The Last Word by Taylor Adams

 Emma Carpenter is house sitting on the coast of Washington. It's an old beach home and the only companionship she has is her dog Laika and the next door neighbor. The communication with the neighbor is done via a white board. It's the off season and Emma is essentially isolated. 

She spends her time reading books but after reading a terrible horror book and posting a negative review she finds herself at the mercy of the author. They engaged in a exchange of words and then ... Emma finds herself as a character in her very own horror novel. 

This book is better than most cat and mouse troupes. It's intense and action packed. 

11/22/63 by Stephen King

I read 11/22/63 many many years ago. I felt it was time to revisit it. This time I enjoyed it via audio. Can we just talk about how phenomenal the narrator is? I am not usually big on audio books but this time I was completely floored by it. It felt like a completely different experience. It felt more personal and as though I was witnessing it happening. I highly recommend going this route. 

11/22/63 follows Jake Epping. Jake is an english teacher who travels back in time in an attempt to stop the assassination of President Kennedy but like all good books it's about so much more. It's a love story but as you know love comes in many forms. It's about alternate time lines and multiverses (but in a good way). It's about friendships and humanity. 

King knows how to evoke emotions in a variety of ranges and made me nostalgic for a time period in which I did not exist. King's book is extraordinary and full of many memorable characters. 
 

 

Wait for You (Wait for You, #1) by J. Lynn

Avery Morgansten has fled her hometown to attend college in Virginia. She leaves behind secrets and a painful past that is following her but Avery' s life is about to change when she runs into Cameron Hamilton. 

Cameron is sweet, kind, friendly and wants to be a part of Avery's life. Avery' is hesitant but she slowly lets Cam in. Their relationship builds slowly but when their pasts and secrets resurface they are forced to open up to one another. Will it break them or bring them closer together?

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing | by Matthew Perry

The death of Matthew Perry was the first time I cried for a celebrity. I've been saddened before but this one hit hard. Maybe it's because my family always joked that Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek's relationship in the movie Fools Rush in remind them of my husband and I's relationships. Maybe it's because I loved the character of Chandler or maybe it's because my I've seen what addiction can do to families or a combination of everything. I had always hoped th
at Matthew Perry would get his happy ending but alas he did not. 

I chose to listen to the audio book and hear Matthew Perry's story in his voice. Matthew Perry is honest and gives an unflinching account on his struggles in life. His addictions, his fears, his low self esteem and his desire to have a family of his own. 

He discusses his life as an actor and details moments of  personal life. His search for love and his attempts to end his addictions. Perry used his humor and charm to make others laugh but in the process lost himself. I'll always carry my crush for Perry in my heart and hope that his book saves lives. 

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

 

Happily Never After will make you laugh and keep you entertained. Lynn Painter creates two fun characters in this delightful story. Max
and Sophie met on her wedding day after he objects to the nuptials. 

Max was paid to do this task and they form a bond. Months later then run into one another and team up as professional objectors to weddings. Hilarity ensues and as they get to know one another on a deeper level. Sparks start to fly and you cheer them on in hopes that they will get their happily ever after. 

Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino

 Grace and Matt met during their senior year at NYU. They became quick friends, formed a strong bond and feel in love. College graduation, career choices and life put them on different paths.  

15 years later, Matt and Grace's eye lock as Grace's train pulls away from the subway station. Matt finds himself going down memory lane and posts a message on missed connections on Craigs List. This ultimately results in Grace and Matt reconnecting. 

Their story is told in past and present tense from each others perspective. Their young love is reminiscent of most young loves - full of magic, wonder and pure sweetness. There is also the mix of heartache and self discovery. 

Be prepared to go on an emotional roller case and to be FURIOUS with Grace! Carlino writes a beautiful story that will pull you in and keep you turning the pages. 

Young Rich Widows (The Widows #1) by Kimberly Belle

Young Rich Widows starts off strong! Four partners of a prominent law firm are on a private jet that crashes outside of New York. Four women are left behind to mourn them and they couldn't be more different if they tried. The partners have left behind a massive amount of debt owned to a mobster an secrets and ... that's it!

For the first time ever, I had to take notes on who was who and who was with who! The characters while having different personalities didn't have unique voices. I didn't particularly like any of the characters but their snarky and snappy comebacks make me snicker. 

The story is told via each of the characters point of view but the story falls flat. I found myself skimming sections in order to get to the point of the book. The predictability is quite high which added to making this an "ok" read. 

** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye

Do you ever regret keeping a book in you to be read pile for way too long? I do. If you have this book in your pile shove the rest aside and pick it up!

Helene Janssen has left behind a bad marriage and run away to Alaska to write a book. On her very first night she see's a man named Sebastien. Sebastien is the embodiment of a character in her book. She feels drawn to him and while he seems to recognize her he pretends not to and rushes off. This leaves her baffled and a further run in with him leaves her angry, frustrated and curious.

Sebastien is more than surprised to see Helene. He thought he had broken the curse that has resulted in her untimely death over and over again. You see, Sebastien is an immortal better known as Romeo Montague and Helene is a reincarnation of Juliet Capulet. They reconnect over and over again with the newest reincarnation of Juliet having no memory of her  previous lives but will Sebastien risk his heart and his beloved's life?

I have always been a fan of Shakespeares's Romeo and Juliet and this new recreation of their love story makes for an excellent read. It spans centuries, continents and various love stories that will make you heart ache. 

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg

 Maggie Vine is a song writer and singer. On her 35th birthday her long time crush and friend Garrett Scholl kisses her. It's like magic and fireworks all bundled into one. Many years ago Maggie made a vow to Garrett (and Asher Reyes) that on her 35th birthday if she is still single they will get married. Maggie wrongly assume this is Garrett's way of binding the vow but Garrett is engaged! 

Asher Reyes was Maggie's first boyfriend and first love. They met as teens but haven't talked in decades but that's all about to change when Maggie finds out that Asher has obtained the rights to her favorite novel. When it comes to Asher and Maggie sparks are blazing but Maggie can't stop thinking about Garrett.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is told in alternating timelines It shows the good and bad choices characters make and how complicated relationships can be. It had me thinking what if .... but the constant songs pulled me out of the book as I found them distracting and unnecessary. This doesn't meant that I didn't enjoy the book because I did but the song lyrics weren't for me. 

Listen for the Lie | By Amy Tintera

Lucy and Savvy might not have been bestfriends in High School but they formed a strong bond as adults. They were the "it" girls of their small town of Plumpton, TX but on the night Savvy is murdered it all changes. Lucy is found covered in Savvy's blood and has no memory of that night. She is quickly judged by her community as the perpetrator and flees. 

Lucy's, Grandmother convinces her to come back home to celebrate her birthday despite not wanting to ever return. Ben Owens the host of a true crime podcast is also in Plumpton and hopes that this time Lucy will let him interview her for his podcast. Ben Owens mission is to find out if Lucy is responsible for Savvy's brutal murder. 

Listen for the Lie alternates between Lucy's voice and Ben Owens podcast. The chapters are short and engaging. The town is full of gossiping characters and the gossip is thrilling! This books is twisty and there is never a dull moment.