Book Review: "Beautiful Ugly" by Alice Feeney

I know I’m a huge outlier here, as I’ve seen so many rave reviews for this book. But despite an immensely promising start, this absolutely didn’t work for me.

“Marriage is made of a million beautiful and ugly moments stitched together into a shared tapestry of memories, all of which are viewed and remembered slightly differently, like two people staring at the same painting from opposite ends of a room.”

Grady is an author who is expecting to hear some exciting news. He’s eagerly awaiting the arrival of his wife, Abby, so they can share the moment together. When he calls to see how far away she is, she tells him she’s seen a body lying in the road ahead. Although he begs her not to stop, she does anyway; when he arrives at the scene shortly afterward he finds Abby’s car still running, her purse and phone on the passenger seat, and Abby nowhere to be found.

A year later, there’s not been a sign of Abby. Grady has completely fallen apart; he hasn’t been able to sleep or write since that night. With his financial situation becoming worse by the day, Grady’s publisher encourages him to get away to the small Scottish isle of Amberly, where he can hopefully be able to focus on his writing once again.

Amberly is definitely isolated. When he arrives Grady is sure he has spotted his missing wife, but he becomes convinced it’s grief and too little sleep that is making him see things. But strange things keep appearing in—and disappearing from—his cabin, and the island’s residents definitely seem to be hiding some secrets of their own.

I found the characters all really unlikable and it took a long while for things to start heating up. The twist was wild but didn’t quite sit well with me, and I felt like the book veered in a direction I didn’t enjoy. But don’t pay me any attention if you’re intrigued!!

The book publishes 1/14/2025.

Book Review: "Kilt Trip" by Alexandra Kiley

I am a sucker for a Scottish accent and a man in a kilt, so of course I bought this as soon as I spotted it in the bookstore!! And after reading the book, Scotland remains near the top of my travel bucket list!

Her work as a travel consultant has given Addie the opportunity to travel all over the globe. But when her next assignment—to help a struggling family-run tour company—sends her to Scotland, a country she has been avoiding because of painful memories, she puts a smile on her face and prepares to do her job.

Logan is ready to fully take the reins of his family’s tour company when his father retires. Ruggedly handsome (especially when wearing a kilt), he looks like he stepped off the set of Highlander, and he excels at getting tourists excited about the magic of his home country. But unfortunately, the company hasn’t been turning a profit, which is where Addie comes in.

Sparks fly between Addie and Logan immediately, but that’s doesn’t mean he’ll be receptive to her recommendations, especially if it means adding more touristy stops to their tours. But when he realizes that Addie has avoided Scotland all this time because of its ties to her late mother, he’s determined to help her find those connections.

The harder they fall for one another, the more Addie realizes what she’s been running from for so long. She also is inspired by Logan’s ideas to bring the tour company into more modern (and profitable) times. Can they trust each other enough to let their hearts go? And can Addie convince her boss to buy into Logan’s vision for the company?

I always love banter in my romances, and there’s some good stuff here. Throw in some sexy steam, some unresolved grief, and enjoyable supporting characters, and you get a fun, sweet, and sexy debut!!

Book Review: "The Christmas Bookshop" by Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan's The Christmas Bookshop proves I’m all about the books about bookshops this season, but how can you resist?

Carmen’s life is falling apart—again. When she’s laid off from her department store job, her mother wants her to spend Christmas with her sister Sofia, but Carmen wants no part of it.

Sofia has her life together. She’s a successful attorney, has a beautiful house, a solid marriage, and three gorgeous children (with one on the way). She’s tired of bailing her sister out, but she can’t stand to hear their mother beg, so she gets Carmen a job helping a client with his struggling bookshop.

For the first time, Carmen feels a sense of purpose at Mr. McCredie’s bookshop. As she tries to help him get the store ready for perhaps its last Christmas season, she realizes how much she loves the store and the charm of historic Edinburgh. She also gets a chance for romance, but is torn between two men, although there really is only one right decision.

Colgan’s books are so charming. I love her protagonists and the way they fall in love with their surroundings. Edinburgh is on my bucket list (Scottish accents make me melt) so this book definitely made me want to travel there even more.

Is it predictable? Sure. Did I care? Not at all. The Christmas Bookshop was just a sweet, fun read for the holidays or anytime! Thanks to William Morrow Books for the complimentary advance copy of the book!!

Book Review: "The Summer Job" by Lizzy Dent

What could go wrong when a woman pretends to be her best friend for a job? Read Lizzy Dent's upcoming novel, The Summer Job and find out.

Elizabeth “Birdy” Finch hasn’t had it easy. She had a tough childhood, she’s blundered from one job to another, and never found a relationship that would stick. But she’s always been there for her best friend, Heather, supporting her through her achievements as a sommelier, and as she chases after a love she’s so desperate to find.

When Heather decides to abandon the new summer job she’s landed at an old Scottish resort hotel to pursue a relationship, Birdy agrees to notify the hotel. But instead, Birdy decides to pretend to be Heather, like she’s done at parties and events before. How hard can it be to learn wine? And if the resort is old, how challenging will it really be?

Of course, the resort has been redone and the restaurant is now posh, with 124 wines(!) on its list. Birdy has her work cut out for her. The last thing she’s counting on is a handsome chef to distract/motivate her, not to mention actually starting to enjoy herself, despite the deception she’s perpetuating.

I really enjoyed The Summer Job so much. Sure, it was predictable in many ways, but it was funny and sweet and poignant (a little heavier than the average rom-com, which I always enjoy), and I love any book that takes place behind the scenes at a restaurant. This would definitely be a fun Hallmark or Netflix movie.

NetGalley and Putnam Books provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

The Summer Job publishes 5/18.

Book Review: "500 Miles from You" by Jenny Colgan

According to Jenny Colgan's 500 Miles from You, sometimes a change of perspective can do you good—and sometimes it’s even better.

Lissa is a nurse in London, working in some of the city's grittier neighborhoods. She’s been having trouble keeping it together, though, since witnessing a horrible crime. Her PTSD is making it impossible for her to focus, so her supervisors think a change of scenery will help, and they arrange for her to swap jobs with another nurse.

Cormac is a nurse and former army medic in the small Scottish town of Kirrinfief. He’s easygoing and friendly, a gentle giant, but that calm hides some deeper issues he keeps silent about. He’s only spent a day or two in London but now he’ll be taking Lissa's place while she moves to Kirrinfief.

Although Cormac has an easier time getting acclimated than Lissa, both feel like a fish out of water. Lissa, in particular, is finding it hard to get comfortable in a place where everyone knows everyone’s business and everyone is so friendly and laid back. But little by little, she starts to warm to the town and its people, and they stop thinking she's totally standoffish.

After some initial awkwardness, Cormac and Lissa start emailing each other about their patients, daily occurrences, every little thing, which leads to texting each other. Why is it so easy to unburden yourself to someone you’ve never met?

What happens when they meet each other? And what happens when they have to return to their original homes and jobs?

Unless you’ve never read a rom-com before, you pretty much know what will happen. And even though I did, there is so much charm here to fall for. The characters—not only Lissa and Cormac, but the supporting characters in both London and Kirrinfief—are just so endearing. It took a little longer for Lissa to stop being impolite and disoriented than I would’ve liked, and the roadblocks she and Cormac encounter at one point made me roll my eyes, but I still enjoyed this so much.

I’ve been wanting to read a Jenny Colgan book for so long and now I see why she’s so loved!