june 2022
the seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkins reid
alex’s rating: 10/10
another fantastic book by taylor jenkins reid!! as the salacious title suggests, evelyn hugo has been married seven times, but underneath the surface you learn more about the complicated love life of america’s favorite “sexpot.” from producers to fellow actors to famous musicians, evelyn’s been hitched more times than you can count on one hand. which is her true love? i think it may surprise you because it wasn’t any of her husbands. this is one of those books you can tear through in one or two sittings — i couldn’t put it down.
the butterfly bruises by palmer smith
alex’s rating: 7.5/10
poetry is a new venture for me & palmer smith made it exceptionally enjoyable. i truly envy poets. i wish i could convey feelings they way they can — in a way that more than paints a picture, it transports you. this collection of poems + short stories cover smith’s childhood, summer’s down south and personal family anecdotes. my favorite short story was titled grief, about her brother’s battle with cancer. moving, emotional, tender.
the year of magical thinking by joan didion
alex’s rating: 10/10
grief is a universal feeling that no one is safe from. it creeps in when you’re going to bed some nights, or when you’re making dinner, or when you’re taking a drive somewhere. sometimes it’s out of nowhere. joan didion knows grief well. she lost her husband of 39 years while her daughter was in a coma in the icu. everyone grieves and it can feel very isolating, but didion’s honest commentary makes you feel a little less alone. the year of magical thinking is tearjerking and extremely well written.
the golden hour by beatriz williams
alex’s rating: 8/10
picture this: you’re in the bahamas circa 1941 as a journalist picking up gossip on the duke & duchess of windsor. between high society, mysterious murders and the ongoing war, you happen to find love with an unsuspecting englishman. this is how leonora “lulu” randolph finds herself but it is not the end of the story. a tale told from two perspectives — lulu’s whirlwind life in the 1940s and elfriede’s (lulu’s future mother-in-law) difficult life in 1900. this book felt a bit long at times but it was an extraordinary story about two stellar characters.
it ends with us by colleen hoover
alex’s rating: 9.5/10
i’ve become a colleen hoover fanatic after verity so i read it ends with us next and wow does she know how to weave a story. it ends with us follows a strong woman in a difficult relationship and really shares what domestic abuse is like. you might think you can tell the warning signs or believe you can walk away, but it’s a complex dynamic. i both loved and loathed ryle. if you like suspense reads that keep you on your toes and ellen degeneres (iykyk) you’ll tear through it ends with us. i hear she’s also written a prequel and i am itching for it’s release!!!!
things we do in the dark by jennifer hillier
alex’s rating: 7.5/10
things we do in the dark is exactly what it sounds like — a thriller that exposes the twisted & mysterious happenings when the sun goes down. paris peralta is a movie star’s wife without a movie star’s upbringing. when her husband is murdered, paris begins to think about her past and how she ended up here. enter a child named joey reyes. joey is a kid when her mother is arrested and charged with the murder of wealthy businessman charles baxter. these two characters lives are interwoven (literally, as you’ll find out) with a story told from the past and present. the book was a little predictable but the ending shocked me!!
interested in book of the month? sign up using my referral link.