Tag: funny books for adults

REVIEW: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

REVIEW: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maggie Chase has had a rough road in life, from the loss of her parents when she was in college to the betrayal by her husband and their subsequent divorce. And that last one pushed her so far down to the point where she rarely leaves the house. Her editor had to cajole her to take this mysterious Christmas trip that is supposed to “change her life.”

But Ethan Wyatt ruined everything. While Maggie is the queen of the cozy mystery, Wyatt writes thrillers – “leather jacket books.” And he is all ego and confidence – and annoyance. He can’t even get her name right after all these years, repeatedly calling her “Marcie.”

The two of them find themselves in the middle of a real-life mystery when world famous author, Eleanor Ashley, their Christmas host, goes missing from a locked room of her mansion in the middle of a snowstorm.

Review

Sometimes you start a new book and everything clicks. The characters are intriguing. The banter makes you laugh out loud. And you feel like you can’t contain the feeling – the potential that this could be a new favorite. You feel a pressure in your chest. Not the weight of anxiety or dread pressing down but the hope – the delight – bubbling up, trying to press out from inside. This was one such book for me.

From the very beginning I felt GIDDY reading this. The main characters had personal stories I couldn’t wait to uncover. Their cutting remarks were funny, not vicious. The potential and chemistry between Maggie and Ethan CRACKLED. Then there was the writing/publishing/mystery angle, which is always a great hook for me. And finally it was a snowed in whodunit which I also adore. If I could design a perfect book for me, this is an A+ set up, checking all the boxes.

I have been an Ally Carter fan since I discovered the Gallagher Girls series. Her older middle grade (10-14) mysteries in the Winterborne series are OUTSTANDING. Her first adult romance, The Blonde Identity, had mixed reviews, and while I could understand some of the criticism, it worked for me

But THIS is everything I have ever loved about her work all rolled into one. My all-time favorite Ally Carter book – and likely one of my favorite books read in 2024. Do NOT miss this! (Language, gaslighting)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++*

♥♥♥♥♥+++ = Best of the best!

REVIEW: The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes

REVIEW: The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Alice and Joe move out of London to a small country village  anticipating the arrival of their first child. One of their early social activities is attending a prenatal class. It’s information the couple is likely to need, and they get to meet other couples on the same journey.

No one expected their second class to contain an unexpected birth – and an unexpected death.  But when the paramedics show up for the former, they discover the latter. And now everyone in the class is a murder suspect.

Review

What. A. Hoot! I love a book that can make me literally laugh out loud, and this one did. Often at passages about Helen, the dog. This is an excellent mystery that kept me guessing until the end, and also a great book that kept me laughing.

The set up for this, with the third trimester pregnant sleuths and their fledgling friendship, was clever and fun. There’s a good bit of birth-related content here, and I enjoyed it from the humor to the worry and anxiety. It all felt so familiar, even though I was pregnant decades ago.

I was thrilled to see that book 2 in the Expectant Detectives, Dead Tired, is scheduled to release this summer. That’s a must read for me. Mystery fans who don’t mind some foul language and/or don’t have sensitivity around pregnancy-related content should absolutely snap this up. It’s such a fun ride!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

REVIEW: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Dr. Christa Barnet is a scientist living on the island nation of Violetta in the middle of the Indian Ocean studying bull raft snails.

Outside of scientific circles, Christa is somewhat famous for having a famous father – a TV personality with a national show – who went missing when she was two and has been presumed dead for decades. But he’s been found, and Christa and her family – and the world – are reeling from the news.

Most everyone is thrilled by the news. Jasper’s agent can’t wait to capitalize on all of the media and money making opportunities. And Jasper is on board for whatever. But everyone wants Christa along for the ride – the scientist daughter experiencing her father almost for the first time. If it means Christa can ultimately keep doing her research in Violetta, she’s reluctantly on board to stay in the States for awhile. It doesn’t hurt that she’s discovered white hot chemistry with an old friend.

But when Jasper’s story develops cracks, it raises questions Christa isn’t sure she wants answered. It might just be simpler to leave everything behind and go back to her snails.

Review

This was fantastic!! I was captivated by the story of the missing and presumed dead husband and father and the fallout for his family. But truly the best parts of this were Christa, her sisters, and their mother – not necessarily in relation to Jasper but as themselves. Their personal growth from what Christa remembers from her childhood to the reality she encounters when she gets home is fantastic. And I adored all of them and their fierce love, fierce anger, and fierce protection of one another.

I tend to associate a “no f-s to give” mentality to middle age, but Christa is already there, and I LOVED her for it! I absolutely adored this. Fans of Waxman’s other works – The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, Adult Assembly Required, I Was Told It Would Get Easier (♥♥♥♥) – should not miss this one! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

REVIEW: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Misery Lark has done her time for her people. She gave her entire childhood to serve Vampyre needs, living with humans as “the collateral.” When her duty was finished, she built her own life in the human world, far from her father and his expectations and demands.

And when he suggests one more sacrifice for “the good of her people,” she can’t say no forcefully or fast enough. But then she discovers this dangerous sacrifice can lead her to the one thing she wants most of all.

So she agrees to marry the Werewolf Alpha – live in his territory, live again as an outsider. Because it might lead to the answers she can’t find anywhere else.

Review

This was outstanding! My first Ali Hazelwood – I totally get what the fuss is about. Once I started this, I didn’t want to put it down. The world building is fantastic! And I loved the mysteries that needed solving. There’s so much here to enjoy.

Paranormal romance fans should not miss this. Everything really was perfect – the characters, the pacing, the HUMOR, the twists, the romance. The ending sets up a possible sequel, and I am here for it! The rest of my Hazelwood books are now at the top of my TBR – I’m looking forward to reading more of her work. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ -= Outstanding!

REVIEW: Codename Charming by Lucy Parker

REVIEW: Codename Charming by Lucy Parker

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Petunia DeVere loves her job. But she never imagined being a personal assistant for a young royal-by-marriage to be as… complicated as it’s been. Her charge is a well-intentioned klutz who seems to be a magnet for trouble. And somehow she always ends up in the crosshairs.

One bit of that trouble comes from the tabloids – rumors that he’s having an affair with Pet. So the palace’s solution is to make it look like Pet is already in a relationship – with the bodyguard.

Pet tried to strike up a friendship with the brooding security professional, but she could never crack through his stoic, by-the-book approach to everything. But now they’ll have to figure out how to pretend to be “more than coworkers.” And Pet’s not sure they can ever be convincing at that.

Review

As soon as I realized this was a fake dating story, I bought it. It’s my favorite trope. And in this case it was even more fun than usual because the only people they were lying to was the public and the tabloids. It was theatre more than subterfuge which scaled back a lot of the relational angst that sometimes shows up in fake dating stories.

The angst gap was then filled by all of the ridiculous – and serious – situations their boss kept creating. I laughed SO much! And not just at the wild scenarios. The writing here is just super clever and so funny! I was impressed with the author’s ability to have me cackling one moment and tearing up the next. I had all the feels in this – and I loved it.

I loved the characters in this. It’s exactly the sort of grumpy/sunshine pairing I like – and that’s not a trope I seek out. But here you get point-of-view pieces from both characters so you know what Matthias is really thinking all along. You get to watch them both fall for the other – and it was so fun and sweet.

I don’t love food-based stories, so I skipped book one in this series, Battle Royal. But I had no issues following this without having read book one. I highly recommend this one – it was a fun read! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

 

REVIEW: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

REVIEW: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Tor Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Charlie Fitzar has been in a bit of a rough patch. Laid off from his job as a journalist, divorced, his dad has died, and his half siblings are trying to sell  his family house out from under him. He’s trying to survive on money from substitute teaching – enough said.

Then word arrives that his estranged uncle, Jack – a billionaire who ran a company building parking garages – has died. And one of his last requests was for Charlie to host his memorial service.

When someone tries to stab his uncle’s body – in the coffin – to be extra sure he’s really dead, Charlie starts to think there was more to Uncle Jack than he previously knew.

Review

This was absolutely amazing! Everything I hoped it would be – smart, sassy, funny, captivating. I was completely drawn into the story. Charlie is a fantastic point of view character – completely out of his depth but still a “good” guy at his core, even as he finds himself in this Bond-esque world of villains.

I laughed out loud all the way through this. My family only had to sit through 5 or 6 passages read aloud before my husband just pre-ordered a print copy for us. I would absolutely read this again! This is my favorite sort of science fiction – something I’ve come to expect from John Scalzi. As my husband often says, we’ve yet to be disappointed by a Scalzi book.

While I could see how a sequel could be carved out of how this story ends (and I’d read a sequel immediately), I don’t feel like that’s necessarily the plan for Charlie and his friends. This stands completely on its own. And I highly recommend it! If you’ve never tried a Scalzi book, and you like funny books and science fiction, I think you should give this a try. If you are already a fan of the author, do NOT miss this one. Audiobook fans should check this out as well as Wil Wheaton narrates. (Language, violence)

Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath

REVIEW: Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

In order to keep his mother from scheming to find him a wife, Hugh made up a fiancée. He named her Minerva. And since his mother lived in America with his step-father, Hugh could keep up the lie with detailed letters full of fabrications. And it was all working so well. But then his mother announced she was boarding a boat to come meet her future daughter-in-law and start planning the wedding.

When Hugh stepped in to help the lovely young woman arguing over money, he did it, sure, because she was lovely. But Hugh could never resist an opportunity to rescue a damsel in distress. The fact that her name was Minerva was a shock. The fact that she was arguing over money meant she needed some. And might therefore be open to his scheme.

Minerva would play fiancée for Hugh’s mother. Then they would find some way to break things off so they could both go back to their old lives.

What could possibly go wrong?

Review

I don’t read historical fiction often, but when I do, it is usually a story just like this. I love fake relationship stories! Even though I know the awkward moment is coming where everything falls apart, I still love the trope.

But this book felt different from the start. The tone, the voice, the characters – it all sparkled. There’s great chemistry between the main characters. There’s a ton of humor and some truly laugh-out-loud moments. Even as it’s all unravelling, I am cackling. But the author never loses track of her story. She brilliantly balances the conflicts with the romance and the humor. It made for a delightful reading experience. And now I HAVE to read book two.

I don’t know what it will be (although I am guessing Diana’s story – it’s called Never Rescue a Rogue), and for now it seems it won’t release until November of 2022, but it will be at the top of my TBR when the time comes.

Historical fiction readers, and others who love a good fake relationships story, should not miss this one! (Sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea

REVIEW: The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Willow caught her best friend and fiancé in bed together, and it was like someone yanked a rug out from under her feet. Losing her fiancé was awful. But losing her best friend was devastating.

So yes, she’s lonely. Yes, she’s living in a spare room at her sister and sister-in-law’s house. She dresses up as a princess for birthday parties for spoiled brats. But that doesn’t mean she’s ready to be a friend for hire.

But Maisie is lonely and desperate. And she’s offering Willow big money to pretend to be her long-time friend and be a bridesmaid in her wedding.

The idea of anything wedding-related makes Willow want to throw up. But Maisie’s money could be just what she needs to leave town and make a fresh start somewhere new.

Review

This was so good! It’s like a fake relationship romance, except the fake relationship is a friendship. And bridesmaids for hire seems to be a thing we are hearing about more lately – I’ve seen that set up in a couple other books recently. And I love both “tropes,” so this was a must-read for me. But what makes this special – more than just a collection of story features I like – is the HUMOR! This literally made me laugh out loud. The writing is great as are the characters. Willow is dealing with her crushing losses with withdrawal and self-protection. But she’s still someone you empathize with. You long to see her find her way through the darkness to true friendship – and maybe even love.

This book really has everything I am looking for in a great story. I was completely in sync with these characters from the start. I loved the deep dive into friendship questions. Sure, there’s a romance I enjoyed. But the relationship between Willow and Maisie is the focus – and the star – of the novel. And I loved that. It’s also an identity story as Willow tries to find herself and re-define herself after her losses. And finally, this is FUNNY! Snappy and sarcastic and self-deprecating. And I loved it!

I highly recommend this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.