It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Run by husband and wife team Liv and Eliot Goldenhorn, In Love In New York have been Brooklyn's top wedding planners for the past twenty years. That is until Eliot dies suddenly while visiting Savannah Shipley, his younger, blonder events intern girlfriend from Kentucky. In a twist no one could have predicted, Eliot leaves his half of the business to Savannah, who had no idea Eliot was still married.

To Liv’s utter horror, Savannah won’t sell her inherited half of the business. She thinks that she can help Liv build the now-failing business into the thriving company it used to be. Liv and Savannah are polar opposites—Savannah is as inexperienced as she is optimistic whereas Liv is skilled and cynical. But what starts out as a nightmare turns into something neither of them could have imagined.

It Had to Be You is a witty, charming, and heartfelt series of love stories, second chances, secret romances, and soul mates that are all braided together. Perfect for fans of Love Actually.  

With a cast of diverse, compelling, and well-developed characters, It Had to Be You was one of my favourite reads this year—I could absolutely see this being optioned for film or TV. It is smart, sexy, soapy, and utterly addictive! 

Set in NYC, each chapter is from a different character's perspective. The novel is well-structured and features five interconnecting love stories. Reminiscent of your favourite rom-com, trope fans will find several popular ones amongst its pages. 

Georgia, you quite simply captured my heart and I can't recommend this book enough! 

BUY NOW

GEORGIA CLARK  is an author, performer, and screenwriter. She wrote the critically acclaimed novels, The Regulars and The Bucket List. It Had to Be You is her fifth novel.

Clark is a native Australian who now calls Brooklyn her home where she lives with her wife.

The First Time We Met by Jo Lovett

A special thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What if you met The One on his wedding day?

Izzy doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but when Sam walks into the cafe where she works one winter’s morning, she knows without a doubt that he’s the one. Too bad Sam’s getting married. Today.

Nearly a year later, Izzy still can’t stop thinking about Sam, the one that got away, but she knows it’s time to move on: he’s a married man and probably wouldn’t recognise her if he passed her on the street.

But Sam has never forgotten Izzy, the funny, gorgeous woman who asked him out on his wedding day. If the timing had only been better, he knows they could have had something wonderful.

When Izzy and Sam’s paths finally cross again, everything has changed. But with the Atlantic Ocean and decades of baggage between them, they are about to find out whether some obstacles are too big for even true love to overcome.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Jo Lovett explores this loved trope in The First Time We Met. The premise and the beginning of the story showed so much promise. But the large time jumps are problematic and not realistic or believable. Fourteen years is far too long to harbour any sort of interest in someone that you've only had a few encounters with. (The timeline needs tightening up, where is an editor when you need one?) There was also an unnecessary subplot that ate up pages and made the story drag on.

BUY NOW

JO LOVETT worked in corporate tax before taking an extended break to have five children. She started writing rom coms and was runner-up in the Good Housekeeping/ Orion First Novel Competition 2018 and shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Award 2019.

Lovett lives in London with her family.

The 4% Fix by Karma Brown

A special thank you to the author, Karma Brown, for an ARC and to NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

If you think that there aren't enough hours in the day for you to be creative, or to dedicate yourself to something you are passionate about, let Karma Brown's The 4% Fix show you how to find the time without sacrificing your other commitments. This is not a book filled with jargon and spreadsheets—Brown provides her readers with a solid, practical approach that's infused with humour and personal experience.

How will you use this one hour—only 4% of your day—to change your life?

We are all busy and overwhelmed with responsibilities and daily tasks, and feel like we have no time or motivation. The 4% Fix is about finding an hour that is yours to harness, to exploit, or to take on a project that you want to do. You may be wondering where you are supposed to come up with an extra hour when you are already feeling like you don't have enough time to accomplish what is already on your plate. Brown's solution is to wake up an hour earlier each day. She gets up at 5 a.m. to write all of her books and has been doing so for years. For Karma, it is the right time to carve out that hour that is just for her—it's pretty quiet at 5 a.m. Yet for the sleep deprived, this sounds impossible and quite frankly, unappealing. But the idea is to find that hour to dedicate it to yourself and to make it a habit.  

Brown's cake analogy is that there are 24 pieces of cake—one for every hour of the day—yet in your life is made up of cake-loving people and everyone wants some. It’s delicious...I mean who doesn't love cake? And there are the other things in your day like work, commitments, running errands, etc., that also take their slices. But quite simply, if you don’t serve yourself first, you will be left with just crumbs. Even if you take your slice and tuck it away for later, you still need to take that first piece—have your cake and eat it too! 

The 4% Fix is part how-to and part motivation. In a refreshing and gentle way, Karma shares the latest research about time management and goal setting, as well as what strategies have worked for her. Brown's first non-fiction project is enjoyable, helpful, and practical. It it is the perfect book to kick off your year and will help you be more productive, purposeful, and focused. One hour can change your life!

BUY NOW

KARMA BROWN is an award-winning journalist and author of the bestsellers Come Away With Me, The Choices We Make, In This Moment, The Life Lucy Knew, and Recipe for a Perfect Wife. In addition to her novels, Karma's writing has appeared in publications such as Redbook, SELF, and Chatelaine.

Brown lives just outside Toronto, Canada with her husband, daughter, and their adorably handsome labradoodle, Fred.

---

Q & A with Karma Brown*

GWR: 

The structure of The 4% Fix is very digestible. Did you always have it planned out this way or was it something that came about as you started writing? 

KB: Thank you! As I was writing, I had one goal: for it to be easy to read and easy to follow. I also wanted the book to be equal parts entertaining and inspiring, but without complicated time management strategies or too heavily burdened by research. The book evolved as I went, as books do, but that original goal stayed top of mind.  

GWR: I love the quotes. Do you have a favorite? Are there any others that didn’t make the cut that still resonate with you?

KB: It’s always hard to choose a favourite, but the one that still resonates most strongly is the meditation from Ojibway writer Richard Wagamese’s EMBERS: Nothing in the universe ever grew from the outside in. 

GWR: Did your writing process differ because this was a non-fiction book? 

KB: Yes, and that was a surprise. After writing five novels (well, seven if you count my first two that will remain work-in-progress books in a dark drawer) I thought I had a solid handle on my “process.” Turns out this book about getting up early to harness the power of an untapped hour refused to be written in the pre-dawn morning! So my book about rising for the #5amwritersclub would not be written at 5 a.m. It was a revelation when I finally realized the issue, and then I simply shifted my writing time a touch later, which worked much better. 

GRW: Obviously your journalism background played a huge part—tell me about the research you did for the novel. 

KB: As a freelance journalist I’ve done a lot of interviews, and that muscle memory remained even though these days I’m mostly writing fiction. Having said that, I do lot of research for my novels, particularly Recipe for a Perfect Wife and my current one, as they both have significant historical elements. I also love the research element of writing, so it was fun to dive back into that in a non-fiction environment for The 4% Fix. It’s always a good writing day when you get to connect with interesting people and their stories. 

GRW: Which subjects do you wish more authors would write about?

KB: I am endlessly fascinated with stories of motherhood, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the messier side of what it means to be an ambitious woman while simultaneously raising children. While I am interested in so many topics (the list is truly endless), I am drawn to women’s stories in all the different shapes those take. 

GRW: What made you decide to write this book?

KB: I was approached by HarperCollins Canada to write a book about my 5 a.m. writing habit, and the many benefits I’ve found from sticking with it over the years. I had never planned to write a non-fiction book, but I’ve also learned to never say never, because you have no idea what opportunities might come your way.  

GRW: Would you ever write another non-fiction book? 

KB: Never say never!

GWR: Can you share what you’re working on now? 

KB: I’m currently working on my next fiction project, which is a dual timeline novel set in 1975 and 2019. The story follows an aspiring screenwriter and her fiancé who make a gruesome discovery while in the Adirondacks—solving a decades-long mystery connected to a local feminist in 1975, whose own story plays out through the pages. It’s about the cost of ambition, the pull of agency, and how the truth won’t stay buried forever. 

*A version of this post was published on STYLE Canada.  

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

A special thank you to Libro.fm and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook listening copy, and NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded trinkets and jewellery from her well-to-do clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.

But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for. 

Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea. She was an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story with her wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?

With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?

The Wife Upstairs is a modern and bold retelling of Jane Eyre that was absolutely brilliant from start to finish.  This gothic psychological thriller is completely hypnotic—it's a fresh and feminist reimagining that will take readers by surprise. Hawkins is a master and I highly recommend this wicked love triangle story. 

Full of twists and turns, secrets and surprises, you will be hooked from the first page. I highly recommend.

BUY NOW

RACHEL HAWKINS is the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books for young readers, and her work has been translated in over a dozen countries. She studied gender and sexuality in Victorian literature at Auburn University and The Wife Upstairs is her first adult novel.

Hawkins currently lives in Alabama.

The Bridge Club by Patricia Sands

A special thank you to the author, Patricia Sands for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Kate Rock Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of the Blog Tour.

Eight women. Four Decades. One unimaginable weekend.

At its core, The Bridge Club is a story about female friendships and the unbreakable bond between women. This moving story is a testament to the kind of friendship that both celebrates the triumphs and weathers the storms. 

Once a month, eight women's lives intersect to play bridge. What began as one night of cards ends up spanning four decades. Loosely based on her own bridge club, Sands takes her reader through some of life's most difficult situations and asks: How far would you go to help a good friend? Is there a place where you might draw the line?

Ti-Ming is everything. I had the sincerest pleasure of meeting Patricia, totally by chance, at a launch party for another author. She is absolutely delightful and her warmth and wonderful personality comes through on the page—her books are like reading letters from a cherished friend. 

Each chapter of the book is dedicated to a member of the Bridge Club. The ladies take turns navigating and surviving a life-changing event thanks to the support of the group which is their life raft. Sands' characters are unique and their personalities jump right off the page. Her ear for dialogue effectively captures how a group of women that know each other so intimately can laugh and tease one another, even through the tears. 

Sands depicts the bond of female friendship so succinctly. She also is realistic in her approach with the way the relationships ebbed and flowed. There were times when members of the group were  distant because of other commitments, things that traditionally fall with women, like being caregivers to children and/or parents. Although these situations would take priority, the relationships would pick up right where they left off, a sign of true friendship. 

The beginning chapter is a little slow and a bit confusing. But please do not let that deter you because this book is worth your patience! Sands is simply setting the table and they lays out a feast. 

PATRICIA SANDS is a proud indie author who is also delighted to be under contract with Lake Union Publishing for her Love in Provence series. Her award-winning debut novel The Bridge Club was published in 2010 and the audiobook is read by Patricia herself.

With a focus on her love of the south of France, women’s issues and ageing, her stories celebrate the feminine spirit and the power of friendship. Patricia encourages women of all ages to stare down the fear factor and embrace change.

Sands lives in Collingwood with her husband and travels whenever she can.

The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks by Julie Valerie

A special thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author, Julie Valerie, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

The women of Primm have it all together, all of the time and Holly Banks has made it her mission to be the same. But she's quickly learning that keeping up with the Joneses is a full-time job and nothing seems to be going to plan.

With her husband’s job in flux, her daughter having trouble learning to read, and her mother’s new enthusiasm for dating, Holly’s life is anything but picture perfect. Then her dog digs up an old artifact in the village centre which brings the attention of local media. Because of course it would.

Holly finds herself at the center of a mystery between two rival towns that, if solved, could change the Village of Primm forever. Attention is the last thing she needs as she’s launching a new business, the village-wide “Parade of Homes” is approaching—though she’s hardly unpacked—and she needs to submit her entry for an upcoming film festival. Can Holly still create her perfect (looking) life? Or is fate about to go off script and give her a story she never could have imagined? 

Wife, mother, aspiring filmmaker Holly Banks is back! Still living in the idyllic Village of Primm, this book takes place a few weeks after the first book. Holly is clinging to the pursuit of perfection, but fate has other plans for her.  

True to Julie Valerie's style, The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks also has its share of shenanigans, but it is more serious and even a little mysterious. I missed the humour and lightheartedness from Holly Banks Full of Angst, this book is definitely not as quirky. That being said, I would still recommend, if not for just reading about Struggle the dog—he was a total scene-stealer.

BUY NOW

JULIE VALERIE writes humorous women’s fiction and is developing a series set in the idyllic Village of Primm. She has an editing certificate from the University of Chicago, a master’s degree in education, and a certification in wilderness first aid. 

Valerie enjoys reading, the study of wine, section hiking the Appalachian Trail, and travel. She is married to her college sweetheart, has four children (two girls, two boys) and two English Labradors (one yellow, one chocolate