Book Club October 2021- The Lost Apothecary

By: Sarah Penner
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 301

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

What I thought

The cover of this book has been catching my eye since it came out. I was excited when Meghan picked it as a book club book so I could finally read it.

This is a book of two, or even three stories. Two stories occur in the 1700s, one about an apothecary and the other about a servant girl. The other story occurs in present day. The apothecary doesn’t just dispense healing remedies but also poisons. And only with the purpose of killing men. The servant girl walks into the apothecary to pick up one of these poisons for her mistress and their stories begin to intertwine. Present day follows Caroline on vacation in London when she finds a mysterious bottle with nothing on it other than a small etching. Determined to figure out where and when this bottle came from, she begins to unravel a mystery that was never solved.

The first half of this book was a bit slow. I enjoyed it, but it felt like it was taking me a while for such a short book. The second half of the book I couldn’t put down. I liked the ethical conundrum of Nella’s (the apothecary) shop. It felt kind of Dexter-y where murder is justifiable because it’s against bad people. I also really enjoyed Eliza, the servant girl, and how her innocent curiosity balanced out Nella’s pessimism.

Caroline’s story in present day was intriguing as well and definitely where I wanted to be during the first half of the book. I was just as intrigued by the lost bottle and where it came from as Caroline was. She also is dealing with her own marital troubles and I was curious to see how that was going to play out.

This story was a unique mystery that was being solved on both ends. The true unraveling doesn’t happen until the second half of the book but if you can enjoy the curiosity of the first half you will be well rewarded.

What Book Club Thought

Due to some scheduling conflicts we weren’t able to have a true book club this month, but we did discuss it informally. We all really enjoyed the book but agreed that the first half was slower than the last and up until the second half of the story we didn’t care much for what was happening in the past. There were definitely some twists and turns and I think if we had had more time to discuss everything that happened it would have made for a good discussion. I would definitely recommend checking this book out, especially if you can talk about some of the craziness with someone. It was a quick read and thought not completely what I expected, very enjoyable.

The Lighthouse Witches

By: C.J. Cooke
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 368

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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.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): When single mother Liv is commissioned to paint a mural in a 100-year-old lighthouse on a remote Scottish island, it's an opportunity to start over with her three daughters--Luna, Sapphire, and Clover. When two of her daughters go missing, she's frantic. She learns that the cave beneath the lighthouse was once a prison for women accused of witchcraft. The locals warn her about wildlings, supernatural beings who mimic human children, created by witches for revenge. Liv is told wildlings are dangerous and must be killed.

Twenty-two years later, Luna has been searching for her missing sisters and mother. When she receives a call about her youngest sister, Clover, she's initially ecstatic. Clover is the sister she remembers--except she's still seven years old, the age she was when she vanished. Luna is worried Clover is a wildling. Luna has few memories of her time on the island, but she'll have to return to find the truth of what happened to her family. But she doesn't realize just how much the truth will change her.

First Impressions

It’s been a while since I’ve been in the mood for something spooky or a thriller so I was a bit hesitant when this offer came to me. But then I read the summary and I was immediately intrigued. Admittedly, the cover isn’t my favorite. There’s an alternate cover I prefer more, but the summary sucked me in and I was excited to read this as we got closer to Halloween.

What I thought

This was just the right amount of spooky and had a decently satisfying ending/explanation.

Luna is 32 years old. Her mother and two sisters disappeared in 1998 when they were living on a small Scottish island and she has been searching for them ever since. One day, she gets a call that her sister Clover has shown up. But when Luna goes to meet her, Clover is 7 years old. The same age she was when she disappeared.

This book alternated between multiple timelines and narrators, but each chapter was clearly labeled so it was easy to follow. At first, it alternated between Liv, the mother, in 1998 and Luna, the daughter in 2021. Then Luna’s older sister Saffy was brought in and even a few chapters from the owner of the lighthouse. I definitely was more into the chapters from the past because I wanted to know how and why the girls disappeared, but the present is intriguing too. Child Clover definitely gave me the creeps.

Lon Haven, the Scottish Island, has a history of wildlings, a lore of children being stolen and replaced with fairies in their bodies. So when the first of the daughters goes missing, the town is immediately suspicious and warns Luna about the history of the island.

I loved how old folk lore was brought into this story. I’ve always found Nordic folk lore fascinating and the combination of the Scottish tales and the Icelandic tales was what brought me to this book in the first place. This book was just creepy enough that I couldn’t put it down once I hit about 40%, but wasn’t so creepy that I was worried I’d have nightmares.

While the ending was satisfying, I was left with a few unanswered questions. You will have to suspend your belief of reality. This isn’t a book where there is a true real world explanation. There is some magic involved. But I think this time of year, that’s a good enough explanation.

I haven’t read a magical realism mystery in a very long time and I’m glad that this was the one I picked up. Take the book for what it is and you will not be able to put it down. I highly recommend this to people who want to read something for spooky season but don’t want to be left with nightmares. I do feel like I need someone else to read this so I can discuss it though!

Crazy Stupid Bromance

By: Lyssa Kay Adams
Published Year: 2020
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 342

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan.

Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush.

Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

First Impression

I have read and enjoyed the first two books in this series (but apparently never reviewed the second one. whoops) and was curious about the characters in this one. I am a cat person so I was excited about the cat on the cover and the fact that it was going to be a book about Alexis who owns a cat café. However, Noah appeared in the last book and he wasn’t someone that I felt super drawn to. Either way, I know this series is solid so I added it to my lit.

What I thought

While I did enjoy this book, it’s admittedly my least favorite of the series so far. It felt like a book that was being used as a tool to get us from book 2 to book 4.

Noah and Alexis have become best friends for a year and a half (since the end of book 2) but there are some obviously not-so-secret feelings. When Alexis finds out that the father she never knew needs a kidney transplant and she may be the only option, her world gets turned upside down. Noah is, of course, dealing with his own stuff as well as his feelings for Alexis.

It was kind of hard to get fully invested in Noah and Alexis at first because all of the history and groundwork was laid before this book even started. In the last book, Alexis dealt with a lot being the person to come forward against a celebrity chef about sexual abuse and in this book she gets an entirely different but yet no less traumatizing drama to deal with. I wouldn’t have minded if some if the stories had been toned down a little. It felt like Adams had a whole bunch of ideas that she could go with and so she put the all in but then forgot to take out the ones that didn’t work as she went. For example, there’s a disgruntled business owner who is brought in very early on for once scene and then it appears like it will be an issue in the future and well, spoiler alert, it just fizzles out.

I also felt like this book was a lot of setup for character stories in future books. I know the next book is about The Russian and he was in it a bunch and for the first time a lot of questions were being asked about his wife. There was another new male character introduced named Carlton, and he was in the book a lot even though Noah seemingly didn’t like him.

Speaking of the Bromance Book Club, I feel like this book had the least amount of relation to the lessons and the book club itself. Yes, Noah was inducted and asked to read the book, but it seemed like an afterthought to everything going in. Everything that happened in this story could’ve moved forward without the book club concept and that made me a little sad.

All that being said, Noah and Alexis did grow on me and while their conflict drove me nuts, I did enjoy seeing them get together and see how things played out. They had a lot of common ground and I liked their comfort levels.

Right now, I’m feeling like this may be one you’re able to skip in the series. I liked the first two books a lot but this one was just ok for me. That’s not to say it was bad, just that a lot of it fell flat to me. I’m still looking forward to the next book in the series and hope that it picks back up.

Ace of Spades

By: Farida Abrike-Iyimide
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 432

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too.

Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures.

As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?

With heart-pounding suspense and relevant social commentary comes a high-octane thriller from debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

First Impressions

The cover of this book caught my eye on Twitter. Someone had retweeted the author when she tweeted her cover reveal and I immediately had to check it out. The summary said that it was a mix between Get Out and Gossip Girl which sounded very intriguing. It jumped right to the top of my 2021 release list.

What I thought

I don’t know why I keep gravitating towards these Get Out type stories when all they do is give me anxiety!

Chiamaka and Devon are the only two black students at their private school, Niveus Academy. Their senior year Chiamaka is designated as Head Prefect, which she’s been working towards the past 3 years, and Devon is awarded Senior Prefect, completely out of the view. When the school starts to be harassed by an anonymous “Aces”, Chi and Devon are the targets. Everything they’ve worked towards starts to crumble around them as they try to find out why this is happening and who is behind it.

I was definitely sucked in at the beginning when everything started to go down. Devon and Chiamaka run in two completely different circles, so trying to figure out the commonalities  was fun. I appreciated that they were two well fleshed out characters. The both had a lot going on outside of who they appear to be on the surface.

I was able to figure out pretty early on who was Aces, so the mystery part started lacking for me in the middle. I was still intrigued, but I didn’t find myself completely sucked in and unable to put the book down. Once Chi and Devon started to figure it out, the book picked back up again and I flew through the last 100 pages wanting to see how it all played out.

Without giving anything away, I think this book does tackle some very important and current issues with race, education, and privilege. The book tackles the struggles that Chi and Devon deal with being the only two black students in an all white private school; such as Chi struggling with her identity as a black woman and Devon as a poor black man. I did find myself slightly irritated that neither Chi nor Devon thought to immediately involve their parents once stuff started happening but there were legitimate reasons that I was able to accept.

This book was definitely more of a 3.5 stars for me. I wanted to like it more and expected to be more sucked in than I actually was. The story and the writing were solid and I liked the character development. If you can handle the anxiety of a mystery where a lot is at stake then I recommend it. Having read two “Get Out” inspired novels, this one is more realistic and doesn’t have any magical elements, unlike The Other Black Girl. So, if you want to read something along those lines, you can use that to make your decision.

On Locations

By: Sarah Smith
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 352

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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 novel.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Nothing like a rocky start between enemy coworkers stuck together on location to prove that love isn't just a ploy for ratings—it's a force of nature.

Alia Dunn has finally gotten her big break. After years of working her way up at TV's top outdoor travel channel, she gets the green light from network executives to bring her dream project to life: produce a series about Utah's national parks. It's a touching tribute to her late apong, who sparked Alia's passion for travel and the outdoors as a kid.

Alia is thrilled—until she meets her newest crew member, Drew Irons. The same Drew she had the most amazing first date with two weeks ago—who then ghosted her. The same Drew who has the most deliciously thick forearms and who loves second-guessing her every move on set in front of the entire crew. It's not long before the tension between them turns hotter than the Utah desert in the dead of summer, and their steamy encounters lead to major feelings.

But when the series host goes rogue one too many times, jeopardizing the entire shoot, Alia realizes that she'll need to organize one hell of a coup to save her show—and she'll need Drew's help to do it. It's the riskiest move she's ever made. If she pulls it off, she'll end up with a hit series and her dream guy . . . but if it all goes wrong, she could lose both.

First Impressions

A book that takes place in the Utah National Parks??? I’m in! I traveled to Utah this summer, visiting Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef so when this book was presented to me I was all in. I even have a picture of myself similar to the one on this cover!

What I thought

I feel like this is the most realistic romance novel I’ve read and I kind of loved it!

Alia works for a travel network and presents the idea of a series focusing on the Utah National Parks. Initially, she gets rejected and ends up going on a spontaneous date with a random stranger who then never calls her back. Her series the gets picked up, a field locator is recommended to her, and that person turns out to be the date who ditched her.

Let’s address what first drew me to this book: the location! I fell in love with Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef this summer so to read a book that transported me back there was perfection. The way they talked about Bryce and Capitol Reef warmed my heart. It was also fun to read about Moab and Arches because I could so easily picture everything that was going on. I know I’m partial, but I really felt like Smith made this part of the world pop.

Alia is such a great character. She’s confident and knows who she is and what she wants. Being a woman and part Filipino, she knows how to stand up to the old white male executives but she also knows when she needs to take a different approach. Yes, she has her issues but, we all do. I found that she dealt with everything the way a real woman would as opposed to a romance novel character which I appreciated so much. There were moments when she and Drew had misunderstandings and I loved that her friend/coworker Haley would call her out on them and tell her to go talk to him and make sure that was what he meant.

I also loved Drew. He was a strong male character who admitted when he was wrong and fixed it. He wasn’t overly stubborn and didn’t take things personally. Not to say he was perfect, but it was nice to have a character react normally and not over-react just for drama.

The story addressed a lot of issues with drug use, sexual harassment, sexism, and anxiety head on. None of these issues felt like plot devices to move the story forward which I loved. There were multiple things that happened that I kept waiting for someone to not react in a smart way and then in the classic romance novel style it would be used against them. For example, once Drew and Alia start dating I was continually waiting for it to come back and bite them and be used against them in some way but it wasn’t. Instead, real life problems with real life solutions caused the conflict.

This book had a little bit of a slow start but then it picked up and I finished it in a day. I loved the entire cast of characters and how even I couldn’t figure out exactly where this book was going to go next. If you’re a bit burnt out on the same old romance novels, I highly recommend checking this one out.

Mom Jeans & Other Mistakes

By: Alexa Martin
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 384

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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 novel.

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Two best friends say I do to living together, for better or worse, in this bold women's fiction novel from Alexa Martin.

Jude Andrews is famous. Well, at least on Instagram. Her brand is clean eating, good vibes, Pilates, and casually looking like a sun-kissed goddess. In real life, however, she's a total disaster. She has a strained relationship with her fame-hungry mom and her latest bad decision emptied out her entire savings account.

Lauren Turner had a plan: graduate medical school and become the top surgeon in the country. But when she became unexpectedly pregnant, those plans changed. And when her fiancé left her, they changed again. Now navigating the new world of coparenting, mom groups, and dating, she decides to launch a mommy podcast with all the advice she wishes someone had given her.

Jude and Lauren don't have much in common, but maybe that's why they've been best friends since the third grade. Through ups and downs, they've been by each other's sides. But now? They're broke, single, and do the only thing that makes sense--move in together, just like they talked about when they were teenagers. Except when they were younger, the plan didn't include a five-year-old daughter and more baggage than their new townhouse can hold.

First Impressions

This cover is very cute and the title is even cuter. I immediately knew I was going to accept this book for review, especially once I saw it was about two women starting a podcast. I liked the idea that one of them was a mom and the other was not but that they had been friends since third grade. I was also very curious about the dynamic of them living together.

What I thought

I feel like I simultaneously have a lot of feelings and no feelings about this book which is… odd.

Jude is a fitness influencer with an ex Soap star for a mom, Lauren is a single mother who had to drop out of med school to have her daughter and is dealing with a contentious ex. They decide to move in together so they can support each other and circumstances end up pushing them together to create a podcast about their experiences as a mother and a single woman living together.

Ok so, my biggest issue with this book is Jude. Honestly, I liked Lauren (though she had her flaws) and enjoyed seeing her come into her own and learn to fight for what she believes in. Jude on the other hand, just comes off as immature, reckless and selfish. I understand she has her issues but some of the stuff she does and says is woah. I also didn’t find anything to be very redeeming about her which made it harder.

My other issue with this book was Hudson. I get why Lauren needed a love interest (sort of) but he is such a two dimensional character that I couldn’t find any connection between him and Lauren. This made me feel like I wasn’t rooting for anything and that entire storyline could’ve been removed from the book and I wouldn’t have missed a thing.

I did enjoy the drama and I really liked the way the book moved forward and progressed. It dealt with a lot of issues such as divorce, prejudice against black women in multiple settings, mental illness, narcissism, and alcoholism. I think the way that Martin dealt with these issues was done very well and that’s what made me have a lot of feelings. I think if certain parts of Jude’s character and Hudson’s character were edited, I would’ve like this book much more overall.

If you like contemporary novels that deal with real life issues in a lighter manner I would recommend this book. It’s not a romance novel by any means so if you’re expecting that turn back now. It’s more of a novel about friendship and life and the life part is done very well.

Book Club September 2021- One Two Three

By: Laurie Frankel
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Pages: 416

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Everyone knows everyone in the tiny town of Bourne, but the Mitchell triplets are especially beloved. Mirabel is the smartest person anyone knows, and no one doubts it just because she can’t speak. Monday is the town’s purveyor of books now that the library’s closed―tell her the book you think you want, and she’ll pull the one you actually do from the microwave or her sock drawer. Mab’s job is hardest of all: get good grades, get into college, get out of Bourne.

For a few weeks seventeen years ago, Bourne was national news when its water turned green. The girls have come of age watching their mother’s endless fight for justice. But just when it seems life might go on the same forever, the first moving truck anyone’s seen in years pulls up and unloads new residents and old secrets. Soon, the Mitchell sisters are taking on a system stacked against them and uncovering mysteries buried longer than they’ve been alive. Because it's hard to let go of the past when the past won't let go of you.

Three unforgettable narrators join together here to tell a spellbinding story with wit, wonder, and deep affection. As she did in This Is How It Always Is, Laurie Frankel has written a laugh-out-loud-on-one-page-grab-a-tissue-the-next novel, as only she can, about how expanding our notions of normal makes the world a better place for everyone and how when days are darkest, it’s our daughters who will save us all.

What I thought

I didn’t know what to expect based off of the cover and the summary but I was pleasantly surprised.

Mab, Monday, and Mirabel are triplets who refer to themselves and One, Two, and Three (hence the title). The story is told in alternating perspectives of the triplets and the chapters are labeled according to their birth order. Their hometown of Bourne was poisoned by the chemical company Belsum 16 years ago and their mother has been fighting that battle every since. Then suddenly, the family that owns the company moves back to town with plans to reopen the company.

The premise sounds very boring but trust me, it’s not. I did have a discussion with one of my friends asking why this book isn’t considered a YA since it’s told from the perspective of three 16 year olds and honestly, we still haven’t come up with an answer. Maybe it’s because they are dealing with adult problems and speak with an adult tone? Not so sure.

I was definitely a little confused at the beginning of the story, even though I was sucked in immediately. You get thrown right into the middle of Bourne without knowing any of their history or current events and as they unfold you begin to understand what the story is about.

The triplet’s mom Nora is the one who is heading the lawsuit against Belsum and has been working on it for 16 years without getting anywhere. Everyone’s lives are turned upside down when the Templetons move to Bourne. Their plan to reopen the plant isn’t even originally known but then that upturns the town as well.

I loved all of the different voices the triplets have. They are so unique and even without the continual rotation of the order of perspectives I would have been able to tell who was telling the story. The town of Bourne was exposed to a chemical that caused a lot of birth defects so each of the triplets is different. I think the way the town adapts and handles each of these disabilities is fascinating. There are ways in which the town goes above and beyond in a good way and ways that they go above and beyond in harmful ways. Regardless, the fact that so many people have disabilities in one town changes their perspectives and I enjoyed that part of the story.

The one part I struggled with this book was in the middle. It seemed like it got very wordy and descriptive and it didn’t feel that way at the beginning. I don’t know if it was because I was waiting for something to happen and to get to the action or if it truly got wordier in the middle but if I hadn’t been trying to get through this quickly it might’ve made me put the book down for a little bit just because the pace slowed down so much.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. While the story may sound like one you’ve read or seen before, it definitely isn’t. I look forward to discussing it at book club and I think it sheds light on a lot of different things in life. It tackles disabilities, diversity, monetary status, and just life struggles. I’ve only read one of Frankel’s other books but this one is definitely making me want to go back and read more of her novels.

Unfortunately, due to some personal reasons we weren’t ale to discuss the book as a group this month, but I still wanted to post my review about it. I think it will make for a good discussion once we’re able to get around to it so I do recommend it as a book club book.

Last Chance Library

By: Freya Sampson
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 336

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

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): June Jones emerges from her shell to fight for her beloved local library, and through the efforts and support of an eclectic group of library patrons, she discovers life-changing friendships along the way.

Lonely librarian June Jones has never left the sleepy English village where she grew up. Shy and reclusive, the thirty-year-old would rather spend her time buried in books than venture out into the world. But when her library is threatened with closure, June is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save the heart of her community and the place that holds the dearest memories of her mother.

Joining a band of eccentric yet dedicated locals in a campaign to keep the library, June opens herself up to other people for the first time since her mother died. It just so happens that her old school friend Alex Chen is back in town and willing to lend a helping hand. The kindhearted lawyer's feelings for her are obvious to everyone but June, who won't believe that anyone could ever care for her in that way.

To save the place and the books that mean so much to her, June must finally make some changes to her life. For once, she's determined not to go down without a fight. And maybe, in fighting for her cherished library, June can save herself, too.

First Impressions

The colors and the title of the book definitely caught my eye. I won’t say the cover is my favorite but it’s very eye catching and is fun to look back at after reading. I also tend to be a sucker for books about libraries.

What I thought

This is a fun book about a small town with a quirky cast of characters.

June is 28 years old and has never lived anywhere outside of her small town. After her mom passed away, she took over working as a librarian’s assistant and live in her mother’s house alone. When the library is threatened with being shut down, June is forced to face some of her fears and figure out how to grow as a person.

I’m going to start off with the aspects of the book that I enjoyed, and then I will share some of the bits I wasn’t as crazy about. I’m a sucker for fun side characters and this book had them in abundance. All of the frequent library patrons were colorful and they made the desire to save the library feel real. I also appreciated how the fight for the library went down. It felt realistic to me, even if there were some moments that were a bit silly, it never got too over the top.

The unfortunate thing is that I didn’t love June. I liked parts of her character but found her to be annoying overall. She is painfully shy and it started to grate on my nerves. I needed someone to smack her upside the head and tell her to get over herself. There was a scene when she goes to a hen do (British for bachelorette party) and they’re playing Never Have I Ever. June doesn’t raise a glass for having done anything. At all. I get that she’s been a bit shy and sheltered but this goes full on recluse status and just made me roll my eyes.

I enjoyed watching her growth but would’ve appreciated it happening maybe a little quicker. I found the romance storyline to be a little bit rushed and, honestly a little unnecessary. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Alex’s character but I almost with there wasn’t that aspect of June needing a man to help her feel complete.

It was a cute, quick book with some well written characters. I liked the overall story but because I wasn’t in love with the main character it didn’t fully connect with me. It’s not that it was a bad book by any means, but will likely be one I forget about quickly.