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Review: The No-Show

Review: The No-ShowTitle: The No-Show
Author: Beth O'Leary
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 337
Source: Library
Rating:
Sexual Content: 2.5 Flames

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There's content in this book that may be triggering to some readers. I've tried to include the possible triggers in this book at end of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis

Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth. These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: They've all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up--Valentine's Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they've all been stood up by the same man.

My Thoughts

Ever since I read Beth O’Leary’s THE FLATSHARE back in 2021, I’ve wanted to read something else written by her. When I was searching for available audiobooks on Libby this last week, I saw THE NO-SHOW and decided to check it out.

I’m so glad I decided to read THE NO-SHOW. I absolutely adored it. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. I was hooked from the get-go because I wanted to know what was going on.

I knew there had to be more to the story than just these three women being stood up by the same man on Valentine’s Day. While I read, I had to look past the obvious and hold to my wonderment of how Joseph was juggling the relationships. I’m glad I held judgment about him because I was well-rewarded.

It’s one of those feelings, happiness. One of the ones you don’t really notice is gone until it comes back.

There is plenty of swoon-worthy moments and sexual tension, but THE NO-SHOW is so much more than just a romance. It’s a story about love, forgiveness, redemption, grief, second chances, and healing. I really loved how O’Leary wrote about mental health and healing from abusive relationships (professional and romantic). It felt real and it felt raw. I loved these characters and I wanted the best for them as I read about each of their lives.

I wish I could put into words all the reasons I loved THE NO-SHOW but I feel like I’ve already said too much and I don’t want to spoil the fun for anyone else. Just know, the story’s worth it. And, if you decide to read it, listen to the audiobook. Each woman and Joseph have their own narrator. I loved listening to all four voices. Anyway, it looks like O’Leary’s on her way to becoming a new favorite author.

Have you read THE NO-SHOW? If so, what did you think?

Trigger Warning

There is a trigger warning for loss of a parent, loss of a loved one, miscarriage, abandonment, stalking, and sexual manipulation.

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July 2024 Monthly Wrap-up

July was a fantastic reading month! I read 8 books, which is a personal best! Before this month, the most books I’d ever read in one month was 6. I honestly don’t know if I can keep up this momentum. At least I’m loving most of the books I’ve reading, no matter how many I read.

My favorite book this month was a toss up between FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros and THE NO-SHOW by Beth O’Leary. I didn’t really have a least favorite book this month.

Books Read
Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris
Sunrunner's Fire by Melanie Rawn
Hello, Transcriber by Hannah Morrissey
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey
The Unwedding by Ally Condie
The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
Books Reviewed
Stats

July

Books Read: 8

Pages Read: 3,061

Hours Listened: 49h 55m

Average Rating: 4.19

Year-to-Date

Books Read: 26

Pages Read: 12,505

Hours Listened: 215h 29m

Average Rating: 4.62

August Plans
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
When I'm Dead by Hannah Morrissey
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

How did your July go? What are your plans for August?

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Review: The Unwedding

Review: The UnweddingTitle: The Unwedding
Author: Ally Condie
Genre(s): Mystery
Pages: 352
Source: Own
For: Book Club
Rating:
Sexual Content: 0 Flames

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There's content in this book that may be triggering to some readers. I've tried to include the possible triggers in this book at end of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis

Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world. She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. But now, she’s traveling solo. To add insult to injury, there’s a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. When Ellery discovers the body of the groom floating in the pool, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed.

My Thoughts

I was really excited to read THE UNWEDDING not only because I know Ally Condie personally, but also because it was chosen as the June book for Reese’s Book Club. Thankfully, my IRL book club decided to read it as our August book.

When I found out that THE UNWEDDING was a murder mystery, I was hoping the story would be more of a thriller. To my disappointment, it wasn’t. While the story’s suspenseful at times, I never had that edge-of-my-seat feeling I crave when reading thrillers mysteries.

Despite my disappointment with the mystery in THE UNWEDDING, I still found Ally’s writing a joy to read. As always, her writing has a poetic and lyrical feel and paints a clear picture of love, loss, and healing. The emotionality was my favorite part. I especially loved reading the aspects of the story that came from her life.

I really liked the characters. I loved watching Ellery become stronger despite her grief. I loved Ravi and Nina, Grace and Gary, Morgan and Maddox, and Andy, Rachel, and Olivia. Each personality and backstory added to the emotionality of the overarching story.

I’ve been trying to decide how to rate THE UNWEDDING. Even though I thought the mystery fell flat, I still loved the characters and emotions throughout the story. Because of this, I’ve settled on 3.5 stars.

Have you read THE UNWEDDING? If so, what did you think?

Trigger Warning

There is a trigger warning for loss of a spouse and loss of a child.

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Review: The Widowmaker

Review: The WidowmakerTitle: The Widowmaker
Author: Hannah Morrissey
Series: Black Harbor #2
Genre(s): Thriller
Pages: 304
Source: Library
For: Personal Interest
Rating:
Sexual Content: 1.5 Flames

Add to Goodreads

There's content in this book that may be triggering to some readers. I've tried to include the possible triggers in this book at end of my review.
Goodreads Synopsis

A wealthy family shrouded in scandal; a detective tasked with solving an impossible cold case; and a woman with a dark past collide in Hannah Morrissey's stunning new Black Harbor mystery, THE WIDOWMAKER.

My Thoughts

As I said in my HELLO, TRANSCRIBER review, I found out WHEN I’M DEAD, one of my Book of the Month (BOTM) books, is the third book in the Black Harbor series. I wanted to read it this month so I decided to check out the first (HELLO, TRANSCRIBER) and second (THE WIDOWMAKER) books from my library.

Even though THE WIDOWMAKER is the second book in the Black Harbor series, it’s not really sequel to HELLO, TRANSCRIBER. Investigator Kole, now Sgt. Kole, does return as a secondary character, but the commonality between the two stories is the setting–Black Harbor, Wisconsin–the most crime-ridden city in the state. And, THE WIDOWMAKER’s told in a dual POV.

I thought the story was captivating and suspenseful. I love Morrissey’s beautifully descriptive prose. Because of the dual POV, it took me a few chapters to understand what was happening. At that point, I zipped right through the story. When I wasn’t listening to the audiobook, I was thinking about the characters and their lives.

THE WIDOWMAKER is a very dark thriller that kept me guessing until the end. It’s very thought-provoking and deals with hard subjects like child abandonment, abuse, and sexual assault.

I liked both of the main characters. I also liked the narrators for the audiobook. They both did a great job bringing Morgan and Investigator Hudson to life. I thought some of the secondary characters were a bit flat and could’ve been fleshed out more. I liked the little Easter eggs pointing to HELLO, TRANSCRIBER when Hudson was interacting with and talking about Sgt. Kole.

Even though I wouldn’t have missed anything by skipping HELLO, TRANSCRIBER and THE WIDOWMAKER, I’m glad I decided to read both of them. I liked getting to know Black Harbor and its people and I’m even more excited to finally read WHEN I’M DEAD.

Have you read THE WIDOWMAKER? If so, what did you think?

Trigger Warning

There is a trigger warning for suicide, suicidal ideation, death of a parent, child abandonment, child abuse, spousal abuse, and sexual assault.

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Sunday News #62

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon are blog news memes hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer and Reader Buzz, respectively. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and other things.
What Happened this Week

I went out to lunch with my BFF on Wednesday. Afterward, we crafted while watching a movie. We’re trying to get together and do this at least once a week.

On Thursday, Corey and I saw the new DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE movie. It was amazing! I especially loved all the cameos. I can’t wait to see it again.

Corey and I also went over to my BFF’s on Friday for dinner and a movie. We had homemade French dip sandwiches and au jus. We watched THE FALL GUY because my BFF and her oldest daughter hadn’t seen it yet.

What I Blogged

Here’s what I posted on the blog this week:

What I Read and I’m Reading

I finished listening to the audiobook for THE WIDOWMAKER by Hannah Morrissey on Friday and reading THE UNWEDDING by Ally Condie last night. I’ll be posting my reviews tomorrow and Wednesday, respectively.

I started listening to the audiobook for THE NO-SHOW by Beth O’Leary on Friday night and I’m going to start reading WHEN I’M DEAD by Hannah Morrissey this week.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?

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