You can look into her eyes and live forever: SAVOR IT.

Savor It by Tarah DeWitt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So this was a surprisingly cute romance. It is nothing revolutionary but the banter is witty and there's plenty of good chemistry between our leads, Fisher, a disgraced chef, and Sage, beloved in the small town of Spunes, Oregon. When Fisher and his teenage niece Indy wind up in Spunes for the summer, they live across from Sage, and she and Fisher quickly bond. All the makings for a pleasing romance!

Sage is adored in Spunes, but she's having a rough go of it, having suffered recent heartbreak. She's thrilled to hit it off with Fisher, but he's on borrowed time, with plans to only reside in Spunes for the summer. Fisher is, of course, going through his own issues, since losing his cushy NYC job, and dealing with raising Indy after her mom's death.

Despite the serious undertones, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments. This book is really darn funny. Sage is completely engaging and easy to love, but so is Fisher. It was refreshing to have a romance told from both partners' points of view. It was nice to know what both Fisher and Sage were thinking and to watch their bond grow.

SAVOR IT is a cute ode to small town life, even as Fisher and Indy fight against the charms of such life. Much of it centers around Spunes' annual festival and it feels like a Hallmark holiday movie come to life, just set in the summer. Everything is quaint, humorous, and sweet. I was impressed by this story overall; it was an enjoyable romance. 4 stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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These days have made a change in me: BETTER LEFT UNSENT.

Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

The premise of this has promise: Millie keeps all her true thoughts (rants to her boss, real opinions about her BFF's husband, reviews on poor vacation experiences, feelings about her parents, responses to crushes) in her email drafts. It helps her release stress. The system works well until one day a server error at work releases all the drafts at once, sending the emails off to their quite surprised (and sometimes angry) recipients.

When you dive into this more, it seems flimsy. Who would write these sorts of things at work?! Why would you actually put the recipient's email address in the To line of the draft?! It makes more sense when you meet Millie, who, honestly, is a bit of an idiot and comes across as a clueless doormat, making it too hard to root for her. She's suffering from a breakup several years ago with Owen, who still works at her company, and one of her emails threatens to end Owen's current engagement. Millie's inability to recognize that Owen is a complete psychopath is incredibly frustrating. Her endless focus on her emails may be even more frustrating. Her relationship with Jack, her love interest, has little pep, as they barely have any scenes together. It's a shame, because Jack is funny and the two have good chemistry. There's also a side plot with Millie's parents that seems completely unnecessary.

I love Lia Louis' books and there was some fun in this one, but overall, it didn't work for me. 2.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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What I have is a gift of life I can't repeat: THE HUSBANDS.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

My favorite thing about Book of the Month (BOTM) is finding books like THE HUSBANDS, which I'd probably never pick up otherwise. It has a refreshing and unique premise; it was nice to have something different to read. When the very single Lauren comes home from a night with friends, she finds someone in her home: apparently he's her husband, Michael. This is backed up by photos in her home/on her phone, messages with friends, and more. Then Michael goes up in her attic and when he comes down, he's someone else--another husband--and Lauren's life slightly alters to encompass the new spouse. Each and every time.

This was hard to put down, as the story is totally engaging, with Lauren cycling through husbands at an often rapid clip. In some ways, this is a romance, but it's really a journey of self-exploration. As the many husbands come out of the attic, Lauren deals with so many thoughts: is she crazy? And, how picky is she? How do you, in fact, wind up with the person you love? How do we frame who we love, especially when we have more agency and choice in the matter.

The story drags a bit in the middle with the endless parade of husbands, but it's still quite fascinating. It's a personal story, and a bit mysterious, as Lauren tries to puzzle out why this is happening to her. Answering the questions of what you want in life and learning to accept what you have are central here, but this is also a witty and insightful story that keeps you reading. 4.5 stars

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At this point there's a history that keeps you from growing too old: THE GUNCLE ABROAD.

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Honestly, it's so lovely to be back with the characters from THE GUNCLE. Maisie and Grant are growing up! They're 14 and 11 now, respectively, and none too pleased that their Dad, Greg, is getting married to a wealthy, Italian woman, Livia. In comes Gay Uncle Patrick "GUP" again, this time to take the kids on an European tour and a quest to learn about love. His deal: if they don't understand why their dad wants to marry Livia by the end of their trip, he'll talk to Greg about the marriage.

"But his mission was clear nonetheless. He would teach these kids about love, how to love others, and how to be loved in return."

Even abroad, Patrick still has his same acerbic wit, laced with his deep underlying love for his niblings. Said nibs are still precious, even while growing (no more lisp for Grant, sniff, sniff), especially with Maisie a teenager, learning to see the world more clearly and how it can cruelly treat women and leave them behind. The story shows, yet again, how Patrick is both ill-equipped and yet the perfect person to teach the kids how hard it is to trust again after losing someone. His rivalry with Livia's sister (the kids lesbian aunt, or Launt) was a bit much, but otherwise this was about pitch perfect.

At its heart, this is a tender and lovely book about grief, moving on but not forgetting, and learning to love again. I would read about Patrick, Maisie, and Grant's story over and over. 4.5 stars.


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But who's gonna make my mistakes if I don't: THE SUMMER CLUB.

The Summer Club by Hannah McKinnon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not my favorite of McKinnon's books, though it's a fast read. Honestly, the plot feels already done, and I would not categorize this as a light beach read, as it resolves around serious themes. THE SUMMER CLUB focuses on a literal club, stuffy Mayhaven, where Ned Birch and his daughter Darcy both learned to golf--but have never been members. Ned is now the manager, trying to restore Mayhaven to its former glory. As for Flick, he's a teenage boy forced to move to Massachusetts from New York with his mom and new stepdad, where they live next door to the Birch family. He gets a job at Mayhaven and finds himself fascinated by Darcy.

There's no major in-depth characterization here, but it's easy to like Flick and Darcy and feel for Ned. He must deal with the insiders versus outsiders vibe of Mayhaven. McKinnon does a fairly good job capturing teens, especially Darcy, who has stopped playing golf and withdrawn from her family. There's a mostly unresolved story with Darcy and a sometimes mean rich kid she liked that just sort of fizzled out. Like a lot of the book, it feels like everything skims the surface, but never delves too deep. This is a decent, quick read but won't stick with me.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE SUMMER CLUB on 07/23/2024!

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I'll keep my hands warm in your pockets: WHEN YOU SMILE.

When You Smile by Melissa Brayden
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This is one of those really cheesy stories that you need sometimes to cheer you up. This is not the best written romance ever (there's a lot of stilted writing and an emphasis on telling versus showing), but it's still a really cute story that you cannot help but get caught up in. Taryn finally heads off to do her last two years of college away from home--living in a dorm for the first time--and giving herself a chance to fully identify as lesbian to someone other than her parents. Imagine her surprise when she comes across her former babysitter Charlie on campus. She adored Charlie back in the day, but she moved away, and Taryn never saw her again; now Charlie's in graduate school, juggling teaching, MFA classes, and writing--and her longtime boyfriend.

The slow burn chemistry between Charlie and Taryn may be the best part here. They get to know each other instead of just falling into bed. Much of this story is a sort of coming out/coming of age for both characters, as Taryn finally gets a chance to explore her sexuality and Charlie must question hers. It certainly took me back to my days of being a new, baby lesbian in college.

Overall, it's a pretty straightforward lesbian romance, and the villains are set up quite clearly. There's nothing earth shattering here, or any major character development, but maybe it was the college setting, or just Taryn and Charlie's innate sweetness; I couldn't help but fall for them and their story. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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Every line on your face tells a story somebody knows: THE CLIFFS.

The Cliffs: A novel by J. Courtney Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very interesting read, albeit quite long and meandering at times

In the world of thrillers and viral hits, THE CLIFFS is not that book. It's a slow burner that takes its time to delve into its characters and their history, looking deep into the people associated with one particular home and the nearby area. You will not fly through its pages (though it's compelling) or have any big shocking twists (though there are certainly surprises), but if you keep with the story, you will be rewarded with a complex and rich narrative that spans centuries, connecting our characters in fascinating ways and exploring the complicated facets of how the past influences the present.

There are parts of THE CLIFFS that feel too long, as if a history lesson has lasted into another class period, and it can be hard to warm up to Jane, the main protagonist. The story is told from the point of view of various female characters, jumping around in time, but Jane gets the most screen time. They are all tied together by the house and land, but at times, I found myself wishing for more time with our characters older (in time period, not age) than Jane or other modern narratives. Jane's treatment of those around her--even with her alcoholism--was tough to stomach. A female-centric story that still focused so much on Jane pining for her estranged husband was difficult, as well.

There are so many interconnected stories here and the exploration of indigenous people and history is excellent. Sullivan does a great job of exploring motherhood and the idea if one can feel whole without being a mother. The themes of loss and grief run deeply in this story. While I wished there were a few more ghosts in this book (we get one early appearance!) and it felt long at times, it's beautifully written and a wonderful examination of legacies and the passing down of histories and secrets.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Knopf in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE CLIFFS on 07/16/2024!

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But home is a feeling I buried in you: STARS IN YOUR EYES.

Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There's so much more than fake dating happening in STARS IN YOUR EYES, which is told in a back and forth point-of-view between its two main characters, both actors. Mattie is an up-and-coming actor, still sweet and shy, and dealing with shame from being gay thanks to a religious father. He's filming a new movie with the famous (or is it infamous) Logan, known for his bad boy antics. Logan hides his pain--much of it from being abused--behind a gruff exterior, where he pushes everyone away and acts out.

Filming a story about two gay authors that begin a romance, Mattie and Logan suddenly see their film life parallel real life when the producers force them to fake a romance to stir up interest in the movie (and cover up for some of Logan's bad behavior), and the two quickly realize they like each other. But nothing is simple when they each carry so much baggage--and they're under constant public scrutiny.

I really enjoyed hearing the story from both Logan and Mattie's sides and the way Callender interspersed their POVs with snippets from film magazines, blogs, social media, and more. It's a quick read, albeit a powerful one. STARS delves into serious territory including racism and bi-phobia and looks seriously at sexual assault (triggers for assault, rape, suicide idealization, and more). It's really a very tender story showing how love can occur between flawed people with pasts--not every romance is a straightforward, cheery one, as the book illustrates.

There's a bit of relationship and therapy speak that sometimes feels overdone, but overall I enjoyed this one. It's not a feel good story per se, but it's enjoyable, makes good points, and really lets you feel for the characters.


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I turned myself in with you: ANNIE LEBLANC IS NOT DEAD YET.

Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet by Molly Morris
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

This is a strange little book. Wilson enters her town's contest to, you know, earn the right to bring someone back from the dead for 30 days. She picks her best friend, Annie, trying to overlook the fact that the two weren't friends at all in the last year of Annie's life. But when she gets Annie "back," she seems to gloss over that fact, falling back with Wilson like the old days and confusing her to no end.

So I'm fine with a book about someone coming back from the dead being quirky; in fact, you'd expect it. Instead, ANNIE LEBLANC seems like a standard YA story about friend drama--it just happens that one of those friends is dead. Nothing seems to happen! Wilson is an OK main character, if a bit in her head, but I didn't even like Annie, or Ryan, the third friend in their trio, or Wilson's mom Jody.

Wilson spends her life being responsible for her mom and her little sister, feeling lonely with no friends after a blow up with Annie and Ryan. The book drags out the reveal of why she and Annie and Ryan fought and it still doesn't make sense. Wilson seems to think she's found a loophole to keep Annie alive, so she works diligently to achieve it, while being rather clueless. Meanwhile, there's a million miscommunications, and it appears as if this gang never once interacted with one another or another human.

I'm glad the story has lesbian/bisexual rep and enjoyed the themes of friendship (albeit awkward ones!) and family, but this plot missed overall for me. 2.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review.

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