The Favorites by Layne Fargo

I have always been a bit obsessed with olympic skating so I snapped this book up as fast as I could. The Favorites is a love story that follows Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha. They come from different part of life. Katarina has always wanted to be an Olympic skater and has made it her life. Her family life leaves much to be desired and Heath is a foster kid who essentially has no one.

Their lives collide and they form an unbreakable bond of friends, love and partnership until an incident at the games breaks it. Shaw and Rocha were a skating scandal and when then ten year anniversary of their last skate approaches a unauthorized documentary bring the lime light back to them. 

The documentary is comprised of interviews from their friends and rivals which makes for some intense and scandals moments. From the moment I sat down to read this book I was hooked. I found myself as addicted to the character and had to remind myself I was reading a fictional novel. 

                                                        This is a book you will recommend and revisit later. 

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

First Published January 14, 2023

I flipped between reading and listening to Beautiful Ugly. I strongly recommend listening to it as it's far more interesting than the read. The audio book tells the story better which I found  interesting as I usually prefer reading the book. I was able to "see" the characters more and grasp the isolation Grady experiences. 

Beautiful Ugly is about Grady Green. On what is supposed to be the best day of his life his wife goes missing. He spends the year fueled by grief. He can't sleep or write. He has lost everything. He is given the opportunity by his agent to go to a secluded island and stay at the cabin once owned by a famous author. While staying there he is to write his next novel. 

Once on the island Grady discovers that it's rather unique and peculiar. The island is full of secrets and as the unravel your hit with twists and turns the build the suspense and keep you on edge

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

 

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering

Second time reading this. I had to listen to it again after watching the show.  

Lucy Albright has left Long Island to attend college in California. She wants a fresh start and to be as far away from her mother as possible but drama and heartache are about to enter her life in the name of Stephen DeMarco. Lucy falls quickly into the new college life of making friends, going to parties and self discovery. 

Stephen is overly confident, cocky and unlikable yet he manages to attract friends and girls. Lucy is quickly pulled into his world of deceit and she falls for him over and over again. Never learning from her mistakes. 

Tell Me Lies alternates between Lucy and Stephen during their college and post college years. It's a super fast entertaining read and if audio books are your thing - you'll enjoy this one 

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova

 

Maddy Banks is a freshman at NYU. She's stressed out and trying to adapt to life as a student in NY. Maddy is depressed and is prescribed an anti-depressant. Soon after she falls into a manic episode and it is discovered that she is bipolar. 

Genova explores how both Maddy and her friends and family are impacted by her bipolar condition. She doesn't hold back. She covers the raw emotions on Maddy's side and the helplessness her family feels. 

I have a family member who passed away not to long ago that was bipolar and Genova covers how it affects the family. A few times I had to put the book down and regroup because the details were so realistic it brought forth a flood of emotions.

More or Less Maddy is a poignant novel that gives voice to mental health illnesses. 

Fly Away (Firefly Lane, #2) by Kristin Hannah

 

Fly Away is the 2nd installment in the Firefly Lane series. This book follows Tully Hart and Marah Ryan. They are both dealing with the fallout of Kate's death. Tully has lost her best friend, her job and the family she had with the Ryan's. Marah's grief has resulted in her fleeing from her family and falling in love with a young man who is the last person on earth she needs to be around. 

Both women are struggling to come to terms with Kate's death and when Tully is on deaths bed due to a terrible accident the family comes together to deal with the past and present. Tully is living in between life and death and we experience what her world has been like without Kate. We also learn about Marah's life and bits about the rest of the Ryan family. 

This book is a great companion to Firefly. The pace is slower but gripping. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz a few years back and revisited it this time on audio. It's a powerful and emotional read hearing it ramps up the emotion. Lala Sokolov is a Slovakian Jew and he has been sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Once it is discovered that he speaks various languages he is put to work as the tattooist. 

Lala is imprisoned for over two and a half years and he uses his position to save the lives of other prisoners. One day in July of 1942 a woman nit Gita is tattooed by him and it is love at first sight for Lala. He makes it his mission to take care of her as much as he can while they are forced to labor in Auschwitz. 

This is a story of the horrors that were forced upon millions and how love can be found even in the worst conditions in life. It's about bravely and helping others so that they can survive together. 

The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold

 

Published January 7, 2025 

Liz Flannery has been living in an abandoned bookstore in New Jersey. She took refuge in it after a storm hit that decimated civilization and killed millions. She barters books for supplies with other survivors and rumor has it another storm is about to hit.  How will she survive it? She isn't ready.

Maeve breaks into the bookstore during the night seeking shelter and Liz catches her in the act. Both teens are wary of one another but they push thru and form a friendship. They decided to work together and prepare for the storm. 

 Things seem to be going well until Maeve's past comes back to haunt them and they are left to fight for their lives. 

The Last Bookstore on Earth wasn't exactly what I was anticipating. I expected more about the storms rather than little glimpses. This left me feeling disappointed. I wanted to know and "see" the fall of society however survivors guilt and learning to live in a world which society has changed vastly plays an important role. 

The characters are realistic and my favorite moments took place between Liz and customers who visited the bookstore.  Braun-Arnold paints a perfect picture of the bookstore. I could easily imagine it and place myself inside it. Reading this book was a bit of a struggle but I'm glad I read it despite disagreeing with the ending.

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

Beg, Borrow, or Steal (When in Rome #3) | By Sarah Adams

 

First Published January 7, 2025

I had no idea that Beg, Borrow or Steal was part of a series until just a few minutes ago. This is the third book in the When in Rome Series. It can stand on it's own. Sometimes when I start reading a book that is part of a series it seems "off" and that something is missing and then I go check to see if it's part of a series. I had none of those clues this time.

Emily Walker and Jackson Bennett have a history of feuding. They exchange barbs back and forth. They are nemesis. They were both 2nd grade teachers at the same school until Jackson left their small town to get married but the wedding has been called off and Jackson has returned.  Emily and Jacksons paths crossed and they quickly fall into old habits. They exchanges are witty and romantically charged. 

This rivals to romance book is easy to read and a bit bingeable (I could see it series on a streaming service). I had a bit of hard time finding it believable but that didn't distract me from enjoying this book. 

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

She Started It by Sian Gilbert

 

She Started It is addicting! Annabel, Esther, Tanya and Chloe has been best friends since childhood. They have drifted apart a bit as one does during adulthood but they are still in contact. Imagine their surprise when all four of them receive an all paid trip to an extravagant bachelorette party from Poppy. None of them have talked to Poppy in years in fact they all used to be friends with Poppy until they made her life a living hell via bullying. 

They decided to attend the bachelorette party because they are curious, it's free and they four of them get to see one another. They are beyond surprised when the find out upon arrival that the party is taking place on a remote island. 

Initially things seem okay between the group but then secrets they've all been keeping come out and things get dark. I love the twists that come out even though I could guess a few of them. This is a perfect book to read on this cold winter days/nights.

The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #1 Kristy's Great Idea: A Graphic Novel Raina Telgemeier (Illustrator) , Ann M. Martin

 

Growing up I devoured The Baby-Sitter Clubs book. I read the handful I had over and over again.  Once I saw that it was available as a graphic novel I decided to revisit it and hopefully get my niece addicted to the. (she prefers graphic novels to regular books). 

If you are not familiar with this book or the series it about a young girl named Kirsty along with her friends, Mary Anne, Claudia and Stacey who start a babysitting business. It is about the development of their business and their personal lives. Kirsty's parents are divorced and her mom is dating someone she doesn't like, Mary Ann's dad is overprotective, Claudia's sister is a genius which creates some issues and Stacy has a secret. 

The graphic novel is okay but the faces of the characters weren't exactly attractive or appealing. They were a bit distracting but other aspects were great. 

If you are in need of nostalgia or ready to share these stories with a new generation these books are for you. 

Too Good to Be True | by Carola Lovering

Too Good to Be True follows the life of Skye Starling. Skye is intelligent, beautiful and rich. Skye hasn't been able to hold on to a romantic partner due to her OCD until she meets Burke Michaels. Burke is older and handsome. He seems to be her dream come true but Burke is hiding his present and past from Skye. He isn't who he claims to be. He is married and has an ulterior motive to being with Skye. 

Lovering tells this tale of love from three different points of view. Be prepared for an addictive and entertaining read. The twists are brilliant. You won't want to miss out on this read. 

The Squad: A Graphic Novel (The Tryout #2) | by Christina Soontornvat

The Squad revisits Christina, Megan and Leanne. They have decided that they are going to try out for the 8th grade cheerleading squad. This means a lot of practice. They are up for it and enjoying their time together.

Christina's home life is getting complicated. Her parents are headed to divorce and she has to learn to navigate the changes in her life

This graphic novel is beautiful and captures teen life and the challenges of school, friendship and family. It's a fast read that tackles tough subjects with finess.