Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

This is the second book I have read by Andy Weir and it was average for me.

I wanted to branch out into the sci-fi genre to get a better feel for it and I had a hard time with all of the science-y jargon and terminology. Once I got past that, I did enjoy the storyline. It had a good basis and kept me interested enough to keep reading.

I liked Dr. Grace and thought his character was wonderfully complex in all the right ways, and I liked how we learned more about him and how he got into the situation he was in as the book unfolded. I also enjoyed Rocky, particularly once he developed and understood sarcasm. The friendship was adorable too

I did enjoy the last couple chapters the most, as Dr. Grace sacrificed his return to what he knew for the sake of his friendship with Rocky. The ending was not what I expected either, but it was heartwarming in its own way.

Overall, 3 ⭐️s. Sci-fi is just a harder genre for me to get into.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

After quite a long time hearing about this one, I decided to pick it up. I enjoyed the lightness of this book.

I really thought Tova was an adorable character, particularly how stubborn and set in her ways she was. But the disappearance of her son always haunted her, as it was an unsolved mystery. Throughout the book, the mystery unfolds and it brings an unlikely realization and relation.

I also liked the complexity of Cameron. He has quite a past and comes to town searching for someone who he thinks is his father. After weeks, he gets the chance to meet Simon Brinks. This again brings unlikely conclusions.

I’d give this one 3 1/2 ⭐️s. A very pleasant read but not anything that I feel like will stick with me long term.

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

Cue. the. tears!

I can honestly say it has been a very, very long time since I have cried while reading a book. Probably since I was a child. But man, thank you Rebecca Yarros. You have broken that streak.

Also, let me start out this review by saying 5 stars! Automatically way high up on the list of favorite books I’ve read. That should not surprise me, as her Empyrean series (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame) was ranked the same. And The Things We Leave Unfinished was a 4 star read for me too. But Rebecca has proven herself across multiple genres now and I will forever be a fan of her writing,

Anyway, back to The Last Letter! There are so many pieces of this story that I loved and adored. Honestly, my favorite character was Colt. Through all of the trials he faces with his family, his love and protection for those closest to him is fierce. He is loyal, and will go to the ends of the earth for those he loves most. Towards the ending of the book, the development in his character broke me.

Right behind Colt, I adored Maisie as well. She is truly a warrior in this story and puts on a very brave front for majority of the time. But the intimate moments between her and Beckett is where we get to peek into her vulnerability and her mask of bravery slips away. It was those moments that were truly heartbreaking too.

Ok…I give up. All four of the main characters were my favorite. Ella and Beckett were right up there too. I learned some complex lesson from each of them and thoroughly enjoy the development of each of them. As a whole, it was amazing to see their sacrifice and their stubbornness. It was so enduring to see how they molded together, broke apart briefly with indifferences, but then eventually found each other in time to mold back into an ending that was crushingly difficult, but also truly inspiring despite the difficulty.

Run to go get this one! I highly recommend! 5 stars for sure!!

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber

Awwww! What a cute story! I got wind of this book a few times last spring and added it to my list. This is one I do not regret.

The story starts out with circumstances forcing Anna Kate into something she was not looking forward to. As drama, family confusion and blame and a whole lot of meddling unfold in the six-week time frame, Anna Kate discovers herself and much much more.

I loved the intertwining of characters and how each one of them influences others as the story develops. I also loved the scenery of small town Wicklow. The overall atmosphere of the town really contributed to the story too. I’m going to give this one 5 ⭐️s! Go check it out!

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

Like many, I heard of J.D. Vance when he emerged as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate for the upcoming 2024 election. When I heard he had written a memoir of his life, I wanted to get my hands on it simply just to learn more about this senator from Ohio who was now in the national spotlight.

When I started reading through his memoir, I was amazed at the things he had to endure throughout his childhood and what his daily life looked like. It was also amazing to read about the lessons he learned and how he overcame his obstacles, especially experiencing things through his eyes.

Because it’s a memoir and I don’t want to give away any of the good stuff, I will leave this review simple. A 4 ⭐️ book for me, and one that’s a little change of pace for me.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

This was such a cute story, and I felt pretty heartwarming despite all of the conflict and differences throughout the book. It also brought to light a different era of historical fiction that I don’t normally read.

Throughout the book, there are lots of little things playing out, but the main focus for me was the sacrifice of Chona and Moshe, taking in an orphan when asked by their friends Nate and Addie. The poor 12-year-old gets the nickname Dodo because of his deafness and what people assume is also dumbness. Chona especially works hard to protect Dodo and keep the state from taking him away to an asylum. In both Chona and Dodo, sacrifice and love is apparent, but in the end, both lose out on what they are fighting for. And they do so in unexpected ways.

I loved the depth of some of the characters and how easily James describes them and their traits in his writing. The ending also came together well, but part of me was hoping for a little more. Overall, 4 ⭐️s. I would recommend giving this one a try!

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

This one was good, a solid 4 ⭐️s for me! There were plenty of times where I thought I had the plot figured out and thought I knew what was going to happen or how the story was going to end, but then Stacy threw a big curveball and got me.

I was really impressed with Stacy’s writing style. She wrote in a very descriptive way, one that was very easy to read and made the book super enjoyable. It was also enticing and made me want to keep reading. Overall, it was a quick read for me.

But ok, let’s talk about how insane Izzy/Isabelle is!! Her character was so complicated, but borderline psycho with the lack of sleep and the amount of effort she put in through the whole story to go above the detectives to solve her son’s case.

Then the ending pieced my heart right back together, in a way that still shows all the evidence of the shattering Stacy caused, and tied a nice tight bow on it. Well done! Highly recommend this one. It was almost a 5 star read for me.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghes

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis sounded so interesting and it takes place in India over the span of 1900 to 1977. This is a time frame of history I’ve always enjoyed in my previous historical fiction readings, but never in this region of the world. This book had so much hype and I was enthusiastic about it. But I am here to tell you it did not live up to the hype it was given, at least not in my perspective.

Initially, Abraham uses some vocabulary that I was not familiar with, in terms of things, phrases or slang common in India during this time period. While I don’t normally have an issue with that, these terms were not explained, so I as a reader was left guessing what these terms meant based on the context I could gather around them. I have no idea if I was guessing right on some of the stuff. For me, that made it hard to truly immerse myself in the story.

Right off the bat, I felt the struggle of this novel. It laid out three different stories in the first few sections of the book, and each part of the book would jump to different characters and a different time frame. I was left in confusion on how these stories intersected or mattered to each other. Eventually that was answered, but I felt disengaged by that point. I also felt like I was finally getting into one of the stories and then a different part of the story would be picked up, so I would lose interest again. The lack of interest in the story increased around 200 pages in and I really had to fight through to finish the story.

I did enjoy the depth of the characters Abraham created. I was able to pick up on some of their traits and things throughout the story, so that was positive.

The length of the story also made it hard for me. At almost 800 pages, I felt a lot of it was mundane and seemed to drag on way longer than I felt necessary. I rate this one 2 1/2 ⭐️s. Not one I would solidly recommend to others.

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

This was such a heartwarming story. There were so many twists and turns, and the characters wrenched at my heart all the way through.

I loved the two sisters, Scarlett and Constance. I loved their bond and the way they fought their parents by entering the military. All throughout the book, they fought together for what they wanted and needed in life. At a point when it looked like there was no choice for Constance but to succumb to her parents and their wishes, fate enters the story.

I loved the connection between World War II Europe and current America, and how the two overlapped to end in the most beautiful way.

I was first introduced to Rebecca when I read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and I loved those two books. When I got my hands on this one, I knew I would not be disappointed despite being a completely different genre. A solid 4 ⭐️s!

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks

I always love a good classic Nicholas Sparks! He is such a good romance writer and typically has twists and turns to add spice and depth. And this one just tugged at me.

Meet Colby, an inspired wanna-be musician stuck in his life on the family farm. Somewhere in the context prior to the beginning of our time with him, he takes a couple weeks from the farm to play gigs in a beachside Florida dive. Cue his life change.

In comes Morgan, who approaches Colby with curiosity. She sees his performance one night and from there, things develop and flourish.

During majority of the book, we also have another side story going on with Beverly and her son, Tommie. Both are on the run to escape abuse and we follow their journey. Until Beverly’s story intersects with Colby and Morgan. The collision of the two stories was, for me, unexpected. But it added so much to the depth of the story. I loved it!

The end of the story also provided SO MUCH DEPTH! Usually I have some good closure when I finish a Nicholas Sparks book, but man! Now I need a sequel! I need to know what happens with Colby and Morgan, as well as with the family farm.

Definitely a 4.5 ⭐️s! Teetering on 5! Go get this one!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

This book had a lot to offer and in the four years since its publishing date, it has had a lot of hype. Lots of people have recommended this one. I don’t feel it lived up to the hype, but it was a good story.

I loved Addie’s character but I feel like I could have used more insight into her than just her thoughts surrounding her encounters with the darkness or moments when she was concerned about the darkness coming back. I felt like so much of Addie was focused on that and we didn’t get much else. There was also a lot of focus on what Addie had to do day-to-day to survive and that made it hard to be able to relate as well.

One aspect I enjoyed were the pieces of history as Addie experienced the world around her, specifically during war time or when she went back to visit her hometown. But I felt like, as readers, we would start to get snippets of these experiences and then the chapter would end or the darkness would intervene and that’s all we would get.

Overall, it was a good story with lots of potential. It just didn’t live up to the hype for me. 3 ⭐️s for this one.

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Do you know that feeling when you first get off a roller coaster? Your legs are a little bit like jello, you are maybe a little bit dizzy and you aren’t quite sure which way is up? That is me after finishing this one.

All along, I knew there was going to be something twisted about this story. As the confessions came out and the infidelity was uncovered piece by piece, I knew there was something too good to be true that Matthew was just going to accept Marissa’s affair by just spending some nights sleeping in the guest bedroom and not interacting with her much, and then flipping the switch and being all affectionate and forgiving. I spent the greater part of this book trying to read between the lines and see what Matthew’s true motive was. What happened in the end was not something I really expected.

And all along, Skip was made to be the bad guy in multiple lights. In the end, it was the opposite and he ended up saving Marissa.

I’m trying to enlighten you all on what a true roller coaster this book was without giving away too much. I really am. But MAN OH MAN, please go pick this one up and give it a read. It was definitely a reeling 5-star psychological thriller!

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

I decided to switch gears and go for something a little lighter than my recent string of mystery and thriller reads. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center turned out to be a good choice.

Meet Hannah Brooks, Who then meets the over-rated Jack Stapleton, a famous move actor with a bit of an ego and a deep secret. Hannah gets put on his security detail as he returns home to Texas to visit his family. Cue the unexpected role of pretend girlfriend. This story has all sorts of twists and turns. I was able to read this book quickly as it was one of those books I could read without having to think about things between the lines and without a whole lot of brain power.

Both Hannah and Jack were well-written characters. They had their moments of deep feelings - betrayal, anger, fear and even guilt, but overall I felt like they were both witty and compassionate. It was fun to watch them interact with one another as they broke down boundaries and guidelines put in place. Hannah’s number one rule: do not fall for the principal on assignments. But when she breaks the rule? A life she never imagined as she falls deeper and deeper in love with Jack, a man she never pictured herself with as they live opposite lives. Despite their opposites, Jack shifts Hannah and her priorities as Jack realizes he wants more ordinary in his famous lifestyle.

Katherine is a great writer. Her writing style is very easy to read and I enjoyed the mix of descriptive and fast-paced. There were plenty of moments I felt like, when I was hoping for more in a specific scene, she offered it, but also pushed the story along faster when things didn’t need to be explained. I am definitely going to keep her on my radar of authors to read more of in the future! A solid 4 stars and I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a lighthearted romance read.

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

This book was decent, enough to capture my interest and push through but not enough to say it was extravagant. Do I recommend reading? Yeah, maybe. Is it the greatest 5 ⭐️ read I’ve ever seen? Absolutely not.

I think part of my deal might be that I’ve been in a string of mystery/murder mystery/thriller books lately, and maybe this one was just one too many. The characters in this book were pretty great, and I loved how Claire and Eva thought so much alike. Both were trying to run from something dark and difficult, and both had a unique way of dealing with it. For Claire, running from it made her desperate and struggling in so many ways before her issues came out on their own.

But what happened to Eva? Did she really disappear or where did she go? I think if Julie wrote a sequel and followed Eva’s story…or made Eva and Claire intersect again, I would definitely give it a chance and read it.

Overall, 3 ⭐️s on this one.

What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline

This book kept my interest with all its twists and turns, but for me it was average. I rate it 3 stars, but the last chunk of the book upped it to 3 1/2 stars.

I enjoyed the depth of the characters in the book and how each one had their own secrets and their own past to contribute to the story. I also enjoyed the story from Jason’s perspective. One thing I really enjoyed was how Lisa put us right in Jason’s head. As he discovered something new or was feeling a certain way about something, Lisa was very descriptive in those moments. Those were the times I felt truly invested in the story and what was going to happen next.

I would probably give Lisa’s books another chance in the future to see if I like it better, but for me, this book is not one I would solidly recommend. It’s a meh, maybe book.

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

Hook. Line. And sinker. WOW!

Also, what the heck with that ending! Not what I expected. I could tell it would end with the whole story coming out after Adam’s death, but this was certainly not where I envisioned it going. Incredible job Jeneva!

Sarah was such a hard character for me to figure out. She was conniving sometimes, but sympathetic at other times. She seemed to be fighting for Adam, but other times giving up. Her surprise of uncovering information was definitely convincing, as I didn’t guess the outcome.

Many would say I could have read between the lines on this one, but even though I do that sometimes, I really enjoy shutting that part of my brain off when I’m reading. I feel like it immerses my reading experience so much more.

Bravo, Jeneva! I really wish I could start this one over again and read it again for the first time. 5 ⭐️s!

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

This book was fairly short, but it was packed so heavily with beautiful stories, life lessons, a lot of love and friendship and characters who gained my heart and pulled at my heartstrings.

If I learned anything from this book it is that life is too short. The main character Dannie learns that the hard way through trials alongside her best friend and long-time fiance. But then life falls apart and she loses some of herself in that process. When she and David hit an expected but painful bump, she allows herself to feel the emotions but quickly moves on.

I loved the friendship between Bella and Dannie. The two are almost polar opposites of each other, but in that experience the fiercest love and protection over one another. Dannie goes to every appointment until a big fight blows things out of proportion. Bella sets Dannie up with an elaborate gift.

4 ⭐️s for sure! It was a quick, easy read but had a lot of aspects I enjoyed and will stick with me for a while.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Wow!! I have always been impressed by Kristin Hannah! She is one of my favorite authors. And this one gives me just one more reason for that.

I have studied the Vietnam War a little bit during my focus on US History. I’ve learned so much in these studies, but my eyes were opened even more after reading this gem of a novel. Historical fiction is truly something miraculous, especially in the way Kristin writes it.

I truly loved Frankie and her character. I loved her instant growing up as she landed in Vietnam and how quickly she transformed. And how she continued to grow and transform over and over again throughout the story. She learned so many lessons, but also found who she truly was. Incredible! 5 ⭐️s on this one!

Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross

Book 1: Divine Rivals

This one started slow for me. I wasn't sure how I felt about it for the first part of the book. I became a little uninterested in the mundane details of Iris and Roman. Their competition for columnist seemed to slow things down and I felt it swayed the story from the main plot a little too much. As the story went on though, it did seem to be more contributing than I first gave it credit for.

I did enjoy the intensity of the story as it progressed. The relationship between Iris and Roman matured and collided with itself in ways I didn’t necessarily see coming. The romantic notes of the story shifted to the forefront, which I enjoyed. I loved watching their love story blossom. However, I felt like we then lost more of the fantasy pieces of the story. I have really enjoyed fantasy novels as of recent, so I think I was hoping for more of that. There was also a big reunion towards the end, but was not at all what I expected. In fact, I felt it was very uneventful and my heart broke because it meant Iris and Roman separating.

Stay tuned for my notes as I progress into book two of this series.

Book 2: Ruthless Vows

Ok, I’ll admit it. Rebecca did a fantastic job with this one. As I progressed into this one, I was not very excited. Book 1 did not satisfy what I was hoping for so I was hesitant to keep going. But this one was a great conclusion to the series.

There was a whole lot more fantasy ebbed into this one compared to the first book. I could easily envision many parts of this story, and I loved it. One particular part, first when Roman is in the Under World and then when Iris is, that sticks out is the smells! My own nose wrinkled at the descriptions and all I was doing was reading the way Rebecca describes it. So A+ on that part. There were so many other descriptions in this book that got me too, so I felt like I was in the world versus reading it.

Of course, there is the romance aspect of this series. In Ruthless Vows, Rebecca drags this love story across the fiery coals. There was spiciness, tenderness and passion, but Roman and Iris had moments of pure heartbreak too. They fought so hard to be together and being themselves back together during the war, but in the end, their wishes are granted and Rebecca tied it together in the sweetest of ways.

4 ⭐️s!

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

What the actual mind fu**ery! What did I just read!??! Oh my gosh!

On an actual note, this book was so good. There were so many twists and turns. I was left questioning what was going on and what was going to happen next. It was so unpredictable, and I can’t often say I’ve read a book like that.

Even as a character, I couldn’t often pinpoint Evie’s next move. Her multiple identities, personalities and jobs made her unpredictable. Through the midst of all her jobs, I even had a hard time realizing she was trying to solve a whole other mystery of her own.

This one was hard to put down, which is why I read it so fast, sacrificing my own sleep. And I love the way Ashley ties it all together at the end, a reunion I also wasn’t sure would happen. But now I want more on the reunion and life afterwards, especially as it was left in a little bit of a cliffhanger. This one gets 5 solid ⭐️s!