Spring has finally arrived and with it some surprising readers block. I have been so slow to get started on new reads the past few months and I need to shake it off. With summer days just beyond our fingertips I’m sure that will soon change. I don’t think its helped that this lat 10 stack was filled with titles that didn’t excite me all that much probably contributing to my less than motivated reading slump. Do you find it harder to read when you’ve been less than thrilled by your last book?

“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab

Addie knew to never speak to the spirits after dusk. She knew this would only lead to trouble but she was desperate. A plea was made, a bargain struck and a curse was laid. Now forever doomed to roam for all eternity never to be remembered, Addie is determined to never give the deal maker what he ultimately wants, her soul. Unbound by the restrictions of time, Addie begins a life of adventure, exploration and loneliness as she learns the boundaries and rules of her new life. For 300 years Addie is forgotten the moment she steps aside until one fateful day she leaves a bookshop and the man behind the counter remembers her name. “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” was a really great read. Told through multiple time periods, I found the concept to be so creative and couldn’t predict how Addie’s story would unfold. Though I thought at times the story dragged on for a bit too long (not sure we needed every flashback) I would highly recommend adding this to your TBR list if you are a fan of Fantasy or Historical Fiction genres. I was excited to see that “Addie LaRue” is being made into a movie, can’t wait to see how it will translate to the screen.

“The Last Party” by Clare Mackintosh

As their tiny village gathers to ring in the new year one of them will not live to see the clock strike twelve. As the local celebrity, Rhys has come back to his roots to create an elite summer retreat for the wealthy, something not everyone is happy about. To mend fences, he’s invited them to celebrate the New Year at their lakeside resort. While the champagne flows someone at the party is out for revenge because by the next morning a body is found in the lake and Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects to interview. Everyone had a reason to want him dead, everyone had opportunity but only one of them left Rhys floating in Mirror Lake. I really wanted to like “The Last Party”. I love thrillers/mysteries and this sounded so interesting, however the multiple POVs and multiple time jumps just killed this one for me…for lack of a better expression. It felt slow, disjointed, and I never really got to know a character for long enough to care about them. This is a start of a series for Mackintosh but unfortunately this will probably be a one and done for me.

“The Golden Spoon” by Jessa Maxwell

Preparations are underway to begin filming the tenth season of Bake Week. Thanks to host Betsy Martin, the six contestants begin to arrive one by one to her picturesque manor where the show will be filmed over the course of several days. Bound to be unbothered by her new co-host Archie, Betsy is determined to make this year’s Bake Week the best season yet. When cameras start to roll and the contest begins the recipe seems off from the start – unexplained mistakes, suggestions of sabotage and one dead body do not make the best ingredients for success but they sure make for excellent TV. As those who are left alive at the manor wait for help, the secrets that they all wish to keep hidden begin to simmer to the surface. Who will be left standing and earn the coveted Golden Spoon? The concept of “The Golden Spoon” had me intrigued and sounded like a fun concept. British Bake Off meets Only Murders…sort of. However, I found myself dragging to finish it with the book’s slow pace. The constant alternating POVs and lack of any real connection with the characters I struggled to be excited about this one. I’m not a big Bake-off fan but I imagine someone who loves to bake as a hobby would find this “cozy mystery” a fun read. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation” by Rosemary Sullivan

For the over 30 million people who have read “The Diary of Anne Frank” a looming question has always been left unanswered. How were the Frank family and those hiding with them discovered? If you believe the findings of this cold case team, the answer has finally been discovered. Former FBI agent Vincent Pankoke and a team of investigators set out to uncover the truth behind this great mystery, digging through documents and conducting interviews over the course of several years. The team hired author Rosemary Sullivan to document their findings in “The Betrayal of Anne Frank”. I listened to the audiobook version which was narrated beautifully and had mixed feelings about the findings. Though I personally feel their conclusions couldn’t be more than suspicions and not in fact concrete as they claim I do believe that investigations of this kind that keep this story alive (as long as it’s done accurately) can only help move things forward. This book has made headlines globally for its controversial findings and debate over its accuracy. In fact, Dutch publishers have ceased all publications of this book. I found it an interesting read and would recommend it to non-fiction fans just approach it with a skeptical lens.

“Adult Assembly Required” by Abbi Waxman

This afternoon when she arrived back to her apartment Laura Costello found the building surrounded by firefighters battling a fire that claimed all of her clothes and possessions. Feeling completely sorry for herself and unable to stop the tears Laura wandered into a nearby bookstore. Inside, she found more than she had planned – new friends, a new home and somehow a trivia team she never knew she needed. Determined to start over from the accident that changed her life Laura has left everything behind ready to begin again and with the support of this odd crew that have rallied around her Laura is ready to put her life back together. “Adult Assembly Required” is the second book I’ve read by Abbi Waxman and after loving that one I was excited to see where this one would lead. Unfortunately, the slow pace (snails move faster) did nothing for my attention span. I’m all for a slow burn but this was nothing short of glacial. It made it very difficult to truly connect to the story and really care about the characters. I’d recommend giving “Other People’s Houses” a try if you are looking for a good read by this author.

“99 Percent Mine” by Sally Thorne

Darcy and her twin brother have been left the task of renovating and flipping their late grandmother’s house. Only the two couldn’t differ in opinions more if they tried leaving their lifelong friend and contractor, Tom, in the middle of things. Having strong feelings on keeping her grandmother’s legacy and their memories in the cottage alive Darcy decides to put on a tool belt and help with the project to stop her brother from turning into some modern monstrosity. Though if she has to be honest the fact that she has been in love with Tom her entire life and newly single has a large part in her desire to participate. Soon it seems that the two are back into their old ways again as the house is changed piece by piece but Darcy needs to make sure her brother stays far away from the project…and her attempts to win Tom’s heart once and for all. I love when a light-hearted rom-com hits at just the right time to help kickstart after some not so great reads…unfortunately, this wasn’t one of those times. I had heard such great things about this author and maybe I need to give a different title a try but “99 Percent Mine” was so all over the place with story, characters and theme it never did quite settle into that ‘can’t put it down’ feeling I usually get from these feel-good stories. I know one of Thorne’s books was well received enough to be made into a movie recently so maybe I will give that one a try. This one was a miss for me.

“Drinking Games: A Memoir” by Sarah Levy

“While many millennial women will see themselves in Sarah’s words and story, Drinking Games is dedicated to anyone who feels like their private struggles are terminally unique. Whether it’s alcohol, food, exercise, or work, so many of us are grasping for control and struggling to keep our heads above water.” I have so much respect for anyone who can recognize they have a struggle in life, take steps to get the help they need and then on top of everything share the most vulnerable side of yourself to the world so that others may learn from your experiences. That’s exactly what author Sarah Levy (no, not that Sarah Levy…I’ll save you the google search) in her memoir “Drinking Games”. As the book’s description says, this isn’t only for those who struggle with alcohol consumption but for anyone who is treading water against something. I enjoyed the audiobook version of this and found Levy’s openness refreshing and honest.

“The Girls in the Garden” by Lisa Jewell

Hoping that their new home will be the fresh start her girls need, Clare, is desperate for them all to make new connections leaving their scandal in the past. The communal park offers them all the chance to meet the neighbors and soon Grace and Pip have a new circle of friends. But on a warm summer night while the neighborhood partied, one of the girls would be found unconscious but who would have possibly wanted to harm Grace? By Lisa Jewell standards, “The Girls in the Garden” was relatively tame on the shock scale. It never ceases to amaze me the level of twisted her mind has gone to some times but thankfully this one is mild. Though not her wildest plot, “The Girls in the Garden” still touches on sensitive issues that some may find difficult to read. I still have yet to find a Jewell book that I really truly enjoy but I’ll keep on trying. If you have a favorite, send it my way!

“Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” by Benjamin Stevenson

Ernie Cunningham’s family, if you can still call them that, have gathered at a remote ski resort in the middle of a massive storm to celebrate the homecoming of Ernie’s brother, Michael. In the eyes of his family, it’s Ernie’s fault Michael has been away. Someone had to be blamed…though no one in the Cunningham family is innocent. You see, everyone in Ernie’s family has killed someone. Written in first person narrative Ernie takes us through the events of the Cunningham Family Reunion and the circumstances around each of his family’s crimes. Though creatively written I had a hard time tracking this story. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right headspace to focus deeply enough to follow but I lost the pacing and plot more than once. Stevenson’s writing style and approach is creative and Ernie’s story is entertaining, I just sadly didn’t connect with this one.

“Yours Truly” by Abby Jimenez

Briana Ortiz is going through a difficult patch of life. Her divorce is about to be final, her brother is fading away while awaiting a transplant and that promotion she thought she was a shoe-in for is now on hold to give the new guy a shot at it. Channeling all her anger towards Dr. Jacob Maddox was easy, there was absolutely nothing to like about this man…well, except maybe his face. But now to make matters worse, he’s written her a letter and it turns out that maybe he wasn’t the problem after all. As their letter exchanges continue and lunch meet-ups in the supply closet become more frequent, Briana can see she was completely wrong about Jacob, even more so when it’s revealed that he is a perfect transplant match for her brother and Jacob has agreed to be his donor. So when Jacob calls in a favor how can Briana say no? Even if it means spending quite a lot of time with Dr. Maddox and discovering that maybe she’s met her match as well. I flew through “Yours Truly” much as I did “Part of Your World” last year. Abby Jimenez has mastered the art of the slow-burn romance and I found myself smiling while reading this and actually laughing out loud at times. Jimenez covers a list of heavier topics in her rom-coms so this isn’t your typical cookie-cutter read. You will see “Yours Truly” marketed as book two of a series but it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone. Add this to your summer TBR list and BOTM readers don’t sleep on this May pick! Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Til next time,

The Booked Mama

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