Last week, I had three 5-star reads. This week, I have three 4-star reads. Does that mean my next three books will be 3 stars?! ACK.
Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2022
Short synopsis: Sewenee Chester is a long-time audiobook narrator who has stepped away from narrating romance novels because she just doesn’t believe in the happy endings anymore. But when a beloved romance novelist specifically requests her to narrate her last romance novel, she acquiesces. And then she’s paired with Brock McNight, the Fabio of romance narrators, to read this story and starts to fall for the man behind the voice.
There was so much happening in this romance, and it’s hard to encapsulate all of it. There’s the overarching romance, of course, which I was totally here for. I loved the rapport between Brock and Sewenee. They had such a sweet romance and I love that this book didn’t fall for the usual tropes that I expect from romance novels. They were two adults having an adult relationship and doing things like communicating with each other. What a concept! There were a lot of other plotlines to keep track of, with the bigger subplot being Sewenee’s grandma who is showing signs of dementia. They’ve always been close, so this is super hard on Sewenee. There’s also Sewenee’s failed career in acting, an accident that brought about a disability to her, and her difficult relationship with her father. It feels like a lot is going on, but Julia Whelan is adept at carefully crafting all of these plotlines together in a cohesive narrative. While I think this book could have been a bit shorter, I still very much enjoyed my time with it. (A must on audio because Julia Whelan is the GOAT of audiobook narrators.)
The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (★★★★☆)
Print • Library • Contemporary Romance • 2023
Short synopsis: A dick pic is how Rachel Abbott finds out her husband of thirteen years is cheating on her. While she’s ready to divorce immediately, he makes a pact with her: If she just stays with him until his election is over (he’s a mayor with his eyes on a seat in Congress), he’ll give her a million dollars and she can keep their home. She agrees because otherwise, she’s destitute. And then, on a whim, she meets Nathan who is young and sexy and she’s instantly attracted to him.
I really liked this romance! It wasn’t your typical romance, as it involved the heroine of the novel having an affair with a younger man, but since her husband was having an affair of his own, it all felt okay?! Listen, I’m anti-cheating in most respects, but I didn’t hate the way an affair was utilized in this book. I loved Rachel Abbott as a character and thought she definitely deserved to have some fun with a younger, sexier guy after what her husband had put her through. This is a novel about revenge, but it’s also about taking back your life and living in your truth. And it’s about two very hot people falling in love and having great sex. It was more closed-door than I was expecting, so that may appeal to anyone who wants to read a messy romance without all of the vividly described sexytimes. I loved it and I can’t wait to read more from this author. (This was her debut, and I am desperate for her next novel!)
A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Libby • Fiction • 2021
Short synopsis: Weeks ago, Clara’s older sister Rose went missing and now she stands vigil by the window every evening to watch for her. And one night, she notices a strange man has moved into the house next door, the house that belongs to Mrs. Orchard, an older woman who asked Clara to look after her cat while she was in the hospital.
This was a slow, quiet novel and I really liked it. There are three points of view: Clara, Mrs. Orchard, and Liam (the man who moves in next door). Of all the storylines, I think I loved Mrs. Orchard’s the most and I don’t know if it’s because her words were so compelling or I just really loved the soothing voice of the narrator. There’s a mystery at the center of this story but that’s not what this story is about. It’s about these three people, people who are so different from each other but are loosely tied together. And it’s about grief and love and hope. There’s a strong sense of place in this novel and I just so badly wanted to visit this sleepy Canadian town. There was something so beautiful about the people and the town.
What are you reading?
That’s a good week for reading! I am reading the most ridiculous thing in the world, which I will tell you about later. It’s good ridiculous, but ridiculous. I also just finished Carly Simon’s memoir which was very good!
I SAW WHAT BOOK YOU ARE REFERENCING. I heard about it on the podcast and could not wrap my brain around it, lol.
What a great spate of good books!
I just finished Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, which was really fun. And also just finished listening to The Mothers by Brit Bennett which was not my favorite. I am now listening to A Court of Thorns and Roses, which I am not loving, and trying to get back into reading The Berry Pickers which I started and put down because it wasn’t grabbing me. I am also behind on reading My Brilliant Friend!!! Ack!
Suzanne, I think we might be anti-book twins, meaning we don’t tend to like what the other loves! But it’s helpful to know of anti-book twins because if I loved something, you should probably skip it, and vice versa! I LOVED The Mothers!
Like Lisa, I loved The Mothers (and everything Brit Bennett has written). I was so-so on Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. It was maybe a 3.5 for me?
I have thought about reading ACOTAR but I just don’t know if I have it in me to read. Maybe someday.
I loved Thank your For Listening too – thought it was fantastic.
Usually cheating is super ick for me in a book, but you are making a great case for The Art of Scandal, so I’m very intrigued.
I’m currently reading Courtney Milan’s latest historical romance The Marquis who Musn’t, and listening on audio to Black Ghosts a non-fiction that looks at the history of Black people in China.
Ooh, I’m going to have to look into Black Ghosts – that sounds right up my alley!
Fingers crossed the next week is not 3 x 3*.
Yay for 3 great reads! I feel like my reading has been kind of meh so far this year. Right now I am reading ‘Shiner’. I didn’t know how I felt about it initially but I am glad I stuck with it as I am really liking it now! Next I am reading Dicon, Descending. And I am admittedly slogging my way through MBF…
I finally had to give up on MBF. I just cannot do it and nothing was compelling me to pick up the book again.
I hope your next three aren’t all 3-stars. Eek! Julia Whealon is the GOAT and that book needed to be open door. I mean, come on. LOL. I really enjoyed it but it left me wanting. Ha.
I am listening to A Court of Wings and Ruin and just started In the Likely Event.