Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
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| Pub Date: 2-11-25 Adult - Contemporary |
Change of Heart- Falon Ballard: As one of the youngest partners at her family's law firm, Campbell Andrews has no time for anything that doesn't propel her career forward. She may go out on one or two blind dates to appease her overbearing grandmother, but Cam has no desire to tie herself to a man who will inevitably make her choose between him or her job. So when she agreed to meet up with Dr. Ben Loving, Cam planned to eat her meal and leave, but it seemed fate had other plans. The morning after the date, Cam doesn't wake up in her New York City high-rise but in the small town of Heart Springs (picture if Pleasantville had a baby with the Hallmark channel), and Ben is her new neighbor. Cam is in hell, and the only way out is to complete three tasks. It should be simple enough. But when one of those tasks is to fall in love, Cam finds she has her work cut out for her.
I love it when books have a magical realism element, and this was so fun. I loved the idea of this jaded, love-adverse character essentially being dropped into a Hallmark movie and having to work to find her way home. I didn't think I would like Cam because she was so standoffish and cold, but once she began opening up and sharing her vulnerabilities, I started rooting for her. She's so sarcastic and how she dealt with the challenges was funny. I loved Ben as the MMC and thought he was charming and perfectly complemented Cam. Their relationship was sweet, but I wish we knew more about Ben because it felt like he was just a supporting role rather than one of the main characters. The plot got tedious and repetitive towards the end, but Ballard's writing was so entertaining that I didn't mind it. I highly recommend checking this out if you're in the mood for a silly and sweet romance.
I love it when books have a magical realism element, and this was so fun. I loved the idea of this jaded, love-adverse character essentially being dropped into a Hallmark movie and having to work to find her way home. I didn't think I would like Cam because she was so standoffish and cold, but once she began opening up and sharing her vulnerabilities, I started rooting for her. She's so sarcastic and how she dealt with the challenges was funny. I loved Ben as the MMC and thought he was charming and perfectly complemented Cam. Their relationship was sweet, but I wish we knew more about Ben because it felt like he was just a supporting role rather than one of the main characters. The plot got tedious and repetitive towards the end, but Ballard's writing was so entertaining that I didn't mind it. I highly recommend checking this out if you're in the mood for a silly and sweet romance.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 1-28-25 Adult - Contemporary |
Out of the Woods- Hannah Bonam-Young: To most, Sarah and Caleb Linwood have the perfect life. They were high school sweethearts who married when they were nineteen and have been going strong ever since. Lately, however, Sarah has been feeling like something is wrong. She's relied on Caleb for so much throughout the years, and when an attempt at hosting a fundraiser doesn't go as planned, Sarah begins to wonder who she is without her other half. Sarah wants to prove to those around her--and mostly herself--that she's capable. Desperate to save her marriage from the growing distance she feels, Sarah convinces Caleb to sign up for a week-long hiking trip/counseling session. What follows is two indoorsy people trying to navigate nature and complicated feelings to reconnect to what matters most.
I went into this with high expectations given how much hype surrounds this author. I kept hearing everyone talk this book up, so I was ready to find my next five-star read. That wasn't the case. It was a fine book, but I didn't think it was spectacular. It felt like a generic rom-com that I've seen before. The characters were good, but I liked Caleb more than Sarah. I wish we got to read from his POV because I would've loved to get inside his head. Their banter was cute, and some interactions had me swooning. I liked watching them reconnect during the hiking trip and appreciated their communication. They were so open and mature about reevaluating their relationship and taking the necessary steps to better it. While it's not a new favorite, I still liked it, and recommend it if you want a quick palate cleanser.
I went into this with high expectations given how much hype surrounds this author. I kept hearing everyone talk this book up, so I was ready to find my next five-star read. That wasn't the case. It was a fine book, but I didn't think it was spectacular. It felt like a generic rom-com that I've seen before. The characters were good, but I liked Caleb more than Sarah. I wish we got to read from his POV because I would've loved to get inside his head. Their banter was cute, and some interactions had me swooning. I liked watching them reconnect during the hiking trip and appreciated their communication. They were so open and mature about reevaluating their relationship and taking the necessary steps to better it. While it's not a new favorite, I still liked it, and recommend it if you want a quick palate cleanser.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 3-18-25 Adult - Historical Fiction |
A Map to Paradise- Susan Meissner: Melanie Cole is an up-and-coming actress, but when the man she's dating is suspected of being a communist, Melanie is blacklisted from Hollywood and sent to Malibu until things blow over. The only interactions she has are with her maid Eva, a young Polish immigrant, and her agoraphobic neighbor, Elwood. As a screenwriter, Elwood knows the ups and downs of the business, so Melanie values his advice. But when a few days pass without Melanie speaking to Elwood, and she and Eva see June, Elwood's sister-in-law and caretaker, digging around his rosebushes in the early morning, Melanie begins to suspect foul play. As the lives of these three women intertwine, unexpected secrets are brought to light, along with a friendship that will change their lives forever.
I haven't heard many people talk about this book, so I did not know what to expect. There were a lot of elements to the story that I liked—the first being the writing style. The pacing was so quick and engaging that I flew through it. I also liked Meissner's commentary on society, especially Hollywood, during this period. Secondly, I appreciated the dynamic between our three main characters. They were all so different, so it was interesting seeing them work together. I found Melanie the least likable of the three only because she was a tad annoying, but I liked the sisterhood they formed. My only gripe was that the ending wrapped up too conveniently, but I still enjoyed reading it.
I haven't heard many people talk about this book, so I did not know what to expect. There were a lot of elements to the story that I liked—the first being the writing style. The pacing was so quick and engaging that I flew through it. I also liked Meissner's commentary on society, especially Hollywood, during this period. Secondly, I appreciated the dynamic between our three main characters. They were all so different, so it was interesting seeing them work together. I found Melanie the least likable of the three only because she was a tad annoying, but I liked the sisterhood they formed. My only gripe was that the ending wrapped up too conveniently, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Rating: 3/5
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