Book Review Blog

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  • The Worst Best Man

    The Worst Best Man

    The Battle-Axe” is a #1 New York Times bestselling novel written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the author of Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The book tells the story of Carrie Soto, a fierce and determined tennis player who has sacrificed nearly everything to become the best. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles, but her determination to win has not made her popular.

    Six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself watching her record being taken by a new player and decides to come out of retirement to reclaim it. She enlists the help of her father, Javier, who has been her coach since she was two years old and a former champion himself. Along the way, she also trains with a man named Bowe Huntley who has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

    The novel is an epic adventure that tells the story of a female athlete perhaps past her prime, brought back to the tennis court for one last grand slam. The author has done an excellent job of capturing the emotions and struggles of the characters and the reader will find themselves rooting for Carrie and her team as they embark on this journey.

    The book is also a heart-filled novel about an iconic and persevering father and daughter relationship. The author’s writing is gorgeous and sharp, and the book is a must-read for fans of sports fiction. It is one of the best books of the year and will leave the reader with a sense of inspiration and motivation.

  • Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout)

    Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout)

    Knockemout, Virginia” is a novel that tells the story of Knox, a bad-boy barber who prefers to live his life alone with his basset hound, Waylon. He doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride. Naomi, the runaway bride, was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin, who lives in the rough-around-the-edges town of Knockemout, where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way, with fists and beer.

    Naomi finds herself stranded in the town with no car, no job, no plan and no home with an 11-year-old niece to take care of. Knox, who doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, decides to help Naomi out of her jam. But as she keeps getting into new trouble, he finds himself getting involved more than he planned.

    The novel is a fast-paced and action-packed story that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are well-developed, and the author has done a great job of capturing the gritty, rough-around-the-edges atmosphere of the town. The plot is engaging, and the reader will find themselves rooting for Naomi and Knox as they navigate the challenges they face. The book is a compelling read that will keep the reader engaged until the very end. Overall, it is an exciting and suspenseful novel that will keep you guessing until the end.

  • Forever, Interrupted: A Novel

    Forever, Interrupted: A Novel

    From the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

    “​Touching and powerful…Reid masterfully grabs hold of the heartstrings and doesn’t let go. A stunning first novel.”​ —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

    “Have you ever heard of supernovas? They shine brighter than anything else in the sky and then fade out really quickly, a short burst of extraordinary energy. I like to think you and Ben were like that . . . in that short time, you had more passion than some people have in a lifetime.”

    Elsie Porter is an average twentysomething and yet what happens to her is anything but ordinary. On a rainy New Year’s Day, she heads out to pick up a pizza for one. She isn’t expecting to see anyone else in the shop, much less the adorable and charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant and electric. Ben cannot even wait twenty-four hours before asking to see her again. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they’ve eloped.

    Only nine days later, Ben is out riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens outside her apartment, but by the time she gets downstairs, he has already been whisked off to the emergency room. At the hospital, she must face Susan, the mother-in-law she has never met—and who doesn’t even know Elsie exists.

    Interweaving Elsie and Ben’s charmed romance with Elsie and Susan’s healing process, Forever, Interrupted will remind you that there’s more than one way to find a happy ending.

  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Novel

    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Novel

    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is an enthralling novel written by the author of Daisy Jones & The Six. The story revolves around a legendary Hollywood film actress, Evelyn Hugo, who is aging and reclusive. She decides to reveal the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life to an unknown magazine reporter, Monique Grant. Monique, who is going through a rough patch in her personal and professional life, is chosen by Evelyn for the job and is left wondering why she and why now?

    As Monique listens to Evelyn’s story, she becomes captivated by the actress’s relentless rise to the top, the risks she took, the loves she lost and the secrets she kept. The novel takes the reader on a journey from the glamour and glitz of Hollywood in the 1950s to the harsh realities of the present day. The author paints a vivid picture of the ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship and forbidden love that Evelyn had to endure.

    The novel also explores the relationship between Evelyn and Monique as the latter starts to feel a very real connection to the legendary star. However, as the story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that Evelyn’s life intersects with Monique’s in tragic and irreversible ways.

    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a heart-wrenching and beautiful novel that speaks to Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all. The author’s writing is captivating and it’s hard to put the book down. The novel is a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood and into the harsh realities of the present day. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the story is filled with twists and turns that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

    One of the book’s strengths is its ability to delve into the complexities of relationships and the human experience. The author explores the themes of ambition, love, and the cost of fame, and the reader will find themselves questioning their own values and beliefs.

    Overall, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is a must-read for fans of Hollywood fiction and for anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking novel. It is “Tinseltown drama at its finest” and will leave the reader feeling both heartbroken and inspired.

  • Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

    Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

    Atomic Habits” is a bestselling book by James Clear that provides a practical guide for improving habits. The book is based on the idea that the problem with changing habits is not the person, but the system. Clear argues that individuals do not rise to the level of their goals, but fall to the level of their systems.

    The author provides a new system for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. He uses real-life examples from successful individuals in various fields to show how small habits can lead to remarkable results. The book is divided into four parts: the first part explains the importance of understanding the system of habits, the second part explains how to make good habits and break bad ones, the third part explains how to stick to the habits and the fourth part explains how to make a system for good habits.

    One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of focusing on small and consistent actions, rather than big and occasional actions. Clear also emphasizes the importance of understanding the motivation behind a habit, as well as designing the environment to make it easier to stick to good habits.

    The book is easy to read and the author uses simple and clear language. The book is also filled with real-life examples and stories that make it easy to understand and relate to. Overall, “Atomic Habits” is a great guide for anyone looking to improve their habits and achieve their goals

  • It Starts with Us: A Novel (It Ends with Us)

    It Starts with Us: A Novel (It Ends with Us)

    Before It Ends with Us” is a sequel to Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel “It Ends with Us”. The story picks up where the previous book left off, following the characters Lily and Atlas as they navigate a new relationship while dealing with the challenges of coparenting with Lily’s ex-husband, Ryle.

    The book alternates between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, providing insight into their thoughts and emotions. The reader is able to understand the challenges of starting a new relationship while still dealing with the aftermath of a previous one. The author also delves into Atlas’s past, revealing more about his character and the reasons behind his actions.

    The story is filled with emotional turmoil, jealousy, and the struggle to navigate the complex dynamics of a new relationship while still dealing with an ex-partner. The author does an excellent job of capturing the nuances of the characters’ emotions and the reader is able to connect with the characters on a personal level.

    Overall, “Before It Ends with Us” is a satisfying continuation of the story from “It Ends with Us”, and Colleen Hoover once again delivers an emotional read that will leave readers feeling invested in the characters and their journey. The book provides a realistic portrayal of the challenges of starting a new relationship and the struggles that come with it

  • Carrie Soto Is Back: A Novel

    Carrie Soto Is Back: A Novel

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “An epic adventure about a female athlete perhaps past her prime, brought back to the tennis court for one last grand slam” (Elle), from the author of Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

    “A heart-filled novel about an iconic and persevering father and daughter.”—Time

    “Gorgeous. The kind of sharp, smart, potent book you have to set aside every few pages just to catch your breath. I’ll take a piece of Carrie Soto forward with me in life and be a little better for it.”—Emily Henry, author of Book Lovers and Beach Read

    ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time, NPR, PopSugar, Glamour, Reader’s Digest

    Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

    But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

    At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

    In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

  • Without Merit: A Novel

    Without Merit: A Novel

    Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

    Why do we use it?

    It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).