This was wonderful! All I knew going into this memoir was that Ina is “The Barefoot Contessa.” I‘ve never watched her shows or purchased her cookbooks.

I came out of this a fan! And being able to listen to Ina‘s voice telling her story made it so much more special.

Now I want to buy one of her cookbooks and start trying her recipes.

Loved! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started reading this one with a lot of expectations, since it has been listed as an anticipated release this year (that should‘ve been my first red flag…). The story was engaging for about 50%, but then it took a whole different turn (not for the better, IMO).

It became predictable, which in turn made it boring for me.

This being the author‘s first novel makes it a great effort and I will read her future work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

I‘m reading too many books right now (nothing new here 😅), but nothing seemed to be holding my attention…

…Enter this book: Rich people secrets, building staff who know way more than they let on, set in NYC…Yes, please!

20% in and very intrigued. #arc

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. Yes. About 150

2. This one introduced me to Kennedy Ryan‘s writing and I loved it!

Play? @Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraBB @Sace

I wanted to read something a little less heavy than my normal reads and this is proving to be a good choice! #arc

I went into this one with such high expectations after loving the author‘s first novel. Unfortunately, I struggled with the story.

Too many POVs and backstories made it hard for me to keep everyone‘s story straight. It also made the book too long and all I kept wishing was for the story to end.

Will keep reading this author in the future, this one just didn‘t work for me.

2.5⭐️ #arc #NetGalley

Sometimes while reading this book you just feel like you‘re reading about the same thing over and over. But, then you remember that the narrator is a teen girl and she‘s telling you about her summer with her best friend.

Another unique thing about this one is the language. Written entirely in local slang, it took me a bit to get used to, but this just added to the richness of the story.

Loved! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Found myself putting this one down and forgetting about it. I‘m taking it as my brain can‘t handle this story right now.

Read this one on audio, and it was the best decision! These interconnected short stories were excellent and the narrators were superb.

It‘s official: Dahlia de la Cerda is now a fave author!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heading into my birthday weekend reading my favorite author!! ❤️ #arc

I loved this one so much! Set in Georgia in the 1960‘s, Doris is a very religious teen who needs to have an abortion and turns to her favorite teacher for help. The duo embark on a weekend trip to Atlanta for the procedure, which gets delayed. While waiting, Doris meets a cast of characters who completely change her worldview and broaden her life choices.

Definitely a favorite read this year!

5⭐️ Pub Date: 6/17/25 #arc #NetGalley

The weirdest thing just happened: I was watching a video on YT and the creator mentioned receiving an ARC of this book, and I thought it sounded like something I might like. Fast-forward 20 mins later and I received the ARC on my inbox! 😮 🫶🏽

Love this cover, and the story is great, so far! ☺️ #arc

Can‘t deal with the pressure of so many people waiting for this at the library, so I‘m starting it now 😅

Current audiobook… I‘ve never watched Ina‘s show or gotten her cookbooks, but her memoir is so interesting!

I loved the premise of this book and it started out like a very promising read. I loved how the author used a lot of stereotypes to portray racism and privilege. It started going down for me at around 60%, I just felt like it started to become predictable and the ending felt very flat. I wished the author had taken a few more risks with this one.

3.5 ⭐️ #arc #NetGalley

Currently reading… And unable to put it down!

Enjoyed this on audio. My heart goes out to her for all the suffering she went through before getting diagnosed.

Set in Atlanta in the 90's, Daniel and Jacob are employed by a developer who is trying to get government approval for new housing developments in the city in anticipation of the upcoming Olympics. These projects would mean displacement for the families in the area, who are mostly Black. In the story, we follow our protagonists as they navigate their values, ambitions and accepting who they are when it comes to their sexuality.

Out tomorrow! 4⭐️

Started this yesterday and already so invested! Will probably spend all day reading this today. #arc

Soft pick and ALL the trigger warnings for abusive relationship themes. Glad I read it, but it‘s a tough one to recommend, honestly.

Hello, it‘s me, starting a new book at bedtime… 😅🤦🏽‍♀️

Reading Zarna‘s memoir and everything she has gone through to get to where she is has made me even more of a fan. This book will make you laugh and at the same time tug at your heartstrings.

Loved! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#arc #NetGalley Pub Date: 4/29/25

Current audiobook… Loving Selma‘s narration!

3.5 ⭐️This started off with a bang, but as the story went on I just kept constantly checking how much more I had to go. It just felt too long.

I did like the autism representation, and that Soledad was biracial, but I felt that the author kept on hammering on the same things and it became repetitive.

This was OK overall, but I didn't love it as much as the first one in the series.

Ready for book 3!

I‘ve always liked Zarna‘s humor and she has been popping up a lot on my feed lately. Going through my lists of April ARCs this morning I discovered I have her new memoir. I‘m so excited! ☺️ #arc #NetGalley

Starting this…Seems like it‘s going to be all kinds of messy and I‘m here for it!!

There was a point while reading this novel where I almost gave up on it because I felt I was not getting it. But, I kept reading and it turned into one of the most beautiful examples of how the use of language can just turn your emotions into a rollercoaster.

Read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc #NetGalley

US Pub Date: 6/3/25

Current Spanish read…I‘ve had this on my TBR for a while and finally decided to pick it up.

A story about women rebelling about the cards dealt to them. These stories are not for the faint of heart, but you will not be able to look away.

We follow Justine, Eskedare, Flora, Zeinah and Dounia, who are very different from each other, but their lives get intertwined as they navigate life in the Gulf.

If you love stories about the power of the human spirit, and especially the resilience of women, read this!

5⭐️

Pub Date: 5/6/25 #arc

Current audiobook…This has started with a bang!

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

1. Sunflowers 🌻

2. Daughter, friends & family, books

Thanks for tagging me @Deblovestoread 🤗

I live in the vicinity of where the nightclub tragedy in DR happened on Monday 💔 Yesterday we had a 12-hour power outage to aid rescue efforts, and this book kept me company.

Friends, I can already tell you to put this on your radar!

And hug your loved ones a little more tightly today ❤️

#arc

I don‘t have the emotional bandwidth to handle this one right now…Might pick-up again in the future.

This was such a great book, I didn‘t want it to end! Yasmen and Josiah are possibly my fave fictional couple right now.

Loved Kennedy Ryan‘s approach to second-chance romance, and especially loved how mental health and therapy were such a central part of the story.

Can‘t wait to read the next book on the series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

1. Very much so! I read mostly on Kindle now because I don‘t have any more space for books in my apartment (also, I read too fast and my budget can‘t handle it 🤣…Yay for libraries and ARCs! ❤️)

2. One of the sisters was always reading and became a librarian.

#Two4Tuesday

I loved this story about the power of friendship!

This was not an easy read, due to the subject matter, but it just warmed my heart so much.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Current audiobook…Newman‘s stories are rapidly becoming a favorite!

After mostly stepping away from romance, I‘ve been slowly creeping back…

Kennedy Ryan seems to be a big favorite and I‘m starting to see why. Loving this!

A friend was raving about this one recently and library hold came in today…And I love to start a new book at bedtime 😅

I loved this book SO much! It just felt like such a real account of a family‘s life. Audiobook was excellent!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Current audiobook… Needed something a little bit less intense 😅

Nothing wrong with this one, it just wasn‘t working for me, and even though I‘ve listened to some of her music, I‘m not enough of a fan to stick with it until the end.

Also, currently trying to tame down my “Currently Reading” list so that I can start new books! 😅

It pains me to do this because I love Sandie Jones. But, this was such a terrible book for me! There were a lot of unnecessary twists and it just made the story drag and be boring.

I should‘ve DNF‘d this, but I was holding on to the hope that this story was going to redeem itself somehow. I also held on because the premise of the story was what initially drew me to it.

Better luck next time, I guess!

⭐️⭐️

When John Boyne takes you for a ride, buckle up! I am glad I was able to read all four novellas in one go, as it made the reading experience better for me.

Be ready, you will not feel joy reading this, but the stories are told in such a way that it will be hard to put down (I did have to take a break between Fire and Air to catch my breath, though).

Be ready to question your biases!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc US Pub Date: 9/9/25

💨Air review! 💨👇🏽

The books on this series just keep getting better! Honestly, I recommend going in blindly on this one. It was a lot!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Taking a break before starting Air! 😅

1. I was a great student in elementary and middle school. OK in HS, with the added bonus that I moved from DR to RI on my senior year and was so far advanced in the curriculum that I took mostly electives 🙌🏽 Did well in college

2. This has been one of my fave reads this year, and the MCs meet in college.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

Reading update: This one is proving to be a difficult read for me.

Freya‘s cruelty is a hard pill to swallow. Which made me ask: Would you be acting this way if it were a man committing such acts? The answer was no.

This book is making me examine my biases!

In this installment a pair of famous footballers are on trial for rape. We follow our MC, Evan, as he takes stock of his life and how he ended up in this situation.

As always, Boyne makes us take a hard look at the consequences of life‘s choices, be it those that we make or those that have been made for us.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On to Fire! 🔥

Oh, how I‘ve missed Boyne‘s writing!

A woman arrives on an island trying to escape from her past and lead a solitary life. She changes her name and cuts off her hair, but scandals have a way to seep back into life.

This was such great storytelling, as I‘ve always come to expect from Boyne. Can‘t wait to read the rest of the series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️