February was a great month for reading. I read six different works, most of which were on the romance front and one being my first 5 star read of the year! I was just in the mood for romance during love month I guess! I’ve been reading a bit more short stories this year and have come to realize that it’s a great way to try out some authors that you haven’t read from yet. Almost like a taste test if you will? I’m eager to pick up more works from authors I have yet to read from and add their books to my never ending TBR.
Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey 2.5 / 5 stars
Sumner, the very good looking hockey player and the best on the team, is deeply in love with Britta, the local bar owner who is adored by many in her town. While Britta has a strict policy on not dating hockey players she has a soft spot for Sumner. With Sumner’s work visa expiring right before he could be moved up to the NHL, Britta is proposed with a proposition to help Sumner’s dreams come true- while at the same time breaking her dating policy.. I honestly expected more from Tessa Bailey’s writing on this one. I know with novellas there’s only so much time to develop a strong plot and storyline but we don’t know much going in about the history of these two characters and it’s not conveyed later in the story either. This was my first sports romance and it felt overly.. forced? Especially with the work visa scenario. Tessa Bailey is well-known for her smutty writing and romance novels, however this one I’d say doesn’t compare to her other books that are loved by so many. You could definitely skip this one.
No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall 3 / 5 stars
This is the second book I’ve read by Kate Alice Marshall but my first adult fiction. We are introduced to three young sisters who are at the center of their parents unsolved murder. The different perspectives as well as the dual timeline, going from their childhood when their parents are murdered to present day, kept me intrigued throughout the story. This one was a bit of a slow burn in the middle, and while the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I’d hoped, I did enjoy my time reading this overall. Marshall does a great job at setting the scene with her descriptive writing style, something I also enjoyed in her previous book as well.
Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid 4 / 5 stars
When a woman finds letters addressed to her husband from another woman, she decides to write a letter to her husband letting him know of the affair. This entire short story is written in letter format making this a quick read. If there’s anyone who can write a short story drama well, it’s TJR. The last page got me so good, I wasn’t prepared. I also wasn’t expecting to be so taken aback by these characters through a mere 88 pages, but I absolutely was. I thought about this short story days after reading it and couldn’t stop thinking how well it was written! If you’re looking for a fast-paced, domestic drama then you need to read this!
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton 5 / 5 stars
This was my first audiobook of the year and my goodness it was a great one. In this memoir, Alderton talks as if she’s your big sister offering advice through her own stories of love, friendship, and life. She’s spilling all of her beautiful, messy feelings leaving no stone unturned. This deep dive into someone else’s life through her own storytelling abilities made this such an intimate read for me. I’ve always been one to listen to a memoir, especially when the narrator is the author themselves, and I must say this has become my favorite memoir I’ve ever read. I laughed, I cried, I felt for Alderton and related to her on multiple occasions listening to her rehash the stories of her life that ultimately led to lessons learned. My first 5 star of the year and it’s so well deserved.
Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez 4 / 5 stars
Continuing on with the Improbable Meet-Cute collection from Amazon Prime we have the second short story written by one of my favorite authors, Abby Jimenez. In this story we meet Holly who is a hospice nurse dealing with her grandmother who is in declining health. On Valentine’s Day Holly finds a Valentine’s Day card on her windshield after work which then evolves into a string of cheeky love notes and sweet gestures being passed between her and a mystery man. This story was so sweet and charming I wish it would’ve been a full novel. This heartwarming short story about family, loss, love, a dog (always a favorite addition I come to find in a lot of Abby’s books), and learning to take chances again was one I loved. Jimenez always manages to make anything she puts her hands on wonderful and this was no exception!
The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner 4 / 5 stars
Do you ever wish you could just redo an entire year? Where you can start all over and do things differently? From losing a job she loved where she was under valued to coming off an awful break-up to then getting kicked our of her apartment, our main character Sadie is looking to hit the rewind button and redo her awful year. At a NYE party Sadie meets a fortune teller who grants her her wish to go back in time a year so she can make the changes that she ultimately believes will change her fate forever. This book was such a fun read! I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, and I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about this book. A great choice for a palate cleanser in between your heavier reads, I can’t recommend this enough.
