Happy Friday and Happy BOOK REVIEW DAY! How in the world is it October TOMORROW? This fall is flying by, and I am ready for the sweatshirt weather down here in Texas.

As is every September, Reid goes on a few hunting trips, and I have a little more free time in the evenings to myself. This year, however, he took both of the boys with him on a trip, and I was home alone for two days!!! You would think that I had lined up tons of fun plans and projects around the house, right? That would be incorrect. Besides the daily workouts, this was my life . . . and it was glorious . . .

And, clearly, this is why I basically read a bookstore throughout the month of September. And two of these NINE books that I read are some of my FAVORITES that I have read all year! I have a strong opinion or two mixed up in here, so settle in and let’s go for a ride!

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

If you have followed my book reviews for awhile, then you know two things:
1. I LOVE all books by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She can do no wrong.
2. I hate giving a bad book review.

So, sadly, here we go…much like the work Carrie Soto does for her big tennis comeback, this book was work to read. So much work. It took me three weeks to read (unheard of, if you know me), and I actually read three other books in between just because I needed some fun and easy.

Carrie Soto was a tennis great in the 70s and 80s, and she retired with having the most Grand Slam titles in history. When a new up and coming player ties her record, she comes out of retirement to reclaim her record.

Listen . . . I have taken weekly tennis lessons with my best friend for the last five years, my mother-in-law still rocks it while playing competitive tennis, and I actually enjoy the game. But I just did not enjoy this book and reading about every hit, every set, every strategy. It was work.

The story as a whole was one of redemption and inspiration. The main character, although crazy talented, was very unlikeable for 80% of the the book. Just not my favorite.

I will still be 1st in the pre order line for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s next book. This just wasn’t my jam. If you read this and loved it, please tell me. Maybe I’m missing something???

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Oh, this book. Y’all!!!!! When I say that this book filled my heart with joy, that is an understatement. I got excited each time I picked up this book, and when I had one chapter left, I told a friend I couldn’t finish it because I was too invested and didn’t want it to end! One of my favorite books that I have read ALL YEAR!

When Persy was thirteen, her parents bought a cottage on a beautiful lake a few hours from their hometown. They spend summer and holidays there for six summers. Next door to their cottage lives Sue and her two boys, Charlie and Sam. Percy and Sam were the same age, and became fast friends doing everything together from swimming the lake to working at his family’s diner on summer weekends. A teenage crush turned into love, which turned into heartbreak. Now, twelve years after Percy and Sam last spoke, Percy is headed back to the cottage to pay her respects at Sue’s funeral. Grieving the loss of a woman that was her second mom and grieving the loss of the life she once dreamt of.

Each chapter switches between now and then, and just truly captivated me from the first chapter. I loved each and every character…precious. And I may put my real estate license to use so I can find my own little cottage on a lake. 

Please read this one. Precious! I’m sad it’s over. A perfect blend of chick lit breeziness and some great depth. This is Carley’s debut novel, and I am definitely looking forward to her next one!

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

Things We Never Got Over has been recommended to me several times this year, and it has sat on my desk for a few months now. WHY, of why, did it take me so long to read it?!?!?

Naomi has left her fiancé at the alter and has fled to the rescue of her hot mess of a twin sister, Tina. When she arrives in the small town, Tina steals Naomi’s car, phone and her money. Oh, but she leaves her with an eleven-year-old niece that she never knew existed.

Now, with no plan, Naomi has to set up shop in a new town, knowing no one, and looking just like her disaster of a sister that had been causing all kinds of trouble.

This book has all the things . . . a beautiful setting, a pretty intense (rated R) love story, a fabulous set of characters. This book was a bit long, but I really loved it. Most of it, actually. Sweet story of redemption and love. Great read!

Nora Goes off Script by Annabel Monaghan

This book. I’m in love. This also is one of my favorite books that I have read this year. I may need to go back and read it again. So many chick-lit books that I read have main characters in their twenties, and it’s a win if they are thirty. When the book begins, Nora is a thirty-nine mom with two kids. Yes please! Loved reading about a character that is a mom like me . . . running to all the activities, cooking dinner while kids are doing homework, juggling working and momming! It was very refreshing.

Nora, a screenwriter for Hallmark-like movies, writes a screenplay about her marriage and her life when her husband walks out on the family. The screenplay is bought by an entertainment studio, and Hollywood arrives to film a few days on her beautiful property in upstate New York. Leo, the A-lister that has been cast as her ex-husband, is a charismatic, drunk in need to some emotional help. When filming is finished on her property, Leo offers to pay Nora $1,000 a day if he can stay in her little back house for a while so he can rest and get his head on straight. A few days turns into a few weeks, turns in family bonding, turns into a relationship.

This book is chick lit with depth. Truly about finding yourself again after concentrating on everyone and everything else for far too long. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. Such a fun Hollywood fairy tale. READ IT!!!!!

“My Meghan Quinn Phase”

While Reid and the boys were gone, the first book I read was a Meghan Quinn book that a handful of you had recommended. Meghan Quinn books are basically Hallmark Movies that are rated a heavy R. They are fun to read, and nine times out of ten, you can read them for free right there on your phone’s Kindle app. So, for a fast reader like myself, one book can suddenly turn into two, which then leads me down a rabbit hole. I will call this FIVE BOOK craziness during my weekend home alone as my Meghan Quinn phase. The five books clearly took longer than a weekend, but I just couldn’t stop! Lots of laughs, lots of steaminess, lots of cuteness. Mama needs a Meghan Quinn break, but I am sure I will be back very soon!

Royally Not Ready

So…this would be the book that started me off on my rabbit hole of reading…thanks to a sweet friend that recommended it to me. 

When the King of a tiny province in Europe realizes that his only viable heir is his granddaughter that knows nothing of her royal family, he sends his right-hand man to track her down, train her, and bring her to her new home.

Lilly, a business owner living in Miami, loves her life. She misses her parents that passed away tragically several years ago, but she has pushed on, fought loneliness, and tried to grow her silly, yet successful enterprise. When Keller, a British mystery man, shows up telling her that her mother failed to mention her Royal heritage and feeds her with promises of a long-lost family and a possible purpose that has eluded her thus far.

Lilly is an outspoken, crass, hilarious, and fun-loving American woman thrown into a life that is incredibly foreign to her. Keller is an uptight hand of the King that can’t believe the future of his beloved kingdom lies in the hands of this woman. They are stuck together for quite some time while she is trained in the ways of the country’s culture, history and traditions. Their personalities are like oil and water which make for some out loud laughs, along with some “what are you doing???” Rated R moments that had me reading with half of my face covered and praying no one looked over my shoulder.

Overall, this story is one of finding your purpose in life after so much loss. It’s about saying yes to love, to family, and to your future…no matter how scary it seems.

No matter how naughty (rated R y’all!) this one was super cute. Loved it and most of the characters! Also, I have added “long lost grandfather comes to find me and makes me next in line for the throne of a precious country” to my wish list.

The Highland Fling

Depressed after getting fired from her third job in a row, Bonnie and her best friend decide to apply to run a coffee shop in the Scottish Highlands for six months. A fun change of pace with a side of adventure.

Corsekelly, their new temporary home, is tiny, very rural, and full of a hilarious mix of characters. The owners of the coffee shop are going on an extended holiday, and while Bonnie is managing their livelihood, their grumpy son, Rowan, is around to help should it be needed.

Classic Meghan Quinn formula of boy meets girl, both wrestling with their own demons, sparks fly. Let me say this…Rowan is precious and needs a bit of grief counseling and Bonnie needs to stop feeling sorry for herself and get it together. My opinion. The story works, and I loved these characters and their story. Definitely a story of finding one another when you feel you like you lack purpose and direction. Something we can all relate to.

Rated R, per usual with Meghan Quinn. I laughed a ton during this one. Super cute!

The Wedding Game

This book could be a movie. A chick flick that you watch on the couch with a cocktail in hand and a tissue or two for the predictable, cheesy ending. This is a cute one, not her best . . . or maybe I was so deep into my phase at this point that I was losing track?!

Luna is basically Martha Stewart of the crafting world with a successful Etsy site and social media following. Alex is a successful divorce attorney that has a jaded view of marriage and family. Both are asked by their respective siblings to be a part of the new DIY TV show, The Wedding Game.

Fiercely competing against one another, Luna and Alec clash on TV as they fight for their siblings and fight against a growing friendship. Cute. Predictable. Hallmark Movie with a R rating. If you are a fan of the DIY competition shows, check this out.

The Modern Gentleman

So, clearly, I like Meghan Quinn books. But I would say that if you fall into a phase like me, go ahead and skip this book.

Wes anonymously writes The Modern Gentlemen column for a highly successful website. He is challenged by his boss to take the advice column a step further and detail out his own dating life and show how a gentleman would get the girl.

With a deadline creeping up on him, he randomly meets June – an eclectic dog walker and off-Broadway actress – in the park and begins his “project”.

Here is the deal . . . I laughed out loud at parts of this book. Neither of the main characters were someone I would want to hang out with, nor did I really cheer for them. June was kind of annoying actually. Cute book, easy read.

The Mother Road

Oh y’all! I could not have picked a cuter Meghan Quinn chick-lit book to end my phase with.

A week before Paul’s wedding, he picks up his sister Marley, their dad, and his best friend Porter, to take a road trip across the country in honor of their mother that planned this trip before she passed away several years ago. All four of them in a RV for a week . . . sounds miserable to me, but reading about it was HILARIOUS! I laughed out loud at this one so many times. The brother/sister pranks, the funny family games, the random arguments that put the “fun” in dysfunctional. Super cute.

The romance part of the story? Porter and Marley had a strong connection when they were kids, but she hasn’t seen him since he walked out on her four years ago. Tension and hurt feelings start out the week but start to slide away as the family bonding takes over and warm feelings return.

Very sweet book about finding your way through heartache, loss, and feeling alone. If you have lost your mother, you may see this as a bit triggering. Just FYI. I really loved this one! Super cute!

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WHEW! That was a long one! As always, let me know your thoughts on the books above AND send me your recommendations!! Have a great weekend! XO