Search

Nerd Girl Loves Books

Book recommendations and short reviews just for you!

Tag

contemporary

The Inmate by Freida McFadden

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is my first book by this author but I will definitely check out her other books. The book was a wild ride with plenty of twists and I found myself changing opinions several times about who did what. That’s what I’m looking for in a thriller – I want to be surprised.

Continue reading “The Inmate by Freida McFadden”

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

Rating: 3 out of 5.

This was our February book club pick. The book is not something that I would have chosen myself to read, but it was fine. It’s a character driven story, which are not my favorites, so read this review with that in mind. The story is centered on two families and one tragic accident that happens in 1985 that links the families forever. The book focuses on big feelings like grief, betrayal, and depression. So it’s about so much, but also about nothing. That’s what frustrates me about character driven books, BUT, if you like them, then I think you will love this book. It’s beautifully written and definitely makes you feel all the feels. I’ll give you fair warning, though, it’s a very sad book.

Divinely Dramatic (Divine Vintage Series, #2) by Sandra L. Young

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I’m happy to be a part of Kate Rock Book Tours tour of this book published by Wild Road Press. This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. This grumpy-sunshine romance with a supernatural ghostly mystery is set in the perfect location – an old community theater building.

Vintage fashionista Marcy Alexander agrees to costume a period-era play to help a friend out and finds herself not only in charge of picking out the costumes, but with a starring role in the play. While looking for costumes in the attic of the building, her ability to read auras is tested when she sees a bright light that appears to seeking her help. Along with her friends and co-workers, who also have paranormal abilities, Marcy seeks to solve the mystery of the “cursed” play, as well as deal with her feelings for the grumpy play director.

Continue reading “Divinely Dramatic (Divine Vintage Series, #2) by Sandra L. Young”

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I really enjoyed this contemporary cozy mystery that focuses on 25 year old Kat who had a terrible childhood, never stays in one place long, and doesn’t let anyone into her life, and 77 year old Dorothy, who has lived in Shelley House over 30 years and has appointed herself caretaker and watchman of the building and her neighbors. Neither woman is liked much, but underneath the crankiness and contempt, is a world of hurt, grief, and pain.

Continue reading “Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson”

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander

Rating: 4 out of 5.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a solid debut thriller than held my attention and was a quick and easy read. The book is told in present day and nine years prior while the MC, Charlie, was in an elite journalism graduate school. She was a witness to a terrible incident at her school dubbed “Scarlet Christmas”, and has spent the intervening years rebuilding her life and reputation. Now one of her former schoolmates plans to release a buzzy film about the events and she’s determined to stop it so it doesn’t derail her life again.

Continue reading “Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander”

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Bradley and Celine used to be best friends when they were younger, until Bradley got popular as they grew older and a misunderstanding blew them apart. They are both smart, high achieving academics, but can’t stand to be in the same room together. So imagine their surprise when they are thrown together and must work together for a chance to win a scholarship.

Continue reading “Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert”

This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I really enjoyed author @edwardunderhill ‘s first book, Always the Almost and despite being decades away from high school and all the angst it entails, I still felt seen. I couldn’t put the book down and just sighed with a big smile on my face after I read it. So, when I saw that he had another book coming out, you know I was knocking down @wednesdaybooks door for an ARC copy of it – and boy, I was not disappointed!!

Continue reading “This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill”

Village in the Dark (Cara Kennedy #2) by Iris Yamashita

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is the second book in this fast paced mystery/thriller that can be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read the first book, and while I probably would have enjoyed the book even more had I read it first, I don’t feel like I missed out on anything or had trouble following the story. There was plenty of backstory in the book to fill me in on what happened in book 1.

Continue reading “Village in the Dark (Cara Kennedy #2) by Iris Yamashita”

Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is an exciting psychological thriller set at a liberal arts college in South Carolina. Margot’s best friend Eliza died 3 weeks after graduation and Margo blames Eliza’s boyfriend for her death. Margot goes into a deep funk, but ultimately decides to attend the college she and Eliza planned to attend together. Margo spends her freshman year cloistered with her plain jane roommate, never making other friends or participating in social events. The only thing she does notice is Lucy, who is bold and dangerous – and reminds her so much of Eliza.

Continue reading “Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham”

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑