Reviews

This debut novel by Ellie Palmer is well worth reading! I appreciated Ellie's vulnerability and sharing of her own personal experience as a post-double-mastectomy BRCA 1 carrier through Allison's story. The whole premise was so unique and handled with so much care. 

When Alison arrives at her ex-boyfriend’s funeral, she is surprised to learn that he never told his parents they broke up and reluctantly takes on the role of grieving girlfriend during the funeral, which spirals into her agreeing to help Sam's best friend, Adam, pack up his condo. The overall story is about finding yourself and finding love while grieving the life you thought you should or would have had. 

I found it thoughtful in its consideration of who we allow ourselves to be, survivor guilt, and honoring memories after loss. The banter was funny, and the closed-door romance was genuine.  I read lots of Romance and Chick Lit and yet I found Four Weekends and a Funeral really refreshing and truly unique.  

I realized how much I needed to be reunited with these characters and that I missed them so much. If you somehow haven’t read The Guncle by Steven Rowley yet, first off put it at the top of your TBR list pronto. Secondly, they need to be read in order to understand the characters' dynamics and backstory. Patrick does not disappoint in this sequel with his witty and sarcastic humor. Maisie and Grant are now five years older than they were in the first book and Patrick needs to teach them “the Guncle’s love language” since they are struggling to accept their father impending nuptials. Patrick has a rivalry with the kid’s new Launt and it showcases Patrick at his petty best. The setting takes you on a journey through Europe as Patrick and the kids do their own jaunt before settling in Italy for Greg’s wedding. I was just as charmed with this one as I was with the first book, the characters are entertaining and endearing, the plot was heartfelt, and the entire thing was humorous but touching from start to finish. Full of humor, love and teenage angst, The Guncle Abroad is a must read for 2024. 

Darling Girls is about three foster sisters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia who spent a few years together in the foster home called Wild Meadows run by Miss Fairchild, who was anything but fair to children. The sisters are forced to relive their trauma as old human remains have been found under the foster home twenty-five years later. The three women have to confront their past, their fears, and their trauma, as they find themselves both witnesses and suspects in the new investigation. There were some serious topics in the story, like child abuse, mental illness and the dysfunction of the foster care system. Hepworth gave the three sisters very distinct, unique personalities and each handled their trauma differently. Overall, the story is fast-paced, with a few twists and characters that will have you investing in either their triumph or their demise. As typical with all Sally Hepworth books, the twist at the end leaves you shocked and fully satisfied. I'd recommend this book to those who love an exhilarating read from multiple POVs and timelines. It had elements of another book I enjoyed, The Push by Ashley Audrain.  Put this one on your summer reading list!

Expiration Dates had one of the most original and fun concepts I've read for a romance/women’s fiction. 

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a Jake. 
 
But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.  

As usual in a Rebecca Serle novel, I found myself loving the main character, despite her flaws, and cheering for her to the end. While there were a few predictable outcomes, I truly enjoyed this novel and found the magical realism an interesting element to the story. A perfect pick to kick your summer off!

Avery Cunningham’s debut novel The Mayor of Maxwell Street gives a fascinating look into Prohibition-era Chicago. Penelope “Nelly” Sawyer, the daughter of a wealthy horse breeder from Kentucky, is making her debut in Black society in the summer of 1921. An aspiring journalist, Nelly learns about the elusive Mayor of Maxwell Street, a powerful man who controls Chicago’s underground crime scene. Aided by Jay Shorey, a biracial man passing as white, Nelly becomes entangled in a flurry of criminal activity that threatens her life and the lives of her family and friends.

Against a backdrop of speakeasies, lavish parties, and a multi-cultural night market, the novel explores the effects of Jim Crow laws, class differences in Chicago, and women’s struggles in the 1920s. Along with the narrative are rich details of Art Deco, Chicago historic landmarks, Roaring Twenties fashion, and expensive cars.

While some of the plot points are unrealistic, the overall story was compelling, and I was invested in the ending. I recommend this glamorous story to anyone who enjoys a love story, a riveting historical drama, and a brilliant exploration of Black society and perseverance in a memorable time in history.

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver follows Iris as she embarks on her new life in New York, carrying the grief of losing her mom and the trauma of a bad relationship back in London. Iris brings with her the gelato recipe from her mom that has been a source of comfort throughout her life. When she stumbles upon a familiar door that she recognizes from her mom’s photo album she meets Gio Belloti, and they embark on a star-crossed journey of love, loss, secrets, and family togetherness.

The story follows two timelines - one of Iris in the present day, her struggles, love interest, finding out more about her mom who passed a few years ago, and a secret she feels she needs to keep from Gio. The other is of Iris’ mom life in New York… and how Iris came to be.

I loved that this book had more depth than a typical rom-com and dealt with some heavier themes. Although I found the main conflict not such a conflict at all in my mind, I chose to willingly accept it as such and just enjoy the story. This is a wholesome read, focused on family, love, loss, and finding yourself.

The audiobook version of this was delightful with the British accent. I recommend this one as a cozy winter read!

Ally Carter’s The Blonde Identity is pure fun: a fast-paced, humorous road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

The heroine wakes up in the streets of Paris with no idea who she is other than every bad guy and agency on the planet seems to be after her. They spend most of the book on the run from Russian mobsters and eventually go undercover as newlyweds on a river cruise.

This book had everything I love, mixing the action and twists of my favorite spy movies with the banter, heart, and humor of my favorite romances. If you want somewhat over-the-top action scenes that are pure entertainment, as well as funny, opposites attract romance, then The Blonde Identity is a great choice. 

Katherine Center continues to be my go-to author for meaningful Women’s Fiction. She knows how to craft a thoughtful story that has humor, love, and deeper meaning.

Hello Stranger, is a romance, and yes, the romantic plotlines are very good — but it goes deeper with Sadie’s unique situation and how it impacts every aspect of her life that made this book so compelling to read. Sadie is a portrait artist who is diagnosed with a malformed brain vessel that requires immediate surgery. When she wakes in the hospital post-surgery, she realizes she now has a condition called acquired prosopagnosia, otherwise known as “face blindness”. The surgery has left her with swelling near the brain center that processes faces, and there’s no telling whether this is a permanent or temporary condition.  Right before the surgery, Sadie learned that she was a finalist in a portrait competition that could finally give her the big break she is looking for — but if she can’t see faces, how can she paint them? Sadie’s life was already messy before the surgery — barely making ends meet through her Etsy shop, dealing with her estranged family, a truly evil stepsister, and a pesky, yet helpful, neighbor. Even though I could see what was about to happen, I still enjoyed the journey getting there.

I appreciated the author’s note and acknowledgements for it gave great insight into learning about the real disorder that Sadie has: Prosopagnosia.  I also really related to her insight into the romance genre and how all stories run on anticipation, but romance uses positive valanced anticipation. Don’t we all need a little more positivity in our lives? I would highly recommend adding Hello Stranger to your summer reading list.

Sally Hepworth does it again! The Soulmate is a fast-paced, psychological mystery surrounding couple Pippa and Gabe Gerrard.  They're living an idyllic life in a coastal town, with a beautiful home built on a cliff, overlooking the sea below. Over the last several months Gabe has gained a sort of fame in town for talking several people off the literal ledge. When a woman jumps, Gabe and Pippa face questions from the authorities and each other-especially after it emerges that Gabe knew the woman.  Soon, we see flashbacks that crack the perfect facade of Pippa and Gabe's marriage and many questions emerge and as the danger grows, the idea of soulmate is put to the ultimate test.

The Soulmate features the exploration of marriage, but it's also a keen insight into mental illness and how it's affects are ongoing across generations and family branches.  Sally Hepworth's novels usually have great twists and turns that keep me guessing. This story was no different with clever twists that took me by surprise. I thought the characters were well developed and the story flowed very well. I really liked the alternating points of view. Hepworth fans will really enjoy her latest novel!

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader is an incredibly moving and powerful historical fiction book about female friendship and women nurses in the Midwest U.S. during the Vietnam War. Told in dual timeline structure the story begins in 2019 with the funeral of BettyKay Beecher, the mother of Abbie and Clara, and a devoted nurse. A famous actress by the name of Kitty Devereaux unexpectedly shows up to the funeral, and tells BettyKay’s daughters the stories and secrets their mother kept from the two of them.

The story at its heart is about the bonds of sisterhood and found family. It was sweet, loving, heartbreaking, and endearing like the best female friendships. You were really rooting for all the characters who were well-developed, realistic, and dynamic. Despite their differences and flaws, there was something about each of the central characters that was endearing and engaging.

I loved the past and present juxtaposition, but it was the past and Betts voice that had me really riveted. It’s also a great historical fiction read for Vietnam-era/old Hollywood vibes. Highly recommend!