For What It's Worth


Monday, April 17, 2017

monday mini’s




34629023 The Opposite of You by Rachel Higgenson ~ Goodreads

Source: Purchased

My thoughts: After Vera escapes an abusive realtionship, she returns home to take care of her sick father and try to salvage her culinary career by opening a food truck. Unfortunately, it’s across the street from the infamous, temperamental chef, Killian Quinn and his top rated restaurant. Killian sends over his sous chef to sneak him back her food to sample and then sends her critiques – always unkind - but of course…he’s hot so…

I thought this book was going to be a slam dunk for me. I LOVE foodie romances and warring chef's.

Unfortunately, Vera's non stop, repetitive inner monologue wore me down. If only there was more showing and less explaining and a pov from Killian would have been welcome to break things up.

I also didn't sense any passion with Vera's cooking, whereas, when Killian talks about cooking, I could feel his love of food, cooking and being a chef but we never get hear it directly from him.

Everyone else is loving it so it’s clearly a case of it’s not you – it’s me.



32146161 Coffee Boy by Austin Chant ~ Goodreads

Source: Purchased

“After graduation, Kieran expected to go straight into a career of flipping burgers—only to be offered the internship of his dreams at a political campaign. But the pressure of being an out trans man in the workplace quickly sucks the joy out of things, as does Seth, the humorless campaign strategist who watches his every move.”

My thoughts: I saw everyone raving about this own voices authored book so on impulse (look a that cover!) I picked it up. It did not disappoint.

Coffee boy was a delightful romance. Chant managed to pack quite the story with emotional punch into this novella. Highly recommend!
I will definitely be reading more from this author.



29093326What Light by Jay Asher ~ Goodreads

Source:  Review copy provided via ALA16 in exchange for an honest review

“ From Jay Asher, author of Thirteen Reasons Why - Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it's a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. 

Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other.”


My thoughts: Everything about life on the Christmas tree lot was enchanting and very Hallmark movie-ish. The romance, drama between the friends a from her home in California vs her month in Oregon was fine but boring. This was a cute enough read – especially if you pick it up in December instead of April like me lol but didn’t stand out in anyway and lacked the emotional punch Asher was going for.




27 comments:

  1. Hallmarkish, lol, I could see it being cute but not a lot more

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  2. I should have known What Light was a Christmas read when they started handing out hot chocolate mix at BEA!

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    1. Ha! Not just because of Christmas though. Hot cocoa mix is a big part of the story :-)

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  3. Well darn on the last one not having much punch but...eeee Christmas! Those are my catnip. lol

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  4. Aww The Opposite of You sounded promising!

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    1. Everyone LOVES it so give it a try. I'm picky lol

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  5. Oh Coffee Boy is a winner and I'm curious. What Light is actually what I was afraid. For some reason I was thinking boring, but that may be due to me not reading much contemporary YA romance. I haven't started 13 Reasons on Netflix yet either but that one does sound more promising. I might try The Opposite of You. You have me curious even though it wasn't for you.

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    1. What Light was cute but it lacked that emotional oomph IMO lol

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  6. What Light does look like it would work more at Christmas time. I haven't read Asher although I did just binge Reasons on Netflix...

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    1. I read 13 Reasons. Asher explained that he wanted to take 13 Reasons Why but give it a more hopeful ending and that's become What Light.

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  7. I haven't read What Light, but I'm curious. I might wait until the holidays come around though! I'm glad to hear you liked Coffee Boy - I've only read Peter Darling by the author but it was GREAT, so I need more by him.

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    1. It's a cute holiday read so I would definitely give it a shot around then.

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  8. I haven't read any of these, but ugh, I want to stay way clear of the repetitive inner monologue. That drives me mental!

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    1. Yeah I'm just like DO SOMETHING!! Stop thinking about it non stop lol

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  9. Maybe she needs a therapist? Lol

    Such a departure from 13 Reasons Why or maybe Asher wants it a little light since it's a holiday read. Have you seen the Netflix
    Drama yet? I skipped it. Loved the book when I read it almost a decade ago but now I'm afraid I'm too old and grumpy to giv those kids a pass

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    1. They are similar stories but he wanted to show how it could have a more positive outcome.

      I read 13 Reasons Why years ago - before blogging I think but haven't watched the show. I don't think I would like it so I don't think I'll bother.

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  10. Sorry you didn't enjoy The Opposite of You, Karen. I loved it so much but I can see your issue. Anyway, I'm curious about Coffee Boy. I'm looking for a great MM romance. :)
    Anyway, is he a transgender? Wow... MINE.

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    1. I know, I'm in the minority on that one lol

      Yes, Keiren (the coffee boy) is transgender. It was such a good romance.

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  11. oh the christmas one sounds very intriguing, and I like that it had a hallmark feel to it.

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  12. I have a blogger friend that just finished Coffee Boy as well Karen and was sharing quotes as she read and holy shit, sexy sexy times. The cover and even synopsis is a touch deceiving. Looking forward to grabbing a copy, especially being a diverse author and a storyline with wonderful representation.

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  13. I haven’t heard about Coffee Boy by Austin Chant before, it sounds so good. I don’t usually read short novellas, but I added this one to my tbr-list.

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    1. It's very short and a tad abrupt but I really enjoyed it.

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