Library Loans

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Love, Me by Jessica Saunders
Published by Union Square & Co. on January 16, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A pitch-perfect exploration of modern married life, Jessica Saunders’s deliciously readable novel embraces the truth that some old flames can’t be snuffed out, no matter how many years go by.

Rachel Miller is a lawyer and mother of two who’s just as comfortable in a courtroom as she is on the sidelines of a soccer field. Sure, her marriage is on autopilot, her parents are overly involved, and the other suburban moms are just a little bit catty. But if you ask Rachel, life is good. That is until her world is upended when racy photos of her and her high school boyfriend, the famous actor Jack Bellow—along with his love letters to her—are published in a tabloid, unexpectedly thrusting Rachel into the spotlight. This newfound attention calls into question her marriage, her career, and her superstar ex. Betrayed by someone she trusted and reunited with the man she tried so hard to forget, Rachel must ask herself, “How did I get here? And what do I really want?”

Reminiscent of novels by Sophie Kinsella and Rebecca Serle, Love, Me is a sweet, honest foray into love, marriage, and the fantasy of a second-chance romance with the one that got away. Readers will find this lively debut romance book easy to devour and hard to put down.

She was content as a mother, a lawyer, and a wife, but Rachel was also the first love and ex-girlfriend of an A-list celebrity. When pictures and love letters from her now famous ex were published, Rachel found herself thrust into the unwanted spotlight which forced her to examine her life.

This story had all the drama I anticipated. We all know how those Hollywood stories go, but it was deeper than that as well. Rachel was living out her existence as a suburban wife/mother/lawyer. Though things weren't perfect, she was satisfied with her life. All that changed with a blast from her past courtesy of the tabloids. Rehashing her teen years with Jack, her first love, had her reflecting on the current state of her marriage.

As much as I love a second chance romance, this was complicated for me. Via flashbacks, I learned about both of Rachel's love stories. It was easy to be swept up in the throes of first love, and Jack and Rachel had that fire and passion that is signature of young love. A part of me wanted Rachel to recapture that with her now-famous Jack, but there was also her husband to consider. I got glimpses into their past as well. They had built a home, a life, and a family together over many years. Though Saunders did a wonderful job building the case, I still felt this deep sadness at what was at stake.

There was something very positive about the entire ordeal, and that was how it helped Rachel discover so much about herself. It's easy to lose parts of yourself when you are juggling multiple roles in your life. Wife, mother, lawyer - these were hats Rachel wore, and she often put others and their needs ahead of her own. She would easily brush things off that she probably should have acknowledged, but like I said, it's not hard to let all things slide when you are trying to get everything done. I appreciated her personal journey and was quite happy with where it brought her.

Overall: I may have mixed feelings about how this all ended, but I really enjoyed the journey.

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The Heirloom Inn by Olivia Miles
Published by Montlake on May 23, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

From USA Today bestselling author Olivia Miles comes the heartfelt story of the bond that brings three sisters together to face past regrets and the future of their family’s legacy.

After the death of their beloved aunt, the estranged Burke sisters reunite at their childhood home for an unforgettable summer, each harboring a secret. With their family once again at a turning point, they must overcome their differences to discover what the future holds for the lakefront house and each other.

Leah’s marriage is over, which somehow still doesn’t uncomplicate matters when she reconnects with her first love. Emma is tired of being the responsible one, stuck in her hometown by obligation to her family and by feelings for someone she can’t have. Sadie’s life in New York has all but fallen apart, and she’s haunted by the mistakes she made that led her so far away from home in the first place.

But when they learn that their ancestral estate is in danger of foreclosure, the sisters must find a way to mend the rifts between them to save the only true home they’ve ever known—and with it, maybe they can stitch themselves back together too.

The Burke sisters reunited after fifteen years of estrangement following the death of their aunt. This journey back to their home was also a journey back to each other and to themselves.

I am trash for sibling stories, and I really enjoyed this one. The two older sisters, Emma and Sadie, were the ones with the conflict which kept them from returning home for such a long time. I won't lie, it was pretty bad, but you know the saying about time and wounds. It seemed they had to return to the scene of the crime to get the closure they needed.

But there was a lot more to this story than just the healing of old wounds. Each sister was at a crossroads in their lives, and it seemed investing their time and energy into saving their family home was the perfect way to help them make important decisions about their futures. I really did love this part. I was cheering for all three to find a path that would give them some satisfaction because they all seemed to be going through the motions without really living.

The women renewing their sisterhood bond was definitely a highlight, but I adored all their romantic subplots as well. One was expected (and I was glad for it), one was a bit surprising, and one was way too cute. I like to think of the romantic parts as the icing on the cake because the heart of this story really was the sisters making amends and their respective personal journeys.

Overall, I had a wonderful time getting to know the Burke sisters as they mourned the loss of their aunt, uncovered some family secrets, healed old wounds, and moved forwards towards a bright future...together.

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