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Spotlight Review: HEY, ZOEY by Sarah Crossan

June 25, 2024

From the publisher:

Dolores O’Shea’s marriage collapses when she discovers her husband’s AI sex doll in the garage. When she moves “Zoey” into the house, they become oddly bonded, opening the door to a lifetime of repressed feelings and memories. “Brilliant, provocative, and darkly funny, Sarah Crossan’s Hey, Zoey explores the impossibility of connection, and the things we hide from ourselves and the people we love.” (Sarah Dunn)

43-year-old Dolores O’Shea is logical, organized, and prepared to handle whatever comes her way. She keeps up with her job and housework, takes care of her mentally declining mother, and remains close with her old friends and her younger sister who’s moved to New York. Though her marriage with David, an anesthesiologist, isn’t what is used to be, nothing can quite prepare her for Zoey, the $8,000 AI sex doll that David has secretly purchased and stuffed away in the garage. At first, Zoey sparks an uncharacteristically strong violence in Dolores, whose entire life is suddenly cast in doubt.

But then, Dolores and Zoey start to talk…and what surfaces runs deeper than Dolores could have ever expected, with consequences for all of the relationships in her life, especially her relationship to herself. Provocative, brilliant, and tender, Hey, Zoey is an electrifying new novel about the painful truths of modern-day connection and the complicated and unexpected forms that love can take in a lifetime.
https://amzn.to/40Ioy4r

Sarah Crossan (Here Is the Beehive) delivers a darkly comic, wholly original novel steeped in artificial intelligence, in this case, a sexbot named Zoey, who communicates using AI. David and Delores have been married for several years, but this is not a marriage of passion; their relationship seems more like two friends who are living together, but things come to a head when Delores finds the sexbot in their garage. David refuses to discuss it when she confronts him, and he moves out, leaving Zoey behind. More frustrated than heartbroken, Delores drags the doll into the house and sets up the app, making Zoey her new roommate and confidante. Delores’s mother is suffering from dementia, and she misses her sister, who has moved across the pond to New York City. As we learn more about Delores and all her relationships, it is easy to understand her fascination with Zoey; Zoey is a good listener and can hold her own in a conversation. What once seemed like science fiction is now reality.

Verdict: In light of the proliferation of AI into all aspects of life, this is a timely read, sure to appeal to book groups who enjoy Gary Shteyngart, Ottessa Moshfegh, or Dave Eggers.

©Library Journal, 2024

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HEY, ZOEY by Sarah Crossan. Little, Brown and Company (June 25, 2024). ISBN: 978-0316428606. 304p.

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ONE-STAR ROMANCE by Laura Hankin

June 21, 2024

From the Publisher:

A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy from Laura Hankin.

Natalie and Rob couldn’t have less in common. Nat’s a messy artist, and Rob’s a rigid academic. The only thing they share is their devotion to their respective best friends—who just got engaged. Still, unexpected chemistry has Natalie cautiously optimistic about being maid of honor to Rob’s best man.

Until, minutes before the ceremony, Nat learns that Rob wrote a one-star review of her new novel, which has them both reeling: Nat from imposter syndrome, and Rob over the reason he needed to write it.

When the reception ends, these two opposites hope they’ll never meet again. But, as they slip from their twenties into their thirties, they’re forced together whenever their fast-track best friends celebrate another milestone. Through housewarmings and christenings, life-changing triumphs and failures, Natalie and Rob grapple with their own choices—and how your harshest critic can become your perfectly imperfect match.

After all, even the truest love stories sometimes need a bit of rewriting.

“Hankin performs a magic trick with this book, turning the most unlikeable (and relatable) of characters into flawed protagonists worth rooting for. Natalie and Rob are the definition of “right person, wrong time,” and because the story spans multiple years, we get the pleasure of seeing them make mistakes, grow up and grow together. It’s real, refreshing and romantic.” —The Washington Post

“Fans of not only romance but women’s fiction as well will enjoy this multilayered, realistic novel from Hankin.” —Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3KG70ii

This is the ultimate slow-burn romance, but also a testament to friendship. Natalie and Gabby have been best friends since freshman year of college through sharing a ratty NYC apartment. Rob and Angus have been best friends since middle school, when Angus befriended the new kid, Rob. Angus and Gabby are engaged, and that’s how Rob and Natalie meet. And meet again. Several times, over several years of parties, the wedding, weekend getaways, and more.

Initially, there is some attraction there, but then Natalie figures out that the one-star review on Goodreads of her first novel was turned in by, you guessed it, Rob. That starts a hate relationship between them that occasionally veers towards a less than platonic relationship, but never quite gets there. At least not for many years.

Natalie’s first novel features a main character loosely based on Angus. Natalie is jealous of her friend spending more time with him, but more than that, she just can’t understand what her beautiful, brilliant, kind friend sees in this man she thinks is mediocre at best. Gabby realizes it halfway through reading the novel, and never finishes it. Rob instantly recognizes Angus, hence the one-star review. Luckily, Angus never even reads it. It takes Natalie quite a few years to realize it was probably a mistake to use Angus like that.

Eventually, Rob gets engaged to Zuri, and Natalie is on the fence about moving in with her boyfriend. Ultimately, she decides to break up with him instead – she is self-aware enough to realize that she is not in love with him and won’t ever be – thanks to a frank chat with Rob.

Then Natalie and Gabby have a huge blow-up and stop speaking for over a year. The only good side of that is she no longer has to endure Rob. But then Angus sends an email that Gabby is sick, and Natalie drops everything to show up for her friend, as does Rob. This time, Rob and Natalie are both single, and things take a turn towards romance, even while they both are heartsick about Gabby’s illness.

There is a very happy ending for everyone, but I have to say this book touched a little too close to home for me. I was bawling for the last quarter of the book.

I, too, had a best friend for many years. We met when my husband, son and I rented half a duplex from her husband. Shortly after we moved in, they moved into the other half. We were inseparable for many years, considered ourselves to be Lucy & Ethel, and the biggest fight we had was over who was Lucy and who was Ethel.

Eventually, we each bought a home a few miles apart, but we stayed close. Our kids were friends, and we spent many holidays together. Then, one Easter dinner, she made a remark about my husband and our marriage that he took great offense to. I thought she was kidding, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that while I wanted her to be kidding, she wasn’t, and we stopped speaking for many years, other than to say hello if we ran into each other.

One day she came to see me at work and told me she had breast cancer. I was shocked, but she was very upbeat and positive that she would beat it – most women do. She was one of the healthiest women I knew, ate mostly organic, and ran miles every day. Turned out that she had a very aggressive form that had already spread to her lymph nodes. She had a full mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and many, many holistic treatments – her husband was constantly researching and taking her wherever they could find a glimmer of hope.

After several years of struggling with sickness and surgeries and horrible drugs and pain, she finally begged me and her other friends to talk her husband into stopping all these treatments. She was ready to go, but he wasn’t. It was just about impossible for him to do that, but she eventually prevailed. We lost her in 2005, this beautiful, generous, kind 46-year-old mother of three.

I finished this book right before bedtime and woke up every hour or so all night long. It’s been almost twenty years since I lost my friend, and I still have a lot of regrets that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Sorry I veered so far off in a book review, but obviously, this book touched a nerve. It is a wonderful, emotional read and I loved the premise, these characters, their friendship, and the slow burn of romance. Highly recommend!

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ONE-STAR ROMANCE by Laura Hankin. Berkley (June 18, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593438213. 400p.

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SUMMER AT MOUNT JOY by Ophelia London

June 21, 2024

From the publisher:

She’s determined to save her family’s ranch—but there’s a cowboy hitch in her plans…in this engagingly endearing romance from USA Today bestselling author Ophelia London…

In a family made almost entirely of successful overachievers, Roxy Elliott is the odd woman out. Yet she’s determined to save her family’s old, run-down ranch from being sold and razed to the ground and, in the process, to prove that she has more heart—and ambition—than her family expected. The only problem? In a town as small as Mount Joy, there’s just one guy who can help her with the ranch’s transformation…and he’s a complete pain in her backside.

Had he known firecracker Roxy Elliott would be his new boss, ex-soldier-turned-cowboy Josh Manning definitely would have taken a hard pass on the town’s new job. He has his own memories from the last time they were together, and he’s not about to let her off the hook a second time. But Josh will do anything to save his family home from foreclosure, even sell his soul to the last woman he ever would have wanted to be partners with. But Roxy Elliott might just surprise him yet…

At first, nothing goes according to plan. The pipes are all rusted, the hideous wallpaper is impossible to remove, and the front porch is one rotten board away from swallowing someone whole. Now the dude ranch is showing some serious potential for not only transforming the community, but both their lives, as well. But while Roxy Elliott is still the loveliest thing to ever cross paths with a grump like Josh, summer romances never last forever…and history has a tendency to repeat itself.
https://amzn.to/3XrXt5U

This author was new to me, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a sweet, second chance, small-town romance with a hot cowboy and the richest girl in town.

Roxy and Josh were in high school together; in fact, he asked her to the homecoming dance. But the night of the dance, something happened that caused him to leave before knocking on the door, and her to assume she’d been stood up. They never spoke to one another again.

Roxy is the youngest member of a large family; she has four older, successful brothers and her father owns an enormous company. Everything Roxy has tried she’s either failed at or given up, so when she asks to renovate the family’s ranch instead of her brother plowing it under to create a parking lot, her father reluctantly agrees. She’s on a tight budget and a tight timeline, and the first thing she does is hire a foreman to oversee the renovations.

Normally, I’m fine with suspending my disbelief but the fact that she hires Josh and doesn’t recognize his name was just a step too far for me. Yes, he had a nickname, but they went through years of school together, there was no way she never heard his real name. Teachers taking attendance?? So I sighed and moved on.

They both have the wrong idea about what happened back in high school, but Roxy needs someone and he was her only applicant. His family farm is on the verge of bankruptcy, and he needs the paycheck to pay off the lien against the property. They both put their differences aside and find out they work really well together.

The project takes on a life of its own, growing and changing as do these characters. Josh has a lot of baggage; PTSD from his army stint in Afghanistan, aggravated by bull riding in rodeos, both of which push him into drinking and drugs. It’s taken a long while to get his act together, but he has and this ranch is the better for it. Roxy and Josh still have strong feelings for one another, and they keep tamping them down to work together without any added drama. Roxy has a string of bad boyfriends behind her, and she is not looking for more trouble this close to home.

Eventually, they have a major conflict over the renovation, and a huge blowout. Josh disappears for days, and Roxy finally realizes that she is in love with him. They reach their happily ever after, and it was an entertaining read to get there.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SUMMER AT MOUNT JOY by Ophelia London. Entangled: Amara (June 10, 2024). ASIN‏ : ‎B0CJ82488P. 337p.

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Spotlight Review: THE MEMO by Rachel Dodes & Lauren Mechling

June 18, 2024

From the publisher:

If you could rewrite your life story, would you dare? That’s the question at the heart of this charming and propulsive debut novel about love, life, and a woman finding herself and what it means to be happy and successful.

Do you ever feel like your life doesn’t measure up to everyone else’s—and wonder if you just didn’t get the memo helping you make the right choices?

Jenny Green dreads her upcoming college reunion. Once top of her class, the thirty-five-year-old finds herself stuck in a life that isn’t the one she expected. Her promising career has flamed out (literally) and her deadbeat boyfriend is cheating on her (again). All her friends seem to have it all figured it out, enjoying glittering lives and careers that she can only envy from the sidelines. Did she just not get the memo they all did?

As it turns out, she didn’t!

When she arrives at her alma mater for the festivities, she receives a text from an unlisted number.

“Jenny Green: please collect your memo.”

Somewhere on campus, a discreet female-led organization provides comprehensive memos to select students, a set of instructions that are a blueprint for success.

The first time around, Jenny didn’t receive hers. Now, she’s being given the second chance she wants—an opportunity to relive her life and make all the right decisions this time around. But at what price?

Smart, addictive, bittersweet, and ultimately triumphant, The Memo will enchant readers of In Five Years and Cassandra in Reverse as well as fans of Emma Straub and Maria Semple.

“Do you ever wonder if everyone else somehow got a secret leg up, insider knowledge, or even just a map to navigate the proverbial lay of the land? Such is the premise of Rachel Dodes and Lauren Mechling’s charming new novel. . . . A modernized Sliding Doors set amid a delightfully specific milieu, this is a paranormal parable with a very relatable heart.” — Vogue
https://amzn.to/3xKJvkO

This writing duo’s debut is a tribute to a world of possibility. When her college career counselor suggests to Jenny Green that she quit school a few weeks before graduation, she does not take that advice. While her friends move on to uber-successful careers, Jenny feels like she is stagnating. She wonders if everyone else got the memo and learned to succeed, and why she did not. She’s not thrilled with her assistant job, she’s pretty sure her boyfriend is cheating on her, and she has to deal with her upcoming fifteen year college reunion. Then she receives an anonymous text message urging her to take the memo and follow the instructions; she does, and her whole world starts shifting on its axis. With a whiff of time travel Jenny bounces between her old life and this possible new life, but eventually, she has to make a not inconsiderable decision and face that life head-on.

Verdict: Millennial women, in particular, may be drawn to this story. Readalikes for this original literary debut include The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas, Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale, or The Good Part by Sophie Cousens.

©Library Journal, 2024

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE MEMO by Rachel Dodes & Lauren Mechling. Harper Perennial (June 18, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0063319356. 336p.

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THE SUMMER ESCAPE by Jill Shalvis

June 14, 2024

The Sunrise Cove, Book 6

From the Publisher:

Secrets are revealed and forbidden sparks ignited in this sizzling Sunrise Cove standalone, a tale of enemies to lovers, redemption, missing treasures, and love—by romance superstar and New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.

Anna Moore didn’t just wake up one day and decide to go on a wild quest—especially since her life no longer lends itself to wild anything—so how in the world does she end up racing against the clock with Owen Harris, a sexy, enigmatic adventurist, to prove her beloved dad innocent of stealing a million-dollar necklace?

It’s all Wendy’s fault. Her older, bossy sister, who’s seven months pregnant and on bed rest in their small Lake Tahoe hometown, is desperate to clear their departed dad’s name. Owen, though, is convinced he’s guilty as hell and wants to return the jewelry back to its rightful owner—his elderly great aunt. Together Anna and Owen go on a scavenger hunt for clues to the past (with Wendy remotely along for the ride via an earbud, supplying a running wry commentary to boot).

On opposing sides and suspicious of each other as they are, Anna and Owen still can’t deny the inexplicable and explosive chemistry between them on this heart-stopping adventure, the outcome of which will prove the necklace isn’t the only thing stolen—their hearts have been as well.
https://amzn.to/4e9GnA1

I adore this series, and this latest entry is a real pageturner!

Anna and Wendy are as close as two sisters can be. But with Wendy pregnant with triplets and on bed rest, she is living vicariously through Anna via an ear piece for her phone, which adds a lot of humor to the story.

They lost their father a few years earlier, and while cleaning out some things, they find an old and valuable coin. That opens a Pandora’s box as their father was considered a suspect in the robbery of the set of coins and a ruby necklace. No one was ever arrested, and the stolen items were never found, until this one coin.

The items were stolen from Owen’s great-aunt, who is now suffering from dementia. Owen is devoted to her, and thinks if the necklace could be found, maybe it would give her some peace of mind. He approaches Anna and they agree to work together to try and find the rest of the stolen items. This lends some suspense to this romance, and it is a heartstopper of an ending. Meanwhile, as Owen and Anna work together, real feelings emerge and Wendy is loving listening in on it all.

This was a fun read, and the suspense and the romance built naturally. I loved how Anna and Wendy got along, and how Anna and Owen moved from distrust to love. This book stands alone beautifully, as do all the books in the series, although I do recommend reading them all – I highly recommend this series and this book.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SUMMER ESCAPE by Jill Shalvis. Avon (June 11, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063235816. 336p.

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FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER by Susan Mallery

June 14, 2024

From the publisher:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes an unforgettable beach read about the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters and finding friendship with the unlikeliest person, perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Emily Giffin…

As the owner of Twisted, Seattle’s best salons, Erica knows that the sharpest cuts come from the people we love. She’s terrified that she’s losing her teen daughter, Summer, to her “other” family, especially to her stepmom, Allison.

All it takes to blow up Allison’s happy life is one collect call. From prison. Her beloved husband, Peter, has been arrested, leaving Allison pregnant, broke, scared and alone with a toddler. But when her stepdaughter ferrets out the truth, the teen rushes to the last person Allison wants to ask for help—her husband’s battle-ax ex.

Erica would do anything for Summer, even take in the woman her daughter loves like a second mom. Allison feels intimidated by Erica—a woman who would never let herself become so dependent on a man. But the more time they spend together, the more Allison realizes what Erica truly needs is a friend. Can two women who married the same man move beyond their complicated past and rethink what it means to be family?

“Beautifully illustrates the power of female friendship and the importance of reaching for one’s dreams”-Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3XgXsll

Erica has the career of her dreams, and she’s worked damned hard to get it. As the owner of Twisted, a small chain of high-end, full service spas that include hair salons, she is big on giving back, especially to single moms. Top-tier stylists at her salons make six figures, and many of them came through her scholarship and training programs. But her personal life isn’t quite as full as her professional life.

Divorced for many years, she had pushed her ex-husband to start his own accounting business. And when he shocked her by demanding a divorce that she never saw coming, she pulls her business from his firm. Eventually, he meets and marries Allison, and fills her head with tales of his horrible ex-wife. But when she gets a call from him that he’s in prison, she is completely lost. All their bank accounts have been frozen, she’s six months pregnant and has a toddler. With no formal education, Allison works part time at the day care center to earn enough to cover daycare while she works her other job as a grocery store cashier. Both jobs are becoming more difficult as the physical aspects of her pregnancy make it hard to be on her feet all day or to get up and down from the floor at the preschool.

Erica’s daughter, Summer, is a pretty good kid for a sixteen-year-old. Erica doesn’t know her ex’s wife, but Summer adores her and her little half-brother. So when Summer finds out what happened to her dad, she goes into savior mode and convinces her mother to let Allison and her little boy move in with them. She has no family and no other resources, and Erica reluctantly agrees.

Erica and Allison slowly get to know one another, and while their worlds are completely different, they were both married to the same man, so they have that in common. As her pregnancy progresses, Erica starts doing more for Allison, from buying nursery furniture and having her mother, Summer’s grandmother, help out with the little boy. As the days move on, they become pretty close friends.

Erica has a boyfriend, or rather a man who takes her out for lovely dinners, and she accompanies him to business social events. And they have sex. But after being burned by her ex, Erica has refused to put her heart on the line. Eventually, everyone can see that he is besotted with her, but she is burying her feelings so deep she can’t even find them.

This was such a good read! I loved all these characters and all the little moments that made up their lives. The romance takes a back seat to the women’s burgeoning friendship, but in the end, everything works out the way it is supposed to. Another terrific read by one of my favorite authors.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER by Susan Mallery. MIRA; Original edition (June 4, 2024). ISBN: 978-0778305521. 400p.

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Spotlight Review: SEVEN SUMMER WEEKENDS by Jane L. Rosen

June 11, 2024

From the publisher:

A woman inherits a beach house, along with a series of weekend guests, while butting heads with the irritable (and irritatingly handsome) man next door, in this sparkling new escape from Jane L. Rosen.

When a Zoom disaster upends Addison Irwin’s decade-long career at a posh Manhattan advertising agency, things look bleak for the thirty-something mid-western transplant. But an unexpected inheritance from an aunt she barely remembers—a property on Fire Island, complete with guest house and artist’s studio—changes everything.

While debating whether to stay or sell, Addison learns that she’s also inherited her aunt’s list of eclectic guests, tying her to the island for seven summer weekends. Eager to convince Addison to keep the house rather than let a new buyer build a monstrosity in its place, the neighbors welcome her to their laid-back community. Well, all except the moody guy next door, who seems intent on glowering his way through life.

Steadfast in her path since college, Addison is determined not to let this detour on Fire Island throw her off track. But soon, between the revolving door of weekend visitors and the up-and-down relationship with her neighbor (and his adorable dog), she finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Should she try to pick up where she left off—or embrace entirely new possibilities?
https://amzn.to/3x4BG9G

I have read and loved every one of Rosen’s books and I am happy to say that this one is stellar. I wish I had some long-lost relative to leave me a beach house, but it’s Airbnb for me if I want that beachy life. But for Addison, inheriting her aunt’s house is a timely and welcome surprise.

After a misdirected comment about her boss goes viral, Addison gets fired instead of the promotion she was seeking. She had spent years with the advertising company, and while it wasn’t the most fulfilling job, it was one she excelled at and in which she poured all her energy and passion. Feeling somewhat lost, her aunt’s final gift is just what she needs. The house is on Fire Island in New York, and while she hadn’t seen her aunt since the Big Terrible Thing happened when she was a young child, she does remember her. But she really gets to know her deceased aunt when she moves to the island for the summer. The island realtor lets her know that the guest house on the property is rented out for seven weekends over the summer, and the income is generally enough to cover all the expenses for the year. Her aunt was universally beloved, and everyone, including the regular summer renters, had a story for her. Even the grumpy guy next door.

That guy is Ben, one of the main characters in Rosen’s previous book, On Fire Island (a truly excellent read, but this book stands alone beautifully.) Ben is a young widower and a bestselling author, and Addison doesn’t know anything about that – but she learns. Ben has been grieving for a few years now but is finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He and Addison meet and flirt on the ferry over to Fire Island, and as he lives next door to her, they keep bumping into one another, and not always in a good way.

The heart of the matter is this: is Ben too damaged for another relationship? It’s a bumpy road for Addison and Ben. Addison is also dealing with her anger at her parents for keeping her aunt from her. Staying at the beach house changes Addison’s life in many ways, and I loved seeing her growth.

The Fire Island of Rosen’s books is idyllic, but the relationships are fraught, making for a compelling read. I loved it.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SEVEN SUMMER WEEKENDS by Jane L. Rosen. Berkley (June 4, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593640913. 320p.

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LOVE, LIES, AND CHERRY PIE by Jackie Lau

June 7, 2024

From the publisher:

Jackie Lau, author of the “full of heart” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) The Stand-Up Groomsman, returns with a charming rom-com about a young woman’s desperate attempts to fend off her meddling mother…only to find that maybe mother does know best.

Mark Chan this. Mark Chan that.

Writer and barista Emily Hung is tired of hearing about the great Mark Chan, the son of her parents’ friends. You’d think he single-handedly stopped climate change and ended child poverty from the way her mother raves about him. But in reality, he’s just a boring, sweater-vest-wearing engineer, and when they’re forced together at Emily’s sister’s wedding, it’s obvious he thinks he’s too good for her.

But now that Emily is her family’s last single daughter, her mother is fixated on getting her married and she has her sights on Mark. There’s only one solution, clearly: convince Mark to be in a fake relationship with her long enough to put an end to her mom’s meddling. He reluctantly agrees.

Unfortunately, lying isn’t enough. Family friends keep popping up at their supposed dates—including a bubble tea shop and cake-decorating class—so they’ll have to spend more time together to make their relationship look real. With each fake date, though, Emily realizes that Mark’s not quite what she assumed and maybe that argyle sweater isn’t so ugly after all…

“Heartfelt and hilarious . . . Lau brings the goods.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Lau’s books have some of the best effort-to-emotional-payoff ratios in romance.” ― The New York Times Book Review
https://amzn.to/4c0Hgsy

I loved Lau’s last book, Donut Fall in Love, so I was super excited to get this one, and it was a heartwarming, joyous and rollicking read!

Emily is the last of her sisters to remain single, and her over-the-top pushy mom is determined to fix that pronto. She talks up Mark Chan until Emily can barely stand hearing his name, then seats them together at the youngest sister’s wedding. Mark and Emily do not get along at that wedding, so when her mom asks her to brunch the following week, Emily figures she’ll go and tell her to lay off. But when she shows up for brunch, her mother isn’t there but guess who is? Mark Chan, of course.

This time things go a tiny bit better than at the wedding, but Emily is convinced he is so not the man for her. But to get her mother off her back, she asks Mark if they could fake date to keep her mother happy for a while. But by fake date she means to just tell her mom they are dating but not actually go anywhere together. Mark reluctantly agrees, but things get complicated when her mother’s network of spies/friends/relatives report they haven’t seen Emily and Mark together anywhere. Emily caves and asks Mark if they can fake date for real, by which she means meet up for dinner or whatever just so they can be seen together. Pictures are taken and shared, but her mother is still somewhat suspicious.

Then something odd happens. Emily realizes she is starting to really like Mark, even though he is not her type and really, what does her mother know. As it turns out, her mother knows quite a lot about her daughter and what she needs. After several fake dates, they decide to really date but things come to a head when her older sister accuses her of faking the relationship and spills the beans. Emily is humiliated and ghosts Mark, but their feelings are strong enough that she decides to stop cutting off her nose to spite her face (one of my mother’s favorite expressions!) and just live with the controversy, as long as she gets to do it with Mark.

There were many, many laugh-out-loud moments here, but I also wanted to wake Emily up to the possibility she was missing out on. Luckily, she figured that out for herself, and they got their happy ending. This was such a fun, compelling read that I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one night. Another terrific read from Jackie Lau and Emily Bestler books.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LOVE, LIES, AND CHERRY PIE by Jackie Lau. Atria/Emily Bestler Books (May 7, 2024). ISBN: 978-1668030769. 352p.

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ONE SWEET SOUTHERN SUMMER by Janice Maynard

June 7, 2024

From the publisher:

Two lives spent searching. One summer to never forget.

Life in Blossom Branch hasn’t always been sweet for Leah Marks. Growing up in the shadow of her overachieving siblings, the shy psychology grad has struggled to find her own place in the world. So when she inherits a long-forgotten summer camp, Leah sees an opportunity to help other kids who are struggling—and maybe find happiness for herself.

Her plan takes an unexpected turn, however, after a scorching encounter with the local fire chief, Lucas Carter. He’s brave, he’s kind…and he’s not quite ready to settle down. Leah is drawn to the rugged firefighter—but she fears she’ll be burned if she gets too close.

Still, Leah and Lucas can’t help but fall harder for each other, until the ill-fated uncertainty of their future can no longer be ignored. As another sizzling summer unfolds in Blossom Branch, will they both finally find the home—and the love—they’ve been searching for?

Blossom Branch

Book 1: The Runaway Bride of Blossom Branch
Book 2: One Sweet Southern Summer
https://amzn.to/4e4U0jQ

I don’t recall reading this author before, and she has written over 80+ books! So I wasn’t sure what to expect here besides the clues from the cover and the title: I thought it would be a romance on the sweet side, but there was plenty of heat. I loved the premise of the story, too. Leah grows up with a bunch of overachieving brothers, and as the only girl with a less than prestigious degree in psychology, she is thrilled to find out her aunt has left her a home and a summer camp in the small town of Blossom Branch. She gets the idea to renovate the camp and turn it into a charity camp, taking in middle school aged kids who have bad home situations or have gotten into trouble.

Working with some foundations, she hires a staff and funds the camp with grants. Campers will come for two weeks, then the staff will get a week off before the next set of campers comes in. It’s a big project, but Leah’s heart is in it and she makes it a success.

Unfortunately, on the first night of camp, one of the troubled youths starts a small fire in the kitchen. The fire department keeps it controlled until they get it out, but there is quite a bit of damage to the dining hall. Fortunately, the oh-so-hot fire chief, Lucas Carter, is willing to help and gets friends to start on the cleanup and rebuild.

Lucas is immediately drawn to Leah, but he is not looking to settle down any time soon. Leah finds him very attractive as well, but her first priority are the kids in her camp. And she has no plans on staying in this small town all year round, so geography is not their friend either.

As Leah and Lucas spend time together, they are both falling in love. It takes a lot to get them together, but it is so much fun getting to their happily ever after. I really enjoyed this romance, and I love that this author has so many books – I’ll always be able to find something to read!

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ONE SWEET SOUTHERN SUMMER by Janice Maynard. Canary Street Press; Original edition (April 23, 2024). ISBN: 978-1335523068. 368p.

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Spotlight Review: LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Kristan Higgins

June 4, 2024

From the publisher:

From the author of Pack Up the Moon comes a funny, romantic, and deeply moving novel about the unexpected rewards that come from life’s detours.

Lark Smith has always had a plan for her life: find a fantastic guy, create a marriage as blissful as her parents’, pop out a couple of kids and build a rewarding career as an oncologist.

Things aren’t going so well.

For one, the guy didn’t work out. Theoretically, she’d love to find someone else, but it hasn’t happened. Two, she’s just been transferred out of oncology for being too emotional. (Is it her fault she’s a weeper?) Three, her parents just split up.

Deviating from the plan was…well, not in the plan. A potential solution comes from the foul-tempered and renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr. Satan). He needs a date this summer for his sister’s wedding. His ancient Noni wants to see him settled. In exchange, he could make a few introductions and maybe get Lark back into the field of her choice.

As a sucker for old people and fake relationships, Lark agrees. Teeny problem—she instantly falls for his big, warm family. Especially his estranged brother.

Meanwhile, Lark’s mom has moved in with Lark’s colorful landlady, Joy, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. The three women have a long summer and a big beautiful house on the ocean to figure out what’s next…and quite possibly learn that the best things in life aren’t planned at all.

“Bestseller Higgins proves her mastery of the romance genre in this emotional tour de force… Higgins balances tear-jerking moments with happiness and hope, and crafts strong female characters worth cheering for. Readers should have tissues at the ready.“ —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
https://amzn.to/3x4BG9G

This is an emotional, compelling read centered around three women. Lark is the protagonist, a resident in oncology who is also prone to crying. After she loses yet another patient, the patient’s family ends up comforting her, which her supervisor is not thrilled with. He boots her out of oncology and into the emergency room, where patients don’t stick around long enough for her to get attached. It’s either send them upstairs or send them home, so no tears need to be shed here.

One of the best surgeons on staff is Dr. Lorenzo Santini, whom the staff calls Dr. Satan. He is cold and short with the staff, to say the least, but an awe-inspiring surgeon. He approaches Lark and asks if she would fake date him for the summer, a series of events leading up to his sister’s wedding. She is dumbfounded; her one interaction with him had her in tears. He explains that his grandmother is near death, and her only happiness will be to see her favorite grandson with someone. Lark’s soft heart won’t let her refuse, and he buys her some amazing outfits to wear to the wedding events.

Lark has always admired her parents’ marriage and aspires to a relationship like theirs for herself. So when her mother moves out, ostensibly to let her father do some renovations on the family home, Lark isn’t convinced that’s what is really going on. She had her own perfect relationship once, that started in kindergarten and lasted most of her life. We get to look back occasionally and see how that relationship bloomed, and why it ended.

Lark rents a small guesthouse on the beach from Joy, a lonely woman who has spent her life trying to improve her looks via plastic surgery. She’s lost a few husbands, none of whom she really loved, and she lost her brother, who was truly the love of her life. Devastated, she packs up her money bags and buys this beautiful oceanfront home. She gives Lark a great deal on the rent, and in return, Lark will provide her regular facial fillers, Botox, etc. When Lark’s mother needs a place to stay, Joy invites her to stay in the big house with her. These women don’t really know each other well, but as different as they are, they form a close friendship.

The dates with Dr. Satan aren’t all bad, especially when they spend time with his family. Both of these doctors come from large families with lots of siblings, so Lark is comfortable with that dynamic and adores his sisters. The only problem is that she also finds herself falling for his brother, Dante. Oh, what a tangled web has been woven here.

There are some heartwrenching scenes here, and I found myself crying a few times while reading this over the weekend. But to her credit, Higgins doesn’t really write tearjerkers; there is a lot of humor and sweetness here as well. Higgins has become one of my favorite authors – her books remind me of Elin Hilderbrand, somewhat of Jodi Picoult, and this book in particular, of Colleen Hoover, but with slightly older protagonists. To be a tad more succinct – I loved it and could not put it down!

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Kristan Higgins. Berkley (May 28, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593547656. 432p.