Started it today just to find I've already read it. Description didn't sound familiar but the whole opening chapter definitely was. No idea when I reaStarted it today just to find I've already read it. Description didn't sound familiar but the whole opening chapter definitely was. No idea when I read it though!...more
I was honestly wondering where this was going to go given where we left the last book, but it's a truly worthy sequel. It gives greater depth to its pI was honestly wondering where this was going to go given where we left the last book, but it's a truly worthy sequel. It gives greater depth to its predecessor by covering a lot of what happened before the other book started and it also shows the difficulties and small victories of the transition period. ...more
This is billed as a YA romance, which I don't know is *quite* the best way to reach its audience. It's a good book about food truck rivalry, and a REAThis is billed as a YA romance, which I don't know is *quite* the best way to reach its audience. It's a good book about food truck rivalry, and a REALLY good book about figuring out your future and how that will fit in with your friends - there are a few really great senior year/senior summer books in this category where kids do a mix of drift from and grab at their friendships and relationships as they figure out what's next. And THAT'S what this book is, more than a romance. I think it would appeal more in that category. ...more
This was a steaming pile of dog crap created by a woman who made her initial name and fortune by telling people to count down from 5 in order to do thThis was a steaming pile of dog crap created by a woman who made her initial name and fortune by telling people to count down from 5 in order to do the things they had been avoiding doing.
Key points: Don't reach out or talk to people about issues - they won't change, just let them be them! If you aren't where you want to be in life, you could work harder and smarter and GET THERE (never mind generational wealth, systemic racism, gender wage gaps), haven't you tried NOT being jealous and just WORKING MORE???? Don't ever give anyone anything ever. They didn't earn it (I spy with my little eye some solid MAGA reasoning!). If you pay for anyone's therapy (your kid's? Maybe your spouses?) She literally says they are GASLIGHTING YOU IF THEY WON'T LET YOU TALK TO THEIR THERAPIST???????? WTF??????
1. That is not what gaslighting is? 2. Why do you need to talk to their therapist? WHY?
The basic theory was crap, the applications were crap. The writing was all ME, ME, I, THIS WORKED FOR ME! There isn't a drop of science or even how any of this has helped anyone else. UGH.
When Daisy spent the last few books mentioning not wanting marriage or babies, I was actually really interested to see how Gracie would handle it. FlyWhen Daisy spent the last few books mentioning not wanting marriage or babies, I was actually really interested to see how Gracie would handle it. Flynn isn't traditional. He's outside the norm. He's going to realize this society miss he had in mind is the worst thing for him. And then we could see what he and Daisy could build.
BUT. (view spoiler)[ We learn pretty quickly that Flynn's ideal marriage includes a little woman, presiding over a batch of babies, so that's not going to go well for Daisy. And then we move to Daisy's pregnancy and misery and acquiescence and it's all so frustrating for her. (hide spoiler)]
I'm also super mad at the whole widow storyline (view spoiler)[ Why couldn't she just have been a widow who wanted to do this with Daisy. Why couldn't she have just not signed the papers taking full possession and told Daisy "I wanted to wait to be sure you meant it". Or why couldn't she worked out something so the widow held it to protect it from her husband but Daisy still had profits I DON'T KNOW. Literally anything other than her beloved lying to her and manipulating her. (hide spoiler)]
Plot issues aside. Daisy is super prickly and we aren't given a whole lot of her besides that. We've got backstory, we've got a few very strong opinions in lieu of personality, but we don't get a lot of longing or wanting or HER in the whole thing....more
I wanted to love this. And Zach had a lot of potential, but this book is overall messy.
1. The hero and heroine spend too much time apart and lost in tI wanted to love this. And Zach had a lot of potential, but this book is overall messy.
1. The hero and heroine spend too much time apart and lost in their own mess. She's going to marry some dreadful boring rich guy to get security. He's got to sort out his estate and his murder charge (never mind that if he had his title properly it would all be less urgent because he'd be aristo). You don't get a lot of time with them together, building rapport, etc.
2. Jane's a drag. I GET IT you want security. But her money = security seems to have completely ruled out a few things that Daisy could have told her (and muses about frequently in Book 4) like that a man's being rich doesn't mean he'll be gracious about sharing that $ with you. It took a few too many "missy"s for her to turn on her dull fianc茅.
3. Waaaaay too much of this plot is murder charge.
4. Waaaaay too little of this plot is "I'm an Earl (Was it an earl, they don't mention the title he's coming into hardly at all) your life will be great with me" I mean, I get it, he wants to be loved for himself, but also, my dude, just pull it together.
5. There is entirely too much negative characterization of the Roma people all while dropping g----y every other word. ...more
I honestly wasn't that interested in reading this, having started the series with the second book, The Winter Bride. I was more interested in forging I honestly wasn't that interested in reading this, having started the series with the second book, The Winter Bride. I was more interested in forging ahead and follow Jane and Daisy's stories. But a review said you really should start with the first book and I am so glad I went back and read this one, because I really, really enjoyed it. ...more
I didn't LOVE this, the way I loved the 2 Greenglass House books and Thief's Knot. I'm not sure how much it would mean to me if I didn't have those foI didn't LOVE this, the way I loved the 2 Greenglass House books and Thief's Knot. I'm not sure how much it would mean to me if I didn't have those for context. It was way darker than those three but without stepping up to the level of Raconteur's Commonplace Book.
It was enjoyable, no doubt, but not a masterpiece like the others. ...more
Easy to pick up and put down, easy to dip in and out of. Lots of food lists and lots of name dropping (it IS a celebrity food memoir, is it not), but Easy to pick up and put down, easy to dip in and out of. Lots of food lists and lots of name dropping (it IS a celebrity food memoir, is it not), but ultimately pleasant. The only thing I truly did not like was the constant joking that his wife was perhaps not where she said she was - the unsaid words being that perhaps she was conducting an affair. While I hope I am interpreting this correctly, that this is a joke, perhaps Tucci thinks a joke at HIS OWN expense since his wife is much younger and lovely, it doesn't hit the mark and instead comes off as unkind and untrusting toward Felicity when one hopes that is far from the truth.
The one other difficult note is the references to things being overly expensive and his need to continue working to afford all the things. I realize that even among the uber rich there are different tiers but they are all so wildly far from where we are. Tucci is trying to seem relatable I supposed by positioning himself as "poor little Stanley Tucci" vis a vis Guy Ritchie* or even his in-laws Blunt/Krasinski but Stanley. My good sir. You are good and wealthy. Us everyday folk are perhaps not the best audience for the poor little rich boy routine.
*Incidentally this is one of the better sections of the book - less list and more experience and the book could have done with more of that - more visceral reactions to food, more descriptive captures of environment....more
Checked this out in a fit of random "I don't know what to read" and whoa Nelly was this not for me. It's that brand of lit fic that seeks to shock throChecked this out in a fit of random "I don't know what to read" and whoa Nelly was this not for me. It's that brand of lit fic that seeks to shock through its daring discussion of sex, much of which is slightly horrifying (not in a violent way, just in an incredibly unpleasant sort of way). The heroine is vastly, wildly self-absorbed in a way we are perhaps asked to identify with but which I found exceptionally off-putting. It's meant to be a woman's mid-life crisis book and it's all crisis and catharsis and drama. It's got a slew of recommendations and best-seller marks and while I did finish the whole stupid thing in a sort of "oh well this is kind of a train wreck and a I absolutely want credit for having read this far ugh" way, I definitely considered abandoning it multiple times because frankly I felt a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing....more
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