Susan Scribner

Lucy O'Brien's most recent release, [b:Lead Sister: The Story of Karen Carpenter 80505740 Lead Sister The Story of Karen Carpenter Lucy O'Brien https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1674135278l/80505740.SX50.jpg 105439642], was an incisive and heartbreaking biography of the 1970s soft-rock superstar who died too young in part because of a sexist music industry. So I thought She Bop would be another hit. And it was, but in a very different way.Instead of the intimate portrait of one woman, O'Brien takes us through 100 years, five continents, and scores of female musicians. And not just the singers/band members, but also the producers, songwriters and DJs. There are definite through lines about the creative ways women found to combat sexism, racism, homophobia, etc., and many of the interviews are fascinating. But I could only read a couple of chapters at a time to avoid overwhelming myself. I'd recommend this book as a helpful reference tool, but it may not appeal to casual readers.

Simple but sweet novella about an unhappy, lonely queer boy's letters to Santa that gradually evolve into annual retrospectives and wishes. Fortunately once he goes to university, he makes friends, with one classmate in particular the focus of his (unrequited?) affection.

Objectively speaking it's good, not great, but epistolary stories are my catnip so I'm being generous in my rating.

2.5 stars. Nicely written but poorly plotted. The MCs get together fairly early in the story and then are blissfully happy together until a very stupid Big Misunderstanding causes a third act breakup. I would have preferred fewer sex scenes, and either more flashbacks to their “boy band” days or more insight into what led Nick to his current low-key career as a hotel manager.

Good chemistry between the MCs and an interesting setting, but the plot was sorely lacking. The narrator, Finn, may be an engineer working on the design for the Eiffel Tower, but he doesn't have the common sense the good lord gave a goose. A handsome stranger appears out of nowhere and offers to solve all of your problems but refuses to answer any questions? Puh-leeze. And after an intriguing setup, Finn is literally in another country when the Big Moment happens, and only learns the truth when a female secondary character fills him in. Marshall has written several more explicit M/M historical romances as [a:Ella Stainton 20163690 Ella Stainton https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588067098p2/20163690.jpg]. I didn't make it past the first few chapters of “Kilty Pleasures Book 1” ([b:Best Laid Plaids 52739473 Best Laid Plaids (Kilty Pleasures, #1) Ella Stainton https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588087911l/52739473.SY75.jpg 78704072]), because it was just too silly for my taste. In fact, I never would have guessed the two women were the same person. I hope she will develop Maureen Marshall further; her voice feels much more authentic and natural than her alter ego's.

I've read several Filipina contemporary romance novels now, and while I respect them, I've decided they're just not my cup of tea. This novel has a lot to say about reclaiming yourself after public shaming, and the horrible, inescapable differences between the reactions faced by a man and a woman who are in similar positions. I admired Iris, I wanted her to be happy, but there was just something missing in the romance and chemistry between her and Gio. Maybe it was a little too matter-of-fact. Could be cultural differences, could be age differences (Iris is a good 30 years younger than I am, I'm sad to admit), but I think my dalliance with these novels is over. I wish Esguerra, Six de los Reyes, and their fellow Filipina authors nothing but the best; we need more diversity in the genre.

First and last lines of the book are great, but everything in between is a melodramatic mess. I'm a sucker for romances with a music theme but sadly although the hero is a former rock star there are almost no scenes related to music. Just two incredibly wounded people who keep running away from each other - first he's too damaged, then she's too damaged, etc. etc. And considering the heroine is supposed to be a jeweler, wouldn't it be a good idea if the author had learned how to spell “jewelry?”

Edited: Okay, after reading the second British book that uses “jewellery,” I realize that it's an American/British spelling difference, not an error. My apologies to the author, but the rating stands.

Quick entertaining read about the iconic TV show and its incredible longevity in pop culture. No new or surprising revelations (although I was not familiar with the X-Files Brady-related episode), and not as much fun as reading about it first-hand from one of the show's stars in [b:Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg 240233 Growing Up Brady I Was a Teenage Greg Barry Williams https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1392487507l/240233.SY75.jpg 232715] but not a bad way to kill a few hours.

A little less angsty than most of Fleet's books, primarily because one of the MCs is in a fairly stable place in his life (at least in the scenes set “now” as opposed to those set four years prior). Couldn't quite buy that such a strong connection was made between Christopher/Crash and Summer in a 24 hour period that could survive years of separation. Nice to see Romeo and Julian from [b:This is Not a Love Story 22499313 This is Not a Love Story (Love Story Universe) Suki Fleet https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403167488l/22499313.SX50.jpg 40332545] happy together and supporting Crash.

I gave up on Suki Fleet for a while because her books were just too dark, with the MCs being put through hell (physical abuse, homelessness, drug use, etc.) before they finally are able to be together, usually in the very last chapter. But given this book is entitled The Happiness Project, I thought maybe her style had lightened up a bit.

This is still a hurt/comfort story - I don't think Fleet will be writing goofy romcoms anytime soon - but I didn't spend the entire book in a constant state of dread. Bruno has no money, no job, and a secret he is ashamed to share with anyone. Alexei, who lives in the apartment next door, is agoraphobic and almost completely mute, with his own secrets to keep. Fortunately they become friends early on, and are able to support each other through their respective crises. The major barrier to their HEA is Bruno's belief that he is unlovable, and Alexei's confusion about both his gender and his sexuality.

Suki Fleet must have heard the complaints about her books ending abruptly, because she gifts us with FOUR separate epilogues that eventually take us 16 years into the future. There's a confusing hint of the paranormal, but Bruno and Alexei's relationship was so wonderful that I didn't mind. I'll still approach Fleet's books with caution, but this one was just right.

This was recommended to me as a “feel good” romance and it definitely qualifies as one. Sweet, funny and hot romance between two young hockey players on the same fictional NHL team. There is some angst as Gabe is outed, and then as his relationship with Dante becomes public, but there is lot of support from teammates and management so the turmoil is minimized. The aforementioned teammates are hysterical, as is Gabe's utter cluelessness about how to be in a relationship. I can definitely see myself returning to this book for a comfort re-read.

3.5 stars. Not quite 4 star territory for me, but I appreciated the honest and rare portrayal of an MC with a chronic illness who gets his HEA. The Korean-Fijian-Irish-Kiwi male midwife Drake Park is a memorable character, and it's easy to understand why he is both attracted to and leery of the attention from Detective Caleb Ashton, former fuckboy. The combination of cutesy/snarky and dramatic/almost tragic was a little odd at times and the last part dragged a bit while I waited for the two MCs to come to their senses.

When I was in college I took a trip with a group of friends, one of whom had Crohn's disease. I remember her disappearing into the bathroom frequently, and I don't think I was empathetic enough about her challenges. This book helped me understand what she must have been going through, but it's more than a public service; it's also a sweet and sometimes sassy romance.

A friend recommended this to me as a sweet, low-angst romance to soothe my COVID-19 related anxiety, and boy did it deliver. First of all it's set at Christmastime in Norway, which feels like another (and very welcome) world. Secondly, there's almost no plot, just two awkward college students falling in love - one is a social recluse and the other is a party animal that tries a little too hard. There is lots of family warmth, acceptance and togetherness (plus animal onesies), piled on top of two people who can't quite believe that someone could love them just as they are. And although there may be a few stutter steps, there are no fights, misunderstandings or separations.

Highly recommended if you are (like I am) on your last nerve and just need something to make you feel warm and fuzzy.

I think I'm going to have to break up with Suki Fleet. Her books have always been dark and angsty, full of MCs who are dealing with mental illness, homelessness, drug use, and/or violence. I can deal with that (when I'm in a certain mood) and appreciated her message that love can find even the most downtrodden characters. But this book was just...icky. The non-spoiler version is that the romance between Chris and Malachi didn't work, for numerous reasons including the age and life experience difference, the knowledge power imbalance (Malachi knows a lot of secrets about Chris' past and only tells him the truth gradually), and a rather unconvincing Insta-Love on Chris' part. But the insurmountable Ick Factor was finding out that Malachi had an affair with Chris' mother Isabella when he was a teenager. Just No. There is nothing I can read, no matter how much Malachi claims he loves Chris more than he loved Isabella, that can make that anything other than wrong in my eyes. There are also several subplots involving injuries to secondary characters that are left unresolved or barely resolved at the book's conclusion. So unsatisfactory romance plus too much left hanging equals time to bid adieu to this author. I was a big fan of several of her other books including [b:Light Up the Dark 33239302 Light Up the Dark Suki Fleet https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480934241l/33239302.SY75.jpg 53954816] and [b:Foxes 29065717 Foxes Suki Fleet https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1455246424l/29065717.SY75.jpg 46229530], but I'm out now. And yes, I understand that this is a self-published reissue of an earlier book, but it left such a bad taste that I'm not planning to return.

I used to like time travel romances when I was younger but I think [b:The Time Traveler's Wife 18619684 The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1380660571l/18619684.SX50.jpg 2153746] ruined me for any other books in the genre. This book, by new-to-me author Jackie North, needed an editor to address the numerous run-on sentences and comma splicing incidences. The love story didn't work for me either - I didn't buy it that the two MCs were madly in love within one day after meeting in such strange circumstances. Furthermore, it was unbelievable to me that Stanley could accept so many mind-blowing changes of the 21st century with little more than a shrug.North did a very commendable job at portraying the horrors of World War I, especially for a young American “doughboy” like Stanley who had enlisted with no idea what he was about to experience. I was happy that he found some happiness in the highly improbable way that he did, but I didn't buy the “forever love across time” trope that connected him to Devon.

3.5 stars. The mystery was hard to follow, and I didn't warm up to Alasdair and Toby, the movie stars/amateur sleuths who are planning to portray the Cambridge Fellows in their next film. But I cherished the opportunity to see Jonty and Orlando, slowing down a bit in their seventies but still solving mysteries while amiably sniping at each other. Cochrane has now spanned almost 50 years with this series, and I ship Stewart and Coppersmith whether they are portrayed as young men in the early 20th century, war-weary veterans in the 1920s, or senior citizens in 1952.

Cute YA book, with a heroine who is funny without being all-out snarky. She also has cystic acne, which you don't see in a YA romance novel every day. I had pretty much garden-variety acne (although it has lasted well into middle age) but I could still identify with Natalie's reluctance to socialize or show any skin when she's having a bad breakout, and let's not even get started with the side effects of Accutane and the dire warnings regarding pregnancy that accompany every single dose.

I wish I had been more engaged in Natalie's first relationship with Alex, her friend Josh's older (only by a year) brother. He was cute and kind, but he made a few bonehead mistakes, and I had to agree with Josh that she could do a lot better. Still, while Natalie is very careful to make sure she doesn't allow her self-esteem to depend on having a real boyfriend, there's no doubt that he helps her realize her potential and her ability to deal with all the changes involved in being 18 years old, going to uni, and having your parents suddenly split up.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Almost unbearably bleak novel set during the London Blitz of World War II. The heroine is assaulted, gaslighted, and institutionalized against her will. All of those traumas are magnified at a time where thousands of people are killed during the air raids and countless buildings are destroyed. Readers looking for a plucky heroine keeping a stiff upper lip while having heroic adventures should look elsewhere. The book ends on a note of hope, which is tarnished by an earlier line hinting that the heroine's HFN romance may be short-lived.

This author has a distinctive style but I'm afraid her mash-up of several genres - small-town contemporary plus ghost, plus a little bit of reincarnation - doesn't quite work within 300 brief pages. There's never a dull moment, but there's not enough commitment to any one theme to make it successful. I never felt either the lifelong connection that Dani had with Alex (her ghostly love interest), or the burgeoning connection that she develops with Jason (her very much alive love interest). The tone varied wildly and often uneasily between light humor and deep melodrama. I did appreciate the family dynamics, especially the realistic relationship between Dani and her 16 year old daughter Riley. The Reason is You might appeal to fans of Kristan Higgins who are interested in a paranormal twist on contemporary romance.

The pacing in this book was horrendous. All of the conflict between the Ben and Claire was resolved about 25% of the way through the book, leaving the rest of the book for....what? Basically nothing. Lots of visits from the characters of books #1 and 2. Lots of sex between hero and heroine. Quick, poorly developed subplot with Claire's daughter. Also poorly developed subplot about financial shenanigans of her almost ex-husband. Okay, I'm still in for book #4 about former lesbian Abby, but then I'm done with this author. She showed a lot of promise in A Royal Pain but unfortunately it was not fulfilled in her subsequent releases.

Didn't quite grab me. I appreciated learning about the dangerous job of river pilots and the coastal North Carolina setting (close to where I have vacationed every summer), but the romance between Reed and Justin never quite gelled for me. I wasn't carried along on their journey from mistrust to friends to lovers to HEA because I didn't feel the strong connection the author kept insisting they had. It felt like they moved through those stages because the page count demanded it, not because they had genuinely earned it.

The last 25% of the book was the best part, an action-packed finale as the two men faced nature's powerful wrath together. Wish I had liked this more, as Shira Anthony is a new-to-me author and this book was recommended to me by a reviewer I greatly respect, but it just didn't wow me.

This was fine. I'm glad Harlequin continues to expand into queer romance, although outside of the books by [a:Roan Parrish 14070842 Roan Parrish https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1592486118p2/14070842.jpg], none of them have wowed me.

I really wanted to love this book. It has so much Susan catnip going for it: sex positive FMC; abortion as a thing that happened, but didn't define FMC's life; Jewish MCs who love their religion without being traditionally observant; MCs both living with mental illness; and queer representation. But I just...didn't.

I feel vaguely guilty for saying this, but I never warmed up to the MMC. I get that he has Issues (including OCD), and he's lovely to to the FMC even when she tells him he sucks at sex, but....he sucks at sex. He's a 34 year old guy, none of his previous girlfriends (including one he dated for several years) enjoyed themselves in bed with him, and he had NO IDEA whatsoever? It's great that he doesn't get angry when the FMC tells him the honest truth, and he is an enthusiastic student of her sex lessons. It's also true that TV/movies etc. provide a very skewed view of what women really need to orgasm, so he didn't have great models to follow. But if he's such a great guy, why didn't he pick up on any of the clues his previous lovers must have been giving?

I get it, not all MMCs have to be amazing at sex right out of the gate, and Solomon is trying to transcend the genre tropes. Maybe I'm too old and hard-wired from 40+ years of Old Skool romance novels. Maybe I don't love pages of explicit sex that includes dirty talk and spanking. All I know is, in the end, I admired what Solomon was trying to do more than I enjoyed the book itself.

I really enjoyed this, probably my favorite Kelly Jensen book to date (including her [b:Chaos Station 23595481 Chaos Station (Chaos Station, #1) Jenn Burke https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422552182s/23595481.jpg 43197919] series with Jenn Burke). It had everything going for it - sweetness, hurt/comfort, humor, heat - and a nice slow burn between the two MCs as their friendship developed into much more. My heart broke several times for both characters, and then Kelly Jensen neatly sewed it up back together. I really felt the two men fall in love and develop more faith in themselves through their relationship. If you like down-but-not-out MCs, and both family love (Jake's) and family angst (Max's), you should give this one a try.

3.5 stars, rounded down. Ed Zwick may not be a household name, but you're probably familiar with his work as writer, director and/or producer for many successful TV shows (thirtysomething, My So-Called Life) and movies (Glory, Legends of the Fall, and Blood Diamond). The book recounts his experiences working with such luminaries as Denzel, Brad and Leo, as well as the wisdom he has accrued about his craft and industry. Very little dirt or shade on anyone with the notable exception of Matthew Broderick. I docked the book half a star for Zwick's slightly inflated ego and the relatively few pages he devotes to the women who have graced his productions.

I used to love Justine Davis (or Justine Dare as she was briefly in the 1980s) but although the romance genre has changed, her style hasn't kept pace. The conflict of “oh, he is so wonderful, he couldn't possibly be interested in little old me” is tiresome, especially when the heroine doesn't seem to have any noticeable flaws. I'm much more interested in kick-ass heroines who know their worth, and if the hero doesn't seem to be interested that's his loss, not hers.

The magical dog who finds the next case for the Leverage-type do-gooder justice league and does matchmaking in his spare time doesn't bother me - I'll suspend my disbelief for a good animal story - but please come up with some better conflict than a situation that could have been addressed through one good conversation.