Carrie Sotto Is Back.

   

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Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from Tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two. 

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan. 

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever. 

 

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 Taylor Jenkins Reid has been one of my favorite historical fiction authors since I read Daisy Jones & The Six back in 2020. I fell in love with the author and her style of writing. Reid is an author who makes you feel connected with all the characters, a chance to imagine their experience. Carrie Sotto Is Back wasn’t like her other books but in a good way. While reading the book, I felt like I was with Carrie Sotto, playing Tennis with her. One of the things I loved about this book was how much I learned about the game of Tennis, and I could tell how much research went into this book. I knew little about Tennis before reading this book, I had played it for fun when I was younger. However, once I read Carrie Sotto Is Back I learned so much more, I learned about the rules and how Tennis Open works, which was a unique experience for me. I knew Tennis was hard but had no idea how much work went into it. 

 I didn’t know what to think about Carrie Sotto, I had mixed feelings about her. There were times that I loved her, and there were other times that I was way annoyed with her. I loved how hard she worked; she wouldn’t win so many times if she didn’t work hard. Carrie started loving Tennis, but as time went by, I felt that being the best tennis player got into her head, and winning was all she cared about. I didn’t particularly appreciate how she acted when she lost and how she treated her father. However, I was rooting for her when she decided to make a comeback, coming out of retirement. I wondered what would happen if she didn’t win; how would she react? On the other hand, I loved her dad and how he was by her side, cheering her all the way, even when she took out her anger on him. I saw how much love he had for Carrie and that he wanted his daughter to be happy. 

Bowe . You could see the connection between the two of them instantly. There was a special connection between the two of them, the one that Carrie refused to see. I believe that Bowe brought out the best of her, and I saw the change in her after the two started training together. I loved seeing and following Carrie to each Tennis Open, and when she was playing against the other players and all those descriptions of the games, it made me feel as if I was there, at the games. After reading the book, it made me wish that I knew how to play Tennis. I wasn’t fond of all the Spanish that was used without the translation. Sometimes Carrie and her father would respond to each other in Spanish, but there would be no translation, so it was a little confusing what happened. I think if there were some translations, it would be easier to follow those conversations. Otherwise, I loved the book and the story. If you love books about sports, I would highly recommend this book. I’m excited to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid has for us next.

French Kissing In New York.

 

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*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review* 
 

 

Welcome to New York. . . . He’s been waiting for you. 

Margot hasn't been able to stop thinking about Zach, the dreamy American boy she met one magical night in Paris. In an instant, they fell head over heels in love and spent the perfect evening ensemble—sealed with a kiss and a promise: if the universe wants them to be together, fate will find a way.
Flash forward one year later: Margot has finished high school and is newly arrived in New York, ready to roll up her chef's-coat sleeves in Manhattan's bustling restaurant scene, celebrate her father's upcoming wedding . . . and reconnect with Zach. 

But a lot can happen in a year and promises made in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower look different in the neon glow of the Big Apple. Margot spends the summer desperate to find Zach and enlists the help of Ben, the sweet line cook at her restaurant. Margot is convinced she found her soul mate that night in Paris . . . but what if the universe has a different plan? 

Anything's possible in New York City. Especially l'amour, American-style.

 

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  Another book that took my breath away. There are so many words I could use to describe this book, but that would be pages. I don't think I could accurately represent all my emotions right now. Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is a new author, and this is my favorite way of discovering a new author. The cover and the title is what captured my attention first. Look at the cover, how colorful it is, and how the couple embraces one another. I was curious about the story before reading the book's description. I didn't know what to expect when I picked up the book since it was my first by the author. It didn't take long to fall in love with the story and the characters. French Kissing In New York transports you to Paris, New York. All the descriptions within the book make you feel like you are there, along with Margot, Ben, and Zach. It felt real and magical. 

Ben and Margot. There’s a lot that I can say about the two of them. I felt the connection between the two of them even before they did. I could tell how much Ben cared about Margot, how he went out of his way to help Margot find Zach, despite how he felt about her. I couldn’t believe that Margot didn’t see it, that Ben loved her. I was waiting for her to figure out and realize that it was Ben that she belonged with, not Zach. I wasn’t t sure how I felt about Zach from the beginning, it was romantic how he and Margot met, but like Ben, I thought it was weird that he didn’t want to exchange numbers. If you meet someone special, wouldn’t you want to keep in touch, especially if you are not going to see each other for a while? I had a feeling that maybe he didn’t take their meeting as seriously as she did. I hoped that he wouldn’t hurt her if they did finally meet. 

I love New York and have visited it a couple of times. I loved that the book took place in New York. I loved all the descriptions; making me remember how magical it is. French Kissing In New York will make you go and revisit New York. This book will make you hungry, all the food descriptions, even if you just ate, it would make you want to eat again. Another character that I wasn’t fond of was the chef, I understand that he was running a restaurant, but he still should treat everyone with respect. I wonder how long Margot would last working for him. 

I loved the friendship between Liz and Margot. It reminded me of a friendship between a few of my closest friends. French Kissing In New York was one of my favorite reads of this year so far. I’m happy that I got to read an early copy of the book. Now that I read the book, I’m eager to see what the author has in store for us next.

The Sound Of Light.

 

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 *Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review* 

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden. 

American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research--her life's dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement's legendary Havmand--the merman--and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide. 

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence. Bestselling author of more than a dozen WWII novels, Sarah Sundin offers pens another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.

 

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Heartbreaking, memorable story. 

I read the first book by Sarah Sundin back in 2019, A Distant Melody. I don’t think there was a book I didn’t fall in love with since then. So when I got approved for an early copy of her newest book, The Sound Of Light, on Netgalley, I was so excited and couldn’t wait to read the book. I have loved all of her books that I have read; however, The Sound Of Light has become my favorite book of hers. I couldn’t seem to get enough of this book, and just when you think you've reached an area where you could put the book down, you find yourself reading for hours. The Sound of Light you learn much about Denmark and WWII during that time. Another thing that I love about Sarah Sundin’s books is the history, and you learn through her books. You can tell how much research the author has done to write this book. 

Henrick & Else. I loved their relationship from the start. I could tell there was a connection between the two, even before they did. Henrick gave her the courage to stand up for herself. I don’t think I saw them happier than when they were with each other. I hoped they would stay the same once Else discovered the truth about who Henrick was. I felt that, at some point, she would find out the truth about him. I thought that the characters that changed the most through the book were Else and Henrick, but then the two went through so much. I can’t even imagine going through what they did during WWII. The descriptions were breathtaking, and I felt there, enduring everything the characters were facing. The Sound Of Light is a book I highly recommend to history fans. This story will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Dear Medusa.

 

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*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review* 
 

Sixteen-year-old Alicia Rivers has a reputation that precedes her. But there's more to her story than the whispers that follow her throughout the hallways at school--whispers that splinter into a million different insults that really mean: a girl who has had sex. But what her classmates don't know is that Alicia was sexually abused by a popular teacher, and that trauma has rewritten every cell in her body into someone she doesn't recognize. To the world around her, she's been cast, like the mythical Medusa, as not the victim but the monster of her own story: the slut who asked for it. 

Alicia was abandoned by her best friend, quit the track team, and now spends her days in detention feeling isolated and invisible. When mysterious letters left in her locker hint at another victim, Alicia struggles to keep up the walls she's built around her trauma. At the same time, her growing attraction to a new girl in school makes her question what those walls are really keeping out. 

 

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Heartbreaking. Cherished. 

Many more words describe this book, but that would take me all night to write. I am unsure if I can find all the words to describe how I felt about this book. Dear Medusa I had my emotions everywhere while reading the book. It was also the story I couldn’t get out of my head. I have read books written in poetic verse, but nothing like this book. Dear Medusa was filled with so many powerful emotions; they were raw, real. I cannot imagine what Alicia must feel like to go through such horrifying events. It made me angry at the teacher; they are supposed to make the students feel safe. I was angry with other students for spreading rumors about her. I was scared for Alicia that it would be too much for her one day. 

I loved the way that Alicia’s emotions were portrayed in this book. I might now know what it felt like, but reading the book, I felt like I did. I was hoping that, eventually, Alicia would tell someone, like her mother or even her brother. The teacher needed to be reported before he did it to someone else. The cover and the title captured my attention when I was on Netgalley , and I couldn’t help but be curious about the story. Dear Medusa was a hard book to read at times, yet it took your breath away so that you couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t get enough of Alicia’s story, and I rooted for her to get a happy ending. Dear Medusa was one of the books I ended up reading multiple times late into the night. I needed to see how it was going to come to an end. 

An incredible, inspiring story. This is my first book by Olivia A.Cole , and I am so happy that I got a chance to read an early copy of her newest book. I am eager to see what else she has in store for us.

The Widow.

 

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

A husband with secrets. A wife with no limits. A riveting novel of marriage, privilege, and lies by Kaira Rouda, the USA Today bestselling author of The Next Wife. 

Jody Asher had a plan. Her charismatic husband, Martin, would be a political icon. She, the charming wife, would fuel his success. For fifteen congressional terms, they were the golden couple on the Hill. Life was good. Until he wasn’t. 

Martin’s secret affair with a young staffer doesn’t bother Jody personally. But professionally? It’s a legacy killer. Soon a reporter gets word of this scandal in the making, and Martin’s indiscretions threaten to ruin everything Jody has accomplished. 

When Martin suddenly dies, it’s a chance to change the narrative—but the reporter won’t let go of his lead. As the balance of power shifts in the Asher house and on the Hill, it’s time for Jody to take control. And there’s nothing the ruthless widow won’t do to secure the future she’s entitled to. Even if she has a secret of her own. 

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I haven’t read many books that feature politics because it’s not something I have too much interest in or understand very well. However, I decided to give this book a chance. I read the summary for The Widow and saw that it had some mystery surrounding the book. I didn’t know what to think about this book when I first picked it up, especially since I haven’t read any books by Kaira Rouda . This book took me by surprise, and it’s one of the best books I read; those featured politics; I couldn’t get enough of the story, and the characters, especially Jody. I was in love only a few pages into the book, and if it weren’t for all the tests and finals, I would have finished the book within a few days. I felt like the mystery surrounding Asher’s started from the first page. I knew that Martin would die at some point, and I expected him to drop dead on every page. However, I loved that the writer gave us readers a chance to get to know Martin better. I think he could survive if he had seen a doctor when Jody told him to. Sadly, it had to happen at his daughter’s wedding. 

I love books that are told from multiple characters’ points of view. Even as she helped Jody take Martin’s seat, I had a bad feeling about Mimi. I had a bad feeling about her and felt she only helped her because she had something up her sleeve. I loved the little advice that was between each chapter. Of course, I loved that it took place in DC; I lived there to picture it. There was always something that happened on every page. I had to force myself to reach a stopping point, or I knew I would end up reading late into the night. Every page, every chapter, had me rooting for more. 

While reading The Widow, I felt I learned much more about politics than I knew before starting the book. I knew it was hard work, but I had no idea how much hard work went into it and how many people were involved in the process. There are no words for how I felt about this book. It was…breathtaking. I cannot wait to check out the rest of Kaira Rouda works and see what other journey she will take me on.