Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan (★★★★☆)
I had very low expectations of this novel. I DNF-ed Monaghan’s debut, Nora Goes Off Script, because I didn’t love the writing and hadn’t heard rave reviews about this one. But you know what? This romance really, really worked for me! It’s about Sam who is engaged and comes back to her family’s summer house with her fiancee, Jack, to tour a wedding venue. It’s there that Sam comes face-to-face with her past, and her first love, Wyatt. The memories of their love story come flooding back to Sam and she starts to question if she really wants to marry Jack and really wants the life she would have with him. This is a very popular trope in these romance novels—second-chance romance—and it’s one I tend to really like. I mean, Sweet Home Alabama isn’t one of my favorite rom-coms for nothing! I loved the beachy setting and Sam’s sweet relationship with her younger sister. I loved how this story was so much bigger than the relationship; it was also about Sam and what she wanted and how she was letting herself think small because she was afraid of getting hurt. It’s not a perfect book, but it was one I really enjoyed. (paperback, 2023)
Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger (★★☆☆☆)
Lisa Unger is a cult favorite in my book club, and she’s a local author, which is pretty cool. But, oof, this book was not very good at all. It’s about a girl named Wren Greenwood (yep) who matches with a very cute guy on a dating app. Sparks fly during their first date and they quickly fall into a relationship. But then, suddenly, he’s gone. What happened? Did she share too much too soon? It’s an interesting premise, especially bringing online dating into the equation of a thriller. But ultimately, the execution just wasn’t there. The twists and turns weren’t surprising at all, and the ending dragged on and on and on. It was also hard to understand why Wren was so in love with this man, as the author didn’t give us too many details about the man she was dating. I was skimming the pages at the end. And also, the writing was just bad. I haven’t read a Lisa Unger book in a while, but I don’t remember the writing being so bad. She tried so hard to be literary and provoking but didn’t need to be. I don’t read thrillers for the prose; I read them because I love a propulsive story. (hardcover, 2021)
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant (★★☆☆☆)
I need to stop reading books written by white cishet guys. Honestly. This book offered nothing for me. Is it because I’m already good at rethinking and considering all sides of an issue? (This is an Enneagram 9 to a tee!) Is it because I’m not afraid of admitting when I’m wrong and reframing the way I think? Is this book just for over-confident white men who need to learn how to consider other perspectives? I don’t know. But I didn’t get anything useful out of this book. I just found the advice to be rather elementary and trite. I mean, YMMV. The book somehow has a 4.23 rating on Goodreads, so many people are getting useful advice from it. And that’s awesome! The message is a good one, and I hope it helps a lot of people. It just wasn’t for me. (hardcover, 2021)
What are you reading?
Okay, I will definitely NOT read Last Girl Ghosted! I’ve heard all about Think Again, and I’ll bet the useful information could be condensed into a couple paragraphs. Some of these books would be better off as a short essay!
Yes – Think Again is definitely one of those books that would work better condensed into a short essay. I don’t think he had enough subject matter for 250 pages!
I’m trying to remember who I was chatting about Lisa Unger with in the blogging world recently – maybe it was Jenny. I read a book of hers that was great but haven’t tried anything of hers since – if I do check her out then I will definitely skip Last Girl Ghosted;-)
I’m reading Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt, but it’s a bit of a struggle. I’m almost 70% of the way in so I might as well finish it, but where the story left off last night I was so frustrated with it that I might DNF and move on to something better.
Ugh, I hate when I’ve worked my way so far into a book and I still am not enjoying it! I’m usually good about abandoning books, but every now and then, I keep reading because I think it will get better. It usually never works out for me!
I’m happy to read your review of a self-help book that offered nothing new to you. I often feel that way too about self-help books, and kind of wonder if I’m missing their point. But like you I’ve come to the conclusion that I already knew this stuff because I’m observant and thought-filled to a fault. It sounds arrogant to write it here, but it is also true for me [another Enneagram 9].
I wonder if most enneagram 9s just can’t relate to the idea of NOT being observant/seeing many different sides to an issue! A friend raved about this book, which is why I read it, but I was left feeling like I didn’t learn anything new because I already DO spend a lot of time in my own head, thinking and reconsidering situations!
I don’t know anyone else who DNF’d Nora Goes Off Script except you and me!
OMG! Everyone RAVES about that book and I just could not get over how cheesy it was. Haha!
Book opposites AGAIN. I thought Nora Goes Off Script was a 5/5 read and Same Time Next Summer made me feel dirty (reading about the sex lives of teenagers is not my jam). I think NGOS felt like an adult romance and STNS felt like a YA novel. *shrug* I think she’s an author worth watching, though!
We will always and forever be book opposites! It’s part of our charm!
I decided not to read Same Time after hearing more about the plotline. I don’t love second chance plot lines when someone is still with the person they are marrying or dating already. Like couldn’t they figure out it wasn’t the right relationship without seeing an old flame? But I LOVED Nora Goes Off Script!
I liked Think Again but can’t really remember why? But I am not the most open minded person!
I love a good second-chance romance, so Same Time Next Summer really worked for me! But I can understand it’s not the right romance trope for everyone.
I am glad Same Time Next Summer worked for you because as you know, it was a big miss for me. But I really think that author is talented, so I want her to keep writing! Maybe her third book will be a hit for both of us!
Yes, it made me want to revisit Nora Goes Off Script because maybe I missed something during my first time around. I’m excited to see what she does next!
Your comments about Think Again made me laugh out loud. It is on my holds list and keeps popping up, but I don’t check it out because I don’t think I have time to read it – maybe I will borrow and skim it. I’m reading The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhou (who I believe works for facebook) and also finding it not quite useful. I’m not sure if it’s because tech is very different from opera, or if there is just no good books out there for new managers.
I’m reading too many things and having to return them before finishing. It’s been a tough month for finishing books.
I would be interested in your thoughts if you ever do decide to read Think Again! It wasn’t for me, but it’s been very useful for other people.