MyTiredBrain

Hannah Havens moves back to her hometown after finding her boyfriend in a compromising position. She soon runs into (literally) her high school crush, Teddy Fraser. They shared a kiss way back when, and it’s still memorable years later. He tells her he wants to woo her, but she doesn’t want to jump into a new relationship, especially with the town flirt. She’s also not great at peopling, which is causing problems at the veterinary clinic where she works. It’s an ok book. Kind of meh. Their dialogue was cute at times. Hannah’s self loathing got to be a little tiresome to me. The one-dimensional villains, in the form of the high school mean girl who’s still mean, and the cheating ex who wants Hannah back, are so horrible they don’t feel real at all. The neighbor with cognitive impairments was done kind of lackluster too, and tidied up conveniently. The interactions with the animals was cute, and Hannah and Teddy had some good chemistry. I’d read another book by the author but I wouldn’t ...

It was well-written and engrossing, but sometimes difficult to read. I generally gravitate toward light, escapist books, so reading something with so much injustice and torture is a departure for me. The book centers around Little Flower, who is sent to be a maidservant to Linjing. Linjing is spoiled and entitled, and quickly becomes jealous of Little Flower’s embroidery skills. She systematically destroys Little Flower’s prospects for a way out of slavery. As they get older they are sent to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Linjing’s jealousy endangers Little Flower’s life. The history and culture was interesting and maddening. It’s a book that sticks with you for a while. (8)

I’ve read most of this series, and these books are a quick, light read. Nothing overly substantial, but some character development and a good amount of spice. Georgia is a socialite, grieving the loss of her sister. Dylan is an aging hockey player. They hook up in Vegas and get hitched. It just so happens that they both live in Chicago. And Georgia lives next door to another hockey player on Dylan’s team, which seems extremely unlikely, but okay. Georgia’s first instinct is to get the marriage annulled, but then it will be another notch on her ladder of flightiness. Dylan’s grandma is thrilled when word gets out about the wedding. So, they decide to stay married for appearances, until they both (you’ll never see this coming) realize they actually love each other. Better communication would make this a much shorter book. Somehow I still liked the book, and Dylan’s interactions with his teammates were fun. It’s enjoyable fluff. (7.75) 

In a less-skilled writer’s hands, this novel would be a mess. It was still a little bit of a mess, but in a refreshing way. There is a lot of breaking of the fourth wall and the narration switches from first to third over and over, which could be grating but wasn’t to me. Nineteen-year-old Margo sleeps with her college professor and ends up pregnant. She opts to keep the baby, and is smacked with the realities of trying to make money and secure childcare. She gets fired from her job and rent is coming due, so she becomes a content creator with tictok and Onlyfans. Side characters include her pro-wrestler father (who struggles with addition) her roommate, Susie, her complicated mom, baby Bodhi, and other content creators. The book treats sex workers and addiction with humanity. The writing - the use of language, creativity, descriptions, and characters makes the book memorable. Super religious or conservative people will most likely hate this book. (9)

I liked the first book (The Girl with Stars in her Eyes) much better. I’d still consider reading the next book in the series, but I’m not as enthusiastic. Kayla is the drummer for the Lillys and she’s hiding her family history. Ty is the bookworm bus driver, who has been wronged by the system. They’re both likable enough, but I wasn’t wowed by their romantic chemistry. Watching the band rise from promising talent to brink of superstardom has been fun. (6.75)

This is my kind of book. Great dialogue, fun characters, and some depth. Noelle Shepard is grieving the death of her favorite person, her grandmother, when she finds an old letter and some photos mixed in her grandmother’s belongings. Noelle posts online to ask for help identifying the mystery man in the photos, and the internet comes through for her, leading her to Paul, and his grandson, Theo. They all end up embarking on a road trip together for the honeymoon that never was, and Noelle and Theo grow closer as the trip goes on. Noelle is grappling with grief and feeling lost after losing her job. The trip and her companions give her the confidence to re-explore her love of photography. Theo has his own work struggles and has a difficult time letting Noelle in. Paul is a match-making delight. It was touching, well-written, and had a good amount of spice. I’d definitely read more from this author. (8.5) 

A cute, fluff book. Emily is trying to figure out her dream life, and it’s not working as the receptionist at an auto shop. She yearns for the big city, and doing something creative. John works at the shop, and they bond over Wordle. Emily finds some enjoyment working at the local barrel-making museum, and likes helping her elderly neighbors. It was a quick read, and at times funny. Emily’s Wordle choices irritated me - why choose letters you know are wrong unless you’re completely stumpe? (This was technically book #24, but I forgot to log it here for some reason.) (8)

Antonia “Toni” Bennette’s childhood taught her that chasing fame was addictive. Her mom neglected her, then dumped her with her deadbeat dad, all for the hope of becoming a star. The only bright spot in her childhood was Sebastian Quigley, her best friend and crush. But then he took off and ditched her without warning. So when she has the opportunity to join an up-and-coming band, managed by Sebastian, the answer should be no. But she needs the money to fulfill her own dreams of owning a studio. Also, the idea of getting recognition for her hard work and talent is alluring, as is the found-family aspect of being in a band. Toni’s relationship with Seb was solidly done, and it was easy to root for them. I’d read the sequel. (8)