Scan barcode
okiecozyreader's reviews
1126 reviews
You, with a View by Jessica Joyce
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Apparently I missed the memo that everyone read this book last summer and that her new book is about to release. I thought it would be a fun read before I start THE BLUEST EYE, and it was.
Noelle is a photographer who, after a harsh critique, has given up on her love of photography. Living with her parents, she goes through an old box and finds a photo of her beloved grandmother with a man she doesn’t know. She posts it on TikTok and asks if anyone knows the man. It goes viral and she gets a message from his grandson - who happens to be her high school rival. They end up going on a roadtrip that this man and her grandmother once planned for their honeymoon to a lot of national parks.
I just went to Yosemite over spring break and had a little road trip of my own, so I enjoyed reliving some of the memories. I loved the way the grandparents seemed to be rooting for them to be together. She and her grandmother played a secret game and I loved how it continued throughout the book.
“Our Tell Me a Secret game started when I was old enough to have any. We traded secrets like currency, always an even-steven deal.
…
“…she was my secret-keeper, my living diary.” P13
“Theo keeps his shirt off the entire meal. It’s obscene. My eyeballs hurt from the strain of not looking.” Ch 5
“We realized that first impressions don’t dictate what the final impression will be.” Ch 6
“knew a lot about her, but only through the lens of my own life, if that makes sense. Getting to know this part of her—her story with you—is like meeting her all over again.” P 242
“Remember, nothing lasts forever. You have to hold on to the good things, knowing you may be on borrowed time with them. And with the bad, recognize that eventually it will pass.” P285
Noelle is a photographer who, after a harsh critique, has given up on her love of photography. Living with her parents, she goes through an old box and finds a photo of her beloved grandmother with a man she doesn’t know. She posts it on TikTok and asks if anyone knows the man. It goes viral and she gets a message from his grandson - who happens to be her high school rival. They end up going on a roadtrip that this man and her grandmother once planned for their honeymoon to a lot of national parks.
I just went to Yosemite over spring break and had a little road trip of my own, so I enjoyed reliving some of the memories. I loved the way the grandparents seemed to be rooting for them to be together. She and her grandmother played a secret game and I loved how it continued throughout the book.
“Our Tell Me a Secret game started when I was old enough to have any. We traded secrets like currency, always an even-steven deal.
…
“…she was my secret-keeper, my living diary.” P13
“Theo keeps his shirt off the entire meal. It’s obscene. My eyeballs hurt from the strain of not looking.” Ch 5
“We realized that first impressions don’t dictate what the final impression will be.” Ch 6
“knew a lot about her, but only through the lens of my own life, if that makes sense. Getting to know this part of her—her story with you—is like meeting her all over again.” P 242
“Remember, nothing lasts forever. You have to hold on to the good things, knowing you may be on borrowed time with them. And with the bad, recognize that eventually it will pass.” P285
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Wow!! Lisa Barr writes such action-packed, passionate novels that feel so real. I loved WOMAN ON FIRE — and this one just as much. In the author’s note, she talks about her research - finding these things that happened relating to the Warsaw Ghetto that were new to her. The way she wove them into such a powerful novel with a femme fatale who was involved in so many of the events felt so real.
From the Prologue, we see that this story is no joke and that Lena Browning is a woman in control, and that her life is not what it seems (as a famous movie actress). She agrees to tell her story to a young “it girl” who wants to direct and act in a biopic of her life - with one caveat - she will perform the end of the last segment of the film live. Then we go back to Warsaw 1943, where Jewish elite Bana Blonski tells her story of how she survived the Warsaw Ghetto.
It was at times, impossible to put down. I had to get through Book I before I could go to bed last night. This story is so captivating and jaw dropping.
In the author’s note, she says she was “determined to explore the various questions relating to Holocaust history: What is the fine line between the pursuit of justice and the hunt for revenge? Is there an expiration date for avenging those you loved and lost? What is the price tag for survival?”
This book makes you question all of that and more.
Operation Paperclip! I had no idea!
“Survival is about secrets, about extraordinary measures taken to stay alive. The equation is absolute: If you survived, it meant others did not. The trauma of a second chance at life, a second act, is at once miraculous and unendurable.” P319
From the Prologue, we see that this story is no joke and that Lena Browning is a woman in control, and that her life is not what it seems (as a famous movie actress). She agrees to tell her story to a young “it girl” who wants to direct and act in a biopic of her life - with one caveat - she will perform the end of the last segment of the film live. Then we go back to Warsaw 1943, where Jewish elite Bana Blonski tells her story of how she survived the Warsaw Ghetto.
It was at times, impossible to put down. I had to get through Book I before I could go to bed last night. This story is so captivating and jaw dropping.
In the author’s note, she says she was “determined to explore the various questions relating to Holocaust history: What is the fine line between the pursuit of justice and the hunt for revenge? Is there an expiration date for avenging those you loved and lost? What is the price tag for survival?”
This book makes you question all of that and more.
Operation Paperclip! I had no idea!
“Survival is about secrets, about extraordinary measures taken to stay alive. The equation is absolute: If you survived, it meant others did not. The trauma of a second chance at life, a second act, is at once miraculous and unendurable.” P319
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, and Death of parent
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
I liked the book within a book in this story. Most of it is a strange friendship story, until the end.
Emily and Chess have been best friends, in some ways, but resentful of each other in others - maybe like high school friends can be. Emily is getting divorced and her husband is being nasty, so she takes the opportunity to go to an Italian villa with Chess to work on a book. This villa was the scene of a murder in 1974, so we get that timeline also. The 1974 storyline is about a group of music guys and their illicit romances, women who end up with famous stories of their own after the stay.
The audio is great (thank you Libra.fm for providing copies to libraries) with Julia Whelan as Emily and two other narrators for the 1974 timeline.
“People are never just gone, after all. There are always marks, always signs.” Chapter 8
Emily and Chess have been best friends, in some ways, but resentful of each other in others - maybe like high school friends can be. Emily is getting divorced and her husband is being nasty, so she takes the opportunity to go to an Italian villa with Chess to work on a book. This villa was the scene of a murder in 1974, so we get that timeline also. The 1974 storyline is about a group of music guys and their illicit romances, women who end up with famous stories of their own after the stay.
The audio is great (thank you Libra.fm for providing copies to libraries) with Julia Whelan as Emily and two other narrators for the 1974 timeline.
“People are never just gone, after all. There are always marks, always signs.” Chapter 8
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Murder, and Pregnancy
Until Next Summer by Ali Brady
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Beyond the Pages book club is frustratingly, maddeningly, distractingly in love with this book! We are the #purpleteam in the Color Wars for this book. Reading the notes of the 14 people before me made this book an even more incredible joy to read. It brings back ALL the camp memories.
Jessie is the camp director at Camp Chickawah, where she spent all her summers growing up. Her best friend Hillary was supposed to be a camp counselor with her one summer but backed out at the last minute and they haven’t spoken since. When she learns that the camp will close after the current summer, she decides to go back one last time, because she loved it and she misses her friend.
I love how the main gist of this book is their friendship (even though there are a couple of somewhat steamy romances). It is such a fun camp story, that is even better shared with friends.
It is Chicka-wonderful.
Jessie is the camp director at Camp Chickawah, where she spent all her summers growing up. Her best friend Hillary was supposed to be a camp counselor with her one summer but backed out at the last minute and they haven’t spoken since. When she learns that the camp will close after the current summer, she decides to go back one last time, because she loved it and she misses her friend.
I love how the main gist of this book is their friendship (even though there are a couple of somewhat steamy romances). It is such a fun camp story, that is even better shared with friends.
It is Chicka-wonderful.
Colton Gentry's Third Act by Jeff Zentner
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I loved Zentner’s last two books but I wasn’t sure what to think of this one, but it’s no shock that I loved it! He writes such endearing characters, I think it’s impossible not to root for them.
This one has all the Kentucky vibes - an alcoholic country singer professes his hatred of guns at a concert and then is fired by pretty much everyone in his life. (It is not more political than that - his best friend was killed by a mass shooting at a concert and he is in grief). He goes home to start over (his third act) and reminisces over the life he had before music, and a girl who once fascinated him.
So many sweet moments - in the kitchen (all the farm to table recipes), with kids, a rescue dog and his mom. It was such an enjoyable summer read.
Second chance romance (a couple of slight spicy car scenes)
“Grief is so much worse when you're mourning many things, including the deaths of essential pieces of yourself.”
“Sometimes, on the grand cosmic scale, the certainty of joy must outweigh the mere possibility of catastrophe.” P210
He describes it as Friday Night Lights movie with Normal People by Sally Rooney on The Book Gang podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-gang/id1584160738?i=1000653649599
This one has all the Kentucky vibes - an alcoholic country singer professes his hatred of guns at a concert and then is fired by pretty much everyone in his life. (It is not more political than that - his best friend was killed by a mass shooting at a concert and he is in grief). He goes home to start over (his third act) and reminisces over the life he had before music, and a girl who once fascinated him.
So many sweet moments - in the kitchen (all the farm to table recipes), with kids, a rescue dog and his mom. It was such an enjoyable summer read.
Second chance romance (a couple of slight spicy car scenes)
“Grief is so much worse when you're mourning many things, including the deaths of essential pieces of yourself.”
“Sometimes, on the grand cosmic scale, the certainty of joy must outweigh the mere possibility of catastrophe.” P210
He describes it as Friday Night Lights movie with Normal People by Sally Rooney on The Book Gang podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-gang/id1584160738?i=1000653649599
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence
Joe Nuthin's Guide to Life by Helen Fisher
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I have realized I love quiet little British novels about unique found families and this is one of them. In this story, Joe’s mother has created a couple of little books to help him understand life and navigate it more effectively, like:
“Instead of fearing a thing, try to understand it.
Because understanding can change everything about the way that you feel.” Fear (entry from the yellow book), prologue
She helps secure him a job and when she is gone, he is left trying to follow her ideas to understand the world around him, mostly at work. He comes into contact with a bully, whom he becomes concerned about. He sees people differently in some ways and his work friends try to be there for him.
This book reminded me of DID I EVER TELL YOU, which I read recently, in which a mother, dying of cancer, left packages and letters for her children to read every year and for specific moments. I really loved the notes this mother left for her neurodivergent son.
“…-that Hazel feels sad, so even if you-or we-don't feel it in the same way, it is enough just to understand that she feels sad, and then ask yourself, 'How can we help?" We can keep her company. That's how we're going to help today." Ch 5
“Joe-Nathan? More like Joe-Nuthin. A man with nothing to offer." Ch 7
“Joe didn't often look ahead. If he was comfortable in what he was doing in the moment, and knew what came next, then life felt like a series of stepping stones: good steady ones, not the kind that were slippery or too small or too far apart. Joe was at ease with the comfort of known world: understanding the now, understanding the next.” Ch 17
“Joe had always felt that coming home was a lovely moment, a gentle, calming feeling unlike any other. He had linked that feeling with coming home. … He didn't feel the same now and he concluded that it must have been coming home to his mum that had brought that feeling; this in turn made him wonder if coming home would ever feel that special again. Joe realized that a life is lived differently when there is someone there to witness it.” Ch 23
“The place a person belongs might be in their future; they might not have found it yet. … Sometimes the place we belong is just about the people in our lives, not the actual place. Sometimes, the place we belong is just the place where the people who love us hang out." Ch 78
“Instead of fearing a thing, try to understand it.
Because understanding can change everything about the way that you feel.” Fear (entry from the yellow book), prologue
She helps secure him a job and when she is gone, he is left trying to follow her ideas to understand the world around him, mostly at work. He comes into contact with a bully, whom he becomes concerned about. He sees people differently in some ways and his work friends try to be there for him.
This book reminded me of DID I EVER TELL YOU, which I read recently, in which a mother, dying of cancer, left packages and letters for her children to read every year and for specific moments. I really loved the notes this mother left for her neurodivergent son.
“…-that Hazel feels sad, so even if you-or we-don't feel it in the same way, it is enough just to understand that she feels sad, and then ask yourself, 'How can we help?" We can keep her company. That's how we're going to help today." Ch 5
“Joe-Nathan? More like Joe-Nuthin. A man with nothing to offer." Ch 7
“Joe didn't often look ahead. If he was comfortable in what he was doing in the moment, and knew what came next, then life felt like a series of stepping stones: good steady ones, not the kind that were slippery or too small or too far apart. Joe was at ease with the comfort of known world: understanding the now, understanding the next.” Ch 17
“Joe had always felt that coming home was a lovely moment, a gentle, calming feeling unlike any other. He had linked that feeling with coming home. … He didn't feel the same now and he concluded that it must have been coming home to his mum that had brought that feeling; this in turn made him wonder if coming home would ever feel that special again. Joe realized that a life is lived differently when there is someone there to witness it.” Ch 23
“The place a person belongs might be in their future; they might not have found it yet. … Sometimes the place we belong is just about the people in our lives, not the actual place. Sometimes, the place we belong is just the place where the people who love us hang out." Ch 78
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
I really enjoyed R. Eric Thomas reading the audiobook of this on a recent trip.
I especially loved the first one based on the children’s book, The Monster at the End of the Book. He writes,
“I am Grover. I walk with him every step of the way on his journey. The Monster at the End of This Book is a lighthearted book about anxiety—anxiety about being confronted with the kind of person you really are (LOL!), anxiety about the inevitable passage of time (LOL), anxiety about being trapped by forces beyond your control (lol), anxiety about a deep, dreadful uncertainty (…meep). Even when I read it for the first time at age three, I got that.”
…
Grover, too, is struggling. He is using every tool at his disposal to keep the thing that he fears the most at bay, and that thing is himself.
…
But in real life, I’m a Grover. I have always been Black in a white environment, not Black enough in a Black environment, working-class in an upper-class environment, Christian in a secular environment, questioning in a devout environment, gay in a straight environment. Never quite right.”
I felt like these essays are an examination of this thought - how he felt not quite right in the world and how he got through some of these times (especially adolescence and young adulthood) through the time he met his husband, who is a minister.
“Every story, whether truth or fiction, is an invitation to imagination, but even more so, it’s an invitation to empathy. The storyteller says, “I am here. Does it matter?” The words that I found in these books were a person calling out from a page, “I am worthy of being heard and you are worthy of hearing my story.” The Monster at the End of the Book
“I also knew that the way forward wasn’t any less complicated, but no one ever promised me less complication. If anything, it’s always going to become more complicated. Better but more. Better and more. Pride is a party and a riot, after all. And I was here for all of it.” Here for it, or how to save your soul in America
I especially loved the first one based on the children’s book, The Monster at the End of the Book. He writes,
“I am Grover. I walk with him every step of the way on his journey. The Monster at the End of This Book is a lighthearted book about anxiety—anxiety about being confronted with the kind of person you really are (LOL!), anxiety about the inevitable passage of time (LOL), anxiety about being trapped by forces beyond your control (lol), anxiety about a deep, dreadful uncertainty (…meep). Even when I read it for the first time at age three, I got that.”
…
Grover, too, is struggling. He is using every tool at his disposal to keep the thing that he fears the most at bay, and that thing is himself.
…
But in real life, I’m a Grover. I have always been Black in a white environment, not Black enough in a Black environment, working-class in an upper-class environment, Christian in a secular environment, questioning in a devout environment, gay in a straight environment. Never quite right.”
I felt like these essays are an examination of this thought - how he felt not quite right in the world and how he got through some of these times (especially adolescence and young adulthood) through the time he met his husband, who is a minister.
“Every story, whether truth or fiction, is an invitation to imagination, but even more so, it’s an invitation to empathy. The storyteller says, “I am here. Does it matter?” The words that I found in these books were a person calling out from a page, “I am worthy of being heard and you are worthy of hearing my story.” The Monster at the End of the Book
“I also knew that the way forward wasn’t any less complicated, but no one ever promised me less complication. If anything, it’s always going to become more complicated. Better but more. Better and more. Pride is a party and a riot, after all. And I was here for all of it.” Here for it, or how to save your soul in America
Taming a Heartbreaker by Brenda Jackson
4.0
I thought this was a fun little read for the Brenda Novak book club. I thought the ending seemed abrupt - i wanted more of their story. I love that part of it takes place in Alaska.
Another short story - HUSBAND MATERIAL is included in this book as well as an excerpt from Marist Yates’ book A FOREVER KIND OF RANCHER.
“Leslie had known Redford for as long as she’d known Sloan, since she’d met both guys the same day on the university’s campus over ten years ago. Redford had been known then as a heartbreaker. According to Sloan, Redford hadn’t changed. If anything, he’d gotten worse.”
…
“Redford was not the marrying kind. He’d made that clear when he’d said no woman would ever tame him.”
Prologue
“Then tame the heartbreaker. Specifically, tame your heartbreaker.” Ch 13
Another short story - HUSBAND MATERIAL is included in this book as well as an excerpt from Marist Yates’ book A FOREVER KIND OF RANCHER.
“Leslie had known Redford for as long as she’d known Sloan, since she’d met both guys the same day on the university’s campus over ten years ago. Redford had been known then as a heartbreaker. According to Sloan, Redford hadn’t changed. If anything, he’d gotten worse.”
…
“Redford was not the marrying kind. He’d made that clear when he’d said no woman would ever tame him.”
Prologue
“Then tame the heartbreaker. Specifically, tame your heartbreaker.” Ch 13
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Husband Material by Brenda Jackson
3.0
A fun little novella included with the TAMING A HEARTBREAKER novel. I love that this is a rekindling a marriage novel. These are my first two books of hers and I appreciate that she writes characters who seem to be good people who care about each other.
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Ok, well this made me teary at the end. I love that this girl was such a good person and made Liam want to be a better/happier person, too - how for her - money wasn’t worth sacrificing who he wanted to be. It makes me wonder how many people would rather have the money, but I loved she would rather live a happy and free life.
Anna changed majors from pre-med to art and is basically a starving artist, trying to help her father, who has cancer. She married Liam (aka West) years ago, when they both needed to be married to live in co-ed housing. She thought they were divorced until he shows up needing her to go with him to his sister’s wedding on an exclusive island because they are actually still married (Didn’t she read the divorce papers with her lawyer?)… um, no. His family has caved to the lures of obsessive amounts of wealth and it is shocking to Anna, but she realizes Liam is actually a good guy. She wants to support him through the festivities, plus she can help her dad, but can she survive Liam’s family.
“Four siblings and we’ve all handled the fallout in our own ways. Alex turned into a desperate yes-man. Jake is the sunshine clown who looks for a joke to get out of every tense moment. And I’m the chronic overthinker who internalizes everything.” Ch 22
“I wish I could still believe somewhere inside me that terrible rich people like this didn’t actually exist.” Ch 29
“I turn off the light and do everything I can to not worry about Liam going home to an empty house, Liam not having a David Green, Liam facing all of this alone.” Ch 33
“Even if it’s awful, it’s going to be okay,” …
…
“Because even if it goes off the rails, even if everyone ends up shouting and crying and accusing, they’ll still leave at the end of the night, and we’ll still have our house and our life and this love that nobody can touch.” Epilogue
Anna changed majors from pre-med to art and is basically a starving artist, trying to help her father, who has cancer. She married Liam (aka West) years ago, when they both needed to be married to live in co-ed housing. She thought they were divorced until he shows up needing her to go with him to his sister’s wedding on an exclusive island because they are actually still married (Didn’t she read the divorce papers with her lawyer?)… um, no. His family has caved to the lures of obsessive amounts of wealth and it is shocking to Anna, but she realizes Liam is actually a good guy. She wants to support him through the festivities, plus she can help her dad, but can she survive Liam’s family.
“Four siblings and we’ve all handled the fallout in our own ways. Alex turned into a desperate yes-man. Jake is the sunshine clown who looks for a joke to get out of every tense moment. And I’m the chronic overthinker who internalizes everything.” Ch 22
“I wish I could still believe somewhere inside me that terrible rich people like this didn’t actually exist.” Ch 29
“I turn off the light and do everything I can to not worry about Liam going home to an empty house, Liam not having a David Green, Liam facing all of this alone.” Ch 33
“Even if it’s awful, it’s going to be okay,” …
…
“Because even if it goes off the rails, even if everyone ends up shouting and crying and accusing, they’ll still leave at the end of the night, and we’ll still have our house and our life and this love that nobody can touch.” Epilogue
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer