Book Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Title: Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Author: Talia Hibbert
Publisher: Avon, 2019
Length: 373 pages, paperback
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Audience: 18+
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Blurb:

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?

Enjoy a drunken night out. Ride a motorcycle. Go camping. Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex. Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage. And… do something bad.

But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.

Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…

(Blurb from The StoryGraph)

Review:

I didn’t mean to read two books in a row about women who create lists to try and experience the life they think they never have but here we are. A few days ago I reviewed Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean. You can find the review here. But even reading the blurbs, it wasn’t until I was halfway through both that I realized the similarities. For me, Get a Life, Chloe Brown was far superior.

I could gush about this book for hours if I’m honest so I’ll try to be concise. What I loved most was definitely the characters. Chloe and Red are so adorably awkward and yet so spicy together. I liked watching them grow as people together and learn where they have to be forgiving and graceful with the other.

Oh my goodness, the humor! I won’t share the lines I sent my friends because they’re somewhat explicit but let me tell you there were several times where I had to pause, reread, and then giggle for a minute before I could continue reading. Hibbert paints such a colorful and fun picture and humor drives her writing. I love it.

The actual execution of the plot, following the list Chloe made to “get a life”, was fun and I liked the growth Chloe experienced because of the list and not just because of Red. It was nice showing a character could grow on their own AND from their relationship.

I was going to try and talk about my gripes here but honestly they’re minuscule. I think there were a few moments where the story went too fast so it was hard to keep track of things. I think a few scenes could have been fleshed out more. But these are just small things that kept it from being a full 5 star. It was pretty darn close though.

Overall, this book was excellent. I can see why it took the romance book world by storm! Reading this just raises the urge to drop all books I’m reading and plan to read so I can marathon Talia Hibbert books instead.

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Top 10 Tuesday – Books That Made Me Laugh Out Loud

Maybe I should hold off on doing book lists because I’m, once again, finding it hard to put this list together. I can think of recent books that made me laugh but most of them are books I’ve already talked a ton about. I’ve made an attempt but only found figured out 5 books that have made me laugh and that I haven’t talked about a ton. I’ve also put 5 books I hope will make me laugh out loud. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

5 Books That Made Me Laugh Out Loud

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

I finished this one a few days ago and I laughed SO MUCH! I sent so many pictures to my friends of hilarious lines within this novel. I even inspired someone who doesn’t read a ton to read this one because of how funny it is. Of course I had to put it first on this list and how serendipitous that I read it recently. I won’t go into any more detail since a full review of this will be posted on Thursday!

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Well Met was a bit of a slower burn when it comes to romance and I think it leans more heavily into self discovery as the main plot rather than romance though the romance is still very prominent. I remember absolutely LOVING this novel. I read it and finished it while in a book slump and I think that speaks volumes for me. This book was full of character who really brought this story to life and a sense of humor that perfectly aligns with mine.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

This book has the driest sense of humor and it’s so fun to witness in essentially a parody on typical princess based fairy tales. I read this on breaks when we were still working in the office and I had to stifle giggles constantly. I loved the charactes and the set up so much as well. As an avid lover of princess fairy tales for as long as I can remember, it was fun to see the typical story turned on its head.

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

I’m a bit of a sucker for romance novels that center around a bet being the reason the main couple gets together at first and then later realizing the feelings are real. Crusie delivers this trope excellently along with a big dose of laugh out loud banter between the characters. Crusie’s novels are very hit or miss for me, Bet Me was the first book from her that I absolutely adored.

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raebourn

Deanna Raebourn has been a long time favorite so I’m surprised at how long it took me to start this series (and this is still the only book in the series I’ve read) but it’s so funny. Veronica is hilarious and the situations she ends up putting herself in are even funnier. You’ll have to willfully ignore some inconsistencies in time period accuracy but overall I think it’s worth it for how laugh out loud funny this book is.

5 Books I Think (Hope) Will Make Me Laugh Out Loud

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

With a the first book in the series being on books that DID make me laugh out loud, of course I have to put the sequel on the list of books I hope makes me laugh. Hibbert’s writing tends toward the humourous already so I’m sure I will. Take a Hint follows the middle of the Brown Sisters who was described as weird in her own unique way in Get a Life so I’m excited to see where this one goes!

How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don’t by Lane Moore

I know it’s a bit of an odd choice to hope that a non-fiction book will make me laugh out loud but all descriptions of this have marked it as pretty funny. It’s written by the host of comedy podcast Tinder Live with Lane Moore. I’m excited to see what I can learn and also how that information is made funny.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

I’ve had this on my TBR for a while. I saw it when it was announced and then my biggest book slump ever happened so I still haven’t gotten to it. It looks so cute and funny. I love the premise of a Romeo and Juliet esque battle that takes place over Twitter. What’s not to love in that premise? However, it is a young adult romance which is not something I’ve read in a very long time so I’m being cautious about how much I might like this one.

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

This novel is about two women in Hollywood who get involved in a scandal about them dating and then realize dating might not be such a bad idea. I am HERE for the potential of this story. The mutual pining! The funny banter! Weird scenarios throwing the two leads together! I want it all and I can’t wait to read and find out if it lives up to it’s potential.

A Hero at the End of the World by Jade Liebes and Erin Claiborne

A queer parody of the chosen one trope in young adult novels sounds right up my alley! This book promises so much, a fresh view on a well loved narrative, queer characters center stage without it being romance focused, and high stakes. I can’t wait to dive into this one.

That’s it for Top 10 Tuesday! Have you read any of these or added them to your TBR? Comment below and feel free to post the link to your Top 10 Tuesday post.

Book Review: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Title: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
Author: Sarah MacLean
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2010
Length: 423 pages, ebook
Genre: Historical Romance
Audience: 18+
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Blurb:

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentleman’s club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she’s vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she’s been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she’s not careful, she’ll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love.

(Blurb from The StoryGraph)

Review:

I picked this one up on recommendation from Holly at Belle of the Library and I’m so glad I did. While I have many issues with it, I still had a thoroughly enjoyable time reading it and I can’t wait to read the rest in the series. I’m hopeful that MacLean’s writing improves with time and experience.

One of my biggest issues with this novel is pacing. Sometimes it felt like things happened SO quickly I barely had time to register what happened and other times it felt so slow that I felt like I’d been reading the same thing for 5 years.

I really like Callie! She seems like the kind of person I would be in the regency era. But I think the book told us a lot about how prim and proper and wall flowery she is and didn’t really show it. So when she starts breaking rules it feels like that’s just who she is and not something she really had to push herself to do.

I also felt like Ralston was very wishy washy. He was so hot and cold that I was mostly annoyed with him. I understand the reasoning but it felt like a lot of waffling just to keep the book going.

Honestly, I think my biggest gripe was the length. The book could have been about 100 pages less and it would have probably gotten 4 or 4.5 stars from me. But it dragged on in those slow parts and felt repetitive because of Ralston’s indecisiveness.

I love the banter between Callie and Ralston. In general I loved Callie’s interactions with everyone. She was funny, pushed against society’s rules, and yet still tried to remain prim and proper. It makes me wish more of the pages were dedicated to showing Callie’s transformation then Ralston’s inability to be in touch with his feelings.

I don’t usually talk about the erotic scenes in these novels because most of the time I skim them. I’ve read so much romance that those scenes are mostly the same and boring for me but MacLean’s writing of them kept me engaged and waiting to see what would happen. I really enjoyed that.

Overall, it was a pretty good read. I’ll be picking up the sequel sometime soon. It definitely could have been better in my opinion but it was still very enjoyable and fun.

#SixforSunday February 21st, 2021 – Books that Make You Feel!

Today’s prompt for #SixforSunday is books that make you feel! This one was difficult for me coming off of a several year book slump. I’m trying not to repeat books but it’s a little hard when there’s so very few in my recent memory. Interestingly enough, all the books I could think of were nonfiction. It’s a little unorthodox and not quite the prompt but here are 6 nonfiction books that made me feel. #SixforSunday is hosted by A Little but A lot.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD

This was a healing read for me but also a hard one. I felt so many emotions going through this book and I honestly encourage everyone to read it. Even if you don’t think you have emotionally immature parents, it taught me so much about how people interact and deal with their emotions that I think it’s worth a read.

The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings by Monica Ramierz Basco, PhD

I’m actually still working through this book but it’s already helped me discover so much about myself. Truly books that make me feel end up leading to self discoveries. I’m not shy talking about my mental illness (bipolar type 2) and this book has given me the tools to better express myself and understand myself. All while only being about 37% of the way done!

Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting & Got a Life by Kelsey Miller

In 2017, I decided to lose weight! I ended up losing roughly 80 pounds over a year and a half but I also realized I was unhappy still. This book helped me realize what was missing. Here’s the short review I put on GoodReads at the time I read it.

So much of this book resonated so thoroughly with me that at some points reading it was so hard. It was like looking into my brain but on a page in a way that felt too real and also very reassuring. I think Miller could get a little redundant or overly wordy but it never bothered me much like it can in some memoirs. I truly enjoyed this book even if it made me look a little more closely at myself than I wanted.

Welcome to the Writer’s Life: How to Design Your Writing Craft by Paulette Perhach

I credit this book with helping me get back into writing and even reviewing! It’s so obvious how much Perhach loves writing and it comes through in the book. Her advice isn’t always on point but I find that I tend to pick and choose what I like from writing advice anyway. This made me feel like I really could write a book and achieve my lifelong dream of being a published author.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

So You Want to Talk About Race made me confront uncomfortable things about myself. In general, the feeling I got from this was uncomfortable but it also felt like growth. I borrowed this on audiobook from my library and immediately purchased a physical copy because this is a book I’ll go back to and learn something new each time. It’s a hard read but completely worth it.

The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away my Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders

That’s one long title but I assure you the book flies by. A couple years ago I discovered minimalism from this book. I had been struggling with money and my wants. I had my first Big Girl Job and had no idea what to do with Big Girl Money except spend it. This book helped me see that I didn’t really want all the things I was buying. It helped me so much. I don’t consider myself a minimalist but this book has helped me curb my materialism and live a more fulfilling life.

Feel free to link your #SixforSunday post below! Or comment your favorite authors/characters/novels.

Book Review: Intercepted (Playbook #1) by Alexa Martin

Title: Intercepted (Playbook #1)
Author: Alexa Martin
Publisher: Berkley, 2018
Length: 317 Pages, ebook
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Audience: 18+
Rating: 2.5 Stars

Blurb:

Marlee thought she scored the man of her dreams only to be scorched by a bad breakup. But there’s a new player on the horizon, and he’s in a league of his own…

Marlee Harper is the perfect girlfriend. She’s definitely had enough practice by dating her NFL-star boyfriend for the last ten years. But when she discovers he has been tackling other women on the sly, she vows to never date an athlete again. There’s just one problem: Gavin Pope, the new hotshot quarterback and a fling from the past, has Marlee in his sights.

Gavin fights to show Marlee he’s nothing like her ex. Unfortunately, not everyone is ready to let her escape her past. The team’s wives, who never led the welcome wagon, are not happy with Marlee’s return. They have only one thing on their minds: taking her down. But when the gossip makes Marlee public enemy number one, she worries about more than just her reputation.

Between their own fumbles and the wicked wives, it will take a Hail Mary for Marlee and Gavin’s relationship to survive the season. 

(Blurb from The StoryGraph)

Review:

I wanted to love this one so bad! I did enjoy reading it but I have a lot of issues with it as well that keep me from being able to rate it any higher. It was a fun romp through Denver with Marlee and Gavin, I just wish the writing had been able to support it.

Marlee is my kind of woman. Independent, smart, speaks her mind. But I think it’s inconsistent. Most of the time she’s those things, but here and there it’s like suddenly reading a different character with the way she responds to situations. It was rather off putting.

I enjoyed the use of hashtags to explain her life. It feels like something a person who loves Twitter or social media might do to be funny. It brought a ton of character to Marlee and made her more relatable for me. 

I felt the same way about Gavin as I do about Marlee. He was so respectful, thoughtful, and fun but we lost that sometimes. There’s a point in the novel where he feels egregiously out of character and it’s explained away later but it still doesn’t sit quite right with me. 

The side characters were okay. They were all very one dimensional. The bitchy antagonist, the supportive friend, the tough love boss, the cheating asshole ex. All these characters were reduced to these singular descriptors. They never felt or acted like real people. When they weren’t reduced to these descriptors, the characters were doing something that completely opposes their one character descriptor. It was so jarring.

I also wish there were better descriptions of the characters. Martin avoided info dump descriptions but, especially for characters, I felt like there was little to no description. I had such a hard time visualizing each of them.

The plot itself was so fun! I just wish it wasn’t filled with missing time. Lots of time passes in the book but it never really feels that way and I think it’s because a lot of the plot happens off screen so to speak. This book might have been aided by being able to see Gavin’s side of things so the reader isn’t just told what happens.

While I enjoyed my time reading this, I can’t in good conscience give it any higher of a score. It was diverting and has a bunch of tropes I love. I might even read the sequel once I’ve gotten a little further with other TBR books. I want to see Martin improve because all the basics are there; it just needs some finesse.

Small Personal Update + Convo Wednesday

Hello everyone!

In case you noticed, I’ll be a little less active this week. I still have a three posts going up but I’m in all day meetings 4/5 days this week so I just want be around as much. Can’t wait to jump right back into it next week.

With that in mind, I’d like to start a conversation! I might not have the ability to post but I can definitely chat. How’s your week going? Let’s start a conversation below! Anything good to share, anything bad? Let’s celebrate and/or commiserate in the comments!

Top 10 Tuesday – Green, purple, and yellow covers!

These cover lists are a bit hard for me since I read almost exclusively on ebook, BUT, I shan’t be bested! So these are books I want to read with these colors on the cover. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Without further ado, let’s look at these purple, yellow, and/or green covers of books I want to read. These are in no particular order. Happy Mardi Gras!!

10 Purple, Yellow, and/or Green Covers

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

I recently added this to my TBR. Despite not being very into Young Adult novels any more, they keep finding their way onto my TBR because the stories sound so good and this is no different. A Romeo and Juliet story starring Asian leads and centering around Pho restaurant rivalry? Sign me up! I know this is more pink but it’s a purpley-pink so I’m counting it!

The House in the Cerulean Sea by Tj Klune

This book was on the favorites list of SO MANY Booktubers and every time it was described to me I only wanted to read it more. I’m recently getting more into found family stories so this really intrigued me. Plus it has a fantasy and queer spin. Spoiler alert, this is on my TBR for March because I simply cannot wait any longer to read it.

Pulp by Robin Talley

I find duel time line books like this one intriguing but very hit or miss. I’m curious about juxtaposing a queer woman in 1955 with a contemporary queer woman. I’m excited to see where this could lead. I’m hoping it might be a good way for young adults to get a taste of queer history.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I’ve been meaning to read this one for YEARS. But I think I’m finally feeling the call to actually read it. I hope to add it to my TBR soon. I’m sure I don’t have to describe this one for y’all considering all the hype around it and the movie.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

I love historical romance or even just plain historical fiction with leads that aren’t conventional for the time. Hell, I’m okay if they have completely modern ideals. I don’t read historical fiction for accuracy. This one seems to be a good blend of both historical accuracy and an unconventional heroine. I’m excited to pick this one up eventually.

These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

So, confession time, I bought this and got about half way through before giving up a couple years ago. It’s definitely right up my alley but I wasn’t in the mood to read so I sent it back to my TBR to try again. I’m still not sure I’m in the mood but I am feeling it calling my name. It might be a while since I will have to reread the beginning. Anyway, a queer witch trying to figure out a magical mystery with her ex girlfriend sounds too good to truly pass up.

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley

Another one that’s been on my TBR FOREVER. I even own a physical copy of this because Kearsley is one of my favorite authors but I just haven’t been in the mood for it. I hope I can pick it up soon. Like most of Kearsley’s novels, it’s set in the present and the past linking the characters together by finding historical pieces in of the character in the past in the present. I can’t wait to be in the mood to pick this one up since Kearlsey is able to do this trope so beautifully.

The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

Sajid from Reading is my Social Life talks about this book on their video featuring books that showcase Muslim characters. This one is about a society who had to retreat underwater and create a society there. They have mental illness coded issues AND taking down the government. Of course I want to read this one. And as an added bonus

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Megwithbooks recently talked about The Inheritance Games and immediately it reminded me of this so bad it’s good k-drama I watched and I knew I had to read it. This all green and gold cover is also absolutely perfect for this prompt so I’m glad I recently added it. Haha. Anyway, this is about a girl who’s randomly given an inheritance by an old man with 3 sons. The only stipulation is that she has to live in his house. Intrigue abound!

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole

After reading the A.I. Who Loved Me, I knew I absolutely have to read more work by Alyssa Cole. I think her Reluctant Royals series is a good place to start! I don’t usually like the ordinary girl starts dating a royal trope but I think if done right, I can love any trope and with how much I love Cole’s writing I’m hoping this works for me.

That’s it for Top 10 Tuesday! Have you read any of these or added them to your TBR? Comment below and feel free to post the link to your Top 10 Tuesday post.

Book Review: More Than Words by Jill Santopolo

Title: More Than Words
Author: Jill Santopolo
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2019
Length: 352 Pages, eBook
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Chicklit
Audience: Adult
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Blurb:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost comes a tender and moving new novel about a woman at a crossroads after the death of her father, and caught between the love of two men.

Nina Gregory has always been a good daughter, a good girlfriend. Raised by her father, owner of New York City’s glamorous Gregory Hotels, after her mother’s death, Nina was taught that family, reputation, and legacy are what matter most. And her boyfriend Tim, thoughtful, kind, and honest, not to mention her best friend since childhood, feels the same. But after Nina’s father passes away, she learns he may not have practiced what he preached.

As her world falls apart, Nina begins to question everything she thought she knew and to see the men in her life–her father, her boyfriend, and unexpectedly, her handsome and attentive boss, Rafael–in a new light. Soon Nina finds herself caught between the world she knows and loves, and a passion that could upend everything.

More than Words is a heartbreaking and romantic novel about grief, loss, love, and self-discovery, and how we choose which life we are meant to live.

(Blurb from The StoryGraph)

Review:

A couple weeks ago I was scrolling through my library’s available now section when I saw the cover of this one. I knew I had to read it. I’m normally not one to judge only on a cover but this one was too gorgeous to resist. That dark blue against the light pink, the leaves blowing through it, the silhouette of a face, perfection.

Anyway, this was a very emotional read given the subject matter but I didn’t really find it to be a romance. It may be labeled romance, but romance took a backseat to Nina figuring herself out which I honestly liked! I do wish it wasn’t labeled a romance because I might have had lower expectations and could have given this a higher rating.

Nina herself is an amazing character. I loved going on this journey worth her and watching her figure out who she is. Rafael was fun! Though I don’t think we saw enough of him. I also really loved Caro and Leslie. Even if they didn’t make a huge appearance in the novel, I found their relationships with Nina super believable in the small actions they showed. It was very sweet.

The other characters were very flat unfortunately. Every single one. Nina’s father, TJ, Tim, and all the people she’s supposedly friends with like Pris and Jane. I think this is partly Santopolo’s detached writing style but since characters are the main draw for me I had a hard time with this particular aspect.

Speaking of Santopolo’s detached writing style, I think this is part of why I have a hard time labeling this a romance. The detachment meant I didn’t feel anything for any of the possible romantic partners. They felt flat and there to help Nina in her journey which isn’t terrible but again, not a romance. I lied, there was some feeling: a little bit of rage but those aren’t feelings you necessarily want for a male lead in a romance.

A fair warning, this book deals with grief and death and if you’re anything like me you’ll cry like a baby for those moments. The way Santopolo describes the feeling of a loved one dying is so vivid and, at least for me, truthful. The writing may be detached but she nails the emotions of grief and learning people aren’t who you think they are.

While I did very much enjoy this, the writing style and the expectations of romance kept this from being an excellent read for me. I’m very happy I picked this one up despite it not being what I expected. I feel like I gained something from reading it.

Popularathon Postponed!

Hello everyone! Just a quick update to say that the Popularathon I was going to participate in this coming week has been postponed. Unfortunately, the host has gotten sick and needs time to recover before hosting a Readathon. Hopefully it will resume in March or April so stay tuned!

#SixforSunday February 14th, 2021 – Favorite Authors

I think after looking ahead at the next few prompts that #SixforSunday is always going to be a little challenging for me. How do I choose a favorite ANYTHING? But I will attempt! #SixforSunday is hosted by A Little but A lot. This weeks prompt is favorite books/authors/characters. I chose Authors! I mostly based this off of authors I’ve read the most books from or authors I reread the most.

Ilona Andrews

The husband wife writing duo known as Ilona Andrews quickly became one of my favorite and most read authors after discovering their urban fantasy series starring Kate Daniels. I was swept off my feet when I read the Innkeeper Chronicles series. I love their writing style and world building. I feel like everything I read from sucks me in and I can’t wait for more.

Susanna Kearsley

I hate to admit it, but I have a bit of an obsession with Scotland and the fact that Kearsley sets a lot of her novels there is a huge draw. But I also love her writing, it flows so beautifully and she’s good at creating characters that feel like real people.

Talia Hibbert

If you’ve read any of my recent posts, you’ll know how much I love Talia Hibbert but I’ll restate it here. She writes some of my favorite romance novels. Her characters are diverse and well thought out. The writing is fun and quick. There’s hardly ever a draw back when reading her work.

Robin McKinley

I’m not sure where to start with Robin McKinley. While I reread her retelling of Beauty and the Beast almost every year, that’s about the only book I’ve read from her. Aside from her early rendition of Beauty titled Rose Daughter. However, I’ve reread Beauty almost every year since 2009 so I feel it’s safe to say she has a place on this list.

Jane Austen

Jane Austen sparked my interest in reading historical novels. I almost never gave historical novels a chance and while Austen is technically a classic and not historical fiction, her books opened me up to the idea of enjoying historical fiction and I thank her for that. I love most of her books with the exception of Mansfield Park and Sanditon.

Sarah Morgan

Of all the authors, this is the only one I feel slightly conflicted about putting on here. While I have read the majority of the novels Morgan has put out, I only truly loved her From Manhattan With Love series. The way she describes New York City makes me fall in love with it and that’s saying a lot because the two times I went to NYC I decided I never wanted to go back. I also LOVE the characters in the series. They feel like real people. But her other work is….not for me despite endlessly trying. I might try a novel she’s put out after the series but it’s clear she grew as a writer from her books published before the Manhattan series.

Feel free to link your #SixforSunday post below! Or comment your favorite authors/characters/novels.