Five Star Friday - June 2023

Five Star Friday is my version of the monthly wrap-up. On the first Friday of each month, I will share my five-star reads from the previous month. Fingers crossed, I have lots of books to tell you about.

This month, I was able to read 25 books, and I had  4 five-star reads. 

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You with a View by Jessica Joyce
Published by Berkley on July 11, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Two high school enemies must reunite for a road trip inspired by their grandparents’ broken engagement in this electric debut romance.

Noelle Shepherd is unemployed, living with her parents, and grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother when she discovers decades-old photos of Gram and a smitten man, tucked alongside a love letter. She creates a TikTok to search for the mystery man, which goes viral, and she’s shocked when his grandson responds—a man who happens to be her high school nemesis, Theo Spencer.

Noelle refuses to let Theo’s annoying accomplishments in adulthood—or his sexy smirk—stand in the way of meeting his grandfather and unlocking the secrets he knew about her gram as a young woman. When she learns that their plans to elope were thwarted, Noelle decides to take the honeymoon road trip they planned but never got to carry out. There’s a catch, though: Paul, Theo’s grandfather, asks to come with her, and he insists that Theo join them.

It’ll be a miracle if they make it through the trip without Noelle throwing Theo out of the moving car—or the bed they end up sharing. As the miles tick by, the tension simmers hotter between them…until she discovers that Theo’s hiding a secret that could cause their tenuous relationship to end before it can restart.

Simply put, I had a fantastic time reading this book. I adored the premise while completely falling in love these characters and their road trip. It was almost like a twofer romance as we learned about Gram and Paul's love story while seeing Theo and Noelle falling in love in real time. The trifecta of laugh, smile, swoon was met, and I have nothing but love for this book. 

[review]

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At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber
Published by Forge Books on August 1, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism, Fiction

Goodreads

Ava Dowling is on the run. After the sudden death of her fiancé only a month before their wedding, she closes up her lonely apartment in Vermont to answer a want-ad in Driftwood, Alabama—a town she’s never heard of—to apply for a job she’s never done. But the promised benefits far outweigh the cons, and being a live-in caretaker to a cranky old man in a beachside cottage is the perfect way to hide from the pain of her loss and the realities she doesn’t want to face.

Maggie Laine Brightwood hardly ever sits still. On the surface, she is a bundle of bright energy as she runs Magpie’s, Driftwood’s coffee and curiosity shop. She spends her days matching people to what they were missing—whether that’s the perfect coffee blend or a trinket they didn’t know they needed. Keeping busy is the best way to distract herself from her strained relationship with her aging father, Desmond, and the guilt she feels in hiring a stranger to take care of him instead of doing it herself. She hopes no one can see the sadness lurking under her cheerful exterior, even though it weighs her down like an anchor.

As the season stretches on and tourists come and go from the beach, Ava and Maggie become fast friends, bonding over the magic they find in letting go in order to move on—because sometimes drifting through life will lead you to where you belong.

I am trash for these magical stories, and this one had some fantastic magical elements at play. But my true affection was for the town. Aside from all the actual magic, it was inhabited by wonderful characters who won my heart. There were also some pretty WHOA reveals towards the end that brought me great joy. I had a fantastic time in Driftwood! Family, friendship, and community love abounded while second chance and new romances simmered. This story injected me with happiness and put a smile on my face.

[review]

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You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac
Published by Penguin Books on April 19, 2018
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction

Goodreads

Set in the French countryside on an idyllic summer vacation, a delicious, tender novel about finding joy and love even in the most unexpected places.

Jess and her ten-year-old son William set off to spend the summer at Chateau de Roussignol, deep in the rich, sunlit hills of the Dordogne. There, Jess's ex-boyfriend--and William's father--Adam, runs a beautiful hotel in a restored castle. Lush gardens, a gorgeous pool, delectable French food, and a seemingly never-ending wine list--what's not to like? Jess is bowled over by what Adam has accomplished, but she's in France for a much more urgent reason: to make Adam fall in love with his own son.

But Adam has other ideas, and another girlfriend--and he doesn't seem inclined to change the habits of a lifetime just because Jess and William have appeared on the scene. Jess isn't surprised, but William--who has quickly come to idolize his father--wants nothing more than to spend time with him. But Jess can't allow Adam to let their son down--because she is tormented by a secret of her own, one that nobody--especially William--must discover.

By turns heartwrenching and hopeful, You Me Everything is a novel about one woman's fierce determination to grab hold of the family she has and never let go, and a romantic story as heady as a crisp Sancerre on a summer day.

This was one of those stories that was about something pretty painful, but it was written in such a lovely way. I will admit the author did not protect me from the pain of Jess' reality, but there was also so much joy and hope in this story. The overall feeling was a good one. Yes, there were tears, but I shed both the happy and sad kind, and I loved the overall message of living in the moment. Always a good reminder. 

[review]

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Change of Plans by Dylan Newton
Published by Forever on August 1, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

When disaster strikes and chef Bryce Weatherford is given guardianship of her three young nieces, her life goes from cooking with fire…to controlling a dumpster fire. Five‑year‑old Addison refuses to remove her fairy wings, eight‑year‑old Cecily won't bathe, and tween June is majoring in belligerence. With all this chaos, Bryce jettisons hope for a life outside of managing her family and her new job.

It's been years since Ryker Matthews had his below‑the‑knee amputation, yet the phantom pain for his lost limb and Marine career haunts him. To cope, he focuses on his vehicle restoration business. He knows he's lucky to be alive. Yet, “lucky” feels more like “cursed” to his lonely heart.

When Ryker literally sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store's baby aisle, they both feel sparks. But falling in love would be one more curveball neither is ready to deal with… or is it exactly the change of plans they need?

What a fantastic way to end this series. I loved everything about this book. Both hero and heroine were dealing with some major life changes, but those challenges seemed more manageable once they found each other. Bryce's life was quite complicated after she became the guardian for her three nieces, but they had the best kind of chaos in their home which was far from perfect, but filled with so much love. Ryker was rather remarkable in that he suffered from physical and mental pain yet he was able to find the calm in the chaos when it came to Bryce and the girls. I loved the way he interacted with the kids, and the bond that formed between them all made my heart burst. This one provided miles of smiles. 

[review]

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Honorable Mention

June was packed with great reading. Here are my honorable mention books. All earned 4.5 stars.

• Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
• The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
• The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick
• Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey
• The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
• Life & Other Inconveniences by Kristin Higgins

What were the best books you read last month?
Let us know in the comments!