Set in Texas during the Dust Bowl, The Four Winds tells the story of Elsa Martinelli and her struggle to do anything to protect her children. Elsa marries Rafe after getting pregnant and her family disowning her. She moves into his family home and helps run their farm. When the drought starts Rafe leaves her and her children, Loreda and Ant. She stays with her in laws trying to help keep the farm running, but when Ant gets dust pneumonia, Elsa makes the decision to take her children to California in hopes of a better life.

I wasn’t really sure how I would feel about this book when I found out what it was about. I read The Grapes of Wrath in college and honestly found it kind of boring. I’m so glad I went with my gut and trusted that Kristin Hannah would make this book anything but boring because this book was amazing!

I loved everything about this book. It had me enthralled from the beginning straight through the end. This book is very character driven, and I thought there were so many great characters. Elsa is such an amazing character. Her strength is such an inspiration even though she doesn’t see how strong she actually is. Rose and Tony, Elsa’s in-laws, were great characters too. The love they showed Elsa and her kids even after their son left them, was so moving. Loreda was a spitfire and full of spunk. I loved how she wanted to fight for what’s right. Ant was at times the comic relief and heart we needed in such a serious and depressing story.

Kristin Hannah did such an amazing job in setting the tone of this era and describing the situations they were in. Her descriptions of the farm, the drive to cross country, and the camp they lived in were all done so well that I felt transported there. Make sure you read the author’s note at the end of the book because she lets you know what was fictional in this book.

This is a book about female empowerment and strength. It’s about a mother’s love for her children and the lengths she’ll go to make sure they have what they need to survive. Like other Kristin Hannah books, you’ll definitely need a box of tissues nearby while reading it. There were a few times I found myself crying.

There’s definitely a reason Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. The Four Winds is my favorite book I’ve read this year, and I can definitely see it staying at the top of the list.

I wanted to love this because a YA Fantasy take on King Arthur sounds so cool, but I found myself confused a lot of the time. I listened to the audiobook, and although I thought the narrator was great, it was hard to understand some of the names and terms.

I had never read this book when I was younger so figured it was time. I really enjoyed it and the life lessons!

I have a hit or miss for YA romance, but this was a hit! Addie was at a wedding in Ireland after having her had her broken. All she asked was to visit her bestie in Italy, but her trip goes wrong! Her and her brother, Ian, join his friend, Rowan, on a super fun road trip across Ireland.

This book was so cute! I loved the story of boy meets girl (stranger trope), on a trip across Ireland! Sign me up! Addie finds a guide book showing her through Ireland, but with a twist...it’s titled “Ireland for the Heartbroken”. When her and Rowan decide to follow it the fun begins!

I really liked this second book in the series. I didn’t need to read the first book, and you too can get away without reading it.

Although I loved Addie, Rowan was my favorite character. A guy who eats “sugar cereal” can’t go wrong! Plus he drives a Volkswagen. What’s not to love? Well, he does the guide book with her and we find out so much more!

Love & Luck is so cute! Addie is a character that I think most girls can relate to, and Rowan is the nice guy that sometimes we need.

Prudence and Quint are high school lab partners. Pru is an overachiever while Quint lives a more relaxed lifestyle. When they get a C in their class, Pru wants to do extra credit over the summer, but Quint is not on board with spending his summer working on a school project. When Pru hits her head after singing "Instant Karma" by John Lennon she gets the ability to cast instant karma on those around her that she feels are doing wrong. The only person she can’t use this power on is Quint. When she discovers more about Quint and how he volunteers at his mother’s animal rescue center, she offers to volunteer as long as he does the extra credit with her.

This was a cute young adult contemporary romance with some magical realism thrown in. Prudence is a bit stuck up, but she’s a smart teenage girl with her head on straight, which I like as a main character in young adult. Quint seems to be a slacker, but there’s so much more to his character. This is definitely an enemies to lovers trope with the two being an unlikely couple.

My favorite part of the book was once Pru started volunteering at the animal rescue center. I loved all of the animals that they helped. I enjoyed that this book gave me an education on beach cleanup and conservation of wildlife. I liked Pru and Quint’s relationship especially as he teaches her more about the animals at the rescue center and how people can make a difference in helping them.

The only negative I have is that this booked dragged a bit at the end. It could have been a few chapters shorter.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that narrator, Rebecca Soler, did a great job. I enjoy Marissa Meyer’s writing style, and I would recommend this to fans of YA romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Happy Publication Day!

Fern and Rose are twin sisters, but they couldn’t be more different. Rose seems to have her life together working as an interior decorator and happily married although her husband has been away on business for an extended amount of time. Fern has been single most of her life, works in a library, and has sensory issues. When she finds out Rose can’t have children she decides she can help her sister out.

Enter Wally! Fern meets him in the library, and there’s a connection between them. She asks him out thinking he can be the father. Problem is she starts to like him and forgets about her plan to have a baby for Rose.

I can’t say much more than that without giving away spoilers so you’ll just have to read the book to see what happens.

The Good Sister is told from Fern and Rose’s perspectives. Fern’s is told as present day while Rose’s is written as journal entries.

I loved Fern and Wally! Fern is such a unique character with her sensory issues, and Sally Hepworth did a great job writing this character and showing how she processes things differently. Wally and Fern’s relationship is so pure and caring. It was nice to read about a couple that wasn’t all about drama.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a slow burn, but the first half is so important to the story. We get to know all about these characters and what their lives are like. At about the 60% mark, we start getting more into the twists and turns of the thriller. At this point, the book picks up pace and flies by!

Although some of the twists might have been predictable there were so many I didn’t see coming, and don’t get me started on that ending!

This is the second book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth, and I look forward to reading more. She does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing and on their toes while building an enjoyable story where we get to know the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Minnie Cooper (yes, that’s her name!) was born on New Year’s Day, but her birthday has always been unlucky. She blames it on Quinn Hamilton who was born at the same hospital, on the same day, only one minute before her. His family won a cash prize for the first baby born that year. A prize that should have been Minnie’s along with Quinn’s name. Every year, Minnie’s birthday is a disaster, but thirty years later, she actually meets Quinn at a party. When they continue to run into each other it seems maybe their worlds were meant to collide.

This Time Next Year is told in alternating timelines from present day to different times in the past where we see Quinn and Minnie’s lives intersect. I loved the way it was written and seeing how it would all come together. Sophie Cousens does a great job with this writing style.

Although predictable at times, I really enjoyed this rom-com. The characters were so charming and likeable, and I was rooting for Quinn and Minnie to get together. Leila is Minnie’s best friend, and I loved their friendship and the parts of the book that included her. All of the characters were relatable and seemed genuine.

This was a fun read and told in a creative way. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with some LOL moments.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.