Review: The Me I Used to Be

 

The Core Four were best friends in high school. They had it all - until one night a terrible accident tore them apart. Nothing has ever been the same for Audrey, Micah, Jasmine and Beck. They had a hard time putting the past behind them.

Now 25 years later, it's their high school reunion. Audrey sends an email asking the three of them to return home. She needs to share something with them. What she says will change everything - all over again.

But it also might help heal the scars, the guilt, and the pain from all those years ago.

My Thoughts: I knew going into this book that it would be an emotional read. And it was. It made me cry - at the end. So many tears. And I really enjoyed it. There were so many layers to this book, it was like peeling an onion. I loved how the book went back and forth in time, how it had multiple POVs, and how it all came together. Also I love how it was set in a fictional Vermont town. My heart broke for those girls and how one night changed everything - until they came back together again. I'm so glad that they did come back together again and I'm glad they were able to move forward. This was such a powerful reading about friendship, grief, healing, and forgiveness. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your fiction collection

Confession: I've never gone to my high school reunion. I've never been brave enough. There are people I would like to catch up with and there are people I never need to see again. Have you ever been to one of yours?

Picture Book Review: Books about Pumpkins

 

Happy Fall!

Millie's planting pumpkins in her garden to make fall more colorful. She stores the extra seeds in her shed. But something happens to the shed - and ALL those seeds. 

This is a funny book about gardening (sort of), coming together as a community, and having fun. I love the different varieties of pumpkins and how the pumpkins help the next season too.

* book sent for review

Squirrel helps bird plant pumpkins. It takes ages for anything to sprout, but 5 pumpkins appear. Squirrel is SO happy. But one by one, the pumpkins go missing until there is only one left. Squirrel decides to look for clues to uncover the thief.

This book is part of a seasonal series that's a little silly and a whole lot of fun. There are many things that squirrel doesn't understand.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR

 This week's topic is fall TBR list. I'll be sharing books that are coming out September and October and November. But I'll do a separate list for holiday romances. 

Middle Grade:

Young Adult:

Adult: 

What's on your fall reading list?

Middle Grade Monday: Booklist

 

Last week, I shared my review for The Burning Season and realized I've read quite a few books with wildfires.

I decided to make a Booklist:

The Burning Season

Controlled Burn

Wildfire

Magnitude

Two Degrees

Wildfire Run

Any other books you would add to this list?

On My Hold List

 

I just went a little crazy and added a bunch of books to my library hold list. Some of them are for work, but most of them are for fun

At the moment, I have 30 books on my hold list.

I love her Torte Bakery series and this looks charming!

This one is for work, but it looks adorable!

I found this via social media and it looks really good!

Love Jenn's books and this is book 2 in a series

Julie Olivia wrote one of my favorite reads last year - looking forward to her new book

Cozy mystery - hope this is the start of a new series 

Have you read any of these? Do they look interesting to you?

Movie Review: Mayday

A Navy pilot (Ryan Reynolds) is tasked with a secret mission. The dangerous mission leaves in shot down in Russia during the Cold War. He's rescued by a former KGB officer (Kenneth Branagh). Nikolai is a HUGE fan of American pop culture - especially Top Gun. In order to escape Russia, they have to travel to the border. But the Russians know the pilot is injured and on the move. The two strangers have a hard time trusting each other, but they manage. 

My Thoughts: This was such a funny movie - lots of banter. It's a friendship movie - but also a survival story. There's lots of fighting and lots of action. I loved this movie; I didn't want it to end. If you have the chance to see it - watch it!

Review: Meet Me in Italy

 

Charlotte Williams-Jackson is having a rough go of it. Her NBA husband decided he no longer wants to be married and asks her to leave their house. He offers no explanation. She goes back to her parents where she learns she is adopted. She has a half-sister. Their mother just died. Her sister is only 11 and needs a guardian. Lilly is currently in Italy.

Charlotte decides to rent a house on the Amalfi Coast. There she can hopefully get a handle on the book she's supposed to writing and hasn't started. She's worried that the success of her book is due to her husband's fame.

Her childhood best friends decide to accompany her. Sloane doesn't want to be a mother, but her husband is dying to kids. They're at a crossroads in their marriage. She's looking forward to time apart to figure out what she wants. Her twin brother Julian has a secret that he's not willing to share. It's life changing. The twins are happy to have Charlotte back in their lives. Lily isn't sure what to think of her sister. She hasn't had the easiest life. It's hard for her to trust, but her she's learning. Can they all relax in Italy and find themselves?

My Thoughts: I Loved this book. I loved how all the characters connected. And this book makes me want to travel to Italy and the Amalfi Coast. The house and the town seemed amazing. I felt really bad for Lilly. She had such a hard life and didn't know who to trust. I just wanted to give her a giant hug. I love how she thawed out. The NBA part was entertaining. I enjoyed the writing part of the story. This book was all about healing, love, friendship, and family.

Cover Thoughts: Gorgeous

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your fiction collection