December 2022 Reads
I cannot believe we are done with 2022 already.
It was actually a great year for me. I moved into a new apartment, which has been a game changer for my quality of life. It’s not just having a friend that lives below me that’s been great, but it has felt like pressing “reset” on things by being in a brand new space. I also got a new job and am extremely grateful for the opportunity. It’s only been four months, but I do not regret the decision to take the next step in my career at all. Which is all you can really ask for in your professional life, right?
On the reading front, well, if you’ve been following along month after month, you know I didn’t do too shabby in this category. I ended up surpassing my original 2022 reading goal of 100 books. Actually, I more than doubled it lol.
I read 206 books this year. I know that sounds insane, but when reading is my favorite form of escape and way to relax, I do it a lot. I intentionally make time for it. It’s as ingrained in my routine at this point as brushing my teeth twice a day is.
That’s my best piece of advice if you want to read more in 2023. Just intentionally make time for it. It makes a huge difference.
Anywho, let me step down from my soapbox and get into everything I read in December!
*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.
Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Sheperd
FAKING UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Ashley Shepherd
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary: Olivia Langley is the human embodiment of Christmas cheer, and she has absolutely no problem spreading it around for all to hear. Christmas sweaters? She has twenty. Christmas cookies? She’ll take three dozen. Christmas movies? Yeah, she’s seen them all. So it’s no surprise when she’s put in charge of Loveridge & McGowan’s holiday festivities. Secret Santas? Yep. Ice skating? Of course. Holiday trivia? Duh. Christmas-themed bar crawl? That’s one big jingle bell hell yes. Kissing her boss at a Christmas tree lighting in front of his ex-girlfriend? Well… it is the season of giving. And Olivia does not come with a gift receipt. No exchanges. No refunds. No returns. All sales are final. In an effort to un-grinch the grinchiest man she’s ever met, Olivia enlists herself, Santa’s Executive Helper, to scheme up a plan that includes sleigh rides, snow days, and one too many mistletoe kisses, which certainly gets Ashe’s tinsel in a tangle. She’s pretty sure that she sleighed this whole fake dating thing. Well…until she realizes there’s nothing fake about her feelings for Asher. But tangled tinsel, unsolicited Christmas trees, and pajama parties are suddenly the least of her worries. When a celebrity client’s predatory behavior goes public, Olivia quickly learns that presents wrapped up in the prettiest bows can still be hiding coal.
My Thoughts: This book was cute. It’s a little obnoxious lol, but I enjoyed my time with it overall. The one thing I will start off by saying is that the author wastes NO time diving into the fake-dating trope. I think within the first like 10-15 pages, the two main characters are already in a fake-dating agreement in an attempt to make Asher’s ex-girlfriend jealous. It was so quick, I almost had to do a double take to make sure I didn’t miss any pages lol. We’re also dealing with a grumpy-sunshine trope, and the emphasis on which of the MCs were assigned those two roles was crystal clear. As the summary of this book says, Olivia is the human embodiment of Christmas cheer. She THRIVES on holiday spirit. Whereas Asher is one of those guys you wonder if he’s constipated or something because he’s always so grumpy. I really liked how their relationship developed and the obviousness of the feelings being felt. As a content warning, this book also touches on sexual harassment within the workplace, but I felt for a Christmassy rom-com, the topic was handled with extreme care and respect. It was actually pretty surprising to me how much depth that plot line added to the overall story because I definitely wasn’t expecting it. If you’re looking for a fun holiday read that has a serious note to it as well, this is a good book for that.
Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth
TIS THE SEASON FOR REVENGE by Morgan Elizabeth
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Abbie Keller thought that Richard Bartholomew Benson the Third would be her forever. In their four years of dating, she never doubted that she wouldn’t end up with his grandmother’s engagement ring on her finger. Sure, she had to change a few things about herself to fit that mold, like dying her hair, dressing more conservatively, and finding golf enjoyable (honestly the most difficult of the changes), but she was sure that at the end of it all, it would be worth it. That is, until he leaves her crying outside her apartment wearing a Halloween costume, having broken it off with her because she’s just not serious enough. She was just fun, he tells her - and now that Richard has becoming a partner at his law firm in his sights, he needs to focus on work. So she does what every girl does when she’s broken up with: she calls her friends, gets drunk, dyes her hair, and formulates her plan for revenge. It just so happens that the universe supports her efforts and gives her the perfect match to prove to her ex that he made a huge mistake: his boss. Abbie starts dating the founding partner of Richard’s law firm, Damien Martinez, with one thing in mind: convincing him to invite her to the huge annual Christmas party as his date. But when the relationship starts to become something more than casual dating and Abbie sees that the tough New York lawyer has a soft side, will she be able to follow through with her plan of deceit?
My Thoughts: This book was so silly and stupid and I really enjoyed my time with it lol. It’s a nod to Legally Blonde, so you have to take that in stride with the main character, Abbie. She means well and was treated like trash by an f-boy named Richard aka Dick. I loved that what started as a revenge plan by dating Damien, Richard’s boss, actually turned into something real. He treated her like a freaking princess and soothed the insecurities Dick had deeply rooted in her through verbal and emotional abuses. It was heartwarming to watch them fall all a little more for each other with literally every conversation they had - especially with scenes that touched on more sensitive subjects such as domestic abuse. Even with Abbie being a character I wouldn’t expect to vibe with, I couldn’t help but root for her as she regained confidence in her self image, ambitions, and overall life. Honestly? I wasn’t expecting much out of this book, but it pleasantly surprised me. There’s even a mild age-trope involved that I really didn’t mind - and I usually do not like age tropes lol. Overall, if you’re looking for a fun, a little mindless holiday rom-com, this would be a good one to pick up! Please check trigger warnings before heading in though.
Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn
RESTING SCROOGE FACE by Meghan Quinn
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: After a bad breakup, Nola wants nothing to do with Christmas, especially in her quaint hometown of Bright Harbor, Maine. Infuriatingly charming and cheery, Nola’s surroundings only worsen her sour mood. To make matters worse, Caleb, the boy who broke her heart years ago, is all grown up and still living in town. While doing her best to avoid him, Nola bumps into the local mailman, who gives her a mysterious letter. And when she finds that the writer is a fellow Scrooge, she can’t help but feel her spirit lifting. Nola writes back to her new pen pal - who, unbeknownst to Nola, is none other than Caleb. When Caleb gets a response hand delivered by the mailman, he’s intrigued by the mystery sender. A friendly correspondence develops - and quickly turns flirtatious. Although Nola and Caleb claim they can’t stand each other, they can’t deny the simmering attraction that brought them together in the first place. Can these nameless pen pals write their own love story - or will they be too caught up with the ghosts of their Christmases past to find a future together?
My Thoughts: Meghan Quinn does it again with this fun holiday novella! I think this book is literally less than 100 pages which is the perfect amount for its story. Nola and Caleb have a history. They were dating seriously years ago, but when Nola wanted to leave for the big city, Caleb didn’t want to go with her because he was scared. Per usual with men, that was poorly communicated on his part, and instead he broke her heart. Now that she’s back in Bright Harbor, she’s been avoiding Caleb like the plague lol. However, thanks to her grandma and the town’s old mailman’s meddling, they become pen pals - unbeknownst to them. The banter within their letters was phenomenal and the connection they shared was undeniable even when they didn’t know who they were corresponding with. I was obsessed with the scene where they truly reconnected in-person and fell into the groove they had so many years ago. You could feel their joy radiating off the pages. It was electric. Overall, if you’re looking for a quick read that involves Christmas feels and lighthearted, I definitely recommend giving this novella a try.
Us by Sarina Bowen
US by Sarina Bowen
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Five months in, NHL forward Ryan Wesley is having a record-breaking rookie season. He’s living his dream of playing pro hockey and coming home every night to the man he loves - Jamie Canning, his longtime best friend turned boyfriend. There’s just one problem: the most important relationship of his life is one he needs to keep hidden, or else face a media storm that will eclipse his success on the ice. Jamie loves Wes. He really, truly does. But hiding sucks. It’s not the life Jamie envisioned for himself, and the strain of keeping their secret is taking its toll. It doesn’t help that his new job isn’t going as smoothly as he’d hoped, but he knows he can power through it as long as he has Wes. At least apartment 10B is their retreat, where they can always be themselves. Or can they? When Wes’s nosiest teammate moves in upstairs, the threads of their carefully woven lie begin to unravel. With the outside world determined to take its best shot at them, can Wes and Jamie develop major-league relationship skills on the fly?
My Thoughts: Okay okay okay. I read Him back in June and absolutely fell in love with Jamie and Wes’s story, but wanted to pace myself with the series. So it wasn’t until this month that I allowed myself to read the follow-up book, Us. UGH THE AMOUNT OF SWOON, I TELL YOU. These guys have the sweetest relationship and you can feel the tension it's causing that they have to keep it a secret for a little while longer until Wes’s rookie season is over. It definitely put me on edge when a new neighbor (and one of Wes’s teammates) kept dropping in unannounced to their apartment and required them to act like they’re just roommates. When something happens to Jamie that puts him in the hospital, all reservations are tossed out the window. Although now that Wes is out to the world, their relationship still goes through some challenges as Jamie physically and mentally recovers and they both navigate this new experience of having their love life put on blast. I just loved every bit of this book and it truly sucked me into every emotion the characters were feeling. If you read and enjoyed Him, I definitely stand by continuing onto Us.
Epic by Sarina Bowen
EPIC by Sarina Bowen
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: They’re back! Epic is a novella about your favorite hockey duo! Jamie and Wes are having a blast living and working in Toronto. Until a scout for another team swoops in to make one of them an offer that might complicate the life they’ve built together.
My Thoughts: I loved this novella! This book is almost like an extended epilogue that takes place a little while after the ending of Us. Per usual, Jamie and Wes are the cutest couple ever and are willing to make sacrifices for the other’s happiness. I loved the way the story panned out as Jamie figured out what direction he wanted his career to go after receiving news he didn’t receive the promotion he was expecting. Honestly? If you’ve read Him and Us, you might as well pick up Epic because if you’re like me, you’ll have a Jamie and Wes hangover lol. So this short novella pacifies the want for more of their story.
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
BLOODMARKED by Tracy Deonn
Rating: 4.75/5 stars
Summary: The shadows have risen, and the line is law. All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Aurthur’s knights - only to discover her own ancestral power. Now Bree has become someone new: A Medium. A Bloodcrafter. A Scion. But the ancient war between demons and the Order is rising to a deadly peak. And Nick, the Legendborn boy Bree fell in love with, has been kidnapped. Bree wants to fight, but the Regents who rule the Order won’t let her. To them, she is an unknown girl with unheard-of power, and as the living anchor for the spell that preserves the Legendborn cycle, she must be protected. When the Regents reveal they will do whatever it takes to hide the war, Bree and her friends must go on the run to rescue Nick themselves. But enemies are everywhere, Bree’s powers are unpredictable and dangerous, and she can’t escape her growing attraction to Selwyn, the mage sworn to protect Nick until death. If Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first - without losing herself in the process.
My Thoughts: Y’ALLLLLLLLL. When I read Legendborn earlier this year, it IMMEDIATELY jumped to the number one spot on my list of favorite urban fantasies. So, I was ECSTATIC for the sequel to come out in November. This book was incredible. Tracy Deonn really gets into the magical constructs of the different aether-using communities, our girl Bree goes through the RINGER with some character development, and the number of action-packed events that occur in this book are endless. That being said, I REALLY wish I would have reread Legendborn before diving into Bloodmarked because when I say you’re going to be getting into the nitty gritty of bloodlines, magical constructs, the history of Root-users, etc. I am not exaggerating. Like there were a few sections in this book that I had to go back and reread because it kind of felt like solving a math equation. Not that any of that took away from the phenomenal experience of this world at all, but bless my brain’s heart, she was trying her best to flip from her creative side to the logical/mathematical side without skipping a beat. All of that aside, Bree is still the most stubborn character I’ve ever come across and also one of the strongest. I love her character arc and this wild journey she’s on. Also, SELWYN? Aka BAE. He hath stolen me heart and needs to be protected at ALL TIMES. I swear to you, Nick who? Anyway, Tracy Deonn does it again and has produced a stunning sequel to an already remarkable series. I cannot wait for the third book, but will definitely need to reread the first two before diving in.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about it that summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down. In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is meticulously planned - from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Enter Mia Warren - an enigmatic artist and single mother - who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past, and a disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community. When old family friends attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town - and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But her obsession will come at an unexpected and devastating cost…?
My Thoughts: All right, y’all. I’m a little late to this party but completely understand why this book blew up a few years ago and was adapted into a television series. There are so many layers to this small town of Shaker and it intertwines so many people’s stories that it’s inevitable they’d get tangled up in something messy. Mia has been on the run with her daughter Pearl for years. She really keeps to herself except when she’s trying to do the right thing for people who don’t deserve the treatment they’re experiencing. Elena is your typical Stepford Wife type of character. Like, if there was a “Nosey Neighbors of Shaker” Facebook group, she’d be its admin. Ya dig? She tries to put on a facade for the world when really, her life is anything but perfect. This book takes so many turns and goes down some unexpected, dark paths. I was INVESTED to say the least. If you haven’t read this book yet, I definitely recommend picking it up or giving the audiobook a try. It’s addicting.
The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman
THE DEAL OF A LIFETIME by Fredrik Backman
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: A father and a son are seeing each other for the first time in years. The father has a story to share before it’s too late. He tells his son about a courageous little girl lying in a hospital bed a few miles away. She’s a smart kid - smart enough to know that she won’t beat cancer by drawing with crayons all day, but it seems to make the adults happy, so she keeps doing it. As he talks about this plucky little girl, the father also reveals more about himself: his triumphs in business, his failures as a parent, his past regrets, his hopes for the future. Now, on a cold winter’s night, the father has been given an unexpected chance to do something remarkable that could change the destiny of a little girl he hardly knows. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must find out what his own life has actually been worth, and only his son can reveal that answer.
My Thoughts: Fredrik Backman does it again with an incredibly melancholy short story that hits you right in the feels. This was a super quick audiobook about a guy who is dying in a hospital and he’s given the chance to save someone’s life who he doesn’t believe is meant to go yet. It almost gives Ghost of Christmas Past vibes because there’s a lady dressed in gray with a clipboard who shows up when it’s someone’s time to die. After he begs her not to take the life of this other person, she makes the guy understand she will need to take a different life in order to save the other. He then takes time to reflect on his life and whether he’s willing to be erased. Fredrick Backman does a phenomenal job at getting at the vulnerable core of who we are as people and this short story is no exception.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE by Katherine Center
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s excellent at dealing with other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it’s an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated. The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities means that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because she doesn’t fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don’t date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping… but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she’s worked so hard to be taken seriously?
My Thoughts: This book has been on my radar for a few months now, but because I visually read so much romance, I don’t tend to lean that direction when it comes to audiobooks. I’m here to say though, I’m glad I finally listened to this! Per usual, I went into it not knowing what it’s about and was pleasantly surprised with the direction. Cassie is an incredibly relatable character in the sense that she is incredibly guarded when it comes to her heart based on a terrible experience from her past. She’s solely focused on the career she loves as a firefighter and her drive to help people is what fuels her. Until an unfortunate situation forces her to leave her beloved station in Texas and move in with her sick mother in Boston. Her new firehouse is not used to having women on their team and, therefore, they’re not super welcoming. There’s even someone who ends up terrorizing Cassie in an attempt to get her to quit. I loved all of the different personalities of the supporting characters because it made Cassie’s new life so much more fun - as much as she tries to resist enjoying it. Owen aka Rookie is bae. I don’t know what else to say other than I was SWOONING as Cassie’s relationship with him grew. This was my first Katherine Center book, but it definitely won’t be my last!
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
ROGUE PROTOCOL by Martha Wells
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: SciFi’s favorite antisocial A.I. is again on a mission. The case against the too-big-to-fail GrayCris Corporation is floundering, and more importantly, authorities are beginning to ask more questions about where Dr. Mensah’s SecUnit is. And Murderbot would rather those questions went away for good.
My Thoughts: LISTEN. I freaking love Murderbot and how sassy they’ve gotten in this series. They’re still on the run after Dr. Mensah tried taking them back to her planet where SecUnits aren’t owned by anyone. They’re also still trying to figure out what’s going on with murder attempts on various research teams. In this book, Murderbot befriends a “pet robot” named Mickey who they assume isn’t very smart because of the life she’s had so far. There are some assassins involved along the way and Mickey ends up REALLY surprising Murderbot. I just love this rogue SecUnit so much and cannot wait to start the next book in this series.
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar
THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR by Amal El-Mohtar
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and future. Except the discovery of their bond would mean earth for each of them. There’s still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war.
My Thoughts: Okay I tried reading the physical book earlier this year and it just wasn’t sticking for me, so I returned it to the library. However, I’ve heard good things and since I was trying to make it to my 2022 reading goal via shorter books this month, I decided to give it another try as an audiobook. Luckily, it was much easier to follow with someone else reading it to me lol. This book is pretty different from anything else I’ve read and is the epitome of “enemies to lovers.” Two time-traveling/dimension-crossing agents are on opposite sides of the Time War. The encrypted letters they leave each other at the various disaster zones start as competitive banter, but slowly transition to love letters over the years. Obviously their love is forbidden, and either agent could be killed by her own faction if they found out she was in love with the enemy. What I admired most in this book is the lyrical quality to the writing. It’s almost like small poetry nestled into the dialogue and descriptions. I don’t think this storyline will be interesting to everyone, but it’s a great option if you’re looking for a quick read with a flowy writing style.
Tangled in Tinsel by Trilina Pucci
TANGLED IN TINSEL by Trilina Pucci
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Imagine being snowed in with four successful men. P.S. they’ve all played the hero in too many of your naughtiest dreams. Problem is, you work for them, and that makes them off-limits. Except now they’re looking at you like you’re Santa’s cookies. And they definitely want to take a bite. Talk about making you reconsider your life choices. These four are aiming for Santa’s naughty list, and I’m pretty sure I’m getting: Jace, Reed, Alec, and Cole for Christmas. It might’ve started as a decorating job, but it ended up tangled in tinsel.
My Thoughts: Y’all. This book was NAUGHTY. I was looking for some quick holiday romance novellas to read and this one came up in my search. Obvi I was expecting it to have some spicy elements to it, but this book was just one steamy scene after another. And, to the author’s credit, I genuinely enjoyed all of the characters. Like this wasn’t just a raunchy romance without any storyline depth to it. There was definitely a small plot with overarching character development lol. However, if you’re not into open door romances and/or tend to be more on the “pearl clutching” side of the smut consuming spectrum, then I’d say it’s not for you. Anyone else who enjoys some quality smut would probably find this lil Christmassy tale enjoyable lol. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
EVERY HEART A DOORWAY by Seanan McGuire
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. No Solicitations. No Visitors. No Quests. Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back into their own fantasy world.
My Thoughts: This audiobook was such a whimsical, transportive experience. It was as creepy as it was comforting and I found absolute peace with the oddest of this misfit gang of characters. I loved that although you’re being introduced to a completely new structure of worlds between the nonsensical and logical, it makes total sense through the eyes of these quirky characters. The mystery element added an addictive quality to this peculiar story and although it becomes clear who the killer is at a very specific part, it didn’t take away from waiting for the realization to hit everyone else. Seanan McGuire really has a way of tossing you into these bizarre worlds while making the experience an absolute delight. I will definitely be continuing on with the Wayward Children series.
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
DOWN AMONG THE STICKS AND BONES by Seanan McGuire
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. This is the story of what happened first… Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter - polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline. Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter - adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you’ve got. They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted. They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you for a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.
My Thoughts: EEEEK! I am loving this quirky little series with creepy children and their magical doors! We met Jack and Jill in Every Heart a Doorway and were introduced to snippets of their background story, but I’m so glad they got their own book. Basically, their parents wanted to have kids for strictly aesthetic reasons. Not that they actually wanted kids to be parents. Yanno? The last thing they expected was twins and, as another kick to the nuts, they had two girls. Once Jack and Jill were born, their parents immediately deemed one their sweet princess (Jack) and the other their tomboy (Jill). Growing up with parents who tried to fit them into molds only messed up the girls even more and they never truly developed a sisterly relationship because they were always pitted against each other. When they finally find the door to the Moors, they’re offered to either stay with the Master, who also happens to be a vampire, or they can work for an oddball scientist down the hill as an apprentice. Staying with the master meant they’d be treated with luxuries in exchange for being the Master’s source of feeding. Being the scientist’s apprentice meant getting their hands extremely dirty while learning a plethora of information about the world as they worked on projects with him. The sisters essentially trade roles they’ve had so far in life and Jack becomes the tomboy scientist while Jill becomes the prim, proper princess. I loved this story so much - specifically Jack’s character. This book was just as fun as the last and I’m going to continue with this series. The only reason I couldn’t give this book five stars is because, and no shade to her, the author narrates this one. Whereas she was not the narrator for the last one? So, I’m not sure if she just really wanted to tell Jack and Jill’s story or if there were budget cuts when the audiobook went to production lol, but I preferred the narrator of the last book. She doesn’t do a terrible job by any means, but the other narrator sucked me into the story more.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them into stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts. Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.
My Thoughts: Where to start with this book? Going into it, I was nervous it was going to be a victim of its own hype as it was voted Goodreads 2022 Book of the Year as well as BOTY for the Book of the Month subscription box. Now that I’m finished with it, I can see clear as day why so many people fell in love with it. The writing is absolutely stunning and this author has one of the deepest vocabularies I think I’ve ever come across. I had to keep looking up the definitions of words because there were so many I had never encountered before. I actually kept a running list in my notes app and ended up with 21 words. As for the main characters, I honestly didn’t love Sadie and Sam. They were so incredibly flawed and terrible at communicating, and yet I could not stop rooting for them - both individually and as friends, business partners, etc. Especially when you throw Marx into the mix, the threesome had the oddest relationship, but it also made complete sense. The number of emotions this storyline puts you through as the years go on are unreal. I don’t want to say it was exhausting to read but I definitely needed to take recovery time from some of the grief-saturated pages. The overall theme of this book is about how all people at their core need to connect to others and I loved that video games were the vessel for that here. Do I think it’s the greatest book I’ve read all year? No. Do I think it’s worth picking up? Absolutely.
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK by Elissa Sussman
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Then. Twentysomething writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. While her former MFA classmates are nabbing book deals, she’s in the trenches writing puff pieces. Then she’s hired to write a profile of movie star Gabe Parker. The Gabe Parker - her forever celebrity crush, the object of her fantasies, the background photo on her phone - who’s also just been cast as the new James Bond. It’s terrifying and thrilling all at once… yet if she can keep her cool and nail the piece, it could be a huge win. Gabe will get good press, and her career will skyrocket. But what comes next proves to be life-changing in ways Chani never saw coming, as the interview turns into a whirlwind weekend that has tabloids buzzing. Now. Ten years later, after a brutal divorce and a heavy dose of therapy, Chani is back in Los Angeles, laser-focused on one thing: her work. But she’s still spent the better part of the last decade getting asked about her deeply personal Gabe Parker profile at every turn. No matter what new essay collection or viral editorial she’s promoting, it always comes back to Gabe. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. She wants to pretend that she’s forgotten about the time they spent together, years ago. But the truth is that those seventy-two hours are still crystal clear, etched in her memory. And so… she says yes. Chani knows that facing Gabe again also means facing feelings she’s tried so hard to push away. Alternating between their first meeting and their reunion a decade later, this deliciously irresistible novel will have you hanging on until the last word.
My Thoughts: Ooo this book was so charming! I loved how the format was a mix between blog posts, magazine and news articles, and character dialogue. The timeline jumps between the past - what happened ten years ago during the initial interview - and the present where Chani is interviewing Gabe for the second time. I was obsessed with the banter and sexual tension that naturally occurred between these two characters. What starts as a formal interview quickly transitions them into a gray area where Chani isn’t sure if everything Gabe is sharing with her is still interview eligible or if he genuinely wants to get to know her. Whereas Gabe keeps forgetting the reason Chani entered his life that weekend is because she’s doing an interview and instinctively slides a “media mask” on anytime she tries to get clarification. This story was a wild ride and although there’s a lot of unprocessed emotions between the two of them, I was on the edge of my seat hoping the book would end the way I wanted. This was a super cute rom-com with a really unique format, so if you’re looking for something a little different, I’d recommend giving this a try!
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
AFTER I DO by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes. Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?
My Thoughts: This book was a tough read because the heartbreak of Lauren and Ryan was palpable as they separated for a year to figure out what they wanted from their marriage. I think everyone has felt the irritable animosity towards a partner at one point in life, and the way this book sucked you into the trials this marriage was facing felt almost nostalgic. Although the pain they experienced during the separation felt similar to grief and mourning, I absolutely LOVED that Lauren was figuring out who she is without Ryan. They started dating when she was 19 and married young, so she never truly had the time to figure out who she is as a standalone person without Ryan somehow intertwined with that identity. It’s clear throughout the entirety of this book that the love they share is something not everyone experiences. Even during the rough spots when they’re seeing other people, Lauren is still entirely unsure as to how she feels about her marriage. I’m not sure it’d be possible to not speak to someone for an entire year that you literally have not spent more than a few days apart during your marriage, but I commended the strength they showed in staying true to their one rule of this separation. The most refreshing part of this book is Lauren does something morally questionable and I thought that was going to cause a big blow up later on, but it actually did the opposite. This story is a little different from the historical fiction novels I’ve read by TJR, but I enjoyed it all the same!
Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid
EVIDENCE OF THE AFFAIR by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: 4/5stars
Summary: A desperate woman in Southern California sits down to write a letter to a man she’s never met - a choice that will forever change both their lives. The correspondence between Carrie Allsop and David Mayer reveals, piece by piece, the painful details of a devastating affair between their spouses. With each commiserating scratch of the pen, they confess their fears and bare their souls. They share the bewilderment over how things went so wrong and come to wonder where to go from here.
My Thoughts: This is my first TJR novella and I absolutely loved the creativity of how the story unfolded using the unique format of letter correspondence. It’s a collection of letters between Carrie and David - who realized their spouses are cheating on them - and between Janet and Ken - their spouses and the lovers. At first, the letters exchanged between Carrie and David are solely to feel not alone in this betraying situation. They find solace in knowing the other is going through the same feelings and thoughts as they navigate their spouses’ indiscretion. As the letters go on, the sentiments transition into something more of a friendship and become more frequent with time. Although I wanted to predict the ending, there was a small unexpected plot twist towards the end that I appreciated. Honestly, if you’re looking for something quick and unique, this book was a pleasant surprise!
There Are No Saints by Sophie Lark
THERE ARE NO SAINTS by Sophie Lark
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: I loathe Alastor Shaw. The city of San Francisco thinks we’re rival artists. In truth, we’re predators battling for hunting ground. We never chased the same prey. Until the night we both laid eyes on Mara Eldritch. Shaw wants to use her as a pawn in his twisted game. I’m fixated on her for a different reason… She makes me feel things I never thought I could feel. Want things I never wanted. Only she can make me lose control. I don’t know if I should protect her at all costs… or destroy her before she ruins me.
My Thoughts: Sophie Lark QUICKLY became one of my new favorite authors this year after I read the Brutal Birthright series. She has a way of sucking you into her writing that feels like you can’t put the book down or else you’ll miss something. This book is no exception. I wasn’t expecting the premise but it kind of gives a You (aka a book but also a Netflix show) vibe. Cole is an extremely wealthy, talented artist who is also a serial killer from time to time. He becomes obsessed with Mara, an artist who is trying to make a name for herself, after she escapes an attempted murder by his rival. The story then progresses into your expected trope of Cole being whole heartedly CONSUMED by Mara and the things she makes him feel. I didn’t love Cole nor Mara, but I think it’s because I wasn’t sure if I could get behind this dynamic since he IS a serial killer lol. However, the story still had my nose glued to the pages as I devoured it. I appreciated that the ending leaves us on a cliffhanger because now I obviously am going to continue onto the second book in this duology.
There Is No Devil by Sophie Lark
THERE IS NO DEVIL by Sophie Lark
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: I couldn’t kill Mara… but that doesn’t mean Shaw won’t. She’s living in my house, always with me, always under my control. The more I push her, the more she pushes back. She’s peeling away my secrets, one by one. And I’m tempting her to do things she never thought she’d do… Shaw won’t stop hunting her. When the time comes to act, will Mara be ready?
My Thoughts: Okay, okay, okay the second book came in hot and I loved where the story went here based on the first book. Mara’s character really finds her stride not only as an artist, but also as a woman recovering from previous trauma. Cole, our sweet little psychopath, is the more patient, validating boyfriend to Mara and truly supports her in all aspects of life. I also loved that Mara opened up sides to Cole he didn’t realize he had. He’s been so closed off and cold his whole life that finding joy with another person and truly loving them is an arsenal of new emotions for him. They’re still on high alert about the other serial killer/artist, Shaw, who has set his sights on Mara as a way to assert his dominance over Cole. My adrenaline was PUMPING during some of these creepier scenes - especially what happens at the end lol. I had to put the book down and really prepare myself for the gruesome event that was foreshadowed literally the entire time. We still got the steamy scenes we wanted out of this, but I think the plot was built so well that I was more itching to see what happened than I was focused on the spice. As I’ve mentioned, Sophie Lark has become one of my favorite dark romance authors and she really got vulnerable in this book. There’s an author’s note at the beginning of the story that explains how she decided to use her real life experiences/traumas in Mara’s narrative specifically. I just really love her writing and cannot say enough good things!
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war - and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
My Thoughts: OH MY GOD Y’ALL. I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO READ THIS BOOK. It is so freaking good, I cannot. So we’ve got Juliette, who you cannot have skin-to-skin contact with because her touch is lethal and will kill you. She’s been locked up in an asylum for a majority of a year when The Reestablishment decides they want to use her as a weapon. She’s such a complex character with so many layers of emotions and the trauma she’s experienced throughout her life due to her “gift” is unreal. I loved her as a main character and could not get enough of her story. There’s also Adam, a boy next door type who, it turns out, Juliette knew from school back in the day and ends up being assigned to guard her. The other star player in this book is Warren - a 19-year-old BOSS of Sector 45 and the reason Juliette is leaving the asylum. There is a romantic storyline woven throughout this book, however, I didn’t feel like it was the main focus and it definitely helped move the plot forward. There is no shortage of action scenes and carnage to this story, and my heart was beating FAST. The writing style is freaking phenomenal. It’s just unlike anything else I’ve ever read. It’s written from Juliette's point of view, but also her stream of consciousness. So it has you searching for answers and normality along with Juliette. Just the way her mind works, how she describes things, and more was just *chef’s kiss.* I saw some reviews that said they felt like some characters are melodramatic which, I can understand to an extent, but I was just so sucked into this story that all of the emotions and reactions felt incredibly justified. I am absolutely UNAPOLOGETICALLY diving into this series and you cannot stop me now.
Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi
DESTROY ME by Tahereh Mafi
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the other two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.
My Thoughts: UGH. This novella is EXACTLY what I needed after that first book. An entire book from Warren’s perspective???? Ma’am. Yes. Gimme. This boy. Good LORT. I was on the fence in the first book as to whether I wanted to dislike him. He’s definitely giving off unforgivable antagonist vibes, but I also felt like he might just be lonely. Sure enough, we get to know Warren’s mind so much better in this lil treasure. He is head over heels for our girl Juliette and feels like he’s never met someone who he can relate to on such a deep level. He was dealt a shit hand in the father department and hasn’t really had the smoothest ride. At one point in this book, he finds the journal Juliette kept while she was in the asylum and the emotions he feels while reading her entries sucker punched me right in the heart. Like I instantly had that stomach drop, throbbing chest feeling as he reacted to some of the beautifully sad thoughts she confessed via pen. Honestly? By the end of this book, I am officially rooting for Warren. Whatever direction that takes him. I want good things for him because he has no one else to protect him. You must must must read this novella after finishing Shatter Me. I promise, you won’t regret it.
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
EXIT STRATEGY by Martha Wells
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right? Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as those of the GrayCris Corporation, Murderbot is heading home to help Dr. Mensah - its former owner (protector? friend?) - submit evidence that could prevent GrayCris from destroying more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit. But who’s going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue? And, what will become of it when it’s caught?
My Thoughts: YUS. Murderbot is finally reunited with Dr. Mensah and the OG research team it was assigned to protect. I absolutely love how much more humanized Murderbot has become over the last three books. It makes no sense because it’s a SecUnit that shouldn’t know how to empathize and yet, when someone threatens to kill Dr. Mensah and her team again, Murderbot is there to throw down. It is simultaneously trying to save Dr. Mensah while also exposing GrayCris for its crooked operations and how deep those schemes go. Per usual, I was hooked from the start with this audiobook and cannot wait to continue on my Murderbot journey lol.
Unravel by Tahereh Mafi
UNRAVEL ME by Tahereh Mafi
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: It should have taken Juliette a single touch to kill Warner. But his mysterious immunity to her deadly power has left her shaken, wondering why her ultimate defense mechanism failed against the person she most needs protection from. She and Adam were able to escape Warner’s clutches and join up with a group of rebels, many of whom have powers of their own. Juliette will finally be able to actively fight against The Reestablishment and try to fix her broken world. And perhaps these new allies can help her shed light on the secret behind Adam’s - and Warner’s - immunity to her killer skin.
My Thoughts: Okay okay okay, so this book mostly takes place with the rebel group fifty feet underground in their top secret compound. We meet a few other people who also have special abilities like Juliette’s and start to learn where these people came from and more information about how The Reestablishment is running civilization. I liked that the writing makes you just as skeptical as Juliette about whether you can trust this rebel group. Their leader, Castle, is pretty intense and the way he carries himself made me feel like she needed to be on high alert with him. What transpired between Juliette and Adam was absolutely heartbreaking. Not that I was super invested in their developing romance only because it felt like they were clinging onto each other for the first form of comfort they’ve experienced basically ever. That said, the grief that ripped through Juliette was palpable and I definitely shed a few tears lol. For 17 years she’s never been able to have skin-to-skin contact with anyone. She didn’t think it was possible. Then Adam comes along and all of a sudden having hope doesn’t seem out of reach for her. However, once they started testing Adam’s abilities to understand why he can touch Juliette, the rug gets pulled out from underneath her and she’s back to an isolated loneliness that I can’t even fathom. Warner is my boy in this series and we got to see so much more vulnerability from him in this book. Especially after learning who his father is (and how his father is connected to Adam!!!) and what he tries to do to Juliette, not once, but TWICE. I’m rooting for Warner babe, not only in this love triangle, but also as the person who can help take down his father. Y’all already know I’m addicted to this series and cannot wait to start the novella in between this book and the third.
Well that’s that on that. Thanks for following along if you’ve made it this far lol.
I hope everyone has an awesome start to 2023 and cannot wait to jump into a fresh year of books!
2022 Book Count: 206
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YOUR TURN! What was your favorite book of 2022?
