This month, I have read a few 5 star books so far and I’m excited to share them with you here. Since the month isn’t over, there’s a chance I will still read another 5 star before it ends. You can see the first half of my February reading here and I will share the rest of my February reads next week. 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.
Title: With Love From London
Author: Sarah Jio
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Ballentine Books, 2/8/22
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
I loved a previous book by this author and loved this one too! Val is estranged from her mother who dies and leaves Val her book shop in London. In this book, we get Val’s story in the present (2013) and her mother’s in the past (1968) through her death. I loved the bookstore setting!
“When Valentina Baker was only eleven years old, her mother, Eloise, unexpectedly fled to her native London, leaving Val and her father on their own in California. Now a librarian in her thirties, fresh out of a failed marriage and still at odds with her mother’s abandonment, Val feels disenchanted with her life. In a bittersweet twist of fate, she receives word that Eloise has died, leaving Val the deed to her mother’s Primrose Hill apartment and the Book Garden, the storied bookshop she opened almost two decades prior. Though the news is devastating, Val jumps at the chance for a new beginning and jets across the Atlantic, hoping to learn who her mother truly was while mourning the relationship they never had. As Val begins to piece together Eloise’s life in the U.K., she finds herself falling in love with the pastel-colored third-floor flat and the cozy, treasure-filled bookshop, soon realizing that her mother’s life was much more complicated than she ever imagined. When Val stumbles across a series of intriguing notes left in a beloved old novel, she sets out to locate the book’s mysterious former owner, though her efforts are challenged from the start, as is the Book Garden’s future. In order to save the store from financial ruin and preserve her mother’s legacy, she must rally its eccentric staff and journey deep into her mother’s secrets. With Love from London is a story about healing and loss, revealing the emotional, relatable truths about love, family, and forgiveness.”
This was a moving story told in two timelines in which my opinion of Val’s mother totally changed. Found family and multiple love stories are included.
Title: The Other Family
Author: Wendy Corsi Staub
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: William Morrow, 2/8/22
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
I finally read some thrillers that I loved this month, starting with this one! This included a few things that I didn’t guess told from the perspective of a mom, her oldest daughter, and a man who is connected to a homicide that took place in the family’s home in the past.
“It’s the perfect home for the perfect family: pretty Nora Howell, her handsome husband, their two teenage daughters, and lovable dog. As California transplants making a fresh start in Brooklyn, they expected to live in a shoebox, but the brownstone has a huge kitchen, lots of light, and a backyard. The catch: its previous residents were victims of a grisly triple homicide that remains unsolved. Soon, peculiar things begin happening. The pug is nosing around like a bloodhound. Nora unearths a long-hidden rusty box in the flowerbed. Oldest daughter Stacey, obsessed with the family murdered in their house, pokes into the bloody past and becomes convinced that a stranger is watching the house. Watching them. She’s right. But one of the Howells will recognize his face. Because one of them has a secret that will blindside the others with a truth that lies shockingly close to home—and to this one’s terrifying history.”
I’m picky with thrillers but I loved this one and read it in a day!
Title: The Paris Apartment
Author: Lucy Foley
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: William Morrow, 2/22/22
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
The next thriller that I loved was The Paris Apartment. A semi locked room mystery, you have Jess who comes to Paris to stay with her brother Ben and finds him missing, with an apartment building full of potentially involved suspects.
“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.”
This was a mystery with surprises, a story that was believable in its reveals, and one that kept me turning pages till the end.
Title: The Night Shift
Author: Alex Finlay
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Minotaur, 3/1/22
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
Yet another 5 star thriller! I loved this book and all of its suspense. This one takes place in Union County, NJ, and that’s where I’m from! This book tells the story of two mass killings that took place in the same town, 15 years apart. In each case, the victims were teens. The original suspect’s brother is now a public defender and wonders if his brother has come back after his disappearance. An FBI agent begins trying to determine if the same person was guilty of both crimes. The survivors of the two attacks, Ella and Jesse, reveal the connections between the two crimes.
“It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in New Jersey, four teenagers working late at the store are attacked. Only one inexplicably survives. Police quickly identify a suspect, the boyfriend of one of the victims, who flees and is never seen again. Fifteen years later, more teenage employees are attacked at an ice cream store in the same town, and again only one makes it out alive. In the aftermath of the latest crime, three lives intersect: the lone survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive the horrors of her tragedy; the brother of the fugitive accused, who’s convinced the police have the wrong suspect; and FBI agent Sarah Keller who must delve into the secrets of both nights―stirring up memories of teen love and lies―to uncover the truth about murders on the night shift.”
With many characters, twists, and connections, I stayed interested and was routing for these characters to survive! I did know who was guilty but I second guessed myself and continued wondering throughout!
Title: The One True Me and You
Author: Remi K. England
Genre: YA Rom Com
Publisher: Wednesday Books, 3/1/22
Source: Publisher via Net Galley
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
The One True Me and You restored my faith in YA books. I had read some that annoyed me, but this one made me smile. It is a sweet story about teens from two groups who may be the most judged – the teen from the beauty pageant and the teen from the fandom convention.
“Up and coming fanfic author Kaylee Beaumont is internally screaming at the chance to finally meet her fandom friends in real life and spend a weekend at GreatCon. She also has a side quest for the weekend:
· Try out they/them pronouns to see how it feels
· Wear more masculine-presenting cosplay
· Kiss a girl for the first time
It’s…a lot, and Kay mostly wants to lie face down on the hotel floor. Especially when her hometown bully, Miss North Carolina, shows up in the very same hotel. But there’s this con-sponsored publishing contest, and the chance to meet her fandom idols…and then, there’s Teagan. Pageant queen Teagan Miller (Miss Virginia) has her eye on the much-needed prize: the $25,000 scholarship awarded to the winner of the Miss Cosmic Teen USA pageant. She also has secrets:
· She loves the dresses but hates the tiaras
· She’s a giant nerd for everything GreatCon
· She’s gay af
If Teagan can just keep herself wrapped up tight for one more weekend, she can claim the scholarship and go off to college out and proud. If she’s caught, she could lose everything she’s worked for. If her rival, Miss North Carolina, has anything to do with it, that’s exactly how it’ll go down. When Teagan and Kay bump into one another the first night, sparks fly. Their connection is intense―as is their shared enemy. If they’re spotted, the safe space of the con will be shattered, and all their secrets will follow them home. The risks are great…but could the reward of embracing their true selves be worth it?”
I loved the mix of Kay, who is trying out they/them pronouns and coming to terms with being non binary, and Teagan, who is scared to come out and ruin her chances at getting a scholarship. The two share a common bully, meet some amazing friends, and learn to embrace their true selves.
Title: Peach Blossom Spring
Author: Melissa Fu
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 3/15/22
Source: Book of the Month
Why I Read It: February BOTM choice
My Rating: 5 Stars
I chose Peach Blossom Spring as my BOTM choice for February and even though I hadn’t heard much about it, I picked it up this month. It was a sweeping story of a mom and her son from 1938 on as China faced attacks by Japan, followed by the conflict over communism. I had previously read a book set at this time and I remembered some of it while reading this one, although I’m not sure what book I read previously!
“It is 1938 in China and, as a young wife, Meilin’s future is bright. But with the Japanese army approaching, Meilin and her four year old son, Renshu, are forced to flee their home. Relying on little but their wits and a beautifully illustrated hand scroll, filled with ancient fables that offer solace and wisdom, they must travel through a ravaged country, seeking refuge. Years later, Renshu has settled in America as Henry Dao. Though his daughter is desperate to understand her heritage, he refuses to talk about his childhood. How can he keep his family safe in this new land when the weight of his history threatens to drag them down? Yet how can Lily learn who she is if she can never know her family’s story? Spanning continents and generations, Peach Blossom Spring is a bold and moving look at the history of modern China, told through the story of one family. It’s about the power of our past, the hope for a better future, and the haunting question: What would it mean to finally be home?”
Along their journey, Meilin teaches Renshu fables from their hand scroll. Later, Henry has a hard time talking about his past. Lily is growing up biracial and with the remnants of intergenerational trauma. I wrote down this quote while I was reading, and later saw it was actually part of the book description: “Within every misfortune there is a blessing and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune, and so it goes, until the end of time.”
Title: The Suite Spot
Author: Trish Doller
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin, 3/8/22
Source: Publisher via Net Galley
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
This was such a sweet story about Rachel, who is fired from her job due to a sexual assault with the blame placed on her (the victim) and who is dealing with her annoying ex who is the father of her young daughter Maisie. When she finds a job opportunity at a brew hotel on an island in Lake Erie, she decides to make a huge life change and take the job.
“One of the few bright lights in Rachel Beck’s life is her job at a Miami Beach luxury hotel―until she’s fired for something she didn’t do. As a single mom, Rachel knows she needs stability, and fast. On impulse, Rachel inquires about a position at a brewery hotel on a tiny island in Lake Erie called Kelleys Island. When she’s offered the job, not even the grumpy voice on the line can dissuade her from packing up her whole life and making the move. What she finds on Kelleys Island is Mason, a handsome, reclusive man who knows everything about brewing beer and nothing about running a hotel. Especially one that’s barely more than foundation and studs. It’s not the job Rachel was looking for, but Mason offers her a chance to help build a hotel―and rebuild her life―from the ground up.”
Mason has a sad story and yet is so sweet and thoughtful. He is part Japanese, and I enjoyed reading about some of his mother’s shared cultural traditions. There is also a lovely island book club that Rachel joins and Maisie was an adorable character! I found this book sweet and cozy with little angst and it made me happy to read it.
Come back next week for the rest of my February reads – and possibly more favorites!
Do you have a favorite book you’ve read this month?