Educated by Tara Westover
CW: misogyny, gaslighting, violence, psychological & physical & spiritual abuse, child abuse, use of N-word by family member
I have to thank Westover for writing this memoir. It must have taken her a lot of courage to relive everything and share her own life story with the world.
ON THE ROCKS (A Swizzle Stick Romance #2) by Georgia Beers
Click on the cover for my review on Goodreads.
3.5 stars rounding up.
This is the second book I’ve read this month featuring an elementary school teacher main (the other one is Marry Me by Melissa Brayden; my review here), and gosh, why aren’t there more books with frazzled teachers and trouble-making kids?
Vanessa Martini (33) knows what she wants in a woman: not her students’ mom, not under 35 years old. But when she met Grace Chapman (29, bisexual), mother of the headache named Oliver, they connected better than expected. Too good, actually. Could the worst timing of Grace going through divorce while Oliver is in Vanessa’s class turn out to be the best time for them to date?
SHAKEN OR STIRRED (A Swizzle Stick Romance #1) by Georgia Beers
Click on the cover for my review on Goodreads.
A new series with gay cousins and I’m so here for it! Shaken or Stirred is the first book in the Swizzle Stick Romance trilogy featuring cousins Julia, Vanessa, and Amelia Martini, respectively. I love this trio and am excited for Vanessa’s (On the Rocks) and Amelia’s stories because Vanessa is such a fun person who is an elementary school teacher and Amelia is in her late forties (48 in Shaken or Stirred) who takes zero bullshit. While Vanessa and Amelia seem to have more personality to them, Julia is… a business owner who is a workaholic. Maybe not the most intriguing character, her story was still an enjoyable one.
Julia Martini (38) just bought Martini’s from her uncle and reopened the bar. When Savannah McNally (34), who works as a caretaker, comes in for a drink one day, sparks fly. But there is something going on between the Martinis and McNallys on top of other issues within their own families. Will Julia and Savannah retreat to their comfort zones and miss out on this chance of love?
MARRY ME by Melissa Brayden
Click on the cover for my review on Goodreads.
Ally and Megan’s chemistry was off the charts! From their first kiss to all the intimate scenes, I felt warmth in my stomach—always a good sign that the romantic connection is well-written.
Allison “Ally” Hale, a fourth grade school teacher, and Brent Carmichael, eldest son of the rich Carmichael family, are getting married. With Ally’s parents’ financial security on the line because the Carmichaels have the power to make or break their oatmeal bars, no one expected Ally to develop feelings for the locally famous wedding planner, Megan Kinkaid (Black, biracial), a friend of Brent’s. Should Ally ignore her growing attraction to Megan, or shoot for a chance of having a happier future?
A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers
Click on the cover for my review on Goodreads.
This is so cute and it makes me so happy! Sibling Dex (29, agender, they/them) and Splendid Speckled Mosscap (agender, it/its) are the only travel duo I need, aka the burnt-out cleric and the impossibly inquisitive robot.
This novella reads like a prequel as we are introduced to the world Panga, a moon of planet Motan, as well as the human religion Sacred Six (Parent Gods: Bosh, God of the Cycle, Grylon, God of the Inanimate, Trikilli, God of the Threads; Child Gods: Samafar, Chal, Allalae). Chambers’ writing is very descriptive, and the world comes to life as Sibling Dex starts out as a garden monk, switches vocation to a tea monk, and decides to take a break altogether and embark on a journey to Hart’s Brow Mountain outside of human settlement.