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During the winter season I love nothing more than to cuddle up in a blanket on the couch with a good book in my hand. From romance to tragedies to success and more, these books took away my cold-wintery blues. For part 1 of what books I read this past winter, these books are all about finding your own happiness and paving your own path.
*the reviews have spoilers in them
When Soléne, a 39 year old divorcee in Los Angeles, decides to take her younger daughter and her friends to the biggest concert of the year, she didn’t realized that night will change her life. Upon meeting one of the band members from August Moon, Hayes Campbell, there was a spark of connection and attraction that Soléne hadn’t felt in a long time. Despite their 20 year age difference, the two of them find themselves in a forbidden, secret whirlwind romance. That is until the tabloids get a hold of the relationship and online chatter turns into vicious comments. As they navigate their different lifestyles, Soléne must face whether her relationship is worth risking harm to those she loves. The Idea of You is about finding happiness. Not allowing others judgement or opinions dictate what makes you happy.
5/5 stars
Review
This has been on my list of books to read for a while. And what better time to read it than before it turns into a movie. I enjoyed this book; easy to read and keeps you interested. I will say knowing that this is fanfic of Harry Styles does make it a little uncomfortable. However, if you take that out of the equation you do get into their relationship. You knew from the start that Hayes and Soléne were not going to last. Between the age gap and different lifestyles, it was doomed from the beginning. So you kind of take it for what it is; a cherished moment. You live in the present with Soléne, enjoying life and love. My favorite part of the storyline isn’t the romance between the two of them, it’s Soléne finding herself again after a divorce. It’s proving that women can still be beautiful, confident, and successful at any age. That age doesn’t define us in finding happiness and love. That is why I liked the book so much.
When 16 year old Finn Miller is on a ski trip with her family, a terrible accident happens one evening in a snowstorm. Suspended between both worlds, life and death, Finn watches her family as they struggle to survive. She helplessly sees her family and friends make impossible decisions. She helplessly watches the survivors grieve in different ways as they try to pick up the pieces of their lives. Some can’t let go, some chose to move forward, others pretend it didn’t happened, and some choose to stay strong for all of them. In An instant is about how everyone deals differently with survival and grief. How anything can change in an instant, so we must cherish the moment and the people in our lives.
5/5 stars
Review
Tragedies are not usually my cup of tea when it comes to books. However, my sister read In an Instant and said how good it was. She was right, this book is amazing. It’s so thought provoking. It taps into our innate human behaviors; what would we do in this incident. I saw a lot of my mom in Ann (Finn’s mother). How she took charge, put others before herself, and basically saved the day. That is how my mom would have acted if this had happened to us (and my father was incapable). It’s a very scary thought. How in one instant your entire life could change; for the good or the bad. How one split decision can change the course of your life. It reminds you to appreciate life, and those around you, as is. I loved how the author kept Finn as a spirit between the realms so she could champion her friends and family as they healed. It was both heartbreaking and wonderful. I couldn’t put this book down, it kept me on the edge of my seat. I appreciate the authors choice to just get right into the accident. I thought it would be pages of them enjoying their trip, then a short section of the accident. I liked how it didn’t dilly dally around and got right to it. It got you hooked right away.
Thessaly and Wren are two young, ambitious women working their way up in a prominent NYC boutique wine importer company. The two couldn’t be more different but when a chance to form an alliance to level-up their careers appears, they take it. They work together to improve their positions and their knowledge in wine. We follow along Thessaly and Wren as they navigate NYC, Europe, and the MidWest wine industry. Wine People is about the ins and out of the wine industry, what it takes to be ambitious, and forming unlikely friendships.
3/5 stars
Review
Wine People is one of those books I appreciated more after I finished. While reading I thought it was about the wine industry. Even though it is mostly about that, it wasn’t until the end when I realized this is about friendship. About the unlikely connections we make. How with certain friendships, like Thessaly and Wren, can be honest with each other and challenge each other like no one else can. In business you want someone like that by your side. It’s how you evolve and grow. I thought it was so fascinating learning the different sectors of the wine industry. However, I did think that some of it didn’t need to be part of the book. It was also too much. I also didn’t understand some of the author’s choices to make some side characters more prominent– like Gavin. Who then we never hear of again later on in the book. What I did like about Wine People is all the fabulous trips they went on. Working with wine would be a cool job for a young 20 something. It would give you so much life experience. However, I do not think this job is sustainable for ever unless you are very passionate about it. Overall the book was fine, I enjoyed some parts and found other parts to be boring. But if you are someone who is into wine, I highly suggest this one.