Is it even Christmas if we’re not reading holiday rom-coms? And I don’t think you can get any more in the holiday spirit than by going to Alaska for Christmas.
What’s Alaska for Christmas about?
Alaska for Christmas is a Christmas rom-com about Isla, who gets amnesia during a glacier hike (umm, what???) and ends up falling for her rescuer, Coast Guard office Aaron, who also happens to be her childhood nemesis. Isla (love that name!)...
I tried, Tartlets. I really, really tried to get into Real Life and Other Fictions.
This women's fiction book by Susan Coll totally seemed like one I would enjoy. I mean, The Mothman’s in it! We all know supernatural stuff is right up my alley. And, there’s a dog in the book. Animals are the best. The main character's a struggling writer and novelist, and I can completely relate to that.
Despite all this and so much else recommending this...
I love me some good women’s fiction, and Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein hits all the right notes.
What’s Dear Eliza about?
Dear Eliza follows Eliza Levinger, who, on the day of her father’s funeral, is given a letter that was written by her late mother. Inside the letter is the bombshell news that Eliza’s biological father isn’t the dad she just laid to rest.
Still unhealed from her mother’s passing ten years before, Eliza finds...
The Fabled Earth is another book that I hate sticking in my DNF pile. The premise of this novel really drew me in, and its beautiful cover art sealed the deal. This historical fiction/women’s fiction work by Kimberly Brock contains good writing and a good story, but it just didn't have enough oomph to keep me turning the pages.
What’s The Fabled Earth about?
This novel packs a LOT into its pages. The Fabled Earth has two timelines that...
The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a lovely blend of contemporary women's fiction and historical fiction with a smidge of magical realism.
What’s The Matchmaker’s Gift about? The Matchmaker’s Gift introduces us to Sara, who immigrates to NYC in the early 1900s and uses her matchmaking gift to support her family. However, Sara's attempts to help couples find happiness brings trouble to those she loves most. This is partly...
Things Half in Shadow is written by an author that you’ve all heard of.
You’re probably looking at the book cover photo and going, “Nope. Never heard of Alan Finn.” And, I agree: most of you probably haven’t.
But I’m sure many of you have heard of Riley Sager, author of bestselling thriller novels like Lock Every Door, The House Across the Lake, and his latest, Middle of the Night.
Before Sager’s name was everywhere as a prolific...
I’d seen Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano circling Bookstagram for almost a year before I read it. This family saga was receiving a lot of hype, and I’ve been disappointed by overhyped books before.
What finally convinced me to read Hello Beautiful were two things: a book recommendation from Just Leave It to the Prose from my writing workshop group, and the fact that the story is loosely based around Little Women.
As you may remember from...
Tartlets, prepare yourself for ALL the things with In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King. I could not put down this novel that blends historical fiction, fantasy, Greek and Roman mythology, Gothic horror, and so much more into an amazing read.
What’s In the Garden of Monsters about?
In the Garden of Monsters follows Julia, a 1940s art model who takes a job posing as the goddess Persephone for famed artist Salvador Dali. Julia, Dali,...
Meredith, Alone is one of those stories that gives you hope. It’s a book that makes you want to hug the main character when you reach the end.
There's not a very original premise – traumatized woman with a big heart learns to take steps outside of her comfort zones, both literally and figuratively – but author Claire Alexander creates a main character that you’re cheering for the entire time you’re reading.
What’s Meredith, Alone...
Tartlets, I literally jumped at the chance to receive an ARC of Wilderness Reform by authors (and brothers) Matt Query and Harrison Query. Their first novel, Old Country, is one of my favorite horror novels ever. I will read anything this duo writes.
While I didn’t love Wilderness Reform quite as much, I really enjoyed the story, especially toward the end. Let’s get into it.
Before you start reading, you should know that Wilderness...
