Book Review: "Here We Go Again" by Alison Cochrun

I was a complete puddle of emotions after reading Alison Cochrun’s newest book. It was 1:30 a.m. and I was crying and smiling at the same time. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Logan has spent her whole life in the same small town of Vista Summit, Washington. She is in her 30s, she still lives with her father, and she even teaches at her old high school. She never lets anyone get too close, so everyone thinks she’s a self-centered asshole, and she doesn't seem to care. She even thinks of herself as a fuckboy.

Rosemary was Logan’s childhood best friend, until one night when they were 14 and everything changed. From then on, they’ve strongly disliked one another. Rosemary left town to go to college and make a living, but then she came back to Vista Summit, and teaches in the same school Logan does.

Both Rosemary and Logan are never-ending sources of aggravation for one another. But when their beloved high school English teacher, Joe, tells them he only has a few months to live, he makes a request they can’t refuse: he asks them both to drive him to Bar Harbor, Maine, so he can die at a house he has owned for decades rather than die in the hospital.

The thought of having to spend that much time together in close quarters fills both of them with dread, but Joe means more to them than almost anyone. There’s so much they want to say to one another, so many misunderstandings to be corrected, so many feelings to finally be expressed. But given how different each of them is, will they even survive the drive?

Cochrun’s debut, The Charm Offensive,” was one of my absolute favorites, and this was utterly amazing. It’s sexy, funny, complicated, sad, and hopeful, but it may be triggering for some who have recently experienced loss. This really moved me.

The book publishes 4/2.

Book Review: "The Trail of Lost Hearts" by Tracey Garvis Graves

Wren has been reeling from the sudden death of her fiancé, not to mention a second blow which was even more crushing. All she has wanted to do is cut herself off from the world and wallow in her grief, but her friends won’t let her. Remarkably, she starts to find joy in geocaching, or using a GPS to find hidden objects, and she plans a trip to Oregon, to get away from home and spend a week clearing her mind while searching for geocaches.

Shortly after starting out on a hike, she encounters a dangerous situation she is utterly unprepared for. Marshall, another hiker, happens to be walking by and he saves Wren from almost certain disaster. Wren is tremendously grateful for Marshall’s heroism, and when he proposes they team up for the rest of the week, she agrees.

Marshall is dealing with a tragedy of his own, and while his kindness and empathy help Wren to unburden herself, he isn’t willing to open up himself. But the more time they spend with each other, the stronger the connection between them grows. Neither is sure what the future holds, but they decide to enjoy the time until Wren heads home.

But when Wren returns home, it appears that she and Marshall are farther apart emotionally than Wren thought. For the first time, she knows it’s necessary to put herself and her needs first, even if it’s not what her heart wants.

How do you find the strength to move on when you can’t see past your grief and hurt? When do you know if you’re ready to shake off your past and start anew? Can you let your fears go in order to take a chance?

I love the emotions that Tracey Garvis Graves fills her books with. Every one I’ve read has hit me square in the feels, but at the same time, they’ve been infused with hope. I definitely will keep reading everything she writes!!

Book Review: "Expiration Dates" by Rebecca Serle

I don’t exactly know what it means that I love books with touches of magical realism, yet when a thriller forces me to suspend my disbelief I often struggle with it. Whatever it is, some of my most favorite books have had that element in common, and that’s why I love everything that Rebecca Serle writes.

Imagine if, just before—or after—you meet someone you’re attracted to, you find a slip of paper that has their name on it and how long your relationship with that person will last. That has happened to Daphne for as long as she can remember. While it certainly is a burden to carry, it also keeps her from being blindsided—she knows how much of herself to give.

She has always dreamed that one day she’d receive a paper that let her know she found her forever love. And when she gets ready to go out on a date with Jake, a friend of a friend, she finds a slip of paper with just his name on it, no time limit. Finally, she can let her guard down.

With Jake, she feels freer than she has before, and it’s not long before she knows she wants to spend the rest of her life with him. But Jake doesn’t know what secrets Daphne is keeping, and Daphne doesn’t know if she can possibly keep from breaking his heart.

“Something else has always called the shots in my life—call it the universe, fate, the comedic force of timing. But my life isn’t like other people’s. I have a different set of rules to live by.”

I fell head over heels for Expiration Dates, but I recognize magical realism isn’t for everyone. The book definitely had a few twists I didn’t see coming, but in the end, it is its heart that resonated so much for me.

Book Review: "I Finally Bought Some Jordans" by Michael Arceneaux

“No matter how bad things get, if I feel my hair is together, I believe more firmly that I can deal with what is thrown at me.”

Can I get an amen? I believe I’ve actually spoken these words (albeit less articulately) before, because I do feel better when my hair doesn’t look like an overgrown shrub.

As it was with his first essay collection, I Can’t Date Jesus, Michael Arceneaux imbues his writing with sly humor, wry observations, rich emotions, and thought-provoking ideas. There were definitely instances throughout this book when I felt truly seen, and identified with the feelings he was expressing.

Whether he’s talking about the realization that trolling celebrities on the internet sometimes comes back to bite him, his fear that no one would show up to his book signings, his working on his relationship with his parents during the pandemic, or finally feeling secure enough financially that he can splurge every now and again, Arceneaux is thought-provoking and at times either side-splittingly funny or poignant.

Sometimes an essay collection is a great change of pace for me, and I’ve found some great writers over the last few years. If you give this a chance, you may find yourself wiping away a tear one second, and laughing out loud the next. I don’t know about you, but that’s what makes reading fun.

Book Review: "Blank" by Zibby Owens

In thinking of a word to describe this book, the one that keeps coming to mind is “zany.” It’s a book that is about one thing in the beginning but gets wilder and more melodramatic as it unfolds.

Pippa always knew she wanted to be a writer. Her first novel, Poppies, was a surprise bestseller (she was surprised the most) and was even adapted into an Oscar-winning movie (a technical award, but so?). Everyone is eagerly anticipating her follow-up book.

The problem is, it’s been three years and she’s still staring at the flashing cursor on a blank screen. And now her publisher is demanding a book in a week, or she’ll have to return her advance—which she and her husband used to build her a writing office. She’d better come up with an idea fast, or she’s screwed.

But then her 12-year-old son Max jokingly suggests an idea—and she runs with it. It’s definitely risky, but she sees it as an opportunity to make a statement about the publishing world, the arbitrariness of which books sell and which ones don’t, the ones publishers put their weight behind and the ones that languish, barely read. And while the literary world is abuzz about the book, her handsome publisher starts to take an interest in it—and Pippa.

And that’s about when everything goes off the rails. Suddenly amidst the public attention about the book, Pippa starts realizing there’s a lot she doesn’t know about her life, her friends, her marriage, her ambitions, and even her kids. Can she emerge from the chaos stronger and happier than ever? Or at least not have to pay back her publisher?

This was a cute story but it definitely got wacky. I don’t know that I particularly liked many of the characters, although I did like Max and Josh. It’s a quick read that gives you a lot to think about.

Book Review: "Really Cute People" by Markus Harwood-Jones

While I definitely have a fondness for books about family drama and dysfunction, what I love more are books about chosen family. That is something Really Cute People has in heartwarming abundance.

“If you think you’ve found your people, hold on tight. From there, everything else will sort itself out.”

Charlie is definitely in a bit of an emotional slump. The queer collective they once were a part of has fallen apart, and their former housemates all seem to blame Charlie. To top it off, their job at what was once a crisis hotline—now staffed by a chatbot because of budget cuts—isn’t exciting them as it used to, although the a promotion would be appealing.

Charlie’s boss asks them to take a trip to a small town outside the city to check out a new model of community center. They can’t wait to relax in the luxurious Airbnb their boss has reserved. But when Charlie arrives, they find chaos—a couple, along with their five-year-old daughter, as well as a dog, a cat, and a bird, messed up the schedule of when they were renting their home out. However, they promise to be out of Charlie’s hair the next morning.

Except the next morning, there’s a massive snowstorm, so Charlie is stuck with Buffy, Hayden, and their family. To everyone’s surprise, Charlie seems to relish the craziness—and it doesn’t hurt that both Buffy and Hayden seem to be flirting with Charlie. Could this be what they’ve been looking for all along, or will the fantasy end when Charlie has to return home?

This story was sweet, steamy, and sensitive. As the author said in their notes, why can’t a triangle turn into a triad? I’ve really never read a book with this as its focus, and it definitely made me smile and feel all the feels.

Book Review: "What Happened to Nina?" by Dervla McTiernan

Having read—and loved—Dervla McTiernan’s last book, The Murder Rule, this was one of my most anticipated books in the first quarter of this year. And wow, it blew my expectations out of the water.

Nina and Simon were childhood friends who started dating in high school. Although they went to different colleges—Simon to Northwestern and Nina to the University of Vermont—they were determined to make the long-distance thing work.

But since they both went away to school, Simon has become more possessive, more quick to anger, even a little bit violent. When they go to his parents’ vacation home in Stowe, Vermont, they hope to spend the week climbing (which they both love) and strengthening their relationship. But Simon comes back without Nina, telling everyone they broke up and that Nina went to meet another friend.

Nina’s parents suspect Simon had something to do with her disappearance, and they press the police for answers. But Simon’s father is rich and powerful, and both he and his wife are determined to protect their son at any cost.

It’s not long before guilt and innocence are muddied by rumors and innuendo, and both sides dig their heels in. Can Nina’s parents allow justice to take its time? Can Simon’s parents understand what Nina’s family is going through? Will anyone’s lives remain intact through the uncertainty, scrutiny, and despair?

This really was a fantastic book. McTiernan ratchets up the suspense and tension little by little until you need to race through the book to see how everything gets resolved. It’ll make you sad and angry, and keep you on edge.