Books – March 2022

I had some really good reads this month. Out of all of these, I feel like The Night Shift, Beach Reads and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry will end up on my list of favorites for the year. These are three books that have stuck with me. Let’s just jump right in, shall we?

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

I suggested this one for book club because I enjoyed Every Last Fear enough to know that this was going to be messed up in a good way. You know what I mean?

This book reads so fast, I literally read the last 60% of it in one sitting. I think that is due to the short chapters and multiple POV. I really enjoyed the throw back to Y2K and Blockbuster. If you are into true crime podcasts, Finlay’s cases in his books remind me of ones I would hear on podcasts. While I figured out a few things early on in this book, there were definitely some twists I didn’t see coming. The way he weaved certain things into both cases, and ties to different people. It was complex. I also enjoyed the bits of the characters we got to know. I feel like you got to see who Keller, Atticus, Chris, Ella and Jesse were as people. I felt like the ending happened so quickly, maybe a little too abruptly? I was just like what??? But I really appreciated there was an epilogue to tie a few things up.

Bottom Line: Read it!

**I received a copy of The Night Shift from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

Two of my favorite reads for the last two years were from McFarlane….so I knew I had to go back and read anything she has written previously. This one started out really slow, but it picks up a lot in the second half. I felt like I could really relate to Georgina, and I just loved Lucas. There are a lot of heavy topics discussed in this book. It was much more serious than I thought it would be. Honestly, it isn’t so much about Lucas and Georgina, as it is overcoming your past. I definitely wish we could have gotten more of them, because I really loved them so much.

Bottom Line: Read it.

A Tasty Dish by Kelly Cain

I received an audio copy of a Tasty Dish. The narrator was great and I enjoyed listening to her. She really brought Kasi to life for me, because I have a feeling if I would have actually read it myself, she would have fallen flat. And maybe that is where I will start with my review of the actual story.

This is supposed to be a series about the Everheart brothers, but I feel like they are hardly in the book at all, other than when Kasi and Declan mention them. I like that Kasi is a strong female lead, trying to not be shadowed by her famous father. But to me, she comes off selfish and reacts over the top about everything. One minute her and Declan cant keep their hands off each other and she is “catching feelings”, and the next she is writing him off and out of her life. So their relationship doesn’t feel that strong for me. I would have liked to have gotten some chapters from Declan’s perspective. I don’t really feel like we got to know him. Again, is this a series about the brothers if the entire book is in a females prospective? I don’t really think it is. The middle of the book also dragged a bit. I find that I am more patient with audiobooks than I am ones I am actually reading. This one passed the time just fine, but isn’t all that memorable.

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed the narration of this one, and it was entertaining to listen to. I feel like it wouldn’t have been as strong for me if I would have read it on my own. It’s one that passed the time just fine, but I am not sure I will remember much about it in a few months if someone asked.

**I received a copy of a Tasty Dish from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

I love that this is a book about the mother/daughter relationship. I was closer to my mom growing up than my dad, and I really hope that my daughter and I keep a close relationship as well. This book definitely pulls at the heart strings, and I can’t imagine how lost Katy must have felt right after the death of her mother. The setting in Italy is amazing, and it makes me want to hop on a plane and visit!

There was a lot of wisdom in these pages, but I found myself having a hard time connecting with Katy. While I am close to my mom, and I hope that Zoe is always close with me…I am not narcistic enough to think that I am the love of either of their lives. I also think that Katy treated her very supportive husband like complete garbage, and those parts were really hard to read. Overall, I really enjoyed this book but I am also left wondering exactly what we were supposed to think of Katy seeing her mom in Italy. If you read it, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Bottom Line: Read it.

**I received a copy of One Italian Summer from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions of of my own.**

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

This book was so cute. So darn cute! I am just a puddle of goo after finishing it. I absolutely loved it. It is a little cheesy, super sweet, and just really enjoyable. I loved You Deserve Each Other as well by the same author.

Bottom Line: Read it!

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Orthberg

Audrey recommended this book. I am trying to read a few more nonfiction books each year, hopefully adding at least one each month. This one really hit me right in the gut. There were so many good takeaways from this book. Comer definitely hit the head on the nail with some of the points he made in this book about the distractions of life and needing to slow down. It has definitely made me want to change the way I go about some things. There was lots of good advice, but a few things that were a bit impractical. I could have done without the virtue signaling and the few political comments as well.

Bottom Line: Read it! Such a great read, one that will stick with you and want to reflect back on often.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

I am pretty sure I am the last person to read this one. I loved People We Meet on Vacation, and this one was just as good! I blew through it, just wanting to see how it all unfolded. I loved January and Gus. I feel like Emily Henry’s characters are always so dynamic and relatable. The banter and chemistry between these two could be felt. January’s sense of humor is amazing. While this book is considered romance, there is much deeper and heavier things going on. I just all around enjoyed this one, will most likely make my favorites list for the year.

Bottom Line: Read it! Definitely lives up to the hype.

Currently Reading

Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella