{Thank you to Lake Union and Amazon Publishing for my gifted copy}
Tag: Lake Union Publishing
This Won’t End Well by Camille Pagán | Lake Union Publishing {Gen The Bookworm Book Review}
This Won’t End Well by Camille Pagán
Book Summary:
No new people: that’s Annie Mercer’s vow. It’s bad enough that her boss sabotaged her chemistry career and her best friend tried to cure her with crystals. But after her fiancé, Jon, asks for space while he’s gallivanting around Paris, Annie decides she needs space too—from everyone.
Yet when Harper moves in next door, Annie can’t help but train a watchful eye on the glamorous but fragile young woman. And if keeping Harper safe requires teaming up with Mo, a maddeningly optimistic amateur detective, who is she to mind her own business?
Soon Annie has let not one but two new people into her life. Then Jon reappears—and he wants her to join him in France. She’s pretty sure letting anyone get close won’t end well. So she must decide: Is another shot at happiness worth the risk?
Publication Date:
February 26th, 2020
My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Review:
This Won’t End Well (You can pre-order the Kindle Book for $3.99 right now!)
Pagán’s writing is relatable, funny and whip-smart. Her 2019 book I’m Fine and Neither Are You is one of my favorites of the past year. I was super excited to read This Won’t End Well and couldn’t wait to dive in when it arrived.
This book made me laugh out loud and I just find Pagán’s writing to be so approachable and enjoyable to read. I especially enjoyed the parts about the friend that is involved in multi-level marketing and it was just so spot on! I love books that take on the concept of finding a new beginning when life has thrown some curveballs.
Although I wasn’t sure at first if the writing style would be hard to follow as it is written in alternating chapters of email exchanges, text messages, and diary entries as that isn’t my preferred style of narration. It ended up totally working and was part of the quirky charm of this storyline.
Pagán is skilled at building multifaceted and memorable characters and I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
Where The Forest Meets The Stars by Glendy Vanderah | Lake Union Publishing | Book Review
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
Book Summary:
“After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.
The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.
Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?
Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.”
My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Review:
I initially glossed over this book because I wasn’t sure about the description but then I read a bunch of amazing review for it from my reading buddies and I had to see what it was all about.
This is such an example of not judging a book by its cover because it was so much more than I was expecting. I will admit, I don’t read books that are sci-fi or fantasy, EVER and I totally threw this one into that category and moved right along. One of the most wonderful things about being a part of the online reading community is the ability to be inspired to try books that are out of my comfort zone.
The gorgeous storytelling and amazing relationships in this book were the highlights of this book for me and I cannot believe this is Vanderah’s debut novel! While this book did have a paranormal aspect, that really wasn’t what stood out for me as the reader. The story of friendship, connection, and healing are so powerful and I am so happy I gave this one a chance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms | Lake Union Publishing | Book Review
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
Book Summary:
“Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for New York City.
Usually grounded and mild-mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a life filled with culture, sophistication, and—with a little encouragement from her friends—a few blind dates. When one man, in particular, makes quick work of Amy’s heart, she risks losing herself completely in the unexpected escape, and as the summer comes to an end, Amy realizes too late that she must make an impossible decision: stay in this exciting new chapter of her life, or return to the life she left behind.
But before she can choose, a crisis forces the two worlds together, and Amy must stare down a future where she could lose both sides of herself, and every dream she’s ever nurtured, in the beat of a heart.”
My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Review:
I chose The Overdue Life of Amy Byler from Amazon First Reads last month. If you want to learn more about what First Reads is, you can read my blog post about reading on a budget, HERE. I was definitely drawn in by the cover and the book summary as I am intrigued by any books that incorporate motherhood and reading. I have had pretty great luck with First Reads choices, in March I read I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan and it was one of my very favorites so far of 2019.
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler was fun, engaging and witty. This time of year I tend to gravitate towards “easy reads” and this fit the bill. I enjoyed the premise of this book and loved the unique twist on a mom realizing that you can be a great parent and also still make time to be “yourself’. Amy’s character was multidimensional and I enjoyed seeing her process of rediscovering herself after many years of feeling like “just a mom”.
“I get this now. I get now that you can love what you have, love your kids and your life and your friends, and still want more. I get that it’s ok to go out and get more-more love, more friendship, more fulfillment-and still be a wonderful mom…I finally understand that traditional math does not apply to mothers: I can be 100 percent a mother and, though it isn’t easy, still be 100 percent myself as well. It means changing how I think. It means understanding that to care for my children well, I must never again forget how to care for myself.” -Kelly Harms, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
Kelly Harm’s writing is relatable and although the story is a bit predictable, this book is a very enjoyable ride. Harms nails womanhood and motherhood and the constant and usually rarely successful struggle to “balance it all.” I definitely recommend adding this to your summer reading list!