BandSBookClub's April 2025 Collection on LTK

April 2025

By BandSBookClub

April 2025 favs!

Bethany's Favorite: Bright Years

Sara's Favorite: The Mademoiselle Alliance

#LTKTravel #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKGiftGuide

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @prhaudio and #netgalley for my #gifted copy!

Bethany's Review: As odd as this book was, it was such a fun read! Was it a masterpiece? No. Was it truly thought provoking? No. Was it greatly entertaining? Yes! I blew through this audiobook in one day. I couldn’t put it down. The premise was fun: Jane and Dan are out at an exclusive restaurant in a remote location celebrating their anniversary when Jane tells Dan she wants a divorce. During this already odd dinner, terrorists enter and hold everyone in the restaurant hostage. I loved the moments when we were inside Jane and Dan’s head as each contemplated what to do. Once they realize that the hostage situation was following Jane’s failed novel it gets even weirder. I loved the characters and thought Oakley did a wonderful job creating them. If you go in looking for entertainment, then this one hits the jackpot.

Sara's Review: This was one of those books that from page one you are sucked in and the next thing you know the book is finished. I thought that it was fun and entertaining, which is exactly what I wanted in a book (and did not fully expect given the topic!) The book was weird, the characters were entertaining. I loved all the dialogue, in their heads and in real life. I thought that it was ridiculous, yet found myself laughing and questioning what I would do. It was really well written, making it a quick and fun read. If you are looking for a serious masterpiece, this is probably not it. Jane and Dan are out for their anniversary when Jane announces she wants a divorce. They suddenly find themselves in a hostage situation, and the terrorists are following the pages of Jane's book - which means Jane and Dan are the only ones that know what is coming next and how to stop it. It is far-fetched and at times completely ridiculous, but I found that to be part of the draw. It was a great book to escape life from and I will recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read.

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Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @prhaudio and #netgalley for my #gifted copy!

Pub Day: April 2, 2025
Pages: 432
Audiobook Length: 12 hours, 2 minutes

Bethany: As much as I love Emily Henry’s books, this one is a bit different than her others. It is being sold as a romance, and I’m not really seeing it there. It seems more like women’s fiction with a bit of mystery included. Henry’s writing was fantastic as usual, and I loved the literary elements in all of her stories, just the storyline felt like something was lacking. Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson are both competing to write the memoir of Margaret Ives, an heiress who hasn’t been seen in years. The back and forth between interviewing style and present day was a good choice. The entire story felt like a slow-burn. I did guess some of the twists along the way. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.

Sara: I love Emily Henry but did not LOVE this one. Maybe I set my expectations too high? Maybe I miss the style from her previous books? I do not actually have a major issue with the book, it just was not one of those “I can’t put this book down” reads to me. I enjoyed the romance tied into the book, but I actually wanted more of it. I was not totally feeling the mystery portion of the book and could have done without it. I enjoyed the back and forth between the characters, the banter and the style of writing. The book moved slowly, which may be why I didn’t feel like this was a can’t stop reading kind of book. Overall, I am still a huge fan of Emily Henry and can’t wait for her next read. I just hope it is more romance, less mystery.

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See How They Fall by Rachel Paris ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thought the mystery/thriller aspect of this book was very well done. I never knew what to expect next or who to trust. There were tons of twists and turns, it was dark and twisty and definitely messed up. I loved that it was a family drama, A wealthy family, lots of family and business secrets, gaslit women and two poisoned family members. I thought that the two perspectives were great - I loved the detective who was strong, intelligent and not willing to give up and the mom, living in a web of lies while her daughter is in the ICU. I wish that there were fewer “main characters” as I think that it made parts of the book feel more surface level than I wanted. The book was well paced and I could not put it down. The ending was not what I expected. Overall an incredibly twisted, on the seat of your chair, psychological thriller debut. I look forward to more of Rachel Paris in the future!

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

#LTKFamily #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKGiftGuide

Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @macmillan.audio and #netgalley for my #gifted copies. #MacAudio2025

Pub Day: April 29, 2025
Pages: 384
Audiobook Length: 13 hours, 46 minutes

Bethany's Review: It’s always disappointing when you were really looking forward to a book and it doesn’t live up to your expectations. The idea of the book is great, three secretaries and a Hollywood agency in the 1980’s who rise to the top while dealing with inappropriate and corporate men of that time. There were too many characters, and most of them fell flat – there was no connection with any of them. Normally I enjoy some spice, but here it felt wrong, for some reason, it didn’t work. There was no emotional aspect in the storyline. I walked away from the story feeling meh. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a decent job with what she had to work with.

Sara's Review: I wanted to love this book. Women in Hollywood in the 1980's is definitely a fun topic... but I did not find that I loved it. There were too many characters, which made it hard to connect to any of the characters and even their stories. I did not find that there was a ton of character growth or even that I truly got to connect and know the characters. I think fewer characters would have allowed there to be more of an emotional connection. I also found that the book overall did not portray women during that time well - there was too much sex and drugs and not enough of the positive, in my opinion. The book dragged on in the middle because of these things. I wish that there was more of the humanness to the book, since I think this is a great period to discuss women, especially working women.

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Up Close and Personal by Ana Holguin ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub Day: April 29, 2025
Pages: 384
Audiobook Length: 11 hours, 35 minutes

If you enjoy romance and any type of workout classes, such as Peloton, then this one is for you! Jo is one of the hottest and most sought out spin teachers in NYC. Silas, a journalist, is writing an article about Jo. I loved that Jo had real anxiety and some mental health stuff that she must overcome every day, some that stems from being a “celebrity” spin instructor. The relationship and romance that buds between Jo and Silus is adorable. He is so supportive in her well-being. This was a slow burn romance that was fun to read. This was a great debut from Holguin. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

QOTD: Do you workout? What types of workouts do you do?

Thank you #netgalley for my #audiobook #arc

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKGiftGuide

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @prhaudio and #netgalley for my #gifted copy!

Pub Day: April 29, 2025
Pages: 384
Audiobook Length: 11 hours, 48 minutes

Bethany's Review: Lately I have been enjoying stories about old men finding joy in life again. I love the idea of an elderly guy, PJ, who happens to be an alcoholic, finds out that his estranged brother’s grandkids are orphaned and he is listed to take care of them. With very little questions asked, he takes them in and tries to change his ways. They leave school a week early and embark on a road trip to find some answers and so much happens along the way. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator. The relationship between PJ, the two kids (Luna and Ollie) and PJs adult daughter, Sophie was different and special. I loved that Pancakes, the cat, came on the road trip with them and played a large part in the story with its own inner dialogue. This would make a great movie or even mini-series. There were many laugh out loud moments as well as some sad ones as I joined this diverse cast of characters on their adventures. This story is about the struggles of life, hope, forgiveness, and love. I have never read Annie Hartnett before, and now will have to pick up her previous books.

Sara's Review: What a fun story. I adored the characters! I loved PJ, the main character, a lonely alcoholic, who ends up the legal guardian of his estranged, deceased brother's grandchildren. Together, with his adult daughter and cat pancake, he goes on a cross-country road trip to win back his high school sweetheart. I loved the special and unique relationship between the characters. There were lots of laughs, lots of tears but an overall wonderful story. The character development is incredibly well done, the descriptions and dialogue are wonderful. I quickly got wrapped up in their life and adventures and did not want to stop reading. A quick and wonderful book about life, love, loss and second chances.

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Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub Date: February 4, 2025
Pages: 336
Audiobook Length: 10 hours, 31 minutes

Bethany's Review: Historical Fiction is a go-to genre for me. I enjoyed the dual timelines going from 1943 and 1953, and the characters were wonderfully developed. There were pieces of history presented in this well-researched story that I hadn’t known about and I did some research on my own after the fact. I love when that happens. Some parts of the story were predictable, but I still enjoyed following Helaine and Louise on their journeys. I absolutely love stories about strong women and that was showcased here. This was a great historical fiction novel where I learned something new.

Sara's Review: I am a big historical fiction fan and a big Jenoff fan. As always, I was impressed with her ability to weave history with fiction. The amount of research she puts into her books is astounding and obvious from page one. I enjoyed the characters, their growth, their challenges, their determination and grit. I found the love story connected to a lost necklace to actually detract from the rest of the story though. I think I would have enjoyed it more if we were more focused on the characters and their experiences than on their connection to a lost necklace. I liked that this story took place mostly in Paris during WWII, focusing on the high end department story that became a "home" for prisoners during the war. The descriptions and experiences during this time were horrific, and the strength of some during this time is awe inspiring. If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially centering on a not often written about part of WWII, this is a must read.

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKGiftGuide

The Eights by Joanna Miller ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ehhh, I struggled with this one and am still struggling with how to review this one. I loved the concept and history of this book. Who wouldn’t want to read about the first 4 women to matriculate at Oxford University in the 20?! The history was incredibly well done and I could picture the time period through the words. But unfortunately, that is where the enjoyment ended for me. I found that the 4 main characters were hard to keep track of. They all had their own trauma, personalities and experiences, but also very similar. The way the book was written made it at times difficult to keep track. I enjoyed the friendship and bond between these history-making women, but also wanted more personality from them as individuals to make it easier to differentiate. I truly enjoyed the history part, what Oxford was like after the first World War, misogyny and the threat of influenza. There was a ton of research done, which was obvious throughout the book, which was my favorite part of the story.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

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Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub Day: September 1, 2023
Pages: 334
Audiobook Length: 9 hours, 2 minutes

I loved this beautiful story of finding love (not always romantic), self-discovery, and finding your place in the world. In the 1960’s women were expected to marry and reproduce young. Marilyn Kleinman has a different view of her life. After an embarrassing moment with the rabbi’s son at synagogue, Marilyn’s parents demand that she marries him. When Marilyn refuses, she is sent off to Philadelphia, to live with her great-aunt, Ada for the summer. Ada is a single woman, matchmaker, and has a strong personality. She tells it like she sees it. This book has been on my TBR for a long time. I am so glad I was able to pick it up and read it. I loved the writing. I absolutely loved both Marilyn and Ada’s characters. I loved the challenge they brought to the typical gender roles of the 1960’s and the feminist vibes throughout the entire book. As always, the Jewish references are wonderful to read. When a book such as this one gives you all of the emotions, you know it is a good one and you must recommend it.

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The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

Pub Day: April 22, 2025
Pages: 288
Audiobook Length: 8 hours, 50 minutes

Bethany's Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫This was a beautiful yet heartbreaking story. I was crying during the last couple of chapters (glad I finished in my home and not on the plane). Another amazing debut for 2025! A beautiful family drama that showcased the ups and downs of family life, addiction, death, grief, and forgiveness. There was so much loss and love for Lillian, Ryan and Elise and Georgette “Jet” in this generational family drama. I loved how each section of the book was from a different characters POV. The writing was captivating and I didn’t want to put down this book. Each character supports each other in the ways that they know how. This is a shorter book, under 300 pages, but I enjoyed reading every minute of it. I did not feel that anything was missing and appreciated that there was not extra fluff in there. This books is now on my recommend list to everyone.

Sara's Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This is a must read for everyone - do yourself a favor and add it to your TBR. Make sure you have the tissues ready though. A beautifully written story that will completely break your heart - touching on tragedy, addiction, loss, and the ever complicated family dynamics. 4 generations, told from different points of view, this book displays family life and how decisions can impact generations to come. I loved the writing and flew through this book (read it in a few hours) and was disappointed when it ended. I loved how realistic this book felt - the characters had their flaws and issues (some bigger than others!) but they all cared for one another and did their best to support each other. There was a lot of trauma and a lot of love felt throughout the chapters which flowed seamlessly. I truly loved this book and think everyone should pick it up.

Thank you #netgalley for my #arc

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKSeasonal #LTKTravel

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostick ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub Day: April 22, 2025
Pages: 384
Audiobook Length: 11 hours, 10 minutes

Bethany's Review: 1960’s housewives, Margret, Viv, Bitsy and Charlotte start a book club by reading the Feminine Mystique. For those that don’t know, this book was a well-known novel that created a second wave of feminism because it explored the gender roles of staying at home and raising kids and how not all women were fulfilled by doing so. This book would change the lives of these four women forever. I love historical fiction and this was a good one. Each of the women changed and grew throughout the story. Some of their spouses were not OK with the change and others were. The writing was wonderful and I quickly became absorbed into the story. I loved the sisterhood shown and the women in the story that became strong and learned how to stand up for themselves in what they want in life.

Sara's Review: I thought this was really well done. I loved the history surrounding the feminine mystique - how it changed life for women at the time. I thought that the main characters were incredibly well done. Well developed, realistic, unique and wonderful. I thought their relationships and how they all changed and grew was incredibly well done. I both listened and read this book and truly enjoyed both. A very well done historical fiction book highlighting strong women.

Thank you #netgalley for my #audibook #arc

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKSeasonal #LTKHome

The California Dreamer’s by Amy Mason Doan ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Very unpopular opinion, but this book moved way too slowly for me. I found myself struggling to stay engaged and connected. I thought the insight into an atypical family lifestyle was very interesting. I enjoyed learning details of life then and now. The story follows the merrick siblings who grow up living in a van, surfing and swimming. Their lifestyle is at risk after a photo is taken of the very secretive family. Decades later the siblings reunite for their father’s funeral. There secrets are unearthed, which threaten to tear the family about. A story about family, secrets and a lifestyle that may differ from the norm.

The Maids Secret by Nita Prose ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

It hurts me to write this, but I think my love of Molly the maid has come to an end. I loved all the prior books, but this one just didn’t work as well for me. I still enjoyed every part of Mollys story, but this one alternated between Molly and her grandmother. I just did not feel as connected to Grans story - in fact at times I disliked her. I think if the story had been all from Mollys perspective I would have enjoyed it more. All the other characters were there and great. I enjoyed the actual story line - it moved quickly and was fun. I just did not love the dual pov.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copies.

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKTravel

Passion Project by London Sperry ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @prhaudio and #netgalley for my #gifted copy!

Pub Day: April 8, 2025
Pages: 368
Audiobook Length: 9 hours, 44 minutes

Bethany's Review: If you get the chance to listen to the audiobook do it! The narrator, Alex Finke is amazing. This is my second audiobook of hers and trust me, it is worth listening to just for that! With that said, I really enjoyed the story of this book too. I love books where the MC rediscovers the joy in life. This was one of those books. The writing was excellent and I loved all of the flawed characters. So many people in their 20’s and of all ages really, deal with anxiety, depression, grief etc. I loved how this book presented these as real issues and how Bennet and Henry both chose in their own way, to overcome pieces of it. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite troupes, and I was glad to see it here. This was a great debut that I highly recommend.

Sara's Review: I went into this with zero expectations, and managed to listen to it in less than 48 hours. It was SO cute. I loved the characters, their banter, their honesty, their flaws and their growth. I loved the balance of grief, mental health struggles, finding yourself, friendship, support and romance. I enjoyed that the romance was not always the center of the story, but a natural part of it. It felt like a healthy relationship, in that it was not the only part of life. I enjoyed that this showed the fun parts of being in your 20s, but also the difficult parts that are not always talked about. It just felt like a realistic portrayal of life. Parts of the book dragged on, and other parts felt really quick, I guess the pacing was just a little off throughout the story. I did find this to be overall incredibly enjoyable to read - despite the tears during many parts! A fun debut - I look forward to more from this author.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKHome

Six Days In Bombay by Alka Joshi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another great story by Alka Joshi. She is an incredibly talented storyteller, weaving a detailed and descriptive story that takes place in India, Prague, Florence and London. We follow Sona, a nurse in India, as she travels after the loss of a patient. The experiences that Sona has in different countries and the beautiful way that Joshi writes transports the reader all over the world. The story is heartbreaking and beautiful. My biggest complaint is that the start of the book moves slowly. It doesn’t start to pick up until Sona starts to travel and see the world. Meeting different friends and starting to experience life for the first time. If you have enjoyed Alka Joshi’s books on the past, definitely read this one.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

#LTKTravel #LTKSeasonal #LTKFindsUnder50

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub Day: April 15, 2025
Pages: 384
Audiobook Length: 12 hours, 22 minutes

What an interested read! The idea that all mothers have guilt. Whether it is guilty for no working and staying home and raising your kids, for working and not being home, for spending time with others and not your husband etc. What if you could get rid of your guilt with a simple pill? Maya Patel is a business woman, who owns her own company, is married and has a newborn at home. This felt a little like the movie, Limitless, with Bradley Cooper. The pill with Maya takes, not only doesn’t make her feel guilty with any decisions that are made, but also makes her more confident. From the beginning, I was saying “Don’t take it! It can’t be good for you!” The timeline went back and forth between present day of her disappearance and how she got there in the past, with most of the story set in the past. I loved the exploration of guilt, and is it always bad or can it be there to be good? It also touches on mom influencers on social media and how what you see isn’t actually what is true. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook, I was engaged and excited to pick it up each time.

Thank you #netgalley for my #audiobook #arc

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKHome #LTKFamily

The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re a fan of strong woman and historical fiction, add this to the top of your tbr! Based on the true story of Marie Madeline Fourcade, this book tells the story of the only female resistance leader in WWII France. There are honestly no words to accurately describe just how incredible this story is. Not only are the characters amazing, but brave, strong, smart and awe inspiring. There is love, heartbreak, loss and bravery. Lester’s writing is incredibly engaging, the words flowing beautifully. The details and research that went into this book are unbelievable. I am still blown away knowing that this is based on truth. A must read.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

Pub day: April 8, 2025
Pages: 448
Audio length: 12h 7m

#LTKSeasonal #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKTravel

Trust Me On This by Lauren Parvizi ⭐⭐⭐💫

Pub Day: April 8, 2025
Pages: 356
Audiobook Length: 11 hours, 18 minutes

Bethany's Review: Two half-sisters, Zahra and Aurora, who are not close, get a call from their father saying that he is dying and they should come visit. Zahra and Aurora embark on a road trip to see their father. While the characters development was there and I loved that each sister was completely different, I still didn’t connect with either MC. Both sisters had their own trauma that they have had to overcome. I loved the family stories that came out of the road trip. What was good, was that the story felt real. It could have been any family going through this. The writing was wonderful but for some reason, I wasn’t invested in what happened. This was a story about self-discovery, forgiveness, and family.

Sara's Review: I felt like there were a lot of pieces to this book, but it still felt like watching something from a distance. The characters just felt kind of surface level. I enjoyed that it was about half sisters who reunite on a car trip to visit their sick father. The sisters are complete opposites, with different personalities, interests and childhoods. Yet, they both have had their negative experiences, their secrets and their human issues. It was interesting to reminisce about the past with them and to learn more about their life today and in the past. But I never felt a connection to them, nor did I feel like they were more than two people trapped in a car together. I wanted a little more emotion between them, which would have made them feel a little more dimensional to me. That being said, I enjoyed the family drama, the stories, and the unconditional support.

Thank you #netgalley for my #audiobook #arc

#LTKSeasonal #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKFamily

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was not my cup of tea. It was way too absurd. The wealthy influencer lifestyle is just not my thing - it feels fake, overdone and unrealistic. I thought that these influencers going to a secluded island when they barely know one another just seemed off the rails. The characters were fine, nothing amazing, but intriguing enough to keep me reading. Julie Chan and her sister Chloe were adopted to separate homes after their parents tragic death. They spend their childhood apart, until Chloe, a famous influencer, gets in touch and buys her poor sister Julie a house. That is where their relationship begins and ends. When Julie finds Chloe has died from an overdose, after a mysterious call, she decides to switch identities with her dead sister. Julie finds herself living Chloe’s life of the rich and famous. An interesting idea, I just don’t think that I was the target audience.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKTravel

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune ⭐⭐⭐💫

Pub Day: May 7, 2024
Pages: 368
Audiobook Length: 10 hours, 31 minutes

I just wasn’t feeling this book. I usually love the best friend’s brother troupe. This was a SLOW burn. Yes, they hooked up early on, but them actually getting together took forever. I loved the descriptions of Prince Edward Island. There seemed to be no depth to Lucy and Felix’s relationship. I didn’t see the spark or feel the chemistry between the two of them. When I do not connect with the characters, it really kills the story for me, this was one of those. The story switched between present day and the past. Sometimes I was slightly confused as to which timeline I was in. I enjoyed Fortune’s previous book so I am sad that this one didn’t do it for me.

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKSeasonal #LTKHome

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

If you are looking for a book that will fill your heart but also break it, pick this one up. A beautifully written romance that accurately portrayed some of the challenges with a long distance relationship, and the competing factors that play into the success of a relationship. It touched on dementia and how it drastically impacts an entire family. There was childhood trauma and how they create challenges in adult life. The characters had great chemistry and banter. I could not put this book down and was 100% invested in the future of all the characters. I wish that the mmc was a little more real - it felt like he always put the fmc first, which is wonderful, but also not a realistic part of life. I liked that this book showed the good, the bad and the inbetween of life. The challenges of ailing parents and the difficulty of making a long distance relationship work. Overall, a great book!

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKPets #LTKSeasonal

Fun For The Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith

Pub Day: April 8, 2025
Pages: 368
Audiobook Length: 9 hours, 37 minutes

Bethany's Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 I adored this one! The writing drew me in right from the first page. I absolutely love family dramas, and this one was incredibly well done. Four siblings: Gemma, Connor, Roddy and Jude get together after not seeing each other for years after Jude reaches out to the rest of them. It was hard to read the secrets that came to light, one of which was the reason why they haven’t spoken in years. I love that most of the story was present day with longer chapters, but there were chapters from their past mixed in, but in a shorter length. The characters were all relatable and with their flaws, I laughed and cried along with all of them. I loved the theme of trying to get to all 50 states since they were children going on road trips with their free-spirited mother. Coming from a large family myself, I enjoy reading about the dysfunction and love in families. I highly recommend this family drama!

Sara's Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A well done family drama! I loved the story line, 4 adult siblings who haven't seen one another in years, who meet up in North Dakota, where secrets are revealed. I loved the sibling interactions - they felt real and flawed. I loved the different perspectives and timelines - sometimes with family dramas I find that this takes away from the actual drama. Too many POV can ruin the book for me, but this one was done so well. I found all stories to be interesting and that they were all woven together seamlessly. I enjoyed the family dynamics, both past a present, and how it impacted each sibling differently. I thought this was a really well done family drama.

Thank you #netgalley for my #arc

#LTKTravel #LTKSeasonal #LTKFindsUnder50

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ehhh, this was so far-fetched that it was difficult for me to truly enjoy. An older woman has a one night fling with a younger man, they go back to his boat, which due to a miscommunication is not tied properly, and they wake up swept out to sea. What follows honestly felt a little like nonsense to me. I did not find it realistic so I struggled to get invested in the characters’ lives. I found that the age gap was too much of a focus, where normally I wouldn’t be bothered by it, the thoughts felt inappropriate considering the actions. That being said, it was a quick read. I never considered putting it on the DNF list as it was entertaining, I just wish there was a little more substance and that their relationship seemed a little more realistic.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Pub Day: April 1, 2025
Pages: 384
Audio: 9 hrs, 53 minutes

#LTKSeasonal #LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder50

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Pub Date: April 8, 2025
Pages: 330
Audiobook Length: 9 hours, 5 minutes

I loved this one! I love the character of Denny. He is so true to himself, and I loved seeing the inner workings of his head. I thought creating a MC that is neurodivergent that gets caught up in a murder charge, but doesn’t fully understand the implications, made for a great story. The audiobook for this one was fantastic. If you have a chance, you should listen to it! The narrator was amazing portraying the personality of Denny. I loved the kindness shown in all of his actions and was cracking up when he got himself in situations. The side characters were OK, but Denny really carried the story. There was so much emotion in the story, I laughed and cried and felt for the characters. I couldn’t put this one down and listened to the entire book in just over 1 day. I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook!

Thank you #netgalley for my #audiobook #arc

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All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Unpopular opinion, but I did not love this one. It felt very YA to me... and for an almost 40 something mom of two tweens, YA seems more appropriate for my kids than me. There was nothing specific that I could say was “wrong” with the book for me, it just felt very juvenile. Anna is an American studying abroad in London. To pay the bills, she tutors wealthy kids. When one family invites her to St. Tropez for a working holiday, she can’t turn down the opportunity. Anna finds herself split between the attention of two men, one who shows her the wealthy lifestyle and the other who sees who she really is. Which life will she chase? The descriptions are there, the characters were well developed, the story line was intriguing. But, the characters were exactly as expected, childish. Teens and early twenties - chasing wealth, ignoring consequences and not always thinking through their decisions. As a mom, it made me cringe and I just struggled to not find them whiny, bratty and ridiculous. 20 years ago, I may have felt differently!!

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I loved the story line. The connection to secrets hidden in dollhouses, the history and research put into the story, the time and patience that goes into building. I truly thought it was incredibly well done. It switched between different POV and timelines, yet I was never confused and I found that the book moved seamlessly and perfectly. It was easy to differentiate the characters and timelines. It was a quick read - I switched between audio and ebook and both were enjoyable. My only complaint is that the story was so focused on the dollhouses, both past and present, that I felt like I did not get enough from the characters’ stories. It felt very flat and surface level... and I wish there was a better balance of the two. Overall, a quick and enjoyable read!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copyies

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Happy April! The B and S Book Club Pick for April is Jane and Dan At The End Of The World by Colleen Oakley!

Who will read along with us this month? Check back at the end of the month for our reviews!

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Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am honestly not sure how this book worked as well as it did. It was romance trope overload, but in the best way imaginable. The characters were adorable. Their chemistry was perfect. I loved the banter and the personal growth along the way. The supporting characters were also amazing. There were times that this book was so unrealistic and other points where I felt like it was my best friend’s love story. I wish we had more of the romance at the end, but maybe there will be a sequel for that?! A best-selling romance author escapes to Alaska after something personal ruins her career. While there, she learns that she will be living every romance trope that she has ever written. Will she and Forrest manage to keep their hearts protected? This was chaos, happiness, sadness, fire and more all wrapped up in a hilarious romance. Honestly, Lavine managed to write a book that had way too much going on, yet it felt like not even close to enough! A perfect beach read!!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

QOTD: If you could live any romance trope, which would it be?

Pub Date: April 1, 2025
Pages: 336
Audio Length: 11 hours 17 mins

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Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub Day: June 4, 2024
Pages: 321
Audiobook Length: 8 hours, 27 minutes

A cute contemporary romance that felt like it could be real life. A great story about finding yourself again after having children and after a divorce. It is always a good thing when I can relate to the FMC and when real life happens in the story. I understood the reasoning for a skateboarding MMC, however it is not my thing. Good for Ali, for trying something new. I loved the small-town vibes and the chemistry between Ali and Ethan was definitely there. Both were genuinely good people. The writing was easy and drew me in right away. Some situations they found themselves in had me cracking up. This is my first Monaghan book, but definitely won’t be my last!

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham ⭐⭐⭐💫

Pub Date: April 1, 2025
Pages: 384
Audiobook Length: 11 hours, 38 minutes

Katie, an American travel blogger of MisAdventures, travels to Scotland to stay at a B&B that provides an immersive Edwardian experience. Katie gets herself into situations with her constant “bad luck”. These situations are amusing and definitely add to the story. While the characters were all fun and entertaining, I did not feel the sparks between Katie and Graeme. It felt forced with no chemistry. Kate falls in love with the town and the people in it. There were a lot of themes going on all at the same time, which made each theme very subtle: grief, love, faith, family and more. This was a slow-burn closed door romance that just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you #netgalley for my #audiobook #arc

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