“That was definitely part of it. There was something else, though. Something like . . . recognition, maybe? Like I knew you already. But at the same time, like I’d never run out of things to learn.”

Ava Wilder, what a debut! I laughed and cried on the emotional rollercoaster of hoping that this fake dating relationship between two actors would turn into something more. I loved that Grey and Ethan were authentic and relatable and went through a series of obstacles that challenged the strength of their relationship. With themes of single parenting, not feeling like you’re good enough, death of a friend, embarrassment, and alcohol abuse, the book felt real and raw and really evoked a lot of emotion despite the characters being famous actors. This is definitely categorized in my favorite genre of melancholy romance and I already know I’ll be rereading this again soon. What a great read.

Thanks to Random House Ballantine / Dell for the copy of this ARC!

Circling Back to You is a cute workplace romance between two MCs who start off as coworkers, become besties, and then go for more. I appreciated the diversity that this book brings to the rom com sphere where that’s definitely needed. Cadence and Matt go really well together and I enjoyed their relationship and also everything that went on in their careers. I will say I find that Julie Tieu’s books feel more on the YA side to me, but it works to create a sweet romance.

Thanks to Avon for the copy of this book!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners for the ALC!

This book is disgusting and hysterical. My boys (9 and 5) thought it was just the BEST and even I have to admit that while there is a whole lot of poop-eating talk, it’s really funny and there’s a good lesson. The narrator is great and there are sound effects to go along with the whole book; it’s really well done. Clearly a winner with kids… So, here I am, stating I highly recommend a book called “I Eat Poop.”

Thanks to Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted copies of the book and ALC.

I absolutely LOVED the way Patricia Engel wrote Infinite Country - discussing the harsh realities of deportation and undocumented immigration in such a lyrical style - and knew I had to pick up her short story collection.

This is a collection of Latin American stories that relate to immigration, desperation, community, and identity formation. Patricia is a wonderful and compulsive storyteller, writing a variety of narratives from different points of view but threading them together with common themes. I also appreciated that her writing also comes from an OwnVoices point of view, as she is the daughter of Colombian immigrants and a dual citizen herself, which really adds an extra layer to her writing.

Read if you:
- read and liked Infinite Country
- enjoy short story collections
- like reading immigration stories
- want to see a different point of view

Thanks to @letstalkbookspromo for the copy of this book!

Best way to spend a cold winter day? Snuggled up and cozy with a mystery! Painted to Death centers around the death of Catherine, one girl in a group of art student friends. Sam puts on her amateur detective hat to try to figure out who killed Catherine in this short mystery. I really enjoyed the Boston-in-winter setting, the way art played into the story, and the final twist in the end. What a fun way to spend the afternoon!

Read if you:
- enjoy cozy mysteries
- like trying to figure out whodunit in a locked room scenario
- want a book you can finish in a day

This was honestly really dry. It didn't really focus on gender issues, but on very gritty details of neuroscience. I do love neuroscience, but it wasn't what I really expected from this book.

DNF @ 33%.

Thanks to Dutton for the copy of this book!

Unfortunately I think this author just isn’t for me. I liked her first book enough to give this one a shot, but it just didn’t hold my attention. Time loops are a hard trope.