June was a fairly good reading month for me. Only one book knocked my socks off, but there were a few that I found quite enjoyable. I concentrated on lighter reading material this month. I haven't been in the mood for anything terribly literary or heavy. I felt like being entertained and these books mostly did the trick. So grab a pen and paper and start adding to your TBR list!
As you know, I use a five-star rating system. 5 Stars is Amazing, 4 Stars is really good, 3 Stars is Ok, 2 Stars is Not for Me, and 1 Star is a Loser.
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio had a unique concept. Single girl Lauren comes home to her London flat where she is greeted by her husband. Only she isn't married. According to him, her friends, and social media she and this man have been together for years. As Lauren tries to puzzle out what on earth is going on, her "husband" goes up into the attic to change a lightbulb and instantly disappears only to be replaced by a different guy coming down the stairs. And he is supposed to be her husband....Her attic seems to be supplying an infinite supply of husbands, some who last for days, others only for a couple of minutes. When one doesn't work out, Lauren sends him back up into the attic and he is replaced. The big question is, how do you know when the right choice is offered and when do you stop trying to do better and really start living? The plot was a bit repetitive, but the idea was original and entertaining. 3.25 Stars
Sylvia's Second Act by Hilary Yablon. This was a fun one. 63-year-old Sylvia finds out her husband is cheating on her. This is the catalyst for her to leave him, the Boca Raton retirement community she hates, and move to New York City to resume her career as a wedding planner. She persuades her best friend 77-year-old Evie to go with her. Think of Thelma and Louise and a senior citizen version of Sex in the City. I found this book laugh-out-loud funny, but didn't care for some of the salty language. In their mission to reinvent themselves, the situations these gals got into were pretty hilarious. If you enjoy older adult romantic comedy and all things wedding-related, you will get a kick out of this book. 4 Stars
Sandwich by Catherine Newman was a miss for me. We follow 50-something-year-old Rocky over the course of a week at the Cape Cod vacation house her family rents each year. She is in the "sandwich" generation, when adults are caught between caring for aging parents and launching their young adult kids. This subject matter could have had a lot of promise, but the author did not take the story in that direction. I found the author's voice very left-wing preachy and the main character's description of her menopausal symptoms graphic and unpleasant. Rocky also had a way of oversharing her own sexual life with her adult daughter which I found inappropriate. Language was often foul or vulgar. At least the book is a short one. 2 Stars
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan. This rom-com is perfect for light summer reading. Sam thinks her life is on track and pretty darn perfect. She is engaged to a great guy (well maybe he's a bit straight-laced) and loves her job in Manhattan (except she might be about to be fired). She takes her fiance to visit her family's beach house and to check out wedding venues whereupon things start to unravel. Her high school heartthrob is visiting his family next door and Sam is going to have to decide if she will follow her heart or her plans. This author wrote Nora Goes Off Script, which was a huge hit for me. This book wasn't quite as good, but I still really enjoyed it. 4 stars.
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. This book gets extra points for originality and fantastic secondary characters. The subject matter may put some of you off, but overall, it was handled well. Margo is the daughter of a professional wrestler and a Hooter's waitress. She's always known she would have to make it on her own, but now she's 20 and a single mom to an infant. Her empty bank account and desperate situation make her consider an unusual line of work in our increasingly online world. Her crazy pro-wrestler dad Jinx ends up moving in with her to help with the rent, and Margo forms a plan to earn some money without leaving home. She starts up an Only Fans website where people can pay a fee to view sexually explicit content. I know. It nearly lost me there too. I stuck with it though, and found it a refreshingly honest account of how one young woman took matters into her own hands to control her personal narrative and earn enough money to support herself when she had few other options. Amusing writing and an insightful look at a complicated situation. 4 Stars
Long Island by Colm Toibin. Do you remember the book and subsequent movie "Brooklyn"? The movie stars Irish actress Saoirse Ronan and was really good. "Long Island" is the continuation of the story of Ellis Lacey, the Irish girl who has married Tony Fiorello, the plumber she falls for in "Brooklyn". They are now the parents of teen-aged children and live in a family compound on Long Island. One day Ellis learns that her husband has committed a transgression that may well be unforgivable. She decides to take some time away from him and returns to Ireland, where things get really complicated. The story is told from the point of view of Ellis and her one-time Irish love interest. I found the story gripping and couldn't wait to see what decisions Ellis might come to in regard to her future. The writing was great. This book was heading toward a 5 Star rating from me until the ending. The book ended abruptly and things were left unresolved. I suppose the author will write a third book in the Ellis saga, but I was disappointed with how he didn't wrap up this one. 3 Stars
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. I do enjoy this author's books so much. In this book, Emma and Justin connect over a "curse" that they both suffer from. Whenever they break up with someone, that person goes on to date the love of their life. Emma and Justin make a bet that if they date each other "just for the summer" and then break up, it will cancel out the curse for both of them and the next person they date will be "the one". When Emma's toxic mother turns up, and then Justin has to assume guardianship of his younger siblings, things get turned upside down. The book is amusing, and touching without being cheesy. The romance is sweet and the spice factor is low. The author explores with great sensitivity how childhood trauma can have a big impact on future relationships. It was so well done. 4.5 Stars
Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland. The four Jacobson kids were taught to appreciate the value of a dollar. However, now as adults, they find themselves in big trouble both financially and in their personal lives. While all together at the family's beach house, younger brother Noah suggests that they all go in on the purchase of a Powerball ticket. Who knows, if they win, it could change their lives. Wonders never cease, they have the winning ticket, but the millions of dollars they win does not seem to buy them happiness. They fall into the lottery winners’ cliche of spending money hand over fist and learn it may be wiser to turn to each other than the new shiny toys they are throwing their money away on. If you like laugh-out-loud books about family dynamics & rich people behaving badly, this one could be for you. Great beach read. 4 Stars
Funny Story by Emily Henry. This author has come out with a reliably good summer book for the past four or five years. You can count on Emily Henry to spin a good tale. Here's the setup. Daphne's fiance abruptly dumps her for another woman and wants her to move out of their shared apartment just weeks before their wedding. Where will Daphne go? Well, Miles, the significant other of the woman Daphne got dumped for needs a new roommate...This is a friends to lovers, opposites attract romance, and was fun from the first to the last page. Daphne and Miles don't exactly hit it off at first, but they make the best of their newfound roommate situation. As time passes Emily starts to see Miles as the funny, thoughtful guy he is at heart and starts to fall for him. The dialog was witty and smart, and I did enjoy this faced-paced easy read, but have to say it isn't the best one I've read by this author. I'm still giving it 4 Stars!
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley. If you are a Steven Rowley fan you may not agree with my review. In my opinion, after reading this book, I am not sure we needed another Guncle book. The first book "The Guncle" was amusing and charming and enjoyable. I loved The Guncle and gave it a high rating. Patrick was such a fun character, and so were the kids under his wing. Unfortunately, this effort seemed forced to me. Guncle (Gay-Uncle) Patrick and his overly precocious niece and nephew are on vacation in Europe en route to the kids' dad's wedding to a woman nobody cares for. I got weary of the "witty" banter between the characters and the kids bordered on obnoxious. Patrick seemed so self-involved it was embarrassing. It became a slog for me to pick up this book because there were so many others on my TBR shelf waiting for me to read that I was more interested in. It hasn't completely put me off Steven Rowley, but he is on thin ice. 2.5 Stars
Drowning by T.J. Newman. Without a doubt, this was my best book of June. This was a hold on to your hat, don’t forget to breathe thriller that had me enthralled from the first page. "Drowning" is former flight attendant author TJ Newman’s sophomore novel, and I may have even liked it better than her first book “Falling”. Here’s the set up: Six minutes after take off from Honolulu, Flight 1421 crashes into the ocean. Many of the passengers who survive the crash are able to be evacuated from the plane into rafts. However, an engine explodes and the ensuing fire makes floating on the ocean in a flimsy raft a life-threatening endeavor. The last 12 passengers to exit the plane decide it might be safer to stay on board and wait for rescue. They seal the doors, whereupon the plane sinks into the sea. An elite dive rescue team is attempting a rescue, but will they be successful before the plane teeters off the cliff it is resting on and falls to the ocean floor? This book has what I call “Cheeto” chapters (credit to Currently Reading podcast for the term). These are short chapters which end in a cliff-hanger, making you want to read just one more…5 stars
A Game of Lies by Claire Mackintosh. I really enjoyed the first book in the DC Morgan series (The Last Party), but this one let me down. I loved the premise of a group of contestants for a reality Survivor-type TV show gathered under false pretenses. Each contestant has a guilty secret that would ruin their lives if revealed. And of course, the purpose of the TV show is to do exactly that. As the book progressed, the plot became overly detailed and took too long to get anywhere. I stopped caring about 75% of the way through the book. Ultimately, it was a snore for me. Sorry to end on a low note! 2.5 stars
I've got some more substantive books on my agenda for July, so look for some 5 star books next time I review!