This one was super cute and had that old school rom com vibe that I really enjoy. It’s actually been quite a while since I’ve read a straight up rom com and this reminded me how much I like them. Junie was adorable, a true ray of sunshine and light and AJ was her total opposite. She’s a dreamer and he’s more cynical and he definitely doesn’t buy the soulmate, one true love thing. Watching the ones who don’t believe in love fall hard is so fun and this one was entertaining and truly delightful. If you want a lighthearted romance with plenty of laughs and cute moments this was great.

Having this adorable book as one of my last reads of the year was such a great way to end the year, it was sexy, sweet, swoony and such an easy book to get swept away in. So much about this one was heartfelt but the romance was hot and steamy too, a perfect balance. Tropes include enemies to lovers, workplace, single parent, and grumpy/sunshine which were blended together perfectly. Once again Savannah Peachwood and Jason Clarke were incredible so if you’re an audio fan they were amazing. 

I never miss a chance to read a Robyn Carr book, her style is one of my absolute favorites and I’m always drawn into the stories she creates in an effortless way. I loved that this centered on a group of women during all stages of life. You have Marni, a fifty something celebrity chef who may finally be ready to renter the dating world, then there is her daughter, Bella a smart and ambitious woman pregnant with her first child, then there’s also Ellen, Marni’s coworker who leads a solitary life but may also be ready for love again and finally Sophia, their young intern who finds herself in a bad relationship. The support these women offered each other was so beautiful and I adored all their friendships. While it may seem like they’re an unlikely bunch, they truly brought out the best in each other. With four storylines there’s never a dull moment which made this such a fast read for me. I was caught up in their lives and rooting for them all every step of the way. If you like books about strong female friendships this was really wonderful.

Gah I love this series so freaking much. Every time I finish a new one I think I have a new favorite couple, but you guys, Callum is everything omg. Ruby is a legitimate runaway bride and I loved her instantly, she is pure sunshine and light and Callum is her polar opposite. He’s grumpy, quiet and gives off all the dark and broody vibes but Ruby brings out a different side to him that was beyond adorable. Other tropes include small town, forced proximity, and age gap and they all made for delicious combination. I loved the deep emotional connection these two shared and it was just too sweet watching Ruby and Callum fall in love. Such a sexy and cute addition to an amazing series, I can’t believe the next book is the last! 

My ratings for this authors books are all over the place and this one falls somewhere right in the middle for me. She has a knack for writing short and fairly fast paced mysteries that hold my attention and while the pacing here had some issues, I was mostly invested. The central mystery was solid for me but things lost me a bit dealing with the characters everyday minutiae of their lives, I got a little bogged down with the details and didn’t feel like they were wholly necessary. But like I said, the main mystery was good and the twists were fun so definitely some enjoyable moments. If you like fluffy popcorn style thrillers this may be for you.

I absolutely adore when I read a great debut but I’m always a little more impressed when said debut is a mystery/thriller. There’s something so impressive to me about an author having the ability to craft not only a gripping story but one that is well executed and has the right amount of reveals and turns to keep the pacing perfect. Bonus points for twists that make sense and strong writing, all of which I found in this one! 

While I personally found the pacing to be appropriate for a thriller, there are arguments to be made that this could qualify as a slow burn. Details about the horrific night that changed Charlie’s life are revealed very slowly but I thought the author did a great job of spoon feeding enough information to keep me pretty satisfied. The ending was a tiny bit underwhelming but was still a very worthwhile read for me and I will definitely be excited to see what this new author does next.