Categories
book club Book review magical realism reading Romance

Read and Review (R&R) – The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

My book club’s February read was “The Seven Year Slip.” Not thinking of myself as much of a romance and magical realism reader, I wondered if I would enjoy this book.

Well, I gave it five stars when we voted at our monthly meeting.

An overworked book publicist, Clementine, inherits her beloved aunt’s apartment and finds a man, Iwan, living there as well, seven years in the past. A love story ensues.

If you’re looking for a fun, witty romance with relatable characters, this book may be for you. I loved the pacing in this touching story; the traveling seven years into the past and future was effortless, and you fall in love with characters you’ve never met and places you’ve never visited.

“I think,” he finally said, choosing his words carefully, “that nothing lasts forever. Not the good things, not the bad. So just find what makes you happy, and do it for as long as you can.”

If you pick up this book based on my post, send me an email at carolelynnjones@gmail.com and let me know your thoughts.

Happy Reading!

Categories
Book review Italy reading Romance Uncategorized YA

Read and Review (R&R) – “All Roads Lead to Rome,” by Sabrina Fedel

Romance sparks in the sweet, YA book, “All Roads Lead to Rome,” by Sabrina Fedel.

It is an endearing love story, a modern “Roman Holiday” – gender swapped and reimagined which made for a fun, entertaining read.

Astoria (Story) Herriot’s life is changed when in a gelato shop she gets talked into a fake dating scheme with a handsome Scottish celebrity, Luca Kinnaird. In exchange for pretending to be his girlfriend to escape the paparazzi’s constant pressure on his true girlfriend, a pop star, Jasmine, Luca Kinnaird promises to help fund a scholarship in Story’s dad’s memory (something Story can only dream about at this point in her life). While fake dating to keep the paparazzi cameras off Luca and Jasmine, Story is absorbed into a lifestyle most of us can only imagine and dream about – the lifestyle of the ultra-rich and famous. But, the lines of fake dating get blurry when Story begins to fall for Luca and it is pretty clear he is falling for her too.

The chemistry between Story and Luca is evident throughout and you can’t help but wish for them to be girlfriend and boyfriend for real.

But, are their worlds too different to be together?

This book tugged at my heart and I found myself wondering and truly hoping that the characters in this story show up again in the author’s next novel.

I felt the author did a great job of writing in social issues such as addiction, fame, paparazzi and the impact that social media plays on our lives (in this book on a grand scale).

With landmarks, history, and the Italian landscape shining throughout, it’s a great beach read which will have you daydreaming and possibly planning a trip to Rome.

Categories
Book review fiction reading

Read and Review (R&R) – “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover

Our book club selection for this month is “It Ends With Us,” by Colleen Hoover.

If you are on BookTok, you already know there is a lot of buzz about this book.

I think the following words tell everything without posting spoilers in my review:

Powerful, inspiring, heart-wrenching, honest, raw, real-life, tough decisions, beautiful, unforgettable!

Colleen Hoover masterfully covers hot romance, devastating heartbreak, mental health and domestic violence in one novel.

“It Ends With Us” is a memorable read that I want to tell all my friends to pick up and I can guarantee, you won’t put it down.

Lilly Bloom is an unforgettable character and Colleen Hoover does an excellent job of bringing the readers along on Lilly’s journey. You discover the truths right alongside Lilly.

When I read the title, I was curious as to what it meant. When you read the book, and you get to the part where that is revealed, you will agree, it is the perfect title for this riveting book.

This book will leave a lasting mark on your heart.

Two of my favorite quotes from the book

That’s what fifteen minutes can do to a person. It can destroy them.
It can save them.

“It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us.”

Lastly, fingers crossed for the rumors that this book will be made into a movie.