Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (★★★★★)
E-book • Library • Contemporary Romance • 2024
Short synopsis: Ali Morris, a professional organizer with a chaotic personal life, unexpectedly meets Ethan when her dog “claims” him. Despite her reservations about complicating things, she finds herself drawn to a potential Summer Romance.
Oh, you guys. I can’t get over how much I loved this book. I was in a serious book hangover for a few days after finishing it and couldn’t stop thinking about the book. It was such a sweet, heartwarming romance that truly put me in my feels. This book is about Ali, a single mother of three who lost her mother two years ago and then her husband asked for a divorce a year later. Ever since then, she’s just been going through the motions but not really living, you know? That is, until she meets Ethan and he lights a spark in her that has been missing for a very long time. This book is about finding yourself after being in a bad relationship, about grief and coming back to yourself, and about what it’s like to stand up for yourself when you’ve spent so many years doing the opposite. I just adored Ali’s character arc and the way she found her voice. And, of course, the romance between Ali and Ethan was so much fun. I loved them together and was so curious how they were going to make things work since Ethan’s life was in a town four hours away (he was only in town to help his family for a short period of time). This might be one of my new favorite romances!
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (★★★★★)
Print • Owned (Amazon) • Middle Grade • 2015
Short synopsis: Confined to her home due to her mother’s shame over her disability, ten-year-old Ada escapes to the countryside with her brother during WWII, where they find hope and love with their reluctant caretaker. But as the war rages on, Ada fears being forced back into her mother’s harsh control.
After trying and abandoning three separate books after finishing Summer Romance, I finally settled on this middle-grade novel about two young kids during WWII. It’s been on my bookshelf for quite a while, and I’m really glad I finally took the time to read it because it was so lovely. Ada was born with a clubfoot and while there were treatments for this disability, her mother never felt like getting it fixed so she could walk without pain. Instead, Ada spends her day confined to her home and her mother’s wretchedness. I was so happy when she and her brother escaped and were placed in Susan’s care! Ada learning how to trust Susan when her mother had so thoroughly emotionally abused her was so heartbreaking. She was so suspicious of Susan’s love! There were times when I just wanted Ada to believe in the love that Susan was giving her, but of course, it’s not that easy when one has endured a decade of trauma at the hands of their own mother. This book was just so heartwarming, though, and I just adored Ada.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Spotify • Mystery • 2023
Short synopsis: Sixty-year-old tea-shop owner and self-proclaimed detective Vera Wong stumbles upon a dead man in her shop and, convinced she can solve the mystery better than the police, sets out to catch the killer—because nobody uncovers the truth quite like a curious Chinese mother with time on her hands.
Gah – this book was so good! The audiobook is the way to go because the narrator does such a great job of capturing Vera’s voice. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the book (I DNF-ed Sutanto’s other book Dial A for Aunties) but the moment the book started, I was immediately delighted by Vera and couldn’t wait to see where this story was going to go. She is such a typical Chinese mother but something is soothing about that. She just wants the best for her family. This book is more than a mystery, too. It’s also a found family story, as the cast of characters—all connected to the dead man in some way—come together and become a family of sorts. It was really heartwarming. I fell in love with all of the characters in this book and while I guessed the twist, it didn’t take away from my satisfaction with the story. I’m excited that Vera’s story will continue with the second book in the series releasing in spring 2025!
What are you reading?
Summer Romance is a case of me just needing to accept that I don’t enjoy reading modern romantic fiction. To be fair I did enjoy Nora Off Script, but I felt like there was quite a bit of overlap between Summer Romance and Nora (I think I would have liked this book more if it was the first book by Monaghan I had read?)
It definitely touches on a lot of big subjects well – loss of loved ones, grief, friendship (including intergenerationally), divorce, motherhood – but I wasn’t sucked in and found myself skimming chapters by the end of the book.
I think I might be the only person on the interwebs who didn’t love this one. Le sigh. When am I just going to admit I am a non-fiction (or old fiction) girl at heart? Now. NOW IS WHEN I’M GOING TO ADMIT IT and not be ashamed of liking non-fiction.
Yes! Do not feel ashamed of loving nonfiction. The best thing about reading is that it is so individualized and we don’t all have to like the same things.
I’m sorry Summer Romance didn’t work for you, though! I actually DNF-ed Nora Goes Off Script so maybe I would have liked it less if I had kept going with that book. I might try Nora again, though, now that I’ve read and loved her other two books.
You sold me. I put all three of these on hold at the library. Will I read all three? We’ll see. But I did request every one of them. Yay for 3/3 for you!
Ooh, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! May we not be book nemeses (nemesises? nemesi?) on this stack!
Well you had a nice week of reading! You’ve ALMOST convinced me to try Summer Romance… almost. I’m still thinking about it (as you may remember I don’t usually like the romance genre!)
I don’t think you’ll enjoy Summer Romance, Jenny! Romance isn’t your thing and that’s quite okay! I mean, definitely give it a try if you’re looking for something light and fun, but it may not be your cup of tea.
I really enjoyed Summer Romance and also gave it 5 stars! It was such a great read and I loved that it featured an older protagonist that was dealing with a divorce. I recommended it to Canada Amber shortly after I started reading it.
I just finished ‘How We Named the Stars’ which I heard about through Sarah’s Bookshelves Lives – Susie loved it. It’s am owned voices coming of age story set during freshman year of college about 2 college roommates. It was so well done. Next I will read ‘Wellness’ which is LONG. It’s gotten mixed reviews but a good friend adored it and we usually agree on books so I decided to check it out.
Yay! I’m glad you loved Summer Romance as much as I did – a great book for Canada Amber!!
I must have missed that book rec on SBSL! The name doesn’t ring a bell.
I am so on the fence about Wellness! I’m going to wait on your review to see if I should read it.
OMG I AM READING ALL FOURS. It’s wild. I’m almost done, and it’s just the most bananas book I’ve read.
I LOVED Summer Romance!!! It was SO good. I disliked her second book but loved Nora, so I was thrilled this was so great.
Ooo, three stars! The first one sounds right up my alley! And I requested one from Libby you wrote about in your Insta stories… the plot had something to do with buying a flat next to someone? As always, thanks for the recs!
I am listening to The Women and reading Reckless.
Stephany! I just read a romance that I liked and I thought of you. It’s Just For One Summer; have you read it? I know I don’t usually looooove cheesey romances, but this one was a fun one.
I haven’t read Summer Romance, but I thought Nora Goes Off Script was pretty good, although I didn’t really get into Same Time Next Summer.
I am currently reading We Begin at the End and it’s going okay. I just finished the first two books of the Tuesday Survivor Mystery series and they are quick and fun reads.
These all sound so good! I have listened to FOUR separate audiobooks over the last few days and none of them are capturing my interest, so I’m going to see if Summer Romance or Vera Wong are available from my library!
These sound great, and I immediately added them to my Audible wish list. I’m very excited about the Vera Wong one since you recommended the audiobook.
I did like Nora goes of Script so I may enjoy Summer romance. But then we are already heading into falls and now I don’t want to read about summer.
Glad you had a great reading week.