Happy Monday, friends! Aside from my blog post last week, it’s been a few months since I blogged. Life has been busy in the best way — we finally moved into our new house, got married, went on a 3-week honeymoon, and started a new job all in 3 months. I’m ready to take it slower the rest of the year and get back into weekly blogging. In the meantime, I’m back today with book review volume XVII (it’s an eclectic batch with something for everyone!).
The Husbands by Chandler Baker
Nora Spangler is a successful lawyer, and while her husband also works, it feels like Nora is always working harder, juggling her career with domestic responsibilities. When a house for sale in the exclusive Dynasty Ranch neighborhood catches Nora’s eye, she meets a group of high-powered career women with supportive husbands who do more than their share of household chores. The allure of having it all entices Nora, but as time passes, she realizes the secret may be worth killing for. My favorite part was Nora’s internal dialogue and getting a glimpse into what Brett might be thinking sometimes, haha. If anything, I usually identify with the husbands in marriage humor TikTok videos (less clean, tidy, etc). Baker’s note at the end and her message are brilliant, but the writing could’ve been sharper.
My Fault by Mercedes Ron
Okay, I caved and watched this movie on Prime Video after watching The Summer I Turned Pretty approximately ten times and needed something new to obsess over. It’s a forbidden enemies-to-lovers romance between 17-year-old Noah Morgan and her new stepbrother, Nicholas. When Noah’s mom unexpectedly marries and uproots them to LA, Noah’s pushed into a different world. Nicholas is everything she hates, yet neither of them can deny the attraction between them. Before watching, I knew nothing about this trilogy but quickly fell in love. So then, of course, I needed to read the book, and I’m glad I watched the movie first because they cast the characters perfectly, and I pictured them while I was reading. Surprisingly, most people enjoyed the film rather than the book, so I recommend starting with the movie.
Design the Home You Love by Lee Mayer and Emily Motayed
A sweet friend recommended this to me after her sister used it to help design her new house. I immediately ordered it because this is the kind of beautiful book I can display as decor and also periodically go back and reference. Written by the founders of Havenly, an online interior design service, these sisters seek to make interior design accessible. They provide helpful information I can apply, like rules about proportion and scale, which is essential to me in a design book. Even though most of the images weren’t my style, I still enjoyed flipping through them.
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
I’ve never read a Sally Hepworth novel that I didn’t like, and this one didn’t disappoint either. Rose and Fern are twin sisters who are as close as can be; Fern has sensory processing issues, and Rose has looked after her their whole lives. When Fern sees a chance to pay Rose back, her mission will bring secrets from their past to the surface — and who truly is the good sister after all? Fern was such a well-developed, unique character with her literalness, and how she sometimes misread social interactions was laugh-out-loud humorous. While branded a thriller, I kept waiting for a significant plot twist that never came. It reads more like a domestic drama; however, despite the predictable ending, if you go in with the right expectations, it can still be an enjoyable read.
Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
William Wooler is a respectable family man, but behind closed doors, he’s having an affair with his neighbor. When she abruptly ends their relationship, he devastatedly goes home early to be alone, only to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter Ella unexpectedly home. They get into an argument where William loses his temper with her and then leaves the house. Hours later, police declare Ella missing as her family frantically tries to find her. As tips come in that may or may not be accurate, detectives realize that the most significant secrets often lie closest to home. I always try to figure out who did it before the big reveal, but this one didn’t have many clues to follow, so the ending was quite a fun surprise!
Now that I’m getting into my reading routine again, what have you recently read that I should add to my to-read list? To see my previous book reviews, click here. xo
Those are lovely books review you have shared. i will try and read some few. thanks
Phew! That is a lot in just 3 months; no wonder you needed a blogging break. Congratulations on all of it!! I recently read Everyone Here is Lying too and enjoyed it a lot. I’m going to have to check out The Husbands.
I haven’t read any of these but Everyone Is Lying is on my tbr 🙂 Congrats on getting married and moving into your house!!
Good reviews. Seems like interesting reads. Thanks for sharing!
Oh yeah! I need some good books to read soon by the beach! Great recommendations!
Everyone here is lying looks promising. I’m wondering if Ella is a runaway.
I haven’t read any of these. But reading is my favorite. I’ll have to read these sometime.
I love reading so thank you for the reviews
The Husbands sounds so good!
those are must-read books. thanks for the reviews on them.
Oh there are some good selections here. I’m currently getting back into reading and needed some suggestions. I love a good mystery. Thanks.
Congrats on your new job, new place, and new marriage! I’d love to read Design the Home You Love sometime. I’m exploring options for new furniture, and saving up for it accordingly, haha.
Thanks for the many book reviews! I am looking for something new to read doing the holiday when I will have more time.
Thank you for sharing your latest book reviews Kelly! Ive been looking for new reads!