity - who we are, how we present ourselves to the world and how societal norms impact those things.

I will say that sometimes Cyril drove me crazy ... but I think that was the point! He didn't always make the best decisions or do the right thing ... and I could relate to that aspect. Even if he didn't do what I would have done ... He isn't a perfect character but he is engaging and compelling.

Heartbreaking, life-affirming, witty, thoughtful and so much more! I highly recommend this novel. So good!

[I'm nervous to say this but ... it was somewhat similar to A Little Life but not nearly as emotional or cutting. A Little Life KILLED me whereas this one simply punched me in the gut. But, it has a similar emotional resonance but just a little tamer than A Little Life. But, it has a similar feel in terms of scope.]

Review: Hard Sell by Lauren Layne

Hard Sell by Lauren Layne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Could not put this down! Loved it even more than the first book in the series. I was intrigued by Matt and Sabrina when reading the first book so I'm excited to get his story. These two are so HOT ... although this book is a take on the whole enemies to lovers trope, I think it was so well done.
It wasn't just a series of petty arguments ... there was so much more than that. They are both struggling and their difficulty with vulnerability makes for a great story. I love the characters in this series ... they all work together so perfectly! You won't regret reading this one.

This one will be released on September 4th!

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Review: The Breakup by Erin McCarthy

The Breakup by Erin McCarthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As I enjoyed the first book in this series, I was eager to pick this one up. I liked this one as well but it took a little bit of time to get there. This series is a bit grittier than much of what I read which is one of the reasons that I like it. It feels a bit different and novel to me. The characters are flawed with a capital F. But, one of the things I love about this one is that the book allows you to watch the characters really grow as people. The heroine, Bella, was particularly difficult to like initially. But, she came together for me as she grew as a person. Christian is a fascinating hero and I loved learning more about him as the book moved forward. They are a really interesting couple and I loved watching them grow into each other over the book. Really liked this one ... warning - it's quite sexy so if that's not your kind of romance, this won't be for you. But, if you're ok with some heat, this is a good one to read!

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me a free copy of the book for an honest review.

Review: Tossed Into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Tossed Into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I adored the first novel in this series so I was so excited to pick this one up. Although I didn't love it as much as the first in the series, it is a good one. Part of what I struggled with for this one is the hero ... his treatment of the heroine at the beginning of the novel was difficult for me to move past. But, I eventually did as he began to explain his actions and grow from them. Libby is the BEST so it was hard to get over how Antonio treated her ... but he did redeem himself. It was exciting to see her grow and figure out her future over the span of the book. I definitely recommend this series. Reynolds has done a wonderful job creating this world and these characters. This one is pretty sexy so if you prefer your romance to be tamer, you may not love this one. Can't wait to go pick up the 2nd in the series. And January needs to hurry up so I can read the 4th! Really liked this one and recommend it.

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book for my honest review.

Review: Down with Love by Kate Meader

Down with Love by Kate Meader
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let me start with Kate Meader ... love her and was SO excited to see that she had a new series! This first novel in the series was so good that I'm really looking forward to seeing what's to come with the series. Max is a fantastic hero - he is jaded about love after years as a divorce attorney. It was so fun to see him grow as a man in this book. And Charlie ... she is fantastic - a wedding planner who is seeking love. She's a great character - full of sass and intelligence that hide her insecurities. And their story is so good - the build up is fantastic, the side characters come alive on the page and I could not put this book down. I connected with this couple and loved watching them come together. Charlie's foster parents were a stand out for me ... love the side story about their relationship. All in all, LOVE this one and highly recommend. (And if you haven't tried Kate Meader, you should ... she's a great romance writer).

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review.

Review: Wedding Surprise by Ann B. Harrison

Wedding Surprise by Ann B. Harrison
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I struggled with this one a bit. I liked some aspects but didn't like others. But, there were some things that I had a hard time getting past that impacted the overall experience of reading it. There wasn't a lot to this romance ... it was more of a story about coming home again and making amends with your past. There wasn't much actual romance to be had in this one - I'd definitely classify this one as a CLOSED door romance. I wonder if reading the earlier novels in the series would have helped me with this one a bit - I felt like I was catching up on the history of this couple for the entire book. Many of the decisions made by the various characters didn't make sense to me. I could have lived with one or two but it felt like every decision made didn't make sense to me based on the story. And it felt like the hero and heroine (and the other characters) all had the same conversation over and over and over. The story just never came together for me and I didn't love it. It's a fine book but it didn't blow me away. I'm not sure why but it appears that others enjoyed it more than I did. So, if the premise sounds interesting, please give it a shot.

NOTE: Thank you for the publisher for a free copy of the book for an honest review.

Review: Fling Club by Tara Brown

Fling Club by Tara Brown
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I don't think I'm the audience for this book ... it was definitely a YA romance but I could not get past some of the big flaws that I found while reading. The entire fling club concept was insulting and I can't believe smart girls would go along with this and ever think it was ok. Maybe I'm just jaded but I found it to be ridiculous. The hero and heroine were fine but I think the only character that I actually really enjoyed was Ella (Cherry's sister) and she was very much a side character. There was a lot of repetition in the narrative which didn't work for me. But, what concerned me the most, was the slut shaming that was repetitively brought up over and over. I don't think it's a good message - particularly for a romance that is geared towards teens. All in all, this novel did not work for me. But, the reviews on this one say something very different as many readers didn't feel similarly to me. So, if the premise sounds good to you, I'd recommend that you give it a shot. Perhaps my own issues and perspective didn't make for a good match with this one.

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review.

Review: In Too Deep by Dani Collins

In Too Deep by Dani Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Since I enjoyed the previous book in this series, I was looking forward to this one. And it was good but not great. It is a good read but there were flaws that I had a hard time getting past. For one, the hero was annoying for the vast majority of the book. I just could not get connected with him. He was often flippant and seemed to be frustratingly obtuse. I did eventually connect with him but it took entirely too long for me. I love Wren and Sky ... they were what is the best about this book. Once I warmed up to Trigg, it all came together for me. But, not liking him for most of the book really impacted my overall impression of the book. I know that the point was that Trigg was difficult but Collins ended up making him too unlikeable for me. But, it's still a good book. Based on the reviews, most readers didn't have this issue with Trigg so definitely give it a shot.

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Review: Making Chase by Lauren Dane

Making Chase by Lauren Dane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although this is the 4th in a series, this one is definitely able to be read as a stand-alone novel. I really liked the dynamic that's been set up in this novel. You don't always see a girl from the wrong side of the tracks with a guy from the right side of the track's dynamic done well but I really liked how it played out in this book. The heroine is fantastic although she's got a lot of insecurity. I love how her romance with the hero helped her work through those issues. She is such a kind, hard-working character and it was nice to see her begin to find more balance so she can also take care of herself instead of just taking care of everyone else. The families in this book are fantastic! I'm not sure they were truly realistic (who is so perfect?) but they were great to read about. It was nice to see Matt work hard to make his relationship with Tate work - to help her address what needed to be addressed so she could fully open herself up to their relationship. It was a really fantastic novel. I will note that there is a lot of sex in this one - it's definitely an OPEN door romance. If explicit sex isn't for you, I'd skip this one. But, if that's ok with you, you'll find lots of sexy time in this one.

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Review: Playing Hurt by Kelly Jamieson

Playing Hurt by Kelly Jamieson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I quite like this series and I found this new addition to the series to be rather good. I loved Jordyn and Chase - their witty banter and the growth of their relationship was so well done. I love how well Jamieson balances the sweetness of relationships with the sexy heat of relationships. The balance is really good and one of the reasons that I enjoy this series. I found myself grabbing every moment that I can to get back to reading this one. I highly recommend this book as well as the series as a whole. Although part of a series, each of them is written as a stand-alone so jumping in at any point will be fine.

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Review: Reckless by Leigh LaValle

Reckless by Leigh LaValle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a solid romance that I liked. It didn't blow me away but it was a good opposite attract romance. It had a little bit of everything - humor, emotional depth, and a quite solid HEA. I love the yoga hippie/workaholic interactions that were interwoven into the story. The extreme differences between the heroine and hero really made for an interesting read. Although it's the second in a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I liked this one but didn't love it. If the opposites attract trope is your thing, you will likely really enjoy it!

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Review: The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked Riley Sager's first novel and this follow up was just as good for me (maybe even a smidge better ...). I admire Sager's ability to create a sinister mood that gives the reader a strong sense of unease while also making the reader never want to put the book down! Although my own camp experiences were very different than the one described in the book (I was much older when I went to camp), I found the entire camping aspect of the story to be so well done! The setting that Sager created was fantastic and really give the book a sense of realness. This book is an excellent example of a psychological thriller - it kept me on my toes, made me think, kept me guessing and made me think. All the things I love in a good thriller! Overall, I found this to be a really satisfying thriller. It may be one of the best thrillers that I've read so far this year. Highly recommended!

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this novel for an honest review.

Review: Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott

Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Friendship, secrets, chemistry, and competition sums up this novel for me. This is what I'd describe as a slow burn thriller. It isn't fast-paced or full of twists and turns but it's a solid exploration of friendship and competition. Megan Abbott is so good at this sort of novel - it keeps you on your toes yet it's slowly paced and things are unveiled in a very Megan Abbott way (if you've read her other work, you'll know what I mean). I heard a few interviews with her on various podcasts which really helped me dig deeper into the themes of the novel after hearing her perspective of what she was interested in exploring with this book so you may want to seek some of those out after finishing the book. There is an amazing sinister feel to this novel and Abbott creates that sense effortlessly. There are really multiple narratives happening here -the one on the surface and several others that are under the surface but really make the book come together comprehensively. This novel was quite well done but it's not for those of you who need a fast-paced thriller ... this one is a bit slower and thoughtful. It's definitely worth a read! I definitely recommend this for Abbott fans - this is one of her best, in my opinion. And I also think this is a good starting place for Abbott's work if you haven't experienced her yet.

NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for a free ARC copy of this novel for an honest review.

Review: All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm an Emily Giffin fan from way back so I was eager to read this one which appeared to have a bit more complexity that we usually see with her novels. This novel explores some very timely themes such as racism, social media use, privilege and more. And I found that I quite liked it. I'm glad to see Giffin working to expand her focus to something a little more 'meaty.' It took me a little bit to really engage with the story but once I connected, I really connected. It was a compelling read about themes that interest me and I enjoyed seeing the different ways that she explored them. Not a heavy read but it does address some substantial issues. This is definitely a great summer read but good for any time of the year, of course. I especially connected with the fact that one of the characters felt compelled to really question her values and the impacts of putting those values into practice despite the potential consequences. That struggle really gave me a great deal to think about as a woman and as a mother. All in all, I highly recommend this one. I think it would be an excellent book club book as it is likely to bring up a great deal of conversation for the group.

Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean

Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh Sarah MacLean … you’ve done it again. I’m loving this new series. She can write about paint drying and I suspect I’d love it. She just has a way with words. The characters she builds in her novels are always complex and interesting. Although not a perfect book, it’s a solid addition to the Sarah MacLean bookshelf! Really love her and her books. Can’t wait for the next in this series.