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thathappyreader's Reviews (833)
Once again, Mary Kay Andrews shows her mastery of combining Women’s Fiction with Mystery. The story has interesting, well-developed characters and a plot that will have you riveted to read more. There are several light-hearted moments that made this a highly entertaining read.
The fact that Hattie is a home restorer on the fictious HPTV network who is paired with a designer makes for an interesting dynamic. Hattie is used to designing/decorating her restoration homes and is a little affronted to have this loss of control. Moreover, the financial burden of renovating this home within a budget has Hattie feeling more than a little stressed.
The discovery of a wallet in the walls of the home leads to a mystery. It seems the identity of the owner of the wallet is a wife and mother who has been missing for the past 17 years. Furthermore, there is much more drama to engage the readers in this home renovation. That is, besides finding the home in much worse shape than Hattie had expected.
I appreciated the strength of Hattie’s character who is driven in a business where women are not always given the respect they deserve. Andrews does a good job in pointing this out. There is a bit of romance in this book, but it is not a romance novel. Set in Tybee Island Georgia, The Homewreckers is a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I’ll be recommending over and over again.
I listened to the audiobook version of The Homewreckers which was narrated by Kathleen McInerney. Her performance was enjoyable, and easy to listen to. I appreciated her ability to adapt her voice to multiple characters with realism. I have no hesitation in recommending the audiobook version to those that appreciate this format.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
The fact that Hattie is a home restorer on the fictious HPTV network who is paired with a designer makes for an interesting dynamic. Hattie is used to designing/decorating her restoration homes and is a little affronted to have this loss of control. Moreover, the financial burden of renovating this home within a budget has Hattie feeling more than a little stressed.
The discovery of a wallet in the walls of the home leads to a mystery. It seems the identity of the owner of the wallet is a wife and mother who has been missing for the past 17 years. Furthermore, there is much more drama to engage the readers in this home renovation. That is, besides finding the home in much worse shape than Hattie had expected.
I appreciated the strength of Hattie’s character who is driven in a business where women are not always given the respect they deserve. Andrews does a good job in pointing this out. There is a bit of romance in this book, but it is not a romance novel. Set in Tybee Island Georgia, The Homewreckers is a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I’ll be recommending over and over again.
I listened to the audiobook version of The Homewreckers which was narrated by Kathleen McInerney. Her performance was enjoyable, and easy to listen to. I appreciated her ability to adapt her voice to multiple characters with realism. I have no hesitation in recommending the audiobook version to those that appreciate this format.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
I really enjoyed Every Summer After. The characters were well-developed and likeable. The dual timelines worked well and provided the insight needed to bring context to the weekend story.
The story begins with Percy’s family spending their first summer in the newly-acquired cottage in Barry’s Bay. Percy is 13 as is next-door neighbour Sam. His brother Charlie is 15. The boys live full-time in Barry’s Bay with their recently widowed mother. Percy has had a difficult social year in school and by the end of the summer, she and Sam have built a wonderful relationship.
This relationship gets stronger throughout the years as Percy and her family visit the cottage for holidays and summers. Percy and Sam’s relationship changes into a romantic one and the reader cannot help but root for this young couple. As the two head to different locations for college, for the first time, the relationship becomes strained and communication breaks down. A mistake made has detrimental effects on the relationship.
Percy’s parents sell the cottage and the family doesn’t return to Barry’s Bay. A dozen years later, Charlie calls Percy to tell her that their mother has died. Percy knows she must attend the funeral and face the truth of what happened years before.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Aj Bridel who gives an excellent performance. The diversity for each character throughout the book and her enthusiasm made a lovely book even better. I have no problem in recommending the audiobook to those that enjoy this format.
This is a lovely debut novel of first love. The story is compelling and emotional. Not only did I enjoy the nods to this time in history but I appreciated the fact this novel is written by a Canadian and has Canadian references. The banter between Percy and Sam felt natural and was fun to witness.
4.5 stars.
The story begins with Percy’s family spending their first summer in the newly-acquired cottage in Barry’s Bay. Percy is 13 as is next-door neighbour Sam. His brother Charlie is 15. The boys live full-time in Barry’s Bay with their recently widowed mother. Percy has had a difficult social year in school and by the end of the summer, she and Sam have built a wonderful relationship.
This relationship gets stronger throughout the years as Percy and her family visit the cottage for holidays and summers. Percy and Sam’s relationship changes into a romantic one and the reader cannot help but root for this young couple. As the two head to different locations for college, for the first time, the relationship becomes strained and communication breaks down. A mistake made has detrimental effects on the relationship.
Percy’s parents sell the cottage and the family doesn’t return to Barry’s Bay. A dozen years later, Charlie calls Percy to tell her that their mother has died. Percy knows she must attend the funeral and face the truth of what happened years before.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Aj Bridel who gives an excellent performance. The diversity for each character throughout the book and her enthusiasm made a lovely book even better. I have no problem in recommending the audiobook to those that enjoy this format.
This is a lovely debut novel of first love. The story is compelling and emotional. Not only did I enjoy the nods to this time in history but I appreciated the fact this novel is written by a Canadian and has Canadian references. The banter between Percy and Sam felt natural and was fun to witness.
4.5 stars.
This is a romance novel that tackles some heavier topics. When we are first introduced to Lizzie, we see a woman who is high-energy, spontaneous and speaks without a filter. She has a habit of being late, likes one-night stands and rarely attaches herself to others. She has a trio of friends who support her but can see that while they have grown up she has not.
We also see a woman who is living with ADHD and doing her best. Lizzie is constantly looking at ways to remind herself to take her medication which will decrease her symptoms. She is estranged from the family that was trying to make her be someone she clearly could not be and one that reinforced her failure.
Rake is an Australian businessman in town for a few days. He is just out of a long-term painful relationship and is focusing on his career. When he meets and then rescues Lizzie from a violent date in a bar, the two decide to hook up. The one-night stand turns into a whole weekend with the mutual understanding it was short-lived because Rake will be returning to Australia at the beginning of the week. What they don’t know is that weekend of passion would result in Lizzie becoming pregnant.
As the title alludes to, this accidental pregnancy creates a whole new turn of events for both Lizzie and Rake. Without giving too much away, each undergoes a significant transition as the pregnancy progresses. There are some very funny moments which brought some levity to the emotional feelings I felt while learning about Lizzie’s childhood.
The fact that the author also lives with ADHD comes across in her detailed development of Lizzie’s character. This in turn provides the reader with an enhanced level of understanding and empathy for those who live with ADHD.
I really enjoyed this book. It is the second book in the author’s A Brush With Love series but can certainly be read as a standalone. I recommend this book to those that appreciate romance novels, or stories of characters that live with life challenges. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.
4.5 stars
We also see a woman who is living with ADHD and doing her best. Lizzie is constantly looking at ways to remind herself to take her medication which will decrease her symptoms. She is estranged from the family that was trying to make her be someone she clearly could not be and one that reinforced her failure.
Rake is an Australian businessman in town for a few days. He is just out of a long-term painful relationship and is focusing on his career. When he meets and then rescues Lizzie from a violent date in a bar, the two decide to hook up. The one-night stand turns into a whole weekend with the mutual understanding it was short-lived because Rake will be returning to Australia at the beginning of the week. What they don’t know is that weekend of passion would result in Lizzie becoming pregnant.
As the title alludes to, this accidental pregnancy creates a whole new turn of events for both Lizzie and Rake. Without giving too much away, each undergoes a significant transition as the pregnancy progresses. There are some very funny moments which brought some levity to the emotional feelings I felt while learning about Lizzie’s childhood.
The fact that the author also lives with ADHD comes across in her detailed development of Lizzie’s character. This in turn provides the reader with an enhanced level of understanding and empathy for those who live with ADHD.
I really enjoyed this book. It is the second book in the author’s A Brush With Love series but can certainly be read as a standalone. I recommend this book to those that appreciate romance novels, or stories of characters that live with life challenges. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.
4.5 stars
Slightly South of Simple introduces us to Ansley and her three adult daughters Caroline, Sloane and Emerson who all return to Peachtree Bluff for the summer. Ansley has raised the girls alone since her husband died in the 9/11 tragedy. Each of the sisters is dealing with problems in their personal lives that are outlined in the book’s synopsis. This book is told from the dual perspectives of Ansley and Caroline.
The book celebrates the support and love that only family can bring to us. The women’s individual stories are emotional, complex and dramatic. I appreciated the more humorous moments to balance this out. This would be a great book to elicit some great discussion at book club.
Ansley’s story particularly raised my eyebrows. I’m not going to give anything away here but to let you know I was completely shocked by the choices she has made in the past. Having said that, I’m completely rooting for her present story.
I enjoyed Slightly South of Simple and will be immediately moving on to the second book in the series, The Secret to Southern Charm. If you enjoy Women’s Fiction, you will appreciate this first book in the series.
The book celebrates the support and love that only family can bring to us. The women’s individual stories are emotional, complex and dramatic. I appreciated the more humorous moments to balance this out. This would be a great book to elicit some great discussion at book club.
Ansley’s story particularly raised my eyebrows. I’m not going to give anything away here but to let you know I was completely shocked by the choices she has made in the past. Having said that, I’m completely rooting for her present story.
I enjoyed Slightly South of Simple and will be immediately moving on to the second book in the series, The Secret to Southern Charm. If you enjoy Women’s Fiction, you will appreciate this first book in the series.
I really enjoy books with dual timelines and this one caught my attention. The four friends are all from varied backgrounds and the fact they are young working in Nantucket for the summer and seeking adventure made for a fun read.
In the past timeline, the four main characters are introduced rather quickly and we gain insight into their lives as the story progresses. In the present timeline, these characters are gathering for a reunion to reminisce about the summer they met. They also bring along some of their children who form a second group with their own storylines.
While the storylines are entertaining, I did not feel invested in these characters. When I reflect on this, it may be partially because of the number of characters in the book. It is unusual for me to not feel a connection to at least some of the characters in a book so Summer Love just felt a little flat.
I did enjoy the elements of romance, and the summery free and easy feel to the book. When the groups went on outings together I appreciated the activities they participated in which gave the book a more adventurous vibe. The sometimes pretentious way of life in Nantucket is also well described in the book.
I chose the audiobook format to listen to Summer Love which was narrated by Whitney Dykhouse who gives a good performance. Her voice is articulate and easy to listen to. I was able to listen to the book at my usual 1.5x speed without difficulty.
Summer Love is an entertaining book, despite the fact I didn’t connect to the characters as I hoped. I would recommend it to those readers who enjoy women’s fiction and romance.
In the past timeline, the four main characters are introduced rather quickly and we gain insight into their lives as the story progresses. In the present timeline, these characters are gathering for a reunion to reminisce about the summer they met. They also bring along some of their children who form a second group with their own storylines.
While the storylines are entertaining, I did not feel invested in these characters. When I reflect on this, it may be partially because of the number of characters in the book. It is unusual for me to not feel a connection to at least some of the characters in a book so Summer Love just felt a little flat.
I did enjoy the elements of romance, and the summery free and easy feel to the book. When the groups went on outings together I appreciated the activities they participated in which gave the book a more adventurous vibe. The sometimes pretentious way of life in Nantucket is also well described in the book.
I chose the audiobook format to listen to Summer Love which was narrated by Whitney Dykhouse who gives a good performance. Her voice is articulate and easy to listen to. I was able to listen to the book at my usual 1.5x speed without difficulty.
Summer Love is an entertaining book, despite the fact I didn’t connect to the characters as I hoped. I would recommend it to those readers who enjoy women’s fiction and romance.
I loved this book right from the very beginning. The way that Rosie and Lucas are thrown together is a new take on the forced proximity trope. The fact that Rosie had been social media stalking him for months just added to the chemistry.
The premise of the book is a fun one. Rosie is a successful author trying to write a second romance book with a deadline fast approaching. She lacks inspiration and can’t seem to get started. Enter Lucas from Spain who not only lives with her but agrees to take her on a series of dates meant to motivate Rosie to start writing. These dates stimulate more than Rosie’s need to write.
It is this level of electricity between the two that sealed the deal on my love of this book. While each of them tried to deny these feelings knowing that Lucas’ stay in the U.S. had an expiry date. The passion is real and both continue the dates knowing that it will never be able to last.
While the book is part of the author’s Spanish Love Deception series, it can certainly be read as a standalone. This was my original intention. After reading this book, however, I want to go back and read the first book in the series The Spanish Love Deception. There is an overlap of characters in these books.
The American Roommate Experiment has well-developed, likeable characters and is one of my favourite romance books I’ve read this year. I look forward to reading other books written by the author.
4.5 stars
The premise of the book is a fun one. Rosie is a successful author trying to write a second romance book with a deadline fast approaching. She lacks inspiration and can’t seem to get started. Enter Lucas from Spain who not only lives with her but agrees to take her on a series of dates meant to motivate Rosie to start writing. These dates stimulate more than Rosie’s need to write.
It is this level of electricity between the two that sealed the deal on my love of this book. While each of them tried to deny these feelings knowing that Lucas’ stay in the U.S. had an expiry date. The passion is real and both continue the dates knowing that it will never be able to last.
While the book is part of the author’s Spanish Love Deception series, it can certainly be read as a standalone. This was my original intention. After reading this book, however, I want to go back and read the first book in the series The Spanish Love Deception. There is an overlap of characters in these books.
The American Roommate Experiment has well-developed, likeable characters and is one of my favourite romance books I’ve read this year. I look forward to reading other books written by the author.
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. Genevieve is the mother of four adult children who haven’t been getting along for the past few years. Family is everything to her and when her children bail on her for Thanksgiving and Christmas she has an epiphany – it’s time to make a life change. She decides to almost everything she has known to move with her sister Helen to Lake in the Clouds, Colorado to renovate a waterfront lodge and cabins.
Jake is Genevieve’s eldest son and a successful managing director for an architecture, planning and design firm. Faced with having to lay off a large number of the firm’s staff for the second time in a few months, he also feels the need to make a change in his life. He quits his job and heads to visit his Mom and Aunt in Lake in the Clouds to clear his head. Soon after, he decides to ask out Tess, a former colleague and someone he can’t stop thinking about.
I really enjoy stories with older protagonists and Genevieve’s story is particularly compelling. Her transition into a new life has her doing things that are for herself and not for her family. She and her sister take a trip they had talked about since they were kids. It was nice to see this level of personal growth from someone middle-aged.
There is a romance that develops between Jake and Tess which highlights each of us learning to find out what really is most important in life. I enjoyed the dating element in this storyline including the use of a castle. The majestic nature described in Lake in the Clouds provided wonderful imagery.
The Getaway is a lovely story that has me wanting to read more about this family. I recommend this book to those that enjoy fiction about family, women’s fiction or romance. I look forward to reading the second book in the series when it becomes available.
Thank you to Forever for the ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.
4.5 stars
Jake is Genevieve’s eldest son and a successful managing director for an architecture, planning and design firm. Faced with having to lay off a large number of the firm’s staff for the second time in a few months, he also feels the need to make a change in his life. He quits his job and heads to visit his Mom and Aunt in Lake in the Clouds to clear his head. Soon after, he decides to ask out Tess, a former colleague and someone he can’t stop thinking about.
I really enjoy stories with older protagonists and Genevieve’s story is particularly compelling. Her transition into a new life has her doing things that are for herself and not for her family. She and her sister take a trip they had talked about since they were kids. It was nice to see this level of personal growth from someone middle-aged.
There is a romance that develops between Jake and Tess which highlights each of us learning to find out what really is most important in life. I enjoyed the dating element in this storyline including the use of a castle. The majestic nature described in Lake in the Clouds provided wonderful imagery.
The Getaway is a lovely story that has me wanting to read more about this family. I recommend this book to those that enjoy fiction about family, women’s fiction or romance. I look forward to reading the second book in the series when it becomes available.
Thank you to Forever for the ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.
4.5 stars
Jennifer Weiner is another of my auto-read authors and I look forward to each new release. As the synopsis shows, there is a large cast of characters in this book. Weiner excels is in her ability to provide multiple well-developed characters that immerse the reader into her story. The use of multiple time frames to accomplish this was brilliant.
Multiple generations of the same family gather together for a wedding at the Cape Cod home of Veronica the matriarch of the family. This will be the last gathering of the family here before Veronica sells the house. Each of those that are gathering has their own secret they carry with them. Infidelity features prominently in these secrets. Living your best life is also a significant theme in this book.
I enjoyed observing the relationships between family members, which included a set of twins. As the family gathers for the wedding, secrets begin to reveal themselves and the family begins confronting one another. Soon reality sets in as a family member collapses.
The was plenty to keep me engaged in this book, but it felt a little too long for me. The story jumps timeframes frequently and it was a little challenging with this large cast of characters. Nevertheless, I appreciated seeing the transition of the characters over time and how the relationships changed. I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy books about large families or Women’s Fiction.
I listened to the audiobook version of The Summer Place which was narrated by Sutton Foster one of my favourite narrators. Her performance was enthusiastic and easy to listen to. I recommend this format of the book to those that enjoy audiobooks.
Multiple generations of the same family gather together for a wedding at the Cape Cod home of Veronica the matriarch of the family. This will be the last gathering of the family here before Veronica sells the house. Each of those that are gathering has their own secret they carry with them. Infidelity features prominently in these secrets. Living your best life is also a significant theme in this book.
I enjoyed observing the relationships between family members, which included a set of twins. As the family gathers for the wedding, secrets begin to reveal themselves and the family begins confronting one another. Soon reality sets in as a family member collapses.
The was plenty to keep me engaged in this book, but it felt a little too long for me. The story jumps timeframes frequently and it was a little challenging with this large cast of characters. Nevertheless, I appreciated seeing the transition of the characters over time and how the relationships changed. I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy books about large families or Women’s Fiction.
I listened to the audiobook version of The Summer Place which was narrated by Sutton Foster one of my favourite narrators. Her performance was enthusiastic and easy to listen to. I recommend this format of the book to those that enjoy audiobooks.
Let me start this review by saying this book has a different feel than the books I’ve come to expect from this writing duo. Something Wilder is more an adventure with a bit of romance versus the romantic comedies I’ve come to love from their books. The authors travelled to this area in preparation for writing this book and this is clearly reflected in their descriptions of the geography.
The story is told in the dual narrative of Lily and Leo. Lily Wilder is a strong female who along with her friend runs an adventure tourism group. She runs a tourism company which escorts small groups on the quest to find hidden treasures. Something that was left behind by her late father Duke.
Leo Grady is on Lily’s excursion with a small group of his friends. They have a romantic past that ended abruptly and Lily avoids Leo as much as she can as the week begins. It soon becomes obvious that Leo doesn’t know this group of friends as much as he thought he did as the real adventure begins.
I enjoyed the romance that rekindles as the week progresses and the two depend on each other for their own survival. There is also an element of mystery to the book which I will not give away. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy romance elements of adventure and mystery.
I listened to the audiobook version of Something Wilder which was performed by Patti Murin and Jon Root who give excellent performances. I loved the enthusiasm and sense of adventure the narrators provided and would recommend this version of the book to those who enjoy this format.
The story is told in the dual narrative of Lily and Leo. Lily Wilder is a strong female who along with her friend runs an adventure tourism group. She runs a tourism company which escorts small groups on the quest to find hidden treasures. Something that was left behind by her late father Duke.
Leo Grady is on Lily’s excursion with a small group of his friends. They have a romantic past that ended abruptly and Lily avoids Leo as much as she can as the week begins. It soon becomes obvious that Leo doesn’t know this group of friends as much as he thought he did as the real adventure begins.
I enjoyed the romance that rekindles as the week progresses and the two depend on each other for their own survival. There is also an element of mystery to the book which I will not give away. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy romance elements of adventure and mystery.
I listened to the audiobook version of Something Wilder which was performed by Patti Murin and Jon Root who give excellent performances. I loved the enthusiasm and sense of adventure the narrators provided and would recommend this version of the book to those who enjoy this format.
What an entertaining book this is! I loved the slow-burn romance, fun and supportive friends, and food descriptions which had me more than once going to find a snack. The fact that Serenity is a fellow nurse made it all the more enjoyable.
The story is told from the dual narrative of Serenity and Gabriel. Each of these characters has come off of bad relationships and has no interest in becoming involved with anyone else at the moment. When they first meet in a grocery store, Gabriel makes a joke that Serenity finds insulting. It’s a good thing they aren’t likely to see each other again anytime soon. Wrong! Not only are they next-door neighbours, but Serenity is good friends with Gabriel’s sister. She has unknowingly invited her friend’s brother to her supper club.
Gabriel is only in Firefly Lake to keep watch over his Nana. His sister Andrea had sacrificed her own career for many years to do just that after Nana’s stroke a few years ago. When promotion was offered to Andrea based in another city, Gabriel did the right thing and offered to temporarily move to Firefly Lake. In his heart, he’s a city boy and hopes that he can convince Nana to move back to Atlanta with him.
I really feel that I got to know these characters well. Serenity is a little sassy but has a heart of gold. Who wouldn’t love to have a friend that cooks this well and invites you to her supper club? Gabriel is a foodie too and complements Serenity well. A movie adaptation based on the book? Yes, please!
A Table for Two is a lovely romance novel that I’m hoping is the first in a new series by the author. I want to spend more time with this group of friends and beautiful setting. I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy romance or women’s fiction.
I received a copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The story is told from the dual narrative of Serenity and Gabriel. Each of these characters has come off of bad relationships and has no interest in becoming involved with anyone else at the moment. When they first meet in a grocery store, Gabriel makes a joke that Serenity finds insulting. It’s a good thing they aren’t likely to see each other again anytime soon. Wrong! Not only are they next-door neighbours, but Serenity is good friends with Gabriel’s sister. She has unknowingly invited her friend’s brother to her supper club.
Gabriel is only in Firefly Lake to keep watch over his Nana. His sister Andrea had sacrificed her own career for many years to do just that after Nana’s stroke a few years ago. When promotion was offered to Andrea based in another city, Gabriel did the right thing and offered to temporarily move to Firefly Lake. In his heart, he’s a city boy and hopes that he can convince Nana to move back to Atlanta with him.
I really feel that I got to know these characters well. Serenity is a little sassy but has a heart of gold. Who wouldn’t love to have a friend that cooks this well and invites you to her supper club? Gabriel is a foodie too and complements Serenity well. A movie adaptation based on the book? Yes, please!
A Table for Two is a lovely romance novel that I’m hoping is the first in a new series by the author. I want to spend more time with this group of friends and beautiful setting. I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy romance or women’s fiction.
I received a copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher. All opinions are my own.