Book Review: "Pomona Afton Can SO Solve a Murder" by Bellamy Rose

Imagine a cozy mystery with Paris Hilton as the main character, and you’ll get this fun, bighearted book.

Pomona Afton is an heiress to the Afton Hotels fortune, currently ruled with an iron claw by her grandmother. As cruel as her grandmother is, the last thing Pomona would’ve expected was to find her murdered body. But there it was.

When her family discovers that her grandmother put a clause in her will that freezes all assets in the event of a mysterious death, Pomona finds herself out on the street. She has no apartment, no money (except for what she makes as an influencer), and everyone else in her family seems to be making do.

She quickly realizes that her friends have abandoned her since she has no money. She moves in with Gabe, the (handsome) son of her former nanny, but it’s not a doorman building—it doesn’t even have an elevator! And even worse than that, she has to get a job at the coffee shop Gabe manages. This is a big shock for her, as she never paid attention to how her coffees were made or who served her.

When Pomona learns that her family’s fortune will never be released unless her grandmother’s murder is resolved, her only choice is to try and solve the crime. With Gabe as her sidekick/partner (because his mother was owed money as well for working for Pomona’s family), she embarks on an unlikely investigation. But if she gets her fortune back, will she lose any chance she might have with Gabe?

This was a quick and fun read. It’s always fascinating when “ordinary” people turn into detectives in books, but there’s nothing ordinary about Pomona. She and Gabe are both such fun, and bring a sweetness to the story.

Book Review: "You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince" by Matthew Janovsky

My first holiday rom-com of the year is in the books, and it was lighthearted yet complex, sweet and emotional, and really good!

Matthew Prince isn’t just your typical spoiled rich kid. Because his parents are well-known, he’s constantly in the public eye, which he loves. His love life is tabloid fodder and his high-fashion looks are coveted. Plus he’s always getting himself in some kind of trouble, much to the media’s pleasure and his parents’ ire.

But when his uncontrolled spending goes above and beyond frivolous and threatens both of his parents’ livelihoods, they see red. Matthew gets shipped to stay with his grandparents in their small cottage in Massachusetts. There’s no WiFi, no Starbucks, and no cell service. And he can’t come home until he’s demonstrated he’s ready to change his ways, despite the fact he's supposed to be hosting a party for New Year's Eve.

As if all of this isn’t bad enough, he has to share a room with Hector, a local college student who is helping his grandparents. Hector is immensely good looking but doesn’t seem the least bit impressed by Matthew, his fancy clothes, or celebrity lifestyle. Of course, that makes Matthew want to try harder to dazzle him.

When the Christmas-obsessed town loses the coordinator of its holiday gala, Matthew steps in, hoping that this good deed will lead to his permission to go back to NYC. But of course, it’s not long before he’s knee-deep in the Christmas spirit and realizing that there’s more to life and love than material things.

I love the way Timothy Janovsky writes. His books are sweet and fun but deal with heavier issues, and as someone with anxiety I appreciated the treatment of how it can affect other aspects of your life. The supporting characters were awesome, too!