These last couple of months have definitely been something! It’s been more difficult to keep up with writing reviews but I’ve still been reading and enjoying what I do. I thought that I would start writing mini book reviews so that I can still share my thoughts about books and write about them without feeling overwhelmed by making larger, more in-depth posts. I still try to share what I think about books over on my StoryGraph so feel free to check that out! Now, without further ado, let’s dive into my first episode of mini book reviews.
Title: MaameAuthor(s): Jessica George
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Published by: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: January 31 2023
Genre: Contemporary, Literary
Pages: 312
Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.
It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.
When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts”: She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But it's not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils—and rewards—of putting her heart on the line.
Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George's Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures—and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.
Final Rating: 5/5; Spice: there’s like one open door-esque scene
- This book made me cry. I LOVED it.
- As a twenty-something year old, I identified so much with Maame. I saw a lot of myself in her journey and realizations and I really was rooting for her.
- Jessica George has such a way with words. I felt every emotion from the pages. Very real and raw.
Title: The Wrong Kind of FallingAuthor(s): Whitney Amazeen
Series: Meadow Hills #2
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Published by: Swan Pages Publishing
Release Date: September 16 2025
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 309
She thinks she can't trust anyone. He’s determined to prove her wrong.
Sebastian Black doesn’t do the “right thing.” He didn’t listen when his parents told him not to become a professional MMA fighter, and he refused to play the part of their polished, high-society heir. Sure, he's finally free, but with his family's money cut off, his next fight months away, and no sponsors to endorse him, he needs a temporary job. Fast.
Romilly Westfall is known for being a good girl. She’s sweet and generous, but maybe a little too ambitious—especially after her last dog-grooming business failed. This time, she's determined to make things work. But when her assistant quits and her rent suddenly spikes, her second chance at independence starts to crumble.
So, when she meets the infuriatingly charming and handsome newcomer at her small-town church, hiring him as a temporary dog bather seems like her only option. Even if he is entirely wrong for the job—and for her—he's desperate for work. And desperate is exactly what she needs.
But the good girl and the bad boy were never supposed to mix, and the more time they spend together, the more determined Bash becomes to show Romilly he's someone she can trust. With the fight of Bash's life on the horizon, he’ll have to decide if winning means breaking free of everyone trying to control him, or fighting for a future that's finally worth staying for.
This is the second book in the Meadow Hills series but can be read as a standalone.
Final Rating: 3/5; Spice: glimpses and kisses
- Cute and very cheesy read (too insta-love for me) but it brought me out of a reading slump
- Bash did a good job at showing Romilly he was serious about her but it raised the question about coming on too strong vs yearning?
- Liked the references to their faith and them meeting at church
Title: Authentically, IzzyAuthor(s): Pepper Basham
Series: Skymar #1
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Published by: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: November 15 2022
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 432
"Dear Izzy--I feel certain there's a book-loving man living relatively nearby waiting to speak bookish to you 'til death do you part. You just haven't met yet."
Izzy Edgewood is a wannabe bookstore owner, quote queen, and Lord of the Rings nerd who has been waiting for Prince Charming to sweep her off her sneakered feet. But it's hard to meet people when you spend more time with fictional humans than real ones. Which is why her pragmatist cousin Josephine decides to take Izzy's future into her own meddling hands and create an online dating profile for the hopeful romantic.
To Izzy's shock (and suspicion), Josie's plan works. Soon, she's dialoguing with a Hobbit-loving man named Brodie who lives in a small town an ocean away from her home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But is their shared love of books, family, and correspondence enough to overcome Izzy's fear of flying and the literal distance between them? And is a long-distance relationship even worth considering when a local author has been frequenting the library where she works and is proving to be a perfectly fine gentleman?
In this epistolary novel from award-winning author Pepper Basham, bookish dreams and happily-ever-afters collide to create a beautiful sort of magic that's even better than fiction.
Final Rating: 2.75/5; Spice: glimpses and kisses
- It takes some getting used to for the letters, text messages, and emails but I found myself beginning to enjoy them.
- I loved Izzy as a female protagonist – her love for books and her family, and her struggle with belonging were incredibly easy to identify with.
- Brodie and their relationship was not my cup of tea, and I felt the book dragged a bit towards the end.
