BandSBookClub's February 2025 Collection on LTK

February 2025

By BandSBookClub

What a great month of reading! 📚Bethany read 16 books and Sara read 18!

Bethany's Favorite: Come Fly With Me
Sara's Favorite: The Quiet Librarian and The Secret History of Audrey James

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKOver40 #LTKHome

A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem by Kristen Bird ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dakota Green is convinced by her aunt to enter into her town’s beauty pageant to try to win a cash prize. This felt like a modern and southern version of Miss Congeniality. I love that the contestants of the beauty pageant were represented as real people and not all ditsy girls. I love stories that take someone who isn’t used to being pampered, done up etc and gives them these experiences as they compete for something, in this case a beauty pageant. It opens their eyes into another world. Some of the characters were over the top but I enjoyed the storyline that kept me interested throughout. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job. This was the first in a series that follows Dakota. I can’t wait to see what mystery she gets into next. This was a fun cozy mystery that was exactly what I needed.

#LTKHome #LTKSeasonal #LTKFindsUnder50

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Well written. A fun read with lots of twists and turns. Fast paced!

#LTKHome #LTKFamily #LTKFindsUnder50

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagen ⭐⭐⭐

Books about books are always fun!

#LTKFamily #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKHome

The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book started very slowly & I almost didn’t continue, but I am SOOO glad I pushed through. Elinor’s the daughter of the cotton king. She discovered after getting married, that her marriage to an aristocratic English family was all for money, not for love. She is forced to follow her new family’s social rules, unable to spend more than a limited amount of time a day with her son & lives a very lonely existence. When her father sends her tickets for the Titanic, she jumps at the opportunity to have a break from her husband’s family. When Elinor & her son, Teddy, are the only survivors from her family, she takes the opportunity to start a new life in NYC under a new identity. She struggles to find her footing in this new country & figure out a way to keep her secret (& her son) safe. The research was incredibly well done. The characters were well developed, interesting & dynamic. I truly enjoyed this book, despite the first 25% moving too slowly. The pace picks up & moves along perfectly. A great read for anyone.

Back After this by Linda Holmes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another one that started slow for me & I debated if I wanted to continue. And another one that I was happy I read! Cecily agrees to host a podcast where she has to work with a relationship coach and share the details of her dating life. Just as she begins her journey to go on 20 dates, she meets Will & sparks fly, but their paths are complicated (individually!) The book is more about Cecily’s growth as a woman than the individual dates, which I truly enjoyed. Despite what the book is about, Cecily is not interested in settling for love, compromising what is important to her, or making decisions for others. I enjoyed the relationships, the work life, the character growth. I thought the banter was fun, the chemistry between Cecily & Will was strong. Just an overall sweet, fun & different book.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Abby does it again! This time in a short story. Charlotte and Seth live in apartments across the way from each other when workers mistakenly take out their stairs. They are stuck up there for the next three days with no access. Both have baggage but quickly fall in like. Charlotte, Seth and their two friends were all great characters and really supported each other. While this short story was a quick read, it wasn't lacking in depth or meaning. I truly cannot wait to see what Abby comes up with next!

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKHome #LTKSeasonal

We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein ⭐⭐⭐⭐

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKHome #LTKSeasonal

People of Means by Nancy Johnson ⭐⭐⭐💫

While I liked what this book focused on: civil rights, class, race and politics in the mid and late century, it felt very repetitive and shoved down my throat. I wasn’t fond of the writing style and the characters didn’t have depth. I enjoyed the dual timelines in the 1960’s and 1992 following both mother and daughter in their prime. This is my second Johnson book, and I enjoyed her first one, The Kindest Lie, much better than this one. I can see how some will love this book, but I just wasn’t fully invested in it. With all that said, it felt like there was something missing and I didn’t enjoy the ending.

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKActive

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

I loved this story. Following Beverly and Judy, both from different backgrounds, meet and become great friends at a stewardess school for Pan American Airlines. Told in three POVs from Beverly, Judy and one of them when they are older, but interestingly enough, you don’t know which one it is until later on. I loved learning about all of the requirements and how strict Pan Am was with their uniforms, weigh ins, women must not be married, etc. The characters were all wonderful. It was wonderful reading about women lifting other women up. I enjoyed this story much more than I originally thought I would.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon ⭐⭐⭐💫

I feel like I have read a similar premise before, however, that didn’t stop my enjoyment from this book. Leigh is in a prestigious MFA program from poetry when she finds out that her archrival, Will, is also in the program. Honestly, the poems that were “created” were not great. Leigh and Will fall in like and are both going for a coveted fellowship. Leigh needs some mental health help and was very immature. I did enjoy the mental health representation from Will. I also didn’t really see or feel the spice between Leigh and Will. While it started off pretty good, parts of the story were lacking.

#LTKHome #LTKOver40 #LTKFindsUnder50

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

My jaw literally dropped during parts of this book. It was not only incredibly well written and researched, but I flew through it and was disappointed every time I had to put it down. The story follows Hana, a Bosnian refugee, who is looking for answers after her best friend was murdered. Hana discovers that she is really the one being hunted - and secrets from her past as the Night Mora, a part of the militia fighters, may come to the surface. A fascinating story about war-torn Bosnia, life in the USA as a refugee with a bounty over their head and how women are transformed by loss and war. The research was incredibly well done - I was able to picture just how horrible lives were. How loss can transform people to search for vengeance - becoming people that they struggle to recognize. Strong, incredible women who experienced an enormous amount of loss. And just how far people will go for the ones they love. A heartbreaking story that is impossible to put down.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

#LTKHome #LTKSeasonal #LTKFindsUnder50

Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

No question, Sittenfeld is incredible at writing short stories. She manages to develop characters and storylines in a few words, something some struggle to do in 400+ pages. I am always impressed with her writing ability. That being said, I struggled to connect with these short stories. That being said, most of the stories bored me. I struggled to connect with them. I loved that they were middle aged women focused - stories about love, heartbreak, ambition, marriage, friendship and family. I just struggled to find the interest to finish most of the short stories. Honestly, many of them just felt boring and flat to me. There wasn’t enough oomph, despite the characters and stories seeming so real. I am not a huge short story person, I often find they are lacking in something, so maybe that was my issue with this book. Overall, Sittenfeld is a talented writer, but this one just fell flat to me.

#LTKTravel #LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50

The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy by Andrea Dunlop & Mike Weber ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

A fascinating and heartbreaking book.

#LTKHome #LTKFamily #LTKFindsUnder50

Maya & Natasha by Elyse Durham ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a well done debut novel! The research and history woven through the book was incredibly well done. The story of twin sisters, caught in the complicated world of Cold War Soviet ballet. The sisters become competitors, both vying for the chance to go to America and to leave Russia. The story is about betrayal, love and life during a challenging time. Told in alternating points of view, this book flowed seamlessly. The character growth was done wonderfully. The descriptions in this book were truly incredible - I truly felt as if I were watching a movie unfold. The historical aspect of this book was woven into the story in a way that only added to the book. This is an emotional story that will be with you long after you finish reading it. I look forward to future books by this author!

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKMostLoved #LTKHome

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was so cute. I loved the slow burn, coworkers to lovers, enemies to lovers & overall joy of this book. I found that the chemistry was evident from page 1, although it took a LONG time for both characters to admit their feelings. Even then, I liked that they did not dive in head first, but instead kept to their own priorities & let the relationship happen slowly, maybe too slowly. The book was so engaging and the characters were the type that I want to meet in real life. I loved the push & pull, their personalities & the fun plot. Honestly, just a very well done & enjoyable book - there was personal growth, professional growth and relationship growth - from both parties, which is always fun to see! Grace & Eric work for a dating app, they were once good friends turned enemies, who now have to work on a project together. As they go on date after date, they start to realize that they may not be enemies after all. A really fun one!

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Have you ever read a book & when it ended you asked yourself if anything actually happened? That was this book for me. This book follows the ups and downs of a long term relationship... & what happens when their children grow up & the life that they once knew changes. Part missing person, part flashbacks, part reflection of a life lived. I enjoyed the audiobook of this more than the ebook - I thought the narrator was great. I enjoyed the story being about an older couple & the natural & normal ups & downs of life. However, I found that not enough happened making the book move very slowly. I also found the female character to be unlikeable - she was whiny and selfish and rubbed me the wrong way. Parts of this book worked very well for me, while others fell short of what I expected.

#LTKHome #LTKMostLoved #LTKFindsUnder50

Southern By Design by Grace Helena Walz ⭐⭐⭐💫

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop’s ex-husband was caught cheating on her and was involved in a scandal which was revealed in a group text chain. Mack is trying to pick up the pieces of her life as she raises her 7-year-old daughter, and an opportunity arrives to try to be on a design show. As an interior designer, I was excited to read a book that focused on renovation. I wish more of the story was centered around this. The story was told in two timelines, present day and 15 years earlier. There is a second chance romance between Mack and her new neighbor, her high school sweetheart, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two in either timeline. There is a lot written about Mack and her mother’s relationship. I enjoyed the twist at the end but found the middle of the story to be lackluster. The story makes me want to go to Charleston! Overall, this was a decent debut and I’m curious to see what Walz comes up with next.

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKMostLoved #LTKHome

Bethany's Review: ⭐⭐⭐💫This was an interesting read that followed Romona, an aspiring actress that gets accepted into the Dollhouse Academy with her friend Grace. This academy is a rigorous program that prepares students for life in the spotlight. After Grace’s quick success, Romona is not sure everything is as it seems. Told in two POV, the first Romona and the second, Ivy, who is a success story from the DA. The things that happened at the DA were an interesting take on what could actually be occurring. The idea of the book was there, but the execution was somewhat lacking. The ending of the story took some odd turns and lost me. I listened to the audiobook and thought both narrators did a great job.

Sara's Review: ⭐⭐⭐This was an interesting book - the story weaved between different POV and timeframes, very well. But it lacked the oomph I was hoping for. It felt predictable and flat, when I expected a little more of that wow factor. Maybe it was just too far-fetched of a lifestyle for me to fully engage and love the book. The book takes place at the Dollhouse Academy, an elite boarding school for aspiring performers. It follows Ivy, who has spent 18 years at the Dollhouse, is ready to face the secrets of her life and the Dollhouse. Romona and Grace are best friends who have just been accepted to the Dollhouse. Romona has been receiving threatening messages while Grace is rising to fame. Can they all figure out what is going on before catastrophe hits?

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKHome #LTKSeasonal

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young ⭐⭐⭐💫

James Golden’s twin brother, Johnny, is dead from a tragic accident and James returns to her hometown to settle his affairs. James and Johnny have a connection that isn’t completely gone, even after his death. She must face her past in order to find out what happened to her twin brother. I enjoyed the writing, the mystery and the small-town vibes, but the pace was very slow. I wish there was more focus on the family drama that was presented. Only told in a single POV, I do think it would have been interesting to have a couple of chapters by Johnny. There were too many plot holes and this story.

#LTKFamily #LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I don’t even know where to start with this review. Every part of this book was well done. It is amazing that it was based on true stories. I loved the POV of two different characters, during two different times, Kate in 2010 and Audrey during WWII. Kate turns up at Audrey’s guesthouse, where her parents previously honeymooned, after tragedy and divorce hits her life. While there, she discovers that Audrey has her own secrets and slowly gets her to open up about her time in Germany during WWII. We get to learn about Audrey’s experience - from loss and sacrifice to working for the anit-hitler movement. Both stories and women were incredible. Their stories weaved together seamlessly and I loved learning about their life experiences. Their growth and strength were incredible. I truly loved every aspect of these books and strongly encourage you to add to your TBR!

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a lot of fun. An unsolved murder taken into the hands of 5 women crime writers. They are tired of men ignoring them and are determined to solve the murder of a woman strangled in a park in France. Together, the take their book writing skills and apply them to real life, determined to find out what really happened. I loved the history woven throughout this book. The main characters were so fun - I loved that they were all crime writers and women, often not taken seriously by men. I found that the characters and their interactions were amazing. The mystery behind the book was fascinating. I was engaged from page one and despite the 400+ pages, the book flew by. I had this in audio and ebook and switched between the two seamlessly. They were both incredible.

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKFamily #LTKGiftGuide

But He’s My Roommate by Annah Conwell ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Evie’s life is turned upside down. As a new and single mom, she is distraught when she is let go of her amazing photography job and now cannot make ends meet. Evie’s brother and his best friend, Maverick, fly to NYC to try to convince Evie to come home to Georgia. Maverick, who has had a longtime crush on Evie, convinces her to move into an apartment on his property. He was written as the ever-loving sweet guy that would do anything for Evie as Evie was written as the girl whose life is a mess and who constantly has mental breakdowns. Evie’s baby, I thought would have a larger role but was only mentioned some of the time. The banter between Evie and Maverick was great as always. I haven’t read the first 3 Carter brother books, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying this one.

#LTKHome #LTKGiftGuide #LTKFindsUnder50

Head Cases by John McMahon

My husband recently asked me if we could read the same book and discuss it... hard to keep the romance alive with 3 kids during cold and flu season. I obviously said yes! He is not as big of a reader as I am, so I wanted to find something that I knew he would like - and this sounded like it would be a good fit! I have to say, I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I had an audio of this from Netgalley and I flew through it. I often find FBI thrillers to be predictable and so unrealistic. This one moved quickly, the storyline was addicting and the characters were all really well developed. I was on my toes from page one, the twists and turns were great and it was very action packed. Anyone interested in serial killers, FBI, and a serial killer seeking revenge on other killers.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKGiftGuide

Book club pick!

Good dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A great family drama!

#LTKMostLoved

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50

Issac’s song by Daniel black ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A wonderfully written beautiful book. Reads like a memoir.

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKHome

Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The history shared in this book was fascinating. The research done was incredible. As someone who reads a lot of WWII historical fiction (and studied WWII History in College!) I learned a lot about Portugal’s not frequently discussed role during the war. As a neutral country, it was fascinating to learn just how pulled they were by both sides of WWII. And that the people seeking safety were also part of both sides. Lots of spying, refugees and undercover activities. I loved that the main characters were librarians in the USA who became undercover spies for the Allies. I loved that they were strong, powerful and incredible women who were helping with the war. They found love, discovered a lot about themselves and most importantly they were able to help with the war efforts. I was truly engaged with all aspects of this story and loved the dual timelines - discovering just how much impact women had during the war. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this was a wonderful and fascinating read.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKGiftGuide #LTKMostLoved

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Happy pub day!

A fast-paced psychological thriller that I could not put down. I love stories about dysfunctional families and this one is right up there with the best of them. Theo (Theodora) and Connor have a quick engagement and decide to meet up with his family at their family compound. Some of the events that happened towards the end of the book felt far-fetched. There were some unexpected twists that made the story fun. The why behind everyone’s actions is what makes a good book great. There were so many secrets that Connor’s entire family kept from the outside world and from each other. This was a fun read that kept me on my toes. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic, I really felt like I was in Theo’s head the entire time.

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKSeasonal #LTKFamily

Follow us
Podcast: More to Say
@shop.LTK
@LTK.home
@LTK.family
@LTK.europe
@LTK.brasil
@LTK.australia
@LTK.asia

Learn more
LTK
Become a Creator
Brand Platform
Newsroom
Company
Careers

Legal
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Imprint
Do Not Sell
Patents

Support
Help Center
Site Map
Contact Us

© 2025 rewardStyle Inc.

My Carts

Your cart is empty

You can now shop select brands on LTK! Keep an eye out for the Buy Now badge.