Book Review Round-Up (#23)

Hello, my darling friends. Welcome to an all-new monthly series I plan to crush during 2023. Instead of having a monthly Books & Bottle review AND a quarterly audiobook review, I’ve decided to combine all my books together by month. So, introducing Book Review Round-Up (#23)!

If you’ve been around a while, you’ve probably noticed how long my quarterly audiobook posts have become. Last Summer I shared 17(?) books, which is too many for one post. By the end, I wrote the book’s title and the author and called it a day. I want to be able to chat in depth about each one… or a least a paragraph!

As much as I love reviewing a book and a bottle of wine, the truth is, I really don’t drink that much. It was becoming stressful for me to keep up with getting and/or trying a new bottle of wine every month despite having a Corvain.

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Book Review Round-Up (#23)

So now we’re here. With a lovely small haul of 6 books that I read for the month of January! I cannot wait to share. I also think these will be posted on the very last day of the month, instead of the last Monday.

Without further pomp and circumstance, let’s get into it!

Luck & Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

_{Format: Audiobook | Goodreads Review | Amazon | Bookshop.org}

What I’ve loved about Sarah Grunder Ruiz‘s books is how important mental health is and confronting your trauma. This book is a lot more about how to deal with your issues and loving yourself unconditionally, before allowing anyone else to love you back. I enjoyed this story and was very invested in Nina and Ollie.

City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller

_{Format: Paperback | Goodreads Review | Amazon | Bookshop.org}

This book has lost stars since posting to GoodReads. I wanted to love this book because everyone said it was so similar to Gilmore Girls… no. Besides taking a horse-drawn sleigh, this is nothing like Gilmore girls. I tolerated the main character and her behavior and was more invested in the side story of the Bed & Breakfast owner.

Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison

_{Format: Audiobook} _{| Goodreads Review | Amazon | Bookshop.org}

Oh goshhhhh. I loved this entire series! Lovelight Farm is a darling tree farm with three co-owners. Each has its own book. This one is about Layla, the bakery owner, who has a grown her business into the town’s favorite place for croissants and gossip. It’s where I’d be every day if I lived there.

Sweet Caleb is the kindest man in town. He out of the police department for taking too many IOUs for parking tickets. In short, please read this whole series. You won’t be disappointed!

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

_{Format: Paperback} _{| Goodreads Review | Amazon | Bookshop.org}

This has been my favorite thriller yet! Holy smokes, you guys! I read the bulk of this book in two days and, let me tell you… everyone got what they deserved. This novel was a hot mess unfolding before your eyes, starting with a wedding reception, murder, and mayhem.

I did figure out what was happening halfway through but wasn’t 100% til it happened. It was so justifying. If anything, read it for that.

Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy’s Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love by Tori Dunlap

_{Format: Audiobook} _{| Goodreads Review | Amazon | Bookshop.org}

I’ve followed Tori on social media since her start about 6 years ago. She started writing about how her corporate job was sucking her will to live. How she realized if she was able to save up $100k she would have the flexibility to do and go wherever she wanted. So, she nickeled and dimed herself until she finally hit her goal.

Now she’s teaching women to build a voice and make more money. After all, being a badass rich woman is the highest form of protest in our capitalistic America.

This book is for women asking “what’s next?”, after building an emergency fund and wanting to learn more about saving for success and investing. Don’t walk, run to grab this inspirational book!

In a Jam by Kate Canterbary

_{Format: Paperback} _{| Goodreads Review | Amazon | Bookshop.org}

I was forewarned that this book was spicy ahead of time but I wasn’t prepared to love every character thrown at me. This story follows Shay and Noah who knew each other in high school. Noah moved back home after his father passed to take care of the family farm. He’s turned it into the town empire. Shay is a kindergarten teacher who, after being left at the altar, isn’t looking for anything other than peace in her post-hectic lifestyle. She moves in next door to Noah, who’s recently adopted his niece and learning to elements of being a single dad and business owner.

This book is not only cute but it hits you with all the feels. I won’t lie, this book gets hot and spicy in the best ways. Be prepared to blush in public, if you’re reading out and about!

If you take away anything from this, my top recs are the last four! This was a great month for books.