Coming in hot with some book reviews. This was a slow reading month for me. I haven’t touched a book that wasn’t my bible or devotional in almost two weeks. I have been catching up on some podcasts instead of consuming audiobooks, so that has a lot to do with it. I read two of these and listened to the other two. I am ready to dive into my Christmas reads! Are you ready for the holiday season?
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
After reading Hotel Nantucket and finding out that Mario was in a previous book, I wanted to go back and read it! Enter Blue Bistro. It was mentioned a few times in that book, as well as Fiona. I enjoyed getting to see their back story and learn about the infamous Blue Bistro. While I quite enjoy Elin’s writing, I felt like the day-to-day of the innerworkings of the restaurant was a little overdone and repetitive in this book. You can tell that she really researched the behind the scenes, and some of it is entertaining….but at times it dragged for me. I wish she would have put as much detail into Adrienne and Thatcher’s relationship. It would have been more of a 5 star book for me then. I felt like I didn’t root for them as much because of this. As Thatcher came off selfish and bossy. One thing that really bothered me, is that he was an alcoholic who no longer drank, but constantly forced Adrienne to carry around a glass of her signature drink…that he made up for her. Why??? Anyways….I may have liked them more together if I had more of them from the author.
Bottom Line: If you are a Hilderbrand fan, you must read them all! You never know when you will see these characters again.
The Man I Never Met by Elle Cook
This book publishes November 22, 2022
Oh this book! It reminded me a little of Always, December, in that its more of a tragic, missed-connection love story. Davey from Austin, Texas accidently dials Hannah in London instead of the person he was interviewing for a job with. He ends up texting her about the interview after and they start talking. I loved how they got to know each other through texts and calls, as that is how Chris and my relationship started out.
But when Hannah goes to meet him at the airport, he doesn’t show. Why??? The reason changes both of their lives. I felt like the book progressed along very well, and I was very invested in both Davey and Hannah’s lives, as well as the lives of a few of Hannah’s friends that we meet. But but but. The ending was very disappointing for me. Everything else was so long and drawn out, and then the ending came out of no where and the book was over. What??? I wanted a little more, you know?
It was very original and different than many of the books I have read lately, and I quite enjoyed it. I had to know what was going to happen. I just wish we got more from the ending after all that time invested. It took the book from a 5 star read down to like a 3.5 or 4 for me.
Bottom Line: Read it.
**I received a copy of The Man I Never Met from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**
On the Hustle by Adriana Herrera
I love a good enemies to lovers trope, and this one delivers. The tension between Alba and Theo is definitely there. Alba was such a strong and fierce female lead with a lot of personality. I loved the bookish themed décor that she did, it sounds so fun and definitely something I would love to see in real life. The steamy scenes in this book were hot hot hot. If you are someone who prefers closed door romance, this might be too much for you.
Bottom Line: Read it.
**I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**
The Lifeguards by Amanda Eyre Ward
This one is hard for me to review, as my thoughts are a little all over the place. I didn’t really like any of the women in this book. So maybe that is why it is hard to sympathize with them. The only redeemable characters are Charlie (Liza’s son) and Joe, the detective. I liked that the women were not perfect mothers, I am sure there are some of their qualities that we could all relate to. But at the end of the day, they were rich women trying to protect their spoiled children.
The book was interesting and held my attention, but I felt like there were many things that didn’t get wrapped up in the end. I want to know what happened with the nanny that Joe hired? And not to give spoilers, but the final scene where we find out what happens…we don’t really know for sure how it all plays out. It was a let down. I love family drama and mystery, and this book is one of those that I will probably soon forget.
Bottom Line: Read it, maybe?
6 Comments
Glad you liked most of these! I have a lot of Christmas/holiday themed reads on my wish list for sure.
Oh I must read The Blue Bistro!
Definitely adding On the Hustle and the Man I never Met. That one sounds like such a good premise – I hate that the ending didn’t deliver, but it still sounds really good.
I haven’t done an audiobook in over a year. I think I’ve only read 3 books since August, too.
I also don’t generally do the holiday books? I don’t know why!
Very intrigued by The Man I Never Met, but I hear ya… never a fan of drawn out stories and rushed endings. Give us more!
Ugh- two books with endings that fell flat. That stinks. The Man I Never Met sounded so good! I’m bummed the ending wasn’t spectacular!
My reading always tends to slow down at the end of the summer.