juanat77's reviews
124 reviews

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise 

This is my second Colleen Oakley novel and won’t be my last.  The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise is a funny, lighthearted, charming novel about friendships and family with a subtle message of what it is to be a female. Tanner, who loses her college scholarship due to an injury, moves into Louise’s, an octogenarian, home to become her caregiver. At first they don’t get along due to their age differences but when a circumstance forces them to go on the run they learn from each other and bond. 

Louise: “Sometimes it just feels like we spend so much time trying to teach the house not to catch fire, instead of teaching the arsonist not to light it.”

Fast paced. Great character development. Engaging. Mystery. A couple of twists I did not see coming. I wish I could read it for the first time again. 

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#themostlytruestoryoftannerandlouise
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Greatest Lie of All by Jillian Cantor

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow! This novel captured me from chapter one. I ‘m going to remember these characters for a long time. It has Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes (but not the same at all)  which I also loved. 

This novel dives into the glamorous life of Hollywood (actors and authors) and covers  truth, lies, ambition, romance, heartbreak and so so many secrets. There were quite a few twists. I guessed a couple but I didn’t see the rest coming. 

It is a well written story with dual POV and past/present narratives.  The author tied up the story perfectly. Not one loose end. I recommend this book to fans of Taylor Jenkins Smith and anyone who loves mysteries, thrillers with a touch or two of romance. 

Thank you NetGalley, Jillian Cantor and Park Row for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Releases 12/3/24
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Inheritance by Nora Roberts

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a beautiful story about grief and also finding love—-with humor throughout to balance it out but you definitely still feel the emotions. Lenny (who gave me Jess from New Girl vibes) is grieving for the death of her best friend, Lou. She’s having a horrible time moving forward until she meets Miles (who experienced his own grief) who helps her navigate and heal through this difficult journey. Their relationship is sweet and their banter perfection.

Wow. What can I say. I loved this book. I laughed. I was emotional. I felt hope. I lost my Grandfather a few years ago and it was very difficult to move on—-just like Lenny. Through my grief and depression I was still able to joke, be a little weird (in a fun and good way) and laugh—just like Lenny. 

I felt like this book was written for me. I was so connected to it. I cannot imagine life without my best friend. I don’t want to. Like Lou, my best friend is wacky, funny, loyal, smart and just overall amazing. Shout out to my girl DCO!! I really bonded with this story….as you can tell.

The story can be heavy and even heartbreaking but it is also uplifting and funny. My life too has been heavy and heartbreaking but it’s also been fun and inspiring. I have difficulty with emotions but Cara Bastone has a way of giving me all the heart feels. 

I also want to add I appreciate how the author handled the sex scene. It wasn’t so….for lack of a better word “porn.” It was awkward. It was funny. It was sweet. Which is more realistic than what I’ve read in other stories. 

So obviously I loved this book! Also to add, Cara Bastone is an auto buy author for me. Check out her previous novel “ Ready or not.” She also has a romance (and also humorous) series on Audible which I devoured. The narration and performance is muy excelente. 

5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley ,@carabastone and @thedialpress for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres because I always learn something.  In this novel I learned about the canary girls who made contributions to World War I. While the men were fighting women were working. The canary girls worked in what was called “The Danger Building” in which they handled and were exposed (wearing little protective gear) to toxic levels of explosives including TNT which turned their skin yellow and caused many ailments. 

Even though the women worked long hours seven days a week they still played football for people to enjoy since the professional footballers were away.

The book was well-written and you can tell the author thoroughly researched this time period. She was able to beautifully tell the story of female empowerment.

This is my first Jennifer Chiaverini novel and I’m eager to read more.  

4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Thank you @netgalley and @thedialpress for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I flew through this one! Like Mother, Like Mother is a character-driven multigenerational family story with intricate relationships. The author captures the complexities of the relationships beautifully. Well written. The book jumps around different timelines but the transitions were flawless.

I loved this story. I’m going to miss the characters! I ‘d recommend this to anyone who enjoys character-driven novels and reading about mother/daughter relationships. 

4.5 stars!! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Kissing Kosher is a light, funny, quick read but it also details serious issues such as chronic illness. The book is about two Jewish rival bakeries—the grandfather of one of the bakeries sends in his grandson to go undercover and work for their rival to steal a secret recipe but of course he falls for the granddaughter who is also his boss. I gave the storyline 3.5 stars but the knowledge I received about the Jewish community and chronic illness brought it up to 4 stars. The author was very informative but still able to make the story a rom-com. Laughing and learning—what is better than that?
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

I don’t want to give away anything. I went into it blindly and recommend you do too. It is an intricate tale told in multiple perspectives with numerous twists. A couple I saw coming but others I did not. Besides the mysteries, there is a focus on mother-daughter relationships. I was throughly engaged from beginning to end. There was a lot going on but it tied up beautifully. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys twisty, suspenseful, and mystery thrillers! 

4.5 stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#alicefeeney #goodbadgirl #flatironbooks
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Book of the month by Jennifer Probst

Thank you @netgalley and Blue Box Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun and light read. Fake dating. Small town romance. Grumpy sunshine. It also had the infamous third act break up and miscommunication—-two of my least favorite tropes. Open door romance—though I prefer closed. 

The FMC is an author who basically has writers block. She decides to visit her visit in the OBX and decides to have a summer romance with the intent of having her heart broken so she could write a novel with strong emotions. The  premise was unique I like that; even if it was a bit unbelievable. I was not a fan of the FMC’s decisions and assuming so much.

Overall, it’s a cute beach read. There’s going to be a book with two side characters (who I actually prefer over the FMC and MMC) from Book of the Month. I’m invested now and will read the next book. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️ three stars!!

#jenniferprobst #bookofthemonth #blueboxpress
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Debutantes by Olivia Worley

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Debutantes by Olivia Worley

Thank you @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I didn’t expect to like this one so much! It’s a Young Adult mystery thriller set in NOLA. The author did an awesome job of describing New Orleans. I could picture it clearly. There are multiple POVs and takes place in the present. 
 
I did guess a couple twists but there were others that surprised me. This was a quick read for me. Page turner. I was hooked the entire time I was reading it. 

It has strong female leads. It reminded me a bit of Pretty Little Liars which I loved. The Debutantes would be a great movie or even one of those limited series that’s so popular now. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes murder mysteries, thrillers, parental drama, twists, complicated friends and a splash of romance.

4 stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Releases 10/29/24

#thedebutantes #wednesdaybooks #oliviaworley
Expand filter menu Content Warnings