The List

By: Siobhan Vivian
Published Year: 2012
Publisher: Push
Pages: 336

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): An intense look at the rules of high school attraction - and the price that's paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

                                                           First Impressions

This book has been on my Goodreads list for a long time, so I can’t remember what my first impressions were. I think the cover caught my eye, and then the summary even more so. Looking at it now, I feel like the cover is a bit young and definitely screams YA. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I don’t think it would catch my eye as much now as it did a couple years ago.

                                                            What I thought

Every year at Mount Washington High School, a week before homecoming, a List comes out. The List designates the prettiest girl and the ugliest girl in each grade. No one knows who creates the List each year, but it has been a staple at the high school as long as anyone can remember. The book follows all of the girls on the list through the week, with each having their own chapters in their own perspectives.

I think that Vivian did a great job at switching back and forth between all the girls and giving them their own stories. However, I do feel like with eight perspectives it gets a bit tricky. There are definitely four girls who I felt like were focused on a developed a little more than the other four. Personally, the four stories that felt the strongest to me were the two freshman girls and the two senior girls. The four girls in the middle, while they had story lines, didn’t seem to have as many or as much development as the other four.

This book addresses so many important high school issues. There are characters dealing with hate, sex, discrimination, eating disorders and more. I think that Vivian tackles these issues well and writes about them so realistically. These are problems that so many high school girls deal with that, a lot of the time, adults don’t take seriously or don’t understand. This book would have done a great job at making me feel I wasn’t alone when I was in high school. Granted, I’m not saying that I had a lot of these issues while I was in high school, but you often feel like everyone else’s life is perfect and that yours is the one that isn’t. The List shows that every girl, from the ugliest to the prettiest, has their issues and troubles and no one is perfect.

The frustrating thing about this book is that it doesn’t end. Everything in this book is left unresolved and it is infuriating. I don’t know if it was written this way in hopes of bringing out a second book, or if there is some sort of message saying that life’s problems don’t resolve so the book doesn’t either. However, that’s not why I read books! I need my books (and movies) to have endings that wrap up at the end. I don’t need a happy ending, but I need something. There are no consequences for the List; there is no explanation about what happens to these girls after the dance, there is nothing. The ending to this book, unfortunately, ruined the whole book for me.

The story and concept of this book are wonderful and so interesting. Vivian’s writing is great and she takes a difficult concept, writing from the perspective of 8 characters, and makes it look easy. As I mentioned, the ending angered me so much that it took away from the rest of the book and how much I enjoyed it while I was reading it. I’m excited to read more by Vivian and I think this was a good introduction into her writing. I would recommend it to all YA readers, but with the disclaimer that it does not have a wrapped up ending! 
 

Tell Me Three Things

By: Julie Buxbaum
Published Year: 2016
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 336

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

                                                           First Impressions

How cute is this cover?? I love how minimalistic it looks but in a very intriguing way. Why are there waffles? Why are they in pieces? I knew I wanted to read this as soon as I saw the cover. If I did need any more convincing, all I needed to do was read the summary. This book jumped straight to the top of my To-Be-Read list. Bonus—it counts towards the Debut Author Challenge!

                                                             What I thought

This book brought me back to my high school days (which was almost 10 years ago—eek!). Not only did something about Jessie’s life and experience make me feel like my high school life, but the writing seemed reminiscent of books that I would’ve read in high school.

Jessie lost her mother a little over two years prior to the story. Her father has met another woman who he marries, forcing Jessie to move from Chicago to LA in her junior year of high school. She moves into her rich stepmother’s house with her new stepbrother, who is the same age. She is also thrown into a private school with students who are all very rich and privileged. After her first day, she receives an anonymous email from a guy who refers to himself as Somebody/Nobody, offering to help her navigate to tricky world of Wood Valley High. While skeptical at first, she ends up foraging a relationship with SN over email and IM, without knowing who he is.

What I loved about this book is that I could relate to it so much, even though I am well beyond my high school years. Even though texting and social media was not as prominent when I was in high school, we definitely lived in the world of Instant Messaging. I felt connected to Jessie when she shared how she felt more confident and comfortable talking over IM, as opposed to in person. I have experienced that exact same feeling, and still feel that sometimes over email. In a world so heavily run by technology, it think this is a message that people of all ages can relate to.

Buxbaum’s writing is so true and so pure. A lot of new YA books, while interesting and wonderful to read, have become so complicated when compared to what I read when I was in high school. Fantasy is a lot more prominent in the YA line currently, as opposed to the everyday experience of high school. Buxbaum does a wonderful job bringing her story back to a realistic everyday girl’s life. It was a breath of fresh air to not have to worry about fantasy or other overly used (as of late) tropes.

While I have not experienced the loss of a parent, it felt to me that Jessie’s experience was authentic. She was grieving and hurting in a genuine way that never seemed over the top or exaggerated. In addition, Jessie has a wonderful group of friends that doesn’t turn on her at the slightest moment. In my personal experience, friends are supportive and don’t turn on you at the slightest bump. I think this could book could be a light for many high schoolers who are struggling to get through a dark time.
 

This book was so wonderful. It was refreshing in its simplicity and realism. I immediately felt transported back to high school in a way I haven’t felt with other YA novels. Buxbaum’s writing was easy to read and relate to and I look forward to reading her adult novels. I loved the portrayal of friendships in the novel as well. I think it’s wonderful to have a story where female high school friends act like true friends. If you enjoy contemporary YA or are bored with the typical YA tropes, I highly recommend checking this one out. I would definitely re-read it, and maybe purchase it if I saw it at the library book sale or half price books. 
 

June 2016 Favorites

Books

Britt-Maries Was Here by Fredrik Backman

My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan by Set Rudetsky (Book Club)

Love & Gelato By Jenna Evans Welch

Sunshine Beach by Wendy Wax (Review)

The Memory of Lemon by Judith Fertig (Review)

The List by Siobhan Vivian

Since She Went Away by David J Bell (Review)

Persepolis by Marjan Satrapi (Review)

Without You by Anthony Rapp

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Barefoot Beach by Toby Devens

Semi-Sweet: A Novel of Love and Cupcakes by Roisin Meany

Favorite Book I read this Month: Persepolis, closely followed by The Unexpected Everything. I was truly shocked how much I loved Persepolis. It is definitely one of those books that I didn’t realize quite how much I loved it until days later when I was still thinking back to it. The Unexpected Everything is a close second because it was the book that really got me into the mood for my summer reading.

Beauty

Bold Lip

I know this isn’t a specific beauty favorite, but now that it’s summer, I am loving wearing a bold lip again! I’ve been leaning towards the hot pinks and the reds, but pretty much whatever is bright is a love for me. I feel like in the summer it is the extra touch that just gives my whole outfit a boost.

Sunday Riley Good Genes Serum

I received a sample of this in my first Play! By Sephora beauty box. I used it for a while when I first got it, and then through it into a makeup bag and forgot that it was there. I recently spotted it and started using it again and really realized just how much my skin loves this product. Unfortunately, it’s super expensive ($105), so I most likely will never purchase the full size. However, the sample is lasting me quite a while, so that’s always a plus!
 

Buys

Soma Black Maxi

Back in March, I received a black maxi for my birthday. It has been my go-to dress this past month and I love it. I love that I can through it on by itself and it looks put together, or I can through something on top of it to change the look completely. I know that this is going to continue to get more use when I go on my big trip at the end of July. 

Miscellaneous

Soccer

This past month the Copa America Centenario and the European Cup started. The Copa was hosted by the US, and a few games were even in Chicago! I have been loving being able to watch soccer all day every day and absolutely loved going to two live soccer games. Being a soccer fan in the US can be tricky since there aren’t a lot of big time games, so I absolutely loved the chance to see such amazing teams.This has been the summer of soccer and on days when there are no games I feel an emptiness in my life! I am also so excited to see Iceland doing so well in the tournament. 
 

Our Shared Shelf June 2016

In January 2016, Emma Watson decided that she wanted to start a feminist book club. I really respect Emma Watson and was really excited when I saw that such a smart woman like her would be starting a book club that I could be a part of. In addition to that, I knew that her selections would be books that I would not pick up on my own so this would be a great way to challenge myself and read books outside of my comfort zone.

For the month of June, Emma picked Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. While the picture I provided is of the complete Persepolis story, it was originally split into two books which is how I read it. 

Publisher: Pantheon
Published Year: 2000-2003
Pages: 341

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private life and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna facing the trials of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming--both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. It is the chronicle of a girlhood and adolescence at once outrageous and familiar, a young life entwined with the history of her country yet filled with the universal trials and joys of growing up.


                                                              What I thought

Persepolis is a graphic novel autobiography by Marjane Satrapi about growing up in Iran. Her childhood was during the time of the Iran/Iraq war in the 1980s. The first 2 parts (what I read as book one) follow Satrapi through her childhood in Iran until she left to study in Austria at the age of 14. The final two parts (what I read as book two) pick up during Satrapi’s life in Austria through her mid-twenties.

I was born in the late 1980s, so I have no knowledge of the Iran/Iraq war. I know the name Saddam Hussein, but I don’t know what life was like during that time or what life was like in Iran prior to that war. I had no idea that prior to that war/revolution women in Iran didn’t wear veils and had so much more freedom. I have grown up in a time where the oppression of women’s rights in Iran is normal and, sadly, accepted. I was surprised to see how this is only something that has become the norm in the last 20-30 years.

This book was so educational and enlightening. Having not lived through the same times that Satrapi and, of course, the same experiences that she had, I felt like this let me look into a world I didn’t know existed. Satrapi is such a strong woman and reading about her actions and how she lived was inspiring.

I did prefer the first two parts of the story to the second two parts. Once Satrapi left for Austria, I felt frustrated because she lost herself and she started to do some very dumb things. I know that no one is perfect, so that’s not the issue I had. I just felt so angry that someone so strong and who acted as though she knew who she was could be so influenced in her teenage years to lose her way in trying to conform to society. This fact, more so than Satrapi’s actual story, it what angered me.

Everything about this story was fascinating to read. The drawings fit the story so well and I enjoyed the way the Satrapi told her story. I finished both of these books in a day because I needed to know what happened. Every time I got to the end of a “chapter” I couldn’t put it down. I wish that I had been encouraged/forced to read these stories when I was younger. While I don’t think I would’ve appreciated them quite as much as I do now (especially her older years), I think it would’ve opened my eyes to the world a little more.; especially since these books came out bordering the times of 9/11.

One of my favorite personality traits of Satrapi was her passion for reading and knowledge. Every time she found herself faced with something she didn’t know or understand, she would read book after book about the subject to understand it better. This is something that I feel everyone should do when they don’t understand something, but unfortunately it seems as though people prefer ignorance.
 

Once again, Emma Watson picked a wonderfully enlightening book. Similar to My Life on the Road, I feel like this book needs to be required reading, and not just for women. If we could get this book into the schools I think it would be so beneficial. I don’t know if I can see myself re-reading this book in the future, but I definitely want to own it so that I can force people to read it. Even if you’re not into graphic novels, you won’t even realize that’s what you’re reading. This story flies by and I enjoyed every moment of it.
 

Since She Went Away

By: David Bell
Published Year: 2016
Publisher: NAL
Pages: 423

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This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion. 

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Three months earlier, Jenna Barton was supposed to meet her lifelong best friend Celia. But when Jenna arrived late, she found that Celia had disappeared—and hasn’t been seen again. Jenna has blamed herself for her friend’s disappearance every single day since then.

The only piece of evidence is a lone diamond earring found where Celia and Jenna were planning to meet, leading the national media to dub Celia “The Diamond Mom.” And even though Jenna has obsessively surfed message boards devoted to missing persons cases, she is no closer to finding any answers—or easing her guilt.

But when her son’s new girlfriend—who suddenly arrived in town without a past—disappears, a stricken Jenna begins to unwind the tangled truth behind Celia’s tragedy. And as long-buried secrets finally come to light, she discovers how completely lives can be shattered by a few simple lies.

                                                           First Impressions

The yellow didn’t draw me in right away, but the girl with the red umbrella did! I have a bit of a thing for pictures of people with red umbrellas so it drew my eye. The summary immediately intrigued me. I enjoy mysteries/thrillers and this one sounded interesting and different from a lot of the thrillers that I’ve been reading lately.

                                                            What I thought

Jenna was meant to meet her best friend Celia at the park at midnight. When she finally arrived (late as always) Celia wasn’t there. She called her friend, and then called her friend’s husband, and finally the police. The story picks up three months later, with everyone still searching for Celia and hoping for new leads. About three weeks prior to where the story picks up, a new girl arrives at school and Jared, Jenna’ 15 year old son, starts dating her. He feels like she isn’t being fully truthful with him and might be in danger. When she doesn’t come to school one day or the next, or the next, he truly starts to become concerned. Are the two disappearances connected?

This thriller was so refreshing. It’s an easy read and a complete page turner. It isn’t overly violent and doesn’t rely on a giant twist halfway through the story. The two stories intertwine and you can tell they’re connected from the beginning.

Jenna is a single mom and she feels a bit guilty and unsure of how to raise her 15 year old son. She is definitely obsessed with the case and finding Celia and gets herself into a bit of trouble because of that. She listens too closely to the press and constantly checks out the message boards for any new hints that Celia might have been spotted.

Jared is the nicest fifteen year old ever. He listens to his mom and even though he does some very teenager-y things (like sneaking his girlfriend into his bedroom when his mom isn’t home) he never does anything truly bad. He is a nice guy and cares for his mom and doesn’t act out in any way.

It’s always hard for me to review thrillers because I don’t ever want to give anything away! Bell does a great job of keeping the story moving and he stays away from a lot of typical twists or plot points that a lot of thriller writers use. The cops are competent and don’t just get close to the main character because they think she is actually the one that did it. I did not predict the ending halfway through the book which is always such a relief. 
 

I really enjoyed the story of this book. The characters were interesting and the story moved at a wonderful pace. I never felt like I had to drag through boring parts to get to the exciting bits and I always wanted to keep reading to find out what happened! While I wouldn’t read it again (since I don’t find thrillers as enjoyable the second time around), I would recommend it to people who enjoy thrillers and are looking for something that’s a bit different from all of the thrillers that have been getting attention. I would also gladly pick up another one of Bell’s books to check out. 
 

Play! By Sephora June 2016

Play! By Sephora is a new monthly subscription box b Sephora. It costs $10 a month and you received 5 beauty and skincare samples plus a perfume sample each month. Previously, you needed to put yourself onto a wait-list and wait to receive an email before you could subscribe, as they were rolling it out to limited quantities. However, I think that as of the month of May it is now completely open to the public.

In addition to the products, Sephora includes a booklet that includes information about the product, the brand, and then tips of how to use the products. Also at the back of the book is a Play! PASS. This Pass gives you a complimentary one-on-one session with a Sephora artist as well as an extra 50 Beauty Insider points when you scan the pass at the register with any purchase. If you have the Sephora app, you can also scan the images of the products to learn more about them.

One of the differences between this box and other boxes is that it is not personalized. Everyone who signs up for this subscription receives the same products. The theme changes each month and the products follow that theme. This month’s theme was The Forces of Nature, featuring natural products.

As a heads up, the boxes are a little bit larger and will not fit into a small apartment sized mailbox. For reference, a Birchbox box is able to fit almost perfectly into my mailbox, but this one has no chance. Therefore, I’ve had to go to the post office both months to pick up my box.
 

This month the products I received were as follows:
 

Bumble and Bumble Don’t Blow It (Full-size $31)- This is a hair cream that is meant to enhance air-dried hair. It says that you are supposed to use this on towel-dried hair and then scrunch or twist it to add volume and wave. I’m definitely curious to use this as I always air-dry my hair.

Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara (Full=-size $24)- This mascara is a volumizing and lengthening mascara that is one of Benefit’s most popular. The interesting thing about it is that the end of the brush almost has a ball on the end. That part of the bush works really well for getting to the corners of your lashes. I’ve used this mascara before and while it’s not one of my favorites (and I wouldn’t purchase the full size) it’s one I’m always happy to have in my makeup bag.

Tocca Beauty Florence Perfume (Full-size $68)- The notes of this perfume are Italian bergamot, grapefruit leaves, green pear, apple, ivory gardenia, crushed violet petals, jasmine, tuberose, blue iris, blonde wood, and white musk.  I don’t know exactly which note it is but oh my goodness I can’t stand this perfume. I tend not to like Tocca perfumes, and this is no exception.
 

BareMinerals bareSkin Bronzer (Full-size $28)- This liquid bronzer can be used mixed into a foundation, layered on top of a foundation, or just used over your moisturizer for some extra glow. I’m not a big liquid bronzer fan, but I did give this a try. I like the color and it did give my skin a nice warm glow, but I can’t see myself using this much. I’ll probably pass it on but it’s a nice product.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter (Full-size $38)- This product is a primer that has a bit of a highlighter mixed in. It’s meat to extend the wear of your makeup and also create a filter-like effect with backlighting. I’ve used this once and I really like the glowy-ness that it gives the skin. I am excited to keep using this product, especially in the summer to see how well it helps my makeup hold up!

Tarte Tarteguard 30 sunscreen Lotion Brad Spectrum SPF 30 (Full-size $32)- A non-chemical sunscreen! Also, how cute is the packaging? Besides the fact that it’s non-chemical, there’s not much different about this that I can tell from other sunscreens. However, I’m really excited to try this! The size is perfect for trips and that’s exactly when I’m going to use it. I am currently using a different sunscreen under my moisturizer that I’m not quite crazy about and was more expensive than this one is. It would be nice to find one a little less expensive that I like more.

Overall, this was a decent box. There are a few products I really like, but then a few I’m not crazy about at all. It’s not my favorite box I’ve gotten from Sephora so far, but I’m definitely looking forward to future boxes. 
 

The Memory of Lemon

By: Judith Fertig
Published Year: 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 304

This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion.

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): A crisp tang of citrus that is at once poignant and familiar, sharpening the senses and opening the mind to possibilities once known and long forgotten...
 
Claire “Neely” Davis is no ordinary pastry chef. Her flavor combinations aren’t just a product of a well-honed palate: she can “taste” people’s emotions, sensing the ingredients that will touch her customers’ souls. Her gift has never failed her—until she meets a free-spirited bride-to-be and her overbearing society mother. The two are unable to agree on a single wedding detail, and their bickering leaves Neely’s intuition frustratingly silent—right when she needs it most.
 
Between trying to navigate a divorce, explore a new relationship, and handle the reappearance of her long-absent father, Neely is struggling to make sense of her own conflicting emotions, much less those of her hard-to-please bride. But as she embarks on a flavorful quest to craft the perfect wedding celebration, she’ll uncover a family history that sheds light on both the missing ingredients and her own problems—and illustrates how the sweet and sour in life often combine to make the most delicious memories...

                                                                  First Impressions

Beautiful cover! It looks so summer, I know I would’ve picked it up off the shelf. When I read the summery, I knew I needed to read this book. Since I enjoyed Wedding Girl so much, which was also about a baker, this book became a must read for me.

                                                                   What I thought

In the end, I think I liked half of this book.

Claire “Neely” Davis is a baker who can taste feelings and events. Feelings such as manipulation, for example, come across as a bitter lime taste in her mouth. She uses this ability to find the perfect option for her customers. The bride and mother of the bride that she is working for, however, cannot agree on anything and Neely can’t seem to get a taste on the bride. In addition to this, flashbacks to a small hillbilly town in Kentucky are thrown in.

When I say I liked half of this book, it’s because I didn’t care for the flashbacks at all. They seemed disconnected and confused me more than added to the story. I found myself skimming these chapters just to get enough information to know if it was referenced in present day chapters.

If the book had only been about Neely and her business and her life, I think I would’ve enjoyed this book so much more. I really liked the unique ability that Neely had and it never came across as over the top. The fact that she could not only read feelings through tastes, but also occasional received visions was an interesting twist on your usual contemporary fiction story.

Neely is also dealing with a difficult divorce. Her current husband, a pro football player, is refusing to divorce her and is threatening to enforce their prenuptial agreement.  Now, there is a book prior to this one with the same characters called The Cake Therapist. I have not read that one, but I assume there is more to this relationship in the first book. I think because of that I wasn’t as fully invested in the characters and they seemed a little underdeveloped.

If I could have taken out the flashbacks and added more detail and story to the present day chapters, I think this book could have been great. As it was, it was enjoyable but it just seemed like the shell of what it could have been. The characters, while enjoyable just didn’t have much meat on their bones. 

This is enjoyable but just seemed to be missing something for me. Maybe Neely would be able to taste what ingredient that is. If you like to read books about bakers, then I recommend that you check this book out. However, I would definitely recommend Wedding Girl over this one every time. I enjoyed this book, and would probably check out the first one if I saw it, but I wouldn’t re-read this one. 
 

Sunshine Beach

By: Wendy Wax
Published Year: 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 432

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way shape or form influenced my opinion of this book. 

Summary (Provided by Goodreads):  After losing their life savings in a Ponzi scheme, Maddie, Avery, and Nikki have banded together to make the most of what they have left, using their determination, ingenuity, guts, and a large dose of elbow grease. It’s Maddie’s daughter Kyra who stumbles across a once glorious beachfront hotel that has fallen into disrepair. The opportunity to renovate this seaside jewel is too good to pass up—especially when they come up with the idea of shooting their own independent television show about the restoration. What could possibly go wrong?
 
Everything. With the cameras rolling, Maddie’s second-chance romance with her all-too-famous new boyfriend gets complicated, Avery struggles with grief over the loss of her mother, and Nikki’s reluctance to commit to the man who loves her could leave her to face the biggest challenge of her life. Even the hotel seems to be against them, when their renovation uncovers a decades-old unsolved murder which just might bring their lives tumbling down all over again…

                                                             First Impression

Ahhhh. This cover just whispers relaxation. This is exactly the kind of book I want to pick up to read at the pool or the lake or the beach. The summary also sounded intriguing as it is about a group of female friends working together. I love books that have close knit groups of female friends, as that is what I have in my life. It’s always fun to read about good friendships.

                                                             What I thought

This book is the fourth book in a series, which I was only vaguely aware of when I accepted it for review. I had previously read a book that was the 11th in a series without reading any of the others, so I thought that it wouldn’t make a difference. However, with this one, I think the fact that it is a part of a series influenced my reading experience.

Sunshine Beach meets up with Maddie, Avery, Nikki, and Kyra. They are currently living at Bella Mora, a beach house that they renovated in a previous book. They have all gotten together in order to figure out what they’re going to do with their renovation show that they were previously on. Apparently, in the previous book, they quit their reality show Do Over, but are looking to continue doing something similar. In order to move forward, they find a property near Bella Mora to renovate. However, they are met with multiple road blocks and need to rely on each other to push through.

I think the hardest thing for me was to get into this book. Like I said, it is a part of a series and it seems like A LOT of events have occurred in previous books. Because the history of the characters is so essential to the story line, it took me a while to connect and feel like I could get into this specific story.

While it did take me some time to become invested in the story and the characters, I was always enjoying the story. All of the characters are unique and have interesting individual story lines. I do wish that there was a bit more of the friendship within the story, but you can see that these women care for each other. It did seem that, especially towards the end of the book, the only time the friendship occurred was during their sunset beach meetings at the end of the night.

The fun thing about this book is that while it has the light beach story about a group of friends renovating a hotel, it also has a mystery story line. The hotel they decide to renovate is the scene of a murder from about 50 years ago. The story does follow the murder investigation just enough to satisfy the reader, without taking away from the type of book that this truly is.

If you’re looking for a book about adult women who have a strong friendship and support system, I would definitely recommend this book. However, even though I haven’t read it, I’d probably recommend reading them in order! Wax created vibrant characters that really touch the heart and even though I was confused for a lot, I became invested enough in the characters that I truly want to go back and read the previous 3 books. I also can’t wait for the next one to come out! It ends, not necessarily at a cliff hanger, but with a lot of unresolved business that I need to see resolved! If you’re looking for a good beach read, I would definitely recommend checking out this series.