Typical romance with a corny setup, moments of fun, but also a lot of problematic behaviors that are presented as romantic when they are really controlling, stalking, and creepy. The billionaire with unlimited resources who uses them to protect the vulnerable woman who becomes even more vulnerable because of his dark and dramatic past, dysfunctional family, and "crazy ex-girlfriend" eclipses anything nice I could say about the book.

​Not recommended.

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Every year on January 1, I start taking recommendations for my yearly list of books to read.  I commit to reading the first 50 books recommended to me by 50 different friends.  I can't wait to see what this year brings!

Light romance with a heartwarming and feel good story, set against the backdrop of grief and family obligations, I liked it overall. The biggest issue with the writing was the dialogue--and I do love a writer who can write good dialogue.  I found the lack of flow in the dialogue a distraction from the rest of the writing, which, for what it was, was solid.  I think particularly in an audio book that if the dialogue doesn't feel genuine, then as a flaw it is really amplified.  Nevertheless, a fun little love story.

​Not not recommended.

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One of the best unreliable narrator books I have read in a while, the twists and turns of this little gem took me on a journey I was not expecting.  Without giving spoilers, I didn't love the ending, which was the only unexpected turn in the entire book and was kind of a let down after so much work went into the plot up until then.  It is a story of tourist, on a vacation to try to escape the recent trauma of her life, who meets a local that turns into a one-night fling that takes a dramatic turn.  It is a fun, free audible book that I can't quite recommend, but definitely cannot not recommend.  A solid end to a full year of reading.

Not not recommended.

A really light, playful romance set in a snowed-in airport on Christmas Eve.  It is sweet and fun, nothing offensive (or even juicy), but nothing deep, either.  If you want something to read over the holidays without needing to put an ounce of emotional energy into, this might be for you.  

Not not recommended.

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One of the best memoirs about grooming I have ever read, and I have read a lot of them.  Because Wood is a writer, was one in high school, and her abuser was her English teacher, she write detailed contemporaneous journals and letters at the encouragement of the teacher and which he kept.  When she left him, she took them. The result of this is that her depiction of the dynamics of that relationship are painfully vivid and provide insight and understanding about how she experienced the world and saw herself during the time she was his target. It is jarring, to put it mildly.  It is widely know that Lolita has been a handbook for pedophiles for the 70 years since it was published.  I know countless women whose abusers used the techniques in the book to replicate the control that Humbert Humbert had over Lolita.  What is unique about this story is how the teacher tried to get her to read the book and constantly compared them to the "couple" in the book, as if that relationship was something to aspire to.  It is powerfully written, providing insight not only for those who have had similar experiences, but for those who could benefit from some insight into this type of emotional abuse.  I feel confident in saying that if you have not lived through it, this is one of the most accurate depictions of the experience.  I really cannot recommend it enough.  This book just has not gotten enough attention, probably because it is an intense and painful read, but it is one of the best books on child abuse out there.

​Highly recommend.

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I am a sucked for a time travel novel. This comes across as a silly, light romance told in a style akin to the classic When Harry Met Sally interview style. I did not love the over-dramatization of the audio narration, so it took me a bit to get over that and let myself relax into the story.  The plot was surprisingly interesting and unusual and far exceeded the quality of the writing.  As the solar flare induced worm hole horizon approaches and the future June reaches back in time to try to warn herself, the plot unexpectedly holds together, which is my favorite part of a time travel story.

​Recommend.

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Part of the growing number of holiday romances popping up in the last few years centering around winter holidays other than Christmas, this one was super cute.  Unlike many of the other ones I have read in this genre, this one did not feel like it was trying too hard at all. It was comfortable and I do love a gentle romance with a bookish girl and a smart guy trying to navigate their awkward meet cute and figure out a problem together.  A young editor's assistant is sent in to help an author with writer's block, but ends up meeting the author's grandson and being flung into a joint venture together just in time for the Chanukah baking and cooking season and in the midst of family loss that adds a sweet tang into the mix.  I quite enjoyed it as one of my favorite light holiday romances this year.

​Recommend.

This is an intense memoir about child sex abuse, domestic violence. immigration, and cancer.  Yeah, it is a lot.  Especially since it is a pretty short book, but the author conveys an incredible amount of information, emotion, and content with an unusually efficient writing style that didn't feel clipped when reading.  

Recommend

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This is a fascinating read that certainly is not for everyone. It provides a unique perspective on the sex industry, including the author's time as a dancer and as a porn star.  The emotional abuse she experienced as a child led to physical and sexual abuse as an adult and ongoing mental health and addition issues.  In many ways, the books is self-aware an insightful, while at other times demonstrating the sometimes baffling nature of trauma.  While she never seems to see herself as having been exploited, it is hard not to read that into the story.  In fact, she is defensive of her choice to do sex work and articulates it in many ways as a choice that was empowering. At times she seems oblivious to the toll it took or how it related to the myriad of issues that she had.  Despite its drawbacks, it really is a fairly captivating read with a lot of explicit content--not just the assaults and abuse, but also the sex.  Proceed with caution, but while I can't fully recommend it, I also can't really not recommend it, either.

Not not recommended.

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