Can't Wait Wednesday: Same Time Next Summer

 Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!    

 

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan

Pub. Date: June 6, 2023

 

 

Goodreads says, "For fans of Carley Fortune's Every Summer After, from the author of Nora Goes Off Script comes the ultimate summer nostalgia read, about a woman whose return to her family's beach house to plan her wedding brings her and her fiance unexpectedly face to face with her first love who she hasn't seen in fourteen years, but who she spent every summer with from age five to seventeen when he broke her heart, calling into question everything she thought she knew about their love story, and herself. Beach Rules:  Do take long walks on the sand. Do put an umbrella in every cocktail. Do not run into your first love. Sam's life is on track. She has the perfect doctor fiance, Jack (his strict routines are a good thing, really), a stable job in Manhattan (unless they fire her), and is about to tour a wedding venue near her family's Long Island beach house. Everything should go to plan, yet the minute she arrives, Sam senses something is off. Wyatt is here. Her Wyatt. But there's no reason for a thirty-year-old engaged woman to feel panicked around the guy who broke her heart when she was seventeen. Right?"

 

I really enjoyed Monaghan's Nora Goes Off Script, so I am looking forward to adding this book to my summer TBR list. What do you guys think?

 

15 Books to Curl Up With This Holiday Season

 

There's nothing better than curling up by a roaring fire with a hot beverage, a beautiful Christmas tree lit up in the room, and a good book. Bonus points if there's snow falling outside. I've compiled my favorite books to cozy up with this holiday season.

15 Books to Cozy Up With This Holiday Season:

 

1. The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

2.  The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

3.  An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer

4.  Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey

 

 

 

5.  Let it Snow by Nancy Thayer

6.  Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand

 

 

 

 

7.  In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

8.  Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini

 

 

 

9.  One Day in December by Josie Silver

10.  10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

 

 

11.  Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz

12.  The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery

 

 

 

 

13.  Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

14.  Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert (Review to come!)

15.  The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

 

 

On the TBR List:

 

 

1.  A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

2.  Celebration at Christmas Cove by Carrie Jansen

3.  Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

4.  All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox

 

 

 

5.  Holidays in Virgin River by Robyn Carr

6. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

 

7. Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

 

So, have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments below. Happy holiday reading! 

A Blog Break

 

Happy Thanksgiving! I'll be taking a blog break till after the holiday, but I'll still be reading all the Christmas/holiday reads while I am gone. I look forward to sharing them with you when I return. 

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday filled with good books, yummy pie, and special moments with family and friends. I am grateful to all of you for the comments, the support, the recommendations, the book chats, and more that you show me all year long. It means the world to me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Book Review: Dawnlands by Philippa Gregory

Pages: 518

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: November 8, 2022

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Tidelands, Dark Tides,

The White Queen, The Constant Princess,  

The White Princess and The King's Curse

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "The “sweeping” (Parade) and “superb” (People) Fairmile series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory continues as the fiercely independent Alinor and her family find themselves entangled in palace intrigue, political upheaval, and life-changing secrets in 17th-century England. It is 1685, England is on the brink of a renewed civil war against the Stuart kings and many families are bitterly divided. Ned Ferryman cannot persuade his sister, Alinor, that he is right to return from America with his Pokanoket servant, Rowan, to join the rebel army. Instead, Alinor has been coaxed by the manipulative Livia to save the queen from the coming siege. The rewards are life-changing: the family could return to their beloved Tidelands, and Alinor could rule where she was once lower than a servant. Alinor’s son, Rob, is determined to stay clear of the war, but when he and his nephew set out to free Ned from execution for treason and Rowan from a convict deportation to Barbados, they find themselves enmeshed in the creation of an imposter Prince of Wales—a surrogate baby to the queen. From the last battle in the desolate Somerset Levels to the hidden caves on the slave island of Barbados, this third volume of an epic story follows a family from one end of the empire to another, to find a new dawn in a world which is opening up before them with greater rewards and dangers than ever before."

 

If you are read the first two books in the Fairmile series, hopefully you remember where it left off, because readers jump right in at the start of Dawnlands. It's right after the Glorious Revolution and England is at a crossroads. Catholic James II is King, but many families are still divided as some want Charles II's son on the throne. Then there's Livia, who is still plotting, and Alinor who finds herself in the middle of it. Ned Ferryman, Alinor's brother, is coming back home to England, but not without drama. Coming home with him is Rowan, whom Ned saved from the clutches of slavery, and to top it off, Ned wants to join the Rebel Army much to Alinor's dismay. Philippa Gregory weaves many plot lines in Dawnlands, but they all weave together to form a bigger picture; fans of her Fairmile series won't be disappointed.

Alinor is a character I always look forward to revisiting in Dawnlands. She is tough, smart, and dedicated to her family. I enjoy reading about her family and her relationship with her son, Rob, who wants to avoid the upcoming war, but slowly he is finding himself more and more intertwined. There are many different points of view in Dawnlands, and while this was definitely interesting, all of these characters and story lines were difficult to keep straight at least for the first half of the novel. Also, I had a hard time remembering the last book, Dark Tides, as it was two years ago that I read it, so I desperately needed a recap. Once I got a refresher, I appreciated the story a bit more, so with that said, Dawnlands is most definitely not a stand-alone novel and the series should be read in order.

My favorite aspect of Dawnlands is Gregory's ability to bring to life a time and place long forgotten. Whether we are at Windsor Palace, a dark street in London, or even Barbados, she brings it to life expertly and I wouldn't expect anything less from Gregory, who is one of the best historical authors of our time. Also, interestingly enough, I have never read a historical novel that took place in Barbados, so that was especially compelling even though at times it was hard to read about what was going on there as it was colonized. 

So, if you are a fan of the Fairmile series, I don't think you will be disappointed. While I didn't like this novel as much as the other novels in the series, it was still a solid addition to a compelling multi-generational saga. Let me know in the comments below if Dawnlands is on your TBR list and if you are a fan of the Fairmile series or Philippa Gregory.

Book Review: The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

 

Pages: 224

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: September 28, 2021

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Homewreckers,

Hello, Summer,  Sunset Beach, The Weekenders,  

The Newcomer, and The High Tide Club

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn't bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it's a full-time job sorting through all of it.  At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it's from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold? Ivy's quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love."

 

 

 

Ivy Perkins is newly divorced and looking for a fresh start in the idyllic town of Tarburton, North Carolina. She buys an old farmhouse, sight unseen, just because it's the type of house she has always wanted. It's called Four Roses Farm....perfect, right? When she first arrives to Four Roses Farm, she meets good looking Ezra Wheeler, the real-estate agent. They hit it off and she quickly finds out he is more than just a friendly neighbor, he knows just about everyone in town and is an all around great handyman, which she desperately needs. While exploring the house with her adorable dog, Punkin, she comes across an old Santa suit with a note in the pocket. The note says "please bring daddy home from the war." Obviously, this tugs on Ivy's heartstrings. With Ezra's help, she makes some connections in the community that might give her answers as to whose Santa suit it is, who wrote the note, and what happened to the child's father. The Santa Suit is an adorable Christmas story that is sure to provide some major Hallmark Movie vibes and elicit some small town envy.

Ivy is a likeable character in The Santa Suit. She is starting over and has little nothing other than her dog and her chickens. I loved reading about all the details of the old house, the things that make an old house amazing, and the not-so-great things, like when your hot water heater breaks. At first, I sort of did an eye roll when I realized that Ivy and Ezra were hitting it off as the dialogue seemed a bit hokey, but then I remembered this is a Christmas story. Let it go and just enjoy it. Once I did that, I realized how cute the premise is and appreciated their growing relationship, however unlikely I felt it was that the hot real estate agent/handyman is not only single, but an all around perfect guy. 

The town of Tarburton was my favorite aspect of The Santa Suit. I loved the town, it's quirky residents, the candy store, the magical Christmas celebrations, and so much more. I felt like Andrews really captured the beauty of a small town at Christmas.

You can always count on Andrews to include a bit of a mystery and I liked the one in The Santa Suit. The mystery leads some friends and family back together again, so I think that only added to the joyfulness of this holiday tale. 

So, if you are looking for a quick holiday read that will surely tug on your heartstrings, pick up Andrews's The Santa Suit. As a fan of her beach reads, I am happy to report she pulls off an adorable, feel-good holiday tale as well.  So, are you a fan of May Kay Andrews? Have you read The Santa Suit? Let me know in the comments below. 

 

 

Book Review: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Pages: 309

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: July 19, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "She’s got his back.  Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka "bodyguard"), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker. He’s got her heart. Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid. They’ve got a secret.  When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, like a jerk, says no one will believe it. What could possibly go wrong???  Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done."

 

Hannah Brooks is a bodyguard, although at only five foot five inches, she looks anything but. She finds herself at a crossroads. Her mother has died, her boyfriend has dumped her, and just when she needs an overseas assignment to escape it all, her boss tells her to take time off at home. That is until she gets offered a local case. Jack Stapleton, a famous actor, is home in Texas taking care of his ailing mother. While at home, he needs a bodyguard and that's where Hannah comes in. Except Hannah doesn't really want this job, but her boss tells her Jack has a stalker, so there's a definite need. Hannah moves into Jack Stapleton's family ranch to protect him and in turn learns more about Jack, who has been hiding from the spotlight since his brother's tragic death. He doesn't tell his mother about his bodyguard, Hannah, because he doesn't want her to worry, so instead he presents Hannah as his girlfriend. Cue the drama! Katherine Center's The Bodyguard is a delightful romance for fans of the fake dating trope.

I really enjoyed Hannah from the start of The Bodyguard. Who doesn't love a tough woman? I like how Center turned the tables and made Hannah the bodyguard despite her outward appearance. I didn't quite understand her complex relationship with her mother - that was sort of glossed over - but she doesn't really mourn the loss of her mother. Instead, she wants to jump into work and her boss knows that isn't the best idea. Instead of giving her an overseas case, she will work close to home covering extremely famous (and extremely good looking) Jack Stapleton. Hannah, although she is one tough woman, lacks confidence regarding dating, has low self-esteem, and accepts behavior (at least form her ex) that she shouldn't.  Her ex-boyfriend, another bodyguard, dumps her for her friend, so Hannah isn't in a great place when she sets out to protect Jack. But once she is at Jack's family's ranch, she starts to heal in ways she didn't know possible. She gets to know Jack and realizes he is much more than what she thought. She also enjoys his family and even though they have their own problems, she likes getting to know his parents and experience a relationship she never had.

Center's main story is focusing around a fake dating trope in The Bodyguard. I enjoy a good fake dating trope, but I didn't entirely believe the premise surrounding this one. I understand his mother doesn't want to be stressed as she is undergoing cancer treatment, but a famous actor having a bodyguard wouldn't be out of the norm. So, presenting Hannah as a girlfriend I feel like would do more damage to the mother when she finds out the truth, because how long can you fake date your bodyguard? Well, in this case, their fake dating turns into something more.

The Bodyguard has some suspenseful moments that I was able to predict, but Center did a good job keeping me glued to the pages. Trigger warning: there is a cancer subplot that was portrayed with some toxic positivity, which I didn't really appreciate, but other than that, I thought it was a cute romance. I will definitely check out Center's work in the future. So, are you a fan of Katherine Center? Have you read The Bodyguard? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Varina Palladino's Jersey Italian Love Story

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!   

 

Varina Palladino's Jersey Italian Love Story by Terri-Lynne DeFino

Pub. Date: February 14, 2023

Goodreads says, "An utterly delightful and surprising family drama--think Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding set in New Jersey--about a boisterous, complicated Italian family determined to help their widowed mother find a new boyfriend.  Lively widow Varina Palladino has lived in the same house in Wyldale, New Jersey, her entire life. The town might be slightly stuck in the 1960s, when small businesses thrived and most residents were Italian, but its population is getting younger and the Palladinos are embracing the change. What Varina's not embracing, much to her ninety-two-year-old mother's dismay, is dating. Running Palladino's Italian Specialties grocery, caring for her mother, and keeping her large, loud Jersey Italian family from killing one another takes up all of Varina's energy anyway. Sylvia Spini worries about her daughter Varina being left all alone when she dies. Sylvia knows what it is to be old and alone, so when her granddaughter, Donatella, comes to her with an ill-conceived plan to find Varina a man, Sylvia dives in. The three men of the family--Dante, Tommy, and Paulie--are each secretly plotting their own big life changes, which will throw everyone for a loop. Three generations of Palladinos butt heads and break one another's hearts as they wrestle with their own Jersey Italian love stories in this hilarious and life-affirming ode to love and family."

 

You had me sold at Moonstruck meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I love the sound of this one! What do you think? Let me know in the comments. 

 

Book Review: Jacqueline in Paris by Ann Mah

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: August 27, 2022

Publisher: Mariner
Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "From the bestselling author of The Lost Vintage, a rare and dazzling portrait of Jacqueline Bouvier's college year abroad in postwar Paris, an intimate and electrifying story of love and betrayal, and the coming-of-age of an American icon - before the world knew her as Jackie. In August 1949 Jacqueline Bouvier arrives in postwar Paris to begin her junior year abroad. She’s twenty years old, socially poised but financially precarious, and all too aware of her mother’s expectations that she make a brilliant match. Before relenting to family pressure, she has one year to herself far away from sleepy Vassar College and the rigid social circles of New York, a year to explore and absorb the luminous beauty of the City of Light. Jacqueline is immediately catapulted into an intoxicating new world of champagne and châteaux, art and avant-garde theater, cafés and jazz clubs. She strikes up a romance with a talented young writer who shares her love of literature and passion for culture – even though her mother would think him most unsuitable. But beneath the glitter and rush, France is a fragile place still haunted by the Occupation. Jacqueline lives in a rambling apartment with a widowed countess and her daughters, all of whom suffered as part of the French Resistance just a few years before. In the aftermath of World War II, Paris has become a nest of spies, and suspicion, deception, and betrayal lurk around every corner. Jacqueline is stunned to watch the rise of communism – anathema in America, but an active movement in France – never guessing she is witnessing the beginning of the political environment that will shape the rest of her life—and that of her future husband. Evocative, sensitive, and rich in historic detail, Jacqueline in Paris portrays the origin story of an American icon. Ann Mah brilliantly imagines the intellectual and aesthetic awakening of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and illuminates how France would prove to be her one true love, and one of the greatest influences on her life."

 

It's the Fall of 1949 and we find Jacqueline Bouvier on board an ocean liner making its way to Europe. She is studying abroad for the year in France along with some other students from Smith. Her hovering mother has secured her an acceptable host family, but Jackie hopes to branch out on her own without her mother constantly peering over her shoulder picking at everything. Her mother wants her to stay in New York, but she knows she wants more for her life. While in Paris, she learns there's a lot more! There's art, their culture, their champagne, jazz clubs, young writers, politics, and more. All of these experiences influenced her life tremendously. She even meets someone, a young man named John "Jack" Marquand, who her mother would most definitely not approve of as he is a writer. Jacqueline also finds out her host mother has more to her backstory than just a regular Parisian and her host family are hiding more secrets than she knows.... even her new boyfriend, too. Jackie is quick to learn that post-war Paris is a complex place and time. All of these coming-of-age experiences shaped Jackie's life and provide so much insight into what made her the Jackie America loves and appreciates. Ann Mah's Jacqueline in Paris is a moving historical novel that at times reads like a well-researched biography; however, it is never overpowering and is an absolute delight.

It comes as no surprise that I am a huge fan of Jackie, so I knew I had to read Ann Mah's Jacqueline in Paris. Jackie was depicted wonderfully in this novel and I enjoyed her experiences in post-war Paris.  Between adapting to French life, the language, the culture, the cold winters, and even the bathrooms, it was all very eye-opening in that I could see how these experiences in Paris influenced Jackie for the rest of her life. Her slowly blossoming relationship with her host mother was wonderfully done as her host mother's story is so important. The novel also takes us through her first real relationship and even aspects of that took me by surprise as like many other characters in the novel, Jack Marquand is so much more than meets the eye. Hanging out with Jack and many of the other people in Paris got Jackie out of her comfort zone and made her question things like politics and her views on history. This, in turn, helped Jackie grow and prepared her to become First Lady.

I adored Mah's portrayal of post-war Paris. She brought it to life beautifully. I felt like I was there! The art, the days walking by the Seine, the classes, the cold winters, the cocktails, food, nightlife, the dinners....it was all a delight! Mah is a well-known author of French food books as well as a travel writer and that is very evident in Jacqueline in Paris. I don't think I have read a novel that captures a city as well as Mah captured Paris. On the other hand, Mah also depicts post-war Paris has being a complex place at times. It wasn't all stardust and champagne. There were some difficult moments as well as Paris desperately trying to get out from under the dark shadow of WWII, which definitely took its toll.

If you appreciate a good historical novel, you love Jackie and the Kennedy clan, I urge you to pick up Jacqueline in Paris this fall. It was such a charming read and a sleepy novel in the best way possible. I knew I could pick it up before bed, it wouldn't upset me, but instead leave me with beautiful thoughts of Paris and a time long forgotten. So, are you a fan of Ann Mah? Have you read Jacqueline in Paris? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Mini Reviews (3)

 

Well, this edition of my mini reviews is all over the place. I am sharing my thoughts on two audio books that I listened to that are vastly different. Sometimes you need a palate cleanser between heavier books, right? And that's exactly what the Bridgerton series has been for me. 

Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Genre: Romance/Audio Book

Publisher: HarperAudio

Pub. Date: March 29, 2016

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Duke and I, 

 The Viscount Who Loved Me, and An Offer From a Gentleman

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places... This is not one of those times. Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, and as a child the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Either one would make a perfect husband... someday. Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you think you should... Or not. There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George. He may be the eldest and heir to the earldom, but he's arrogant, annoying, and she's absolutely certain he detests her. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can't stand the sight of him, either. But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor... Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begins to fly. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they just might discover that the one person they can't abide is the one person they can't live without...

 

 

 

Because of Miss Bridgerton is a Bridgerton prequel and the start of a separate series as it takes place an entire generation prior. It's the 18th century and at the story's center is Sybilla Bridgerton, a.k.a. Billie, and she is everything you could want in a protagonist. She is opinionated, a tomboy, enjoys learning about agriculture in order to help out her family's farm, and rides in breeches. It's pretty much the opposite of what convention dictates. Billie finds herself in a compromising situation that involves climbing on a roof to rescue a cat and to her horror, George Rokesby, a Viscount, comes across her in this vulnerable state as she is now injured, and in turn, he rescues her. George is pretty much her nemesis, so she hates that he will hold this over her. While Billie has always been close with her neighbors, the Rokesbys, she really doesn't like George. He is much too serious for her taste and instead she enjoys the younger Rokesbys. But after he "rescues" her from the roof, they both start to have different feelings for each other. Julia Quinn's Because of Miss Bridgerton is an adorable enemies to lovers romance that I especially enjoyed on audio.  

I am a huge Bridgerton fan and have been slowly making my way through the original Bridgerton series, but this prequel caught my eye as I love a feisty heroine and she reminded me of Eloise Bridgerton. Because of Miss Bridgerton did not disappoint (even though there were the usual romance tropes) as I love a good character focused novel and that is what this is. While it wasn't as "exciting" as I hoped it would be, it was exactly what I needed when I was looking for a break from thrillers and mysteries. It is the perfect series to unwind with.

I listened to the audio version and Rosalyn Landor never disappoints; she is one of my favorite narrators! So, if you like the Bridgertons and are looking for something a little bit different as this story takes place a generation before the other series, check out this prequel! I will most definitely be continuing with the Rokesby series.   

 

Emotional Agility by Susan David, PhD.

Genre: Non-fiction

Pub. Date: September 1, 2016

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "The counterintuitive approach to achieving your true potential, heralded by the Harvard Business Review as a groundbreaking idea of the year. The path to fulfillment, whether at work or at home, is almost never a straight line. Ask anyone who has achieved their biggest goals or who thrives in their relationships, and you’ll hear stories of many unexpected detours along the way. What separates those who rise to these challenges and those who get derailed? The answer is agility—emotional agility. Emotional agility is a four-step approach that allows us to navigate life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind. In her more than twenty years of research, Susan David has found that no matter how intelligent, resilient, or creative people are, when they ignore how situations or interactions make them feel, they miss opportunities to gain insight, getting hooked by thoughts, emotions, and habits that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Emotionally agile people experience the same stresses and setbacks as anyone else, but they know how to adapt, aligning their actions with their values and making small changes that lead to a life of growth. Drawing on her extensive professional research, her international consulting work, and her own experiences growing up in Apartheid-era South Africa and losing her father at a young age, David shows how anyone can become more emotionally agile and thrive in an uncertain world. Written with authority, wit, and empathy, Emotional Agility will help you live your most successful life, whoever you are and whatever you face."

 

Emotional Agility is an engaging audio book that is perfect to help you address changes in your life. I have followed Susan David on Instagram for awhile now and have always appreciated her insights. So, when I saw the audio version of the book available, I was happy to tune in and learn a bit in the process. David has a four step approach to help you deal with life's ups and downs and I found them to be very practical.  Her little anecdotes and examples helped further illustrate the book's meaning as well as its practical application. She highlights how emotions and thoughts play a major role in our life and addresses how not to get "hooked." I really liked that aspect of the novel.  She even covers emotional agility in children and how to foster it. While some of the examples seemed a lot (when it came to dealing with children), I appreciated her perspective and it did give me a lot to think about.  

I loved listening to the audio version as I felt David had a soothing and pleasant voice. What can I say? I love a good South African accent. However, I did feel like I needed to buy a copy of the book in order to go back and revisit a few things as it isn't as easy to do that on audio. Other than that, if you are facing changes in your life or work, I highly recommend picking up Emotional Agility. It's definitely food for thought.

Let me know in the comments below if you have read these two books or if they are on your TBR list.

Audio Book Review: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Pages: 360

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: February 22, 2022

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Guest List

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide… Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there. The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question. The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling."

 

 

 

Jess is in Paris visiting her journalist brother, Ben. When arriving at his very nice Parisian apartment, he isn't there. She has left England behind, along with a few other secrets, and this was a planned visit with her brother, so where is he? It's not like him to ghost her. Jess figures out a way inside his apartment and then she starts to really worry when he doesn't show up the next day. So, Jess, like any worried sister, starts asking the other tenants if they have seen Ben. Well, there's a lot of very different people living in this swanky apartment. There's Sophie Meunier, the woman who lives in the penthouse, and there's strange Mimi, who is a young woman that seems over cautious, and other tenants who don't really answer Jess's questions. Meanwhile, Jess is wondering how on Earth Ben could have afforded this fancy apartment? The more Jess digs, the more secrets she uncovers, and once she finds Ben's editor, he finally takes her worries seriously and helps her dig deeper to get some answers. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley is a whirlwind of a ride with plot twists that will most definitely entertain even the most reluctant of readers.

Jess is an interesting character in The Paris Apartment. Slowly readers realize what actually brought her to Paris and why she left England. Readers also learn more about her backstory as she hasn't exactly had it easy, which is why I felt for her when he brother pretty much disappeared. I can't imagine being in a strange city, not knowing the language or have anyone to confide in. As the days go on, she gets to know the tenants that live in the apartment building and each one is holding more secrets than the other.  She is determined to find out what happened to Ben and that really takes off when Ben's editor joins her efforts.

The narration kept me on my toes in The Paris Apartment. Foley jumped from each character's point of view, so it guessing. Each tenant is a complex character with so many secrets and readers will slowly piece the puzzle together to create a clearer (and more disturbing!) picture. Readers can't help but question what are the tenants hiding and what is going on in this apartment building? Also, the setting of Paris was also very well done and added to the atmosphere of the story.

Foley's plot twists did not disappoint in The Paris Apartment. It was a locked room mystery that kept me flipping the pages. I listened to the audio version and it was one of my favorite audio books of the year. The cast of narrators were spot on, their accents perfection, and it was like listening to one of my favorite TV shows. It came to life beautifully.

So, are you a fan of Lucy Foley? Have you read The Paris Apartment? I had been meaning read it and I am glad I did before the year ended. Foley is definitely an author on my radar. Let me know what you think in the comments below.