Chuck and Kate are on their way home for Christmas with their families and will finally tell their parents that they've broken up after ten years of being together. Except one lie and misunderstanding leads to another and snowballs into something neither of them planned.

Did I download this book one day and read it in its entirety the next day? Yes, yes, I did.

While this story takes place at Christmas, it doesn't feel Christmas-heavy, if that makes any sense. It was more focused on Chuck and Kate and the dynamic they had with their family. It was just the book I needed to ease me into Christmas reading.

I was slightly put off by how a couple of misunderstandings escalated so quickly, but I appreciated the humor surrounding it. Chuck and Kate worried too much about what their parents would think and how they would handle the breakup, so they didn't give them enough credit. Their parents may have put some unrealistic expectations on Chuck and Kate, but they were supportive and wanted their kids to be happy.

Overall, I loved how the story tied up so nicely in the end. At the end, a bonus deleted epilogue is available by signing up for Camilla Isley's newsletter. Did this girl sign up? Yes, yes, I did.

Check out Fool Me Twice for free until the end of December 2023! 💕

Planes, Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart

Go to review page

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

Cassidy is on her way home for her sister's wedding. Luke is on his way home for a surprise visit with his family. Together, nothing can stop them from getting to California even though everything seems to try.

I loved this comical, adventurous little gem from start to finish!

The banter between Cassidy and Luke wasn't your typical enemies-to-lovers type. Cassidy's kindness goes a long way, but unknowingly, Luke pushed her to her limits reasonably early on, and her no-nonsense attitude toward him kept my attention. Between Luke's innocent charm and Cassidy's easy friendliness, they found some common ground and decided to work together to get home in one piece.

While Cassidy and Luke's family issues and struggles motivated them to continue their trip, it didn't stop them from taking time out for themselves and each other. If you can survive a cross-country trip with the struggles these two characters faced, I'm pretty sure you can survive anything.

And whoa - the tension build-up and spice in this book just about melted my Kindle screen! 😮‍💨 I'm not sure I'll think about a convertible the same way again. 🥵

Thank you, Livy Hart, Entangled Publishing LLC, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Content Warnings

French Holiday by Sarah Ready

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

French Holiday was my third Sarah Ready read, and I was not disappointed!

This story hooked me right from the start and sucked me. Merry's best friend and love of her life is marrying her little sister, Angela. Merry's job is downright miserable. How do you cope? By running away to France to live in your godmother's castle, find inspiration, and maybe a French man named Pierre.

I loved the backdrop for the story. The descriptions of France made me feel like I was there enjoying the food and wine, and man, did I need that this time of year. It was like living my own escape through Merry, and it was divine.

I loved the characters Sarah created and the situations she put them in. I felt Merry's hurt and pain as she watched her sister marry her best friend. I felt the cringe Merry felt at her HR job. I felt the hope and spark of the possibility of starting over with someone new.

I loved the unpredictable, broody, yet lovable Noah. He was a grand reminder that people are more than they seem and, if given a chance, will be vulnerable and let you be vulnerable with them. I'm not sure he was perfect, but I'm not sure he needed to be. He was just… surprisingly wonderful.

I laughed when Merry fought a lobster.

I'm not sure I could have loved this story anymore. And Sarah Ready is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

This book is perfect if you like:

💋 Enemies-to-lovers

💃🏻 A story about starting over

🛏️ Only one bed

👻 Ghost stories

🦞 One feisty lobster

🕵️‍♀️ A little bit of mystery

Thank you, Sarah Ready, Swift & Lewis Publishing, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Baby, One More Time by Camilla Isley

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

There's nothing like a great second-chance romance. Baby One More Time is the second in Camilla Isley's True Love series and takes place simultaneously as the first book in the series, Not in a Billion Years. It's an exciting addition to the story, but it doesn't mean the reader must read the first book to enjoy it.

Baby One More Time was an easy, lovable read! But there was something about John's character that I couldn't get behind one hundred percent. Maybe it was my loyalty toward Marissa because of her bond with Blake between the two books. Perhaps it was that I felt John's excuse for leaving Marissa behind was a little weak, even if they were young when it happened. Ultimately, I felt warmer toward John by the end of the story, but still, there was something about him I couldn't quite get over.

I think Thomas, Gabriel's brother, will be the third book in the True Love series. He was the fun, pesky brother to Gabriel in Not in a Billion Years and made a brief appearance in this book. I cannot wait to see what he gets into!

Thank you, Camilla Isley, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This was a beautiful, thought-provoking story about wishing to skip to the 'good part' of life, only to realize that life is always messy and complicated.

Sophie Cousens does an amazing job showing Lucy's shift in responsibilities and priorities as she comes to terms with her 42-year-old self from when she was a single, kid-less 26-year-old. Lucy didn't adjust well initially, making for embarrassing and funny moments, but once she realized this was now her life, everything changed. I appreciated how her mental health was depicted and incorporated into the storyline - imagine waking up with a completely different life and what it would do to you emotionally. With a great support system, anything is bearable.

Felix was one of my favorite characters. He initially assumes aliens took over Lucy's body but agrees to help her find the wishing portal. Felix keeps Lucy honest and, at times, tugs at your heartstrings.

But the part that got to me the most was the ending. Grab your tissues, friends, because it will get you just like it got me. Life is a gift - treasure every moment with your friends and family.

Thank you, Sophie Cousens, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Bought by Willow Winters, Lauren Landish

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

3.0

More...

arizona_foster's reviews 56 reviews

arizona_foster's reviews
56 reviews