BOOK REVIEW ROUND UP – VOLUME 3 ISSUE 7

The Golden Couple
Author: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Publication Date: March 2022
Genre: thriller
Method: BOTM hardcover

Why did I wait so long to read from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen?? This was my first read by the author duo and it certainly won’t be my last, I absolutely loved this! I usually don’t like domestic thrillers (so many center around SA/DV) but this grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I love a story with tons of characters, obsession, dual perspective, complex plots, secrets, and relationship drama (that isn’t rooted in violence). I’ve got The Wife Between Us by the author duo on my shelves and definitely need to pick that up soon! Overall, super enjoyable and entertaining, 4.25 stars!

Big Little Lies
Author: Liane Moriarty
Publication Date: February 2017
Genre: fiction, mystery
Method: audiobook via TPL

I knew virtually nothing about this story going into it, other than the wild success of the HBO show. But pleased to report, I loved this! I unashamedly admit, I am easily entertained by stories about rich white moms and their drama. As expected, I love having so many characters to keep track of and especially liked how Moriarty incorporated the secondary characters. The overarching mystery woven throughout the story regarding the ambiguity of the murder victim is so good. I distinctly remember shouting out loud, “I KNOW WHO I HOPE DIED.” Guaranteed star for correct use of the term physiotherapy, because I am unhinged. Solid, 4 star dramatic thriller.
Buzzword Readathon: April selection

A Brush with Love
Author: Mazey Eddings
Publication Date: March 2022
Genre: romance
Method: audiobook via TPL

First, thank you to publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Goodreads, as I received an ARC copy in a Goodreads prompted giveaway. It is for that reason I really, really wanted to love this book. I was so hopeful, given that this is a medicine/health based romance, but this ain’t it. The more romances I read, the more I’m realizing I really need to care about and like one, if not both, of the characters in the romantic relationship. I wanted to like Harper, but she was just too type A, and Dan was meh. Also, I gaged at all the sex scenes, but that might just be a me problem. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it wasn’t for me. I got so desperate to be finished with it that I jacked my audiobook speed all the way to 2x so I could move on to something else.

A Little Hope
Author: Ethan Joella
Publication Date: November 2021
Genre: fiction, contemporary
Method: audiobook via TPL, BOTM hardcover

There’s something about the simplicity of this story that is just so effortless, quiet, and beautiful. A handful of unique and well-crafted characters each with their own story. A story where grief and hope collide. Every vignette felt intentional and purposeful. It felt like with every new chapter I had a new favorite character and peak inside a slice of their life. Don’t be fooled by the word hope in the titled, I was left devastated and in near tears multiple times. This hurts to read, but it is so well worth it.
Buzzword Readathon: April selection

Ugly Love
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publication Date: August 2014
Genre: romance
Method: audiobook via TPL

It’s rare that I read an entire book in one day, from title page to epilogue, but in this case, I did. And you’re probably thinking, “wow, she must have really loved that book to have finished it so quickly!” No, sorry. No hate to Colleen Hoover, but it was just fine. Some of my best bookish friends have rated this 5 stars, but this ain’t it for me.

For me to like a romance, I have to care about and like both people in the relationship as individuals AND want them to end up together. I liked Miles character enough, could do without Tate. I was, however, shipping Miles and Rachel HARD. Side note, I do have it in me to like a messy relationship e.g. Luke and Ginger in A Little Hope. Their relationship made up like 20% of the storyline in A Little Hope and it had me crying, it was heart breaking.

This is my first friends with benefits trope which I didn’t really like. The spice was better, more believable and less outlandish, than the previous romance I read (A Brush with Love), so that was okay. Overall, just fine. Fingers crossed I love the next Colleen Hoover I pick up, which likely will be the super hyped and mega popular, It Ends With Us.