I have yet to watch the show for this (waiting on the right time to finally get Hulu) but I'm dying to because this book was so deliciously full of coI have yet to watch the show for this (waiting on the right time to finally get Hulu) but I'm dying to because this book was so deliciously full of conflict and contrast! Set in the Stepford-like suburb of Shaker Heights, we follow the Richardson family's entanglement with the nomadic mother-daughter duo of Mia and Pearl. Friendships and connections form while secrets are threaded through each one of them, culminating in the book-opening scene of the Richardson home being burnt to the ground. With subtle themes of privilege and racial divide, this is a great book for our time....more
This was cute! It was...a little cheesy and embarrassing at times, but the overall premise was good and the tension between the main characters, SloanThis was cute! It was...a little cheesy and embarrassing at times, but the overall premise was good and the tension between the main characters, Sloan and Jason, was top notch. Sloan is two years a widow (sort of, she wasn't married but engaged) and having kind of a rough day. As she's driving along, a dog runs in front of her car and stops traffic. He ends up jumping into her sunroof and all but deciding that Sloan will be taking him home. After waiting two weeks for a response from the dog's owner and thinking that the dog is now hers, she finally hears back and he wants his dog back. He's out of town, so the two strike up a bit of a friendship over text and phone calls and by the time he's back in town, they have a date. What Sloan doesn't realize until the middle of their first date is that Jason is a rising rock star with all sorts of show biz drama trailing behind him. Things get complicated, but the way these characters care about each other is heartwarming and addicting. Super good!...more
This book was not at all what I thought it was! The story centers around Dannie who is a hyper-organized type A lawyer living in NYC. On the night of This book was not at all what I thought it was! The story centers around Dannie who is a hyper-organized type A lawyer living in NYC. On the night of her engagement (which she had planned to the last detail), she falls asleep and wakes up five years in the future. In this reality, she's living in a different apartment and seems to be engaged to a different man - one she's never met before. When she goes to sleep in this reality and wakes up again, she finds herself back where she was when she fell asleep on the night of her engagement. The dream (or whatever it was) leaves her reeling - she even goes to therapy to try and figure it out. After chalking it up to just a strange occurrence that she will probably never be able to explain, she meets the man from her dream - when her very best friend in the world introduces him as her new boyfriend. As the reader, you find yourself thinking her "dream man" was stolen by her best friend, even though Dannie has been engaged for years. But in the end, this story is not at all what it seems to be! I won't spoil anything but I'll just say - I cried pretty hard at this one. The depth of love and beauty in this story was not at all what I expected, and I mean that in the very best way....more
Loved iiiiit! So good. This book was published by an English author with a lot of British-sounding jargon that was a bit hard to wade through at firstLoved iiiiit! So good. This book was published by an English author with a lot of British-sounding jargon that was a bit hard to wade through at first. Give yourself some time to acclimate to that, because this book is SO worth it. If you're into the fake dating turned real trope, this one is going fly to the top of your favorites! After spending 18 years with the man she thought she'd spend her life with, Laurie is dumped by her boyfriend only to find out that he had a woman waiting for him - and she's pregnant. One evening as she's leaving work, she gets trapped in an elevator with the office playboy. The two strike up a deal to fake a relationship to not only make her ex jealous, but to help him appear settled and committed so he could get a promotion. Things get a bit dramatic, but they also get quite deep and unexpectedly emotional. It's not only a fun fake-to-real story, it's got some real life issues and deep connection that make the reader instantly attached to these characters. Highly recommend!...more
Don't judge me, haha. I heard a Booktuber recommend this book once and the name of it had stuck with me because, uh, it's kind of hilarious. I was in Don't judge me, haha. I heard a Booktuber recommend this book once and the name of it had stuck with me because, uh, it's kind of hilarious. I was in the longest hold lines everrr at the library and wanted to check out something fluffy that I didn't have to wait for, sooo here we are. And I have mixed feelings to share about it. Was it entertaining and indulgent and sexy? Yes. Was it almost embarrassingly corny? Also yes. There was....A LOT of cheese, including a cat who was apparently aroused by the sound of a woman meowing during sex. Not even joking. The entire cat arc of the series was beyond ridiculous - like this cat had characteristics that no cat in actual reality has ever, ever had. The cat was its own character in an almost personified way, and it totally ruined the validity of this woman for me at times. She once described letting her cat play with her ponytail and needing to shower after. Uh, people don't do that, lady. I'm sorry: I'm not sharing any of the plot with you because I'm so hung up on this damn cat. Basically, a woman moves into a new apartment that shares a wall with her neighbor who has a very active sex life. She can hear everything which causes her to lose sleep and they begin a reluctant friendship that, naturally, becomes more. If you can look past the cat and just enjoy the good parts, it's not terrible....more
The major theme of this book is perspective, and it was beautiful to see that explored in multiple ways. A mysterious character named Jones pops in anThe major theme of this book is perspective, and it was beautiful to see that explored in multiple ways. A mysterious character named Jones pops in and out of a small Alabama town just to care for and encourage its residents. His suggestions and advice change people's lives and he expects nothing in return. At the root of everything he does is changing perspectives, and that carries through to how people see him. Depending on a person's background, they know him by other names and appearances. At lot of the themes in the book were things I've heard before, but seeing them tied up in this lovely, giving little story was really great and you can't help but feel good after reading it!...more
Can you believe I hadn't read this before? I had a copy in my stash of "future classroom library" books that never made it to a classroom and always wCan you believe I hadn't read this before? I had a copy in my stash of "future classroom library" books that never made it to a classroom and always wanted to read it. I'm so glad I did! Despite being a bit dated in some aspects, Margaret's struggles are still very relevant to every young girl growing up. Her hurdles and milestones felt very familiar, and it was interesting to see her navigate the larger life and social struggles going on around her with an oblivious eye. Her perspective as a child old enough to get the basics but not yet capable of seeing the roots in life's problems was unique. Such a great point of view - both for tweens and parents of tweens!...more
I passed this book a few times at my library's book sale before I decided that I should probably just get it. It was so goofy looking, but I loved theI passed this book a few times at my library's book sale before I decided that I should probably just get it. It was so goofy looking, but I loved the idea of stretching my imagination for the sake of creativity. This book was so much more than that, though - it dove into the deep discussion of how traditional schooling, indoctrination into society, and attempting to be "be normal" and keep up with others dims our creative process. I consider myself to be a fairly creative person, but even I was hung up on some of the mental block exercises. I really appreciated the message that this book carried, as well as some of the practical exercises for stepping outside the norm to find something great....more
This was a quick and easy little book that made for a great morning coffee book. While the advice in this book was geared towards the Earthy, organizeThis was a quick and easy little book that made for a great morning coffee book. While the advice in this book was geared towards the Earthy, organized Virgo, there were a lot of good tips in here that are great for everyone. The author has a version for each sign of the zodiac, and I definitely recommend checking yours out! I picked up some great little tidbits from this book that I've utilized since reading it. ...more
This is a very quick and easy read that I flew through in about 30 minutes. Poetic and inspirational, this little book is like a work of art in a bookThis is a very quick and easy read that I flew through in about 30 minutes. Poetic and inspirational, this little book is like a work of art in a book's body. I enjoyed and appreciated it, but I guess I didn't rate it any higher than this because I didn't walk away from it with any specific, profound feelings. ...more
This was....blah. Another one whose synopsis fooled me! It had such a cute premise - a chance meeting at a party, a "what a small world" web of friendThis was....blah. Another one whose synopsis fooled me! It had such a cute premise - a chance meeting at a party, a "what a small world" web of friendships and crushes. Though it felt like once the conflict was introduced, the rest of the story was just dragged along for the ride. It had promise, but many of the characters and the writing were just not for me....more
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