Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

Amy  

romance

Ali’s mom died two years ago and her husband left her one year ago. Her life has become a struggle but she’s decided the time has come for her to start crawling out of her shell. That’s just when she meets Ethan in the dog park and commences a summer romance.

I don’t normally read two romances in a row, but I loved Nora Goes Off Script (NGOS) so much that I jumped at the chance to read Annabel Monaghan’s next novel, Summer Romance, in advance of its publication. And there wasn’t much time before that publication date so I had to dive in immediately. Probably because I had just finished the first novel, the similarities between the two novels were the first things I noticed. The story focuses on a small-town woman whose marriage recently ended, the woman has children including a non-athletic son, plants/wildlife/animals are significant to her, there is a sunrise tradition, her romantic interest is attractive and never before married, and someone intrudes on her crossword puzzles.  This book even had a reference to Leo (although it was the astrological sign in this novel as opposed to the lead character’s name).

Forcing myself to quit noticing all the similarities, I was able to enjoy this romance. In fact, this one seemed more plausible than NGOS since the guy is a normal guy as opposed to a famous movie star. Again, the characters were charming and realistic. The situation again felt (mostly) authentic.  And while NGOS is still the better novel, the relationship between Ali and Ethan seemed more balanced in Summer Romance.

While I enjoyed the way the novel wrapped up, I was not a huge fan of the “conflict” leading up to the ending. It was sad and a bit pathetic. I’m not saying it was out of character for Ali who was still working on regaining her sense of control but it was just sort of boring to this reader and, obviously, not handled well on Ali’s part. In the end, it lowered my opinion of the novel overall. But if you like novels that don’t bring the reader too much anxiety and have a solid happy ending, you’ll enjoy this one. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced galley!  This book will be released on June 4, 2024.  

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

 

Amy     
Lynnie  

romance

Nora is a screenplay writer who recently wrote a movie mimicking her own recent divorce. When the production company uses her own outbuilding, which she calls her Tea House, in the film, the lead actor convinces Nora to let him rent her Tea House for a week so he can unplug from his life. It doesn’t hurt that Leo was once America’s Sexiest Man Alive.

 

Amy's Review

I LOVED THIS NOVEL! Apparently, this was the novel I needed to read right now! I needed a fun, happy story. This is the first non-fantasy/non-historical fiction romance to which I’ve ever given 5 stars. I loved the interactions of all the characters, Leo’s and Nora’s back stories and personalities, and the anticipation. I found myself smiling a lot. Of course, the foreshadowing was not subtle at all.  Nora wrote scripts that always followed the same basic storyline until the one she wrote about her own life.  And now her new romance was destined to be like all the ones she had written but never experienced in real life.  Therefore, Nora Goes Off Script didn’t follow the typical romance novel trope of forcing the reader to suffer through the entire novel in frustration about when/how the couple would get together but, rather, when/how the interference would start and whether the relationship would survive. (Of course, you always know they’ll end up together in a romance novel, though.)

This was the second romance I’ve read where one member of the couple is a famous movie star falling for a non-famous person. I was worried it was going to be similar (and feel unlikely) but it was not (and did not)! I could easily relate to many of the characters in this novel, particularly Nora. Perhaps because she was older than the typical romance character, she felt real and authentic and could have been a friend of mine. I think this is the main reason I liked this novel so much. Her concerns were always valid. Her mindset was genuine. This compelled me to keep reading to find out how the rest of the story would play out for her. I kept thinking about her when not listening to the audiobook.  Thank you, Annabel Monaghan, for a thoroughly entertaining read! I’m definitely going to read more of your books.

The audiobook narrator was Hillary Huber. Her tone was too snarky in the beginning for my liking but she did a good job with her voice acting and vocal repertoire. I’ve heard her narrate two other books in which she was not snarky-sounding. So this was a choice on her part. Since I wish she hadn’t made that choice, I’m going to knock her down to an A-. 

Lynnie's Review

Nora Goes Off Script was a sweet and lovely romance, but I didn't love it as much as everyone else seems to have. I loved every character in this book! From Nora and her children to Leo, their friends and family,  and all the townspeople - real friends, great family and the kind of support we all hope for! And yet I was dissatisfied for a good chunk of this novel.

We all know the formula, which Annabel Monaghan herself makes fun of throughout the book as her main character Nora writes formulaic romance movies for cable television. Main characters meet, fall hopelessly in love, drama is manufactured to keep them apart, they reunite. Except, in this novel I felt like the manufactured drama lasted much longer than was needed and frankly, made me not want to continue reading. I persevered because frankly, I needed the happy ending I knew would materialize.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Hillary Huber and I did not love her voice (which I admit may have affected my enjoyment). I thought she sounded sarcastic a lot of the time - and maybe Nora was sarcastic, certainly she had a big wall around her emotions - but it didn't make for exciting listening. I do think she did a great job narrating the variety of other voices in the story, particularly the men because some narrators have a tough time differentiating between genders. I give her a B.

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Amy       

Lynnie   

 

contemporary fiction

Sixteen year old April is barely surviving on the meager attention from her father. She’s basically living alone, neglected, in an un-mobile home and has decided she won’t go to school any more. When her father destroys her guitar, her one source of joy, April decides anywhere is better than home. She takes off without a plan and strikes out for a new city. Meanwhile, there are a few people back home who genuinely care about her and worry about her safety.

 

Amy's Review

April’s situation was, sadly, believable. She was a smart, savvy girl (even though her school grades didn’t reflect that fact) and did a pretty good job landing on her feet (barely) time and again between the hurdles.  Having a mother who abandoned her and a neglectful father, April learned to feel that she was unwanted and didn’t belong anywhere. And after she left home, whenever she would finally find people with whom she was comfortable, something would happen to make her feel like she needed to run away for their sake. Her story was often heartbreaking. She felt that she was a burden to others.

I couldn’t help caring about her and rooting for her to land somewhere safe. While her new vagabond life was not really better than her old life, at least it was of her own making and she was making the effort to find happiness. Thankfully, April seemed to have several fortunate breaks that kept her out of the worst kinds of dangers. I kept hoping nothing disastrous would happen to her. She had a difficult life with few bright spots. Those bright spots were cherished lifelines until she decided that she needed to leave, never allowing herself to put down roots. 

I’ll admit that I was loving The People We Keep until it started to annoy me about 2/3 of the way through the novel. I know that the constant struggles were realistic and that April was young and emotionally stunted. It’s not that I felt the story became unbelievable. It’s just that I got a little tired of reading about all tough times. I mean, I’m sure it was Allison Larkin’s intent to show the difficult truth of the runaway life, especially for someone with April’s upbringing, but I eventually lost patience with April's lack of realization that she could and should stop running. Thankfully, the ending was hopeful (despite April’s actions) and not the disaster I feared. 

 

Lynnie's Review

 

I know so many people who love The People We Keep, and I liked it, but it also made me desperately sad. Talking to a few people, it seems your feelings about Allison Larkin's book may be determined by your own childhood; those who had comfortable childhoods may love it more than those who didn’t.

April is a most sympathetic character - a child whose mother is gone and whose father can’t even be bothered to neglect her. She’s been, effectively, on her own for years by the time we meet her at 16. For a young woman who has been on her own for so long, I found April to be shockingly naive without a lot of necessary street smarts. It’s only through luck that she doesn’t face scarier situations as she tries to find her way through the world.

Most of the situations she put herself in simply made me terribly sad. I struggled with most of the relationships April created and while I understood April’s desperate need to be loved, it was hard to watch her make the same mistakes over and over not understanding that she would never have a good relationship when it’s based on a lie.
 

Icon and Inferno (Stars and Smoke #2) by Marie Lu

Lynnie

young adult, fiction

I generally enjoy Marie Lu's books and I thought the first book in this series, Stars and Smoke, was a lot of fun when I read it last year so I was excited to spend more time with pop sensation Winter Young and super-spy Sydney Cossette. Icon and Inferno is equally fun and fast-paced.

It was great to see Winter and Sydney back together again, and while I did not always enjoy the sulking and misunderstandings between the two of them, I do understand the need to build tension and create a story. Gavi and Tems, the newly introduced side characters, were interesting to a point but also easy to see for the false obstacles that they were; the path forward was easy to identify for anyone who reads regularly. Occasionally, I found myself wanting to smack Sydney in the back of her fictional head and tell her that she was a terrible spy for not seeing what was right in front of her face, but I do have the benefit of age and reality on my side, so... instead, I just decided to enjoy the journey, and fun adventure.

There was more vulnerability between Winter and Sydney in this book as we learned more about each of their backstories and what made them who they are. Lu clearly leaves the door open for more adventures in the future but, should she decide not to write them, the story of Winter & Sydney also feels like it has reached a place where they understand where they fit together, which is a nice place to leave things.

As always, the action was fantastic, and the shoutout to Lu's previous Warcross series made me smile. That was a very nice touch to think of these two series in the same universe. 

Icon and Inferno will publish on June 11, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley, Roaring Brook Press and Marie Lu for the advance reader copy.

In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf

Amy  

fantasy

Weatherly has been raised in poverty by her grandmother, an unkind witch woman. Weatherly is a Death Talker who can save people from death. When her cousin is killed in an "accident" by a community member, she attempts to find out the truth and uses her family magic to aid in the search.

Weatherly’s life was not an easy one. But, once her cousin died, she felt driven to follow the cousin’s vague trail of clues pointing towards… something that neither Weatherly nor the reader seemed to be able to figure out. I love fantasy and magic but In the Hour of Crows was often bizarre and nonsensical. Dana Elmendorf did succeed in writing creepy, atmospheric scenes and situations. But I had a hard time sticking with this death-filled novel.

Weatherly isn’t very likable even though she tries to save lives. The process by which she chased away death was, frankly, gross. I never got to the point of caring how things turned out for her.  She goes through this novel by the seat of her pants with lots of questions and no answers or plans. I found her story frustrating. Things weren’t entirely explained to the reader. Why was she buried as a girl with the dead babies at the beginning? Why does death manifest in her phlegm? Why is the Soul Walker hardly around and why does he become a crow? 

I found it difficult to buy into Weatherly’s type of magic, the unexplained treatment of her by her grandmother, and the grim situations. And there was also no obvious reason why any of Weatherly’s friends cared for her. She never did anything for them. In fact, she was often rude to them and took advantage of them. She was reckless and irresponsible. However, the very end (before the Epilogue) was surprisingly touching. If you read creepy fantasies for the atmosphere, you'll probably like it more than I did. I just prefer a more sensical plot and/or character development.

I was given a free galley by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I thank them for the opportunity to read it early.  It will be released on June 4, 2024.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Amy  

nonfiction

84, Charing Cross Road is a collection of letters between the American writer, Helene Hanff, and the employees (and family members) of the London bookshop, Marks & Co, between 1949 and 1969. Hanff initially wrote to them to ask if they could help her find some used books and Frank Doel responded to her query.  The two then developed a 20-year friendship solely through their letters to each other. They never met in person.

This short 100-page book (or 2-hour long audiobook), was so charming and heartwarming. I absolutely loved getting to know the people who wrote these letters.  England was in the midst of post-war rations and Hanff generously sent the employees care packages with eggs and meat that they were unable to get at home. The staff and their families (and a neighbor!) were so grateful to Hanff that several of them began corresponding with Hanff as well.

The ending was a gut-punch. I’m thankful that Hanff thought to publish the letters so that everyone could get a look into their special connections.

The audiobook was primarily narrated by Barbara Rosenblat (reading Hanff) and John Franklyn-Robbins (reading Frank). Other narrators reading the parts of the minor characters were Simon Prebble, Christina Moore, Jill Tanner, Davina Porter, and Barbara Caruso.  Overall, it was a good cast. There was a little too much breathing (by Rosenblat) and saliva (by Franklyn-Robbins) for my taste and I probably would’ve liked Frank’s narrator to sound a bit younger, but I enjoyed it anyway. I’ll give the ensemble an A- for a job well done. I thought they did a nice job bringing the letters to life.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

Amy     

Lynnie

 

contemporary fantasy

If you possess The Book of Doors, you can travel anywhere by envisioning the door you want to open while opening whatever door is handy. Then you can just walk through to the envisioned space anywhere in the world. But it’s not only that--other magical books exist, each bestowing a different power upon whomever is touching them. Within the small, underground community of people who are aware of these magic books, there are people who are trying to collect more of them and others who are trying to protect the books and their owners. When Cassie’s favorite customer dies while reading in her bookstore, she becomes the new owner of his mysterious Book of Doors. She is delighted to figure out how it works but has no idea of the dangerous position in which she now resides.

 

Amy's Review

What a fun and crazy concept!  Right off the bat, this book hooked me.  Magic, adventure, and books!  However, I had a rough go when Gareth Brown quickly moved us through several different characters’ points of view at the beginning. I wanted to stick with Cassie some more!  While I understand Brown was laying the groundwork and showing the reader the extent of the underground network, I wish he hadn’t made so many character and setting changes so early and so quickly. I would have preferred a more subtle introduction to the bigger situation. I would recommend to readers that you ensure you have a nice chunk of time in which to begin this novel so that you can properly absorb the different situations in the first 3 to 4 chapters. I didn’t allow myself enough quality reading time at the beginning and had to reread a few chapters to get things straight in my head before moving on.

This is one of the most creative novels I’ve read in a while which is very appreciated by this reader! The concept of the magical books was exciting from the very beginning. And after the initial sense of wonder about The Book of Doors, the dangers Cassie faced were gripping. Sometimes, however, the execution of the story felt a bit imbalanced. There were a wide range of tempos—sometimes, it was full of quick action and other times it floundered in slow monotony and/or spent too much time in overly lengthy descriptions. It could be complex and it could also be mundane. But it did maintain my interest despite its many “personalities”.  Brown’s range of characters and books, from heartwarming to repulsive, was fantastic. I needed to know how it would end for Cassie and the others. And the puzzle of it all, finally being revealed in the end, was rewarding. I liked the underlying importance of having friends and support. If you are a fantasy lover looking for something entirely different, I recommend this one.

 

Lynnie's Review

What a wonderful adventure! The Book of Doors is Gareth Brown's debut novel and I hope it's not his last.

I was enchanted by the idea of this story - what if you had a magical book that could transport you from one door, through any other door you could envision. Just think of the possibilities! Well, Cassie receives just such a magical book and does imagine the possibilities. Along with her best friend and roommate, Izzy, Cassie begins her adventure with the Book of Doors until, of course, others learn of its existence and want to claim the book for themselves.

Drummond Fox, the keeper of a library of magical books just like the one they own may be the only person who is able to keep Cassie and Izzy safe. But how can he keep them safe when he isn't even sure he can help himself?

There is a back and forth in this book as the three try to save themselves, the Book of Doors and the other friends they meet along the way. There are an array of villains to worry about and avoid, mysteries to solve and friendships (and maybe more) to save. I found myself finding pockets of time to read this book whenever I could because I wanted to know what was going to happen next and which book would be found and used.

Once again, I both read the book and listened to the audiobook. The audiobook was ready by Miranda Raison and she was wonderful! I give her an A+ for sure for her array of voices and accents. I never questioned who was speaking and she transitioned from British to Scottish to American and other accents with apparent ease. It was a true pleasure to listen to her and I would happily listen to another novel narrated by her.

This book would be a pleasure to listen to during a road trip, but the story itself is fantastic no matter what mood you are in. I highly recommend it.
 

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

Amy  

romance, historical fiction

In 1940, Scarlett is serving in the British Royal Air Force when she meets and falls in love with an American pilot, Jameson. In present day Colorado, Scarlett has just died after living a long life as a very successful romance novelist. She had raised her great granddaughter, Georgia, who has inherited Scarlett’s unpublished, incomplete life story. When Georgia finds out that another author, Noah, has been brought in to finish Scarlett’s novel without Georgia's approval, she agrees to allow Noah to attempt to complete Scarlett’s novel but under her terms.

Since I am enjoying The Fourth Wing series so much, I wanted to read something else by Rebecca Yarros. I knew that The Fourth Wing was Yarros’ first fantasy novel and that she is known for her romance novels. The storyline in The Things We Leave Unfinished was, obviously, completely different than The Fourth Wing. However, I could still see some general similarities in the way the characters have had trouble in their lives, they now face some new, extreme trials, they are attractive and fit, and eventually fall in love. Some people die. Also, similarly, there are some steamy sex scenes woven into the main storylines. This formula is not unique to Yarros, of course. But Yarros does it very well by creating terrific characters that this reader can get behind.

The past and present storylines alternated throughout the novel—just the right amount of each one before switching. The 1940s story was my favorite because it felt more genuine and plausible than the current day storyline. But I still enjoyed them both. And then, Yarros went ahead and shocked me not only once, but twice! I felt so many emotions while reading this one! The tension was great.  The unexpected plot twists were awesome! The conclusions were satisfying. I really enjoyed this novel! I’ll definitely read more by Yarros.

The audiobook narrators were Carly Robins reading sections from Georgia’s and Scarlett’s points of view and Tim Paige reading those from Noah’s and Jameson’s points of view.  My main complaint is that I didn’t appreciate the accent Paige gave to Jameson. I’m not sure what he was going for (maybe Humphrey Bogart?) but it just sounded like he had a speech impediment. Otherwise, I thought both narrators were good voice actors and had enough of a vocal repertoire for the novel. I’ll give them an A- as an ensemble.