• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
The Bookish Libra
  • Home
  • Review Archive
    • Reviews by Author
    • Reviews by Genre
  • Review Policy
    • Review Policy
    • Review Ratings System
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • book blog
PreviousNext
12

Can’t Wait Wednesday – A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins

February 1, 2023/6 Comments/by Suzanne

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in since I first started blogging, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins. Higgins is another one of my auto-buy authors so I’m thrilled she has a new book coming out in a few months.  This one sounds like it has the potential to be such a moving read, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy,

A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins

Publication Date:  June 6, 2023 by Berkley

From Netgalley:

A kid walks into your bookstore and… Guess what? He’s your son. The one you put up for adoption eighteen years ago. The one you never told anyone about. Surprise!

And a huge surprise it is.

It’s a huge surprise to his adoptive mother, Monica, who thought she had a close relationship with Matthew, her nearly adult son. But apparently, he felt the need to secretly arrange a vacation to Cape Cod for the summer so he could meet his birth mother…without a word to either her or his dad.

It’s also a surprise— to say the least—to Harlow, the woman who secretly placed her baby for adoption so many years ago. She’s spent the years since then building a quiet life. She runs a bookstore with her grandfather, hangs out with her four younger siblings and is more or less happily single, though she can’t help gravitating toward Grady Byrne, her old friend from high school. He’s moved back to town, three-year-old daughter in tow, no wife in the picture. But she’s always figured her life had to be child-free, so that complicates things.

When Matthew walks into Harlow’s store, she faints. Monica panics. And all their assumptions—about what being a parent really means—explode. This summer will be full of more surprises as both their families are redefined…and as both women learn that for them, there’s no limit to a mother’s love.

 

* * * * *

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/little-ray-lg.jpg 694 450 Suzanne https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2023-02-01 05:35:162023-01-31 19:58:37Can’t Wait Wednesday – A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins

Top Ten Tuesday – Ten of My Favorite Romance Novels

January 31, 2023/32 Comments/by Suzanne

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is a Freebie so with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a list of my favorite romance novels.  These are all go-to recs for me when someone tells me they don’t really enjoy reading romance.  I never used to enjoy reading romance either, but these books and others like it made a believer out of me and now I consider romance to be my favorite genre of fiction, particularly contemporary romance.

Ten of My Favorite Romance Novels

 

1. THE BODYGUARD by Katherine Center  –  “Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka “bodyguard”), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker. Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.”

2.  THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood – The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is quite possibly the sweetest, most adorable romance novel I’ve ever read. It checked so many boxes for me (a STEM heroine, the fake dating trope, hilarious banter, and so much more) and it just had me grinning from ear to ear pretty much the entire time I was reading.

3.  LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren  – “Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away. But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her…Love, loss, friendship and the betrayals of the past collide.”

4.  THE SIMPLE WILD by K.A. Tucker – “City girl Calla Fletcher attempts to reconnect with her estranged father, and unwittingly finds herself torn between her desire to return to the bustle of Toronto and a budding relationship with a rugged Alaskan pilot in this masterful new romance from acclaimed author K.A. Tucker.”

5. THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB by Lyssa Kay Adams – “The first rule of book club: You don’t talk about book club. Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.  Distraught and desperate because his marriage is in trouble, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.”

6. WELL MET by Jen DeLuca – “All’s faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation at the local Ren Faire in a laugh-out-loud rom-com.”

7.  AFTER I DO by Taylor Jenkins Reid – “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.”

8.  PART OF YOUR WORLD by Abby Jimenez – “After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable. While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people. Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?”

9. RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuiston – “First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?”

10. THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED by Rebecca Yarros – “Twenty-eight-year-old Georgia Stanton has to start over after she gave up almost everything in a brutal divorce—the New York house, the friends, and her pride. Now back home at her late great-grandmother’s estate in Colorado, she finds herself face-to-face with Noah Harrison, the bestselling author of a million books where the cover is always people nearly kissing. He’s just as arrogant in person as in interviews, and she’ll be damned if the good-looking writer of love stories thinks he’s the one to finish her grandmother’s final novel…even if the publisher swears he’s the perfect fit. Noah is at the pinnacle of his career. With book and movie deals galore, there isn’t much the “golden boy” of modern fiction hasn’t accomplished. But he can’t walk away from what might be the best book of the century—the one his idol, Scarlett Stanton, left unfinished. Coming up with a fitting ending for the legendary author is one thing, but dealing with her beautiful, stubborn, cynical great-granddaughter, Georgia, is quite another. But as they read Scarlett’s words in both the manuscript and her box of letters, they start to realize why Scarlett never finished the book—it’s based on her real-life romance with a World War II pilot, and the ending isn’t a happy one. Georgia knows all too well that love never works out, and while the chemistry and connection between her and Noah is undeniable, she’s as determined as ever to learn from her great-grandmother’s mistakes—even if it means destroying Noah’s career.”

 

* * * * * *

Question:  Have you read any of these?

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/TTT-Big2.png 203 500 Suzanne https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2023-01-31 05:35:512023-01-30 20:47:15Top Ten Tuesday – Ten of My Favorite Romance Novels

Reviews: FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN & THE TWYFORD CODE

January 30, 2023/6 Comments/by Suzanne

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and got lots of quality reading time in.  I know I did and actually feel refreshed for a change as we start the new week.  Yay!  Anyway, today I’m back to share my thoughts on two new mystery/thriller reads that are January releases.  One is the newest book in the Finlay Donovan series, which is a favorite of mine, and the other is a book that I believe was actually released in the UK last year through Viper Books and is now being released in the U.S. by Atria.

 

Reviews:  FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN & THE TWYFORD CODEFinlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Finlay Donovan, #3) Goodreads

Author: Elle Cosimano

Publication Date: January 31, 2023

Publisher:  Minotaur Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley.  All opinions are my own.

 

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is the third installment in Elle Cosimano’s popular Finlay Donovan series and I’m happy to report that it does not disappoint! For those unfamiliar with the series or those who might need a refresher, Finlay is an author and single mom, who along with her nanny/accountant/sidekick, Vero, have found themselves unexpectedly tied to the Russian mob.  At the end of the second book, the mob actually does Finlay a huge favor, but that favor, in a move that surprises no one, especially Finlay and Vero, comes with some equally huge strings attached.

The third installment kicks off with the Russian mob boss calling in his favor.  He wants Finlay and Vero to identify and locate EasyClean, an anonymous killer-for-hire, before the police do.  Finlay and Vero want no part of this of course, especially since some signs point to EasyClean actually being a cop him or herself.  Our dynamic duo decides that the best way to figure out if EasyClean is a cop or not is to join the new citizen’s police academy that Finlay’s crush, Nick is in charge of, and all the while, Finlay is desperately trying to write a spicier version of her next book to get her editor off her back.  Needless to say, shenanigans ensue!

As with the first two hilarious installments in this series, a lot of what happens is over the top and definitely involves the reader suspending disbelief, but that’s what makes the series so much fun.  I laughed my way through from start to finish, cheering Finlay and Vero on every step of the way.  I got to the point where I couldn’t decide what I wanted Finlay to succeed at more:  finding EasyClean, getting that spicy novel finished, or finally hooking up with hottie Nick.

I read that there will be a fourth book in the series and I’m totally here for it!  If you’re in the mood for a hilarious and action-packed cozy thriller that is pure escapism at its best, definitely check out the Finlay Donovan series.  4 STARS

 

Reviews:  FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN & THE TWYFORD CODEThe Twyford Code Goodreads

Author: Janice Hallett

Publication Date: January 24, 2023

Publisher:  Atria Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley.  All opinions are my own.

 

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett is one of the more unique books I’ve read in recent years.  Presented to the reader in the form of nearly 200 audio transcripts taken from an old iPhone 4, the story follows one man’s journey to find the mysterious connection between the disappearance of his beloved English teacher 40 years ago and an unsolved code that lies hidden within the text of a children’s book.

Smithy, the protagonist, is an interesting guy. He’s an ex-con, who after serving a long prison sentence, meets his now-adult son for the first time. His son isn’t ready for a relationship but gives Smithy his old iPhone so that when he decides he’s ready, he can contact his father.  In the meantime, Smithy decides to use the phone to record his thoughts about the direction his life has taken over the years. He hopes his son will listen to them some day to better understand him and how he ended up in prison.

Smithy also uses the phone to document his journey to answer a question that has bothered him for years:  what happened to his English teacher? She disappeared in the middle of a school field trip – a trip that was inspired by a strange book Smithy found on the bus and shared with her one day.  Smithy feels responsible for her disappearance and is desperate to learn what happened to her.  I found Smithy to be a very sympathetic character.  He had a pretty awful childhood and, as if that wasn’t enough, he also struggled to read and write.  His remedial English teacher was the first person to really give him the time of day so it was easy to see why she meant so much to him.

The bulk of the story actually focuses on the missing teacher and the secret code in the children’s book Smithy found. If you’re a fan of stories like The DaVinci Code and National Treasure, you’ll really enjoy this as Smithy and some fellow former students from remedial English set out to solve the code because they think it will give them answers as to why their teacher went missing.  This adventure was a wild ride that often required me to suspend disbelief, but I did love how the author crafted this part of her tale.

I did have a couple of minor struggles as I was reading.  I have to admit that the transcript format took some getting used to and really slowed me down at the beginning.  Once I finally got used to the unique formatting, I was able to settle in and follow along, especially since the bulk of the speaking is done by Smithy. One other issue I had was that the pacing seemed to slow in the middle of the book and I found my attention starting to wander.  Thankfully the pace picked back up though and I raced to what turned out to be a pretty clever ending.  There was an element of trickery involved that I have mixed feelings about, but I commend the author on delivering an ending that was completely unexpected.

If you like puzzles, original storytelling, and underdog protagonists, The Twyford Code might be just the book you’re looking for. 3.5 STARS

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/reviews-53.jpg 851 1200 Suzanne https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2023-01-30 05:35:302023-01-29 22:20:58Reviews: FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN & THE TWYFORD CODE
Page 1 of 493123›»

Follow Me on Social Media

  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin'
  • Goodreads

About Me

me

Hi, I'm Suzanne. Proofreader by day, book blogger by night, devourer of books 24/7. My reading tastes: Basically you name it, I probably like it. I read a lot of contemporary and historical, both adult and YA, and I've also been enjoying more and more fantasy lately. Hobbies include: buying and hoarding of books, rambling about books to anyone who will listen, and trying to recommend books to my family and friends whether they are readers or not - because seriously, how can you not love to read books?

Subscribe to My Blog

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,037 other subscribers

Other Places to Follow Me

Follow The Bookish Libra on WordPress.com

Follow

BOOKSTAGRAM

💕📚On Wednesdays, we stack pink. 💕📚 QO 💕📚On Wednesdays, we stack pink. 💕📚

QOTD:  What book are you planning to read first in February? 

Books featured: 
 
💕By a Thread by Lucy Score
💕The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
💕Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
💕A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
💕Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
💕I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston 

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile  #readersofinstagram #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookstagram #booksta #coverlove #igreads #bookwormsofinstagram #bookshelf #bookstack #bookstacklove #bookstacks #pink #pinkbooks #pinkbookstack #meangirls #readpinkwednesdays
📚 Review: Sorry, Bro 📚 Thanks for the free 📚 Review:  Sorry, Bro 📚
Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance. #berkleypartner #berkleyig

Sorry, Bro is a truly delightful debut novel from Taleen Voskuni.  It follows an Armenian-American woman’s journey to find her voice & follow her heart.

When we first meet Nareh (Nar), her boyfriend is proposing to her in the loudest, most obnoxious restaurant possible and has invited, of all people, Nar’s work nemesis there to film the proposal.  Nar realizes this guy is wrong for her and breaks off her engagement. She seeks out advice from her mother, who convinces her to attend the Explore Armenia events in their city.  Mom says it’s a great way to meet new friends, and to rediscover her Armenian roots. 

When Nar arrives at the first event, she meets a young woman named Erebuni and is drawn to her immediately.  What she doesn’t realize is how truly life changing meeting Erebuni will really be!

I adored both Nar & Erebuni. Nar struggles at the first event because of how little she has embraced her Armenian heritage in the past, in part because of her late father. I appreciated how open and honest she was about her lack of knowledge, and I loved how Erebuni gently calls her out on it but also jumps in to teach her about Armenian culture & history, and also introduces her to what will become a fabulous & supportive friend group.  I loved how nurturing Nar and Erebuni’s relationship was, but also how cute it was since the women were clearly attracted to one another. 

I enjoy stories that do a great job balancing those fun, flirty moments with more weighty issues & this author strikes that balance beautifully.  Nar not only finds love & rediscovers her Armenian roots, but she also faces the challenges of coming out as queer to her family & community, battles sexism in her workplace, & she learns the important lesson that just because something happened in the past & is considered history, doesn’t mean that it still isn’t relevant today.

Sorry, Bro is a moving & heartfelt #ownvoices story that left me eager to read more from Taleen Voskuni. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD:  If you could travel to any destination right now, where would you go?

#berkleybookstagram
📚 Thriller Thursday - The Villa 📚 Rachel Ha 📚 Thriller Thursday - The Villa 📚

Rachel Hawkins’ The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls were both fun & twisty rides, so I was eager to get my hands on her latest book, The Villa.  The promise of another riveting, twisty read, coupled with the Gothic vibe of an Italian villa setting, really called to me. 

The Villa has dual timelines, one in the present & one in the 1970s. In the present, we follow Emily and Chess, writers who are also lifelong friends that drifted apart. They're in Italy to reconnect & get in some quality writing time.  When Emily researchs the villa where they’ll be staying, she learns a murder was committed there in the 70’s when a rockstar & his friends were staying there. Emily wants to know more about the murder, so part of the present timeline follows her on her hunt for clues. 

The second timeline follows Mari, a young woman, also a writer, who at the villa at the time of the murder and who incorporated some of what she witnessed into a best selling novel.

I loved the 70s timeline. The scenes between the rockstar and his guests were fascinating, especially since you could tell trouble was brewing. Jealousy was often the driving force between their interactions and the vibe around them was ominous. Mari removed herself from the drama by focusing on her book, but as tensions rose, more of what she witnessed found its way into her book.

The present timeline was just okay for me, mainly because of Chess.  She came across as fake & untrustworthy. I was rooting for Emily because she has been struggling with her writing and dealing with an obnoxious ex who wants the profits from her popular cozy mystery series. When Emily finds a copy of Mari’s famous novel at the villa, she devours it & then pairs it up with what she knows about the murder. What she sees inspires her to write a book different from anything she has ever written. I was cheering her on, not just because I wanted to learn what happened in the 70s but also because I wanted a big win for Emily.

The Villa is a slow-burn but if you’re patient as you follow the two timelines gradually merging, the payoff is worth it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

QOTD : Do you enjoy books with dual timelines?
📚 Review - Do I Know You? 📚 Thanks for the f 📚 Review - Do I Know You? 📚
Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance. #berkleypartner #berkleyig

Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka have another winner on their hands with their latest novel, Do I Know You?, a moving story that follows a married couple who have become estranged but are hoping to find their way back to each other. 

Eliza and Graham are spending a week at a romantic resort, but it's clear neither is excited about it. On the drive there, they are stiff and awkward around each other. There’s no hostility, but something is clearly just off. When a mix-up leaves them staying in separate hotel rooms, they embrace this as a chance to reignite their lost spark. They begin a flirtatious game of role play where they pretend to be strangers meeting for the first time.  At first there’s skepticism, but Graham and Eliza soon realize how freeing something about their newfound situation is and go for it.

I really liked both characters.  Eliza is a voice actress so she really goes all out in this flirty role play adventure.  It was fun to see what lengths she would go to to win back the Graham she originally fell in love with.  I loved Graham too.  He’s a handsome successful guy who has somehow developed a major case of low self-esteem and feels completely unworthy of Eliza and her love.  His inner thoughts, especially early on in the book, really broke my heart.

I loved that the story was presented from both Eliza & Graham's POVs. Even though they're struggling to communicate, we get that inside look at what they’re each feeling. We know that not only are they are still madly in love, but also that they have both bottled up their emotions so tightly. I wanted to yell at them to just have a big fight & get all those emotions out on the table. Haha!

While Do I Know You? has a healthy dose of angst and raw emotion because it centers on a marriage in crisis, there’s also a nice balance of fun, flirty moments. Filled with smart, sexy dialogue, complex well drawn characters, and a realistic relationship in crisis scenario, Do I Know You? has a little something for every romance fan. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

QOTD: What is your go-to snack when you’re reading?
Messy Monday - Book Mail edition. I haven’t sh Messy Monday - Book Mail edition. 

I haven’t shared any book mail lately so here’s my January haul. All of these except for my #BOTM pick were purchased with gift cards I received for Christmas. 

Books featured:

🔹Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
🔹The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
🔹Twisted Love by AnaHuang
🔹By a Thread by Lucy Score
🔹Get Lucky by Katherine Center 
🔹Heartstopper #2 by Alice Oseman 
🔹In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker
🔹Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood
🔹Wolfsong by TJ Klune
🔹Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo 
🔹The Reunion by Kayla Olson
🔹Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir 
🔹Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir 

QOTD: What’s the last book mail you received? 

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #bookmail #messymonday #booksta #booknerd #bookworm
📚 Shelfie Sunday 📚 Happy Sunday everyone! 📚 Shelfie Sunday 📚

Happy Sunday everyone! 

Sorry I’ve been mostly offline the past few days. Work was a bear last week because people were out sick so I’ve spent my evenings and all day yesterday lounging around like a blob. 😅

Fingers crossed that the upcoming week is a better one. 🤞🏻

In the meantime here’s a shelfie I took while in blob mode this weekend. 

QOTD: How do you organize your bookshelves? 

Mine are alphabetical by author’s last name, separated into two section: Read and To Be Read. 

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile  #readersofinstagram #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #booksta #igreads #bookwormsofinstagram #bookshelf #shelflove #shelfie #shelfiesunday #bookshelf #bookshelves
Thriller Thursday - TBR edition Even though roma Thriller Thursday - TBR edition 

Even though romance is what I read the most, I still love a good twisty thriller now and then. Here are some thrillers on my TBR that I’m hoping to read this year. 

QOTD:  Do you read thrillers? Have you read any of these? Or what are you currently reading? 

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookstagram #booksta #thrillerbooks #readthrillers #thriller #igreads #bookwormsofinstagram #thrillssndchills #thrillerthursday
“Oh, a picture as a reel? Don’t mind if I do! “Oh, a picture as a reel? Don’t mind if I do! “

QOTD: Have you ever bought a book just because you thought it had a stunning cover? If so, which book? 

I first bought Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim because I had a major case of cover love. I mean, just look at it! 😍. I’m reading it now though and thankfully it’s turning out to be a lovely read. 

#reels #reelsinstagram #reelsvideo #booksbooksbooks #coverlove #reelitfeelit #reelinstagram #bookishreels #bookishreel #igreads #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksta #booknerdigans #sixcrimsoncranes
📚 Review - EXES & O’S by Amy Lea 📚 Tara C 📚 Review - EXES & O’S by Amy Lea 📚

Tara Chen is all about romance. She loves romance novels and has her own Bookstagram account where she loves to chat about her favorite romance tropes. As much as Tara loves love, however, she has been unlucky in love herself, dumped & heartbroken 10 times. 

Tara remains convinced that her one true love is out there though; she just has to find him.  She decides a second chance romance is the way to go and begins seeking out each of her exes, documenting her progress on Bookstagram.  As Tara embarks on this new adventure, she is also in the process of moving in with a new roommate, thanks to her last breakup leaving her homeless. 

Unlike Tara, her new roommate Trevor, a sexy firefighter from Boston, has no interest in love and romance.  Trevor can’t resist Tara’s charms though and soon finds himself enlisted to help Tara find her second chance romance.

Oh my goodness, guys, this story was freaking cute! I truly adored Tara.  I loved both her passion for romance and her passion for all things junk food, both of which led to some pretty hilarious moments with Trevor.  My heart also broke for her because most of her exes were complete jerks.  I practically screamed at the book when she announced her plan to try to reconnect with one of them because OMG, they already broke her heart once. Why would she let them get close enough to do it again?

And then there’s Trevor. 😍 He may be the grump to Tara’s sunshine, but it becomes pretty obvious within a few days of them living together that he’s a cinnamon roll who would do anything to put a smile on Tara’s face.  The two of them were just so cute together and their scenes were filled with fun and sexy banter.  I was rooting for Tara to ditch her exes plan and jump Trevor’s bones from almost the beginning and so were Tara’s Bookstagram followers when he accidentally appears in one of her livestreams, haha! 🔥

Exes & O’s was the perfect sweet and swoony rom-com to kick off my 2023 reading year with, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the friends to lovers and grumpy/sunshine romances. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

QOTD: What’s your favorite romance trope?
📚 January TBR 📚 Happy Friday everyone! I do 📚 January TBR 📚

Happy Friday everyone! I don’t know about you but I’m so ready for the weekend. It has been a week. 😅. 

Anyway, I’m late sharing these and have actually already read 2 1/2 of them, but this is my stack of January hopefuls. 

QOTD: Have you read any of these or do you plan to read any of them?

Books Featured: 

🔹Dragonfly in Amber #currentlyreading 
🔹Sorry, Bro 
🔹Lease on Love ( leftover from December TBR)
🔹Do I Know You?
🔹Us Against You (Read - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
🔹Six Crimson Cranes
🔹Remarkably Bright Creatures (Read - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile  #readersofinstagram #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookstagram #booksta #igreads #bookwormsofinstagram #bookstack #bookstacklove #bookstacks #januaryhopefuls #januarytbr #tbr #toberead #happyfriday #tgif
📚 Review - All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Wi 📚 Review - All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham 📚

Wow, what a book!  As a mom, this book is my worst nightmare, but as a reader, this is exactly the kind of thriller that grabs my attention and doesn’t let go.

The story follows Isabelle Drake, a woman who has barely slept a wink for the past year, not since the night her young son was stolen from his bed in the middle of the night. The police are at a dead end with their investigation, and while everyone else, assumes the boy is dead, Isabelle refuses to give in to that way of thinking.  Desperate to find out what happened to her son, she fixates on finding the truth.

When a true crime podcaster who has had success with cold cases approaches her about telling her story, Isabelle agrees to work with him until she realizes he is looking into some deeply troubling events from her own past and starts to doubt that his motives are pure. He is specifically focusing his attention on the fact that, as a child, Isabelle was a sleepwalker and often did things she later had no memory of. Isabelle’s past had already been on her mind before the podcaster started digging and now not only does she distrust him, but she also starts to distrust everyone, including herself.

I really enjoyed this story because it kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, the story took an unexpected turn that made me reevaluate and look for another suspect.  By the end, just about every character had been on my suspect list & I was still wrong about who the perpetrator was!

I also loved how complex a character Isabelle is.  She’s clearly flawed & messy, I just loved how realistic she was.  Her exhaustion & her desperation were palpable, & as a mom, I could easily relate to the lengths she went to try to find the truth, even if it led her somewhere she really didn’t want to go. 

If you’re looking for a riveting, twisty thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, pick up a copy of All the Dangerous Things. In bookstores today! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to @netgalley & @stmartinspress for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

QOTD: Predictive text - I didn’t ______ last night because ______.
📚 BOOK FEATURE 📚 Thanks for the free book @ 📚 BOOK FEATURE 📚

Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #berkleypartner #berkleyIG! 

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni.

The gorgeous cover and that enticing tagline was what first drew me to this book. “From wingwoman to the woman of her dreams…” But, after reading the full synopsis, I can’t wait to dive into this one! ❤️

Sorry, Bro comes out January 31, 2023. 

About the Book: 

An Armenian-American woman rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is in this vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com by debut author Taleen Voskuni.

When Nar’s non-Armenian boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her in front of a room full of drunk San Francisco tech boys, she realizes it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.

Enter her mother: armed with plenty of mom-guilt and a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked Armenian men, she convinces Nar to attend Explore Armenia, a month-long series of events in the city. But it’s not the mom-approved playboy doctor or wealthy engineer who catches her eye—it’s Erebuni, a woman as equally immersed in the witchy arts as she is in preserving Armenian identity. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her wingwoman, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure. Who knew cooking up kuftes together could be so . . . sexy?

Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bisexual. The clock is ticking on Nar’s double life, though—the closing event banquet is coming up, and her entire extended family will be there, along with Erebuni. Her worlds will inevitably collide, but Nar is determined to be brave, determined to claim her happiness: proudly Armenian, proudly bisexual, and proudly herself for the first time in her life.

……………………………

QOTD:  What are you reading this week?

#penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #berkleyinfluencer #sorrybro #taleenvoskuni #berkleybookstagram 

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #readersofinstagram
🐙 Currently Reading - Remarkably Bright Creatur 🐙 Currently Reading - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 🐙

Happy Saturday all! I hope your weekend is off to a great start. 

I just started reading this book today and I’m  already in love with it. It’s about an octopus named Marcellus who regularly escapes Houdini-style from his tank and bonds with the cleaning lady who works at the aquarium.  It’s giving me Fredrik Backman vibes and I can’t wait to see where the story goes! 

QOTD:  What are you up to this weekend?

#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile  #readersofinstagram #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookstagram #booksta #coverlove #igreads #shelbyvanpelt #bookwormsofinstagram #currentlyreading #currentread #remarkablybrightcreatures #readwithjenna #harpercollins
📚 23 in 2023 📚 Happy Friday, everyone! La 📚 23 in 2023 📚

Happy Friday, everyone! 

Last year I took part in the 22 in 2022 backlist reading challenge and had great success with it, reading 19 out of 22, so today Im sharing my high priority stack of backlist books that I’m determined to read this year. 

My stack includes the 3 books I didn’t finish from last year’s stack plus 20 others. 

🔹I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
🔹Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
🔹I Found You by Lisa Jewell
🔹The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
🔹The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty 
🔹Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala 
🔹The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward 
🔹Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
🔹The Bright  Side of Disaster by Katherine Center 
🔹An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Roberson
🔹True Colors by Kristin Hannah
🔹Roomies by Christina Lauren
🔹Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
🔹Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
🔹House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
🔹The Dry by Jane Harper
🔹The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain 
🔹The Cousins by Karen McManus 
🔹Dev1at3 by Jay Kristoff
🔹The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark
🔹Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
🔹Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers
🔹Darling Girl by Liz Michaelski

Wish me luck! 😊

QOTD: Have you read any of these? If not, what’s a book you’ve had for ages and are determined to read this year?

#backlistbooks #readingchallenge 
#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookstagram #booksta #23in2023 #readinggoals #igreads #bookwormsofinstagram
📚Book Review - WELL TRAVELED by Jen DeLuca 📚 📚Book Review - WELL TRAVELED by Jen DeLuca 📚

Well Traveled is the newest book in Jen Deluca’s Well Met series.  It follows Lulu Malone, a successful attorney who, having grown weary of the pressures of her job, decides to quit, run away from life for a while, and on the advice of her cousin Mitch, who fans of this series will remember from the earlier books, joins the Ren Faire. 

Mitch assures Lulu that this will give her much needed time to relax, regroup, and come up with a new gameplan for her future. 

I adored Lulu! Her frustration at being completely taken advantage of at her job was so relatable. I admired her determination and her resilience, and I cheered her on as she worked to redefine herself and what she wanted out of life. 

I loved that she really embraced her newfound situation, found ways to earn her keep and become an important part of the Faire, and that she made so many new friends along the way, particularly Stacey and her band (who fans of the series will also remember), and she found a wonderful support system in her new Ren Faire 'family', as well as love in unexpected places. 

As I’m sure you’ve gathered by now, I thought Well Traveled was a charming and delightful tale.  It’s both sexy and sweet, and I’m still thoroughly enamored by this Ren Faire romance series four books in and hoping that there will be more books to come. 

This book is perfect for fans of:

💕Underdog heroines on a journey to redefine themselves

💕Found Families

💕Sexy, kilt-wearing guitar players looking to shed their playboy image

💕Forced Proximity Romance Trope

💕And of course, Ren Faires. 😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD:  If you had a chance to escape your life for a while, would you take it? If so, what would you do with your time away? 

#bookreview #welltraveled #romancebooks #readmoreromance #berkleyromance #jendeluca #berkleypub
#bookaholic #bookcommunity #bookaddict #bookobsessed #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #reader #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookstagram #booksta #coverlove #igreads #bookwormsofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Book Reviews

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Finlay Donovan, #3) by The Twyford Code by Five Survive by The Personal Assistant by Begin Again by Do I Know You? by The Family Game by The Girlfriend: An utterly unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by Exes and O's (The Influencer, #2) by The Backup Plan (Sunrise Cove, #3) by

Giveaways

Stay tuned for my next giveaway!

My Bookish Tweets

My Tweets

Professional Reader

Reviews Published50 Book Reviews
Professional Reader80%
 

Currently Reading

Suzanne (The Bookish Libra)'s bookshelf: currently-reading

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz
The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz
by Ellie Midwood
tagged: currently-reading
A Reaper at the Gates
A Reaper at the Gates
by Sabaa Tahir
tagged: currently-reading
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
by Ron Chernow
tagged: currently-reading

goodreads.com

Goodreads Challenge

2023 Reading Challenge

2023 Reading Challenge
Suzanne (The Bookish Libra) has read 7 books toward her goal of 175 books.
hide
7 of 175 (4%)
view books

2023 Goal – Read More Books From My Own Shelves

I have read 7 books from my bookshelves so far this year. My goal is to read at least 70.

10 %

Supporting Fellow Bloggers

Categories

  • Audiobook Review (1)
  • Author Interviews (1)
  • Blog Tours (39)
  • Bookish Tags and Memes (666)
  • Challenges and Readathons (20)
  • Discussion Posts and Lists (57)
  • Giveaways (9)
  • Personal (3)
  • Recap Posts (160)
  • Reviews (557)
  • Uncategorized (3)

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Privacy Policy

View Our Privacy Policy, last updated May 21, 2018.

Categories

  • Audiobook Review
  • Author Interviews
  • Blog Tours
  • Bookish Tags and Memes
  • Challenges and Readathons
  • Discussion Posts and Lists
  • Giveaways
  • Personal
  • Recap Posts
  • Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Archives

SEARCH

© 2016-2022 - The Bookish Libra - powered by Enfold WordPress Theme
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies and our privacy policy.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only