Today’s post covers the second half of the books I read in December 2021. I shared the first half of the books I read here. My top books of the month can be found here. I will be linking up this post with the Show Us Your Books Link Up, and the Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve read any of these books or are interested in them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Title: Greenwich Park
Author: Katherine Faulkner
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Gallery Books, 1/25/22
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner was a solid domestic thriller debut.
“Helen’s idyllic life—handsome architect husband, gorgeous Victorian house, and cherished baby on the way (after years of trying)—begins to change the day she attends her first prenatal class and meets Rachel, an unpredictable single mother-to-be. Rachel doesn’t seem very maternal: she smokes, drinks, and professes little interest in parenthood. Still, Helen is drawn to her. Maybe Rachel just needs a friend. And to be honest, Helen’s a bit lonely herself. At least Rachel is fun to be with. She makes Helen laugh, invites her confidences, and distracts her from her fears. But her increasingly erratic behavior is unsettling. And Helen’s not the only one who’s noticed. Her friends and family begin to suspect that her strange new friend may be linked to their shared history in unexpected ways. When Rachel threatens to expose a past crime that could destroy all of their lives, it becomes clear that there are more than a few secrets laying beneath the broad-leaved trees and warm lamplight of Greenwich Park.”
Helen is finally pregnant after previous miscarriages and she meets Rachel at a prenatal class. Rachel is fun to be with, but begins causing issues with Helen and her husband Daniel, as well as with Helen’s brother Rory and his wife Serena. The book had me wondering what was happening, what secrets everyone was keeping, and why Rachel was infiltrating the group. Some things seemed obvious to me but it was not predictable over all. I also loved the way it ended!
Title: The Holiday Swap
Author: Maggie Knox
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: GP Putnam & Sons, 10/5/21
Source: Book of the Month
Why I Read It: Seasonal reading.
My Rating: 4 Stars
I got The Holiday Swap in my December BOTM box and I already read it. I haven’t read a BOTM book the same month I received it this whole year! (I still didn’t complete their yearly challenge for the 2nd year in a row, but that’s another story). I know this one has some mixed reviews, but as far as cute, wintery reads go, I thought this was a fun one. It features identical twins who switch places, learn a bit about the other’s life, and find love while doing so.
“When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell—both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie’s identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family’s bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won’t get the memo that they’re over. With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven’t done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins’ identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?”
Yes there are some parts where you want to yell at them for hiding who they really are, but it didn’t annoy me enough to ruin the story at all. Plus, there are plenty of baked goods!
Title: Razorblade Tears
Author: SA Cosby
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Flatiron, 7/6/21
Source: Book of the Month
Why I Read It: Heard It was good.
My Rating: 3 Stars
I mentioned in my favorites post that I had some DNFs and disappointing reads this month. This was definitely disappointing for me since I had heard only good things about it. I tend to not like many people’s favorite books, so it makes sense, but I was still disappointed. I was told that this was a fast-paced read but for me it moved slowly. I also found some of the premise to be unbelievable – did the two men really change their minds about their stereotypes so quickly?
“Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid. The last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah’s white husband, Derek. Ike had never fully accepted his son but is devastated by his loss. Derek’s father Buddy Lee was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed of his father’s criminal record. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy. Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, hardened men Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.”
I found some of the writing to be not so great as well, as the perspective jumps around a lot. Overall, I was sorry I didn’t like this one more.
Title: We Are Not Like Them
Author: Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio, 10/5/21
Source: Audio Publisher
Why I Read It: Heard It was good.
My Rating: 3 Stars
This was my second book in a row featuring a Black and white main character duo, and the second one that left me feeling disappointed. We Are Not Like Them tells the story of a woman whose white, police officer husband shoots and unarmed Black boy and how this effects her friendship with her Black best friend. I found it hard to understand the women’s friendship in the first place!
“Jen and Riley have been best friends since kindergarten. As adults, they remain as close as sisters, though their lives have taken different directions. Jen married young, and after years of trying, is finally pregnant. Riley pursued her childhood dream of becoming a television journalist and is poised to become one of the first Black female anchors of the top news channel in their hometown of Philadelphia. But the deep bond they share is severely tested when Jen’s husband, a city police officer, is involved in the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. Six months pregnant, Jen is in freefall as her future, her husband’s freedom, and her friendship with Riley are thrown into uncertainty. Covering this career-making story, Riley wrestles with the implications of this tragic incident for her Black community, her ambitions, and her relationship with her lifelong friend.”
This book fully centered the story of the white woman, who is whiny and seems to ask too much of Riley from the beginning. It just seemed that growing up with a Black best friend, she would have learned about racism from an earlier age, but for some reason, they never discussed it until this shooting occurs. I felt like the book raised a lot of important questions, like whether a friendship like this is sustainable, and I wish that I had liked it more.
Title: When You Get The Chance
Author: Emma Lord
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Wednesday Books, 1/4/22
Source: Publisher via Net Galley
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Emma Lord’s books all have some sort of modern twist on a pop culture classic and this one is a Mama Mia type story in which Millie, who is raised by her dad, decides to find out who her mother is. She narrows it down to 3 options and starts to get to know each of them. I liked meeting these women along with Millie. I also enjoyed the NYC setting.
“Nothing will get in the way of Millie Price’s dream of becoming a Broadway star. Not her lovable but super introverted dad, who raised Millie alone since she was a baby. Not her drama club rival, Oliver, who is the very definition of Simmering Romantic Tension. And not her ‘Millie Moods,’ the feelings of intense emotion that threaten to overwhelm. Millie needs an ally. And when an accidentally left-open browser brings Millie to her dad’s embarrassingly moody LiveJournal from 2003, Millie knows just what to do―find her mom. But how can you find a new part of your life and expect it to fit into your old one without leaving any marks? And why is it that when you go looking for the past, it somehow keeps bringing you back to what you’ve had all along?”
There are many aspects to this story including the father daughter relationship, Millie deciding what to do with her future, and a hate to romance. If you liked her other books or enjoy theater or YA in general, you will like this one.
Title: All The Feels
Author: Olivia Dade
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Avon, 11/16/21
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 4 Stars
“Only! One! Bed! My second favorite trope!” – Alex. I love Olivia Dade’s writing and the plus size and neurodiverse representation in her books. In this sequel to Spoiler Alert, which actually overlaps with this book timing wise, Lauren is hired to keep Alex out of trouble. As an actor on a super popular show, he needs to stay in line, but Alex defends people who need defending, no matter the cost. With a road trip up the California coast and some forced proximity, this working relationship grows to much more.
“Alexander Woodroe has it all. Charm. Sex appeal. Wealth. Fame. A starring role as Cupid on TV’s biggest show, Gods of the Gates. But the showrunners have wrecked his character, he’s dogged by old demons, and his post-show future remains uncertain. When all that reckless emotion explodes into a bar fight, the tabloids and public agree: his star is falling. Enter Lauren Clegg, the former ER therapist hired to keep him in line. Compared to her previous work, watching over handsome but impulsive Alex shouldn’t be especially difficult. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to keep her professional remove and her heart intact, especially when she discovers the reasons behind his recklessness…not to mention his Cupid fanfiction habit. When another scandal lands Alex in major hot water and costs Lauren her job, she’ll have to choose between protecting him and offering him what he really wants—her. But he’s determined to keep his improbably short, impossibly stubborn, and extremely endearing minder in his life any way he can. And on a road trip up the California coast together, he intends to show her exactly what a falling star will do to catch the woman he loves: anything at all.”
This book includes a plus sized heroine, bullying, fatphobia, a hero with ADHD, impulsivity, steam, reference to past domestic abuse, fan fiction, and steam. I will certainly read more from this author in the future!
Title: Bad Luck Bridesmaid
Author: Alison Rose Greenberg
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1/11/22
Source: Publisher via Net Galley
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 3 Stars
I was looking forward to reading this book, but unfortunately, I didn’t love the writing style or the main character.
“It’s official: Zoey Marks is the cursed bridesmaid that no engagement can survive. Ten years, three empire waist dresses, and ZERO brides have walked down the aisle. After strike three, Zoey is left wondering if her own ambivalence towards marriage has rubbed off on those she loves. And when her building distrust of matrimony culminates in turning down a proposal from her perfect All-American boyfriend, Rylan Harper III, she and Rylan are both left heartbroken, leaving Zoey to wonder: what is it exactly about tying the knot that makes her want to run in the opposite direction? Enter Hannah Green: Zoey’s best friend, who announces that she’s marrying a guy she just met (cue eye roll). At a castle. In gorgeous, romantic Ireland, where Rylan will be in attendance, and Zoey will be a bridesmaid. It’ll be fine. Okay, the woman definition of fine (NOT FINE). Determined to turn her luck around, Zoey accepts her role and vows to get Hannah down the aisle―all the while praying her best friend’s wedded bliss will allow her to embrace marriage and get Rylan back. But as the weekend goes on, Zoey is plagued with more questions than answers. Can you be a free spirit, yet still want a certain future? Can you have love and be loved on your terms? And how DO you wrangle a bossy falcon into doing your bidding?”
I had to force myself through this book and if I wasn’t so concerned with my Net Galley review ratio, I might have not finished it. I probably should have not finished it! And a 3 star rating is probably too high, as I’m not even sure how this book got published.
Title: Love and Other Disasters
Author: Anita Kelly
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Forever, 1/18/22
Source: Publisher via Net Galley
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 4 Stars
It seems I read a lot of rom coms at the end of December – and this is another one! Luckily I liked this one more than the last one. This book was different than any other rom com I’ve read so far being that one of the love interests is non binary and uses they/them pronouns.
“Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she’s focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money. After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls—including a fellow contestant and their dad—wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan. As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen—and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.”
As a person who appreciates grammar, they/them pronouns take some getting used to. However, I found that reading about London was easy and refreshing. This is something I am thrilled to see in a book! London and Dahlia, recently divorced and who identifies as queer, were likable characters who were participating in a reality TV baking show. They found themselves in insta-love, which is not my favorite, but I was able to understand their feelings for each other. One thing I appreciated in this book is that while negative online comments are referred to, none are quoted. I found it to be a very positive read. The book does address transphobia towards London from their family. The two main characters deal with family issues, class issues, and issues with other contestants on the show. It was somewhat steamy as well. Overall, this was a fun read.
Title: Both Sides Now
Author: Peyton Thomas
Genre: YA Rom Com / Contemporary
Publisher: Listening Library, 8/24/21
Source: Publisher via Net Galley / Library Audio
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 3 Stars
Both Sides Now features a trans boy who is on the school debate team. When he has to argue trans rights in a debate tournament, he wonders whether arguing for his own humanity is worth the college scholarship he is hoping for.
“There’s only one thing standing between Finch Kelly and a full-blown case of high school senioritis: the National Speech & Debate Tournament. Taking home the gold would not only be the pinnacle of Finch’s debating career, but the perfect way to launch himself into his next chapter: college in Washington, DC, and a history-making career as the first trans congressman. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for starters, Finch could develop a teeny tiny crush on his very attractive, very taken, and very gay debate partner, Jonah. Never mind that Finch has never considered whether he’s interested in more than just girls. And that dream of college in DC? Finch hasn’t exactly been accepted anywhere yet, let alone received the full-ride scholarship he’ll need to make this dream a reality. Worst of all, though, is this year’s topic for Nationals: transgender rights. If he wants to cinch the gold, and get into college, Finch might have to argue against his own humanity. People say there are two sides to every argument. But, as Finch is about to discover, some things—like who you are and who you love—are not up for debate.”
I had this book on Net Galley and listened to it on audio from the library. A good judge of an audio book for me is whether it holds my attention, and I did find myself zoning out on this one. Plus, I tend to agree with some of the lower ratings on Good Reads as it seems the characters of color and the main antagonist – who is Jewish – are described in stereotypical ways.
Title: Part of Your World
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Forever, 4/19/22
Source: Publisher via Net Galley
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review / favorite author.
My Rating: 5 Stars
For my final book of the year, I chose to read one from one of my favorite writers, Abby Jimenez, even though her newest book is not out until April. Part Of Your World is a lovely romance featuring insta-love (not my favorite) and an age gap in which the woman is 10 years older than the man.
“After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable. While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a ‘mere’ ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people. Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?”
The two worlds that Daniel and Alexis are from really seem to be in conflict with one another. However, it was pretty obvious that Alexis needed to leave the world of her emotionally abusive parents and ex-husband! While Alexis is 10 years older than Daniel and in her late 30s, she seemed to act a lot younger to me, which is likely a result of her upbringing. I appreciated the author’s note and question and answer section at the end. This book also contained a small magical element regarding Daniel’s town and the bed and breakfast that he owns and I thought that was a fun edition to this book!
There you have it, the rest of my 2021 reading! This post included 10 of the books I read this month. Of these books, 4 were print, 2 were audio books, and 4 were ebooks. Genres included thriller, rom com, and contemporary.
Have you read any of these books or do you want to? What have you been reading lately?