Where it All Lands by Jennie Wexler

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

A Sliding Doors-esque novel that reveals how our choices define us and how no matter the road, love can find its way.

Stevie Rosenstein has never made a true friend. Never fallen in love. Moved from city to city by her father’s unrelenting job, it’s too hard to care for someone. Trust in anything. The pain of leaving always hurts too much. But she’ll soon learn to trust, to love.

Twice.

Drew and Shane have been best friends through everything. The painful death of Shane's dad. The bitter separation of Drew's parents. Through sleepaway camps and family heartache, basketball games and immeasurable loss, they've always been there for each other.

When Stevie meets Drew and Shane, life should go on as normal.

But a simple coin toss alters the course of their year in profound and unexpected ways.

Told in dual timelines, debut author Jennie Wexler's Where It All Lands delivers a heartbreaking and hopeful novel about missed opportunities, second chances, and all the paths that lead us to where we are.

My thoughts-

I love when I come across a book like this one. I always find it interesting to have a book with dual time lines to see how things could have turned out based on how time unfolded. I like the way it began with a tease of the ending and we had no idea how we were going to get there. I also liked that it kind of showed that things were going to go how they were going to go in either time line and it didn't necessarily matter the choice that was made, sometimes things change but sometimes they don't. Sometimes there is a different route to get to the ending, but maybe it is always your destiny. I know this review is cryptic but I don't want to ruin the plot line of either time line.  I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA. It was a quick and interesting read.

Tables & Spreads by Shelly Westerhausen with Wyatt Worcel

 

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Tables & Spreads is a must-have cookbook and resourceful styling guide from bestselling author Shelly Westerhausen, author of the bestselling Platters & Boards

More than 60 easy-to-prepare recipes plus behind-the-scenes insight into creating a beautiful, inviting table for every occasion. Including tips on choosing a theme, styling your food in creative ways, and achieving that "wow factor" with linens, flowers, music, and more.

There are 20 visually striking spreads that range from Ladies Night Lettuce Wraps to a Christmas Morning Dutch Baby Party, Dips for Dinner, and a Boozy Bloody Mary Bar.

Rich with gorgeous and instructive photography, Tables & Spreads is inspiring yet totally accessible, perfect for home cooks who like to host gatherings of all sizes, and those who loved Shelly's first book, Platters & Boards.

My thoughts-

I really love to enterain people at my house when I am able to and I have recently got into making charcuterie boards as well. I like making them for dates nights for my husband and me as well, but I am not incredibly creative on my own and the boards I have made are getting a little boring. This book isn't solely about making boards, but food (and drink) spreads in general and there are some incredible recipes and ideas in here that I can't wait to try. There are menus broken down by event and I find that to be a big help. I also liked the beginning section and found it to be informative about the different utensils and things you may be using like the different kinds of cheese knives. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys entertaining or who just enjoys making fun things in the kitchen. 

Love in Lockdown by Chloe James

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

What if you met the right person at the wrong time?

Sophia is afraid lockdown will put her life on pause – just as she was she was going to put herself out there and meet someone. When the first clap for the keyworkers rings out around her courtyard, she’s moved to tears for all kinds of reasons.
 
Jack is used to living life to the fullest, and is going stir-crazy after just days isolating. Until that night he hears a woman crying from the balcony beneath his. He strikes up a conversation with the stranger and puts a smile back on her face.
 
Soon their balcony meetings are the highlight of Jack and Sophia’s days. But even as they grow closer together, they’re always kept apart.
 
Can they fall in love during a lockdown?

My Thoughts-

I know a lot of people are not ready for book set during the pandemic because reading fiction is an escape for most people and I completely get that so this book may not be for everyone. I thought the premise sounded adorable and I don't mind current events finding their way into my fiction, especially if there is a nice component of romance to go with it, and this had romance in droves. I also found the characters in this book to be likeable and relateable and I absolutely loved the great humor spread throughout the novel. There were places here and there where the book lost its momentum and I found myself a little bored or skipping over parts, but overall it was a cute story set in this crazy time we are living in. I can only hope there are some people who have actually had these meet cute scenarios happen to them this last year and that they will have a great story to tell from this not so great time in history we are living through. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light hearted romance.