Today is BOOK REVIEW DAY! This month I read FIVE books, and mostly enjoyed all of them! My goal this month was to read books that were easy, breezy fun, and that I could recommend to all of you for quick summer reads. Each book below is from an author that I love, so I was hoping for success! And, I got it . . . mostly!😉

I bookended three chick lit books with fun suspense novels from writers that I love. A busy reading month, but I loved it. Here we go . . .

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell writes suspense novels with so much depth on family backgrounds. You really dig into some crazy issues when opening up her books, and by the end you know all the things about all the characters, and are still somehow surprised at the ending.

Invisible Girl follows several people in a London suburb after the disappearance of a young woman, Saffyre Maddox. A third of the book is told from the perspective of Saffyre before and after her disappearance, a third is from a creepy neighbor that has just been fired from his teaching job for harassing women, and the other third is from a woman that is the wife of Saffyre’s former therapist. Lots of intermingling parts here, and several times a twist or turn would happen that would surprise me.

I really liked this one. Definitely a fun, summer read that will entertain without giving you anxiety or keeping you up at night!

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez

Oh, Abby! I love you! Y’all, Abby Jimenez books are such fun! Last year, I read both The Friend Zone and The Happily Ever Playlist, and just loved them so much. You can read those reviews here and here.

When I learned of Life’s Too Short release from Abby’s social media, I pre-ordered it the first day. I love finding my favorite authors, continuing to support them, AND never being disppointed!

Y’all . . . I just LOVED this book. So sweet. Abby continues to intertwine her original characters from her earlier books into this story, and I am here for it. You know I love me some closure, and this is the gift that keeps on giving.

Vanessa, a popular travel YouTuber, has a MAJOR dysfunctional family and ends up putting her like on hold when she takes custody of her sister’s newborn baby. Her neighbor, Adrian, helps with the baby and her family as he deals with his own demons and work addictions. I just love these two characters, their struggles, their growth, and their relationship. Sweet, sweet book about finding a connection in the midst of struggle. Highly recommend this heartwarming book. Easy read that will make you smile. Perfect for the summer!

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

I discovered Sally Thorne in early 2019, and read The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine back to back. I loved them, and you can read those reviews here and here.

Her newest book, Second First Impressions follows Ruthie – a quirky front office employee at the Providence Retirement Villa. She is young, she is fearful, and she rarely leaves the property as she feels safest when she is with her residents. Life changes dramatically for her when the new owner of the community sends his deadbeat son, Teddy, to also live on property as he figures out his life and where he wants to end up.

The elderly residents in this book are my absolute favorite. Hilarious, no filter, charming – so fun. While the budding friendship between Ruthie and Teddy is sweet and funny, I just didn’t get it. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked this book and it was a super easy read. I just didn’t get the attraction. I wanted to pop both of them over the head and try to make them understand they were stuck. I did love how the story played out, so redemption there. And, of course, my much loved closure.

This was a sweet one. Easy read for sure!

Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino

This was my FAVORITE book of the month! I love Renee Carlino, and this is the fourth book of hers that I have read. I named Swear On This Life one of my top three of 2019 – SO GOOD!

Before We Were Strangers begins at NYU fifteen years ago when Matt and Grace meet as neighbors in their dorm. Matt, a photography major, and Grace, a music major, both come from troubled pasts, have little money, and become dear friends as they work to better themselves and each other. Over their last year of school, they fall in love, make promises to once another, and then real life happens upon graduation.

Having lost track of one another, they see each other briefly on a subway platform fifteen years later as Grace’s train is pulling away and Matt is staring from a closed door. Fifteen years of missing what might have been. Fifteen years of assumptions that may or may not be true. Fifteen years of not truly moving on.

Y’all. I just LOVED this book. First, I LOVED the main characters. Precious in all the ways, and I found myself cheering for them each time I picked up this book. And, second, this book was based almost entirely in New York City. NYC is such a happy place for me – we actually cancelled a trip there last year due to Covid – and it made me want to return ASAP! LOVE THIS BOOK! Chick lit with a little bit of depth. A perfect summer read.

He Started It by Samantha Downing

In January of 2020, I read Samantha Downing’s debut novel My Lovely Wife. I LOVED IT, and you can read my review on that book here. I was excited to dive into her newest novel, and decided to end the month of April with this suspenseful story.

You know those road trips you have taken that are too long, include too much drama, and you can’t wait for them to be over? Yeah . . . this is what this book is based upon. Multiply that by 27, add in MANY family secrets, some violence, and a family that is truly messed up.

He Started It has Eddie, Beth, and Portia driving a cross-country road trip to bury their grandfather’s ashes in an effort to be paid their inheritance. All three of these characters are incredibly flawed and are in major need of counseling, but this book made me keep coming back for more. I was so into this book, and couldn’t wait to see how it turned out. Until the end. Where I am completely convinced that the author forgot to add the last chapter, and the editor missed that fact as well. I ended the book with a “what was that?” flying out of my mouth to an empty room. Loved the book, SUPER disappointed with the non-ending. Maybe you can overlook that part of it, so let me know if you pick up this one!

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Whew! That was a long one today! As always, let me know your recommendations and your thoughts on the books above. I always love hearing from you! Have a great weekend! XO