Love in its many forms

 It seems I'm on a run of romances right now. This set has a variety of settings and expressions.

I gotta say, though, that these five books all have varying degrees of sex, from implied to described in detail. In three of these five, if you don't want to be in the room watching while people vigorously express their physical affection, be ready to turn some pages.

And it's too bad, really. I'm not opposed to sex! Really, it's a lovely way for a couple to express their love. But when it's in a book, and the plot is ticking along nicely, taking six or ten pages to describe the intimate moments puts a screeching halt on the plot. I don't need it. I'd rather keep the private things private.

So, I'll get off my soapbox now and review the books, shall I?

Remember Me 
by Estelle Laure
Publisher: Wednesday Books (March 22, 2022)
Hardcover: 272 pages
ISBN-10: 1250261937
ISBN-13: 978-1250261939
Reading age: 13 - 18 years
Grade level: 7 – 9
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

If you could erase all of your painful memories, would you?

Blue Owens wakes up one day with the strangest feeling that something is very wrong. Everyone’s acting weird and she’s found a note in her closet telling her to get on the Little Blue Bus at 7:45, which she does, meeting up with the exact person she was supposed to avoid: Adam Mendoza. Even though she has no idea who he is, something about him is so familiar.

When she confronts him, the truth is revealed―Blue has paid to have her memories removed, and Adam is one of those memories. As Blue struggles to piece together her history, she is torn between her desire to know why she would do something so drastic and her fear of what she will find.

Remember Me is the bold and beautiful story of a girl who must find the courage to face the demons of her past and reclaim her loved ones―even if it ruins her.

 

My Thoughts:

This book asks an important question: If you could erase your memory of the painful parts of your life, would you? This book is set in a near future in which the technology to do this exists.

 That’s what Blue wrestles with. In fact, at some point, she thought it would be worth it, because that’s what she did. But now, she’s finding out that she’d like to have those memories back. It’s not an easy process, and she brings pain to those around her as she deals with her loss—again.

 Blue lives alone with her grandmother. She’s got two good friends who are about to graduate and leave her behind. She has vague memories of her mother’s death. Or does she?

 This book is part mystery, part coming-of-age, and part love story. Blue re-discovers the boy who had been the love of her life. She also rediscovers her parents’ messy divorce, and something else, something so traumatic that she voluntarily had it excised from her memories.

 But the aftermath of that process turns out to be worse than the memories—or she hopes so, as she illicitly tries to get the memories back. The revelation of what actually happened is a shocker, and it makes sense that it was something she wanted to forget.

 The supporting cast is well-written. Blue’s friends, her boyfriend, her sassy grandma, and the brave doctor who helps her get her memory back are fully realized. Even her boyfriend’s understandably wary mother, and Blue’s art teacher, have depth to them.

 Yes, I am categorizing this book with romances, because the relationship between Blue and Adam is definitely a factor here.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Suicidal thoughts, depression, death. References to sex—Blue and her boyfriend are sexually active—including a somewhat descriptive scene. Swearing, including the F word. One character is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. I definitely wouldn't recommend it to someone younger than 15.

 Who Might Like This Book:

People who like coming-of-age and watching characters overcome trauma. Those who like books with supportive friends.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

 

Love, Comment, Subscribe
Ponto Beach Reunion #1
By Cathy Yardley
Publisher: Montlake (October 1, 2021)
Paperback: 335 pages
ISBN-10: 1542030005
ISBN-13: 978-1542030007
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Back in high school, Lily Wang wanted to be popular, but she considered herself lucky to be part of a tight group of oddballs and honors students called the Nerd Herd. Now, at twenty-eight, she feels like she’s finally on the cusp of succeeding as a beauty influencer―if she can hit five million subscribers, brands will take notice and she could get her own makeup line.

 Fellow Nerd Herd alum Tobin Bui has had a lot of success as a YouTube gamer. But the road to online stardom has been rocky. First, he disappointed his parents by dropping out of college, and now, after years of pranks, skits, and playthroughs, he’s struggling to come up with new content to satisfy his ever-growing fan base. His agents say he needs cross-audience appeal, a new twist.

When Nerd Herd frenemy Lily approaches Tobin about teaming up to do a video to bolster her brand and reinvigorate his, he agrees. But when their first collab video goes viral, their relationship heats up too. With the whole internet watching, will these two former misfits finally realize they’re perfect together?

 My Thoughts:

Having had my own sort of Nerd Herd back in high school, Lily’s need to prove herself to the popular kids definitely resonates. She is driven, and she’s good at what she does, but she has put herself into something of a box with her rigidly ordered life.

 A series of events—and an encounter with a popular influencer that Lily admires—leads to Lily teaming up with high school friend Tobin. He’s always been a bit of an immature pest, but his YouTube channel is a big hit, and after his latest video goes viral, Lily realizes that his creativity may be just what she needs to take the next step with her own brand.

 And we go from there. It’s a fairly typical hate-to-love. I definitely enjoyed watching both characters develop as they learned to take care of themselves, and care for others, on their individual paths to success.

 The writing is witty, and the dialogue between our two main characters is snappy and fast paced. Overall, it’s an enjoyable, quick read.

 One of the particular charms of this book and its sequel is the Nerd Herd itself—a particularly supportive group of friends that go back to high school or even further. I found the steamy sex scenes distracting, but I will continue reading these books because I want to know more about the Nerd Herd.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

A few quite spicy sex scenes, swearing (including the F word). Same sex couples.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like stories about longstanding friendships. If you were a nerd in school, this might be the book for you! If you are into pop culture and social media, that’s also a plus.

 

Gouda Friends
Ponto Beach Reunion #2
By Cathy Yardley
Publisher: Montlake (March 22, 2022)
Paperback: 303 pages
ISBN-10: 1542030021
ISBN-13: 978-1542030021
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word―goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.

 Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor.

 Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life―but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.

 My Thoughts:

Tam has put up with jobs and boyfriends that take her for granted for far too long. When both her job and her boyfriend let her down spectacularly, she ends up back in her hometown, staying with best friend Josh. Josh had a rough childhood, but thanks to Tam’s encouragement, he’s now wildly successful. He wants to give Tam the same encouragement now that she gave him in the past.

 But Tam’s demanding parents and lack of belief in herself have left her adrift, not really knowing what it is that she’s good at. This journey of discovery is the heart of the story, and it’s well done.

 As with its predecessor, this book is full of fun and witty dialogue. This time, most of the development is on Tam’s side, although Josh does a bit of changing as well. He’s a lot more well-adjusted, so he doesn’t need change the way Tam does. I will say that I found the resolution of the two working in cities a few thousand miles apart was maybe a bit too easy.

 And oh, those cheese puns!

 One of the particular charms of this book and its sequel is the Nerd Herd itself—a particularly supportive group of friends that go back to high school or even further. I found the steamy sex scenes distracting, but I will continue reading these books because I want to know more about the Nerd Herd. I really hope we find out what happened with Emily and Vinh.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

A few quite spicy sex scenes, swearing (including the F word). Same sex couples.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like stories about longstanding friendships. If you were a nerd in school, this might be the book for you! If you are into pop culture and social media, that’s also a plus.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

 

The Player in New Zealand
By Liz Alden
Publisher: Liz Alden (March 22, 2022)
Paperback: 346 pages
ISBN-10: 1954705115
ISBN-13: 978-1954705111
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

That surly ex-rugby player making a ruckus in the dark corner of the bar I work at? Yeah, I try to avoid him. Too bad he’s my boss.

 I thought I was grumpy AF, but I’ve met my match. Tane has two moods when I see him in the bar he co-owns with his sister: grouchy in a dark corner or reliving his rugby days with a rowdy group that likes to cause trouble. I steer clear at all costs—the last thing I need is more male drama in my life after my stalker ex. He’s why I came to New Zealand—to escape.

 When my closest friend in the country—who happens to be Tane’s sister—asks me for a huge favor, I can’t say no. Now I’m Tane’s fake date to a family wedding, and it turns out he is trying to turn his life around.

 Traveling in New Zealand opens my eyes to more than just Lord of the Rings fandom and sheep. I didn’t expect to fall in love with the country . . . or Tane.

 The fourth in the Love and Wanderlust series, The Player in New Zealand is two grumps having a meet-hate before a fake date pushes them together. This stand-alone contemporary romance is perfect for everyone who wants their wanderlust to continue into the happily-ever-after.

 My Thoughts:

This wasn’t a meet cute. This was a meet grumpy! But there are reasons that both of these characters are grouches, and the exposition of those reasons is handled pretty well.

 I really liked that Claire isn’t your typical romance protagonist. She’s tall, tattooed, with a nose piercing and short hair. She also cusses and talks about her vibrator more than once.

 Tane is complicated. The “gifted athlete who was forced to retire due to injury and now can’t cope” thing has been done, and better. The attraction the two feel for each other isn’t really fully explained either.

 I was glad that the problem that drove Claire to New Zealand in the first place was resolved, though the trauma she had been through is kind of left unaddressed.

 The descriptions of New Zealand sights (including The Shire!) and Maori customs was a definite plus.

 All in all, it was a fun read, though I don’t feel compelled to read others in the series.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

A few quite spicy sex scenes, swearing (including the F word). Stalking. Lots of drinking—Claire is a bartender.

 Who Might Like This Book:

People who are interested in New Zealand. Those who like seeing people overcome traumas of various types.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

 

 The Oceanography of the Moon
By Glendy Vanderah
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (March 22, 2022)
Paperback: 333 pages
ISBN-10: 1542026504
ISBN-13: 978-1542026505
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

After the untimely deaths of her aunt and mother, young Riley Mays moved from Chicago to her cousins’ Wisconsin farm. Here she found solace in caring for her extraordinary adoptive brother, exploring the surrounding wild nature, and gazing at the mystical moon―a private refuge in which she hides from her most painful memories. But ten years later, now twenty-one, Riley feels too confined by the protective walls she’s erected around herself. When a stranger enters her family’s remote world, Riley senses something he’s hiding, a desire to escape that she understands well.

 Suffering from writer’s block, bestselling novelist Vaughn Orr has taken to the country roads when he happens upon the accommodating, if somewhat unusual, Mays family. He’s soon captivated by their eccentricities―and especially by Riley and her quiet tenacity. In her, he recognizes a shared need to keep heartbreaking secrets buried.

 As the worst moments of their lives threaten to surface, Riley and Vaughn must find the courage to confront them if they’re to have any hope of a happy future. With the help of Riley’s supportive family, a dash of everyday magic, and the healing power of nature, can the pair let go of the troubled pasts they’ve clung to so tightly for so long?

 My Thoughts:

Don’t let the mention of magic in the blurb fool you. There is no fantasy magic in this book, just the magic of hope, love, and family.

 Both Vaughn and Riley have deep, deep secrets that they carry. Both had abusive parents. Riley, at least, also had a loving adult in her life, in the form of her Aunt Julia. Riley doesn’t realize it, but she and Vaughn are connected in ways that could destroy both of them.

 Due to her traumas, Riley has lived a sheltered life, adopted by a second cousin and his wife. She has been homeschooled, though she does attend college courses now. She is fragile—and simultaneously strong. As the book progresses, it is she who takes charge of her relationship with Vaughn. And eventually, it’s her strength and love that enables both of them to heal from the past.

 The prose in this book is beautiful, with atmospheric descriptions of the farm where Riley lives. There’s maybe too much hinting at “dark secrets,” but it works in the end—both Riley and Vaughn have explosive revelations to share.

 The side characters—Alec, Sachi, Keerin, and Colton—are all fully realized people, not just there as set dressing.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

A boy wears dresses. There is sex, though it is not described in detail. Death. Mental illness. Abusive parents.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like stories where people heal, and overcome their pasts, on the way to finding love.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my opinion.