And maybe she'll be your karma: DESTINATION FUNERAL.

Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Didion and Sammie's mother, Babe, passes away on Mercy Island, at the family's beloved home, Birdsong. Didion has been mostly estranged from her mother and sister for some time, but she returns home for the funeral. There she also finds her childhood friends, Austin and Matt.

It is soon revealed that Babe's will stipulates that the foursome will have to spend the funeral weekend together at Birdsong -- no phones allowed -- if they want to inherit the house. Didion can't think of anything worse, but she reluctantly agrees. They spend a painful, resentful Saturday together, only to wake up and discover... it's still Saturday! Again and again.

The Groundhog Day aspect is cute and whimsical; much of the story itself is not. Didion is such an unlikable character that you find yourself having very little desire to spend one Saturday with her, let alone infinite ones. She carries a grudge against everyone--some of her anger against her late mother, who was rather tough on her, was justified, but still. This girl is angry and mean. Said anger extends to her sister, her friend Matt, and her once boyfriend, Austin.

Since most of the plot involves these characters stuck at Birdsong, rehashing old gripes, it gets a bit stale. We do get flashbacks to beachy summers past--some happier, some not--giving us a chance to learn a bit more about our characters. And yes, again, there's a reason for some of the bitterness. But while the story can have its light and funny moments, I often found this more of a rant rather than an enjoyable, magical tale.

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

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My home it's got your name on it: BANK SHOT.

Bank Shot by Josie Mae


I quite enjoyed this story. We have GJ, a star women's college basketball player, and Leah, a cheerleader at the same college. GJ is not known for settling down--with anyone. She's also having a tough season adjusting to life without her former teammate (and still best friend) and isn't playing well. Meanwhile, Leah feels like she's in the constant shadow of her twin, who plays basketball with GJ. Her family focuses all their attention on her sister, instead of Leah.

In an attempt to stand up for herself--and defy her sister's rule of not dating her teammates, Leah makes a flirtatious play for GJ. But their one-night-stand turns into more, much to each's surprise.

Watching GJ and Leah develop a relationship is endearing, and it's incredibly easy to root for the two of them. There is some character maturity as well as sexy bits. As a basketball fan, I enjoyed the focus on the game, even if this seemed to be some magical world where every player was headed for the WNBA.

This is fun, sexy, basketball romance with a serious side. Highly enjoyable!

I received a copy of this book from Book Funnel and Honky Tonk Angels Publishing in return for an unbiased review.

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Used to dream of getting out: THESE HEATHENS.

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was excellent; it made me think, which (let's be honest) I need sometimes.

It's 1960 in Georgia. Doris has had to grow up quickly and leave school to care for her younger brothers after her mother became ill. But now she's 17 and she needs an abortion. As a young, poor Black girl in Georgia, her options are limited. She turns to her only advocate, her former teacher, Mrs. Lucas, who in turn, asks her own friend, Sylvia, a wealthy woman in Atlanta.

What follows is one weekend in Doris' life as she and Mrs. Lucas travel to Atlanta. There the entire world opens up before Doris, as she gets to see the life of the wealthy Black Sylvia and her family. She meets racial advocates (Coretta Scott King stops by!) and boys her own age who are participating in the sit-ins gaining momentum across the country.

It's amazing how much this book packs in over a weekend. It explores so many deep topics through Doris' eyes, including sexual orientation, race, and the power of god versus family. And, of course, abortion. This is a novel that will make you think and reflect on how our past has shaped the present.

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

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There was a lonely girl from nowhere: I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL.

I Hope This Finds You Well: A Novel by Natalie Sue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was really excited to read this, as I spend every day in a "charming" corporate environment, but it wasn't really the funny office comedy advertised.

Jolene has spent years toiling at Supershops, where she feels both misunderstood and left out by her coworkers. She copes by hiding angry messages in white text at the bottom of her sent emails. But when one such message is discovered by her office nemesis, Jolene is sent to mandatory HR training led by the new HR guy, Cliff. As part of the monitoring changes he makes to her computer, she realizes she suddenly has access to all her colleagues' emails and chats. At first she's just appalled at what her coworkers are saying about her, but soon realizes she can use this information as a weapon while upcoming layoffs loom.

Soon, though, Jolene finds herself becoming friendly with Cliff--and even a few of her other coworkers. She starts to realize maybe she has played a part in her ostracism at work. Jolene is a tough nut to crack: and like. And this comes from me, a rather unsociable and shy officer worker at times! She makes a lot of questionable decisions and doesn't always treat people the best.

There's less humor in this story and more bitterness and sometimes, full on, sadness. No one at Supershops likes one another, and there's less office banter and more office showmanship. The plot plods for a while, and you want to shake Jolene for not just coming clean about her discovery. There are several other side stories involving secrecy, which are just stressful, honestly. So is the one involving a young girl who lives in Jolene's apartment building. Positives include some strong Iranian/Persian representation and an attempt to highlight the depths people will go to hide their loneliness and real truths from their coworkers.

This book just felt uneven; it's a story with promise, but be prepared for a rocky journey. The ending helps a lot.


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She'll let you in her heart if you got a hammer and a vise: THE FAVORITES.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

THE FAVORITES is an utterly captivating novel that delves into the fiercely competitive world of ice dancing, where ambition, sacrifice, and betrayal intertwine.

Katarina Shaw always dreamed of becoming an Olympian, but growing up in poverty meant she had to fight tooth and nail to reach the top. Her path crossed with Heath Rocha, a foster kid with his own struggles, and together they formed an unbreakable bond. Ice skating became their escape, propelling them from obscurity to royalty in the skating world—until a devastating incident at the Olympics shattered their dreams and their lives.

A decade later, the world is still captivated by their story, now the subject of a tell-all documentary. The book alternates between gripping documentary interviews, where various characters offer their takes on Kat and Heath’s journey, and Kat’s raw, personal narrative of what truly happened. The result is a riveting tale brimming with anger, passion, and resilience.

As Kat becomes entangled in the lives of her idol, Olympic champion Shelia Lin, and Shelia's twin children, Garret and Bella—current competitors with their own high stakes—the story deepens. Both Kat and the Lins are willing to pay any price for Olympic glory. But THE FAVORITES poses a haunting question: how far is too far?

What starts as a seemingly straightforward story of love and competition evolves into a masterfully crafted web of deceit, desire, and vulnerability. Fargo’s storytelling is both spellbinding and thought-provoking, delivering a tale that lingers long after the final page. This is a must-read for fans of character-driven drama. Hurrah for #bookstagram for getting me to pick this one up!

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She starts to dream and then she stops herself: SHAE.

Shae by Mesha Maren
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This story is horrifyingly brutal yet wonderfully written, taking you directly to small town West Virginia. Sixteen-year-old Shae thinks she's found a new friend in Cam, who is a year her senior, when they meet at school. Soon she and Cam are hanging out, listening to music, and parking by the town lake. Suddenly Shae is pregnant, and everything she planned for her life changes. At the same time, Cam starts changing, wearing Shae's clothes and makeup. Shae's birth story goes terribly wrong, requiring an emergency C-section, and the doctors cut her bladder during the procedure. She's given opiates for the pain, and her whole world tilts.

The oxy blurs Shae's frayed edges, helping her cope with being a teenage mother and with the fact that Cam is transitioning. Shae can't confront reality or change, including Cam's transition. She's unable to talk to Cam, her mom, or anyone, really. As Cam transitions, she pulls away from Shae's small life: going to college, making friends, moving away. But Shae, she's stuck in her rural little life, running with the wrong crowd and increasingly hooked on drugs.

Maren illustrates how drug use and addiction can unravel a person's life. She does so starkly and in terrifying detail, introducing us to the cast of small town lowlifes who help keep Shae hooked on drugs and displaying how easy it is for them to find opiates--and eventually what lengths they'll go to keep their supply up. It's horrible that Shae's addiction stems from her teen pregnancy and subsequent botched C-section. She loves her daughter dearly, but she's not enough to get Shae away from the drugs. Neither is Cam.

Cam does not always come across as sympathetic, but she's the foil to Shae: she comes from a background of even greater poverty, with a harder road due to her transition. But Cam works hard to better herself, be authentic, and to give Eva the best care possible. Watching her grow and flourish while Shae regresses only makes the situation more depressing.

This book is difficult to read sometimes because it's so real and so sad. This is a powerful read about young motherhood and the hold addiction carries. 4.5 stars.

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She's never learned how to live for today: DAYS OF WONDER.

Days of Wonder by Caroline Leavitt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Caroline Leavitt is such a wonderful and unique writer. I know I can always count on her for a different and riveting story. DAYS OF WONDER is no exception. This is not necessarily a happy or uplifting book, but wow, it makes you think. Ella falls madly in love with Jude as a teenager, and the pair spend all their time together, including days at her apartment with Ella's mom, Helen. They avoid Jude's angry and bitter father, a judge who resents him for his mother's death. But when Ella is accused of trying to murder Jude's dad, he pulls strings and she's sent to prison for 25 years, while Jude has no consequences. Neither can remember that night, which doesn't make things any easier.

In prison, Ella discovers she's pregnant and reluctantly gives the baby up for adoption after Jude terminates his parental rights. But when she's released early--after only six years--she's determined to track down her child. What follows is an oft heartbreaking tale of Ella trying to reclaim her life, her child, and her own self while dealing with reentering society as a convicted felon.

WONDER is a little meandering at times, with various plot points that run off in various directions, but it's also captivating. All of our characters are flawed but intriguing, with Ella at the center. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but she has a good heart. The story is told in alternating POV and timelines, between present-day and then flashing to the past, leading up to what happened to the judge. In this way, it serves as part mystery, as no one knows exactly what happened that night, and part literary fiction, probing the bonds between mother and daughter and parent and child. Through Helen's relationship with Ella and then Ella's relationship (or lack thereof) with her daughter, we learn about the sacrifices made for our children... even the decisions the warped judge makes in terms of Jude.

This is such a thoughtful story, and so poignant. I was completely caught up in Ella's world and life. I honestly would read a sequel to learn more about her future. Leavitt's writing is gorgeous, and this is such a different, enjoyable tale, even if the subject matter is often serious and sad. 4+ stars.

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

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You're always my destination: HOOK SHOT.

Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Kenan is dealing with a messy divorce, an ex-wife out for revenge, and a teenage daughter who wants nothing more than her parents to get back together. Lotus is busy with her fashion career, but comes up short when emotional and sexual trauma from her childhood affect her present-day relationships. Still, she can't help but be drawn to Kenan, a handsome and kind basketball player. As for Kenan, he's head over heels for Lotus, even if she's 11 years his junior.

I'm a fan of Kennedy Ryan's Hoops series (this is the third and final book), because I adore basketball. This book is related to the others (Kenan plays hoops with August; Lotus is Iris' cousin, and Banner is Kenan's agent), but can easily be read as a standalone. I will say that when you read the books closer together, they do feel a bit more formulaic. But overall, I enjoyed this one. As I said, I loved the basketball angle, with Kenan as the player, and seeing glimpses of his teammate August, who we know from other books. There's a good tie back to Lotus and Iris' childhood and New Orleans roots, too.

As with all the other books from this series, Kenan is a really, really good guy, but a bit possessive. This is the straight-up formula for Hoops. Please be aware the book covers sensitive topics like child sexual abuse and there's a trigger warning for suicide. The story felt just a tad bit long for me--it could have been shortened just a little. But it's sexy and fun, with great banter and strong chemistry between Lotus and Kenan. It tackles a serious topics while still giving us a flirty read. 3.5 stars.

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

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If you wanna see a miracle watch me get down: BLOCK SHOT.

Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I really loved LONG SHOT, the first book in this series, so I was really excited when I received the next two books as ARCs, as they are being re-released. I am a total sucker for sports books, especially basketball ones. These books can be read independently, though some characters do reoccur. BLOCK SHOT picks up with Jared, the stepbrother of August West from the first book. Jared is a ruthless sports agent who has built his agency, Elevation, from the ground up. His life motto is built around not getting attached to anyone, especially women. But he cannot get a certain woman, Banner, his college best friend, out of his mind. They shared one special night together before a misunderstanding tore them apart.

BLOCK is an interesting book. Jared is not necessarily a good guy, and it takes a while to grapple with his desire for Banner. He is dominant, possessive, and pushy. Jared refuses to take no for an answer in all areas of his life, especially with Banner (not sexually, thankfully) or care she has a boyfriend. That's a little difficult to take in. He does grow throughout the course the book, but perhaps not as much as he should. He's not the easy-to-love hero that August was, though you come to understand his flaws.

There's a ton of focus on Banner's weight and while the book seems to be focused on body positivity--Banner loves herself at any size, so does Jared, etc.--that was a stretch at times. Body positivity morphed into a constant discussion of her size and the emphasis is less on health and more on her losing pounds, not eating, what she ate, etc. No thanks, and it seemed rather triggering for anyone with food disorders.

I did love Banner's intelligence and spark. That woman was tough! And freaking smart! It's great to see a woman in the sports agency market, especially one beating all the boys. The basketball talk was enjoyable. Her relationship with Jared was charming and quite sexy. Overall, while I didn't love this one quite as much as LONG SHOT, it was still a fun read. 3.5 stars

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


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But when he smiles, I don't care about the past: ROGUE.

Rogue by Elle Kennedy
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Ever since Casey Tresscott was pulled from a car submerged in a lake and left bleeding by the shore, everyone has treated her with kid gloves. The only exception is Fenn Bishop; Fenn and Casey have only grown closer since Casey's accident. But Fenn is carrying a secret about that night which will change their relationship forever.

I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, MISFIT, which focused more on Casey's sister, Sloane. This one was not quite as juicy and sexy as the first, with more emphasis on the Casey and Fenn angst versus romance. There is also a lot of time spent on figuring out the history and mystery around Casey's accident as Sloane and her boyfriend, RJ, unravel what really happened. I was frustrated by the lack of truth telling here (Fenn letting everyone know the truth from the beginning would have saved a lot of trouble). However, what I love about these books is that they are fun, dramatic, and sexy--and perhaps not the most realistic. They can be silly, and I'm terrified by how much sex and drugs these high school students are engaging in, but these are wonderful escapist reads that I cannot resist. 3.5 stars.

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Wait by the light of the moon: I KISSED A GIRL.

I Kissed a Girl by Jennet Alexander
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun movie set romance

Noa Birnbaum's dream is to work in the movies: in horror special effects and makeup. She finally gets a chance to work on a real movie (one step closer to joining the union), but it means dropping out of school, where she's earning her theater degree. Her parents won't be pleased. On the set, she's face to face with actress Lilah Silver, whom Noa has had a crush on for ages. Lilah has her own dreams, to move beyond B-list horror films and into true stardom. This starring role as the "final girl" could be her opportunity. When she meets openly out Noa, Lilah may finally have a chance to admit to her own bisexuality. But a relationship could have its own problems for both Lilah and Noa.

"Noa'd thrown away everything else in her life for this job. And now she was seriously considering throwing the job away for a chance at a girl? Stupid beyond words."

This is a cute story whose strength comes across in its representation--queer characters covering bi, trans, lesbian and more. There's also some excellent Jewish representation, as both Noa and Lilah bond over their religious beliefs. As a member of the LGBTQIA community, I love seeing stories that reflect myself and my friends. Watching Lilah grapple with her bisexuality and coming out and seeing Noa hang out with her friends, being openly out and accepted. These are still stories and characters we do not get to see and read about regularly. Even better, it seems like I read a lot of queer YA books, not a lot where the characters are adults (although they might not always act like it in this story, ha). It was fun and refreshing.

"Special effects artist had never been on the list of things Good Jewish Girls Did."

For me, this book was a little long. It could have been a bit shorter and would have felt more snappy. A lot of the focus in this story is on miscommunication, which is a pet peeve of mine. I just can't handle when so much of the plot could be avoided if the characters just spoke openly to one another. It's also not entirely clear why Noa crushes so much on Lilah, to the point that it seems that she can't rationalize clearly. A lot of this inability to communicate or think clearly leads to some back and forth storylines, so it seems like as if the plot zigs and zags. Up and down. Will Noa go for a relationship with Lilah or keep her job? Is Lilah willing to risk her career for her sexuality? Again, if things had been just a bit shorter, we probably could have skipped a bit of this.

Still, this is a fun story. While Lilah and Noa can be frustrating sometimes, they are engaging characters. The horror film set adds an interesting level to the book (there's another plot line involving Lilah and threats to her safety). It's a little long, but I appreciated all the queer and Jewish rep. 3+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. It releases 8/3/2021.

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You can't make your heart feel something it won't: NORMAL PEOPLE.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Marianne and Connell form a relationship in school, starting to talk to one another when Connell comes to pick up his mother at her job cleaning for Marianne's family. But at school itself, they pretend not to know each other, fiercely aware of where they stand in the social structure: Connell is a popular soccer star, while Marianne is smart but a social outcast. Things change a year later, when they are both studying at Trinity College. Marianne has found her social circle and is popular among her group of friends. Connell is known as smart, but feels awkward. The two's relationship ebbs and flows--at times, they are deeply in love; at other moments, they date other people and rarely speak.

I'm not exactly sure what to say about this one. I listened to this book over a couple of months as I traveled off and on for work. It felt very slow, and while I know part of it was the stops and starts when I was traveling, but some of it was the book itself. I can definitely recognize the brilliance others found in this novel. Rooney is a wonderful writer, and there were passages that I wish I could capture and save to savor later. At other moments, I wanted to hurry things along quite badly... she turned the water on in the shower, the water came out, the water fell to the floor, etc. Things are described in great detail, and often, I found myself frustrated at that.

This not a plot-driven novel, but a character-driven one. Told from the alternating perspectives of Marianne and Connell over time, it examines various points in their life. At times, they may even go back in time in their various point-of-view segment, forcing you to keep up with exactly what is happening and when. There is much explaining and much examining. A lot of talk of feelings and such. It's a very complex novel. I definitely did grow to be interested in Marianne and Connell, but it did take some time.

As I said, I can see why this book earned such rave reviews, but it wasn't entirely for me. I was frustrated that Marianne and Connell couldn't just talk to each other. The ending of the book left me annoyed--all this for that--and I often wanted things to happen more quickly than they did. Still, I appreciated Rooney's lovely writing. If you want a complicated look at how one relationship can affect two so-called normal people over time, this one is definitely for you. 3 stars.

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Make your wildest wish and watch it come true.

Deal Breakers by Laura    Lee

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Devyn and Riley are best friends-- they survived four years of college together. Devyn is focused on graduation and the paid internship that awaits her. Riley is headed to grad school, but he had fun in college as well, including a string of non-serious girlfriends. Riley's not exactly known for monogamy. However, before they head their separate ways, Devyn has one request of Riley - she wants him to help her lose her virginity (yes, seriously). She doesn't want to head into the next phase of her life a virgin and she thinks Riley is the perfect person to assist. Riley is thrilled to help, of course, and plans a special evening. But will that special night change everything for Devyn and Riley?

First of all, I don't know why I keep reading these "New Adult" books. This genre apparently exists on stereotypes and tropes and the ending is basically transparent. In my defense, I picked it up after reading two tough books, with a lot of murder and darkness. Sometimes you just need a fluff book to lighten things up.

For instance, sample dialogue: "I may have just jizzed in my pants a little. How can a woman this hot possibly know football? I think I'm in love." We're not even going to talk about all the things wrong with this.

Still, this book was more compelling than some of the recent New Adult books I've read. If you like New Adult, you'll enjoy this book - it's a fast read and somewhat cute. If you're like me and still adjusting to the genre, you'll roll your eyes at a good deal of the plot and dialogue, but potentially still enjoy the quickness and silliness of it all. 2.5 - 3 stars depending where you fall on the spectrum

(I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)



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