The Divorce Diet by Ellen Hawley

Blurb:

"The Divorce Diet is a novel that should be dedicated to every woman who ever walked away from a man or a diet. It's bitingly funny and insightful, while celebrating food and self-discovery just don't read it while you're hungry. It's perfect for fans of Julie and Julia and Eat, Pray, Love.

Abigail loves her baby Rosie, her husband Thad, and food. She takes great joy and comfort in concocting culinary delights to show the depth of her love and commitment to her family. Imagine her surprise when Thad announces, this whole marriage thing just doesn't work for me. Abigail can't believe he really means what he's said, but he does. Abigail and Rosie move back in to her parents' house, where she regresses into her adolescent self. She diets, finds work, and begins to discover the life she really wants, and a man who really wants her."


My Review:

I was excited about this book based on the name, the cover (yes, I judge the cover - don't tell me you don't!) and the blurb. It sounded like your typical chick lit and I was very much looking forward to it. I was a little surprised when I saw less then 3 stars on Goodreads but didn't let that deter me - we all have different tastes, right? But about a few chapters in, I knew immediately why the ratings were so low.

Can you imagine a book written almost entirely like this:

"Breakfast:"

"Exercise:" (which by the way was not exercise - it was things like turn off an alarm or wake up from a dream)

"Lunch:"

"Dinner:"

Every...single...day...of Abigail's life was written like this. When she woke up, we got a new recap of her day based on her diet meals that were not diet-friendly and exercise that was not exercise. She didn't exercise once! And of course there was the diet guru that Abigail sometimes argued with. Not a real guru, but a figment of her imagination. That sounds quirky and cute in theory, but it wasn't written well. It just came across as nutty and fragmented. Abigail just argued with herself the entire story.

Another annoying part was that she would repeat "I say" over and over. Like:

"I say," (sentence here)

"I say," (sentence here)

"I say," (sentence here)

Could you not have said "I say" once and put all the thoughts in one paragraph? Did you have to keep repeating "I say?" The story just wasn't written very well. The sentences were choppy and rambling and all over the place. It got very frustrating at times.

I will say that I was curious about how Abigail was going to pull off her new life without Thad. He was the bread-winner and the only one who brought in money. Then when he called the whole marriage off and Abigail was left with no money, no job, no prospects and no experience, I was genuinely interested to see how Abigail was going to get through this. I also loved reading about the precious bond between Abigail and her sweet baby daughter Rosie. And the ending was surprisingly cute! Although it did not make the annoyances of the writing worth it...

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for an honest review. 


My Rating:

Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting

Blurb:

"'Tallulah de Longland,' she said slowly, letting all the Ls in my name loll about lazily in her mouth before passing judgement. 'That,' she announced, 'is a seriously glamorgeous name.'

From the day Annabelle Andrews sashays into her classroom, Tallulah 'Lulu' de Longland is bewitched by Annabelle, by her family, and their sprawling, crumbling house tumbling down to the river.

Their unlikely friendship intensifies through a secret language where they share confidences about their unusual mothers, first loves, and growing up in the small, coastal town of Juniper Bay. Their lives become as entwined as Annabelle's initials engraved beneath the de Longland kitchen table.

But the euphoria of youth rarely lasts, and the implosion that destroys their friendship leaves lasting scars and a legacy of self-doubt that haunts Lulu into adulthood.

Years later, Lulu is presented with a choice: remain the perpetual good girl who misses out, or finally step out from the shadows and do something extraordinary. And possibly unforgiveable.

It's not how far you fall, but how high you bounce."

My Review:

I adored this novel. It brought me back to my childhood and the lazy days spent with a best friend. It reminded me of the days before Uber when we walked to and from each other's house. The days before cell phones and sleeping under the stars and giggling so much my cheeks hurt. It reminded me of me of sharing secrets and inside jokes and staying up all night talking about everything in our heart. The days where the hardest decision we had to make was whose house we were going to after school and when no one knew me better.

Lulu and Annabelle were inseparable. Their friendship was pure and raw beautiful. It was truly touching to read about, and I loved the cute and original language they made up. They have a friendship that truly touches the soul.

Of course it all implodes, as friendships sometimes do, and Lulu is left to pick up the pieces of her heart.

Duncan was my favorite. He was hilarious and impulsive with a fresh personality. He often had me burst into laughter with remarks that always caught me off guard.

 

Duncan also had one great thing going for him - Barney, his big, goofy dog. I'm a sucker for dogs, and Barney had such a big personality that he was basically one of the main characters even though he obviously can't speak. Duncan truly is Lulu's best friend and always had her best intentions at heart.

This story was many things at once - original, nostalgic, funny and emotional. The characters were very well-written, and all different from each other with distinct personalities.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for an honest review. 
My Rating:

 

Lies by T.M. Logan

Blurb:

"WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS BASED ON LIES?

When Joe Lynch stumbles across his wife driving into a hotel car park while she's supposed to be at work, he's intrigued enough to follow her in.

And when he witnesses her in an angry altercation with family friend Ben, he knows he ought to intervene.

But just as the confrontation between the two men turns violent, and Ben is knocked unconscious, Joe's young son has an asthma attack - and Joe must flee in order to help him.

When he returns, desperate to make sure Ben is OK, Joe is horrified to find that Ben has disappeared.

And that's when Joe receives the first message . . ."


My Review:

OH. MY. GOD.

I finished this book at 2 am, and it was soooooo good. I read it over the weekend and seriously couldn't put it down. It was fast-paced with lots of twists and turns. I was seriously out of breath at times from how much my heart was racing. I read it from cover to cover without stopping as if I was in some kind of race. Seriously, I didn't want to be social or binge-watch anything on Netflix the whole time I read it. This is MY kind of book.

I liked Joe a lot. He's a true family man - great dad, loyal husband very forgiving. Sometimes TOO trusting... It's always interesting to read a book from a man's point of view - most books I read are from a woman's point of view (I'm a chick-lit addict, what can I say), so at first I wasn't sure if I would relate to Joe but I totally did. He fought to keep his family together and take care of his child.

Okay, so, he's gullible. But clearly so am I!! I was totally blind-sighted by everything that happened in the story. I didn't predict anything - not a single thing. When I thought I had something figured out, something else happened entirely. It was amazing. I highly recommend this book - I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.


My Rating:

30 First Dates by Stacey Wiedower

Blurb:

"30 dates, 30 wild ideas, total media frenzy… but only one Mr. Right.

Erin Crawford is a relationship blogger with a bucket list and a vendetta. After having horrible luck in her own relationships, she decides to start a blog called "30 First Dates." Her mission: go out with 30 men before her 30th birthday. It's her quest to find a non-jerk in 30 dates or less. As she blogs about her sometimes humorous and sometimes just sad dates, she also begins to cross off her bucket list of 30 things she wants to do before she turns 30—killing two birds with one stone by complaining the items on her dates! In fourteen months she skydives, skinnydips, crashes a wedding, travels to multiple cities and lives way outside her usual comfort zone. The only question is, as her birthday approaches and her list rows smaller, will Erin be able to find love? Or is she destined to be a first-date-only kind of girl?"

My Review:

Let me start off by saying it's so refreshing to find a book that takes place in Dallas. I can only think of one other book that took place here, and it's so exciting to read about my city. I've been to the bars they mentioned in Uptown, I have family in Frisco and it was fun to actually see the story take place and be able to put a real location to the book.

Anyway. How cool is is it when a blogger makes it big? At first I thought this was going to be similar to The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Bell since both involve bucket list type plots, but this was still a refreshing and different story.

Erin's dates were hilarious and had me cracking up. Her blog entries were cute to read, too. Sometimes the things that happened to her were a LITTLE unrealistic - like...a blogger to immediately make it on national television with instant fame and success? Maybe not real life, but that's why we read fiction, right?

 

 

It was predictable but also cute - a light, fun little escape. I totally enjoyed reading it.

My Rating:

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Blurb:

"Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming."


My Review:

I think something is wrong with me. I'm the only person I know who didn't swoon over this book. I love Gillian Flynn, I really do. Gone Girl is one of my all-time favorites and has set the bar for all psychological thrillers. Dark Places was really great too. But for some reason, Sharp Objects just fell flat.

There were some things I did enjoy about the book, though. I loved Camille as a character. She was complex and flawed and has lived a hard life. There were so many layers to her that I didn't expect when I started reading but was interesting to watch unfold. The character-writing overall was great.

I also did not expect the ending. Yes, the whole story felt like it was written in a monotonous voice - it's slow and honestly boring at times. But when I got to the end, I was surprised. I maybe saw about half of it coming.

So why did I not love it? It just didn't fit the "thrilling" part of a psychological thriller. It needed more energy. It needed to make my heart race. With most books like this I am rushing from page to page, my eyes darting through the paragraphs trying to figure out what will happen next. But with Sharp Objects, I was just bored.

Now that the HBO limited series has come out, everyone I know has been talking about Sharp Objects. Since I'm a reader and surely you can relate - I just had to read the book first. When I started reading this, I posted to my Instagram story about it and I could tell right away how big the show is right now. So many people commented that they are watching it and reading it and how much they love it. Maybe my hopes were just too high. It's not a bad story and it's very well-written. It's just...monotonous. Tedious. And slow.

My Rating:

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Blurb:

"Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time."


My Review:

I literally still come close to crying when I think about this story. I've owned the book for years but for some reason never picked it up - not even when the movie came out. And to be honest, I didn't even know what it was about - something with a wheel chair? So when I was digging through my bookshelf one early weekend morning, I thought, well, why not. Let's see what all the hype is about. Plus I figured I could get my husband to watch the movie with me afterwards since Emilia Clarke is in it and who doesn't love Game of Thrones. And Sam Claflin - hello Hunger Games. It had to be a good story with these two starring in the movie.

Let me just say I don't remember the last time I cried this much due to fictional story. I probably haven't. The story was just beautiful in every way. I sat down to read it on a Sunday, finished it the same day, then grabbed the remote from my husband while hysterically crying and screaming "I HAVE TO WATCH IT!!!!" Ugh. I cried like a baby. Many pages were soaked with tears. My poor puppy kept staring at me trying to figure out what was wrong but I just couldn't stop - big, heaving, uncontrollable sobs. I was shaking - I cried so hard I was shaking and I couldn't stop. Like...75% of the book.

It was so good, you guys. If you haven't read it yet, you absolutely should. I loved Lou and Will. I loved the story. I loved everything. It was so beautifully-written. The next day at work I walked in with puffy eyes and a red nose and talked about the story non-freaking-stop. I brought it up in meetings and to all my coworkers. It seriously affected me and has stayed in my heart ever since I finished it.

I'm the kind of person who has to read book, watch movies and TV shows in sequential order, back to back. But for the first time, I can't read After You yet. I need some time. Every time I think of reading about Lou's life I just can't - I need more time to process the story and recover from how it made me feel. I do own Still Me as well.

Thank you, Jojo Moyes, for bringing this story into my life. Best book I've read in 2018 and probably even longer.


My Rating:

The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Bell

Blurb:

Abseiling, wind-surfing, climbing a mountain - the things the terrified Abi Martin will do for love . . .

"Romantic and refreshing" Mhairi McFarlane. A hilarious new romantic comedy for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Sophie Kinsella or A Year Of Being Single Abi's barely left her bed since Joseph, the love of her life, dumped her, saying they were incompatible. When Joseph leaves a box of her possessions on her doorstep, she finds a bucket list of ten things she never knew he wanted to do. Will completing the action-packed list - no easy challenge for the naturally timid Abi - be the way to win back her man? Or might Abi just have a surprise in store...? SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SAYING ABOUT THIS BRILLIANT ROMANTIC COMEDY 'A fun, bouncy, brilliant tale' Heat 'Funny, relatable and fabulously written, it's even inspired us to come up with a bucket list of our own!' Daily Express ''A wonderfully warm romantic comedy . . . the perfect read' Daily Record  

My Review:

This was so. freaking. cute.

Seriously, as soon as I finished I pulled out a notebook (yes, a real notebook, not the note app on my iPhone), and made a bucket list with my husband. We talked about travel, interests/hobbies, life accomplishments and so on. Of course by now I may or may not have misplaced the notebook, but it's the thought that counts, right? I mean, it has to turn up.

Anyway, I liked Abi a lot. She was at times the stereotypical chick lit heroine - but let's be honest, I love that and sometimes I just need it in a story. I felt like all the characters were pretty well-rounded and I got to know most of them. I loved her group of friends and often felt like I was hanging out with them too while reading.

This is a feel-good, heart-warming story. I guess that's really the best way to describe it. I liked it a lot and finished with a goofy smile on my face.

My Rating:

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

Blurb:

A shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple in this taut psychological thriller debut--for readers of Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, and Shari Lapena.

If you could make one simple choice that would change your life forever, would you?

Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water. . . .

Could the life of your dreams be the stuff of nightmares?

Suddenly the newlyweds must make a dangerous choice: to speak out or to protect their secret. After all, if no one else knows, who would be hurt? Their decision will trigger a devastating chain of events. . . .

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave?

Wonder no longer. Catherine Steadman's enthralling voice shines throughout this spellbinding debut novel. With piercing insight and fascinating twists, Something in the Water challenges the reader to confront the hopes we desperately cling to, the ideals we're tempted to abandon, and the perfect lies we tell ourselves.

My Review:

UMM OKAY. This book was so much better than I expected. I was initially drawn in when I discovered that Erin and Mark were going to the Four Seasons in Bora Bora - exactly where my husband and I spent half of our honeymoon two years ago. I miss it every day. What's funny is that for me, the "something in the water" that freaked me out were the fish - I used to have a huuuuuge phobia. Seriously, I wouldn't even snorkel. And when I did, I refused to look down for fear of seeing any fish. I did overcome that fear on the second resort we went to during this trip when we did an intro to scuba session, which I LOVED. I seriously want to become scuba certified.

 

ANYWAY. I loved this story. I started reading thanks to Netgalley because I had not heard of it before. Then I told some friends about it and found out it's on Reese Witherspoon's book club pick for that month. So I had a handful of people to discuss with. I loved it. I didn't see any of it coming - it was a slow burn while the story built up but when it picked up it didn't let you go. I didn't see any of the twists coming. It was amazing. Go read it. Go.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for an honest review. 

My Rating:

The Strawberry Hearts Diner by Carolyn Brown

Blurb:

Being broke, unemployed, and stranded back in the tiny town of Pick, Texas, was not part of Jancy Wilson’s plan. Yet here she is, watching her car literally go up in smoke—along with her last-ditch hope of staying with her cousin in Louisiana. When Jancy spies a Help Wanted sign hanging in the window of the quaint Strawberry Hearts Diner, the memories of the two years she spent there as a teenager—and the lure of the diner’s beloved strawberry tarts—are enough to draw her in and plant her feet…but only temporarily.

Raised by parents who refused to settle anywhere for long, Jancy has never known what it is to have roots. Now that Jancy’s swept up by the warmth and character of this quirky little community—and by the pull of an old crush—it’s beginning to feel like home. She’s making friends and even discovering the sweetness of falling in love. But when the town is threatened, Jancy knows it will take more than its legendary tarts to save it. Can she fight for this little Texas town—knowing she might not stay forever?


My Review:

I've never been to a small town quite like Pick, Texas. I grew up in Dallas, which is a big city, and I'm from Rio, which is even bigger. So it's hard to image a quaint, charming little town where everyone knows each other.

I loved all the female characters in this book. Jancy, who often slept in her car and has no family. Vicky, who was a single mother and owns part of a diner. Nettie, who cracked me up multiple times with her blunt words loud personality. And Emily, who is Vicky's daughter and so friendly. Together they made up a family - whether by blood or by choice - and ran the Strawberry Hearts Diner.

And let me just tell you - I don't think I've ever had a strawberry tart before, but all I could thing was where do I find one?! These are so popular and delicious that there are two rules - they can ONLY be consumed at the Strawberry Hearts Diner, and if you must take some home, you are limited to two slices per person. This was such a cute little quirk of the story line. And again - where do I find one in Dallas?!

I've never read anything by Carolyn Brown before, but from looking through her other books it sounds like she often writes about small towns. The only thing that left me a little confused was that I feel like there were a few loose ends. I won't point them out so I don't spoil anything, but after I finished and started thinking about what to write, I kept coming up with more and more things that I don't think were fully explained or wrapped up. Maybe it's just me. And there really weren't any major conflicts in the novel - which can be great if you're not looking for anything suspenseful. There were a few arguments here and there, a few little bumps in the road, but nothing that made me wonder what oh what is going to happen next. It was just a cute, charming little read about four women in Pick, Texas who own and run a diner and are discovering themselves and their future.

My Rating:

And We're Off by Dana Schwartz

Blurb:

"Seventeen-year-old Nora Holmes is an artist, a painter from the moment she could hold a brush. She inherited the skill from her grandfather, Robert, who's always nurtured Nora's talent and encouraged her to follow her passion. Still, Nora is shocked and elated when Robert offers her a gift: an all-expenses-paid summer trip to Europe to immerse herself in the craft and to study history's most famous artists. The only catch? Nora has to create an original piece of artwork at every stop and send it back to her grandfather. It's a no-brainer: Nora is in!

Unfortunately, Nora's mother, Alice, is less than thrilled about the trip. She worries about what the future holds for her young, idealistic daughter and her opinions haven't gone unnoticed. Nora couldn't feel more unsupported by her mother, and in the weeks leading up to the trip, the women are as disconnected as they've ever been. But seconds after saying goodbye to Alice at the airport terminal, Nora hears a voice call out: 'Wait! Stop! I'm coming with you!'"


My Review:

And We're Off is a good little summer read for lounging by the pool and letting your mind get lost. I have never been to Europe alone (or really travelled anywhere alone), and how fun does it sound to go on an all-expenses-paid trip right before college to get lost in and explore the picturesque European cities?

This is the gift Nora's grandfather gave her - and she would also be attending art classes in Ireland. What! How awesome. Of course her mom decided to join - the same mom that drives Nora crazy 99% of the time and doesn't understand her passion for art.

I was, at times, annoyed at Nora. She acted like a brat when her mom wanted to tag along - but come on, you're on this trip for FREE and your mom wants to spend time with you before going to college. I get her frustration that her mom is sabotaging the trip, but she didn't need to act so spoiled and entitled, you know? So I had mixed feelings about their relationship and Nora's behavior.

Some of the characters I did think were well-developed, like Nora and her mom. But the rest, I just didn't really know enough about them. Like Nora's best friend Lena. And some of the friends she made in art class. And the art class teachers. I felt like there either needed to be less characters or develop them a little more. I also didn't understand her appeal to either of the boys she was attracted to.

Overall, this is a cute little summer read to let your mind wander. I wouldn't say it's the best book I've read in a while - honestly, I've already forgotten about it.

My Rating:

This Love Story Will Self-Destruct by Leslie Cohen

Blurb:

"This is the classic tale of boy meets girl: Girl…goes home with someone else.

Meet Eve. She’s a dreamer, a feeler, a careening well of sensitivities who can’t quite keep her feet on the ground, or steer clear of trouble. She’s a laugher, a crier, a quirky and quick-witted bleeding-heart-worrier.

Meet Ben. He’s an engineer, an expert at leveling floors who likes order, structure, and straight lines. He doesn’t opine, he doesn’t ruminate, he doesn’t simmer until he boils over.

So naturally, when the two first cross paths, sparks don’t exactly fly. But then they meet again. And again. And then, finally, they find themselves with a deep yet fragile connection that will change the course of their relationship—possibly forever.

Follow Eve and Ben as they navigate their twenties on a winding journey through first jobs, first dates, and first breakups; through first reunions, first betrayals and, maybe, first love. This is When Harry Met Sally reimagined; a charming tale told from two unapologetically original points of view. With an acerbic edge and heartwarming humor, debut novelist Leslie Cohen takes us on a tour of what life looks like when it doesn’t go according to plan, and explores the complexity, chaos, and comedy in finding a relationship built to last."

My Review:

This book was cute! That's the best way to describe it. I wouldn't say it changed my life or kept me thinking about it when I finished. But it was entertaining while it lasted.

To be honest, I don't usually read the description of a book before I start. I'm one of those people who judges books by the cover (GASP!), the author and the title. I usually know right away if I'll like it. And when I do read the blurb, I try my best to skim over it and forget about it when I start reading it. I like going into books completely blind so I don't have super high or low expectations. So I'm moved by the present and not what I think it'll be about. But this story, I kept reading and reading and wondering - what in the world is this? So I gave in and re-read the blurb and things started to make sense. And like I said - it was cute!

Eve was tough and independent, but there were times I wanted to shake her to her senses. She's neurotic and sometimes a little crazy and very relatable. Eve is a writer and the way she described the way she was feeling I sat there like - whoa, I thought I was the only person who did that.

Ben was logical but also didn't hide his feelings. He wasn't afraid to love and feel and hurt. I also am pretty sure this is the first chick lit book I've read that had chapters from a male's point of view, which was a great change of pace.

I did have a little but of a hard time keeping up with their friends - they each had their own group of friends with different personalities but I couldn't keep them straight. And now that I finished the book, I honestly couldn't tell you who was who. What happened to them? Who are they? Who knows.

So I'll end this yet again saying this was cute. It was fun. It was relatable. It didn't change my life but it left me content.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.


My Rating: