While this book follows many of the romance formulas (enemies to lovers, fake dating, and workplace romance are some), Last Night was Fun stands out in my mind as a great book for romcom and sports fans. Emmy works in the male-prevelant field of professional baseball where she struggles to be taken seriously by some of the good ole boys. Other heavier topics are addressed in her backstory but they don’t distract from the overall feel of this romance. Gabe, the accidental texter and her workplace rival, is a great male main character. Though Emmy is surprised when his identity is revealed, it’s obvious to the reader from the start, giving off You’ve Got Mail vibes throughout their anonymous exchange. You’ll find yourself rooting for the two of them throughout the story. By the way, for my more sensitive readers, there are some steamy scenes later in the book which can be easily skimmed or skipped without missing main story points.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version read by Patti Murin, who is the voice behind many of Katherine Center’s novels, as well as one of my recently reviewed books, Sally Blakely’s Friends to Lovers. She is an actress who you may even find in a Hallmark movie (we saw her in Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story just as I finished this book!).

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon (Harper Voyager) for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Told from both of their points of view, the readers enjoy deeper insight into the characters’ motivations and reasoning. A significant amount of the story deals with growth for both main characters with pretty deep topics including abandonment, death of a loved one, infidelity, eating disorders, and emotional abuse. The romance plot of this book follows the established tropes (grumpy/sunshine, enemies/lovers, opposites attract) and makes for some enjoyable reading. After a lot of personality clashes and misunderstandings, things heat up between Mari and Leo, and the book includes some spicy scenes. The side characters are also enjoyable and make important contributions to the plot. I loved the banter between Mari and Leo, as well as the interactions with his family and staff members. 

Lovers of independent bookstores will especially enjoy Love Walked In as the cozy setting places the reader amidst the stacks and behind the scenes. Bibliophiles with wanderlust will adore the prominence of London and the surrounding area throughout the novel. I enjoyed the dual audiobook narration of this book by Kate Hanson and Stewart Crank. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffin) for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Check out my bookshelf of recommended reads here. This is an affiliate link. Thank you for your support of my writing.

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Joni and Ren have been best friends since anyone could remember. Something happened that has changed all that for them, but they’ve been keeping it a secret from their families. The physical distance they had between them due to their jobs on opposite coasts has disappeared due to Joni’s sister getting ready to marry a friend of Ren’s at the beach house their families have shared for ages. Ren and Joni have to get through all of the activities leading up to the destination wedding without letting their secret out.

There are secrets, misunderstandings, and mishaps in this sweet and funny story. I enjoyed their banter and friendship, but the title was a little misleading. This story is actually more about what happened when they messed up their friendship by crossing a line, told in flashbacks and mixed in with the current event (giving Happy Place by Emily Henry vibes). Joni and Ren made a plus-one pact for weddings, so her sister’s wedding is the current timeline alternating with the past weddings they attended together. If that sounds confusing, that’s because it was slightly hard to follow. However, I found that I just sat back and enjoyed the storytelling to find out what would become of their relationship. I recommend the audiobook read by Patti Murin; she’s read many of Katherine Center’s latest and I adore her narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing (Canary Street Press) for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Check out my bookshelf of recommended reads here. This is an affiliate link. Thank you for your support of my writing.

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This magical realism tale is silly, with some deeper topics and serious subjects. However, the plot was so unmemorable that I can’t recall much more than that it was just okay (I gave it three stars. Look up trigger warnings if you are concerned and need to know more before reading this romcom.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Yet Felicity still has so much growth to go through. Her trust issues haven’t even been touched as the story opens. A sweet then sad event occurs in the opening chapters, and for some unexplainable reason Felicity is acting as maid of honor for her friend Bex’s wedding to her horrid ex-fiance, Adam! Add to that an unexpected new co-worker at the animal shelter and the surprise arrival of a long-absent relative, and Felicity begins to wonder if she and James can truly be happy together.

True to the vibes from the first book (Bridget Jones returns!), The Day After Christmas continues Felicity’s journey of self-discovery and personal growth. However, as was seen in the first book, her story is not as light and fluffy as a reader might think based on the title, cover, and description. (Check for trigger warnings online.)

This book was a pleasure to read, though the ending was a bit too unbelievable for me. I enjoyed the audiobook narration by Hannah Curtis. There were countless laugh-out-loud moments, but many heavy ones as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

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Fans of Finlay Donovan books will enjoy Nina Simon’s debut novel Mother-Daughter Murder Night, a humorous and heartwarming mystery featuring strong women and family bonds. My book club and I read this one together and enjoyed it a lot, everyone rating it 4 out of 5 stars. It feels like it would make a great series with its crazy cast of characters. It was a book I felt I could fully immerse in, with great pacing to keep the story moving along. While it’s not an edge-of-your-seat suspense thriller nor a cozy mystery, Mother-Daughter Murder Night offers a great story that will keep you guessing while laughing at the antics of these amateur sleuths.

Check out my bookshelf of recommended reads here. This is an affiliate link. Thank you for your support of my writing.

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I hope you’ll check these posts out here.

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The author struggled with addiction for most of his life. The depictions of his party-driven lifestyle and rock-bottom moments were not something to which I could relate, but I did understand the feeling of being compelled to do something that is not in my best interests.I hoped he would get clean, and each time he relapsed, I hoped the next time would be different. 

This book is good for someone who wants to gain insight into addiction. While there is a great deal of football in the book, the focus truly is on his drug problem and the mayhem it caused in both his football career and family life. Sports fans will appreciate the gametime narrative. Art shows up in the book, but not enough to warrant a position in the title of the memoir. Be forewarned, the book contains adult situations and vulgar language.

I listened to the audiobook and it was a quick read.I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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I love how memories show up for us on social media. My Facebook reminded me that four years ago today I was on a getaway with my sister during Camp NaNoRiMo working on my memoir, You are Not Alone: My Experience with Postpartum Depression. So if you have ever wondered about the process of turning a manuscript into a book, here you can see one step on the journey. If you have read my memoir, you know that I used entries from a journal written while I was experiencing postpartum depression. That’s it on the left– the 2003 journal which provided the basis for my memoir!

If you haven’t read my memoir, what are you waiting for? While it is primarily meant for those experiencing postpartum depression, it can also be a real way to understand what another human is experiencing, developing compassion for those around you. It’s also inspirational and can encourage you. The book is a quick read or can be read in five-minute segments over a longer period of time. Don’t just take my word for it. Here is what one reviewer had to say: “Not only is this book incredibly encouraging for those battling PPD, but it’s a great resource for anyone enduring a trial that feels too big and how to process it in the journey.” And another: “It is easy to pick up and read a little nugget of hope, whenever time allows. Thank you, Michelle Habrych, for taking the time to share your real human experience, and in doing so, help so many other moms in their mothering journey. I’ve been through a couple of darker, difficult seasons and reading portions of your book helped lighten the way.” (taken from Amazon where there are currently 14 total 5-star ratings)

I hope you’ll consider buying my memoir at one of the multiple local bookstores where it is featured in the local authors’ section, from Amazon (where there is also an e-book format), or from Bookshop.org. See this page for more information. If you’re local and want to directly support me, I have copies available for sale and can even sign it if you’d like! Just send me a message through social media or email. Here are the ways to find me.

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