Reviews

One Italian Summer will make you want to drop everything and immediately fly to the Italian Riviera. This book does a beautiful job of depicting Positano, capturing its natural beauty. The town does feel like a place where magic can happen, making it an appropriate setting for this book.

Katy’s mom passes away and her marriage is struggling, so she decides to take the trip to Italy her and her mother had planned before she died. Rebecca Serle does an amazing job of capturing the grief of losing a mother. Yet, overall, I did not like Katy as a character, as she seemed quite selfish and seemed co-dependent on her mother.

I appreciate magical elements in a novel, but find they work best when the character struggles to understand them at first. Upon arriving in Positano, Katy encounters the 30-year-old version of her mother, Carol, and the two connect and enjoy each other's company. Katy learns more about her mother through the magic of time travel, both the good and the bad - including some difficult revelations that lead Katy to question everything she believed about her mother and their relationship. 

In the end, I struggled to understand Katy's borderline obsession with her mother because it blinded her to other things in her life. I also struggled with the time travel piece, as Katy readily accepted it without investigating the reason. Despite these issues, I did find the story to be well written and the vivid description of the Italian setting enthralled me. 

Colleen Hoover's newest book Reminders of Him is a story that will rip your heart apart and then slowly put it back together again.

Kenna Rowan is a heroine who represents the raw realities of being a young girl, woman, daughter and mother. Having made an honest and horrific mistake 5 years ago landing her in prison, she loses two loves of her life – one being her daughter. Coming back to the town where everything started and ended, Kenna does all that she can to receive forgiveness and to once again be a part of her daughter’s life.

The only person in town who doesn't hate Kenna is local bar owner Ledger Ward, and as they grow closer, the chances of Kenna ever having her daughter in her life drift farther and farther away. Kenna and Ledger are both connected by an unimaginable tragedy, and it's going to take so much courage and forgiveness to move past it and build a future.

Reading the story through both of their own POVs and watching each of them fall in love with the other showcased true endurance and perseverance. This was definitely a heavier read than other contemporary romances and it centers around family, grief, and forgiveness. This is a compelling story that is heartbreaking, yet hopeful. Fans of Colleen Hoover's other fantastic novels and those who enjoy second chance stories will love this book.

Wahala by Nikki May is an incisive and exhilarating debut novel centered on the female friendship of three Anglo-Nigerian best friends and the lethally glamorous fourth woman who infiltrates their group. This female trio is the most unforgettable friendship since Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. For those who aren’t familiar with those names, I am talking about the epic friendship circle of the women of Sex and the City.

This story follows a friend group made up of 3 British/Nigerian girls who met in grade school and bonded over their shared heritage. Ronke, Simi and Boo are the kind of friend group that make others jealous. They have grown up together as close as sisters - sharing their successes, their dreams, as well as their failures. With the introduction of Isobel (a childhood friend of Simi), things start to take a turn for the three close friends. A turn which has the potential to tear this group apart for good.

If you are a fan of Sex and the City or Big Little Lies, this drama filled novel with strong mystery/thriller undertones is perfect for you.

This is Book One in the From Kona with Love series by Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha. I had never heard of either of these authors before but when I read that the series would depict multicultural romance, love, loss, and redemption woven into a family saga set in the beautiful islands of Hawaii I knew that I had to give it a try.  Then I was beyond thrilled to find out that Kristoffer Polaha is an actor that I have seen in numerous television shows and during my Hallmark Christmas movie binge watching. 

In this beautifully written book that is part travel log and part romance, we are introduced to Andie and Warren. Andi has had a awful year, so she is now questioning the choices she made. In a quick decision, she escapes her problems by running off to Hawaii to help her friend, Api. What Andi finds is more than a coffee shop and run down plantation; she finds a purpose. She unexpectedly meets Warren Yates on Christmas Eve, a mysterious man who has a connection to the shop and wants to help Andie explore the island for whatever time she has.

Moments Like This delivers a beautiful love story wrapped inside two journeys of self-discovery.  The authors beautifully wrote the Hawaiian and Filipino cultures and traditions, wherein both cultures respect and honor family, love, and food. It is the perfect book to get into the holiday spirit, so grab a hot beverage, a cozy blanket, and snuggle in for a Hawaiian treat.

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins has written various young adult fantasy and romance novels. She recently starting writing adult psychological thrillers as well. The Wife Upstairs is one of my favorite 2021 reads and I am looking forward to her upcoming novel Reckless Girls. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the witchy romcom I picked up by Erin Sterling was the pen name for Rachel Hawkins.

The Ex Hex is a lighthearted, quick read to get you in the holiday spirit. Think Sabrina the Teenage Witch, with a little bit Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic thrown in. The story centers on Vivi, who after a summer fling with Rhys ends badly, curses the man who broke her heart using a Bath and Body Works candle. Vivi moves on with her life until Rhys waltzes back into her life 9 years later and it just happens maybe Vivi's curse worked after all.

This second chance romance includes humorous banter and steamy chemistry. While the plot could be predictable at times, I still found this is a great read for getting into the spooky season, and perfect for anyone who needs a good light romcom.

Women’s fiction is a genre that continues to evolve and provide us a window into the lives of strong female protagonist.

Jamie Brenner’s newest novel, Blush, is a complex, domestic, multi-generational, family drama centered on the Hollander family.  It's a story of 3 generations of women who are trying to save their family vineyard. Leah Hollander, a NYC cheese shop owner, is visiting her family home, Hollander Estates Vineyard, when she abruptly finds out that her father needs to sell. Her own daughter, Sadie, shows up unexpectedly for the weekend at a crossroads in her life.

Sadie finds a secret journal detailing her grandmother's long-ago romance book club and begins to read these 80’s "trashy" novels along with the other women in the family. They soon come to realize that the book’s characters show them a whole different way of being a strong woman.

This was a terrific story, backed by excellent writing. Brenner develops characters with such a sense of immediacy and familiarity that you feel like you know these women and are part of their journey. Blush is perfect for a lighthearted book discussion and end of summer beach read. Don’t forget to pair it with a good glass of wine and cheese!

I am a sucker for any book that takes place in Italy.  Lori Nelson Spielman's The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany was an engrossing combination of all my favorite things about a book, a little romance, a little mystery, some historical references, and a generous helping of beautiful scenery. The Fontana family has had a curse on the second-born daughters for over 200 years. Always to remain spinsters, true love will never find any of them. Emilia has unknowingly resigned herself to the fact that the curse is a real thing as she remains consistently unlucky in love. Her cousin Lucy is unlucky in love as well, falling often yet never really connecting with anyone. When their 80-year-old, estranged aunt Poppy calls offering the two a trip to Italy and an opportunity to break the curse forever, they reluctantly agree.

Speilman provides her readers with an amazing story that crosses generations and completely captivates them as secrets unfold. Aunt Poppy's dual storyline growing up in Italy was riveting and emotional. From New York to Italy, The Berlin Wall to a tiny church in Ravello, we root for these 3 resilient women to find the love and peace they deserve. This is definitely a book that I will be recommending to others. Ciao Bella!

Angie Hockman's debut book, Shipped , is a entertaining, enemies-to-lovers rom-com which confronted some serious issues to enhance the plot. The two main characters, Henley Evans and Graeme Crawford-Collins work for an adventure cruise line and are vying for the same promotion. They are sent on a cruise to the Galápagos Islands to work on some new marketing ideas that will decide who will get the coveted Digital Marketing Director position.

A majority of the story takes place in the gorgeous Galápagos Islands. The natural beauty and habitat of this region was truly a star feature in the book.  I also really appreciated the awareness of environmental issues throughout the story.

I highly recommend this book to those looking for a light rom-com in an exotic setting to read this spring.

Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst is a story is about three generations of Ferrari women who love each other, yet do not always see eye to eye. Francesca- a workaholic, single mother who hardly has time for herself yet alone her family. Allegra who is in those pivotal years between teenager and adult trying to figure out who she is and what she wants in life. All she knows is she does not want to be like her mother. Sophia, the matriarch, hates seeing her girls suffer and yet holds a secret of her own. The solution to their problems is a trip of a lifetime to Italy. Through breathtaking cities, scrumptious food, awe-inspiring churches, ancient villages and a handful of extraordinary people the Ferrari women found a way to come together.

Even though there is some romance, truly, this is a story about rebuilding a family, learning to let go, and finding yourself at any age.  

This contemporary family drama will have you wanting to visit Italy and savor the food, wine, and history.  A perfect read and escape for 2021!

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig was an extraordinary example of literary fiction along with a healthy helping of fantasy thrown in. 

Nora Seed is having a really bad day. She is mugged, loses her job, blamed for other’s people’s failures, and her cat is run over by a car. She is also seriously depressed. This day is one of many bad days that Nora has experienced over the last decade of her life. She can’t take life anymore and attempts suicide.

When she wakes up, Nora discovers that she is in the space between life and death known as The Midnight Library.

“Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices… Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?”

This magical library, overseen by a version of Mrs. Elm, Nora’s kindly grade school librarian, offers Nora the opportunity to choose “books” that are variations on her life that exist in a kind of alternate universe. Technically she’s able to try on lives to see if there is one she wants to live. The only catch is that the library and any opportunities therein will disappear forever if she doesn’t ultimately decide she wants to live.

This book makes you ponder your own life, and if you’re living your truest and best version of yourself. Matt Haig is such a talented writer and knowing that he has struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide made this book all the more meaningful. If you enjoyed Taylor Jenkin Reid’s book Maybe in Another Life this should be your next read. It would make a perfect book discussion choice as well.