This month was far from my best showing, but definitely not my worst. I read 8 books. A total of 3,367 pages. An average of 109 pages a day. And I liked all but one of them! So I consider that a win of a month. Let's get into it, shall we?
My Friends by Fredrik Backman (434 pages). This was a book for one of my book clubs. Yes, I'm in 2 book clubs. Honestly, are we shocked? All her life, 17 year old Louisa has loved a postcard of a famous painting. As an artist herself, she sees more in the painting than other people do. At the bottom of the painting, she sees 3 small figures sitting on a pier in front of the sea. A chance meeting in an alleyway leads to her getting possession of the painting itself after the artist dies. And possession of the artist's best friend Ted. Ted tells Louisa the story of the painting. And the friendship between him, the artist, Joar, and Ali. Honestly, I don't even know where to begin. There's just something about Backman's writing that gets you. The friendships. The characters. You get them. You love them. I finished in 4 days.
Bridesmaid Undercover by Meghan Quinn (484 pages). The second in the Bridesmaid for Hire series. Quinn connects almost all of her characters in some way (the Can brothers and their significant others from the Cane Brothers series, the Rowley siblings and their significant others from the Almond Bay series, and of course the Hopper siblings and Maggie from Bridesmaid for Hire book 1). In this one, Maggie's employee Everly and Hardy Hopper (brother of Haisley the bride from book 1) are the main characters. When Everly is hired to help the maid of honor (and Hardy's ex) plan the bridal shower and bachelor/ette party for their college friends, Hardy has a second job for her. To help him get Maple back. As Hardy and Everly work closely on the parties, they begin to fall for each other. Which is obvious to everyone but them. And when Maple lets Everly and Hardy know, in no uncertain terms, that she has no interest in getting back together with Hardy, sparks really begin to fly. Quinn's books are always a cute and spicy rom-com. I finished in 3 days.
The Coworker by Freida McFadden (362 pages). Natalie loves her life. She's the top sales rep at a vitamin and supplement company. She's beautiful and popular. And she's got a brand new boyfriend. But she also has a very odd coworker named Dawn. Dawn is an accountant and is just plain awkward. One day, Dawn doesn't show up to work (which is unusual for this type A employee). And with one phone call, Natalie finds herself involved in figuring out who might have wanted Dawn dead. Sometimes secrets from your past can come back to haunt you. This one did NOT go the direction I was thinking it would. And I loved that! I finished in 3 days.
Angels Fall by Nora Roberts (452 pages). This was for book club #2, Reading Between the Reps (my gym book club). Reece survived a brutal crime in Boston and has spent life since then on the road, never staying anywhere long enough to plant roots. But when her car acts up in Angel's Fist, Wyoming, she finds an idyllic town in the Tetons. And a job in a restaurant (she was a chef in her prior life). And a place to live (above the restaurant). And friends (boss Joanie, waitress Linda-Gail, shop owner Mac and writer Brody). One day on a hike, she sees a man attack a woman and kill her. But there's no evidence of the crime. And only Brody seems to believe her. Little things begin to happen- things are moved in her apartment, water is left running, clothes are tampered with. But instead of running, Reece and Brody double down to find the murderer. I'd never read Nora Roberts before. I get why she's a NYT best selling author- the story pulled me in and kept me guessing all the way through! I finished in 3 days.
Bridesmaid by Chance by Meghan Quinn (476 pages). The third one in the Bridesmaid for Hire series. This one focuses on Hudson Hopper (eldest brother of Haisley from book 1 and Hardy from book 2). Hudson feels the pressure from starting a new company with Hardy and getting out from under their father's control. Sloane is his super capable assistant (who also happens to be the sister of Hudson's business partner/best friend and sister-in-law to Haisley). When a business opportunity opens up, Hudson is eager to take it. But he needs to be a married man. Enter Sloane with the perfect plan- a real fake marriage. He gets his business deal, she gets a $40k bonus to buy her house. So off to London the newlyweds go, where Hudson is wooing a business deal and Sloane has stepped in as a bridesmaid for hire. Typical back and forth and misunderstandings, blah blah blah. Honestly, this was my least favorite of the series (and possibly all of Quinn's books). Hudson took the fake marriage too seriously and not as a simple business deal. But then also didn't want to take Sloane seriously. I just didn't get these two as a couple. I finished in 5 days.
My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows (516 pages). It's 1876 in the American Wild West. Where Wild Bill Hickok's Wild West Show is the greatest show on earth. It features teens Frank "Pistol Prince" Butler, Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane. It's also a cover, as Wild Bill (a US Marshall) and his business partner Charlie (a Pinkerton) are garou hunters. What are garou, you might ask? Werewolves. When a garou hunt goes wrong and Jane finds herself with a bite on her arm, she heads to deadwood, where she's been told there is a cure. But Frank, Annie and Wild Bill aren't going to let her go alone. The lawlessness of Deadwood has met its match with these three! Add into that some lyrics from Annie Get Your Gun as part of conversations, a shoutout to those seven pesky Pontipee brothers, and you've got perfection! I love these cute books. I finished in 3 days.
My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows (496 pages). This one takes place after My Lady Jane (which I read a few months ago). The Ethians and the Verities are still at odds. Elizabeth I is now on the throne of England. And a young girl named Mary is Queen of Scotland. Mary and her ladies in waiting are living in France, where she is engaged to marry the dauphin Francis. One of her ladies in waiting in Aristotle Nostradamus, daughter to yes, THAT Nostradamus. Although she is quite adept at potions, her visions are lacking (they seem to be plots of modern day movies, which is hysterical). Meanwhile, John Knox is stirring up an Ethian rebellion in Scotland, as he feels that a Verity should not sit on the throne. But Mary has a little secret of her own. These books are so creative, so cute, so fun! I love the creative license the authors take while still sticking to real history when they can. And any book that references The Princess Bride (more than once) is a winner in my eyes! I finished in 3 days.
The Narnia Code: CS Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens by Michael Ward (147 pages). To this day, there are 2 series that mean more to me than any others: Anne of Green Gables and the Chronicles of Narnia. These two series are the ones that I like to think solidified my love of reading. The author of this book ALSO loved Narnia. And during university, he got to live at CS Lewis' former home (I'm so jealous!). But he always wondered (as did others) about some of the seemingly incongruous additions to Narnia and how the books fit together and tie to the Bible. And he figured it out. Lewis was an expert of the Middle Ages. During that time, Earth was thought to be the center of the universe, with 7 planets orbiting around it (the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn). There are 7 books in the Narnia series. This book explains Ward's theory (which was actually his doctoral dissertation). I finished in 3 days.
This month's favorite is....My Friends. Although the nerdy academic in me really enjoyed The Narnia Code.
