Recent Reads - April & May

 Hi friends! It has been a while since I've done a book post and I have quite the round-up for you. It's hard for me to pick which from this list is my favorite because I really enjoyed them all! Let's get into it.

The Night Swim by Megan Golden: If you're into crime podcasts, I think you'll love this book. It follows Rachel Krall, a true-crime podcaster, as she covers a high-profile sexual assault case in Neapolis. When she arrives in Neapolis, she starts receiving mysterious letters from a listener pleading for Rachel to help her uncover the truth about her sister's murder in the same town many years ago. It turns out history may be repeating itself in more ways than one in this small town. This was a great mystery/thriller but I will warn that the content felt especially dark at times so proceed with caution. Overall rating: 4.5/5

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover: If you guys have followed my blog for a while, you may know that "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover is my favorite book of all time! While I don't think any of her other books can top that one for me, this one did not disappoint. It tells the story of Tate Collins who recently moved to San Francisco to finish her nursing program and to be close to her brother. Her first night in the city, she meets her brother's best friend, Miles and he doesn't make a great first impression. While Tate finds herself instantly attracted to him, Miles has an incredibly complicated past so they decide to keep things strictly physical. No strings, no emotions. Needless to say, things start to unravel and Miles finds himself unable to run from his past any longer. This story could have been just a "friends with benefits gone wrong" story but it has so many layers and is truly heartbreaking! Overall rating: 5/5

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose: I think I say this about one book every time I do a post like this but I could definitely see this one being made into a show or movie! Sarah Morgan, a high-powered defense attorney in DC, and her husband, Adam, have been on different pages for a while and their marriage is on the rocks. Needless to say, when Adam's mistress is found dead in their lakeside cabin it doesn't help matters and Adam is suspect #1. Sarah, despite everyone's advice, takes Adam on as a client and quickly discovers that the truth has many layers. While the story sounds like one we've all definitely heard before, the ending took me by surprise and made it well worth the read! Overall rating: 4.5/5

One by One by Ruth Ware: If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller this one is for you! Ruth Ware's books always make my heart race more than any other author. The employees of a social media start-up company, Snoop, are excited for a weekend retreat at a ski chalet in the French Alps. Things quickly take a turn when an unexpected storm causes an avalanche and one of their own is missing. Tensions are running high and it quickly becomes clear that there is a murderer among them. This book is like a modern-day version of Clue but in the best way! While I felt like the ending was a little predictable, there were so many twists & turns along the way, I couldn't put it down. Overall rating: 5/5

Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker: Another romance from K.A. Tucker that I couldn't put down! I love her "The Simple Wild" series so much I had to give this one a try. Piper is about to inherit her father's large real estate firm when she runs into her old flame and first love from summer camp, Kyle. Kyle broke her heart with no explanation so many years ago and it's something Piper never truly got over. This story alternates between present day and the past, weaving together their love story and how it all went wrong. I really enjoyed this book and it definitely had me feeling nostalgic for those easy summer camp days! Overall rating: 4.5/5