There's shadows in my mind: THE GUESTS.

The Guests by Margot Hunt
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

It's been a long time since I read a book in one day, but I did it with THE GUESTS!

This is a great, quick read that flies by: a Category 5 storm, Hurricane Celeste, pounds down on the Davies family-Lee, Marlowe, and their teenage twins. It feels like the hurricane is truly happening and the tension building as the storm hits. Just before Celeste arrives, a boat docks at the family's home, and three strangers (brothers Bo and Jason and Bo's girlfriend Darcy) arrive. Since Celeste changed track, they need a place to stay.

What ensues is a totally wild read. Some of the characters reveal a few surprise connections, and the book feels like a locked room thriller, with the family, the new arrivals, and a few others (a friend, an assistant, a handyman) all stuck in the house. I felt like I could hear the wind howling and rain pounding down. Things get a little preposterous by the end, with a few predictable turns and some not at all, but the result is still a fun, exciting, and often violent (!) thriller.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE GUESTS on 01/09/2024!


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Took all my plans and I put 'em in a box: THE HEIRESS.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh good, another book about a twisted family living in an old house.

Actually, this was a pretty enjoyable tale of dark family secrets taking place in a musty old Southern mansion! So much that I'm still thinking about it days later. When Ruby McTavish passes away, she's well-known for many things: being a McTavish, a wealthy family that lives in the Ashby house in North Carolina; being kidnapped as a child and then found nearly a year later; marrying four times--and losing all four husbands in strange circumstances; and adopting her son, Cameron and leaving the entire McTavish fortune to him.

We find Cam estranged from the family for nearly 10 years, but finally returning to Ashby House at the urge of his wife, Jules. THE HEIRESS is an engaging page turner, filled with shifty characters hiding secrets and tidbits and lots of weird Southern charm and horrifying terrors. It's interspersed with fascinating letters from Ruby along with articles and Internet pieces on the McTavish family. This is a great technique--interesting, informative, but surprisingly suspenseful.

I don't want to say much to give things away, but this is a quick read filled with lots of twists and turns. A few are predictable, but some are quite unexpected. The family dynamics are excellent (albeit terrifying) and I quite enjoyed all the dark goings on in Ashby House. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE HEIRESS on 01/09/2024!

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The future's bright in your favorite horoscope: A WINTER IN NEW YORK.

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Me realizing that I liked this book, except for the entire premise, because I hate when things are based on a lie, ha.

Seriously, though, I could almost excuse Iris, who moves from London to New York after a terrible breakup (that guy was a total jerk) and randomly tells someone at a bookstore a lie. That lie spirals when she meets Gio, a very cute gelato store owner, and suddenly she's trapped in a whole web of lies. Still, I found myself wishing she'd just come clear in the first moment. Iris realizes that Gio has ties to her late mother, who knew his family, and that her mother's scrapbook has a copy of Gio family's precious gelato recipe, which has gone missing in Gio's era. Much drama ensures.

Honestly, it wouldn't be so bad, except there is so so so much buildup about all these lies and half truths and kept secrets (aka the whole book), and then the huge reveal and aftermath sort of happens with a whimper. After all that?! Are you kidding me?

It's sad, because I liked Iris and enjoyed the few chapters that had flashbacks to her mom's life in New York City. Silver captured NYC really well, with great descriptions of the city and its character in various weather conditions and seasons. It's easy to imagine yourself there, eating gelato and seeing the sights from the Brooklyn Bridge. Gio had a very sweet, boisterous, Italian family while I adored Iris' friend Bobby and husband (and the stray cat). So... side characters and setting were excellent and even our main couple was pretty good, I just wish the premise had better legs. 3 stars.

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It's a big sea, but it can't touch you and me: THE FIANCEE FARCE.

The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Exhausted with her stepmother's constant questions about her love life, Tansy Adams invents a fake girlfriend. So imagine her surprise when said girlfriend shows up at a relative's wedding and not only agrees that she's Tansy's girlfriend, but announces that they are engaged as well. Not only that, but this girlfriend is Gemma West, aka Gemma van Dalen, a gorgeous model and member of the wealthy van Dalen family. Turns out Gemma needs Tansy too: in order to satisfy the requirements of her grandfather's will and inherit Van Dalen Publishing, she must be married. Tansy and Gemma strike a deal: Tansy will marry Gemma to help her earn her inheritance and Gemma will help Tansy buy her family's struggling bookstore.

But their business proposition turns complicated--with van Dalens challenging them at every turn and Gemma and Tansy starting to fall for one another--can they make it through the engagement to the altar?

This was just a really fun book. It sets up "good versus evil" right away, with Tansy and Gemma fighting against the evil van Dalens and overall corporate greed and just runs with it in yes, a somewhat cheesy, but an enjoyable, way. I couldn't help but root for Tansy and Gemma, and I feel like this story would make a good movie. The two have a bit of instalove going on (they are practically head over heels by the end of their first meeting), but they are infectious and have some great banter and chemistry.

The result is a book that you can't help but smile while reading. Tansy is quiet and anxious, but she's also brave--the perfect antidote for Gemma, who has never had an advocate in her life. Gemma has something to prove to the van Dalens and perhaps to herself. They're a good pair.

FARCE makes some great points in its support for publishing and newspapers, and I love how both Tansy and Gemma are bisexual. Gemma has a great gaggle of queer friends (yay found family). I would have liked a few more surprises (the villains are pretty clear here). Still this is a really fun and romantic read. 4+ stars.




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Just another whisper, if you please: THIS SPELLS LOVE.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After a bad breakup, Gemma does the only reasonable thing a person could do: a love cleanse found in an old book in her aunt's dusty shop. Sealed with a kiss by her (platonic) best friend, Dax, what could go wrong? Gemma wakes up the next day to realize that her ex has indeed been wiped from her life, and her new life is profoundly different... so different that Dax doesn't know her.

So the premise to this one is a little strange, a little fun, a little... unbelievable? Time traveling books always confuse me a little. The hardest part of this one is that it's difficult to understand why Gemma is suddenly so adamant that Dax, her best friend of four years, should suddenly be her boyfriend in her new timeline. Her obsession with him is borderline creepy. Dax, meanwhile, while momentarily weirded out that a girl shows up seeming to know everything about him, easily adapts and wants to date her, despite the two not really having anything in common. Gemma's early attempts to bond fail, and while the book has a ton of steamy scenes, I'm not sure they have a ton of chemistry together. Gemma has one month to get Dax to kiss her (it's a full moon thing) and revert back to her old life, but soon she starts to wonder if she should stay in her new life.

I did quite enjoy the side characters, like Gemma's quirky aunt and her poor sister, who deserved so much more appreciation. It was interesting to see how Gemma's life differed in her two timelines, and the focus on small business ownership was intriguing. The book had a good focus on believing in yourself and not being afraid to fail.

Overall, I think this is a cute read if you can get past some of the weirdness about Dax and Gemma's friendship/relationship choices.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House / Dial Press Trade Paperback in return for an unbiased review.

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Still could manage to smile just takes a while: RESURRECTION WALK.

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

When Mickey Haller feels the high and joy of getting an innocent man released from prison--the Resurrection Walk--he asks his half-brother, Harry Bosch, to look into the many letters he's receiving from other imprisoned persons begging for Haller to take their cases. Bosch focuses in on Lucinda, a woman in prison for murdering her ex-husband, a sheriff's deputy.

I've been a huge fan of Bosch and Connelly's work for years, leading me to love Haller as well. The Bosch/Haller dynamic here is really exciting to see, with the two teaming up to get Lucinda out of prison. We're reminded at how the pair look at things, especially their cases, in such different ways. Bosch is struggling not to disavow the law enforcement principles he holds so dear, being a former cop himself. Can he defend working for the defense--and stay true to himself? But our beloved Bosch is aging and working for Haller means insurance and access to medical treatment. Honestly, seeing Bosch deal with cancer is still really hard for me; it's watching one of my heroes age and struggle. But the nuanced way we saw Bosch and Haller each depict the evidence found against Lucinda (defense versus law enforcement) was fascinating.

Their pieces are even told differently, with the first person for Mickey and third person for Bosch. It's a little jarring at first, but you get used to it, especially if means having access to both of these greats in the same book. The first half is understandably more Bosch, as he digs in on Lucinda's case and the second more Haller, as we get a bit of a "courtroom" (just a judge this time) thriller. There's nothing much better than Mickey Haller in a courtroom, just like you can't top Harry Bosch digging into the timeline of a complicated case.

There are lots of puzzle pieces to fit together in WALK and plenty to keep you captivated besides our two brothers, but I really do feel the story here is Bosch and Haller. I would love more books with both of these guys. The ending seemed a little ambiguous to Haller's future and with Bosch getting up there... well, let's just say I cherish every moment I still have with these two literary favorites. 4.5 stars.

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I start thinking that I am sinking inside a hollow fortress: THE FICTION WRITER.

The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Olivia Fitzgerald's stalled writing career leads her to take a ghostwriting job with Henry "Ash" Asherwood, a mysterious billionaire. He's drawn to her recently failed novel, Becky, based on Rebecca, and wants her to tell the story of his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier (the author of Rebecca). But at Ash's fancy Malibu estate, nothing is as it seems. Is Ash telling the truth about his family's past, and can Olivia trust him?

This was an... interesting... read. Made me want to re-read Rebecca, but perhaps not this story! Olivia and Ash were incredibly annoying characters. Olivia had an amazing inability to stand up for herself, letting Ash dictate everything, resulting in some very poor decisions and judgements. About 25% in, it felt as if there was no forward progress on the book whatsoever, as Ash and Olivia just hung out in Malibu and did... nothing. Except drink and talk . And did I mention make poor decisions?

Yes, Olivia consistently drinks too much, with the book focusing constantly on her drinking and oh, did it happen to mention Ash was the "sexiest man alive?" Maybe once or twice or a hundred times. The gothic mystery wrapped in layers of meta seems like it would be intriguing, but ultimately winds up confusing, with too many layers of Rebecca and retellings and stories within stories. 2.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row in return for an unbiased review.

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When I wake with her head on my shoulder: FRIENDS DON'T FALL IN LOVE.

Friends Don't Fall in Love by Erin Hahn
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Lorelai Jones has a strong country music career when she stands up for what she believes in, plays a "protest song," and is blacklisted by the country music community. Her career crashes, and her fiancé, another country star, dumps her (online). Five years later, Lorelai is looking to get back into country music, and she turns to her friend, Craig "Huck" Boseman, who runs a small label. Craig has always had a thing for Lorelai, but he was a backup player in her fiancé's band back in the day. Can Craig help reunite Lorelai's career--and get the girl?

This book had everything I love... friends to lovers, country music, tough heroines, cute lyricists, ties to other favorite books... it was so, so good. The relationship between Lorelai and Craig smolders off the pages; their chemistry is amazing. It's sexy and full of banter and romance through songwriting and poetry. There are some really fun ties to Hahn's other country music story (YOU'D BE MINE) and her book featuring Lorelai's friend, Shelby Springfield (BUILT TO LAST), but it easily stands alone (I love everything Hahn writes, though, so definitely recommend them). The way music weaves into the story is really fun. Lorelai has a great group of friends, and it's interesting to hear about Craig's job running his label and writing songs.

Overall, this is a really great romance with fun, real characters (loved them both) and a wonderful story rooted in music. This one was a hit for me. 4.5 stars.

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

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You were always the one to follow the light: SEARCH HISTORY.

Search History by Amy Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dating in a digital world really sucks. SEARCH HISTORY does a good job of illustrating said fact. When Ana suffers a bad breakup, she moves to Melbourne and tries online dating. After yet another terrible experience, she meets Evan and is thrilled to find someone who is funny and kind. Still, Ana can't resist looking Evan up online, where she discovers his previous girlfriend, Emily, died in a tragic accident. Ana becomes obsessed: not with Evan, but Emily, cyberstalking Evan's late girlfriend and allowing her to become a shadow in their relationship, even though he rarely mentions her.

This is a very generational read: Ana overshares consistently, and the book is filled with references to apps and current culture. It's certainly a true portrayal, in many ways, of dating in today's environment and even how much we let online culture affect our world. We get snippets of Ana's life after her move to Melbourne and anytime something in her present reminds her of the past, she'll go back in time and share a story. The switches in time can be a bit jarring, and it's hard to keep up reading momentum with the format.

Ana's obsession with Emily seems incredibly frustrating at times. You want to shake her and have her focus on being present in her own world (the point of the story, no doubt). This story is depressing at times, sometimes irritating, but also funny and honest (her portrayal of her divorced parents especially hit home). I'm sure it will resonate with a certain group of people. 3 stars.

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

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So come on darling, feel your spirits rise: THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm so glad I read this for my A to Z owned book challenge!

Lily Greene feels inadequate compared to her parents and sisters. She wants to be a children's book editor but is stuck as an assistant in nonfiction to a terrible boss. So she strikes up a correspondence with her favorite fantasy author--finding solace as the two begin communicating frequently via email. It seems like they may become more than email pals when he suddenly ghosts her.

This is a really cute read, completely propelled by the lovely and charming Lily, who carries the whole book. I found Nick, her love interest, to be an incredibly frustrating character. Nick moves in down the hall from Lily, and the two feel an instant attraction. An author writing under a pen name, he soon realizes Lily was the person he was writing to via his author website, but (of course) he keeps it from her, and (of course) he agrees to set her up with someone else instead.

So much miscommunication ensues and angst follows. Nick has a huge inability to move past the damage his parents caused him and just act, which made me want to scream sometimes. But I still managed to enjoy him and Lily together. And Lily was great! She was a sweet heroine who worked hard to find herself. The book portrayed her relationships with her sisters very well, as well as Nick's friendship with his agent (and college friend) Marcus and Marcus' husband. There are lots of little tidbits about publishing and the writing world. Lily and Nick's quirky neighbors give us some much needed lighthearted fun.

The book starts off being told solely via Nick and Lily's emails--often an irritating format, it worked quite nicely here. Eventually we go back to narrative form and while there's the annoyances with Nick, this is still a cute read with diverse characters and a fun story. 3.75 stars.

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I'll find my way back home and light up every tree: IT'S A FABULOUS LIFE.

It's a Fabulous Life by Kelly Farmer
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Kelly Farmer brings us a very progressive and cute It's a Wonderful Life, the lite version. Bailey George cannot wait to escape her hometown and vacation in New York City. It means she finally will not be responsible for Lanford Falls' annual Winter Wonderfest. But, of course, the new person in charge has a medical emergency, and Bailey winds up on the hook, yet again. The only bright spot is that her old high school crush, Maria Hatcher, is back in town, and she agrees to help Bailey out.

LIFE glosses over a lot of the more depressing aspects of the original while keeping somewhat to its framework. If you're a huge fan of the Jimmy Stewart classic, you'll love seeing what stays in this story and how the parallels are made. There's the romance between Bailey (who runs her family's real estate business and battles town nemesis Felicity Potter) and Maria, who works at the local library. Bailey's desire to leave Lanford Falls and her disgruntlement with the Wonderfest leads to the arrival of the Angels, a trio of drag queens, and her own personal queen, Clara, who are determined to help her find her Christmas spirit again.

Nothing has quite the same gravitas as the film, but, hey, we're reading a holiday romance. Bailey's reason for a lack of spirit--and her eventual "tada" moment--feel a bit forced. As with the original, you do wonder why she has to give up all her dreams in the name of friends and family.

But, this is a really cute read overall. I loved seeing what quotes and pieces came across from the movie. The small town charm of Lanford Falls really shone through, and while Bailey irked me sometimes, Maria was such a sweet character. She and Bailey each had adorable dogs who were literary stars in their own right. The book is packed with queer characters--always a winning combo for me. There are some really funny inside jokes and great messages sprinkled throughout. As Christmas romances go, I liked this one. 3.5 stars.

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

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With a heart of gold and arms to fall into: IRIS KELLY DOESN'T DATE.

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not much makes me happier than an Ashley Herring Blake book, whether it's one of her lovely YA reads, or a gorgeous romance from the Bright Falls series. This is the the third (and final) book from Bright Falls, though each book stands alone. This time we get Iris' story--tough, independent Iris, who is scared to find real love after being hurt, so she focuses on one-night stands and being the fun, flirty Iris that everyone loves. Meanwhile, Stevie suffers from anxiety disorder and spent six years dating her close friend Adri because she was too scared to be on her own. Now that Stevie and Adri are broken up, Stevie knows she has to get out and meet someone. She and Iris endure a disastrous one-night stand. They never expect to see each other again, until Iris turns up at auditions for Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Adri and starring Stevie. Imagine Iris' shock when Stevie's friends think the two are dating...

This is a totally adorable and charming fake dating tale! It weaves in all our favorite Bright Falls characters (but again, stands alone) while introducing Stevie and her friends, including the rather uptight Adri, Stevie's watchful non-binary friend Ren, and their friend (and Adri's new gf) Vanessa. What I love about the Bright Falls series is the pure abundance of queerness everywhere. How nice to read a story that could be me and my friends: our jokes, our bars, our lives. Herring Blake captures it all so perfectly.

I adored Stevie. I'm a sucker for a character with anxiety (my friend!) and of course, I loved Iris, even if I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being so stubborn! There are some great literary references tossed in and lots of fun with the MUCH ADO plot. While Stevie and Iris may not have as much banter as some, they have fabulous chemistry, and this is a really sexy, enjoyable read. It gives us some great messages about friendship and learning to overcome fears and being strong on your own. I loved all the queer rep and references to theater and books. Another winner from AHB! 4.5 stars.


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Ode to the girls who don't marry well: VLADIMIR.

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Sometimes I think a book is just too intelligent for me, and VLADIMIR is one of those. This book might have made more sense if discussed in a group, or dissected in class, but when I read it alone, I just wanted it to be over. I did not find our unnamed protagonist, a professor in her fifties, to be either likable nor nuanced. Her husband, John, heads the English department at their small college, but is swept up in scandal. He's been accused of sleeping with several of his students. Our professor finds herself unnaturally focused on a new, younger professor Vladimir. She shares, ad nauseum, her inappropriate thoughts about him, while focusing on all the things she hates about herself. She also hates John, and their marriage, and it seems, many of her students, Vladimir's wife, eating properly, and much more.

VLADIMIR seems like it's saying a lot of smart things about society, academia, feminism, and more. I think a lot of it went over my head. I didn't enjoy the plot and while it has some sort of crazy twist, it felt forced and unbelievable. This one was not my cup of tea. 2.5 stars.

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It's just a teenage dream: THE QUEEN OF JUNK ISLAND.

The Queen of Junk Island by Alexandra Mae Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This YA book has much promise and covers so many important topics, but was a bit of a slog for me, thanks to a slightly unlikeable main character and some weird elements that made me uncomfortable. After something terrible happens to her at school, sixteen-year-old Dell and her mom go to stay at the family cabin, which they learn was being used as a dumping ground by their last tenant. Dell's mom asks Ivy, the daughter of her (the mom's) boyfriend to stay with them as well, much to Dell's consternation. Ivy appears confident and outgoing and gets along with Dell's mom--all the things Dell is not.

Set in the 2000s era in rural Ontario, the author outwardly admits QUEEN offers outdated thoughts on bisexuality, but I won't lie, they are still really horrible to read sometimes. Dell is struggling with finding herself and dealing with her sexuality, but she's also just really hateful at points--mean to her mom, mean to Ivy, cruel about other's sexuality, and just a harsh character. She's been through a lot, but she makes herself very hard to like. There's a plotline involving Ivy and Dell that almost crosses the line into icky, even if they aren't related, and again... my main emotion here was uncomfortable!

Add in a bunch of other tangential stories... buried secrets about Dell's family, more stuff about her mom's boyfriend and family, dealing with the literal junk by the lake house: there was a lot going on with this book. It could have benefited from narrowing down some of its focus. My favorite character was Dell's oft-abused but incredibly self-aware BFF, Paul. I'd read a book about Paul! I really appreciated QUEEN's points about identity (once it circled around and stopped bashing bisexuality), parental relationships, and love, but overall, this was a strange read. 3 stars.


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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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Because love's a one way street, and you will always have my heart: SIGNAL FIRES.

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

SIGNAL FIRES is a lovely, haunting book that explores how small and big decisions affect families. The night before he's set to leave his family's beloved home on Division Street, Dr. Ben Wilf encounters his young ten-year-old neighbor, Waldo Shenkman, a sweet, intelligent kid who loves constellations. Although Waldo does not remember, the pair has met before, and the two will meet again, over and over. SIGNAL is the sweeping story of Division Street and the secrets it holds, of the Wilf family, of Waldo, of love and loss, and all that comes in between. It's beautifully written, with a touch of magic and a pinch of hope. I loved this book. 4.5 stars.

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Why do you see right through me: TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I know I cannot add anything that hasn't already been said about this book, which seemed to blow up on release. I was so intrigued to see what the fuss was all about. It's an amazingly well-written story about some often very unlikable characters. When Sam Mazur, a Harvard student, gets off a Subway car, he sees a long lost acquaintance, Sadie Green, and feels compelled to call her name. Sadie, who goes to nearby MIT, almost ignores him, but then she turns, and the rest is history. The two, with the help of Sam's roommate Mazur, soon create a legendary video game that catapults them into fame, a lifelong business association, and a very tight personal connection.

TOMORROW is told through series of chapters grouped in titled sections and while it moves chronologically through Sam and Sadie's life, with each of them contributing their thoughts via third person point of view, it often veers back into the past, so we learn their history together. It's a complicated tale, spanning a large swath of their lives and relationship (strictly platonic, they are quick to point out). With the two making video games, the book makes sweeping and intelligent points about the similarities of video games and real life (and the differences), what creating a virtual world can mean--and how it can affect those who live in the real world, and how video games may be the same or different from other forms of art.

I won't lie, it's a "smarter" book than I often read, and I'm sure many of the points sailed right over my head. The writing is beautiful, and the characters are often unlikable because they are freaking real people with flaws and tics and issues, standing out brilliantly on the page in full dimension, versus cookie character people half created to fill out the story. A few things that happen feel violent and raw because I came to care for everyone so deeply--always my sign of a truly good book. And while there is romance in this story, I love the theme and idea that the main characters aren't in love and are tied together by forces almost bigger than romantic love.

Overall, this is a different book. I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone. I don't really play video or computer games, and there is truly a lot of gaming talk in this story. But it's a really fascinating character exploration, too, and I'm really grateful for my #backlistbooks23 challenge for getting me to pick it up. 4.5 stars.

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Stars falling down and I fell for you: THE CHRISTMAS SWAP.

The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

At first I thought THE CHRISTMAS SWAP was destined to disappoint me like so many other holiday stories, but it managed to redeem itself. Sweet, nerdy Ben Gibson hasn't had much luck in serious relationships, much to the consternation of his family, which encourages perfection. So he asks Margot Murray, who recently designed his company's website, if she'd mind accompanying him to his family's beautiful country house (which doubles as a B&B) and posing as his fake girlfriend. Dealing with her own relationship drama, Margot happily say yes as she's eager to get away from the city. Ben and Margot make great friends, but Margot quickly realizes she has major romantic feelings for a different Gibson: Ben's sister, Ellie.

Told in a back and forth POV from Margot and Ellie, SWAP is a bit repetitive at first as we see events through both Margot and Ellie's eyes. At first, this looks like it's going to be a story filled with characters who do not communicate and lack common sense (ok, this may be a theme throughout). Ellie immediately makes a (wrong) snap judgement about Margot and then vacillates in her feelings about her in a very annoying and unhinged way. What follows is a series of bad decisions and miscommunications that made me cringe.

Luckily, around halfway through, the book picks up, as Ellie wises up a bit and we gain more insight into Margot's history. The book deals well with some serious topics, such as emotional abuse and anxiety about expectations, which I really appreciated. It's very festive; I wouldn't read it hungry, as it describes delicious food quite well! By now, things are predictable and silly, but in a good way. Margot and Ellie have a cute chemistry, and as we get to know them, it's easier to realize that they are not making their bad decisions maliciously.

There's no deep character development here, perhaps with the exception of the little exploration into Margot's past relationship, but I grew to care for everyone, including some fun side characters, like Ben's grandpa and other sister. And, of course, it's always fun to see a lesbian holiday romance. Oh, and there are cute dogs! Overall, a fun holiday read, especially if you like that sort of thing. 3.5 stars.

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

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The kind of real connection that I crave: THE HOLIDAY MIX-UP.

The Holiday Mix-Up by Ginny Baird
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I really need to learn my lesson now. Kristy, you love cheesy Christmas movies, but not so much Christmas books. Please stop requesting them, because then you must read them. For instance, THE HOLIDAY MIX-UP is billed as an updated WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, which is probably in my top-five movies. I love that movie. I watch it every year. I will watch it when it's not Christmas.

Well, MIX-UP is no SLEEPING. This book hurt me. I get that it's supposed to be a lighthearted, fluffy Christmas story and nearly everyone else seemed to enjoy it, so please take my review as such. The writing here is painful. Nothing is left to the imagination, but instead is explained in excruciating detail with all telling and no showing. Nothing really happens, so we're left with a repetitive plot stuffed with character introspection and people bemoaning about their feelings over and over (and over).

Katie works at a diner, where she meets Juan, a regular customer. For some reason (supposedly to avoid his aunt fixing him up yet again), he asks her to join him and his family for Christmas (as a secret favor), but before she can, he walks into the street and is nearly killed by a van. Katie shoves him out of the way, but he's still placed into a coma by the doctors. His family is led into thinking they are dating, so they take her in. Katie has no living family of her own and welcomes their care and attention. (Honestly this all sounds so much better as described versus the agony we go through to learn this in the book.) Once she meets his family, she meets Juan's younger brother Mateo, whom she immediately crushes on, and it seems the feeling is mutual. In the background is the story that the family's long-held winery is going under, thanks to bad business decisions by Juan. (This is the only remotely interesting plot piece, though where it will end is telegraphed a mile away.)

Katie and Mateo have zero chemistry, but instead opine in the narrative about their potential feelings for one another constantly--only to dismiss that the other could care for them. There is no excitement, banter, or anything fun. Mateo and Juan's grandparents have more zest. Things slowly progress up until Christmas. We all know how everything will end, but there's no real joy about it, because everyone is too busy thinking or repeating themselves for any real happiness. Instead, we execute the Christmas romance playbook step-by-step. I wanted to love this one, but I just couldn't. 2 stars.

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

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Dance floor spinning like a hurricane: LIE BESIDE ME.

Lie Beside Me by Gytha Lodge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Catching up on this series is quite enjoyable. LIE BESIDE ME is a captivating mystery filled with red herrings and a cast of suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. Louise wakes up after a night of drinking with her best friend, only to find that instead of her husband, Niall, next to her in bed, it's a strange man. Even worse, that man is quite dead. Louise quickly becomes the top suspect in the murder of this man, Alex, and DCI Jonah Sheens and his team focus in on Louise's memory gaps. But the more they dig--and the more Louise remembers--the more dark secrets they all discover.

I enjoyed LIE, as it's great blend of the actual case, delving into Alex's murder, and insight into the private lives of Jonah and his investigative team. For instance, we learn more about Juliette, who is being stalked and harassed by her horribly abusive ex. Lodge explores this topic very thoughtfully and delicately. There are other little side angles and crimes, too, which add depth and dimension to the story.

LIE BESIDE ME is told from Louise's point of view, and we learn bits and pieces as she remembers more and more from the night of Alex's death. We also hear from Sheens and his team. The only part I didn't really enjoy were excerpts where Louise spoke to her husband, explaining her evolution as "Drunk Louise"--these were emotionally focused short chapters where Louise talked about her alcoholism (my word, not hers) and how alcohol affected her life and their relationship. While I appreciated the psychological deep dive, those parts were a bit much, and I much preferred the action and gaining more insight into what went down with Louise and Alex. And, truly, the constant focus on alcohol was a lot; it made me feel uncomfortable at times!

This mystery has plenty of characters--enough to keep you wondering exactly what happened and how Alex wound up dead in Louise's bed. It's twisty and filled with surprises. The plot is intricate and puzzling. I just love a good British police procedural. 4+ stars.



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