Us Against You picks up the story of Beartown right where the previous novel left off and while I felt like the first novel took a little time to get in to, I was hooked from the first page of Us Against You.  Fredrik Backman has such a way with tapping into humanity and putting difficult concepts into clear relatable words.  I simply loved this novel and will now eagerly await the conclusion of this series, although I will definitely not be ready to leave any of these characters behind.  

There are so many characters in the town that everyone can find someone to identify with and develop empathy for.  Mr. Backman's storytelling is stellar.  He paces the book perfectly and keeps you wondering how each character's story will develop.  I never would have thought a book about a hockey team would be a five star read for me, but Us Against You is truly a story about all that is good about humanity and some of the things that aren't, but in the end, I felt uplifted by this novel and touched by its message.  

Highly recommend this five star book, but you should definitely start by reading Bear Town first and if you struggle as I did for the first part, just know it will be worth it.  

I consider myself a fan of Mary Kubica's writing, giving 5 star reviews to both Pretty Baby and Don't You Cry, so I eagerly dove into her latest book When the Lights Go Out.  I found myself in a real dilemma because on one hand, I was compulsively reading each page and holding my breath to find out what was going to happen, but then when I did get to the end and found out what happened, I felt completely deflated.  I'm all about unexpected twists and turns in a plot line, but this one just fell flat for me.  I simply couldn't get past the ending, so I rated this book three stars.  

I received this book courtesy Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Here is the description from Goodreads:
Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life after years of caring for her ailing mother. She rents a new apartment and applies for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that causes her to doubt everything she’s ever known.

Finding herself suddenly at the center of a bizarre mystery, Jessie tumbles down a rabbit hole, which is only exacerbated by grief and a relentless lack of sleep. As days pass and the insomnia worsens, it plays with Jessie’s mind. Her judgment is blurred, her thoughts are hampered by fatigue. Jessie begins to see things until she can no longer tell the difference between what’s real and what she’s only imagined.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier and two hundred and fifty miles away, another woman’s split-second decision may hold the key to Jessie’s secret past. Has Jessie’s whole life been a lie or have her delusions gotten the best of her?

With Sold on a Monday, Kristina McMorris has solidified her place on my favorite author list.  

It all started with a picture.  Reporter Ellis Reed snaps a photo of two children sitting outside their home with a sign "2 children for sale."  This photo drives home the dramatic choices some families faced in 1931.  Lillian Palmer, secretary, sees the photo in the darkroom and it speaks to her so she insures that it reaches the publication desk.  What follows draws both Ellis and Lillian into a complex situation that has far reaching implications for both of them and a host of others.  

I absolutely did not want to put this book down.  The plot moves along quickly and has some unforeseen turns along the way.  The author does such a tremendous job of making the characters leap from the pages and draws you into the locations and timeframes.  I appreciated all the research and historical details that the author included.  The note at the end of the book providing additional information about the inspiration behind the story put everything into perspective.  

This book is a must read for any historical fiction fan and would make an excellent book club selection.  Five star read for me.  

I received this book courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review.  

The Ten Beach Road Series features a really wonderful cast of women, each strong and experiencing different life challenges but coming together as friends to work through them all.  At the heart of the series is the power of friendship and how our closest friends become our families. I have truly enjoyed getting to know each character and watching them grow as the series went on.  Best Beach Ever is a solid installment in the series and sees each woman grow and change.  I felt like Kyra's character, specifically, really comes into her own in this novel.  

I would recommend starting the series at the beginning with Ten Beach Road simply because you will want to know the characters from the start to get a real feel for how each personality develops and their storylines progress.  I do enjoy the novels in the series more when the ladies have a project they work on together, but if my guess is right, it looks like the next book may be moving back into that type of plot.  

The Ten Beach Road series is one I recommend to friends for a fun read with engaging characters and Best Beach Ever definitely fits in with that.  

I received this book courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.