Love by the Book A Novel by Jessica George

 Book Excerpt:

"Friendship is the love story you can count on.

Remy is lucky. Her debut novel, based on her three best friends, became an instant bestseller when it was released, and her agent and publisher are clamoring for a follow-up. But just as Remy's creative inspiration seems to leave her, so too do her friends: one moves to New York, one gets pregnant, and one gets back together with her (awful) boyfriend. After an ill-advised one-night stand complicates matters further, Remy is left deeply alone—and unable to find her next book idea.

Simone is successful. A Kindergarten teacher with a passion for kids, and a well-paying side hustle that affords her all the material comforts she desires, she doesn't have time for a robust social life. All Simone needs is her close-knit family—but after the true nature of her work is revealed, they cut her off, and she realizes for the first time just how isolated she is.

When Simone and Remy bump into each other (literally) in a bookstore, it isn't exactly soulmates at first sight. Simone is guarded and prickly, Remy is insecure and heartbroken, and each woman is harboring a secret. And yet they might just be the missing piece the other has been searching for—if only they can let each other in.

Can Simone help Remy make one of the most important decisions of her life—and can Remy help Simone recover all that she's lost? In Jessica George's heartwarming, funny, and soulful second novel, she explores the restorative nature of female friendship and the life-changing power of platonic love."

Title:  Love by the Book

Author:  Jessica George

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"Love by the Book" by Jessica George

My Review:

  

"Love by the Book" by Jessica George is a delightful and deeply engaging read that explores the profound nature of female friendship. The characters are wonderfully crafted and well-developed as they navigate themes of secrets, pressure, and loneliness.

The story beautifully captures the strength of their friendship and the love they share.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper

 Book  Excerpt:

"A woman learns the hard way about mixing business with pleasure in this hilarious new romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper.

I am beautiful. I am confident. I am lovable. I am a lottery winner.

This mantra will get Dreamy Daniels through each day until she makes it big. So what if she lives in a seedy part of Los Angeles in a house that's one earthquake away from crumbling or works an unfulfilling secretarial job while struggling to finish her bachelor's degree? All Dreamy needs to do is win the lottery, which she's been entering as a weekly tradition with her grandfather. When she catches the attention of her boss's potential investor, Dreamy has to remind herself to focus on her career goals so she can be her own boss. Who cares if he has the social grace of the Duke of Sussex and the suaveness of Idris Elba? No distractions are allowed.

Growing up with a father who is an A-list actor and a socialite mother, venture capitalist Karter Redford lives in a world of the rich and famous. Instead of attending a movie premiere, he prefers spending his time helping the less fortunate, backing start-up companies, and investing in cutting-edge ideas. Karter is used to his life revolving around work, but when he decides he wants someone to share it with, he falls for someone his mother would never approve of hilarious, quirky Dreamy, who has goals of her own…but also isn't a wealthy, upper-crust socialite. Though it's clear they're from different worlds, their relationship might just be his greatest investment yet."

Title: Business Not As Usual
Author: Sharon C. Cooper
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Business Not As Usual" by Sharon C. Cooper

My Assessment:

'Business Not As Usual' was an excellent enjoyable, fun read featuring Dreamy and Karter...two opposites in that she was poor and he was rich; however, both had style grace and were caring individuals. The secondary characters presented some intriguing thoughts throughout the read, keeping the reader turning the pages to see what was coming next. I loved Dreamy's grandpa! The idea of how Dreamy held to winning the lottery was off the chart...well played, and let's not forget her way of dressing. Karter was just a nice guy who finally got who he needed in his life despite how his mother tried her best to downplay his feeling toward Dreamy. We find Karter quite shaken after the death of his friend, knowing he needed to make some severe changes in his life. Will Karter succeed in this situation of overworking and not taking time out for other needs? Will this change after he meets Dreamy? To find out all the questions and more, you will have to pick up this good read and see how well this author brings it all out to the reader.

If you are looking for a 'magical fun story, age gap, a millionaire heroine, and a beautiful romance, you have come to the right place to get it all for 'Business Not As Usual.'

Thank you to Netgalley for a free eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Brown Girls A Novel by Daphne Palasi Andreades

 Book Excerpt:

"If you really want to know, we are the color of 7-Eleven root beer. The color of sand at Rockaway Beach when it blisters the bottoms of our feet. Color of soil . . .

Welcome to Queens, where streets echo with languages from all over the globe, subways rumble above dollar stores, trees bloom and topple over sidewalks. The funky scent of the Atlantic Ocean wafts in from Rockaway Beach. Within New York City's most vibrant and eclectic boroughs, young women of color like Nadira, Gabby, Naz, Trish, Angelique, and countless others attempt to reconcile their immigrant backgrounds with the American culture in which they come of age. Here, they become friends for life—or so they vow.

Exuberant and wild, together they roam The City That Never Sleeps, sings Mariah Carey at the tops of their lungs, yearns for crushes who pay them no mind—and break the hearts of those who do—all while trying to heed their mothers' commands to be obedient daughters. But as they age, their paths diverge, and rifts form between them, as some choose to remain on familiar streets, while others find themselves ascending in the world, beckoned by existences foreign and seemingly at odds with their humble roots.

A blazingly original debut novel told by a chorus of unforgettable voices, Brown Girls illustrates a collective portrait of childhood, adulthood, and beyond and is a striking exploration of female friendship, a powerful depiction of women of color attempting to forge their place in the world today. For even as the conflicting desires of ambition and loyalty, freedom and commitment, adventure and stability risk dividing them, it is to one another—and to Queens—that the girls ultimately return."

Title: Brown Girls
Author: Palasi Andreades
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Brown Girls" by Palasi Andreades

My Opinion:

'Brown Girls' was quite an exciting collection of vignettes in the way this author brought it all out to the reader of the stories of these brown girls [friends] growing up in Queens, New York. This author did an excellent job as she 'depicted the lives of these teenagers through adulthood.' From middle school until ...as the journey consists of from middle school, on through college, going to their 'motherlands,' and then through their motherhood, the reader is given an insightful story.

These brown Girls [Nadira, Gabby, Naz, Trish, Angelique], and others showed their uniqueness coming alive. Seeing the relationship they had with their moms was beautifully explored as they needed their commands. I loved the part where the girls were now women saw the sacrifices and the stories their moms had with them... now seeing their mothers as women with their own stories to tell.' To understand this part of the story...the reader will have to pick up "Brown Girls" to see how the author brings it all out.

It saw the girls try to reconcile their backgrounds with the American ways as they came of age. What happens as their paths change as they ascend the world? As the Brown girls went from childhood, motherhood, and beyond there will be quite an exploration, seeing the hardship, and by the end seeing all they had gone through, but they did return.

The author's works give the reader a poignant book that tells us well of 'Brown Girls' lives as the reader will be immersed in their stories. This was a good read, and I would recommend it to others.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.