Books – Septemeber 2021

I had several really good books this month, so let’s hop in shall we? Linking up with Steph and Jana.

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

I love a good family drama, and man does this deliver!!! I read this in 24 hours, simply could not put it down! This will 100% make my favorite list for the year. I loved that the book rotated through the voice of different characters. So many bad decisions, secrets, drama. Highly recommend.

Bottom Line: Read it!!

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

The talk of Hilderbrand quitting her “beach reads” to become a book reviewer and all the shit she talked about so many people really put a bad taste in my mouth of her. I will not be purchasing anything from her, but will still borrow from the library, because damnit, she writes a good beach book! I absolutely loved this one. This may be my favorite from her. I was so engrossed in the book and all the characters, I flew through it, even though it was rather long. The ending. Wow. I got quite emotional. Definitely put this on your list.

Bottom Line: Read it!

How Lucky by Will Leitch

First of all, this book takes place in Athens, Georgia near the campus of UGA. I have been there many times, and love when I can actually picture the book from real life experience. The author definitely got SEC football atmosphere just right. I was trying to decide how I wanted to classify this book, it is a little bit mystery with a kidnapping, but also, I  learned a lot about Spinal Muscular Atrophy. I read the back insert from the author, and his son grew up with someone who had SMA and I feel like he did his research and had real life experience with it. It was a very compelling story, suspenseful at times, and left me feeling optimistic and hopeful. Obviously, I enjoyed the main character, but I also loved his best friend Travis and his caregiver Marjani.

I do wish we got more of the backstory on the kidnapper. And learned more about the kidnapped girl. I also felt that there were random progressive ideologies thrown into the book that felt more forced by the author, than naturally flowing into the story.

Bottom Line: I think this is one anyone could enjoy. I will say, the writing was a little erratic. Sort of reminded me of Backman.

Yearbook by Seth Rogen

I did this one on audio and thoroughly enjoyed it. I love Seth Rogen as an actor, and he is a funny guy in general. I loved listening to his stories. I laughed several time and just had a smile on my face while I listened. He is a great story teller, and this was very engaging.

Bottom Line: If you like Seth Rogen, I suggest this one! I really enjoyed his own narration on audiobook, the only way I really consume this genre.

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

I love Helen Hoang and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I blew through this, finishing it in a day. This is the third book in the Kiss Quotient series, but I don’t feel like you had to read the first two to enjoy this. Though I liked both of those too! I really felt like Anna and Quan progressed realistically. I really like that Hoang deep dives into anxiety, autism, depression and hard things. While this is a romance and had lighter moments, it is also much heavier than your typical HEA book. You really get to know the characters and they have a lot of depth.

Bottom Line: Read it!!!

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena

Double murder, family secrets and drama. What is not to love here? I was instantly hooked by this one and flew right through it. This family was seriously dysfunctional, and the murders were so violent, you know it had to be personal. The book switches POV between the characters, and none of them are all that likeable. You start wondering which one is the psychopath. Their annoying aunt Audrey was an interesting story line as well, and how she ties in the other side characters. I actually enjoyed the detectives more than the family members, working to prove one of them is guilty.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a good whodunnit, read it!

A Brush With Love by Mazy Eddings

I am trying to decide what I want to say about this one. I started it once and quit two chapters in, mainly because I had something come in from the library I was more excited about at the time. I picked it up a month later, and stuck with it. I really enjoyed Dan and Harper, and watching their relationship form and grow. I will say, with the setting in graduate school and them being in their late 20’s…I felt like it was a little immature at times? I can really appreciate Harper’s anxiety issues, and Dan’s guilt he carries to help his mom. There was definitely emotional baggage on both sides, which made this book a deeper read. Overall I enjoyed it, but I had so many good reads this month that this one doesn’t stick out. I liked The Heart Principle a lot more, which also deals with anxiety.

Bottom Line: Cute read if you are into romance. Definitely worth it if you struggle with anxiety.

**I received a copy of A Brush With Love from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

The Therapist by B.A. Paris

It took me months to get through this book. I kept putting it down for something else. It was a rather slow and boring to start. I feel like BA Paris books are becoming quite a formula and there isn’t much to excite me about them anymore? Also, most of the main characters are kind of dumb. I found myself just not carrying most of the book. There were a few shockers, but the beginning was just so boring. Trying to figure out why her neighbors act weird and who this person is that came to the party. Meh.

Bottom Line: The narrator was great. I have heard her do other books and I think she reads them quite well. This one though, there are so many other good books I read this month…I would mostly just say to skip this.

**I received an audio version of The Therapist from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Currently Reading

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin