That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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As a child, Phoebe Manigault developed the gift of premonition after she was struck by lightning in the creek near her Charleston home. Plagued throughout her life by mysterious dreams, and always living in the shadow of her beautiful sister, Addie, Phoebe eventually moves to the West Coast, as far from her family as possible. Now, years later, she is summoned back to South Carolina, to help Addie care for their ailing mother.

As Phoebe’s return lures her back into deep-rooted tensions and conflicts, she is drawn to Celeste, whose granddaughter went missing years ago. Their connection brings comfort to Phoebe, while Celeste’s adult grandson Liam resurrects complicated emotions tied to Phoebe’s past.

But the longer Phoebe spends in her childhood home, the more her recurring nightmares intensify—bringing her closer to the shocking truth that will irrevocably change everything. Unfolding against the lush backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry, That Last Carolina Summer is an unforgettable story about the unbreakable bonds of family and the gift of second chances.
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What is there to say about Karen White? I have been reading her books for at least as long as I have been tracking my reading on an online platform (and probably longer), and she does not disappoint. And this summer, we have been graced with a book that calls to mind some of my favorite stand-alone novels that she has written in the past. She has a way of weaving a story that transports the reader right to the heart of the Lowcountry and writes about family drama with a side of mystery like no one else. Her handling of the realities of caring for an aging parent, while struggling with what it is like to return home to a past that you had hope to leave behind contribute to what is perhaps my favorite of White's books yet. I also appreciated the references to birds that are woven throughout the story, as the seamlessly tied the whole thing together. I read this book all in one sitting this afternoon and evening, as I was loathe to set it aside...it was that good!

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Greenwich by Kate Broad

Greenwich by Kate Broad
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with and advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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Summer, 1999. Rachel Fiske is almost eighteen when she arrives at her aunt and uncle’s mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her glamorous aunt is struggling to heal from an injury, and Rachel wants to help—and escape her own troubles back home. But her aunt is oddly spacey and her uncle is consumed with business, and Rachel feels lonely and adrift, excluded from the world of adults and their secrets. The only bright spot is Claudia, a recent college graduate, aspiring artist, and the live-in babysitter for Rachel’s cousin. As summer deepens, Rachel eagerly hopes their friendship might grow into more.

But when a tragic accident occurs, Rachel must make a pivotal choice. Caught between her desire to do the right thing and to protect her future, she’s the only one who knows what really happened—and her decision has consequences far beyond what she could have predicted.

A riveting debut novel for readers of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty, Greenwich explores the nature of desire and complicity against the backdrop of immense wealth and privilege, the ways that whiteness and power protect their own, and the uneasy moral ambiguity of redemption.
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Although this book started off slow for me and took a while to grab my attention, once I got into the meat of it, it was hard to put down. Parts of it were almost painful to read, as it tackled some very heavy issues, but the story was fast-paced and compelling. The characters were, for the most part, unlikeable, yet I found myself unable to look away from the way their lives were unfolding. It was apparent from the style in which the author wrote the book (and this is not a spoiler because it's in the blurb above) that we are headed toward some sort of tragedy, and waiting for it felt almost excruciating. And that is why I spent several hours of my day today racing through this book. I was not able to put it down until I found out where exactly it was that the author was taking us. I haven't decided yet how I feel about the ending...I am still sitting with it. However, as a whole, this was a compelling debut from a very promising author, and it is definitely a book that will stick with me for a while.

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The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon

The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books (via NetGalley) for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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After her publishing career and engagement fell apart in Boston, Leah Powell has no choice but to return to her hometown. Feeling lost and discouraged, she stumbles upon a once prominent sea captain’s historic home that now looks as dilapidated as she feels. Suddenly inspired, Leah decides to transform it into a bookstore and café she will call The Sandy Page.

Luke Nickerson, a life-long local and contractor, remembers Leah, even if she doesn’t remember him. Intrigued by her return and her project, he agrees to help her bring the old captain’s house back to life. As they work together, The Sandy Page slowly becomes the town’s go-to gathering spot for locals, tourists, and anyone who is feeling adrift during this long, sweet summer. It’s a home for second chances. But will it be enough for Leah and Luke?
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There are some book elements that are certain wins for me, and this author hit many of them. Beach town? Yes. Book store? Yes. Touch of romance? Yes. Found family? Yes. A couple of dogs thrown in the mix? Yes. Therefore, it was no surprise to me that I loved this book, and I am not sure how it is that I have never read anything else from this author. This was one of those feel-good stories that would be the perfect thing to bring with you on your next beach vacation or your next cruise. It's a light enough read without being silly, and it has enough depth without feeling like it's weighing you down. The characters come alive on the page, and it is hard not to root for a happy ending for all of them. I can't wait to delve into McKinnon's back catalog and see more of what she has to offer!

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Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter

Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.

Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?
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Lynn Painter has perfected a formula that just works for me. Fake dating? Yes, please. She does it better than almost anyone out there. And this book is no exception. It's the kind of book you read when you are looking for an escape, and it's the perfect kind of book for that. There were some deeper moments, sure, but there was also plenty of banter, and there was quite a lot of zing. Dex and Abi had plenty of chemistry, but their burn was slow enough that you get to enjoy the build up. This was the perfect read for a beach vacation or a long plane ride or just a lazy Saturday afternoon when you want to treat yourself to fun romcom with a little something extra. I am already looking forward to Painter's next book!



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Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing me with advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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When Sadie Brooks unexpectedly loses her marketing job, she flees New York City to spend the summer with her best friend in small-town Texas, where joining his Dungeons & Dragons campaign is the perfect distraction while she plans her next steps.

In the game, she becomes Jaylie, a powerful human cleric blessed by the Goddess of Luck. But in real life, Sadie believes her luck has run out—until she meets Noah Walker, the outgoing bartender roped into joining their party as Loren, an adventurous and charismatic lute-strumming elf. Just as Jaylie finds herself succumbing to the bard’s charms over the course of their party’s travels, Sadie also begins to fall under Noah’s spell.

As their relationship progresses in both worlds, Sadie wonders if what they have might last beyond the game. But like his traveling bard character, Noah never stays in one place for long. When a new opportunity arises in New York, Sadie must face the truth about why she lost her job in the first place—and whether she and Noah have found something in Texas worth staying for. Torn between her career dreams in the city and the exciting uncertainty of a new adventure, she will have no choice but to roll the dice.
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This book is unlike anything that I have ever read, and I really enjoyed how different it was. I am not a D&D player, but I am definitely a fan of the nerdy side of things, so the premise of this book was attractive to me. And I immediately loved the two worlds that Woods created in her book and the characters that inhabited them.

That said, the book did get a bit tedious for me in the middle, specifically in the fantasy sequence, but that may have been because of my lack of experience with the D&D and role playing universe. I found myself skimming some of those sections to get back to the reality timeline. However, they were beautifully written.

One of my favorite tropes is found family, and this was heavily featured in this book, so I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I also loved Sadie's journey as she is forced to really consider what it is she wants out of life and what she is willing to do to get it. We have all been at that crossroads before, and Woods writes about that indecision well.

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Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press (via NetGalley) for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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Honor seems to have everything: she adores her bright and beautiful daughter, Chloe, and her charming, handsome husband, Tom, even if he works one hundred hours a week. Yet Honor’s longing for another baby threatens to eclipse all of it―until a shocking event changes their lives forever.

Years later, Tom makes a decision that ripples through their families' lives in ways he could never have foreseen. As the consequences of that fateful choice unfold, two women's paths become irrevocably intertwined. But when old love clashes with new, who will be left standing? And what happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?

Blending a page-turning moral dilemma with satisfying emotional poignancy, Finding Grace is a sweeping love story that explores the price of a new beginning, how the ghosts of our past shape our future, and whether redemption can be found in the wreckage of what we've lost.
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The first chapter of this book grabbed me like few other books have in recent memory. It was that good. And the rest of the book was...also good but maybe didn't quite live up to the promise of that first chapter. The premise was unlike anything I had really read before, and I enjoyed many elements of this story, making this a solid four-star read for me. However, there was one main character whom I really found it difficult to root for, and this kind of marred the reading experience for me. Still, there was enough action to keep me turning the pages, and there was a sweet redemptive arc in there that was the kind of thing I love to see in well-written women's fiction. This was a debut novel that hints at a promising new voice in women's fiction, and I look forward to reading what Rothschild brings us in the future.

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