Book Review: "Foster" by Claire Keegan

This short novella is beautifully written, poignant, and quietly powerful.

It’s summer in Ireland. A young girl is taken by her father to live with distant relatives, the Kinsellas. The girl’s mother is expecting another baby, and things at home with her other siblings are very chaotic.

When her father drops her off, she has no idea how long she’ll be staying with the Kinsellas, or whether she’ll even return home. And it’s not long before her fear of living with strangers turns to feeling, for the very first time, as if she belongs somewhere and is cared for.

Who are these people, and why does caring come so easy to them when it doesn’t for her parents? Will her parents forget her or leave her behind? And how does she feel about either prospect?

I loved Claire Keegan’s last book, Small Things Like These, so I was excited to read Foster. There is simplicity to this story yet at the same time, you can feel the emotions so vividly. I would have loved for the story to be longer, but I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

Book Review: "In the Weeds" by B.K. Borison

In the Weeds is a terrific, steamy, small-town romance with a fantastic supporting cast!

Lovelight Farms was an absolute joy of a find last year, and I’ve been meaning to get to this second book in the series for months! I was so excited to take a trip back to the small town of Inglewild.

Beckett can’t get Evie out of his mind. It was just a one-night stand (well, two nights), but there was something different about her and the way she made him feel. The last thing he expected, though, is for her to show up at Lovelight Farms.

He had no idea that Evie, from that bar in Maine, is actually Evelyn St. James, world-famous social media influencer. And she’s at the farm as part of a social media contest. But no sooner does she appear than she leaves again.

The thing is, while Evie appreciates the renown she has achieved, she seems to have lost her passion for her job, lost the happiness and her sense of purpose. To recapture it, she goes back to the last place she truly felt peace: Lovelight Farms. (Do you think that has anything to do with a sexy, brooding farmer?)

“It’s okay if it takes you some time to find it again. And it’s okay if you find it just to lose a bit of it here and there. That’s the beauty of it, yeah? It comes and goes. Not every day is a happy one and it shouldn’t be. It’s in the trying, I think.”

I loved this book so much. Beckett is definitely a new book boyfriend, but boy, do I love the people of Inglewild!!

Book Review: "Blackwater" by Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham

There’s something strange happening in the small town of Blackwater, Maine…

Tony is a handsome, popular track star. Sometimes he’s kind and friendly, and sometimes he’s drawn into pranks or bullying by his best friend, the football team’s quarterback. At the end of the day, what he wants more than anything is for his father to notice and appreciate him.

Eli has an autoimmune disease which lands him in and out of the hospital, and often makes him use a wheelchair. He is a complete outcast in school and his overprotective mother doesn’t want him to worry or get stressed, or he could get sicker. He just wants to have friends.

Despite the fact that his friend bullies Eli constantly, there’s something about him that intrigues Tony. But Tony isn’t sure what his feelings mean, and he’s certainly not going to let his guard down.

One night while on a hunting trip, Tony gets bitten by some animal. The next thing he knows, his temper flares up constantly and something seems to happen to him when he gets angry. There’s a mysterious woman in the woods who knows the truth but she refuses to help him. So it’s up to Eli to try and find answers—and perhaps he can figure out how to help the fisherman’s ghost that keeps following him.

Nothing like a combination of high school drama, ghosts, werewolf sightings, and tentative steps toward realizing who you really are! This graphic novel—which is co-written and illustrated—was a fun, slightly spooky read!

Book Review: "Nobody Gets Out Alive" by Leigh Newman

Leigh Newman's debut collection, Nobody Gets Out Alive, is a collection of stories featuring women at their toughest, dealing with the wilds of life.

I always love discovering books thanks to Bookstagram friends. This story collection, longlisted for the National Book Award, was recommended by two friends whose reading taste is so admirable, so I figured, how could I lose?

The collection takes place in Alaska, one of my favorite settings for books, and the stories follow women dealing not only with the wildlife and the sometimes-unforgiving climate, but also with the challenges and pain associated with love, loss, and relationships. Some stories are set in the present, some in the not-too-distant past, and one is even set in the early 1900s.

Newman’s characters are tough, independent, smart, and sensitive, which makes reading about them really appealing. A few of the stories feature the same characters at different points of their lives.

As with any story collection, I loved some more than others. My favorites included “Howl Palace,” about an older woman dealing with financial challenges and the mortality of those she loves; the title story, about an engaged couple dealing with the advances of others; and “Alcan: An Oral History,” which follows five different women outrunning their problems.

Let’s hear it for book recs from friends!!

Book Review: "It Starts With Us" by Colleen Hoover

The feeling when the sequel is just as good…

I’m a huge Colleen Hoover fan, and whenever I’m asked what my favorite book of hers is, while it’s difficult to pick just one, It Ends With Us always tops the list. So when I heard that she had a sequel coming out, I was both excited and apprehensive. But after devouring the book in about two hours, my only disappointment is that I’m finished now and have to wait for her next book!!

“Sometimes people think if they love a broken person enough, they can be what finally repairs them, but the problem with that is the other person just ends up broken, too.”

At the start of the book, Lily has just seen Atlas for the first time almost two years after they last spoke. She is trying to co-parent her young daughter with Ryle, and while they’ve developed a good rhythm, Lily is afraid Ryle thinks there’s still a chance for them even after the divorce.

Seeing each other brings light into both Lily and Atlas’ lives. Is the timing finally right for them to try and pursue the relationship both have wanted since they were teenagers? As much as that’s what Lily wants, she’s worried that her dating anyone—especially Atlas—might set Ryle off and complicate their ability to raise their daughter together.

This is a book about second chances, about finding love when you don’t feel you deserve it or even believe it’s possible. And it’s a powerful exploration of what it means to have someone in your corner. While it didn’t leave me in an absolute emotional puddle like the first book, it was utterly beautiful and definitely had me in tears a few times.

Do yourself a favor and read both!!

Book Review: "Thank You for Listening" by Julia Whelan

Thank You for Listening, Julia Whelan's newest novel, is a funny and moving story about a renowned audiobook narrator at a crossroads in her life.

If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know that audiobooks are not for me. But despite that, even I have heard of Julia Whelan and I know she is very popular among audiobook fans. And how meta is a book about an audiobook narrator by an audiobook narrator?

Sewanee Chester used to dream of being an actress, but when tragedy struck, she put those dreams aside and found some renown as an award-winning audiobook narrator. While the big money is in narrating romance novels, Swan doesn’t buy into the concept of happy-ever-after, especially given the course of her life.

After a steamy encounter while at a convention in Vegas, she starts to think about acting again, particularly as her best friend is becoming a success. But when she finds out that an immensely popular romance author insisted that she narrate her final book—alongside Brock McNight, one of the most popular and mysterious narrators in the industry.

Swan agrees to the project and quickly forges a connection with him through text and email. But as their flirtation intensifies, she’s not sure if she’s ready to bare her soul to someone. And as secrets are revealed just as her life seems to be falling apart, Swan has to decide what path to take—and what dreams are still worth pursuing.

I really thought this was fantastic. There are so many things happening but it was easy to follow and I was fully invested right away. I really loved the characters, especially her relationship with her grandmother and her cohorts. I love books that combine emotion and humor.

Book Review: "Look Closer" by David Ellis

Look Closer is a twisty thriller that hooked me from the very start and never let go!

I’ve seen so many rave reviews for this book and I have been meaning to read it for a while now, but I’m not always wowed by thrillers. But I have to say, this one deserves every bit of hype because it is fantastic!

Simon loves his job as an associate professor at a law school. He’s truly passionate about the law. He and Vicky have been married for nearly 10 years, and while it’s not a loveless marriage, it’s not an exciting one for either of them.

When a beautiful, wealthy woman is found dead in her exclusive neighborhood, many things come to light. And even when you look closer, nothing is what it seems.

This was truly excellent. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, David Ellis flipped the script time and again. If you love twisty thrillers that keep you guessing, pick this one up!!