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23 Books To Read In 2023

January 31, 2023

After doing a lot of digging and reading over the last month, I’m excited to finally post my 2023 book list! I tried to include novels in a variety of genres and threw in some memoirs as well as a classic (always). As you can see, April is going to be a very expensive month for me. So many great books are releasing that month- just in time for spring/summer reading! Let me know in the comments which books you are looking forward to devouring this year!

Sam by Allegra Goodman – This coming of age novel is a short and sweet read. I’m currently about halfway through this one and enjoying it so far.

Spare by Prince Harry – I love catching up on the royal family and this memoir did not disappoint. I was pleasantly surprised that Harry mostly talked about his childhood and personal experiences in the military. Meghan Markle didn’t come into the book until probably 3/4 of the way in.

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey – I added this one to my TBR list so fast!

Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo – This memoir releases today! I am really excited to read Jinger’s experience in her religion and growing up in the Duggar family.

Maame by Jessica George – I’ve seen this book everywhere, so I had to add it to my personal TBR list!

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes (Feb 7th) I’ve read several Jojo Moyes books and none of them disappointed. I’m excited for this one to come out soon!

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (February 14th) – I’m not a huge fan of fantasy, but this one sounds like it has potential. I’m a sucker for a description that relates a book to fairytales. Sold.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (March 7th) – This is one I am personally really excited about! It’s got first loves, family drama and lots of wit!

The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew by Maggie Bullock (March 7th) – If you are remotely interested in American fashion, this one is a must-read!

The Quarantine Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (March 28th) – What 80’s/90’s babies were not obsessed with Princess Diaries? I’m excited to read the newest in the series.

Homecoming by Kate Morton (April 4th) – Kate Morton is one of my all-time favorite authors! I am beyond excited for her new novel because it has been a few years since her last one. If you enjoy historical fiction mixed with a little mystery, you will love her novels.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (April 4th) – The title hooked me and then after reading the description, I think this is the rom-com we all need right now.

A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung (April 4th) – Chung dives into the middle class life she thought she knew and grief in this highly anticipated memoir.

Happy Place by Emily Henry (April 25th) – Emily Henry is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I loved Beach Read last year and am ecstatic for the release of this one!

The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (May 2nd) – I don’t know a lot about this one, but the synopsis had me hooked!

Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier (June 6th) – For the thriller and mystery lovers, this sound like the perfect summer vacation novel.

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand (June 13th) – I’m so excited that Elin Hilderbrand is coming out with another new novel just in time for beach season!

The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan (July 11h) – Jenny Colgan is the queen of light-hearted sweet novels! If you need a light read, this will be perfect.

Books to catch up on:

I rated these 5 stars last year and wanted to include them in my list. They are definitely worth going back and catching up on.

Under the Magnolias by T.I. Lowe – This coming of age tale was so enjoyable and refreshingly clean.

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin – This story is heavily influenced by the Kennedys and I absolutely loved it!

Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand – I couldn’t put this one down! It was such an incredible story.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman – I am currently a little over halfway through this book and am really enjoying it so far! It is now a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks!

Y’all know I love to end my lists with a classic and this year’s choice is Little Women because Sophie and I are reading it together! I hope you will join us in diving in this classic again (or for the first time).

Which books are you looking forward to reading the most?

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Amazon, Books
Tagged: 4 Star Books, 5 star books, Book Lists, books, Bookworm Reviews

Book Review: Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews

September 22, 2015

save-the-date

Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews
June 2014 St. Martin’s Press

Pages: 448

Synopsis from Goodreads: A wedding florist finds love and trouble in this delightful new novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Ladies’ Night

A Savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn’t believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all. 

Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s trademark wit and keen eye for detail, mark your calendars for Save the Date!


My Thoughts: This was a really enjoyable read, although I will say it was very predictable. Not in a bad way. I just knew where the story was headed pretty much the entire time. There were no real surprises. The only part I wasn’t thrilled with was the fact that the ending happened so quickly. I wish it would have been a little more drawn out. I didn’t want it to end.
 
Over all, the book was fun and relaxing. I read it very quickly and it didn’t drag at all which I loved. Although this was only my second Mary Kay Andrews book, I am becoming a big fan! This novel made me relive my own wedding planning and made me look at it from a florist’s perspective which was really neat. I really like to get in opposing people’s heads. I liked that the book was set in Savannah. I have been there a few times and it is absolutely beautiful, so I could picture everything. Over all, this was a great book and I gave it 4 stars.
 
What are you currently reading? Tell me about it!

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Books
Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

Book Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

September 1, 2015

coconut-cake

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
Gallery Books July 2015


Pages: 318

Synopsis from Goodreads: YOU’VE GOT MAIL meets HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.


My Thoughts: I was so excited to read this book off of my Summer Reading List! It did not disappoint. The cover art is really what caught my attention initially, and the title is just as delicious. Books with some sort of sweet in the title or set in Paris are my weaknesses if you haven’t already noticed. I read this book while on our cruise a couple of weeks ago and it was the perfect vacation read. 

I read it very quickly and couldn’t put it down because I wanted to know what happened to Al and Lou! This book kept my attention, and while I did predict the end before I got there, it was still so satisfying and dreamy. I gave this one 4 stars!

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Books, Uncategorized
Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

January 13, 2015

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

December, 2012 Pamela Dorman Books

Pages: 369

Synopsis from Goodreads: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time. 


My Thoughts: I had heard really great things about this book, so I had to read it over the holidays. I flew through it and it was great, however, it did not have the ending I wanted it to. I know. How dare Jojo. Without giving it away, it was just way too sad for me. Especially considering I was reading it during Christmas. Not cool. I loved the novel, however and the main character – Lou. I gave it 4 stars, because of the ending. 

What are you reading?

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Books, Uncategorized
Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

Book Review: Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams

December 30, 2014

Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan


July 2014
Sourcebooks Landmark

Pages:433

Synopsis from Goodreads: Rose is about to get a taste of the sweet life


Rosie Hopkins’s life is…comfortable. She has a steady nursing job, a nice apartment, and Gerard, her loyal (if a bit boring) boyfriend. And even though she might like to pursue a more rewarding career, and Gerard doesn’t seem to have any plans to propose, Rosie’s not complaining. Things could be worse. Right?

Life gets a bit more interesting when Rosie’s mother sends her out to the country to care for her ailing great aunt Lilian, who owns an old-fashioned sweetshop. But as Rosie gets Lilian back on her feet, breathes a new life into the candy shop, and gets to know the mysterious and solitary Stephen whose family seems to own the entire town she starts to think that settling for what’s comfortable might not be so great after all.



My Thoughts: I loved this book! It was a quick and fun and perfect for light holiday reading. I fell in love with all of the quirky characters and I am so happy that there is a second book: Christmas at Rosie Hopkin’s Sweetshop. This book is full of sweet recipes just like Meet Me At The Cupcake Cafe! I have officially fallen in love with Jenny Colgan! I gave this novel 4 stars.

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Books, Uncategorized
Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

Book Review: The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress

December 10, 2014

The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon
January 2014
Doubleday

Pages: 304


Synopsis from Goodreads: A tantalizing reimagining of a scandalous mystery that rocked the nation in 1930-Justice Joseph Crater’s infamous disappearance-as seen through the eyes of the three women who knew him best.

They say behind every great man, there’s a woman. In this case, there are three. Stella Crater, the judge’s wife, is the picture of propriety draped in long pearls and the latest Chanel. Ritzi, a leggy showgirl with Broadway aspirations, thinks moonlighting in the judge’s bed is the quickest way off the chorus line. Maria Simon, the dutiful maid, has the judge to thank for her husband’s recent promotion to detective in the NYPD. Meanwhile, Crater is equally indebted to Tammany Hall leaders and the city’s most notorious gangster, Owney “The Killer” Madden.

On a sultry summer night, as rumors circulate about the judge’s involvement in wide-scale political corruption, the Honorable Joseph Crater steps into a cab and disappears without a trace. Or does he?

After 39 years of necessary duplicity, Stella Crater is finally ready to reveal what she knows. Sliding into a plush leather banquette at Club Abbey, the site of many absinthe-soaked affairs and the judge’s favorite watering hole back in the day, Stella orders two whiskeys on the rocks-one for her and one in honor of her missing husband. Stirring the ice cubes in the lowball glass, Stella begins to tell a tale-of greed, lust, and deceit. As the novel unfolds and the women slyly break out of their prescribed roles, it becomes clear that each knows more than she has initially let on.

With a layered intensity and prose as effervescent as the bubbly that flows every night, The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress is a wickedly entertaining historical mystery that will transport readers to a bygone era with tipsy spins through subterranean jazz clubs and backstage dressing rooms. But beneath the Art Deco skyline and amid the intoxicating smell of smoke and whiskey, the question of why Judge Crater disappeared lingers seductively until a twist in the very last pages.



My Thoughts: This book was chosen by my book club for our September pick. I never would have read it otherwise, but I am so glad I did. This book has it all. From showgirls and mobsters to politicians and maids who know too much, this book was one that I couldn’t put down – literally. I listened to it on audio – my first audio book, and I loved it! I will definitely be doing this more often. It makes car rides more enjoyable and helps me “read” multiple books a little quicker. Enough on that. We also had the opportunity to chat with the author, Ariel Lawhorn on Twitter and it was amazing! I learned so much more about the book. Search our hashtag #Literaryjunkies to read the chat! This novel is based on real life events. Books based on real life stories are always so much more interesting to me! You definitely must read this one. I gave it 4 stars.

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Books, Uncategorized
Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

Book Review: Daring to Dream

September 18, 2014

daring to dream

Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts
August 2012
Berkley Trade

Pages: 400

Synopsis from Goodreads: Margo, Kate and Laura were brought up like sisters amidst the peerless grandeur of Templeton House. But it was Margo whose dreams first took her far away . . .

Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn’t help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton’s stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the thing she craved most—her mother’s acceptance.

Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura—or had Kate’s shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way—no matter what the consequences . . .


My Thoughts: I’ve been so excited to start reading this trilogy! In fact, I included it in my 2014 book list at the beginning of the year. I truly believe you need to read a good trilogy every year. They are always my favorites. Although I’ve only read book #1 so far, I have already fallen in love with the characters! This novel focused on the life of Margo – the maid’s daughter who grew up like another one of the prominent Templeton kids. She decides that she wants to make something of herself one day and runs off to Milan to pursue her career as a model. Certain events bring her back home to her family and friends and of course, a true love. What would a Nora Roberts novel be without a little love story going on? I really loved reading about Margo. Her character was so fun and interesting to read about. I can’t read the other two books that will focus on Kate and Laura as well. I gave this one 4 stars!

For more book recommendations and reviews, visit my bookshelf!

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Books, Uncategorized
Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

Book Review: The Lone Wolf

September 2, 2014

The Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
October 2012 Atria/Emily Bestler Books


Pages: 421


Synopsis from Goodreads: On an icy winter night, a terrible accident forces a family divided to come together and make a fateful decision. Cara, once protected by her father, Luke, is tormented by a secret that nobody knows. Her brother, Edward, has secrets of his own. He has kept them hidden, but now they may come to light, and if they do, Cara will be devastated. Their mother, Georgie, was never able to compete with her ex-husband’s obsessions, and now, his fate hangs in the balance and in the hands of her children. With conflicting motivations and emotions, what will this family decide? And will they be able to live with that decision, after the truth has been revealed? What happens when the hope that should sustain a family is the very thing tearing it apart?

My Thoughts: This was a tough one for me to read because of the timing. I enjoyed it but probably would have enjoyed it more if circumstances in my life were different. The story was fascinating and it is definitely a book you could finish in a day. This was my first time reading Picoult and I really want to read another one.

Do any of you have suggestions?

I gave this book 4 stars.

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Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

Book Review: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

August 7, 2014

wedding night

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
May, 2014 Dial Press Trade Paperback

Pages: 464

Synopsis from Goodreads: #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella returns with her trademark blend of sparkling wit and playful romance in this page-turning story of a wedding to remember—and a honeymoon to forget.

Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose, but then his big question involves a trip abroad—not a trip down the aisle. Completely crushed, Lottie reconnects with an old flame, and they decide to take drastic action. No dates, no moving in together, they’ll just get married . . . right now. Her sister, Fliss, thinks Lottie is making a terrible mistake, and will do anything to stop her. But Lottie is determined to say “I do,” for better, or for worse.


My Thoughts: This book was hilarious. It moved really fast and kept me laughing. I blew through this book because I just had to find out what happened. It was really hard to put  it down. I completely identified with Fliss because I am an oldest child, and I know the feeling of needing to look after your siblings. I found Lottie’s character to be a bit annoying at times just because she made really stupid decisions that I would hope no one would really make, (although I know they do every day). The characters are witty and lovable. The ending did not go 100% how I wanted it to, but it was still really good and ended in a funny way which went along with the theme. I gave this novel 4 stars.

To see more book recommendations and reviews, check out my bookshelf!

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Books, Uncategorized
Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

Book Review: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

July 11, 2014

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
April, 2014 Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers


Page: 368

Synopsis from Goodreads: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.


Are we friends on Goodreads?


My Thoughts: I loved this book! When I first started it, I thought it seemed a little young for me, but I couldn’t put it down. It was a captivating story and I am thrilled there will be a sequel. This isn’t your typical “love story” and it leaves you on a bit of a cliff hanger. It’s actually unpredictable at times which I love. I admire a book that can surprise me. If you have a sister, you’ll love this novel. If you have ever written a love letter, you will identify with this story. I can’t wait to read book #2 (coming April 2015)! I gave this book 4 stars.


For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my bookshelf! 


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Leave a Comment / Filed In: Books, Uncategorized
Tagged: 4 Star Books, Bookworm Reviews

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