Deep End by Ali Hazelwood: This was my second book by Ali Hazelwood, and I loved it. Once again set at Stanford University, this time the story follows two student athletes. Scarlett is a diver, while Lukas is an Olympic gold medalist in the pool. They meet through a shared interest that comes with a content warning from the author, as this particular kind of spice is not for everyone. Personally, I thought it was fine and simply part of the story. I had a bigger issue with the friendship between Scarlett and Pen. In my opinion, best friends would act differently. Still, it did not take anything away from my pleasure of the book. As an added bonus, Adam and Olive from The Love Hypothesis make an appearance. What’s not to love?
Still Life by Sarah Winman: When Ulysses and Evelyn meet in the early morning hours before Florence is liberated during World War II, it feels as though the stars are aligned. Theirs is a story that transcends both love and family, built on a deep connection despite them being neither romantically involved nor related. From London to Florence, these two and their extended circle of loved ones orbit one another for years until they eventually meet again. Still Life feels like a love letter to Florence, its art, its people, and the families we create with those we love. Beautifully told, I could not get enough of these characters.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: I thought this book would be a bit more fun, although the plot is bleak enough that I probably should have expected otherwise. Nineteen year old Margo gets pregnant by her college professor, decides to keep baby Bodhi, and soon finds herself running out of money. She then starts an OnlyFans account and begins earning an income. In my opinion, Margo is far too naive about almost everything, from the affair itself to her decision to become a mother without any support in place, and later her work as an adult content creator. When her father, a former professional wrestler, unexpectedly shows up, she finally gets some support, but he is not quite as reliable as he first appears. Nobody is particularly likeable and everyone is a little strange. It pains me to say, but I liked the series better.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston: A love story centered around food is probably the easiest way to describe the story of Clementine and Iwan. Of course, there is much more to it, especially the magical element of a seven year time difference and an apartment that somehow brings people together. What I loved most was Iwan’s passion for food and the way his love language feels poetic in all the right ways. Who wouldn’t want to fall in love over a slice of lemon pie? Grief also plays a major role in the story, sometimes a little too heavily for my taste. Still, the combination of magic, food, and travel completely drew me in. A lovely story.
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