Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (4.26.21)

I guess I should address the elephant in the room on the blog. My reading updates are back, baby! Two months ago, I made the decision to replace my weekly reading updates with a weekly wrap-up post. And I have enjoyed writing those posts! They’re a really fun way to wrap up the week. But I have also really missed writing my reading updates, as I don’t feel like my wrap-up posts give me enough space to talk about what I’m reading and all my bookish thoughts. I spent a lot of time thinking about what to do. Ultimately, the decision fell to what feels good to me now—not what I think I should do—and retiring my weekly wrap-up posts to bring back my weekly reading posts is what feels good. So that’s what I’m doing! Sorry if this gives anyone blogging whiplash. 🙂

So, let’s dive into the books I finished since my last update (Friday). I have two books for you!

The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Ellen, a hypnotherapist, has just started seeing a new man and she thinks he could really be the one—until he tells her his ex-girlfriend has been stalking him for the past few years.

I picked up this book for April’s Unread Shelf Project challenge, which is to read a book bought from a used bookstore. (I bought this from Thriftbooks at the beginning of 2018.) I went into it with low expectations because almost everyone on my Goodreads list who has read it said it’s not Moriarty’s best. And while I agree that it’s not my favorite of hers, she still can write a damn good novel.

The novel switches back and forth between Ellen (the girlfriend) and Saskia’s (the stalker) points of view. I loved getting Ellen’s side of things, mostly because I really liked reading about hypnosis and her work as a hypnotherapist. I also found myself relating to her insights about relationships and that exciting but also terrifying time when you’re in a new relationship that seems like it could be the real thing. It’s hard not to overthink everything at this stage—is this little squabble we had the sign of things to come? Should that little quirk of his be a red flag? Ellen is in her mid-thirties, so she’s been alone for a long time, and I could wholly relate to how she struggled to own this new role in her life (girlfriend and stepmom).

And then there was Saskia’s point of view. Being in the mind of a stalker is an interesting place to be, but I have to say, Moriarty did a fabulous job of creating a person I could relate to and feel sorry for. That’s not to say she didn’t annoy me. I wanted to shake her MANY times for her behavior and the way she had ruined a man’s life. But I could understand her. I just wanted her to find a way to break free.

And now I have talked for many more words than I usually do about this novel. Suffice it to say, it had an impact on me and it’s one I don’t think I’ll forget anytime soon. Also, it got me insanely curious about hypnotherapy… so stay tuned about that. Ha!

Frisk Me by Lauren Layne (★★★★☆)

Short synopsis: After a video of Luc (an NYPD cop) saving a little girl from drowning goes viral, he’s become an Internet sensation. So much so that a national news outlet has sent their star reporter—Ava—to do a feature on him.

Oh gosh, I loved this contemporary romance so much! I found Ava to be a bit off-putting at first, but she gradually grew on me as the novel progressed. Luc was a wonderful hero, full of charm and wit and sexiness. I loved the way these two sparred with one another and the hot, hot chemistry between the two of them. I thought the dark moment was perfectly played—it felt authentic and was well-paced within the story. I finished this novel yesterday afternoon and found myself thinking of the characters throughout the rest of the day and feeling sad that I had wrapped their story up. Signs of a great read! (Open-door romance.)

What I’m Reading This Week

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz (print) – I’m really enjoying this middle-grade novel following three people who have had to leave their countries because of unsafe conditions: Josef in 1930s Germany, Isabel in 1990s Cuba, and Mahmoud in 2015 Syria.
  • American Street by Ibi Zoboi (audio) – I’m a few hours into this audiobook about a teenage girl who is coming to America from Haiti with her mom, except her mom gets detained in customs. It’s not an easy read, but it’s been a really eye-opening one so far.
  • Rebel by Beverly Jenkins (romance) – I’m going to start this historical romance sometime this week. I read one book by Beverly Jenkins and didn’t like it at all, but I’m going to give her another shot. Romance readers keep telling me she’s one of the best, but I will reserve my judgment until I finish this book.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I Read in February (+ Some January Stragglers)

Since my last reading recap (on January 25), I have finished 17 books. (!!) I read 15 books alone in February, which is crazy for such a short month! But I listened to 4 audiobooks last month (including one that was a quick 90 minutes!) and participated in a readathon, so that really helped to boost my numbers. Anyway, here’s everything I’ve read with short snippets.

I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting (★★★★☆) – This was such a fun rom-com, though the female protagonist could get on my nerves at times. And the dark moment had her jumping to such an insane conclusion that I was very nearly tempted to put down the book. But I’m glad I kept reading because the author brought it all together perfectly. I think Helena Hunting is becoming one of my favorite romance novelists! (Open-door romance)

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (★★★★★) – There’s a reason why everyone gushes about the book: It’s simply amazing. It’s about a Black woman living in the 1970s (and married to a white man) who starts time-traveling back to the antebellum South of the 1800s. Which, of course, is an incredibly dangerous time to be a Black woman. I was on the edge of my seat each time she time-traveled, wondering what sorts of troubles awaited her. A fantastic novel that has earned its place on my favorites list.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis (★★★★★) – I loved this book so much! It’s about a woman who is turning 30 and in love with her best friend. She is devastated, though, when her best friend tells her that he’s getting married and wants her to be his “best man.” Emmie fully tugged at my heartstrings and there were multiple points where I got teary-eyed for the things she’s gone through. It reminded me a bit of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, although Emmie is much more socially aware than Eleanor. A sweet book that I think would appeal to most (female) readers.

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare (★★★★☆) – This was a really great historical romance, although there was a wee bit of misogyny in it that didn’t age well (the book was published in 2011 so I’m giving it a pass for that). It takes place on Spindle Cove, a place where the misfits in society come to heal and find community. Susanna is their leader (of sorts) and isn’t pleased when Bram and his very brawny men come to build an army. Of course, you know where this is going. Susanna and Bram fall in love and begin to heal from their own pasts as they do. (Open-door romance)

Running by Natalia Sylvester (★★★★☆) – This one is full-on angsty teenager drama, so steer clear if you don’t like your YA to feel YA. Mariana Ruiz’s father is running for president, which brings a whole new level of scrutiny to Mari and her family. And soon, Mari starts to realize that she doesn’t know if she fully agrees with her father’s politics and his decision to run for president. I thought it was a really interesting look at how these presidential races (and even senatorial and governor campaigns!) can deeply affect and put such a spotlight on families.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (★★★★☆) – In this book, we’re drawn into the inner life of Aza who has OCD and is drowning in her obsessive thoughts (such as how having a tiny cut on her hand could get infected and lead to her death). While I don’t have OCD, I do struggle with obsessive thinking from time to time and I thought the portrayal of mental illness was spot-on. The way the author explored how mental illness can affect friendships was also really well done and realistic. This is most definitely a book I would recommend, even to people who don’t love YA. It’s worth it to get a full understanding of how all-consuming mental illness can be.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (★★★★★) – I was shocked by how much I loved this book! (I didn’t love “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by this author.) Dani and her work husband, Zaf, go viral and decide to milk the popularity by pretending to be dating—except, of course, they end up falling in love. I loved how Hibbert explored anxiety and the way it can look so different from person to person. I also found the rapport between Dani and Zaf to be so much fun, and ugh, I just loved this book. It is STEAMY, though, so be prepared. (Open-door romance.)

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (★★★★★) – It feels like every time I read a racial justice book, I’m like, “GO READ THIS NOW. IT IS SO IMPORTANT.” And this one is no different. Patrisse Khan-Cullors talks frankly about her life as a Black queer woman, one who has watched her mentally ill brother be incarcerated twice, her father battle drug addiction, and teachers treat her differently as a Black girl. It’s infuriating and heartbreaking and ultimately healing. It’s a must-read.

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware (★★★★☆) – I really enjoyed this thriller! It doesn’t have a great rating on Goodreads (3.5), but it somehow really worked for me. It brings together four women who met at a boarding school when they were teens and formed a very tight bond. They’re now in their 30s and live separate lives: one is married with children, another just had a baby, the third is working at a casino, and the fourth is living in the same town the rest of them left after a terrible thing happened at their boarding school. I thought the characters were fairly likable and the plot compelling. Am I going to remember anything about what happened in this book in a couple month’s time? No, I will not. But it’s an easyish read and I liked it.

Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne (★★★★☆) – Oh, how I love a best friends-to-lovers romance. It’s probably my favorite romance trope, and this one was excellent. I just adored Audrey and Clarke’s dynamic and their real (platonic at first) love for one another. They were just so good for each other! I also really enjoyed getting a glimpse into Audrey’s life as an Instagram influencer. There is truly so much that goes on for someone who has made that their career (and I did not envy her in the least for her job). Such a great romance overall, although I kinda wanted a bit more from the ending. (Closed-door romance.)

The Roommate by Rosie Danan (★★★★☆) – This book is so steamy! Whew. It’s not for the faint of heart because it made me blush, and that’s fairly hard to do, ha. It follows Clara who has moved across the country for a boy, and when things don’t work out with him, she finds herself rooming with Josh who is an adult film star. Zoinks! The novel delves into his life in the adult film industry (as well as the lives of other entertainers) from a sex-positive lens, which I really loved but I can see how it could make other people uncomfortable. I really enjoyed the novel, though, and the way Clara and Josh fell in love with each other. (Very open-door romance. Like, the openest door you’ve ever seen. In fact, there is no door. It’s just a wide-open space. WIIIIIDE OPEN.)

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke (★★★★☆) – Ooh, this novel was really stressful! It’s about a Black Texas Ranger who visits a small town to solve the murders of a young white woman and a young Black man and encounters a whole bunch of racism along the way. I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout the novel as new twists and turns were revealed and Darren, the main character, continued to get himself into tricky situations. I just wanted him to be okay! The sign of a really good book, indeed.

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon (★★★★★) – I’ve been meaning to read this book for a really long time, and I finally downloaded the audiobook to read when I somehow got totally caught up on my podcast feed. I loved reading more about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life, especially her time in law school and her marriage to Martin Ginsburg. It was also really interesting to learn more about the goings-on between the different Supreme Court justices. Very interesting and worth a read. What an inspiring life.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez (★★★★★) – I loved this romance! I wasn’t expecting to like it, as I didn’t love this author’s previous novel (The Friend Zone) but this one felt completely different in a very good way. While you can read this book as a standalone, I don’t want to get into specifics of the plot because it could be a bit spoiler-y for The Friend Zone. Suffice it to say, the hero is a successful musician and the meet-cute is the hero’s dog jumping into the heroine’s car. And the chemistry between the two main characters is explosive. (Open-door romance.)

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (★★★★★) – A quick audiobook (90 minutes!) that I finished in an afternoon while puttering around my apartment. This is a novel in verse, and I highly recommend it on audio as the author reads it himself and he brings such life to his words. Most of the novel takes place while the main character, a 15-year-old Black boy whose brother has just been killed, is in an elevator to avenge his brother’s death. It’s truly imaginative and incisive. Highly recommend!

A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (★★★★★) – CALLING ALL THRILLER FANS. Read this book now! It is probably one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a really long time. It kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending was truly surprising (but not in a weird out-of-left-field way). When the wife of a prominent businessman is found dead in her home, he’s obviously the prime suspect. So he calls his law school friend, Lizzie, to be his defense attorney. It’s a fantastic portrait of the complexities of marriage, the effect of childhood trauma, and toxic masculinity. I loved it!

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (★★★★☆) – “Teens messaging on an app and not knowing who the other person is and falling in love while also falling in love IRL” is my new kryptonite. (See also: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Tell Me Three Things.) I loved this sweet YA romance about two high school seniors who have somehow become the social media managers for their parents’ restaurants, and end up in a Twitter war. It could get angsty at times, but mostly, it was just a breath of fresh air and so damn sweet.

What was the best book you read in February?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (1.25.21)

Happy Monday, friends! My bookish moment of the week was spending 30ish minutes on Saturday morning sitting on my patio, sipping an iced coffee and reading the first 50 pages of Kindred. I really want to make time every weekend (and possibly some weeknight evenings) to sit on my patio and read. I didn’t take my phone with me (which means y’all missed out on some truly adorable photos of Eloise, as she was on the patio with me the whole time!) so I could have some distraction-free reading time. In a way, it reminded me of those early mornings on a cruise ship when I would sit on the balcony with my book and read. It was truly delightful!

This week, I finished four books: a short audiobook, a book I’ve been reading for a few weeks, and two wonderful novels:

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed (★★★★★)

Amal is a young Pakistani girl who loves her family and reading. More than anything, she wants to get an education and become a teacher. But that future is taken away from her when she becomes an indentured servant for a powerful, corrupt family. It’s a middle-grade novel so the novel is not quite as heavy as the premise may seem, but it still deals with a lot of difficult topics. I found the story fascinating and heartbreaking, and I just fell completely in love with Amal. I wasn’t sure if the story would resolve in a satisfying way, but I was really happy with the ending. It’s a quick read, but an impactful one.

Fallen Star by Susannah Nix (★★★★☆)

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance novel about a movie star and script supervisor falling in love on a movie set. Scott is trying to get his career on track after rehab while Grace is just trying to get through this movie while praying that Scott doesn’t make it a total disaster. When they find out they are living next to each other during this shoot, they find it harder and harder to deny their attraction to one another. This book included a lot of scenes on the movie set, which were all super interesting (especially the time they had to film a sex scene, as I had just finished Bridgerton and it made me wonder how awkward some of those scenes must have been to film!) I also learned a lot about the work of a script supervisor, which is the director’s right-hand person and who has to make sure everything looks the same during each take for continuity. For example, if an actress uses her right hand to take a sip of water, she always needs to use her right hand for any extra takes in that scene. It was a cute story overall, and the dark moment felt really honest (and super heartbreaking!)

We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates (★★★★☆)

This is a collection of essays that Coates published in The Atlantic during the Obama presidency. Before each essay, Coates talks about where he was and what he was doing before and while writing the essay. The collection includes “The Case for Reparations” and “My President Was Black,” two essays I had heard about but have never read in their entirety. It’s the kind of book you want to take slowly as Coates packs his essays with statistics, real-life stories, and cultural commentary. (I started with reading one essay a day but even that felt like too quick a pace, so I shifted to 25 pages per day.) I bought my copy of this book sometime in 2017 or 2018 and I couldn’t bring myself to read it during the Trump presidency. I’m glad I read it when I did because I don’t know if I could have stomached Coates’ epilogue about the Trump presidency and what it says about Americans and our future while Trump was still in the White House. I have hope for the first time in four years, and it was the perfect time to read this collection of essays.

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh (★★★★★)

I first heard about this novel on the Currently Reading podcast and the premise enticed me: The serial killer is not on trial. He’s on the jury. I’m always looking for a good, fast-paced thriller, and this one did not disappoint at all! It’s the fourth book in the Eddie Flynn series, but this is the first one I’ve read and it doesn’t seem like the books need to be read in order. I loved the character of Eddie Flynn, who is con artist-turned-defense attorney, and a real ballbuster in court. (The courtroom scenes were exceptional!) The book switches viewpoints between Eddie and Kane, the serial killer. It was really fascinating (and disturbing!) to be in Kane’s head. I was super curious how the author was going to resolve the story, as it seemed like Kane was always three steps ahead of Eddie. And the last 50 pages were filled with so many perfect twists and turns that I couldn’t help giving this book 5 stars and my stamp of approval. (I want to note that there are some really graphic scenes in the novel; I’m a sensitive reader so I skimmed right over them whenever they happened.)

What I’m Reading This Week

  • I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting (e-book) – My romance for the week! I recently realized that I have a whole backlist of Helena Hunting romances to get through and I haven’t read one of her books since May! I’m glad I remedied that because this contemporary romance is giving me all of the happy feels.
  • Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (print) – So many people rave about this book that I finally added it to my “immediate TBR list” (i.e., the books I prioritize over other books I want to read). I’m halfway through and loving it.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (1.18.21)

Happy Monday, friends, and happy return to my weekly “What I’m Reading” posts. I have seriously missed talking about my current reads, so I’m glad to be back in the saddle. This post encompasses everything I’ve read since the start of the year (I’ve finished 5 books so far!) I’ve had middling success with my reading so far. Let’s review!

He’s So Fine by Jill Shalvis (★★★★☆)

This sweet romance novel was the best way to kick off my 2021 reading year! After Olivia mistakenly assumes Cole is drowning and jumps into the water after him, he ends up being the one who rescues her. And while neither of them believes they’re ready for a relationship—nor that they deserve love—they can’t help but be drawn to one another. It’s an open-door romance that had a whole lot of heart. I felt for both Olivia and Cole and could understand why they kept such secrets from each other. And it all came together so beautifully.

We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and Half a Century of Silence by Becky Cooper (★★★☆☆)

Becky Cooper spent a decade trying to solve the 1960s murder of a Harvard student and relays her journey to discovering the truth in this book. It’s a pretty long book (500 pages with tiny font!) and the book really goes off in a million directions, and I think it suffered a bit because of it. This wasn’t a book about solving a murder, but about sexism and misogyny at Harvard, about corruption in higher education, about Becky’s own experience working on this story. There was a lack of focus and I think a tighter edit could have made this book much more engaging. That’s not to say the book wasn’t well-written. It was! Becky has a very captivating voice and I was compelled to keep reading (mostly because I needed to know who the murderer was), but when I finished it, I was just so relieved to be done and that’s not how I want to feel about finishing books.

How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole (★★★☆☆)

Shanti becomes the Queen of Njaza, an African nation, after wedding Sanyu, the King, in an arranged ceremony. It’s been her dream to be a queen her entire life, as she believes it’s the best way for her to affect change for her country, but she quickly discovers all is not what it seems in Njaza. Sanyu doesn’t speak to her, his advisor seems to be calling the shots and shutting down every pathway to improvement, and the only friends she’s made are part of a resistance group against the king (who doesn’t know who she is). What I loved most about this book was the world-building of this entirely different country, its policies, and its people. But the book didn’t totally land for me. It was hard to believe in the romance and I was pretty annoyed by the ending. I’m hoping this was just an aberration for Cole, as she’s usually someone I can count on for great romances!

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny (★★★★☆)

Another Gamache book, another excellent mystery. The previous book ended in heartbreak and while there were elements of grief in this one, it wasn’t a huge focus. Instead, because Three Pines is the unluckiest small town ever, they are dealing with another murder to solve. I loved how all of these pieces came together and I was still somehow surprised by the “whodunnit.” And man, I just love that Three Pines community. What I wouldn’t give to spend time with them!

American Royals by Katharine McGee (★★★☆☆)

I read this book for January’s Unread Shelf Project category, which is “a book with high expectations.” This one definitely fits the bill as it has gotten rave reviews from many people, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations. In this novel, McGee reimagines a world where George Washington became king rather than president. And thus, a new royal family was born. Beatrice is next in line to the throne and will be the first queen to rule, and she’s trying to live up to the high expectations placed on her… and find a husband to rule alongside her. Meanwhile, her younger siblings—twins named Jefferson and Samantha—are trying to find where they fit in this royal family. It’s a bit of a soapy drama but I just never felt a strong connection with any of the characters nor did I fully believe in the romance between some of the characters. Everyone was just… one-dimensional and rather uninspiring to read about. I’ve put off reading this book because everyone has said that it ends on a MAJOR CLIFFHANGER and you’ll want to read the next book immediately, but eh… I don’t know if I feel the same way. I have the next book on my shelves so I’ll probably pick it up soon, but I’m not sure I’d feel compelled to read it if not.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates (print) – This book collects a set of eight articles Coates wrote for The Atlantic during the time of Obama’s presidency. I read about 25 pages a day because the articles can be very dense and are packed with really insightful thoughts that I don’t want to speed through. I’ll likely finish it sometime this week.
  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed (audiobook) – This is a short audiobook (4.5 hours) and a middle-grade story about a Pakistani girl who is sent to be an indentured servant for a powerful, corrupt family. I have a little over an hour left and it’s been a hard, eye-opening read.
  • Fallen Star by Susannah Nix (e-book) – Finally, something light! 🙂 I’m loving this contemporary romance about a movie star and script supervisor falling in love.
  • Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh (print) – Meredith of the Currently Reading podcast raved about this book and the tagline on the front cover immediately piqued my interest: “The serial killer isn’t on trial. He’s on the jury.” It’s a little more graphic than I like, but I’m just skimming over any violent scenes.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (12.21.20)

Hi, friends. I don’t have a bookish moment this week—it’s been a really hard week over here. My best friend (and writing partner), M., found out that her 13-month-old baby has a canteloupe-sized tumor in her liver and has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. We’re all so devastated; everything feels so surreal and unimaginably difficult. Olive will need surgery ASAP (and possibly a liver transplant) as well as chemo. She starts chemo this week to help stop/slow the spread of the tumor while they wait for the surgery to be scheduled. 2020 has been such an awful mess of a year, and it just keeps getting worse. How do babies get cancer? That’s a question I don’t know the answer to. It is just enormously unfair and my heart is breaking for M and her husband and Olive. (If you’d like to help, M has set up a Facebook fundraiser to help with Olive’s medical expenses. She also has Venmo for anyone who wants to give directly to her.)

Anyway, it feels weird to go from that to talking about my current reads but that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve definitely noticed a need for light, comforting reads right now (which is why I almost abandoned Forever, Interrupted) and I’m going to lean into that. I finished three books last week and here are my reviews.

Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob (★★★★★)

One-sentence synopsis: A graphic memoir about Jacob’s experiences as a first-generation American and the hard questions her six-year-old son is asking her, like “If white people are scared of brown people, does that mean my father [a white man] is scared of me?”

Add me to the list of people raving about this book! It is well worth your time and I highly recommend the print version since you get to see Jacob’s amazing illustrations in great detail. I loved learning about Jacob’s experiences in an immigrant family and especially enjoyed Jacob’s discussions about race with her son. There’s also a section that discusses her in-laws’ decision to vote for Trump (even though their daughter-in-law is Indian and their grandkids are mixed race…), and she is super honest about the conversations she had with her husband about this decision and the effect it had on her relationship with them. It felt like such an intimate detail to include! (I’m so curious as to how her in-laws reacted to this inclusion!) I think we all have family members who are Trump supporters and find ways to justify his behavior, and navigating those relationships is, so difficult. All in all, this is a powerful memoir and I’m so glad I have a copy for my shelves because I’m sure it’s a book I will return to (and happily lend to friends so they can learn and grow, just as I did).

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Nine days after their wedding, Elsie’s husband is killed in an accident.

You guys, this book was so sad. I wasn’t in the right headspace to read such a sad book, and maybe that’s why I didn’t like it as much as TJR’s other books. She doesn’t hit you over the head with the sadness—it’s not trauma porn or anything like that. It feels very real and honest about the experience of grief and unexpected loss. In a grief book like this, there are certain, eye-roll-y tropes that an author can explore and I am really grateful that TJR didn’t do that to us. Instead, she takes us on a journey through Elsie’s love story with her husband as well as the new relationship she’s building with her husband’s mother. It’s worth a read, but you really need to be in the right headspace for it. Have a box of tissues nearby!

Flirting with Fire by Kate Meader (★★☆☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Kinsey is a PR pro whose newest assignment is to improve the image of the Chicago Fire Department after Luke, a firefighter, gets into a bar brawl with a Chicago police officer. 

Oh man, I had a loooot of issues with this novel. It just oozed toxic masculinity, both from Luke and Kinsey’s boss who is a real piece of work (and he’s the hero in the next book in this series, so I’m very curious as to how the author is going to give him a redemptive arc). I liked Kinsey’s character a lot, though, and found myself rooting for her easily. Luke, on the other hand, was a hard character to like and, in turn, connect with. His character just had so many inconsistencies and, again, he leaned heavily on his toxic masculinity and it was SO damn off-putting. My advice is to skip this romance. Bleh. (Very open-door romance.)

What I’m Reading This Week

What are you reading?