Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 336 pages
Published: August 2024

I first heard about Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg via the Modern Mrs. Darcy virtual book club's annual Summer Reading Guide publication in 2024. A couple of months later, I picked up a copy of the romcom at my local Barnes & Noble bookstore, but I didn't get around to reading it until about a year later. I read this as a sort of buddy read with my long distance reading friend who resides in New York. I consumed my copy while making annotations on the page as she did the same with The Love Simulation by Etta Easton, then we swapped books. (More to come on The Love Simulation later!) Thanks to the bookstagram community for the fun activity! 

My chosen novel follows the fictional lives of Hope Evans and Adrian Hollis-Parker who were both colleagues in the field of shark research and committed romantic partners until life got in the way causing them to call it quits. An opportunity in the summer allows Hope to relocate from Michigan to Florida to get her professional life back on track. When Adrian realizes that Hope will be working with him, tension ensues and the reader is given a front row seat to former lovers turned friends navigating the waters in hopes of finding themselves again. 

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were realistic, and the representation of Black professionals in a S.T.E.M. field was refreshing. I also enjoyed the references to nearby Chicago (one of my favorite cities) when the novel opes and Hope is living up north. Overall, this is your traditional romance-comedy mash-up. It's light, somewhat predictable, and injected with humor. However, there are some heavy topics that are addressed in a relevant and sensitive manner, which I fully appreciated. The plot is captivating and intertwines themes of resilience and self-discovery. The author does a great job of crafting a narrative that explores the complexities of interpersonal relationships, but also writing in such a way that draws the reader into the emotional plot while creating a smooth chain of events. My only criticism of this novel is that some scenes seemed to drag on just a bit too long, often lasting several pages and even an entire chapter. I would have appreciated a little faster paced novel. 

Recommendation: Second Tide's the Charm is a beautifully-written exploration of romantic persistence, proving that love has transformative power. Readers of contemporary fiction are sure to love Blumberg's work. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo-Rice

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 359 pages
Published: July 202

Full confession, sometimes I do judge a book by its cover, and I found the cover of The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo-Rice to be completely regal. In the opening of this contemporary women's fiction novel, we meet four long-time girlfriends who are on the verge of opening the bookstore of their dreams. But before the literary haven they've planned for the community can open, each character encounters a crisis that independently seems insurmountable. When they realize they are stronger together, the result is an engaging read about the power of women, community, friendships, and books! 

While I may have judged the book by its cover, I found the premise promising. The story was equally interesting, heartwarming, and emotional. The group of four was diverse, and I loved how each character was distinct. Through her lyrical prose and well-developed characters, Lindo-Rice brought me into her world, and I soon found myself wanting to be part of the fictional sisterhood portrayed in her novel. My only critique is I think the book could have been a bit shorter with some strategic editing. 

Recommendation: Overall, I found The Bookshop Sisterhood to be a delightful and uplifting read that resonated with me as a contemporary woman who adores all things literary. I recommend this book as the perfect choice for someone looking for a feel-good story. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 68 pages
Published: December 2024

If you know anything about my reading life you should know Fredrik Backman is my auto-read author. I enjoy how he constructs sentences and crafts novels. So, when Amazon offered his short story as one of the free selections for the First Reads program, I promptly downloaded my copy. It didn't hurt that we were discussing and sharing short stories in my Literary Society the following month. 

The Answer is No is a fast-paced, lighthearted, and funny short story about the complexities and absurdities of human relationships. The story centers around Lucas who lives in an apartment complex unit and just wants to say yes to playing his video game, eating his pad Thai, and having a little wine, and no to pretty much everything else. Through Backman's witty prose, the story quickly grows to include Lucas' surrounding neighbors, and what seems like a simply superficial story is actually a bit deeper. The author does what he excels at by blending lighthearted moments with profound honesty.

Backman's writing always provides all the feels, and this one did not disappoint. I found myself chuckling at one moment and pondering the human condition the next. He is a masterful storyteller, and I think this book is no exception. 

Recommendation: I definitely give a thumbs up on this quick read. While short, it is a thought-provoking and satisfying read for those who enjoy contemporary/modern fiction. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 438 pages
Published: February 2023

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai is a fictional mystery story with protagonist Bodie Kane. A successful podcaster, she returns to her boarding school to teach a class in podcasting. Her students are tasked with creating a three-episode podcast surrounding a specific topic. Two of the students choose to work together on the criminal case that involved the murder of Bodie's roommate while she attended the school several decades prior. From there, the reader is taken on this detailed journey narrated by the main character in an attempt to find out if justice had really been served all those years ago when a school staff member was arrested, tried, and convicted of the crime back in the 90s. 

Mysteries used to be my favorite genre, but they are quickly giving way to literary fiction as I am enjoying stylistic writing rather than a catchy plot with an unbelievable twist. In this book, I think the author was trying to do too much and make too many statements. There was a lot of clutter that wasn't fully fleshed out. I also found the main character's narration where she was speaking to her former teacher to be unreliable and confusing. I understan, in mysteries, an element of confusion is often used to keep the reader guessing, engaged, and invested in the story, but this just frustrated me. I was also disappointed in the racial aspects of the story, and I don't think they were really needed. 

This book was just too much with little payoff in the end. I had a hard time staying engaged and put it down often. I've heard great things about Makkai's earlier work, The Great Believers, and I think I might pick that up and give her storytelling another try. 

Recommendation: My overall take on this book: meh. I can take it or leave it. It was a hefty book with many characters to wade through that ended with an unsatisfying conclusions. If I knew then what I know now, I would have invested my time reading something else. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Duration: 9:03:00
Published: March 2019

I had been hearing about Daisy Jones and the Six for years … probably ever since it published … then again when the limited series aired on Amazon Prime Video. I kept thinking I should try reading it, but other books got top billing. Well, an Audible promotion and recommendation that Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel is best listened to prompted me to download an audio copy. And now, I am a fan girl of a totally fictional band. 

The story centers around Daisy Jones and a young band called The Six, led by the Dunne brothers. Both Daisy, as a solo artist, and The Six are trying to make a go of it in the music industry filled with underage sex and an overabundance of alcohol and drugs. Separate chance encounters with a successful producer provide the impetus for him to put the two together. There is a lot of conflict and sexual tension between Daisy and the older Dunne brother, Billy, that fuels the fire for creativity and catapults the group to stardom. Then, at the height of their success, the group disbands never to play together again and no one knows why. The present-day story is set up in documentary style, decades later, with each member sharing through flashbacks their respective memories and perspective on what happened. 

The audiobook is truly a treat to listen to. There’s a cast of characters, many of whom are well-known actors, who take on the personality traits of each character and really make the story come to life. While listening I kept wanting to hear the music. And that’s the bonus about Daisy Jones and the Six, Reese Witherspoon as producer with writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber bring the story to life. I am typically a person who always says the book was better. And the book was good, but the musical drama made the story so much better, allowing the characters to show us the chemistry among them just as well as Jenkins Reid told us. 

Recommendation: I highly recommend consuming this story via audio, and I equally recommend watching the TV series after you read the book. As with most adaptations, there were some liberties taken. And then, when you’re still jonesing (pun intended) for more, take a listen to the soundtrack on Spotify. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 416 pages
Published: April 2023

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez is the second in a series. I purchased and read the first Book of the Month Selection, Part of Your World, in 2022. So, naturally when BOTM published the second book in 2023, I snapped it up quickly. And just like the first, this story did not disappoint. As I mentioned before, Jimenez's books are romcoms with substance. She does an delicate job of balancing sobering topics with timely humor and bringing it all together for a satisfying conclusion. 

The second book in this series focuses on the best friend, Dr. Bri Ortiz, of the main character in the first. We meet Bri, ER doctor, on the tail end of a humiliating divorce where she's trying to regain her self-worth while also attempting to beat the clock on finding a kidney donor for her brother. As it so happens in many romcoms, a timely meet-cute (or maybe in this instance meet-conflict) ensues with one Dr. Jacob Maddox who is equally good-looking as he is good-hearted and who also happens to be on the heels of a horrible break-up. To boot, he just so happens to have recently joined the ER staff at Bri's hospital. As it were, one thing leads to another and these professional colleagues move past their initial conflict and strike up a friendship through a situational fake dating scenario. 

With this being a romcom, I don't think I'd be giving to much away to say the story follows a friends-to-lovers plotline. However, that is not the jewel of Jimenez's book. In both of the books in this series, she tackles serious issues such as depression, anxiety, loss of pregnancy and thoughts of suicide. She artfully presents these in a thoughtful way while not weighing the book (or the reader!) down too much. (Hint: Think Grey's Anatomy but in book form.)  

Recommendation: I truly enjoy Jimenez's writing style, and I can't honestly say if I loved this book more than the first. They are both equally engaging on their own. The books do follow in chronological order; however, I believe they can be consumed as stand-alone stories, with some character overlap in each. So, it is my reader's opinion, that it is not necessary to read them in order. I highly recommend picking up either copy today. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More