me_alley's reviews
764 reviews

How to Sleep at Night: A Novel by Elizabeth Harris

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😭
Ethan Keller is running for Congress in a conservative district in New Jersey. He is a new conservative, a gay man in a devoted marriage with a young daughter. He believes that the way to change his party is from the inside, and wants to represent New Jersey in Congress. His husband, Gabe, is a history teacher at an elite Manhattan school. Gabe absolutely hates Ethan‘s politics, even though he loves his husband. They make some mistakes.

 Ethan‘s sister, Kate, is a reporter for one of the top newspapers in the country, (this is supposed to be the New York Times) she has never quite gotten over her college relationship with Nicole.  But, she appears on cable news programs often and her career is soaring. She makes some mistakes

Nicole is the mother of an eight-year-old and a five-year-old, married to Austin, who loves to golf. Nichole is a good mom and housewife, but she cannot shake the idea that she was meant for something else in this world, beyond her relationship to her husband and children. One day, she sees her former flame Kate on a cable news program. She makes some mistakes.

I honestly had a hard time rating this. It’s very well written, and I know that it will stay with me for a long time. One great thing I can say about this book is that Donald Trump doesn’t appear to exist in this universe. But the same kind of political environment definitely exists in their world as exists in our today. I do feel like it is a realistic portrayal of what it is like to be in a marriage where your politics are different, your ideas behind relationships are different. Even what it is like to be queer in America. This really just isn’t my type of story, because, I’m pretty big on happy endings, hopeful stories, and my favorite books can best be described as heartwarming. This is not that. It would be PollyAnnaIsh to attack this subject matter in that way, so I don’t think it could have been any less depressing. It’s interesting that this book will come out a few weeks before the inauguration. Four years after the attempted coup at the capitol. Interesting timing, William Morrow. Elizabeth Harris is an author to watch. 

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc. Book to be published January 7, 2025.

#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover  #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #howtosleepatnight

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Frank, a UPS Driver from rural Pennsylvania, ostensibly thrilled to hear from his estranged daughter Maggie after three long years.  She is getting married to a billionaire’s son at a luxury resort in New Hampshire and she wants him to come.  Along with his sister Tammy and her foster daughter, they make their way to the coast.  Soon they realize that there is more to the family than meets the eye.  Do the townsfolk blame them for things because they are the rich folks in town? Or is there something more sinister going on? 

The secrets are revealed pretty slowly in this one, there is a big build up and the secrecy is better than the reveal.  Frank tries to protect his only daughter at all costs, but is pretty blinded to her obvious character flaws.  I was a bit disappointed in the ending, but it was overall a good mystery that I didn’t want to put down.  I listened to the full audiobook in one day without stopping!

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio and @flatiron_books for the ARC.  Book to be released October 7, 2024.

#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover  #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations #thelastoneatthewedding

Some Other Time by Angela Brown

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Some Other Time is a moving book based on relationships, the path not traveled, parental expectations, and is a book for anyone who ever wondered what their life would be like….if only.  

49 year old Ellie and her husband Jonah have just announced their divorce to their only daughter, Maggie, and her parents, Bunny and Frank.  No one wants to hear it.  The family is less than enthusiastic about the split, which they feel is simply unnecessary.  But Ellie can’t shake the idea that her life would be different without the trappings of her identity being wrapped up in her role as wife and mom.  

Sliding Doors, Vanilla Sky, The Butterfly Effect; there have been many movies and books along this theme, so to have another version of this feel so creative, so real and so raw is pleasantly surprising.  This book hits home that although you have several other possible lives; there is beauty in the simplicity of each one. 

Ellie’s father Frank gets the pinnacle line: “sometimes, Ellie, I think your mother feels that people get all wrapped up in the notion that their life has to be so big, so earth shattering, that they forget how significant a simple and quiet life can be, too. How meaningful love and commitment are in such an unpredictable world.”

I loved Angela Brown’s first book, Olivia Strauss is running Out of Time, which is another contemporary women’s fiction book that introduces magical/fantasy elements in a pragmatic way.  I love the way she develops characters through unexplained fantasy elements.  It’s a great way to explore human nature while not having to play by the rules of our actual world.  

Thanks to @netgalley and Little A for the ARC.   Book to be published February 4, 2024.  

#someothertime #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booklover  #arcreview #booktok #netgalley #bookrecommendations 

Behind Every Good Man by Sara Goodman Confino

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.75

A historical women's fiction with some romance.  Feminist and equality message, with great male ally characters.    There is a "face turn" I don't want to give away, really enjoyed all of the characters.   Beverly is the daughter of a congressman and a socialite, when she has young kids she finds her husband in an affair with his young secretary and throws him out.    Because she dropped out of college years ago to marry him, she is unqualified to work.   But due to her cleverness and resourcefulness, she soon starts to work on the campaign for the rival senate candidate of her soon to be ex.   This is a new author to me, I really LOVED this book, what a nice surprise.   I read a great review from a friend and it was recommended because one of my top books of 2024 is Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books- if you liked that you will like this also.   Really great surprise of the week.   Fun uplifting read!  Made me grateful for women having the right to vote and how far we have come.   Enjoyable!

We Three Kings by Kristen Bailey

emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A festive and fun holiday rom com.  I laughed as much as I “aww’ed,” lower levels of spice, (my preference)- a coworker romance and really strong witty banter and strong character development of the supporting characters.  I am adding Kristen Bailey’s other books to my “To read” list.  If you like holiday romance, this is not one to miss.  

Set in the UK, Maggie is what we call “adorkable” the IT manager who has the difficult task of knowing who to let go and make redundant.   That is….RIGHT after the holidays.  Maggie keeps this a secret from her team of 3– Leo, Jasper and Frank.  With Leo she has great chemistry and mutual attraction, she helps fake dating Frank to his cousin’s wedding (which is a very funny segment) and visits Jasper’s posh family, where he is half in and half out of the closet.  Over the holiday she spends part with each of the “3 kings” on her team.  

I found the dialogue to be excellent, the humor lighthearted while heartwarming, and the story easy to read and follow.  Great for fans of Sarah Adams and Tessa Bailey. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.  Book to be published October 14, 2024. 

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

challenging funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 25 year old Ember is tired of getting rejected for the office jobs she knows she can do.  She wonders if this may be because she is Native American.   Because her father was white, she checks the “white” box, and while she is at it, decides to take some liberties about her education as well.  Before you know it, she is executive assistant to a CEO.  This job pays way more than the bowling alley, and she is able to get by with her ingenuity.  The IT guy is a nice distraction, as he is gorgeous, but they are not alllowed to date unless they formally register with HR.  And she’s just not willing to take that risk.  

If you like contemporary romance and looking for more representation, I have great news- this is a great story.  It has a lot of the romance tropes you know and love, but also realities of micro aggressions and the odds being stacked against you.  This book is funny and really enjoyable.  The backstories are really interesting and very much add to the story.  I loved the audiobook narration as well.  

There is also a MBA bro villain with the perfect name- Kyle- you will love to hate.  

I am adding Danica Nava to my auto-pre-order author list.  

The Wedding Party: An addictive psychological thriller full of twists and turns set on a sweltering Australian beach by Rebecca Heath

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book goes back-and-forth between a three day time period leading up to Adele and Jason‘s wedding, and 12 years ago when Adele‘s former boyfriend died. The story centers around how and why Ollie died, his sister Sophie, his mother, Melanie. Sophie and Melanie are both involved in the wedding, Along with Jason and Adele‘s parents. This very much read like a soap opera, if you like a lot of melodrama, this book might be a good one for you. I found a lot of it to be a little unbelievable and at times dragged on and then other times rushed, I really just didn’t like the pacing. There were few likable characters in this novel. That said, it doesn’t take a lot of thought process, and could be good if you need something that is a story to escape into. I would’ve liked to have heard more about the island in Australia, the setting. Again, I don’t want to give away any of the plot points, but there was what I would consider to be an awful lot of extreme drama.  

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria Books for the arc. Book to be released January 23, 2025.

Once More from the Top by Emily Layden

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Dylan Read is a Grammy award winning songwriter, who takes inspiration from her love life and relationships to create songs that resonate.   Her story reminds me of Britney or Taylor Swift.  Her best friend Kelsey goes milling while they are in high school, shortly thereafter she moves to Nashville to begin her career.   The book goes back and forth between current times and her discography.   Great for those of you who like to read books about the music industry, Honey and Daisy Jones and the Six.  The ,yesteryear of Kelsey,s disappearance was ,y favorite part of the book.  

The Trial Period by Auburn Morrow

funny lighthearted 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? No

4.5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sometimes all you need is a really sweet YA queer romcom.  4.5 stars rounded up.  Parker and Lizzie share the same beat friend, Camille.   Neither of them can keep a relation going for more than a couple of weeks.  Then starts the fake dating for 30 days trial in which they will date from October 1-30.  Parker has to deal with stalking her ex, Emily’s instagram.  Lizzie loves music but has stage fright.   I don’t know how they were ever enemies as they are really cute together.  I was really rooting for them to fall for each other.  They had great banter, loved the fresh dialogue and sense of humor throughout.  Camille is caught in the middle although this is not a love triangle situation.   I really appreciated that Parker identified as bi but there was no rival boy thrown in just to make that part of the character.   I think it’s important to show bi characters who aren’t portrayed as being indecisive or sexually promiscuous.   As this is a YA romance, it was really clean, which I like, spicy scenes in romance I find cringy.  I would like to see a sequel where Camille is the main character.  

Thanks to @NetGalley and @wattpadbooks for the ARC.  Book to be released February 4, 2025.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75