Review: The Love Haters

 

Katie's gotten herself into a pickle. Her company is laying off people, but her boss asks her to go film a promotional video for the Coast Guard. Katie can't swim. But she takes the job anyways: fake it until you make it. Right?

She doesn't realize that the hero she will be filming is her boss's brother. 

Hutch can't believe his brother sent someone else to film the promo video after all the work he put in making sure his brother's company won the bid. He's determined to just get through it, but life has other plans.

Katie gets swept up by his Aunt Rue and swept off her feet (literally) by Hutch's great dane. Life didn't used to be so complicated, but everything spirals out of control. Can Katie sort everything out before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I love how Katie became more relaxed as she spent more time with Hutch and Rue. I loved Rue and her friends and how they included Katie in their plans. The brothers' relationship was interesting - but I felt badly for Hutch and I wanted to shake Cole. The dog was adorable and a scene stealer. Funny and charming, this book was the perfect summer read. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection.

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR Pile

This week's topic is our Summer TBR pile. Of course, I have lots of books that I want to read this summer. Hope some of these are on your list too!

Kids and Middle Grade:

YA:

Adult:

Just read:

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Vibes

This week's topic is all about the summer vibe. So I'm picking books that I would love to sit by the pool/beach and read this summer. Especially with a big glass of lemonade.

Here we go:

And I would have included this one:

But I've already read it. Read why I loved it!

Review: Summer I Turned Pretty

 * first book in a trilogy*

Belly lives for summer. Her family's been going to the summer house for years with family friends. She's been tagging along after her brother and his two friends forever.

Now she's 16.

Boys are starting to look at her - just not the boy she wants. Her brother's not there for most of the summer. She has Conrad and Jeremiah all to herself. Could this be the summer that changes Everything?

My Thoughts: I've been meaning to read this book for ages - people have been talking about it forever. Everyone was right, I couldn't put this book down. I loved the shifts in time and how they are woven together. I liked learning about Belly's relationships with the brothers while growing up. In some ways, it was the perfect childhood, but in others I felt bad for Belly, always trying to be part of the group, but always too young. This book tugged at all my heartstrings - making me laugh, making me want to cry, and giving me hope. I can't wait to finish the rest of the trilogy. If you haven't read this - go read it now!

Cover Thoughts: Fun
Source: My Library

Top Ten Tuesday

This week's topic: Top Ten Books At The Top Of My Summer TBR List. This is easy because I just participated in a video posting at the Hub. 

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Check out my video (the first one) and the rest of ours.

Review: Flirting in Italian

Violet's always looked different than her parents, but it isn't until she's at a museum that she finds someone who looks exactly like herself. As she uncovers information about the painting, she wonders if she could be related to the family from the Castello di Vesperi. Violet researches to discover that the castle is closed to the public, but there's a course that would be perfect for her education development that also grants access to the castle. She convinces her mother to let her go. The course has three other girls - two American and another British girl. They're to learn about the Italian culture plus a mix of polishing courses. Violet finally achieves her goal at viewing the castle, where the family's startled at her resemblance. It doesn't help that the boy she meets and is crushing over is related to this family. Will Violet uncover the truth about her past?

My Thoughts:
I loved the descriptions of this book - it made Tuscany come alive and it made me long to go back to Italy.
I liked the idea of Violet discovering her family roots in Italy.
I liked the idea of the classes, I wish we saw more of those.
I liked the interaction with the four girls and the snarky girl
I liked the party scenes where the boys overwhelmed the girls.

I felt liked the book just ended without resolving anything and creating more questions. I realize there's another book coming, but I wish something had been resolved.


Flirting in Italian was a great read with romance, friendship, and Violet trying to stay true to herself. It's a great book about freedom and traveling one summer, which will change Violet's life forever.

I didn't want to the book to end and yet...there were times when I didn't like Violet. I must find out what happens in Following in Love, in Italian.

Cover Thought: Cute but doesn't exactly go with the book

Source: netgalley/my library

Not sure what to read this summer?

Here's a few books that are perfect for summer - complete with beach/water theme

Or if you're looking for some new titles, check out the YARN's booklist