January Reads – The Saucy Mama

TSM Book Club Book #5: Love in the Time of Serial Killers

January 29, 2023February 1, 2023Posted in January Reads, TSM Book ClubTagged Alicia Thompson, books, Love in the Time of Serial Killers, reading, TSM Book ClubLeave a comment

Started: January 26th
Finished: February 1st
TSM Rating: 3.5/5

I meant to finish this yesterday, but caught up with kid stuff.

Either way, I liked this one. Beyond the love story between Phoebe and Sam, it was about the scars our parents leave us with.

Our protagonist, Phoebe is a few months removed from the death of her estranged father when she moves back to her childhood home to prepare it for sale. As Meredith Grey would say, she’s dark and twisty. Which is juxtaposed with her little-hearted, ray-of-sunshine brother, Conner.

Sam, her dad’s next door neighbor, is the opposite of her in every way, which is part of his appeal. Unfortunately, Phoebe is so lost in the negative impact of her relationship — or lack thereof — with her dad, that she risks losing something great with this genuinely good dude.

This book made me think of the complicated relationship I had with my own father before he passed away. Thompson even has a line about grieving the potential of a relationship that captured a lot of how I felt in the months and even years after my dad was gone: “I hadn’t realized what a different kind of grief that was —the loss of all the potential moments that would never be, not the past moments that already were.”

Every day with my boys, I try to give them good moments and memories so they aren’t carrying these massive scars from the past into their future. At least not from me, because we all go through our own shit that helps shape us into the people we are as adults.

This book was, to me, just as much about wading through the shit as it was about falling in love in spite of the shit.

Also, her obsession with true crime is weird but so on point!

TSM Book Club Book #4: Artemis by Andy Weir

January 19, 2023January 26, 2023Posted in January Reads, TSM Book ClubTagged Andy Weir, Artemis, books, reading, space western, TSM Book ClubLeave a comment

Started: January 19th
Finished: January 26th
TSM Rating: 3/5

I read The Martian a few years ago and loved it. I picked up Artemis shortly afterwards and added it to my ever waxing and waning TBR pile. Finally, it made it to the top. I wanted to love this the way I loved The Martian, but I didn’t.

Here’s what I did like:

1. The old west type world Weir created on the moon.

2. The Apollo space program rabbit hole it sent me down. I did not know that we landed on the moon successfully SIX times. All we ever talk about is Apollo 11 (the first successful landing) and Apollo 13 (the epic failure; still haven’t seen that movie). It would be nice to know more about the other missions (Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17).

3. Science. I’m not a true STEMist, but I find science-y things very fascinating.

Here’s what I didn’t like:

None of the characters were likable or even redeemable. Even Rudy, the morally sound police officer, bends the rules. They all do bad things for good reasons, but even those good reasons get muddled by their own selfish desires. Jazz, the main character, in the end when she has the opportunity to become honest, continues to find ways to skirt the system.

I understand that morality and good deeds aren’t always black and white. The world (and space, apparently) is very grey. This was too much grey for me.

TSM Book Club Book #3: Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood

January 18, 2023January 19, 2023Posted in January Reads, TSM Book ClubTagged Ali Hazelwood, books, Loathe to Love You, TSM Book ClubLeave a comment

Started: January 15th
Finished: January 18th
TSM Rating: 5/5

I fell in love with Ali Hazelwood’s writing when I read her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis, last year — twice! I became obsessed when I read Love on the Brain in less than 24 hours, then read it again. And this book of interconnected novellas didn’t disappoint. They were sweet, funny — there were moments when I laughed so hard that my husband gave me some serious side eye — and sexy. When these couples get together, you can feel the heat emanating off the page.

Hazelwood understands how to tease her readers — giving just enough throughout the story to build the anticipation so that the pay off is that much sweeter.

I also love how I learn something from all of her books because they all revolve around ladies in STEM and that is 100% NOT my world. I feel a little smarter after reading her books.

Definitely pick this one up to get your Hazelwood fix while you wait for her next novel, Love, Theoretically, coming in June!

TSM Book Club Book #2: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute By Talia Hibbert

January 14, 2023January 15, 2023Posted in January Reads, TSM Book ClubTagged books, reading, TSM Book ClubLeave a comment

Started: January 7th | Finished: January 14th
TSM Rating: 4/5

Remember high school? Remember crushing on someone so hard your stomach felt like it was going to drop out? This book has all of those sweet, tingly, first love feels and more. I first fell in love with Talia Hibbert when I read Get a Life, Chloe Brown (totally out of order for that book series😳). She writes such strong, complex female characters, and you can’t help but love them, flaws and all. She handles each of her characters’ issues with such grace and humor it makes any of her readers who see themselves — or perhaps their children — in the characters feel seen and understood.

Celine and Bradley’s love story is so genuine and so mature for two kids who are trying to navigate one of the most pivotal years in a young person’s life. I loved how Hibbert infused the story with so much raw teenage angst that you couldn’t help but relate and hope they found their way to each other the way most of us often don’t.

TSM Book Club Book #1: Well Met by Jen DeLuca

January 7, 2023January 15, 2023Posted in January Reads, TSM Book ClubTagged books, reading, TSM Book ClubLeave a comment

Started: January 2nd | Finished: January 7th
TSM Rating: 3.5/5

I’ll be honest this one was a real slow burner. I wasn’t sure if I would like it until I was about halfway through. Once it picked up, though, I was hooked. It was nerdy in some of the best ways — who doesn’t like a good Renaissance fair and a little Shakespeare banter. Our couple takes some time to have good, flirty interactions, but when they do, they are oh-so-good!

Come for the romance. Stay for the Renaissance factoids. The other three books in the series will definitely be on my list this year.