Friday, January 31, 2020

January 2020 EOM Wrap Up

I have read 7 books (not including children's books). *These qualify for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The Start of Me and You (The Start of Me and You, # 1) by Emery Lord
*The Map from Here to There (The Start of Me and You, # 2) by Emery Lord
A Convenient Fiction (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 3) by Mimi Matthews
On Wings of Devotion (The Codebreakers, # 2) by Roseanna M White
*The Winter Companion (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 4) by Mimi Matthews
Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington
A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, # 1) by Darynda Jones

I have reviewed 8 books. *These qualify for the 2019 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
How to Speak Boy by Tiana Smith
Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry
Finding Mr. Better-Than-You by Shani Petroff
The Start of Me and You (The Start of Me and You, # 1) by Emery Lord
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
The Map from Here to There (The Start of Me and You, # 2) by Emery Lord
Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
A Convenient Fiction (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 2) by Mimi Matthews

Other Posts:
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 01/05/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 01/12/20
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 01/19/20
Sunday Post - 01/26/20
Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Q1/Q2 2020
Can't Wait for A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, # 1) by Darynda Jones
Can't Wait for Chosen Ones (Chosen Ones, # 1) by Veronica Roth
Can't Wait for Line by Line (Love Along the Wires, # 1) by Jennifer Delamere
Can't Wait for Colors of Truth (Carnton, # 2) by Tamera Alexander
2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge - January Wrap Up
2019 EOY Wrap Up
2019 EOY Book Survey
Mountains Out of Molehills: Compassion Vs. Ignorance

Goals:
I am 6 days ahead on of schedule my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 7 out of 52 books (including children's books).
I've read 2 out of 5-10 series enders.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

A Convenient Fiction - Review

A Convenient Fiction (Parish Orphans of Dover, # 1)

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: October 22nd 2019 by Perfectly Proper Press

pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library (Christmas Gift)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--She Needed a Husband...

It’s been three years since Laura’s father died, leaving her and her invalid brother to subsist on the income from the family’s failing perfume business. But time is swiftly running out. What she needs is a husband, and fast. A noble gentleman who can rescue them all from penury. When a mysterious stranger arrives in the village, he seems a perfect candidate. But Alex Archer is no hero. In fact, he just might be the opposite.

He Wanted a Fortune...

Alex has no tolerance for sentiment. He’s returned to England for one reason only: to find a wealthy wife. A country-bred heiress in Surrey seems the perfect target. But somewhere between the village railway station and the manor house his mercenary plan begins to unravel. And it’s all the fault of Laura Hayes—a lady as unsuitable as she is enchanting.

From the beaches of Margate to the lavender fields of Provence, a grudging friendship slowly blossoms into something more. But when scandal threatens, can a man who has spent his entire life playing the villain, finally become a hero? Or will the lure of easy riches once again outweigh the demands of his heart?

The description of this one is a bit deceiving. Laura's father did pass away three years ago and his will does state a provision for Laura's husband to receive half of the perfume company if she married by her 25th birthday (which is coming up quickly), but she assumed this is out of the realm of possibility so she's not pursuing Alex in the hopes of saving the family business as the description implies. At the same time, Alex is attempting to marry an heiress, and while that does appear to make him a fortune hunter, what he really wants is property which is hard to come by except through the gentry. So again, deceiving.

Alex is used to being a villain. He struggles with his actions as a teenager when he fought Tom and ran off with the stash of jewels and money they stumbled upon. He's made his fortune by taking advantage of others. But he finds himself being a rescuer time and again from the moment he meets Laura. I sometimes wondered how he could continue his path of pursuing Henrietta when he knew it wasn't her fortune he was after.

I appreciated Laura's attitude. She did what she had to do to keep her family going. She stepped up and took control of the family affairs. She was easy to like.

I was sure that I was going to hate Henrietta. And especially when she and Laura had their fight, I expected worse from her so I'm glad that she turned out to be nicer and more of a true friend to Laura than I originally thought.

The reunion of the 4 friends was a little emotional and one of the things that I looked forward to the most through the whole book.

Favorite quote:

-There was nothing magical about being in love with someone. It didn’t cure every ill or solve every problem. It was simply a feeling. An infinitely precious feeling. Deeper than friendship. More meaningful than mere attraction. But it wasn’t a panacea. Real relationships were built on more than love. They were constructed with hard work, dedication, and patience. With honesty and mutual respect.

A Convenient Fiction was much more enjoyable for me than the previous book in the series, A Modest Independence. I liked Alex and Laura. Their conflict to overcome, the reunion of the four friends...all of it was great. I can't wait for Neville's story. A Convenient Fiction gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Convenient Fiction? What did you think? Let me know!

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Can't Wait for Colors of Truth

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Colors of Truth (Carnton, # 1)

By: Tamera Alexander

Expected Publication: July 7th 2020 by Thomas Nelson

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Based on the real history of Carnton, an antebellum home that served as a Confederate hospital, Colors of Truth follows the journey of an Irish immigrant arriving in a country where her kind isn't wanted, and of a former Federal soldier returning to the scene of a battle that almost destroyed him.

In 1866 Catriona O'Toole arrives in the town of Franklin, Tennessee, searching for her younger brother, Ryan, who, according to his last letter, was headed for Franklin only days before the catastrophic Battle of Franklin. Ryan's last note contained a stack of cash--enough money to bring his entire family across the ocean from Ireland. But after disease and illness tear through County Antrim and the O'Toole family, only Catriona and her seven-year old sister Nora are left to make the journey.

Wade Cunningham, one of ten operatives in the newly formed United States Secret Service Agency, is on the hunt for counterfeiters. A tip leads him to Franklin and to Carnton, the home of wealthy Tennessean John McGavock. The recent murder of a fellow agent mandates that Wade keep his true identity hidden, as well as his past service in the Federal Army. But when he receives a note bearing only the name of the deceased agent, he realizes someone in town already knows who he really is.

As evidence in the case mounts, it eventually points to Catriona, but Wade is slow to want to believe it. Because his heart is swiftly becoming hers. However, Catriona's sole focus is to find her brother and to provide a home and safety for her sister. In doing that, she somehow finds herself part of a burial committee for the over two thousand Confederate soldiers who were hastily buried in a field following the Battle of Franklin--and her deepest fear is that Ryan's body is among those shallow graves.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Monday, January 27, 2020

Love Lettering - Review

Love Lettering

By: Kate Clayborn

Expected Publication: January 28th 2020 by Kensington Publishing Corp.

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this warm and witty romance from acclaimed author Kate Clayborn, one little word puts one woman’s business—and her heart—in jeopardy . . .

Meg Mackworth’s hand-lettering skill has made her famous as the Planner of Park Slope, designing beautiful custom journals for New York City’s elite. She has another skill too: reading signs that other people miss. Like the time she sat across from Reid Sutherland and his gorgeous fiancĂ©e, and knew their upcoming marriage was doomed to fail. Weaving a secret word into their wedding program was a little unprofessional, but she was sure no one else would spot it. She hadn’t counted on sharp-eyed, pattern-obsessed Reid . . .

A year later, Reid has tracked Meg down to find out—before he leaves New York for good—how she knew that his meticulously planned future was about to implode. But with a looming deadline, a fractured friendship, and a bad case of creative block, Meg doesn’t have time for Reid’s questions—unless he can help her find her missing inspiration. As they gradually open up to each other about their lives, work, and regrets, both try to ignore the fact that their unlikely connection is growing deeper. But the signs are there—irresistible, indisputable, urging Meg to heed the messages Reid is sending her, before it’s too late . . .

The description for Love Lettering really pulled me in. I'm an avid lettering fan even if my personal skills aren't where I would like or where I used to be in years past. I will say that I was almost put off even reading the book description by the cover. It looks a bit like a self-published book to me. The elements of the cover are at least applicable to the story, but it definitely isn't my favorite cover. I actually first received what I thought was the book for review, but it turned out to be one of those pesky excepts. However, reading the first chapter of Love Lettering was enough to hook me.

I felt it was obvious that Kate Clayborn has first-hand knowledge and love of lettering just from reading this book. She could have simply done some research, but the way Meg thinks in word pictures is so well written that I wouldn't be surprised to find Kate Clayborn enjoys the hobby as well. Either way, this was well done in my opinion as a lettering fan. I do wonder if readers without the same knowledge or interest in lettering would enjoy it as much. Even the supplies Meg used were familiar to me.

Reid was a little harder for me to figure out. He's often misunderstood by others so it makes sense that he might feel the same way to the reader. So long as Meg understood him in a way that others might not makes their relationship more real and valuable. I liked that he had struggles going on that I didn't expect.

I do find that letters can be used too frequently in books to cover an information dump, and I somewhat felt that way over Reid's letter to Meg. It wasn't a huge issue and probably not something I would have noted had I not recently become frustrated with another author that I enjoy reading doing this a bit too frequently.

I really loved Sibby and Meg's conflict. It was easy to initially jump to disliking Sibby... even after finding out what her issues were. But I still enjoyed seeing how they played everything out.

Love Lettering was much better than I expected. I appreciated Kate Clayborn's knowledge of the art of lettering. I enjoyed the twists and relationship building. Love Lettering gets 4 Stars. Have you read Love Lettering? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, January 26, 2020

2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge - January Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Sandy finished two series enders: The Map from Here to There (The Start of Me and You, # 2) by Emery Lord & The Winter Companion (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 4) by Mimi Matthews. Holly hasn't finished any series enders.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the January giveaway runs from January 25th - February 25th. On February 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
*Note: no winner for January 2020 because the only entries were myself (Sandy), and I'm not allowed to win.

Sunday Post - 01/26/20

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Honestly this week has been kind a roller coaster. Nanny passed out and had to go to the hospital Sunday afternoon. We also had some family drama. Monday, Little Girl had a dentist appointment. She always does so well. Tuesday was a normal day except the temps were freezing. We did attempt to go outside but it didn't even last 30 minutes. Wednesday, I had to run by the post office on the way to take Little Girl to school. Then Little Boy and I headed to a doctor's appointment for me. Picking Little Girl up from school Wednesday she fell and scraped her hands up. Little Boy was trying to run to the swings, and I ran head first into a sign chasing after him. They were both screaming and crying as I buckled them into the car, and honestly, I felt a bit like crying too. Thursday, I took Little Boy to the doctor. I was worried about a UTI for him, but it turned out to be a different issue. Potty training...so much fun. It was too early for lunch so we headed to my Mom's to hang out. She didn't have many groceries so I ended up having to run to grab food and come back to her house to eat it. And then we went to her work for her retirement party. I had planned to go home straight away since Little Boy would be missing his nap that day, but my sister was in town so we all went back to my parents' for dinner. I'm also still battling a cold that started last week. I thought I was well Tuesday but Wednesday I woke up with my throat on fire. Husband is sick now too. Friday thankfully was a normal day, and so was Saturday. But I still feel completely worn out from this week. No new books this week.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Book Tour Review of Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Line by Line (Love Along the Wires, # 1) by Jennifer Delamere
Thursday: Review of The Map from Here to There (The Start of Me and You, # 2) by Emery Lord (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of A Convenient Fiction (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 3) by Mimi Matthews

Don’t forget to link up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2020 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Map from Here to There - Review

The Map from Here to There (The Start of Me and You, # 2)

By: Emery Lord

Publication: January 7th 2020 by Bloomsbury YA

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Acclaimed author Emery Lord crafts a gorgeous story of friendship and identity, daring to ask: What happens after happily ever after?

It's senior year, and Paige Hancock is finally living her best life. She has a fun summer job, great friends, and a super charming boyfriend who totally gets her. But senior year also means big decisions. Weighing "the rest of her life," Paige feels her anxiety begin to pervade every decision she makes. Everything is exactly how she always wanted it to be--how can she leave it all behind next year? In her head, she knows there is so much more to experience after high school. But in her heart, is it so terrible to want everything to stay the same forever?

Emery Lord's award-winning storytelling shines with lovable characters and heartfelt exploration of life's most important questions.

Guys... I'm torn. I really enjoyed The Start of Me and You. I loved Paige and Max. I loved Paige's friend group. I loved the tough things that Paige had to work through. Unlike most fans, I didn't have to wait for this book to publish since I don't think a sequel was originally planned, and I was able to just jump right into this book.

Here are my issues: this book felt much more political than the previous. I almost felt like we had a checklist going for political correctness (which would be fitting for Paige's list-making character). Paige's dad writes political pieces in his journalism column, although thank heavens we aren't subjected to reading them. We now have two gay couples--one female and one male. We have the feminist, again not subjected to much rhetoric but still present. We have a character intent on sex education reform, mostly because she has a feminine health issue (most likely PCOS). And we have an intense focus on the absurdity of planning college/after high school plans around people we strongly care about.

The beginning and very end felt like the true story of The Map from Here to There was actually about friendship. And while I really loved this group of friends, my preferences always revolve around romantic relationships. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with stories about strong friendships. I love those too. But I guess I just expected it to focus on Paige and Max.

Don't get me wrong, Paige and Max dominated the middle of the story, but mostly in the conflict areas and not in the happy-we-are-so-in-love kind of way. It totally makes sense that they might struggle with where their relationship is heading after high school. It wouldn't be smart to plan their futures around each other, especially considering that Paige's dream job is leading her toward one coast or the other. New York or LA. Despite Max being the bigger nerd between the two of them, he didn't seem to apply to any big-name schools until pressured into it. I struggled with how I felt about their conflict and how they approached dealing with it.

Paige herself was a little bit of a struggle for me as well. I've only really dealt with anxiety that I didn't feel in control of for one short period in my life when I was on a medication that didn't seem to be the right fit for me. I did feel like I was out of control and weak compared to what I saw myself being capable of handling. So I feel torn because that's not something I have dealt with outside of the period I was on that medication. So in some ways, I could relate to her anxiety and in other ways, I couldn't. I honestly felt like she'd been through worse trials and come out on the other side stronger than what she was facing in this book. Granted, anxiety isn't always logical. So I guess it's realistic.

From a personal level, I get frustrated with characters that are so against planning their futures around people they care about. Certainly, there are plenty of circumstances where one would regret following someone versus following their own dreams. But couldn't the same be said about the opposite? Couldn't one follow their career dreams and end up regretting leaving those they love behind? Because in the end, what is life without people we love to share it with? I just mean that it isn't so irresponsible to consider those we love when we are making giant life choices that will affect our futures.

I guess in the end I felt torn. I read it quickly. But I don't know that I truly enjoyed the experience. The issues Paige and Max faced didn't seem as difficult as what they have handled in the past. I also felt The Map from Here to There was much more PC than the prior, which I don't enjoy. The Map from Here to There gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Map from Here to There? What did you think? Let me know!

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Can't Wait for Line by Line

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Line by Line (Love Along the Wires, # 1)

By: Jennifer Delamere

Expected Publication: June 30th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

384 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Alice McNeil resolved at a young age to travel through life unencumbered by love or marriage, free to make her own decisions. A seasoned telegrapher, she's recently acquired a coveted position at an important trading firm, but when the company's ambitious junior director returns to London, things begin to change in ways Alice could never have imagined.

For Douglas Shaw, years of hard work and ingenuity enabled him to escape a life of grinding poverty. He's also determined to marry into high society--a step that will ensure he never returns to the conditions of his past.

He and Alice form a friendly relationship based on mutual respect, but anything deeper is not in their plans. However, when Alice accidentally raises the ire of a jealous and vindictive coworker who's intent on ruining her life, Alice and Douglas are forced to confront what is truly important in their lives. Will their growing bond give them the courage to risk finding a better way?

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Monday, January 20, 2020

Tweet Cute - Blog Tour - Book Review

Tweet Cute

By: Emma Lord

Publication: January 21st 2020 by Wednesday Books

336 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.

Because the cover is the first thing any of us see when trying to determine which books we're interested in reading, I've got to say that I hate this illustrated cover-trend that we're seeing. I don't even fully know how to describe it. But I hate it! Cover creators...please hear me. I hate this trend. I guess I'm one of the only ones who feel this way, but as it's my first impression of a book, I ALMOST didn't even look at the description of Tweet Cute because of the cover.

However, I am so glad that I did go ahead and read the description because Tweet Cute will probably end up being a favorite of 2019 for me (even though it doesn't publish until 2020). Once I got past the cover, I still wondered if I would like the Twitter war aspect because I really don't do Twitter. I mean I have my blog rigged to tweet automatically, but I'm not active on that social media platform. Yet I'm familiar with accounts like Wendy's which I find hilarious when I come across some of their tweets. I am so glad that I ended up choosing to read Tweet Cute despite all of my initial worries. This book was just about everything I'm looking for.

I feel like there's a theme here, but I also wondered if I would struggle with connecting to Pepper. In some ways, I'm a perfectionist also. But I don't always enjoy reading about perfectionists. And while Pepper is struggling to stay ahead in a very competitive private school environment, much of what she feels and how she's currently behaving is not exactly her natural inclination. Pepper basically feels a lot of pressure on all sides. She is in a relatively new (to her) school with classmates she doesn't really know. Her mother and sister have had a falling out as her sister seems to blame her mother for their parents' divorce. So Pepper feels a lot of pressure to keep the peace between both her sister and her mother so that she doesn't end up estranged from either of them. And then there's trying to compete to get into an ivy league school.

Jack was so easy to connect with. He's the less popular twin. Everyone always seems to mistake him for his brother or at the very least be disappointed when they realize he's not his brother. He feels stuck like his parents just expect him to stick around home and work at the family deli. His loyalty to his family was heartwarming even if he feels a bit overlooked and unappreciated.

Another misconception I had was that the description seems to indicate that Jack and Pepper also don't know the other is behind the twitter profiles they're at war with. Pepper never wanted to be behind the Big League Burger twitter account. Her mom just pushed her into it because she's too snarky. Jack volunteered even though his dad told him not to because he felt a sense of duty since Grandma Belly's grilled cheese sandwich recipe had obviously been stolen. But the truth of the matter is that it doesn't take long for these two to find out the other is behind the rival accounts pretty quickly. They decide in person to go head to head on Twitter. And so I appreciated this because it wasn't what I was expecting and they are still anonymous in the chat app that Jack created for the school's student body's use.

Knowing that they're tweeting sassy, smart, sarcastic memes and such to each other puts Jack and Pepper in a lot of flirty situations in real life. And while the description is yet again misleading, Jack and Pepper do connect the most in real life than they do over Twitter or the chat app. Again, this is something that I appreciated.

Tweet Cute hit so many of my Top Ten Favorite Book Tropes that it isn't even funny. However, that does make for one of my favorite books that I've read so far in this entire year. I feel like this review hasn't done this book justice. Look past the cover (if that bothers you as it does me). Look past the perfectionist heroine. Look past any other hang-ups you might have with the description, and pick up this adorable, cute, feel-good book. You won't regret it. This is truly one of only a handful of books I've read this year that I can picture myself actually re-reading. Tweet Cute gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Tweet Cute? What did you think? Let me know!

Author bio:

Emma Lord is a digital media editor and writer living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn’t writing either running or belting show tunes in community theater. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. She was raised on glitter, grilled cheese, and a whole lot of love. Her sun sign is Hufflepuff, but she is a Gryffindor rising. TWEET CUTE is her debut novel. You can find her geeking out online at @dilemmalord on Twitter.

Early Praise:

"Tweet Cute delivers in every possible way: a perfect enemies-to-lovers romance, a whip-smart plotline, and endearingly real characters. I devoured it.” - Francesca Zappia, author of Eliza and Her Monsters

"Sweet and fun! An adorable debut that updates a classic romantic trope with a buzzy twist." - Jenn Bennett, author of Alex, Approximately and Serious Moonlight

“A witty rom-com reinvention for the Twitter age, Tweet Cute pairs delicious online rivalry with deeply relatable insights on family pressure and growing up. This fresh, funny read had us hitting ‘favorite’ from page one.” - Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of Always Never Yours and If I’m Being Honest

Buy Link: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/tweet-cute/

Social Links: @dilemmalord (Twitter/Instagram)

Excerpt

JACK

“Look.” I glance into the classroom, where Ethan is thoroughly distracted by Stephen and no longer keeping an eye on us. “I may have . . . overreacted.”

Pepper shakes her head. “I told you. I get it. It’s your family.”

“Yeah. But it’s also—well, to be honest, this has been kind of good for business.”

Pepper’s brow furrows, that one little crease returning. “What, the tweets?”

“Yeah.” I scratch the back of my neck, sheepish. “Actually, we had a line out the door yesterday. It was kind of intense.”

“That’s . . . that’s good, right?”

The tone of my voice is clearly not matching up with the words I’m saying, but if I’m being honest, I’m still wary of this whole overnight business boom. And if I’m being honest, I’m even more wary of Pepper. If this really is as much of a family business as she claims it is—to the point where she’s helping run the Twitter handle, when even I know enough about corporate Twitter accounts to know entire teams of experienced people get paid to do that—then she might have had more of a hand in this whole recipe theft thing than she’s letting on.

The fact of the matter is, I can’t trust her. To the point of not knowing whether I can even trust her knowing how our business is doing, or just how badly we need it.

“Yeah, um, I guess.” I try to make it sound noncommittal. My acting skills, much like my breakfast-packing skills, leave much to be desired.

“So . . .”

“So.”

Pepper presses her lips into a thin line, a question in her eyes.

“So, I guess—if your mom really wants you to keep tweeting . . .”

“Wait. Yesterday you were pissed. Two minutes ago you were pissed.”

“I am pissed. You stole from us,” I reiterate. “You stole from an eighty-five-year-old woman.”

“I didn’t—”

“Yeah, yeah, but still. You’re them, and I’m . . . her. It’s like a choose your fighter situation, and we just happen to be the ones up to bat.”

“So you’re saying—you don’t not want me to keep this up?”

“The way I see it, you don’t have to make your mom mad, and we get a few more customers in the door too.”

Pepper takes a breath like she’s going to say something, like she’s going to correct me, but after a moment, she lets it go. Her face can’t quite settle on an expression, toeing the line between dread and relief.

“You’re sure?”

I answer by opening the container she handed me. The smell that immediately wafts out of it should honestly be illegal; it stops kids I’ve never even spoken to in their tracks.

“Are you a witch?” I ask, reaching in and taking a bite of one. It’s like Monster Cake, the Sequel—freaking Christmas in my mouth. I already want more before I’ve even managed to chew. My eyes close as if I’m experiencing an actual drug high—and maybe I am, because I forget myself entirely and say, “This might even be better than our Kitchen Sink Macaroons.”

“Kitchen Sink Macaroons?”

Eyes open again. Yikes. Note to self: dessert is the greatest weapon in Pepper’s arsenal. I swallow my bite so I can answer her.

“It’s kind of well-known, at least in the East Village. It even got in some Hub Seed roundup once. I’d tell you to try some, but you might steal the recipe, so.”

Pepper smiles, then—actually smiles, instead of the little smirk she usually does. It’s not startling, but what it does to me in that moment kind of is.

Before I can examine the unfamiliar lurch in my stomach, the bell rings and knocks the smile right off her face. I follow just behind her, wondering why it suddenly seems too hot in here, like they cranked the air up for December instead of October. I dismiss it by the time I get to my desk—probably just all the Twitter drama and the glory of So Sorry Blondies getting to my head.

“One rule,” she says, as we sit in the last two desks in the back of the room.

I raise my eyebrows at her.

“We don’t take any of it personally.” She leans forward on her desk, leveling with me, her bangs falling into her face. “No more getting mad at each other. Cheese and state.”

“What happens on Twitter stays on Twitter,” I say with a nod of agreement. “Okay, then, second rule: no kid gloves.”

Mrs. Fairchild is giving that stern look over the room that never quite successfully quiets anyone down. Pepper frowns, waiting for me to elaborate.

“I mean—no going easy on each other. If we’re going to play at this, we’re both going to give it our A game, okay? No holding back because we’re . . .”

Friends, I almost say. No, I’m going to say. But then—

“I’d appreciate it if even one of you acknowledged the bell with your silence,” Mrs. Fairchild grumbles.

I turn to Pepper, expecting to find her snapping to attention the way she always does when an adult comes within a hundred feet of disciplining her. But her eyes are still intent on me, like she is sizing something up—like she’s looking forward to something I haven’t anticipated yet.

“All right. No taking it personally. And no holding back.”

She holds her hand out for me to shake again, under the desk so Mrs. Fairchild won’t see it. I smile and shake my head, wondering how someone can be so aggressively seventeen and seventy-five at the same time, and then I take it. Her hand is warm and small in mine, but her grip is surprisingly firm, with a pressure that almost feels like she’s still got her fingers wrapped around mine even after we let go.

I turn back to the whiteboard, a ghost of a smirk on my face. “Let the games begin.”

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 01/19/20

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Finally a pretty normal week! Hooray! We literally didn't do anything outside of the ordinary. It rained the first couple of days of the week and the last couple of days. So we did get outside for a walk and to play on Thursday, but other than that we have been stuck inside. I got sucked into a show on Netflix with Husband so I haven't read much this week, but that's okay because I'm already exceeding my pace for the year. I typically do very well in the winter months with reading and then slow down when Spring hits. I've acquired way too many books over the last month so I need to cut back on requesting. It's just so hard. Especially if any pop up that have been on my radar for quite some time. Thursday I had a major allergy attack and sneezed all day. That resulted in some sinus problems, and I'm still not feeling 100%. Oh and I used some Christmas and birthday (from last year) money to purchase a new vacuum cleaner that just came in Friday. I'm so excited about this!! The older I get the more I want to vacuum and tidy daily rather than weekly like I used to prefer. Saturday I took the kids to my mom's to visit my grandmother. We had a great time, and I love seeing my kids be loving and affectionate to Nanny.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Finding Mr. Better-Than-You by Shani Petroff (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Chosen Ones (The Chosen Ones, # 1) by Veronica Roth
Thursday: Review of The Start of Me and You (The Start of Me and You, # 1) by Emery Lord (4 Stars)
Friday: Mountains Out of Molehills: Compassion vs. Ignorance

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Blog Tour Review of Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of The Map from Here to There (The Start of Me and You, # 2) by Emery Lord

Don’t forget to link up for the 2020 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2020 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Where the Lost Wander

By: Amy Harmon

Expected Publication: April 28th 2020 by Lake Union Publishing

348 pages

Genre: New Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail, a family and their unlikely protector find their way through peril, uncertainty, and loss.

The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both.

But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. John’s heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come between them as they seek to build a life together.

When a horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her from John, the promises they made are all they have left. Ripped apart, they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other, and eventually…make peace with who they are.

Not Another Love Song

By: Olivia Wildenstein

Expected Publication: July 7th 2020 by Swoon Reads

320 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Angie gets thrown into the deep end of the music industry and goes head to head with a sexy new boy.

Success requires sacrifice.

No one understands this better than high school senior Angie, who’s worked her entire life toward her dream of making it onto Nashville’s music scene. When her idol, Mona Stone, launches a songwriting competition, her dream suddenly feels within reach. Against her mother’s wishes, Angie pours her heart and soul into creating a song worthy of Mona.

But soon it isn’t only her mother who stands in the way of her dream. Reedwood High’s newest transfer student, Ten, becomes a major roadblock in Angie’s path to success. With his endless collection of graphic tees, his infuriating attitude, smoldering good looks, and endearing little sister, Ten toys with the rhythm of Angie’s heart.

She’s never desired anything but success until Ten mauled her with his big black car. Now she wants him and Mona Stone, but she can’t have both.

And picking one means losing the other.

Against the glittery backdrop of Nashville’s music scene unfolds a story of betrayal and abandonment, of first love and acceptance, and of ties that go far beyond those made of blood.

The Betrothed (The Betrothed, # 1)

By: Kiera Cass

Expected Publication: May 5th 2020 by HarperCollins Children's Books

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true.

But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine.

Beach Read

By: Emily Henry

Expected Publication: May 19th 2020 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

The Marriage Game

By: Sara Desai

Expected Publication: June 9th 2020 by Berkley

304 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--It's a clash of culture in this romantic comedy about arranged marriages from Sara Desai.

Layla Santos is the child of first-generation immigrants from India. Her parents run a Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in San Francisco and are very traditional in their ways, including a firm belief in the benefit of arranged marriages. Her father, thinking he knows best, signs Layla up for IndianGirlMatch.com and sets up a series of dates without telling her....

Sam Mehta is the self-made CEO of a corporate consultancy specializing in downsizing. Also the child of first-generation immigrants with traditional beliefs, his famly treated him like a prince and saw him as a symbol of their social and economic strength. But his sister's marital experience has taught him that parents don't always know what's best for their children, and arranged marriages don't always end in a happily ever after.

When life throws Layla and Sam into close quarters, Sam finds himself unexpectedly chaperoning Layla on her dates. But neither can deny the chemistry building between them, and they wonder if perhaps they should make an arrangement of their own...

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Friday, January 17, 2020

Mountains Out of Molehills: Compassion vs. Ignorance

Mountains Out of Molehills is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that zeroes in on political, religious, etc statements made by authors, publishers, etc that really don't have anything to do with the overall story, plot, or character growth of a book (or other medium).

I introduced this feature concept in this Discussions Only We Know post.

In Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White, main character Mackenzie has Type I Diabetes. While I very much enjoyed this as a conflict and major story point because I'm not very familiar with the disease, I had a few issues with Mackenzie's attitude and comments/thoughts that she made throughout the book. Here goes.

It is impossible for every human to have an awareness and knowledge of every disease, condition, disorder, etc. Typically, unless you've gone to medical school and become a doctor, you likely don't know most conditions, diseases, cancers, or disorders even exists. Yet in today's society of awareness, everyone wants everyone else to "be more aware" of XYZ condition/illness/etc. Well I hate to tell you guys, but this just isn't possible.

Don't get me wrong. Being compassionate towards others, trying to put yourself in their shoes, and wanting to understand are great. We need to be this way. When we come across someone who has a condition, illness, etc that we do not know much about we should do what we can to be kind and compassionate toward them. But isn't this the way we should just generally treat people anyway?

But if we find ourselves in the situation where we have the illness, condition, situation, disease, etc that others know nothing about, it isn't their responsibility to avoid frustrating us with their ignorance. Our responsibility is to manage our reactions to others and handle our emotions appropriately. We cannot control others. We can only control ourselves. We cannot keep them from knowing what might or might not be offensive to us. We cannot download them with all of the information concerning our experience and situation. As a matter of fact, even if we could it would still only be our experience and someone else who might have the exact condition that we do has processed their feelings in an entirely different way and an entirely different set of questions or statements sets them off.

This goes beyond medical conditions. I specifically remember reading a blog post by an acquaintance of mine who lost her 6 week old son to SIDS. Her post was essentially about what not to say to her. And my own brother made this comment concerning some "advice" he's been routinely given for his current job situation. Feeling this way isn't uncommon. We all have things that others say to us periodically that just don't make sense or are offensive. But the point is, this is our responsibility to handle. It isn't the job of others to never offend us. To never frustrate us. To never say things that might hurt our feelings. No. Because that's just not possible. No one else in this world has ever had the exact same experiences that you've had while matched with your own personal way of thinking. So it is each our own duty to manage our emotions about the comments made about us, to us, or concerning our illness, circumstances in life, or struggles that we may or may not being going through.

In an ideal world, none of us would ever be hurt or offended by the things others say to us or about us. But I hate to break it to you, but this is not an ideal world. And pretending it to be so isn't helping anyone. Instead of pointing the blame on others to treat us better, perhaps we need to accept responsibility for casting aside the negative, offensive, or ignorant comments from others. (I say this as someone who has suffered miscarriages and difficulty conceiving children and have had others ask me questions or make comments about pregnancy or having children or growing our family.)

I'll never forget being at work one day when I was in my early twenties and telling a co-worker that he was being a jerk. He not so politely told me that my opinion of him didn't matter to him in the slightest because I wasn't in his inner circle. I wasn't someone that he cared about on a personal level so why should he care about what I thought of him. This blew my mind. I couldn't imagine someone not caring about my opinion...not because my opinion is so special, but because I cared about everyone's opinion of me. Once I really processed his thoughts, I felt this weight lifted off of me. Of course, I don't set out to purposefully offend others, but ultimately what others think of me doesn't define me. Now if my close friends and family think I'm being a jerk or that I need to change my attitude or the way I'm behaving then I seriously need to reconsider myself.

Remember that famous Gandhi quote about being the change you wish to see? That's the approach we have to take in situations like this. When we can't change others, the person we can change is ourselves. We can refuse to be offended by other's ignorance and lack of knowledge of our circumstances, and we can be the example of showing kindness and compassion to others in situations that we do not understand.

What do you guys think? Are you over how quickly everyone is offended? And over the most ridiculous, impossible to control things? Or do you think everyone should try to have all knowledge of all situation and diseases, and potential circumstances that someone might find themselves in? Let me know!

Thursday, January 16, 2020

The Start of Me and You - Review

The Start of Me and You (The Start of Me and You, # 1)

By: Emery Lord

Publication: March 31st 2015 by Bloomsbury

376 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library (Christmas gift)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?

I have long seen Emery Lord's books publish and receive high ratings. Yet I have only now had the pleasure of reading one of her books. I actually requested and was approved for The Map from Here to There without realizing it was the 2nd in a series. So, of course, I had to come back and read the first in the series before picking it up. I am so glad that I did.

I read The Start of Me and You really quickly... even staying up late to read. I didn't want to put it down.

The Start of Me and You is a bit emotionally heavy. Paige is dealing with a lot. Her boyfriend of two months died a year ago and people are still treating her as a widow. Her divorced parents have started dating and she fears she's going to have to endure their separation again. And her grandmother is dealing with Alzheimer's. Lots of heavy things.

One of my pet peeves is people who have a disdain for sympathy or what they view as pity. How are people supposed to treat you when someone you're close to dies? Would you rather they ignore your grief? Would you rather they act apathetic? Why is it so surprising that not everyone knows how to approach you or what to say? And why is it such a bad thing for others to feel bad for the sadness that you're experiencing? Thankfully Paige does work through some of her feelings about this subject. But it is just one of those things that frustrate me to no end when I see it come up. If random people can celebrate your successes with you then why is it so difficult to believe they might also grieve your losses with you and for you?

I LOVED Paige's group of friends. Kayleigh, Tessa, and Morgan. Each warmed my heart in their own ways and for their support and relationships with each other. These girls were true family, and I wish everyone could have 3 close friends like these girls. I also loved Paige's grandmother. Even with Alzheimer's, she was wise and supportive.

I was a little frustrated with Paige's obsession with Ryan. Granted she had a good reason for having a crush on him, but I felt like she ignored so many clues as to his feelings as well as her own. Of course, this was really just needed for the plot.

Paige herself was easy to like and root for even if she missed the obvious a bit.

But Max...Max was awesome. He is so completely at ease with himself. He is happy and comfortable being who he is. Unapologetic. I loved this about him. He's trustworthy. He's thoughtful. And he's smart. Plus he's right, Firefly is one of the best TV shows to exist, especially since it was only one season.

Favorite quotes:

-“In books, sometimes the foreshadowing is so obvious that you know what’s going to happen. But knowing what happens isn’t the same as knowing how it happens. Getting there is the best part.”

-In friendship, we are all debtors. We all owe each other for a thousand small kindnesses, for little moments of grace in the chaos.

-you are allowed to be sad, but you are not allowed to be a defeatist.

The Start of Me and You was worth all of the ratings I saw come through when it originally published. Emery Lord dealt with a lot of heavy and emotional issues through this book and she did them all justice. I hated to see where Tessa ended up in the bonus content mostly because I was rooting for Ryan, but also because it felt political. The Start of Me and You gets 4 Stars. And I really feel that this review hasn't done it justice. Have you read The Start of Me and You? What did you think? Let me know!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Can't Wait for Chosen Ones

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Chosen Ones (The Chosen Ones, # 1)

By: Veronica Roth

Expected Publication: April 7th 2020 by John Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin

304 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The first novel written for an adult audience by the mega-selling author of the Divergent franchise: five twenty-something heroes famous for saving the world when they were teenagers must face even greater demons—and reconsider what it means to be a hero . . . by destiny or by choice.

A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones.

Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward and a whole, younger generation doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget when the paparazzi haunt her every step just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Monday, January 13, 2020

Finding Mr. Better-Than-You - Review

Finding Mr. Better-Than-You

By: Shani Petroff

Publication: January 14th 2020 by Swoon Reads

256 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Camryn has been dating Marc FOREVER—since freshman year! She dropped out of volleyball to go to all his games, switched her schedule around to be in his favorite class, and has been busting her butt to get into Columbia so they can go to the same college. So when Marc suddenly, and very publically, breaks up with her a week into their senior year so that he can date the new transfer student, she’s absolutely devastated.

But why be sad, when you can get even? Inspired by her favorite movies, Camryn decides that the best revenge is a Senior Year well lived, starring a boy who is ever so much better than her ex. With a little help from her friends, Cam is going to have the Best. Senior. Year. Ever.

Finding Mr. Better-Than-You both was and wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a fun, fast, cute read about a girl who gets her heartbroken, goes on a search for a rebound-to-more guy to heal her heart and finds him. A bit too literal of me? Definitely. What I got was a fun, fast, cute read about a girl who gets her heartbroken, forces some seriously awkward situations in hopes of finding a rebound-to-more guy to heal her heart, but finds herself instead. Is there anything wrong with that? No. Was I a little disappointed? Yes, but not overly so. Was it still enjoyable? Certainly.

Cam loves books and movies. All things rom-com. I liked her, but boy was she naive. Everyone knows that life isn't like the books. And even if it was, the heroines featured in her favorite books don't force the stories to happen. And usually when that character tried some big scheme or plan it backfires at worst and simply doesn't go according to plan at best. Cam has a lot to learn about herself, her tendencies when it comes to being in a relationship, her friends, and life in general. In a lot of situations, I felt like she too easily got her way when it came to the adults in her life.

More than anything else, Finding Mr. Better-Than-You was a story about friendship and female empowerment in a way that I can get behind. Friends before boyfriends. How the ex's new girlfriend isn't the enemy. How to be a true friend and be supportive of the other's problems while still having your own life. Not being afraid to go up to a guy and start a conversation even if you fail miserably. And then when you do fail miserably still being able to see it as a win. And standing up for your own opinions and how relationships shouldn't be only one person giving all of the time. I can't find fault with any of that.

Yet still...I love love stories. If you're looking for that here, you're not going to find it. But if you've read enough of those and just need a feel-good book about a great group of friends then this is a real winner.

Finding Mr. Better-Than-You wasn't what I was expecting. It didn't have a real romance or love story which is something I'm typically looking for in my books, but honestly, I enjoyed it nonetheless. I still read it quickly and didn't want to put it down. Finding Mr. Better-Than-You gets 4 Stars. Have you read Finding Mr. Better-Than-You? What did you think? Let me know!