Linking up with Steph and Jana. All of the authors this month are some of my favorites!!! Though, when you start reading my reviews….these aren’t all necessarily my favorite books by them. The stand out for me this month was People We Meet on Vacation. I just loved it so much. I did read the new TJR this month as well. Let’s dive in, shall we?
People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
Happy release day!!! This book comes out today, I had my copy from Book of the Month. I absolutely adored this book. I love a good friends-to-lovers story when it is done right, and this one sure was. I have a feeling this will end up on my favorites for the year. Alex and Poppy’s chemistry was palpable. The book goes back and forth between present summer and past summers, so you really get to see how the two meet and become friends…and watch their dynamics unfold and grow. Plus, reading this book after being home for a year with no trips gave me all the wanderlust!
Bottom Line: Read it!! You are going to see this one all over the place, and for good reason.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkin Reid
I love TJR. I know I am in the minority when I say this, but I enjoy her older stuff so much more than her most recent books. Give me One True Loves, Maybe Another Life, After I Do. Those are when I fell in love with TJR. I have enjoyed Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six and Malibu Rising…but not as much as the older stuff. I don’t get star struck, I am not obsessed with Hollywood and the rich and famous. I don’t resonate with them and I don’t care a lot about them. And the last three books have been mostly about that famous life style. I feel like she has been writing to turn them into movies.
With all that said, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t found the books interesting. I definitely got sucked into the Mick and June story line in this one. I loved how we went back and forth between past and present. (Present being 1983.) I think I enjoyed the Mick and June story, and watching the relationship of the siblings bonding and how they grew up, more than I did the last half of the book. But TJR is such a phenomenal writer, that she keeps me coming back. I will read anything she writes, even if it isn’t something I think appeals to me as much.
Bottom Line: Read it!!! I know I said what I said, but I still gave this a 5 star. The writing is fantastic.
**I received a copy of Malibu Rising from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
I thought Ruthie and Teddy were so cute! This was such a fun read. I enjoyed the whole setting at the retirement community, it was something different. I loved the vulnerability and quirkiness of the characters. I will say, I was expecting just a little more, as The Hating Game is one of my all time favorites. This one had started out a little slow for me. But when I did get in to it, I got in to it. So there is that. All in, I thought it was a super cute read.
Bottom Line: So cute, read it!
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
This is an older one from CL, and it had mixed reviews so I was never in a hurry to read it. It isn’t as much romance, as it is more chick lit in my opinion. There is a lot of back story, a good 1/3 of the book was spent in the past. But I really got sucked into the story, and ended up quite enjoying it! Was it my favorite CL book? Well, no. But the writing was great, and I enjoyed the ride. I liked it better than Second First Impression.
Bottom Line: Read it.
Currently Reading
Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews
17 Comments
I feel the same about people we meet on vacation. I loved it so much! I’m reading second first impressions now… it is definitely starting slow for me. I’m excited to read Malibu Rising! I just got Hello, Summer, too. LOL
I’ve added People We Meet on Vacation to my list. It sounds like something I will love.
Have seen a lot of good reviews on People We Meet on Vacation. I pre-ordered Malibu Rising, and I can’t wait to get it!!
So many Summer reads. I love lighter reads during the Summer and will be adding some of these to my list.
Same here. I want to read all of these summer books but it has to be JUST a bit warmer!
I so get the TJR review of “not my favorite” but still a “READ IT” 🙂 … which I plan on doing.
aw yay! People We Meet on Vacation is on my asap list, hopefully. I know i’m late, oops, sorry netgalley.
i haven’t read TJR’s newest yet, i love love loved evelyn hugo, i enjoyed daisy jones, but one true loves & maybe in another life are just way more my jam so i totally know what you mean about that. i was kind of hoping she’d end up back there with her next book, but obviously the more mainstream fiction is more popular with… well, the mainstream population lol. but still. i am halfway through sally thorne’s new book, cute so far!
I have the TJR from Netgalley and am hoping to get a copy of Vacation from the library sometime ever.
I feel like I’m one of the only people who didn’t love The Hating Game, buuuut Second First Impressions sounds cute & I like that setting. Super interesting review of Malibu Rising– I haven’t read any of her recent stuff, I tried Daisy Jones and just didn’t care for it so didn’t make it very far & wasn’t that upset when my library loan ended, lol. SO excited to read People We Meet on Vacation.
I feel like her writing and storytelling have gotten so much better than the days of After I Do, and more creative, but she can legit do no wrong. Malibu Rising is probably my favorite book of hers, honestly.
People We Meet on Vacation, Malibu Rising and Twice in A Blue Moon are all on my to read list! Glad you enjoyed them all.
You’ve read so many great books! I’m waiting until we move to join the book of the month club through you!! I cant wait to read the new TJR book – she’s my favorite!! xo, Biana BlovedBoston
I’ve only read Daisy Jones by TJR so I definitely need to try out some of her other work. I have Beach Read on my list of books to read soon, but I’m happy to hear you loved her latest release!!!
-Lauren
We have similar taste in books! I’ve only read One True Loves by TJR, so I’d love to pick up some of her other books too. I read Twice in a Blue Moon and liked it a lot more than The Unhoneymooners. What’s your favorite book from Christina Lauren?
I haven’t read TJR’s earlier reads and started with Evelyn Hugo. My impression was her earlier works were different so I didn’t read them because I felt like that might affect how I read them because I LOVED Evelyn Hugo. I’m already on the wait list for Malibu Rising and excited to get it (although I do agree that it does somewhat feel like she’s writing so Hollywood will come a-calling). People We Meet on a Vacation sounds terrific and I need something light and fun to read. Going on the TBR!
I think I’ve heard of several of those, but haven’t ready any of them yet. People We Meet on Vacation sounds like a fun summer read, but the retirement community one sounds cute too. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your month!
I hear you on TJR just because her older stuff is more my main genre of choice (romance-esque) though I do think her writing has improved in her newer books. I’m excited to read Malibu Rising!! Starting the new Emily Henry next week.