Book Review: Pleasant Bay

Full disclosure: I grew up with this author. We both lived in the same small town and went to middle and high school together. That being said, it bears no influence on my review (simply put, if I didn’t LOVE this book, I just wouldn’t take the time to write a review).

If you are looking for a beach read, stop, I’ve found it. Pleasant Bay is an absolute FANTASTIC summer read and left me with that tough decision…do I fly through the book and finish it or do I savor this and enjoy every second with these characters? Well…I devoured it and am now left with an incredible book hangover.

Pleasant Bay goes back and forth between 2002 and 2019. The unique part to this story is that in 2002 we are reading things from Sarah’s perspective. In 2019 we are reading in present day, from her daughter’s perspective.

Sarah spends a summer with her aunt in Cape Cod. It’s about to be her senior year in college and she’s living up life waitressing to save up money. She’s had an absolutely crap year with a breakup and her father falling ill. Can a summer in Cape Cod save her sanity?

Madelyn, Sarah’s daughter, also spends a summer in Cape Cod with her great aunt to help give her a break from her single mother. It’s the summer between her sophomore and junior year of high school and her boyfriend happens to be a senior about to go away to college. The nerve her mother has to send her away!

Can I add in some family drama? Madelyn has no idea who her father is. Her mother has kept this from her, but why. Well…no spoilers here, but she’s a teen who won’t stop until she figures her life out.

5 stars.  SOLID read, perfect for laying by the pool or at the beach. What I appreciated the most with this, was how the writing changed between characters. Sarah in 2002 is written like a college student. Sarah in 2019 is a total typical teen who thinks they know better. I could say so, so much more, but that would ruin what makes this book so special. Just know that I laughed and I cried. I love a good epilogue and this one delivers just that!



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Title: Pleasant Bat

Author: Emily Wakeman Cyr

Genre(s): Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance

Publisher: Novelist Next Door

Release Date: July 31, 2023

Find it here on Goodreads

Book Review: Saint X

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for my advance copy of Saint X in exchange for my honest review! (Yes, another delayed review, my apologies, but I’m working through them all!!!)

Saint X is a PERFECT summer read, that is if you’re into thrillers (and I am very much am). It starts off with us realizing that a summer vacation went horribly wrong. It is every parents’ nightmare. You go on vacation with your 2 children and only come home with 1.

Claire is seven years old when her family is turned upside down. She has theories about what happened and goes through life being neglected by her parents. Since her sister, Alison, went missing on a resort island, the local authorities are not interested in looking any further into her disappearance aside from, she drank and got lost.

When her body turns up they close the case and say, she fell and died. They did not seek out if anyone intentionally harmed her, despite the family pleas.

Claire grows up and makes her way to New York City where she runs into one of the men she believed killed her sister. This is where the book takes us on turns, flipping timelines from present to past. The story builds and builds and yes, my book ends in my favorite way…with undisputed closure.

4 stars.  SOLID read, great thriller. I enjoyed the mystery of guessing how she died. We have enough to have our own suspicions and then to get that closure, oh that was the chef’s kiss! It was a fun, fast paced read. Great to read at the beach or next to the pool! Just don’t go wandering off anywhere with people you don’t know…



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Title: Saint X

Author: Alexis Schaitkin

Genre(s): Fiction, Mystery

Publisher: Celadon Books

Release Date: February 18, 2020

Find it here on Goodreads

12 Books Recommended By 12 People

Have you seen the social media posts going around where you ask 12 of your friends to give you a book recommendation to read this year?? Well…I did it!!

Here’s the recommendations I received…

Have I started any of them yet? No…haha. Prince Harry’s book just came out, you can’t blame me yet!!

I did get Push from the library so it is in my possession!!

Are you doing this challenge? What do you think of the 12 books that were recommended?

Book Review: Faking It

Thank you to Netgally and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for my advance copy of Faking It in exchange for my honest review! (This is a LATE review, I have previously read this one and am just catching up on writing reviews…my apologies to the publishers!)

Faking It is the perfect lighthearted, fun read if you’re looking for something not so serious. We meet Hannah Thompson, who is a relatable mother and wife, trying to juggle it all. She is working on publishing her first novel, a work of erotica, while trying to hide that from her kids because…well…she doesn’t want them to know what she’s been (tastefully) writing.

What I loved most about this book was how supportive her husband was. That is ALWAYS appreciated when I read novels, especially with moms. Being a mother myself, if my husband wasn’t supportive between everything I do I would absolutely lose it.

Hannah decides to take on an alter ego and write a little more on the naught side and finds herself about to be the guest speaker at a sex convention. The research she does with her friends was just hilarious. I could see myself in her shoes!

4 stars.  If you’re a fan of chick lit, you’ll enjoy this one!

Title: Faking It

Author: Rebecca Smith

Genre(s): Fiction, Romance

Publisher: Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter

Release Date: August 7, 2020

Find it here on Goodreads

Book Review: The Guilt Trip

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books for my advance copy of The Guilt Trip in exchange for my honest review!

This book started a little rough for me. I find it confusing when a lot of characters are introduced at once. For this one we met 3 couples right away; 1 is getting married and the other 2 couples are great friends. I couldn’t keep who was with who straight until halfway through the book, but I know that’s a me thing!

The couples fly to Portugal for a wedding. No one seems to be a fan of the future wife (the brother of the soon to husband is here and sets off a cheating rumor). Is she crazy? Is she hiding something?

There is a lot of speculation of cheating in this one. Something just seems off in general. Sandie Jones does a FANTASTIC job of creating doubt in the reader’s mind. Just when you think, ah this is what is happening you think, ehhh maybe not?

This becomes unputdownable halfway through. You need answers! Is the wedding going on?! Is the future wife cheating on her soon-to-be husband?! Is a child’s paternity going to be questioned within the circle of friends?! Whaaaaaaat?!?

The ending was fast paced and in your face. That epilogue. That short, little epilogue and your mind is blown. Wow. It tied everything together and then I kicked myself, haha.

4 stars.  SOLID read, great thriller. I didn’t anticipate the ending, but it was great and I’m left satisfied with how everything turned out!! You won’t regret reading this one!

Title: The Guilt Trip

Author: Sandie Jones

Genre(s): Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Release Date: May 21, 2021

Find it here on Goodreads

Book Review: The Night Before

*blows dust* WHAT?!?!? A book review?!? You know what…it’s long overdue for myself to get back in the saddle. Why? I’m tired of reading books and then forgetting what they’re about…haha. But, honestly I have a HUGE backlog of books I have read and I MISS blogging about them. So…hopefully I will stick with it a little longer. I don’t plan on posting as often as I used to, but I am definitely aiming for weekly posts!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advance copy of The Night Before in exchange for my honest review! (Oops, I’ve had this book for 3 years…I am so, so sorry it took me THIS long to read it, I wish I picked it up sooner!!!!!)

Wow. The Night Before opens up with a bang. Laura is plagued by a murder from her high school years that she is adamant she didn’t commit (even though not everyone may truly believe her).

Laura moves from New York City after a sudden breakup into her sister’s home, in her hometown. She thought she left everything behind and finds herself back here. Laura decides to jump back into dating and her sister, Rosie, thinks it is a bad idea.

Walker takes us through an alternating timeline, Laura in therapy, Laura on her date, and her sister after her date. There were twists and turns and a shocker I did not see coming. When I stopped and reflected on the book, I smiled. It was just THAT good.

I loved the alternating timelines. We hear from Laura in realtime on her date (which was in the past) and then immediately get thrown into the present with Rosie and what is going on there. This kept me hooked and kept me up past my bedtime!!!

4 stars.  SOLID read, great thriller. I never saw one specific part of the book coming…it was a total shock. I love how the book ended and everything came into place. My heart broke a little for Laura, but in the end, I am happy with how things turned out for her!

Title: The Night Before

Author: Wendy Walker

Genre(s): Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Release Date: May 14, 2019

Find it here on Goodreads

Blog Tour: Summertime Guests @wendyfrancis4 #mystery #summertime #readme

Thank you to Lia Ferrone and Harper Collins for my advance copy of Summertime Guests in exchange for my honest review!

This is a PERFECT summertime beach read. I don’t even know where to begin with this one!

We follow the story of four different couples, an engaged couple looking to be married soon, a couple that is dating, a couple that has been married for awhile with a newborn child, and a widow who embarks to possibly be with the man she thinks she should have been with.

Each couple has their back story and each couple makes gains through this novel. What is most interesting is it all takes place in Boston at the Seafarer Hotel. That is what they have in common. Their problems? They’re all different. But (most) all manage to see the light and work through them through a little self discovery.

Actually, the most interesting part of this story is it starts off with a death. But you don’t know who died. So we go through a few days of these couples at the hotel and it all unfolds. I was shocked at the end.

4 stars.  This was part mystery, part domestic fiction, and part could it be romance all rolled into one. It was truly a breath of fresh air and unlike many of the summer beach reads out there now. If you’re looking for something inbetween light and heavy, this is a great read for you!

Title: Summertime Guests

Author: Wendy Francis

Genre(s): Domestic Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Graydon House

Release Date: April 6, 2021

Find it here on Goodreads

My 2021 Resolution!

We may be in March, but that doesn’t mean I can’t share with you my book resolution for the year!!

I put myself on a book buying ban. Yes. Truly. I haven’t bought a book yet!

I DID make an exception and that is I will only allow myself to buy the new Elin Hildebrand book this year. So far, I’m going strong!!

My local library has been operating on curbside pickup and actually JUST opened up with limited services inside. They have been my saving grace…also the fact that all late fees are currently waved, haha.

Of course I’ve been adding books to my library (The Project was one I suggested and they added). I’m holding strong with my self-imposed book buying ban and still managing not to read books I actually own 🤦‍♀️. I promise I will!

Do you have any book related goals for yourself this year? Are you still sticking with them??

Book Review: The Night Before @Wendy_Walker @netgalley #thriller #suspense

Thank you to Netgally and St. Martin’s Press for my advance copy of The Night Before in exchange for my honest review! (Oops, I’ve had this book for 2 years…I am so, so sorry it took me THIS long to read it, I wish I picked it up sooner!!!!!)

Wow. The Night Before opens up with a bang. Laura is plagued by a murder from her high school years that she is adamant she didn’t commit (even though not everyone may truly believe her).

Laura moves from New York City after a sudden breakup into her sister’s home, in her hometown. She thought she left everything behind and finds herself back here. Laura decides to jump back into dating and her sister, Rosie, thinks it is a bad idea.

Walker takes us through an alternating timeline, Laura in therapy, Laura on her date, and her sister after her date. There were twists and turns and a shocker I did not see coming. When I stopped and reflected on the book, I smiled. It was just THAT good.

I loved the alternating timelines. We hear from Laura in realtime on her date (which was in the past) and then immediately get thrown into the present with Rosie and what is going on there. This kept me hooked and kept me up past my bedtime!!!

4 stars.  SOLID read, great thriller. I never saw one specific part of the book coming…it was a total shock. I love how the book ended and everything came into place. My heart broke a little for Laura, but in the end, I am happy with how things turned out for her!

Title: The Night Before

Author: Wendy Walker

Genre(s): Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Release Date: May 14, 2019

Find it here on Goodreads

Sundays In Bed With…


I discovered this meme thanks to Jill’s Book Blog.  This meme is all about what book you are reading today!!  So let’s all talk about what book we currently have in our hands! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.

Currently I have 2 books going…

I Heart My Little A-H❤les is a hilariously true read and One By One ia turning into a gripping, can’t put it down read!

What are you reading today?