Book Review: Show Don't Tell

📚 Book Review: Show Don't Tell 

@Curtis Sittenfield

📚 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🗓️ Publication Date: February 25, 2025

📚 My Review: This was my first short story collection! Sittenfeld’s writing is incredibly insightful, and brings characters to life in a way that feels really authentic. I enjoyed many of the storylines but felt like some of the endings were a bit too abrupt for my liking (yes, I know.. short stories... lol), but I can see why she’s so beloved and will definitely continue to read more of her work.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

📚 Goodreads Synopsis: In her second story collection, Sittenfeld shows why she’s as beloved for her short fiction as she is for her novels. In these dazzling stories, she conjures up characters so real that they seem like old friends, laying bare the moments when their long held beliefs are overturned.

In “The Patron Saints of Middle Age,” a woman visits two friends she hasn’t seen since her divorce. In “A for Alone,” a married artist embarks on a creative project intended to disprove the so-called Mike Pence Rule, which suggests that women and men can’t spend time alone together without lusting after each other. And in “Lost but Not Forgotten,” Sittenfeld gives readers of her novel Prep a window into the world of her beloved character Lee Fiora, decades later, when Lee attends an alumni reunion at her boarding school.

Book Review: Starting Over in Starshine Cove

📚 Book Review: Starting Over in Starshine Cove

Debbie Johnson

📚 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🗓️ Publication Date: February 19, 2025

📚 My Review: This was heartwarming and fun, with relatable characters and a witty writing style. I haven't read the other books in the series but I didn't feel like I was lost reading this as a standalone. I enjoyed the pace of the book and how it sprinkled in each of Connie and Zack's past to give us an idea about their characters and how they got to where they are. This books gives proof to second chances and allowing to give them to yourself and is a perfect book for fans of fun contemporary romances. Add this one to your list!

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

📚 Goodreads Synopsis: Connie Llewelyn is the beating heart of the magical seaside village of Starshine Cove. She runs the local cafe, and is everybody's friend – always on hand with a kind smile, a listening ear and a freshly-baked scone.

Since losing her beloved husband five years ago, she's been busy raising her children, supporting her extended family and staying positive. Now, as her kids fly the nest, she finds herself wondering what her own future might look like.

When a face from the past unexpectedly arrives in Starshine, could meeting Zack again give her a second chance at love? Will Connie be brave enough to take a risk on living life for herself?

From the beloved bestselling author of the Comfort Food Café series, this is a heart-warming tale of second chances, self-discovery and the extraordinary healing power of community. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Milly Johnson and Heidi Swain.

Book Review: The Perfect Rom-Com

📚 Book Review: The Perfect Rom-Com

Melissa Ferguson

📚 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🗓️ Publication Date: February 11, 2025 - Out Now!

📚 My Review: Finishing this on Valentine’s Day feels so fitting! I loved reading about Bryony’s journey, and Jack Sterling? Absolutely swoon-worthy. The publishing world storyline was fascinating, and the slow-burn romance had just the right touch of charm. A delightful, feel-good read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

📚 Goodreads Synopsis: She's written dozens of smash hit novels as a ghostwriter. Too bad no one knows it.

Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for The Bridge, her grandmother's financially-struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. But after a disastrous pitching session, she stumbles into correcting another author's work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with the agent. And she, as it turns out, is spot on.

No one is more surprised than Bryony when the agent offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist. Bryony agrees on one she'll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as Jack Sterling, literary agent of the legendary Foundry Literary Agency, works to sell her own book too.

What nobody predicted, however, was that Bryony's books would turn Amelia Benedict into the Amelia Benedict, household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.

And just like that, the Foundry Agency can't let her go.

But on a personal note, Jack is realizing he can't either

Book Review: The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright

📚 Book Review: The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright

Brooke Harris

📚 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🗓️ Publication Date: February 7, 2025

📚 My Review: Oh My! This book was EXACTLY what I needed. So sweet! Perfectly predictable and I have zero complaints about it! Getting there was the absolute sweetest and heart wrenching journey. The relationship forged between Ellie and Malco melted my heart from the very beginning, while Bea's journey had me rooting for her the whole time. This was my first novel by Brooke Harris. The writing style was perfect and I loved every minute of it! 

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

📚 Goodreads Synopsis: Beatrice Alright is the queen of silver linings. She can find a spark of hope in any situation. Even when her partner delivers earth-shattering news that leaves Bea and their four-year-old, Ellie, without a home, she refuses to panic.

Because Bea believes that what she does have is more important – her job at St Helen’s Hospital, which offers a warm, dry shelter for her and Ellie to stay while she figures things out. By day Bea cleans the wards, by night she tucks her daughter into bed between mops and buckets.

And tries so hard to hold on to hope.

When Bea sees an old man sitting on a cold and lonely bench outside the hospital, she really doesn’t have time to stop. She should be clearing up her own mess, not worrying about this cantankerous stranger. But Bea can’t help herself…

As she slowly starts to draw out Malcolm’s heartbreaking story, could this simple act of kindness begin to heal a decades-old pain? And might finding peace for Malcolm help Bea in ways she didn’t even know she needed

Book Review: The Family Lies

📚 Book Review: The Family Lies

Angela Henry 

📚 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚 My Review: What was that??? 😳 This was my first book by Angela Henry and I enjoyed her writing style a lot. My only complaint was that there was a section at the beginning of the second half of the book that dragged a bit and I almost put it down. I'm so glad I didn't because the last twist at around 75%, while a bit over the top, was totally worth it lol! If you're a fan of twisty family drama you should definitely check this one out!

Thank you to Netgally and Storm Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph) on February 1, 2025. An additional post was posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as an Amazon Canada review. (links below)

📚 Goodreads Synopsis: Every family has secrets. The Dorseys bury theirs.

Sabrina Adams thought her luck had finally turned around when she was hired as a librarian for the wealthy Dorsey family. But as soon as she arrives at their elegant estate, she senses something is off. They have cameras everywhere. She’s banned from the third floor, and she spotted someone watching the house from the nearby woods. And why does the housekeeper, Mrs Manning, insist on so many rules?

Then police officers arrive at the door with questions about the disappearance of a local woman. Sabrina is shocked to learn her charming employer, Theo Dorsey, was the last person to see the missing woman alive. He insists he’s innocent. Despite her growing doubts, Sabrina keeps her head down because she desperately needs this job. But then Theo is linked to another woman’s death several years before. And after finding out no one has seen the Dorsey’s previous librarian in years, she has to ask herself... Who can I trust in this family? And will I be next

Book Review: The Perfect Plan

📚 Book Review: The Perfect Plan

Caitlin Weaver 

📚 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🗓️ Publication Date: January 15, 2025

📚 My Review: Caitlin Weaver doesn't disappoint! This book is an emotional whirlwind, exploring love, loyalty, and the sacrifices women make for those they cherish. I found the characters deeply human, and there were many moments that tugged at my heart. The journey was powerful and unforgettable. This was a beautifully written, thought-provoking read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

📚 Goodreads Synopsis: She wanted to give the ultimate gift. It became the ultimate betrayal.

Fabiola has spent her life being good. The perfect daughter to her single father. A supportive wife to her entrepreneurial husband, who’s throwing everything they have at launching his start-up. A devoted mother to her three beautiful children. And a loyal best friend to Liz, who’s been by Fabiola’s side since Liz married her oldest childhood friend, Peter.

When Liz needs help starting her own family, Fabiola comes up with the perfect plan. She’s good at being pregnant, and she so badly wants to help her friend. It seems like the greatest gift one woman can give another. And Peter? For Peter, she would do anything.

But then one reckless moment changes everything. Now Fabiola must decide who to her best friend, the man she’s never stopped loving, or the child growing inside her. With her marriage unraveling and her teenage daughter hiding secrets of her own, she's discovering that the hardest promises to keep are the ones we make to ourselves.

A deeply moving and unforgettable exploration of motherhood, friendship, and the complex choices women make in the name of love, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Lucinda Berry and Liane Moriarty.

Book Review: The Business Trip

📚  Book Review: The Business Trip 

Jessie Garcia

 

📚 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫

🗓️ Publication Date: January 14, 2025

📚 My Review: This book hooked me at the start with its intriguing premise and fast-paced storytelling. However, like some other readers, I found the plot took a turn toward the overly far-fetched around the middle, which pulled me out of the story a bit. That said, the writing style kept me engaged, and I was invested enough to continue to the end. The final twist tied things up in a satisfying and unexpected way.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

📚 Goodreads Synopsis: Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing and everything in common. The two women don’t know each other but are on the same plane. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. After a few days, they text their friends the same exact messages about the same man—the messages becoming stranger and more erratic.

And then the two women vanish. The texts go silent, the red flags go up, and the panic sets in. When Stephanie and Jasmine are each declared missing and in danger, it begs the questions: Who is Trent McCarthy? What did he do to these women— or what did they do to him?

Twist upon twist, layer upon layer, where nothing is as it seems, THE BUSINESS TRIP takes you on a descent into the depths of a mastermind manipulator. But who is playing who?