Chick Lit

Review: The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton and Lisa Stienke

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01 a14 Many people have that one moment that they look back and think, if only. If only I could go back and do things differently. Would things change or stay the same? Would I be happier? For Jessie, Gabriela and Claire, they get that chance and we get to see what happens.

I’ll admit, when I first saw this cover, I was immediately intrigued. Not that I want to admit to this, but I’m turning 40 this year, so I knew I needed to read this book, even if it’s not my usual genre.

Regret. That is very hard word to live with. And for Jessie, Gabriela and Claire, they’ve been living with it for over a decade. When they go to celebrate their 50th birthday, they realize just how much they wish they could change back when they turned 40. Amazingly, they’re given that chance to go back and relive the year they turned 40 and we get to see if their new choices make a difference.

But as with life, no matter what you do, some things just don’t change. Each of them have to make hard decisions and some work out for the better while others don’t.

My heart was in my throat as I watched each of them struggle with their choices. I wanted it all to be perfect, but life is far from perfect. You learn, and hopefully grow, from your mistakes. We get to see them as they grow and hopefully learn new things over the year. I admit I did get a little nervous a few times, but I think life has a way of working it out.

When I finally closed this book, I sat back and pondered my own life. I realize that there’s no magic that can take me back so I can relive a “What if? moment. You live and learn from your mistakes. You must make the most of your life now and make each year the best it can be. No regrets.

~Melpomene

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Review: Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner

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who-do-you-love-9781451617818_hrJennifer Weiner sure does know how to write a love story. And while it’s true that not all of her books fall into this category, I think it’s fair to say that this is where she truly excels as an author. Her newest novel adds another winner to that list.

Rachel and Andy meet for the very first time when they’re just eight years old. Although they’re both patients at a hospital, that’s where the similarities end. Rachel comes from a well-to-do, stable family. Andy, on the other hand, is the child of a single mother who spends much of her time working to support their family of two. That chance encounter at such a young age makes a mark on each of them, and when they meet again so many years later the sparks definitely fly. And so it goes over time. They meet by happenstance time and again. Their relationship is reignited, but without fail something happens to drive them apart.

So this is a love story, without a doubt. And it’s romantic and heart-tugging at times. But it’s a love story that spans several decades, tells a story of love that persists despite all odds. And it’s not wrapped up all nice and neat in a pretty little package. There are definite bumps along the way, and some of those bumps are as big as sinkholes. But still. It’s a story that pulls you in and makes you love the characters in spite of their very real flaws. You want both of them to win, and you want them to get their happily ever after. Do they? You’ll have to read the book to find out…

~Thalia

Buy It Now: Who Do You Love: A Novel

Review: Summer of Love by Sophie Pembroke

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The nice thing about most romance novels is there’s a happily-ever-after…predictable, but appreciation-worthy.

The nice thing about Summer of Love is the unpredictable happily-ever after. Lily and her boyfriend have ups and downs, believable and authentic. And by the second to the last chapter I still wasn’t sure what was to become of Lily’s love life. And even though it was unexpected, it was happy and quite satisfying.

Sophie Pembroke wrote a terrific friendship sub-plot between Lily and Cora. They interacted like true best friends: with exasperation and candor, assertiveness and love. I really enjoyed seeing them support each others’ dreams, and encourage each other to be honest with themselves.

The guys in the story were loveable and handsome Everymen. They treated women with respect as far as they knew how, and they were honest about their feelings without being far-fetched.

Summer of Love is a great beach read or relax-after-a-long-day read. I love my British chick lit, especially when it ends with true love and a big smooch.

-Calliope

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Review: The Last Word by A. L. Michael

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Tabitha was playing it safe, blogging from home in her pajamas, going out occasionally with her roommates, and avoiding romantic relationships… Until editor Harry Shulman offered her a job at the newspaper doing real journalism. Tabby did everything she could to avoid the opportunity, remembering the disaster that landed on her the last time she worked for a major news outlet.

The conversations in this book are snappy! Tabitha’s convos with her roommates and Harry are quick-witted, and so are the times she’s just talking to herself… Useful characteristic for a blogger, but a little annoying when your editor is trying to ask you out on a date. 🙂

And oh how I enjoyed Harry and Tabby’s dates. Her head on his shoulder. Flirting on car rides. Restaurant debacles. The beach. Holding hands. Staring with affection and sometimes confusion. Kissing. Sigh. I was totally brought back to being in my twenties and going on fun dates and bantering and falling in love.

Every facet of The Last Word was done well. The characters were developed appropriately for their roles (Tabby’s mom was hilarious!), and, for the most part, they were likeable. (Ex-boyfriend/ex-editor was hate-able in a wonderful way.) The plot drove forward at a respectable speed. Everyone’s relationships made sense. Natural dialogue and excellent writing made for easy reading. I’m impressed, especially knowing that Carina UK, an imprint of the publisher Harlequin, is only a year old! Well done, A.L. Michael and editors.

The only interruptions to the flow of this terrific read were the drinking and weed-smoking binges. They aren’t really my scene, but I see how it could make sense if you’re in your twenties, living in the city with roommates also in their twenties.

Honestly, I know it’s a good book when at the end I shut the kindle cover and sigh with contentment. The Last Word totally did it for me. Tabitha was a spitfire sweetheart, and Harry was so awesome I could read ten books about the man! (A.L. Michael, does Harry have a doppelgänger?)

–Calliope

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Review: Room for Love by Sophie Pembroke

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20140515-225338.jpg Well, I have never met a sweeter hero! Nate is the gardener, sure, but he’s also at innkeeper Carrie’s beck and call when her inheritance – The Avalon – endures some hilarious emergencies. He is just determined to do right by Carrie and her grandmother’s legacy, even if Carrie doesn’t appreciate him.

This guy figures out how to get exotic purple roses the day before a wedding! He takes care of the drunk and hungover stag party friends, the elderly friends of the inn, the gardens, and most importantly, Carrie. He doesn’t want anything in return, either. Well, he WANTS, he just doesn’t EXPECT. 🙂

Carrie is a workaholic, out trying to prove she can do anything, do it herself, and do it well. She can, of course…. but the handsome gardener decides to help. And that, my friends, is the start of something beautiful… Funny, crazy, nostalgic, and beautiful.

-Calliope
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Review: Waiting On You by Kristan Higgins

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20140321-124822.jpg Oh. My. I just LOVED reading Waiting On You. I cracked up laughing and teared up crying. I hated Lucas and then loved him, and thought Colleen was just such a sweetheart. I was annoyed by (and endeared to) meathead Bryce and grateful for tomboy Paulina. Chef Connor spiced up the conversation from the back kitchen. I was like one of the regulars, sitting at the bar, listening in and watching the fray. So fun. And funny. And sometimes heart-wrenching.

The writing, by the way, is EXCELLENT. Higgins writes substantial characters — lots of them! — and witty dialogue. She sprinkles the cleverest one liners all over the place, lines like “he looked like sin begging for a taker” (that’s my favorite one; I could think about it all day). You never have to “wait” for the awesome words… They come before you’re even ready for them. It’s better than stand-up, I tell you.

Higgins gives the book high energy, All. Book. Long. I mean, it’s impressive to be reading a book and be on the edge of your seat (okay, pillow) the whole time. I just kept reading, right past my bedtime, right past midnight, and right into the last chapter.

I’m not even tired today, know why? Because I’m still thinking about Lucas and Colleen and the beautiful love they have for each other. I’m thinking… Re-read. I’m raving about it to my non-reading spouse. He doesn’t care, but I’m telling him anyway because Waiting On You is THAT good. I just want everyone to read it. That means You. And You. And You too. Even you non-romance types. Read it for the one-liners. Read it for the depth and breadth of characters. Read it because you’re a wine enthusiast or a Yankees fan or have a soft heart for animals.

You can click right down there and it will magically appear on your kindle next week. Let me know how much you love it.

–Calliope

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Review: Feel the Heat by Kate Meader

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20140131-073947.jpg I felt the heat, alright! This book was full of passion – people passionate for love, food, family, sex, cooking, loyalty, and reputation. Jack was hot for Lili, Laurent was hot for anything with a skirt, the DeLucas got excited over their restaurant, and — after much encouragement from family and friends — Lili reclaimed her passion for life.

Kate Meader did such a wonderful job making these characters come to life. I felt like I was in the Deluca kitchen listening to the yelling and watching the hugging. The dialogue rang true, the sex scenes were fun but realistic (yep, sometimes people talk during sex, and sometimes they don’t have on a lacy thong), and the combination of an Italian-American, a Brit, and a Frenchman all in the same kitchen was dynamite.

The book had a chick lit feel instead of a traditional romance. The supporting cast was necessary, the hero and heroine were part of a group more often than alone together, and the book was funny. I laughed … and I cried … and there was a happily-ever-after … sure signs of a winner.

The characters in Feel the Heat live large, and it makes for a fun, upbeat, exciting read. There will be a sequel featuring more cooking and cocky-as-all-get-out Shane the Irishman. Can’t wait.

-Calliope

Feel the Heat

Review: Crumbs Aren’t Enough, by Raquel Whiting Gilmer

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Crumbs aren’t Enough tells the story of a young woman, Charlie, and her self-esteem issues around men. We follow her professional career in DC and Ohio, her journey through therapy, and her growth in the “find a man” department.

This book is written like a monologue– imagine yourself sitting down on a comfy couch with your best girlfriend and a glass of wine. And then your friend tells you everything that’s happened to her in the past five years. The author uses a lot of phrases like “you remember when,” “let me tell you,” and “you see.”

All that familiarity brings a reader in… But it was off-putting at the beginning, hence the 3.5 stars. I wanted to say Whoa, I barely know you, slow down a bit!

By the end, I was crying with my new best friend, and rejoicing with her too!

This was fun chick-lit with some serious words about self-esteem issues. I enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.