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 more 5 star books before it ends. You can see the first half of my March reading here and I will share the rest of my March 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: Stuck With You
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Rom Com (Novella)
Publisher: Penguin Audio, 3/8/22
Source: Publisher Audio
Why I Read It: Love the author.
My Rating: 5 Stars
I am a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood’s books and this 2nd in the STEMinist series of novellas was just as fun and lovely as the 1st. It is currently only available on audio, but will be in print later this year. Sadie finds herself stuck in an elevator with Eric, who she spent a day with 3 weeks ago and who she is now angry at. The stuck elevator gives them the chance to work it out.
“Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn…Logically, Sadie knows that civil engineers are supposed to build bridges. However, as a woman of STEM she also understands that variables can change, and when you are stuck for hours in a tiny New York elevator with the man who broke your heart, you earn the right to burn that brawny, blond bridge to the ground. Erik can apologize all he wants, but to quote her rebel leader—she’d just as soon kiss a Wookiee. Not even the most sophisticated of Sadie’s superstitious rituals could have predicted such a disastrous reunion. But while she refuses to acknowledge the siren call of Erik’s steely forearms or the way his voice softens when he offers her his sweater, Sadie can’t help but wonder if there might be more layers to her cold-hearted nemesis than meet the eye. Maybe, possibly, even burned bridges can still be crossed….”
Although the short relationship time line is the definition of insta-love, I liked how the story was told both as the two discussed what happened and through Sadie’s memories of the time they spent together three weeks ago. Although it is short, a full story is told!
Title: Funny You Should Ask
Author: Elissa Sussman
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Dell, 4/12/22
Source: Publisher via Net Galley
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
I read and loved Elissa Sussman’s YA Drawn That Way earlier this year and was so excited to check out her adult debut. I loved reading Chani and Gabe’s story, finding out what happened between them 10 years ago and seeing their reunion in the present.
“Then. Twenty-something writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. While her former MFA classmates are nabbing high-profile book deals, all she does is churn out puff pieces. Then she’s hired to write a profile of movie star Gabe Parker: her number one celebrity crush and the latest James Bond. All Chani wants to do is keep her cool and nail the piece. But what comes next proves to be life changing in ways she never saw coming, as the interview turns into a whirlwind weekend that has the tabloids buzzing—and Chani getting closer to Gabe than she had planned. Now. Ten years later, after a brutal divorce and a healthy dose of therapy, Chani is back in Los Angeles as a successful writer with the career of her dreams. Except that no matter what new essay collection or online editorial she’s promoting, someone always asks about The Profile. It always comes back to Gabe. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. She wants to pretend that she’s forgotten about the time they spent together. But the truth is that Chani wants to know if those seventy-two hours were as memorable to Gabe as they were to her. And so . . . she says yes. Alternating between their first meeting and their reunion a decade later, this deliciously irresistible novel will have you hanging on until the last word.”
Chani is a journalist who meets and interviews Gabe, the newest actor to play James Bond. They end up spending a weekend together and her article makes her famous. Ten years later, she is still being asked about the weekend – and still thinking about Gabe. So she agrees to reprise her interview with him. This is a story about the one that got away, the wrong timing, and the ways two people hurt each other. The story is told with alternating timelines and articles and blog posts. I enjoyed reading the article Chani wrote and then seeing what actually happened that weekend. I also really appreciated a brief scene where Chani notes the small town decorated for the “holidays” – which is actually just one holiday. She and Gabe discuss the difficulty Chani might have being Jewish in a small town with no local Jewish community. I am appreciative of this Jewish representation.
Title: Ellen Outside The Lines
Author: AJ Sass
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers, 3/22/22
Source: TBR and Beyond
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
You can find my review of this wonderful Middle Grade book in my book tour post here!
Title: Dream, Annie, Dream
Author: Waka T. Brown
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publisher: Quill Tree Books, 2/8/22
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this story about Annie, a Japanese American girl who just finished 6th grade and is ready to dream about where the world will take her. Annie appreciates the ability to see herself in the dreams she has – be it as an Japanese American actor or a shorter basketball player.
“As the daughter of immigrants who came to America for a better life, Annie Inoue was raised to dream big. And at the start of seventh grade, she’s channeling that irrepressible hope into becoming the lead in her school play. So when Annie lands an impressive role in the production of The King and I, she’s thrilled . . . until she starts to hear grumbles from her mostly white classmates that she only got the part because it’s an Asian play with Asian characters. Is this all people see when they see her? Is this the only kind of success they’ll let her have—one that they can tear down or use race to belittle? Disheartened but determined, Annie channels her hurt into a new dream: showing everyone what she’s made of.”
Although the book description refers to Annie’s role in The King and I, she also participates in the show Annie and later in Alice in Wonderland. This book takes place in 1987 – the same year an article was published describing Asians as a “model minority.” The microaggressions Annie faces are so cringe-worthy. It was meaningful to see her come to terms with anti-Asian racism and to learn who she is and can be even when she looks different from her classmates. I also enjoyed that this book takes place in Kansas!
Come back next week for the rest of my March reads – and possibly more favorites!
Do you have a favorite book you’ve read this month?