Category: Fiction

Just Us

June 30, 2025
Young Love, Coming of Age, and Past vs. Present are the themes that came to my mind after reading “Just Us,” written by Heather White Driscoll. When a freshman and a very popular senior get together, it doesn’t just change their lives, but it changes the whole high school at the same time.

Harper Whitemoore was a type A type of girl with her whole freshman year planned out before she stepped out of her mother’s car on the first day of freshman year. This including getting good grades, join the varsity soccer team as a freshman, and unlike her best friend Leigh she wanted to wait until her college years to find the right guy to settle down with and get serious with. Well life had different plans starting on the first day, when she ran into the popular senior Scott Peirce. Everything change and nothing was ever the same after that.

“Just Us” follows Harper and Scott has they navigate this young love and all the challenges that go along with it. For one the age gap and the fact that Scott was a senior with a questionable past that at times got in the way of the true love in front of them.

I absolutely loved this young love story from the beginning to the very end. However, there were times when I wanted to yell at both of these teenagers at the different points throughout the story. This story was very necessary to show that even though there was an age gap and challenges that Harper and Scott both face, if there is honesty, loyalty and empathy love should win out above all.

Winners

May 12, 2025

Two towns, two hockey teams, one tragic story. This is my review of “The Winners” by Fredrik Backman. The third and final book in the “Beartown” series.

When a reporter swoops in on Beartown at the same time a storm tears through both Hed and Beartown. It is just a matter of time one town is about to be taken down once and for all. It’s about what shoe is going to drop first.

This book truly really had me going through all the emotions from smiling, laughing, angry and crying, starting from the first page, all the way through to every last page. Fredrik Backman has a way of taking a book about hockey and turning it into a masterpiece of emotions, hidden meanings and heartwarming, and tear-jerking moments. As a reader, who read the other two books “Beartown” and “Us Against You” I have been rooting for these characters from the very beginning.

The Beartown series was not just a hockey series. It is a series of hardships, friendships, and relationships. A series of political wars, wars against towns, and a lesson of resilience above all. 

I would highly recommend this series for anyone who loves taking a journey through a series, appreciates drama, and enjoys good characters.

Kill for Me, Kill for You

November 21, 2024

When two strangers are united in their grief and creates a plan for revenge anything can happen. “Kill for me, I’ll Kill for You” written by Steve Cavenagh, takes the reader on a wild ride of heartbreak, revenge and betrayal, and roller-coaster of twist and turns.

Ever since Amanda had suffered the tragic deaths of both her daughter and her husband, she had been on the track of revenge on the person who she believe was the person behind her grief. Then during one of her courts appointed counseling secession she meets a woman, Wendy who had the same goal of seeking revenge on the person that caused her pain years back as well. These two women than create a pact to help each other seek revenge.

This story is not only action packed but there is a deeper meaning hidden with the pages of this novel. The journey of grieving and the length in which loved ones would go to get peace and closure. It all takes us on an unexpected journey. However, if we don’t receive support and guidence, you might go down a dark path and wind up making decisions like the characters in this story. Yes, this story was entertaining entertainment comes a message that we should all hear.

We all grieve in our own ways and no one can tell us what is and what isn’t the right way to grief. There are good days and bad days but if you surround yourself with the support of people that love and support you, you can create a new normal.

The Kiss Quotient

June 17, 2024

Have you never had trouble admitting you needed assistance with something, have you ever tried online dating before? Well do I have a story for you. When Stella needs help in the bedroom, she turns to online dating apps for assistance and what could possibly go wrong with that.

Stella who has Asperger’s and has never really dated anyone and had slept with 3 men in her past. Really only for them and never to her satisfaction. So she figured that she turned to online dating/escorting sites for guidance. She made it quite clear she only wanted practice and never a relationship. That’s because she already had someone in mind. She just needed to build confidence. That’s was of course she met Michael. The escort from online.

Michael it turns out was the most down-to-earth patient man for the job. He accepted the fact that Stella had a checklist and that this was only going to be a one time thing. However, he shortly realized that things were going to go slow and that Stella was going to need more than one night to be comfortable.

Like I said in the past, it is the characters that make a story for me and it was no different with this one. Truthfully I wasn’t totally sold on the plot of the story at first. However, once I was introduced to Stella and Michael and got to learn more and more about them, I was sold!

One thing I truly appreciate about Helen Hoang is that she writes about characters with neurological disorders in such a bright light. So many times we read about these people in a bad light. And in Helen Hoang stories they get to shine and I absolutely love that! In this story both Michael and Stella had flaws and stars and they were treated all the same!!

The Maid

March 4, 2024

Have you ever read about a hotel maid, Murder and Deception? Well do I have a book for you! “The Maid” written by Nita Prose is a story of a very trustworthy, loveable maid and a murder that takes you on a wild ride.

Molly Gray loves her job and the consistency that it brings being a maid at the well-known Regency Hotel. Especially with the death of her beloved grandmother. Being able to work at the hotel has helped Molly cope with her loss. However, when Molly finds a high-class and long-term guest Mr.Black dead in his hotel room, she could have never predicted what could have transpired next.

Molly has been one of my favorite characters in a book in a long time. She is the most considerate, kind, and trustworthy person. However, with her hard time understanding people and understanding social cues, on top of her trustworthy nature, she finds herself in a troubling position.

I enjoyed this book from the very first page to the very last page. All of the characters had important roles in the storyline whether they were loveable or not. I would highly recommend this story for anyone who enjoys a good mystery book!!

Daisy Jones & The Six

February 19, 2024

Do you enjoy reading about sex, drugs, and rock & Roll, do you enjoy reading about bands in the 60’s? Well, I have a book for you!! “Daisy Jones and the Six “written by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It is a story of the struggles of an up-and-coming band in the 1960s.

Daisy Jones dreamed of becoming a singer and the Dunne brothers dreamed of creating a world-famous band. So when their manager was looking for someone to do a duet with them and he heard Daisy Jones perform he knew she had something special. When Daisy Jones and the Dunne brothers band finally joined forces they created magic and quickly shot to the top of the charts.

This story is loosely based on the creation of the Fleetwood band, an American-British band formed in 1967. And the ups and downs of their success.

I enjoyed this book very much. Taylor Jenkins Reid does a great job of depicting the lives of musicians and the challenges that they face in the industry. By creating characters that might have that rough and tough, rock and roll persona but at the same time have a down-to-earth side, Taylor was able to show what goes on behind the scenes and the dynamic that the different bandmates have with each other both professionally and personally. It was a really sweet story of what was, what is, and what it could have continued to be!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves reading about the music industry!

One Day In December

December 18, 2023

Romance, Christmas and forbidden romance are three themes that have come to my mind after reading “One Day in December” written by Josie Silver. Imagine falling in love at first sight at the bus station, to find out that, the mystery man is your best friend’s boyfriend.

One day Laurie was getting on the bus when she spotted the most beautiful man she had ever seen. They locked eyes and fell in love without even talking to each other. A year later she finds out the new boyfriend of her roommate and best was the guy from the bus station and the man she had been searching for, for the best year. Laurie decided it was in the best interest of both their friendship and the new relationship not to bring the fact that Jack was the mystery long along.

Even though the concept of this story was great. The execution was just not there.

One of my favorite things about this book was the friendship between the female main character Laurie and her best friend Sarah. They became roommates out of need but became best friends by choice.

One thing I disliked about this book was the male main characters. Besides Luke, Jack and Oliver only really seemed to think of themselves. Jack lied to Laurie just to save a relationship that was going nowhere and he was a crybaby when it came to the accident. Oliver only was a hero on vacation. When it came to reality his job was the only thing that mattered to him. He did not care about what Laurie wanted. He wanted a trophy wife.

Another thing I disliked about this story was the length. Even though this book spans multiple years, it did not need to be as long as it was. There was a lot of unnecessary fluff that made the book drag on.

Overall I would give this book a 3-star rating. It was a cute story that could have ended halfway through.

Twisted Love

October 4, 2023

Trauma, Steamy Romance and Intense Relationships are just three of many things that have come to my mind after reading “Twisted Love” written by Ana Huang. When Alex is left to watch over his best friend’s sister for an extended period of time anything can happen.

Ana Chen and Alex Volkov have this hate/love relationship, but they tolerate each other because Alex’s best friend is Ana’s older brother. And Ana and Josh are extremely close with each other because of their upbringing. However, when Josh accepts a study abroad program, he decides to leave Josh to watch over Ana even though she is a grown adult. You can imagine their bond growing into an intense relationship during this time. However, Alex reason for their closest is not what it seems.

If I could describe this book one way, it would be a tamer 50 Shades of Grey. With the mixture of intense sex scenes and the power dynamic. However, there was a story of true love with a mixture of intense family drama and secrets that will leave you speechless at times. This book is full of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. That’s why it is such a great passionate love storys.

BearTown

June 14, 2023

Small town, hockey and the truth are three words that come to my mind after reading “BearTown” by Fredrik Backman. When the truth comes about a terrible incident the small hockey town will never be the same.

BearTown has always lived and breath hockey. It is the type of town that treats their athletes as stars around town. They can do no wrong.  It is also time for the team to really buckle down and win the Simi-finals. However, when a terrible incident occurs at a party, leave Maya absolutely devasted, she is left picking up the pieces and the burn of deciding to tell the truth or hold the truth to protect the only thing the town has ever known. And when the truth finally does come out, who will people believe? Will Maya finally be able to begin the healing process or will the burn just be too much for her?

This story is a story of consent, truth, and strength. A story that brings a very necessary storyline to light. The power that society and especially a small town gives their athletes can lead to devasting results one way or another. The truth is no one is above law no matter if you can make basket, shoot a goal, run for a touchdown, or even led a country. The truth is if we all care for each other, listen to one another, and respect one another, there just might be just little less hurt in this world.

Fredrik Backman’s way of storytelling is one of my favorites. He has a way of bringing his characters to life in such a way that the reader really gets invested into their lives and story. His books are full of emotion, depth and will always have an important message hidden inside. They have always left an impact on me, and I hope they will leave an impact on you.

The Dating Plan

April 24, 2023

Love, family drama and fake relationships are the three things that came to my mind after reading “The Dating Plan” written by Sara Desai. When old flames reunited unexpectedly and start to fake dating, what could possibly go wrong?

Daisy Patel and Liam Murphy are old high school flames, whose relationship ended after Liam never showed up to take Daisy to her senior prom and left town for good.

Now ten years later Daisy and Liam unexpectedly run into each other at a tech conference and to fix their own individual family situations they hatch a plan to start fake dating. However, when the old feelings for each other come flooding back but the truth of that last night is revealed. What will happen to these once high school lovers, turned heartbreakers and now fake fiancés?

Let me first start out by saying I love the fake relationship tropes. They sometimes are corny and predictable. But with Sara Desai adding in these characters families, back stories and reasons behind the fake relationships, it really laid out the high stakes out this relationship was for Liam and Daisy.

Overall, I really enjoyed and appreciated all the little things and big things this book had to offer.