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okiecozyreader's reviews
1199 reviews
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Such an interesting start to a book:
“You are about to begin reading a new book, and to be honest, you are a little tense. The beginning of a novel is like a first date. You hope that from the first lines an urgent magic will take hold, and you will sink into the story like a hot bath, giving yourself over entirely. But this hope is tempered by the expectation that, in reality, you are about to have to learn a bunch of people’s names and follow along politely like you are attending the baby shower of a woman you hardly know. And that’s fine, goodness knows you’ve fallen in love with books that didn’t grab you in the first paragraph. But that doesn’t stop you from wishing they would, ...”
This start made me really question what I was reading. Margo begins the book with the delivery of her child and then goes back to tell us how she met the father of her child (a professor while she was a freshman). He taught a writing class, and throughout the novel, she refers back to how a writer lies to the reader.
“They are only interesting because they aren’t real. The fakeness is where the interest lies. In fact, I would go so far as to say that all things that are genuinely interesting aren’t quite real.” Ch 1
“At the end, the narrator begins addressing the reader in first person, about how he doesn’t even understand the story he’s been telling, which you know can’t be true or else why would he be telling it?” Ch 17
Even in the acknowledgements, Rudi writes
“Thank you for letting me into the dark of your mind and allowing me to relentlessly, anguished-ly, excitedly lie to you.”
So, this is a book for those who like unreliable narrators, for sure.
Margo has this child, and the father wants nothing to do with her. She is in an expensive apartment and trying to figure out how to afford it and hold a job without being able to afford childcare and her roommates aren’t interested in being roommates with an infant.
I felt like the book was very much about being a young mother without really understanding what being a mother entails (like childcare, holding a job, dealing with illness and how pregnancy changes your body).
“I want you to close your eyes and actually remember what it was like to be twenty.” Ch 20
She talks about how unseen she felt:
“How much kindness would mean right now, and how unwilling anyone was to give it. How sacred the baby was to her, and how mundane and irritating the baby was to others.” Ch 3
“Shouldn’t there be someone in charge of how many bad things could happen at once?” Ch 4
“You can’t tell me that if it was men and a medical decision would result in their penis splitting open and them not being able to hold their pee for the rest of their life, they wouldn’t think that should be their own decision.” Ch 19
“You are about to begin reading a new book, and to be honest, you are a little tense. The beginning of a novel is like a first date. You hope that from the first lines an urgent magic will take hold, and you will sink into the story like a hot bath, giving yourself over entirely. But this hope is tempered by the expectation that, in reality, you are about to have to learn a bunch of people’s names and follow along politely like you are attending the baby shower of a woman you hardly know. And that’s fine, goodness knows you’ve fallen in love with books that didn’t grab you in the first paragraph. But that doesn’t stop you from wishing they would, ...”
This start made me really question what I was reading. Margo begins the book with the delivery of her child and then goes back to tell us how she met the father of her child (a professor while she was a freshman). He taught a writing class, and throughout the novel, she refers back to how a writer lies to the reader.
“They are only interesting because they aren’t real. The fakeness is where the interest lies. In fact, I would go so far as to say that all things that are genuinely interesting aren’t quite real.” Ch 1
“At the end, the narrator begins addressing the reader in first person, about how he doesn’t even understand the story he’s been telling, which you know can’t be true or else why would he be telling it?” Ch 17
Even in the acknowledgements, Rudi writes
“Thank you for letting me into the dark of your mind and allowing me to relentlessly, anguished-ly, excitedly lie to you.”
So, this is a book for those who like unreliable narrators, for sure.
Margo has this child, and the father wants nothing to do with her. She is in an expensive apartment and trying to figure out how to afford it and hold a job without being able to afford childcare and her roommates aren’t interested in being roommates with an infant.
I felt like the book was very much about being a young mother without really understanding what being a mother entails (like childcare, holding a job, dealing with illness and how pregnancy changes your body).
“I want you to close your eyes and actually remember what it was like to be twenty.” Ch 20
She talks about how unseen she felt:
“How much kindness would mean right now, and how unwilling anyone was to give it. How sacred the baby was to her, and how mundane and irritating the baby was to others.” Ch 3
“Shouldn’t there be someone in charge of how many bad things could happen at once?” Ch 4
“You can’t tell me that if it was men and a medical decision would result in their penis splitting open and them not being able to hold their pee for the rest of their life, they wouldn’t think that should be their own decision.” Ch 19
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Pregnancy
Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I think MKA makes writing look so easy and fun. Exhibit A:
“[the sound]… startled Tilly so badly she nearly dropped her bottle of budget red wine.” P1
Tilly is squatting at a house that the vacation rental place she works for manages. She knows it isn’t booked and she needs a place to stay until she gets her next paycheck. This particular night, a man arrives to the house saying the owner recently died and he is putting the local landmark up for sale. He has a high maintenance almost fiancé, but it turns out, she remembers him from his school days.
I thought the way they meet was very clever. I wish it would have been another chapter or two longer, but I always love a little holiday MKA. There isn’t much time for home improvement in this one, but a few details of one of her favorite pastimes. Thanks MKA for this treat.
“[the sound]… startled Tilly so badly she nearly dropped her bottle of budget red wine.” P1
Tilly is squatting at a house that the vacation rental place she works for manages. She knows it isn’t booked and she needs a place to stay until she gets her next paycheck. This particular night, a man arrives to the house saying the owner recently died and he is putting the local landmark up for sale. He has a high maintenance almost fiancé, but it turns out, she remembers him from his school days.
I thought the way they meet was very clever. I wish it would have been another chapter or two longer, but I always love a little holiday MKA. There isn’t much time for home improvement in this one, but a few details of one of her favorite pastimes. Thanks MKA for this treat.
One Night Two Holidays by Ali Brady
lighthearted
4.0
Enjoyed learning more about Hanukkah through this short story that combines two characters who celebrate different holidays.
Jack is a resident in medical school who lives in the same building complex as Nessa. He gets stuck there for the holidays and runs into Nessa and sparks fly (even with the power out!) 🤣
“And I realize that this is the real miracle: not the grand gestures or perfect gifts. It’s in the quiet, imperfect, everyday choices—the decision to stay, to hope, to love. It’s in knowing that even when everything feels uncertain, we’ll keep choosing each other. That’s what keeps the light alive.” Epilogue
It is a little insta-love, but it’s a fun holiday read.
Love Ali Brady!
You can read it free on their Substack
https://open.substack.com/pub/alibradybooks/p/part-one-one-night-two-holidays?r=a0a5x&utm_medium=ios
Get it on kindle, or nook, or an audiobook with Julia Whelan (from her new audiobook company!)
Jack is a resident in medical school who lives in the same building complex as Nessa. He gets stuck there for the holidays and runs into Nessa and sparks fly (even with the power out!) 🤣
“And I realize that this is the real miracle: not the grand gestures or perfect gifts. It’s in the quiet, imperfect, everyday choices—the decision to stay, to hope, to love. It’s in knowing that even when everything feels uncertain, we’ll keep choosing each other. That’s what keeps the light alive.” Epilogue
It is a little insta-love, but it’s a fun holiday read.
Love Ali Brady!
You can read it free on their Substack
https://open.substack.com/pub/alibradybooks/p/part-one-one-night-two-holidays?r=a0a5x&utm_medium=ios
Get it on kindle, or nook, or an audiobook with Julia Whelan (from her new audiobook company!)
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Kira inherited some money and invested it in a Christmas tree farm, sight unseen, after her twin sister got married and moved to Europe. After she got there, she realized it was a little run down and even the heater in the house barely worked. She has always felt like she makes bad decisions and this is another one.
Bennett is in town visiting his sister. He has continuously gone back to the same woman year after year because she needed him, and he’s trying to brake the habit, but grumpy Kira is just a little too cute.
This one is pretty spicy in parts (but maybe not quite as much as the second). But I felt like there was less about the tree farm and more about Kira and Bennett compared to the other two books.
“ I, like many of you, love a good Christmas rom-com, but those super saccharine, super chaste ones always leave me wanting more. Hopefully, this story scratches that cozy Christmas itch but with a little more than one close-mouthed kiss right before the credits roll!” Acknowledgements (I also loved the dedication “For anyone who ever wished Hallmark Christmas movies were steamier, this one might do the trick.”)
This one also has a little mystery. Town gossip is that there is hidden treasure on the property, and they think it’s a dead body. There are just a few references to it, but I like how each of these books has a little mystery.
Bennett is in town visiting his sister. He has continuously gone back to the same woman year after year because she needed him, and he’s trying to brake the habit, but grumpy Kira is just a little too cute.
This one is pretty spicy in parts (but maybe not quite as much as the second). But I felt like there was less about the tree farm and more about Kira and Bennett compared to the other two books.
“ I, like many of you, love a good Christmas rom-com, but those super saccharine, super chaste ones always leave me wanting more. Hopefully, this story scratches that cozy Christmas itch but with a little more than one close-mouthed kiss right before the credits roll!” Acknowledgements (I also loved the dedication “For anyone who ever wished Hallmark Christmas movies were steamier, this one might do the trick.”)
This one also has a little mystery. Town gossip is that there is hidden treasure on the property, and they think it’s a dead body. There are just a few references to it, but I like how each of these books has a little mystery.
Bluebird Day by Megan Tady
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
4.0
Alpine skiers Claudine and her daughter Wylie have a very distant relationship. Wylie’s boyfriend becomes injured forcing her to race to earn money that he owes in bad choices. She goes to Switzerland, where a little chaos ensues. Competitors, romance and mother-daughter secrets keep her trying to figure out her life and herself.
“Wylie rises from the ground, and they peer around in shock and wonder as the snow stops falling altogether, revealing a bluebird day-bright-blue sky, sunny, cloudless, calm.” Ch 40
“Skating and snowboarding and skiing and snowshoeing, in hero snow and on powder days, through the gusting temperatures that make you earn it, and on those singular, precious bluebird days that sweep in only a handful of times, so memorable you can name them.” Ch 42
“Wylie rises from the ground, and they peer around in shock and wonder as the snow stops falling altogether, revealing a bluebird day-bright-blue sky, sunny, cloudless, calm.” Ch 40
“Skating and snowboarding and skiing and snowshoeing, in hero snow and on powder days, through the gusting temperatures that make you earn it, and on those singular, precious bluebird days that sweep in only a handful of times, so memorable you can name them.” Ch 42
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
This one is super spicy! Lots of steamy scenes, which I didn’t remember from the first book. But the writing was fun and made me smile.
I thought the plot was cute. Hazel works for a bookshop that changes names. Currently, it is the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore and they sell cinnamon buns on the weekend. One day she notices a book turned around backwards, as she pulls it out, she notices a page is dog-eared and then a phrase is highlighted (in one of her books for sale!) She wonders who is damaging her book, but also could it be a mystery. Her friend Noah volunteers to join her to complete the ideas in the books, which stretch her from her comfort zone and help her to be more adventurous.
Friends to lovers
Super spicy
Bookstore scenery
Small town vibes
“But it was like the book, or whoever had highlighted it, was speaking directly to Hazel.
‘Come with me, lass, if you want an adventure.’
She nearly dropped the book.” P12
…
“Oh, no, that line read in Noah’s deep voice was doing things to her ... hot things.” P16
“Hazel marched over to the Romance section to fix the book and possibly give it a piece of her mind because she was that kind of crazy lady today.” P22
“Because what more did one need besides good friends, good books, and the occasional cinnamon bun?” P207
I thought the plot was cute. Hazel works for a bookshop that changes names. Currently, it is the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore and they sell cinnamon buns on the weekend. One day she notices a book turned around backwards, as she pulls it out, she notices a page is dog-eared and then a phrase is highlighted (in one of her books for sale!) She wonders who is damaging her book, but also could it be a mystery. Her friend Noah volunteers to join her to complete the ideas in the books, which stretch her from her comfort zone and help her to be more adventurous.
Friends to lovers
Super spicy
Bookstore scenery
Small town vibes
“But it was like the book, or whoever had highlighted it, was speaking directly to Hazel.
‘Come with me, lass, if you want an adventure.’
She nearly dropped the book.” P12
…
“Oh, no, that line read in Noah’s deep voice was doing things to her ... hot things.” P16
“Hazel marched over to the Romance section to fix the book and possibly give it a piece of her mind because she was that kind of crazy lady today.” P22
“Because what more did one need besides good friends, good books, and the occasional cinnamon bun?” P207
One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Julie Parker inherited a towing service and has spent her life proving she is tough and has all things under control. Her kids are grown and she is dating someone 12 years younger, and she feels kind of guilty about it and hasn’t told her children. Her son is in line to inherit the business but isn’t as interested as she was. Her daughter has had an on again off again relationship with one of her employees. After their father died, they decide they would like a family Christmas together at their cabin, changing Julie’s plans. Thankfully, it’s a big cabin because it becomes a big family Christmas!
“We all want one big happy family Christmas up at the cabin.” P18
“There’s no back. There’s only forward.”
“We all want one big happy family Christmas up at the cabin.” P18
“There’s no back. There’s only forward.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
Elf Dog and Owl Head by M.T. Anderson
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
An elf hound falls behind her pack from the magical underground forest. She is found by Clay, who adopts him and later finds out the dog belongs to another world and he might be in danger if they think he stole the dog.
For readers who enjoy a little magic, animal stories and friendship
“We and your people are in different folds of space. You must have followed your dog to find us. She is trained to see all the paths that lead to impossible places. … Those woods are full of hidden things. Some of them are kind, some of them are dangerous. “ ch 7 audiobook
“There is no way to forget true friendship because there is too much to remind you of it.” Ch 21
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Such a fun read!
Maggie Chase is a romance writer who adores English writer Eleanor Ashley (who has written about a hundred books). She also detests fellow writer Ethan Wyatt, with his black leather jacket and huge success, and how he always calls her Marcie. She gets a letter inviting her to a mysterious house for Christmas and guess who is also on the plane, which ends up at her idol Eleanor’s estate. When Eleanor goes missing, they find they can only trust each other as they try to solve the most wonderful case of the year.
Maggie and Ethan both have interesting back stories that are woven along with their investigation. Maggie is divorced from a man who constantly gaslighted her and made her feel responsible for everything bad that happened.
My favorite thing about Ethan was that he constantly encouraged her to trust herself, which is what Ally Carter wrote in my book, when she signed it.
“Like she'd been told black was white and up was down so many rimes that she couldn't trust her own eyes, much less her memory. Like she'd been taught to live by two simple rules: (1) When in doubt, assume you're the problem. And (2) Always be in doubt.” P193
As much as she is solving the case, she is also solving herself, as she begins to understand that she isn’t always wrong. Ethan also has a cute sense of humor (not a fan of all the sweethearts), but I loved his continual question, “do you want to make out?” This book made me laugh so many times.
“Sometimes I lie in bed at night, thinking of ways to kill you and make it look like an accident.”
… “So what you’re saying is, you think about me in bed.”
P99
Maggie Chase is a romance writer who adores English writer Eleanor Ashley (who has written about a hundred books). She also detests fellow writer Ethan Wyatt, with his black leather jacket and huge success, and how he always calls her Marcie. She gets a letter inviting her to a mysterious house for Christmas and guess who is also on the plane, which ends up at her idol Eleanor’s estate. When Eleanor goes missing, they find they can only trust each other as they try to solve the most wonderful case of the year.
Maggie and Ethan both have interesting back stories that are woven along with their investigation. Maggie is divorced from a man who constantly gaslighted her and made her feel responsible for everything bad that happened.
My favorite thing about Ethan was that he constantly encouraged her to trust herself, which is what Ally Carter wrote in my book, when she signed it.
“Like she'd been told black was white and up was down so many rimes that she couldn't trust her own eyes, much less her memory. Like she'd been taught to live by two simple rules: (1) When in doubt, assume you're the problem. And (2) Always be in doubt.” P193
As much as she is solving the case, she is also solving herself, as she begins to understand that she isn’t always wrong. Ethan also has a cute sense of humor (not a fan of all the sweethearts), but I loved his continual question, “do you want to make out?” This book made me laugh so many times.
“Sometimes I lie in bed at night, thinking of ways to kill you and make it look like an accident.”
… “So what you’re saying is, you think about me in bed.”
P99
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
A Winter Wish by Emily Stone
emotional
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
I could not love this cover any more! So beautiful. I also love the title, which I think is perfect for this book. So much of the book is about the wishing jar that she has kept over her life, and it’s important to her.
“It's sort of like I'm setting them free. Like, by putting a wish in the jar, I won't wish for it anymore.” P182
This book reminds me of Jenny Bayliss’ A December to Remember. Both books involve the dying of a father, who has complicated relationships with his daughters from different mothers, and they have to complete a business related task as part of the will.
In this case, Lexie has to run her father’s travel business with one of his employees for a year. This travel company is called R&L Travel and arranges trips around local events:
“The whole idea was based around cultural traditions and allowing people to experience key holidays around the world and get to know a country through the way they celebrate. See the world through celebration. There were trips for the more universal holidays like Christmas, but there were also trips specific to certain areas, like the Tomato Festival in Spain or St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.” P36
“It's part of the whole ethos of the company-work with
small, local places, support the community and people like these guys, who work hard and love what they do. It adds to the feeling of discovering the place behind the tourist traps.” P82
I loved the whole ethos of this company and enjoyed visiting the different places where they went in this story.
I enjoyed the sister relationship in this book and how it grew. I loved many of the supporting characters in this book, which helped with the kind of unlovable main two characters (who both have issues from their pasts).
This is different from many other romances, but I do think I love a British romance because they are so family and friend oriented.
“It's sort of like I'm setting them free. Like, by putting a wish in the jar, I won't wish for it anymore.” P182
This book reminds me of Jenny Bayliss’ A December to Remember. Both books involve the dying of a father, who has complicated relationships with his daughters from different mothers, and they have to complete a business related task as part of the will.
In this case, Lexie has to run her father’s travel business with one of his employees for a year. This travel company is called R&L Travel and arranges trips around local events:
“The whole idea was based around cultural traditions and allowing people to experience key holidays around the world and get to know a country through the way they celebrate. See the world through celebration. There were trips for the more universal holidays like Christmas, but there were also trips specific to certain areas, like the Tomato Festival in Spain or St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.” P36
“It's part of the whole ethos of the company-work with
small, local places, support the community and people like these guys, who work hard and love what they do. It adds to the feeling of discovering the place behind the tourist traps.” P82
I loved the whole ethos of this company and enjoyed visiting the different places where they went in this story.
I enjoyed the sister relationship in this book and how it grew. I loved many of the supporting characters in this book, which helped with the kind of unlovable main two characters (who both have issues from their pasts).
This is different from many other romances, but I do think I love a British romance because they are so family and friend oriented.