MyTiredBrain

I really liked the writing, and I found myself looking forward to reading this (while I was reading it). Annie is a know-it-all, and that can be a bit tiresome. She knows her sister shouldn’t marry a cheater. She knows her company is making bad decisions. Her new boss, and beau, Connor, is nerdy and sweet. He developed Dinocode to teach kids how to code, and Annie uses it to get better at her job. Their banter was cute. The side plot with her best friend and her roommate felt weak. It was a quick read. I’d definitely read more from this author. (8)

 Poppy is an influencer with a bubble gum personality. No one, especially her family, really takes her seriously. Jack is a chef with trauma from being abandoned as a baby. He doesn’t trust close relationships, and pushes everyone away. When the man who was like a father to him does, Jack falls apart. 

It was well written and kept my interest, but the pacing was a bit slow at times. I liked the multiple viewpoints and I was intrigued by the murders. It tells the story of a group of people living at a boarding home, The Briarwood House (which is a character in the story too). The owner of the home is horrible, but her two kids, Lina and Pete, find a family within the boarders, thanks to the warmth of the newest tenant, Grace. Grace is an observer, and she, and the reader, learn the stories of the other tenants. They all become close as they attend a Thursday evening supper club. A zillion spoilers to follow: Among the tenants is Englishwoman, Fliss, who is struggling with postpartum depression and being a single mother while her husband is in Korea during the Korean War. She was a nurse and misses her career. Nora falls for a shady “businessman,” (gangster) and his dog, Duke. Bea was a women’s league baseball player before blowing out her knee, and she struggles with teaching high sch...

Some things were kind of cute, and it was a fast read. Athena was engaged to Johnny, and she left her job (which she need to leave due to burn out), home, and friends to move in with him. His brother, Matthew, encourages Johnny to break up with Athena because Johnny can’t take care of himself, let alone a dependent wife. This leaves Athena heartbroken, and almost homeless.  She bought the tiny home next door (the spite house) as a wedding present for Johnny.but now lives in it. On one side is Johnny; on the other side lives Matthew. While Johnny is away on an extended vacation, Matthew and Athena shift from enemies to friends, to lovers. In that short time Matthew helps Athena work through her depression.  I have a hard time with this kind of romance, because in the real world I’d tell Matthew there are a million other women he could pick, so how about not your brother’s ex-finance? He’s a kind, thoughtful, pediatrician so I think there’s someone out there who’d be interested....