Kristine Laco

This book started out steamy and I wasn't expecting it. Lizzie is so delightfully flawed and Rake is patient, kind, and hot. All the makings of a good romance. But there is real conflict presented with humor. A quick read that will definitely make you smile. Enjoyably predictable as a good romance book should be.

This was not about shoes... spoiler alert!
This was a coming-of-age story that really grabs you by the heels (yes, that's a pun). I thought the author did a wonderful job of weaving story arcs together. I love anything set in Manhattan, so that was a bonus. The first chapter was a gut punch, but it is worth it with a really satisfying payoff. Great read!

I remember watching iCarly with the kids when they were little and now knowing what she was going through at the time, I'm a little sad for her. Don't worry though, she made it out okay so you will not have to throw this book across the room when you're done. Trigger warnings I wish I'd read... eating disorders, alcoholism, and child abuse. McCurdy survived a great ordeal and maybe if she hadn't been a celebrity (albeit a disgruntled one) I might have given this five stars. There's something I found I couldn't quite empathize with and I wish I could. Maybe because I didn't know the triggers coming up. Maybe I needed more adult resolution. It is definitely interesting and scary what she survived so congrats to her in the end.

That was delightfully upsetting! Yellowface was filled with terrible people doing terrible things to each other and it was intoxicating. Racism–check. Blackmail–check. More racism–check check. As upsetting as the plot was, Kuang handled the writing with such deft that it wasn't cringe-worthy. I found myself laughing at June's inner thoughts and actions. She's diabolical! As a writer though, I appreciated the nod to the industry. Sure, it was fiction, but the subtle takes on some of the real-life challenges faced by authors was such satirical fun. I was sad when I finished the book and will be recommending it to everyone I meet, beware! :)

I resisted buying a Colleen Hoover book. There seemed to be too much hype on BookTok and I wasn't sure those people who loved it were my kind of recommenders. But believe the hype. Hoover can tell a story! Now, you won't find literary sentences that make you challenge your beliefs or ah-ha your own life, but you will be entertained. She sticks to the ‘something has to happen every 5 pages' format and you will not want to sleep before one more chapter. I'd give it 5 stars, if there was a bit more depth, but I can't complain about the read.

Everything David Sedaris writes I give five stars, but for this, I'll give him more!
Not every essay was typical Sedaris. But he was more vulnerable than in his other collections. More reflective and maybe a bit more mature. That is not to imply that this was sad in any way. He will still make you cry laughing. I just loved that he also made me think more and appreciate more after I read this (in three days).
This is my favorite collection of essays of all time. I'm glad I have the hardcover so I can read it dozens of times and lend it out–to very specific people–without destroying the book.

What I loved most about this book was that it deviation from the usual tropes. Oh, they were there, but unexpected twists gave me a moment to pause and consider the consequences. A really fun read!

It's a book about a little library. It's a romance. It takes place in a remote town in the English countryside. The male lead is a great dad and handy around the house. I'm not sure I need to add more.

What a wonderful book! A talking octopus. Need I say more? No, but I will. It seems perfectly natural for the ‘pus to narrate their own chapters even though it might sound quirky. Remember there was a talking dog in Lesson in Chemistry and we all loved that! 

I listened to this one based on several peoples' recommendations... they wanted me to hear the voice of the octopus and they were not wrong. So well cast.

I love a book that lets me guess the ending and keeps dropping clues to make me feel smart :)

There are parts of this book I adored. The opening for one. Some parts I felt let down. Maybe there was just a bit much of the business side through the middle to keep me engaged. Overall though it was charming and worth the read.

I listened to this book on Audible and I found myself inventing errands so I could listen.
I heard this author on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing and picked it up from there. I haven't read as many thrillers as I used to, and I thoroughly enjoyed jumping back into the genre with this book. Well done.

This was a romance, not unlike the Hallmark movies, but the characters were unapologetically stereotyped. Girl goes to a small town, falls in love with a local, saves a shop and they all live happily ever after–maybe. Even though that sounds like spoilers, the plot is well laid out from the start. You just have to go along for the ride.

Definitely, a fun beach read. I started and finished this on a 6-hour flight without nodding off :)
The pace worked for me and the characters were likable and adequately flawed. I think I wanted a bit more conflict, but for a quick read there was enough to have me turn the page.

Set in the 60s, chemist Elizabeth Zott has a problem. She is a woman in a man's world. She never lets that stop her as she works her way into science. But through a series of tragedies, finds herself unemployed, unwed, and pregnant. When a TV producer has an idea to create a daytime show featuring Zott, Super at Six, she uses her knowledge of chemistry to make dinners that please, and make women feel empowered.
What a charming read! If you liked Eleanor Oliphant, you with love Elizabeth Zott.
This is my favorite read of the year, so far.

I'm so glad Angus came back! He reminds me so much of my grandfather. His DIY attitude, his MacGyver inventions, his patriotism, and his love for his wife make this character endearing. The writing makes him and the whole cast funny. The true Canadiana of the setting and characters makes this one CanLit you should add to your list.

I love a good detective novel. I thought the main character was off at first but as her back story unfolded, her motivations and actions made more sense. The setting was well constructed and the resolution satisfying. Fun read.

I don't say this often, but I wanted another 300 pages in this book.
I didn't read the book jacket, so I went on recommendation alone. It felt like it was going to be a book about two brothers in search of their mother. But, man, it wasn't about that at all. The four male protagonists intertwine their lives and in a short time, learn the power of friendship. And these were some flawed friendships, to be sure, but the way they navigated them, forgave one another, and how we saw beautiful moments in unlikeable situations, made me happy I hadn't known what to expect.

I thought I was done with historical fiction this year, but apparently not.
I was on hold for this book from the library for months and had totally forgotten about it until it appeared in my inbox. I almost didn't bother to read it, but I'm so glad I changed my mind. The characters and scenery were so wonderfully captivating and the novel was a splash of history and a dollop of character and love story it made for an entertaining read. I forgot I was reading historical fiction. Well worth the wait.

I love Olga's style. This is an easy read with well-documented sources. I am trying to Niks, and think it will work in my life if I can only stop thinking about my to-do list first. :)
I'd recommend this book for creative people and those who struggle with mindfulness practices. No breath work, just stillness and nothing.

Helen is charming. The way she presents her essays will make you smile, and I was glad to be introduced to her southern charm and wit. I felt let down that the essays weren't thematic with the title which is what grabbed me. Once I got over that, though, I could enjoy the madness.

As a writer, I found the structure of this book the most interesting thing about it. But this is not to negate the wonderful character development this book creates. Cedar had many character POV's separated by chapters and each voice was distinct.
I love a book about cult-like surroundings but this book only poked at it, which I was worried would bore me, but the life outside the cult was just as interesting.
Good read!

I enjoyed this book a lot. The protagonist was engaging and relatable, even though her life in Malibu was beyond my scope of understanding. Jenkins Reid brought me into this setting that was hard to pull away from with characters that had their own arcs, complications, and relationships.
What a crazy ride!
A rock star dad with a wandering eye, a surf-crazed family, an alcoholic mother, and a setting of mega-stars, elaborate parties, and ocean-front property in the hills. It was the dirty part of glamour on display and I felt like I was watching my favourite stars strip naked.
A beach read with more depth. Thumbs up.
This is a book you will share with friends.

One of the most charming protagonists! I really enjoyed this book mainly because the characters were so engrossing. Molly, the maid, was managing grief and the personal and financial hardships of living without a family when she is framed for a series of crimes.
Her resolve and her forthrightness bring a pragmatic charm to what follows. Her band of supporters will make you smile.
My favourite read of the year, so far!

This was a fun ‘palette cleanser' between heavy reads. The main character was engaging and it went fast.

I wouldn't normally read a grief memoir. There has just been too much sadness in the world of late. What I appreciated about Michelle's hand in dealing with the loss of her mother was the relation to food. Her description of meals with her family were mouth-watering. There were some notable exceptions, but I'll let you find out for yourself.