The Last Thing He Told Me

When Hannah opens the door, a twelve year old girl hands her a note from her husband that says "protect her." He is clearly referring to Owens daughter and Hannah's stepdaughter, Bailey. But what does Owen mean and where has he gone? He won't answer any calls and he has seemingly vanished into thin air. Hannah hears on the radio that the company her husband works for has been raided by the government and people are going to jail. But why would her husband be involved in a scandal like this? And what does Bailey need protecting from - the FBI? Hannah thought she knew Owen well, but the deeper she goes down the rabbit hole the less she is confident about. Even his daughter, Bailey is perplexed. What is going on? Twisty - this thriller will keep readers guessing as they try to figure out why or where Owen has disappeared to. 

Malibu Rising

Wow - Taylor Jenkins Reid writes some of the best characters. Not only are they so real, they have humanity and flaws - they are people you would want to meet in real life! Set in Malibu, this novel goes back in forth in time between one fateful day in 1983 and their mother's early years. Their father is the world famous singer, Mick Riva, but he checked out of their lives when they were just children. Nina is the eldest in her mid twenties and she's a talented surfer and model, next come the "twins" - Jay and Hud, one a world famous surfer and the other his photographer, the baby of the bunch is Kit who is trying to find her place in the world. One insane party that will turn their lives around.  The four Rivas kids throw one huge party every year; each year it keeps escalating with more celebrities, more drugs, and more surprises. Readers will wish they had an invite to this over the top party that will end up changing the Rivas' lives forever. Impossible to put down. 

The Road Trip

I've read every single one of Beth O'Leary's books and on the whole I really like them. They aren't all fluff but they are heartfelt and thought-provoking. The Road Trip, her latest novel, is my least favorite so far. I'm not sure if it was because I strongly detested one of the characters or if I didn't like the concept - but this one wasn't quite up to par with her other two novels. Addie and her sister Deb are road-tripping to Scotland to go to one of their dear friends wedding when they are rear ended by her ex and his best friend. She knew they would be at the wedding but Addie is no prepared to see him like this. What are the odds?! The car that Dylan and Marcus were driving is no shape to make the trip to Scotland and there is no public transportation available as it's a holiday weekend. It looks as if they are all going to be stuck with each other in one small uncomfortable car. What could possibly go wrong?! The story alternates between now and then - telling the story of how they got together and what drove them apart. I loathed Marcus' character and I wanted him to walk off a cliff so bad. If it werem't for him I think I would have given this a 4 instead of a 3. 

The Guncle

Lived up to the hype and then some! Extremely heartfelt, hilarious, and touching. I was enamored with this unconventional family trying to work through their grief and get to know each other. When Patrick's best friend and sister in law dies after a battle with cancer, his brother asks that he takes the kids back with him to Palm Springs so that he can check himself into rehab. And not just for a little bit either, ninety days - the whole summer! Patrick is a former tv star, a golden globe winner, and a sassy gay man who is perfectly content to be a recluse. Kids?! At his house?! They'll ruin the baby grand piano, trash the pool, ruin his collection of pristine Playbills. And for the whole summer?!? But he'll do it for Sarah. He knows a lot about grief and heartbreak and someone has to be there for his niece and nephew so it may as well be him. Five year old, Grant, and eight year old, Maisie, are a handful but as they get used to their GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) they start to get into a routine and Patrick discovers that his life has never been more full. The kids are helping him as much as he's presumably helping them. They may not drink martinis but they know how to have a good time. The kids are hilarious and Patrick is someone you'll immediately want to be friends with. I could not put this book down. Soo soo heartwarming. 

Dial A for Aunties

Over the top and ridiculous, yet I loved every second of this book. I couldn't put it down! Meddelin Chan accidentally murders someone, a ridiculously wealthy hotel owner who is hosting the wedding that she and her family are putting on the following day. In a panic she turns to her mother and her three aunts. What can they do? In a series of ever growing mishaps, the aunties try to help dispose of the body while still preparing for the over the top wedding. Makup, photography,  To make matters worse, Meddelin runs into the former love of her life, the man she dumped so she could stay by her family and not disappoint them like all their sons and husbands did (did I mention there is a family curse?!). Meddy has a body to dispose of, a wedding to photograph, a former flame to avoid, and her mother and aunts who can't stop bickering. Laugh out loud funny, charming, and witty. It may have been over the top but readers will eat this up. What a fun and crazy family. 

Pumpkin

Sassy, sweet, and endearing, Pumpkin will instantly win over fans. The third book in the Dumplin' series focuses on Pumpkin, an open gay, overweight teen boy who is just ready to get on with his life and begins stage three - out and proud in a new city, a chance to be who he wants to be. He and his lesbian twin sister are both out - to their parents, friends, and school - but Pumpkin wants more. When his favorite plus size drag queen makes it all the way through the reality show only to lose to the small queen; Pumpkin is furious. Alone in his room he decides to put on makeup, lip-sync in the camera, and create an audition tape for his favorite reality drag show telling them how he really feels about their shameful body standards. Pumpkin won't ever send it in - but it was cathartic and a lot of fun. He shows his twin sister, Clem, who shows some people, who show some people, and the next thing you know, Pumpkin is nominated as prom queen. It's mortifying. Pumpkin is so close to going to Austin and getting away from the bullies and now he has to suffer through people mocking his "audition tape" and nominating him to prom court. But the joke is on them because through spite and gumption; Pumpkin is going to leap even further out of the closet and really give them something to talk about. Joyful and fun! 

Fallen Thief

A fantastic follow up to Hidden Scales! I'm not sure if this will be a trilogy or a series, but either way I'm invested in this middle grade fantasy! Mira, Kay, and Peter have returned home to Crispin. Things are pretty much back to normal except for the fact that they still feel guilty about their friends trapped in the everlock sleep. Determined to try and do something, the kids stumble upon the identity of the leader of the Shadowveils, the merrows who will stop at nothing to make sure that all their kind is underwater, away from the prying eyes of humans. When their mother's study and half their house is mysteriously burnt down, it stands to reason that trouble has followed them back. Many of the townspeople are accepting of the two young merrows but there are still some that don't appreciate anything different or out of the ordinary and they will stop at nothing to get them kicked out of town. Mira, Kay, and Peter don't have time to dwell on the bullies however, they've tracked down some clues and discovered some new powers and nothing will stop them from fighting back or saving their friends. Action packed and filled with great world building. This series just keeps getting better!