Too Good to Be True by Carola Lovering

Thriller/Audiobook

Oh this book was a delicious treat! I listened to the audiobook and it was like watching a slow motion train wreck. I could see all the terrible things coming but I couldn’t stop listening, and I was dying to know how it all turned out. Plus, the narration is top notch which added to the mystery and emotion. I don’t want to give away much of the plot because experiencing it without expectation was part of what made it so good. I’ll just say we get the story from three different perspectives that eventually overlap. It’s a dramatic and compelling story from start to finish. I highly recommend it for readers of thrillers and audiobook listeners.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Historical fiction/mythology

My first five-star novel of the year! I was expecting this to be dry historical text, but it isn’t at all. It’s a beautifully told novelization of the story of Achilles and Patroclus. The story is told from Patroclus’ point of view and there’s a love story as well. The writing is stunning and flows well. It’s a compelling emotional read all the way through. I highly recommend it for reader of Greek mythology and historical fiction.

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

Contemporary romance

Available on Kindle Unlimited. This book is truly something special, it had me feeling so many things. Knox is the grumpiest grump I’ve ever encountered in a romance novel. I didn’t like him at first but I came around as I got to know him, though he was always a bit too alpha for my tastes. He and Naomi had great chemistry and their witty banter was exceptional. This is a complicated story, about loss and grief and being disappointed by our loved ones. It’s also about hope and fresh starts. All of the side characters were well developed and added to the story, even the “bad” ones. My only complaint is there are a LOT of minor charters and side plots, which was a lot to keep track of and made the book feel long in spots. Overall this is a fabulous, engaging read and I highly recommend it for romance readers.

Electric Idol by Katee Robert

Erotic romance

HOT HOT HOT! I didn’t like this one quite as much as Neon Gods but I still loved it. Robert’s character development and world building is so stellar, I get absolutely sucked into her stories and can’t put them down. This is an epic take on enemies to lovers, Psyche and Eros mothers hate each other. When it appears that they are romantically involved, Eros mother demands he kill Psyche. So he presents her with an ultimatum, either I kill you or I marry you. There is so much drama and political maneuvering in Olympus. It makes all the side stories and characters just as interesting as the main ones. I highly recommend this novel for readers of erotic romance, and anyone who wants a new (highly sexual) spin on Greek mythology.

Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Sutanto

Contemporary fiction/Audiobook

It’s hard to categorize this book. There’s not a mystery, but there’s crime. There’s also fantastic humor, a little love, and a lot of family loyalty. Listening to it was a real treat! The narration is top notch, adding to the emotion and humor of the story. When Meddy accidentally kills her blind date, she turns to her mother for help, then her meddling aunts are recruited to the cause. What follows is a hilarious adventure as the women try to decide what’s the best way to deal with this dead body. At the same time, they must show up for a big wedding, which is the family business. There were many laugh out loud moments as well as suspense. I highly recommend this one!

The Ex-Boyfriend Yardsale by Haley McGee

Memoir

This is a brilliant memoir, the concept is unique. Haley is broke and trying to figure out how she can make some cash, when she decides to sell a bunch of gifts she has from old boyfriends. The question is, how much are these things worth? From here, Haley gets the idea to create a formula to figure out the worth of each item based on the particulars of each relationship. She partners with a mathematician and they put in a ton of work to create a formula. Along the way, she decides to turn this into a one woman show (which is what she does, she’s an actress.) The book chronicles her journey from idea to finished production. Her writing is honest and she is absolutely vulnerable as she looks into all the aspects of a relationship, there’s humor and sadness. Reading this made me think of my past relationships and realize that no amount of time was ever “wasted”, even if it felt that way at the time. The book explores what we gain from relationships and take with us into the rest of our lives. I highly recommend this for readers of memoir.

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