My 2022 Goodreads Reading Challenge: January - February

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships. But her best friend does. And that's what got her into this situation. Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

This really leans into the rom com tropes in a self aware way. But I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the grumpy/sunshine trope in particular. Adam was downright unpleasant to everyone apart from Olive and his friends/peers who are on a similar academic level as him. He makes no real attempt to change, which made it more difficult to warm to Adam. However, saying that, I did like their chemistry overall. It also always frustrates me when so much could be cleared up if the two characters just spoke to each other. This had some nice scenes and was definitely a page turner. But I feel like there are better fake dating stories out there. Even though this one was a quick read for me.

Being Lolita by Alisson Wood

"Have you ever read Lolita?" So begins seventeen-year-old Alisson's metamorphosis from student to lover and then victim. A lonely and vulnerable high school senior, Alisson finds solace only in her writing and in a young, charismatic English teacher, Mr. North. Mr. North gives Alisson a copy of Lolita to read, telling her it is a beautiful story about love. The book soon becomes the backdrop to a relationship that blooms from a simple crush into a forbidden romance. With Mr. North convincing her that theirs is a love affair rivalled only by Nabokov's masterpiece. But as time progresses and his hold on her tightens, Alisson is forced to evaluate how much of that narrative is actually a disturbing fiction.

I picked this up in the Waterstones 50% off hardbacks sale and I'm so glad that I did. As you might expect, this is tough to read at parts due to the emotional, physical and psychological abuse and manipulation of an isolated teenage girl by their teacher. But somehow, it was also a beautifully raw and honest account of what happened both during the exploitation and the years that followed. It truly broke my heart seeing that there was no one there to question what was going on with Alisson. From her parents to other teachers, adults and even classmates. Its short chapters also make this book completely engrossing. And it is well written throughout too.

They Never Learn by Layne Fargo

Scarlett is an exceptional English professor. But she’s even better at getting away with murder. Every year, she searches for the worst man at Gorman University and plots his well-deserved demise. Thanks to her meticulous planning, she’s avoided drawing attention to herself. But as she’s preparing for her biggest kill yet, the school starts probing into the growing body count on campus. Meanwhile, student Carly is just trying to survive her freshman year. Her new roommate has other ideas. Allison is cool and confident - everything Carly wishes she could be. And the two girls quickly form an intense friendship. So when Allison is sexually assaulted at a party, Carly becomes obsessed with making the attacker pay. And turning her fantasies about revenge into a reality.

Thanks to the short, snappy chapters and the alternating POVs, this was a fast paced and hard to put down read. From the very first page we find ourselves straight into the action with Scarlett's latest kill, one that puts her current story into motion. Despite rooting for Scarlett from the very beginning, none of the characters are particularly likeable or make decisions that I could fully understand at all times. However, that didn't stop me from being completely immersed in what was happening at the University. And even though I definitely should have seen one of the twists coming, they were done well and surprised me. I wasn't entirely sure of the conclusion and really the entire character of Mina to be honest. But I was glad that *SPOILER ALERT* Scarlett did manage to slip away.

Put Me In Detention by Meghan Quinn

"You got married on your divorce-cation?" That would unfortunately be correct. I was hanging with the girls, celebrating my divorce when I saw him. My crush the incredibly hot, British bad boy, Pike Greyson, sitting in the corner of the bar all alone. Drinks were consumed, fun was had and it led to a drive-thru wedding chapel. On paper, it seemed like I hit the jackpot. But I wanted nothing to do with being married. So when I arrived back home from my eventful weekend in Vegas, the last thing I expected to see was a new doting husband already moved in. I asked for an annulment, he pulled a Ross Geller and said no, instead asking for three months to prove we could be good together.

After reading and adoring the first two books in this series, I could not wait to read Cora's story and in turn Pike's too. This was a different take on a romance/rom-com. And I have a feeling that if you enjoyed How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, you will like this. In terms of steaminess and sex scenes, this is right up there with some of the raciest that I've read from Meghan or any writer. I also loved seeing more of Keiko. I wonder if we'll get a follow up with Keiko's story or maybe even Killian's in the future, as I would certainly be up for reading both. This was a fun, entertaining read that ended up having a lot of heart as well.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos. But at a Blockbuster Video in New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again. Fifteen years later, in the same town, four teenage employees working late at an ice cream store are attacked. And again only one makes it out alive. Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words; “Goodnight, pretty girl.” In the aftermath, three lives intersect: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive her tragedy; the brother of the original suspect, who’s convinced the police have it wrong. And the FBI agent, who’s determined to solve both cases. On a collision course toward the truth, all three lives will forever be changed and not everyone will make it out alive.

I was immediately hooked, with the frequent changes in narration and perspectives making this hard to put down. As the story unraveled it felt like I was in the midst of a show like True Detective. Even though I worked out who the killer was early on this didn't hamper my enjoyment or the momentum of the overall story. It was pretty heartbreaking realising how many lives had been ruined, ended or changed forever because of one individual. The ending, from when FBI agent Keller enters the house, was a bit harried. But I enjoyed the resolution and final few pages nonetheless.

Publication date: 3rd March 2022

Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane

Harriet is running away from everything. Getting married. Her boyfriend’s family. Her past. A dream house-share seems like the perfect place to hide. But her unlikely housemate Cal is no stranger to running away himself. And he's also hiding secrets of his own. Can these two take a crazy risk, face the past and finally find a reason to stay?

There were so many great lines in this, many of which made me laugh out loud. And the story of what was going on in Harriet's life was really interesting. I also adored how well fleshed out each of the characters were. There were a few too many coincidences for me. Like some of Mhairi's other books, this isn't all about the romance but I never got the 'they hate each other to now they love each other' that is kind of highlighted on the cover and in the blurb. The ending also felt a bit rushed, particularly when it came to Harriet and Cal getting together. But I still really enjoyed this. And it was one of those books that you simply can't put down.

Publication date: 14th April 2022

Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner

In this story of family, food, grief and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter and guitarist. With humour and heart, she tells of growing up the only Asian-American kid at her school in Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her. And of a painful adolescence. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.

I went into this not knowing that Michelle was famous for anything other than writing this book. So I may not have had the immediate attachment to her that fans would. It is an incredibly well written memoir which depicts loss, grief, caring for a loved one at the end of their life, identity and much more. Despite the subject matter, this was an incredibly quick read. Reading about the loss of Michelle's mother is particularly heartbreaking. And this was where Crying in H Mart was at its strongest. I did enjoy seeing Michelle learn how to make the foods that meant so much to her and her family. But it was food description overload for me at times.

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

When Tate finds airline pilot Miles passed out in front of her apartment door, it is definitely not love at first sight. They wouldn't even go so far as to consider themselves friends. But what they do have is an undeniable mutual attraction. He doesn't want love and she doesn't have time for a relationship, but their chemistry cannot be ignored. Once their desires are out in the open, they realise they have the perfect set-up, as long as Tate can stick to two rules: Never ask about the past and don't expect a future. Tate is determined that she can handle it, but when she realises that she can't, will she be able to say no to her sexy pilot when he lives just next door?

After reading It Ends With Us, I could not wait to read more from Colleen Hoover. But this was a big let down. Ultimately the entire relationship between Tate and Miles is a toxic one. Even after agreeing to his 'rules', seeing the way in which Tate allowed herself to be treated and the way in which Miles treated her was hard to read. Everything about it gives off a really bad message to young women, who are undoubtedly the target market for these books. Miles' Six Years Earlier chapters also read incredibly childish and a lot of this actually felt like a pretty mediocre YA novel. I did read it within 48 hours but it really wasn't for me.

Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

Unlike most twenty-year-olds, all Mackenzie "Mac" really wants to do is focus on growing her internet business. But first she must get a college degree at her parents' insistence. Mac's had plenty of practice suppressing her wilder impulses, but when she meets local bad boy Cooper, that ability is suddenly tested. Despite his disdain for the trust-fund kids he sees coming and going from his town, Cooper soon realises Mac isn't just another rich clone and falls for her. Hard. But as Mac finally starts feeling accepted by Cooper and his friends, the secret he's been keeping from her threatens the only place she's ever felt at home. 

I almost felt like I had to force myself to finish this. And it wasn't all that memorable either. It is an easy read but I was just waiting for the bet to be revealed. I also wasn't 100% rooting for them to be together. There were a few saucy sex scenes but once they are a couple we don't see another one for the remainder of the book. The female 'friends' also really annoyed me. Heidi in particular is awful and the other two aren't much better. Them hating someone they've never even met all felt a bit juvenile for people who are meant to be in their twenties. Definitely not up there with her previous book, The Deal.

Under Construction by Chrishell Stause

Chrishell Stause shares her story of living an unconventional childhood in small-town Kentucky marked by periods of homelessness, family addiction struggles and dreams of one day being on a daytime soap, all while managing the local Dairy Queen. She takes us behind the scenes of Selling Sunset, reveals never-before-told stories from her life in soaps and even pulls back the curtain on her highly publicized love life. With her signature honesty and charm, Stause also gives advice based on the lessons she’s learned over the years and offers unique insight about how to stay resilient and positive no matter how many times life knocks you down. 

All I can say is, I wanted more from this book. She does discuss topics that I was interested to read more about, like her childhood, past relationships and career as a realtor. But a lot of it was so brief. Even when mentioning her co-stars or Jason, who she was dating at the time, we only get a sentence or two about them. There was also quite a bit of repetition. From basically the exact same words that were in a paragraph appearing seconds later as a 'Construction Tip', to them appearing later on in pretty much the exact same words. I wasn't expecting the almost self help-style parts either. But these worked quite nicely at times. If you're a fan of Chrishell's, I would still recommend giving it a read though.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. The family arrives, each of them harbouring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows. Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

I really liked how this built with each and every chapter, even when we were taken back in time and then back to the present. As soon as certain things started happening, I had a feeling I knew exactly who was committing the murders. And I was partially right. I also wasn't sad to see any of the characters meet their fate, bar one of them. But I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending. It did tie things up nicely, however, it felt a bit unbelievable, especially when everything else in terms of the character building and drama had felt so realistic.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Lowen is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read.

Finishing this in less than 24 hours, I could not put this book down. Let's just say that it is one wild ride! It's a dark and rather messed up story. I loved the creepiness of it and every occasion where it seemed possible that Verity wasn't quite as incapacitated as she appeared to be. Lowen, as a character, wasn't as strong as she could have been. She felt a bit two dimensional and a lot of her behaviour with and attraction to Jeremy also seems quite naive. I also always felt a bit suspicious of the manuscript, mainly because it is written from the male gaze or what someone might think a man would want to hear. So I was expecting a twist there and I definitely got it. There's a reason that everyone is talking about this. And it's a book you've simply got to read.

In A New York Minute by Kate Spencer

Franny meets Hayes in the opposite of a meet-cute - when her dress gets caught in the subway doors and then rips, leaving her in the fashion equivalent of a hospital gown. Hayes is the stuffy suit who gives Franny his jacket, saving her from showing her assets to half of New York. Franny is eager to forget the whole horribly embarrassing encounter as soon as possible. But neither of them anticipated a fellow commuter live-blogging them as #subwaybaes - turning their awkward run-in into click-bait and a manufactured love story for the ages. Quick to dismiss Hayes as just another a rich guy, Franny is sure she’ll never see him again. But fate isn’t done with the would-be subway sweethearts just yet.

This definitely reminded me of a rom com that you would see up on the big screen. I really liked the fact that other than maybe what happens at the hospital, the characters actually expressed how they felt. And confusions were mostly cleared up. I did like Franny and Hayes together but the romance was maybe a bit tame, especially when we wait so long for them to eventually get together. I was a fan of Cleo and Lola, Franny's best friends. But at times Perrine and Eleanor didn't feel distinct enough for me. This meant that it was easy to sometimes confuse the two. But overall, I looked forward to picking this up each evening. And it was a quick, easy read.

Publication date: 2nd March 2022