Tropical Girl Reads

Mika in Real Life – Book Review

Title:- Mika in Real Life

Author:- Emiko Jean

Date published:- August 2nd 2022

No. of pages:- 382 pages

Genre:- Fiction/Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 3/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 3.5/5

One phone call changes everything.

At thirty-five, Mika Suzuki’s life is a mess. Her last relationship ended in flames. Her roommate-slash-best friend might be a hoarder. She’s a perpetual disappointment to her traditional Japanese parents. And, most recently, she’s been fired from her latest dead-end job.

Mika is at her lowest point when she receives a phone call from Penny—the daughter she placed for adoption sixteen years ago. Penny is determined to forge a relationship with her birth mother, and in turn, Mika longs to be someone Penny is proud of. Faced with her own inadequacies, Mika embellishes a fact about her life. What starts as a tiny white lie slowly snowballs into a fully-fledged fake life, one where Mika is mature, put-together, successful in love and her career.

The details of Mika’s life might be an illusion, but everything she shares with curious, headstrong Penny is real: her hopes, dreams, flaws, and Japanese heritage. The harder-won heart belongs to Thomas Calvin, Penny’s adoptive widower father. What starts as a rocky, contentious relationship slowly blossoms into a friendship and, over time, something more. But can Mika really have it all—love, her daughter, the life she’s always wanted? Or will Mika’s deceptions ultimately catch up to her? In the end, Mika must face the truth—about herself, her family, and her past—and answer the question, just who is Mika in real life?

Perfect for fans of Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age, Gayle Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and Rebecca Serle’s In Five Years, Mika in Real Life is at once a heart-wrenching and uplifting novel that explores the weight of silence, the secrets we keep, and what it means to be a mother.

In this brilliant new novel by from Emiko Jean, the author of the New York Times bestselling young adult novel Tokyo Ever After, comes a whip-smart, laugh-out-loud funny, and utterly heartwarming novel about motherhood, daughterhood, and love—how we find it, keep it, and how it always returns.

I enjoyed reading Emiko Jeans’ Tokyo dreaming and so I was excited to read Mika in Real Life.

This was in my opinion an OK book.

Mika is fired from her job and is living at the wits end. Many years ago, she gave her new born baby up for adoption and then all of a sudden, after all these years, her daughter calls her to bond with her. Mika meets Penny and wanted to be a perfect mother for her. This story basically talks about the bonds between the mother and the daughter as this also outlines Mika’s own relationship with her mother.

I did enjoy reading this book. The story is mainly told in Mika’s POV and I like the fact that Japanese and American cultures are fused together. This is basically talks about the real complex relationships which the author has well written about that. I do like how Mika tries to connect with Penny, her own daughter, her own strained relationship with her parents particularly with her mother and of course, the budding romance with Penny’s adopted father Thomas. I also like how realistic the whole book was without faking it, Mika’s struggle with life in general, her dealing with a trauma that she faced during college, and I have to say, the author has certainly well written the whole story. It also briefly touches about the cultural identification in general as well.

Overall, this is a great book that talks about complex relationship and is a heartwarming tale between a mother and daughter–worth 3.5 stars.!

Emiko Jean is a New York Times best-selling author of adult and young adult fiction.Her books have been published in over thirty languages. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America as a GMA book club pick, by Reese Witherspoon as a young adult book club pick, and in publications such as: Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Cosmopolitan, Shondaland and Bustle. She lives in Washington with her husband and two kids.

Better Than Movies – Book Review

Title:- Better Than Movies

Author:- Lynn Painter

Date published:- May 4th 2021

No. of pages:- 356 pages

Genre:- YA/Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

Perfect for fans of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, this “sweet and funny” (Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting for Tom Hanks ) teen rom-com follows a hopelessly romantic teen girl and her cute yet obnoxious neighbor as they scheme to get her noticed by her untouchable crush.

Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar—and maybe snag him as a prom date—even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love—and rethink her own ideas of what Happily Ever After should look like.

This was actually one of the highly recommended books from fellow bloggers and book vloggers. So I decided to try out this book and I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed with the book!

Liz believes in rom-com movies. She is also enemies with her neighbor, Wes Bennet. So when her childhood crush Michael returns back to the town, Liz hesitantly enlists the help of Wes to go out with Michael. But soon, Liz realizes that she is slowly falling in love with Wes!

One of the cutest things about the book is how each chapter begins with a line from a popular movie–Bridget Jones’ s Diary, When Harry met Sally…you name it. The story is told in Liz’s point of view and you actually do start to like the main character very well! I also like the music that is involved in the story and also a playlist that is included at the end of the book.

But what I like about this book is how engaging this is. There were some funny parts, some emotional parts, some heartbreaking moments that are all interwoven together. The book mainly outlines the importance of friendship and also emotional dealing with the death of a parent.

I actually bought most of this author’s books so this book is by far one of my favorites! Worth five stars!

5 Worst Books I have read 2023

So I did a post on 15 of the books I have read that were the best and so decided to do another post, this time 5 worst books I have read in 2023!

It Starts with Us – Colleen Hoover

Why? I felt like this was more a fan fiction than the actual story.

2. The Blackout – Sarah Goodwin

Why? To be fair, the plot sounded great but overall, the story felt meh.

3. Icebreaker – Hannah Grace

Why? If you like Fifty Shades Grey then this book would be OK although there’s no BDSM in here. I felt it dragged on and on–if it were short, I think I would have liked the book more.

4. Too Late – Colleen Hoover

Why? Another Colleen Hoover book! I think I liked the villain Asa more than the protagonists here. I didn’t like the characters at all.

5. Zero Days – Ruth Ware

Why? I am a huge fan of Ruth Ware but unfortunately, her latest book was a disappointment.

What are your worst books you read this year? Leave a comment below!

15 Best Books of 2023 I have read (my opinion)

Housemaid by Freida McFadden

2. The Last Word – Taylor Adams

3. Love and Gelato – Jenna Evans Welch

4. The Quiet Tenant – Clamence Michallon

5. Hidden Pictures – Jason Rekulak

6. Bright Young Women – Jessica Knoll

7. The Inheritance Games – Jennifer Lynn Barnes

8. Know My Name – Chanel Miller

9. Husband and Wife – K.L. Slater

10. You With a View -Jessica Joyce

11. Carrie Soto is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid

12. The Kind Worth Killing – Peter Swanson

13. The Baby I Left Behind – Jen Cravem

14. All My Rage – Sabaa Tahir

15. Heaven – Mieko Kawakami

Honorable Mention – Good Girl Bad Blood – Holly Jackson

Wish you all a Happy and Blessed New Year 2024!

What Lies in the Woods – ARC Book Review

Title:- What Waits in the Woods

Author:- Terri Parlato

Date published:- 26th December 2023

No. of pages:- 304 page

Genre:- Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

In this riveting thriller from a new master of suspense, a young dancer’s homecoming is marred by a grisly discovery—and the realization that nothing in her past may be quite what she believed.

When Esmé Foster left the Boston suburbs to become a professional ballerina, the future shimmered with promise. Eleven years later, her career has been derailed by an injury, and Esme knows it’s time to come back to Graybridge to help her brother care for their ailing father. But her return coincides with an unthinkable crime. Kara Cunningham, one of Esme’s high school friends, is found dead in the woods behind the Fosters’ house.

Esmé is shocked and grieving, but also uneasy. In her dreams, she still sees the man who showed up at the scene of the car accident that killed her mother—and told Esmé he was going to kill her too. Family and friends insisted the figure was a product of Esmé’s imagination, that she was concussed after the crash. But she and Kara looked alike, sharing the same petite build, the same hair color. Could Kara’s murder have been a case of mistaken identity?

Detective Rita Myers is familiar with close-knit communities like Graybridge, where, beneath the friendliness, there are whispers and secrets. The town has seen other tragedies too, including the long-ago drowning of a young girl in a pond, deep in the woods. Even within the once-close circle of friends that included Kara and Esmé, Rita discerns a ripple of mistrust.

Day by day, Esmé discovers more about the place she left behind—and the friends and family she thought she knew. Soon, shining a light into the darkness to learn what really happened the night Kara died is the only way she can bring the nightmare to an end . . .

This is the second book of the Detective Rita Myers although you can read this book as a standalone.

The story starts with the discovery of a body of a girl near former dancer Esme’s house. Esme’s father is suffering from dementia and it was her brother Bryce who discovers the body. The body was none other than Kara who is one of Esme’s friends. Esme meanwhile returns back home after an injury causes her to halt her dancing career. Rita Myers must find the murderer before he attacks again.

This was actually a good thriller. The story is told in the perspectives of Esme and Rita and I felt this was more like a police procedural than a thriller. I like the disturbing and creepy way Mr. York photographs the girls including Esme and Kara which gave a creepy setting to the story. The suspects list seemed to be clear but the reveal of the actual killer was quiet unexpected which actually increased my rating to this book. This wasn’t really fast paced but nonetheless there were some twists and turns and overall, this book worth four stars in my opinion.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Terri Parlato was born and raised in upstate New York. She currently lives in a small north Georgia town with her husband and their dog Lucy.

The Allotment of Willow Tree Lane – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane

Author:- Lilac Mills

Date published:- will be published on 11th January 2024

No. of pages:- 290 pages

Genre:- Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

When a local meadow is turned into a bee-friendly allotment, will romance also blossom? New teacher Ceri has enough on her plate trying to keep her class in line and get them excited for her Foxmore wildlife efforts. Then she meets the mysterious – and occasionally grumpy – Damon, whose orchard she’d like to explore.

Rock star Damon has moved to Foxmore to escape the hounding paparazzi following the tragic death of his bandmate. Relocating to somewhere quiet and isolated is just what he needs to recover. Ceri is a ray of sunshine, but he’s not ready to share his dark secrets with her.

As love blooms, will Damon’s hidden past get in the way of their happiness? And can he bring himself to give up his music for love?

A gorgeously tender, uplifting romance in the heart of Wales, perfect for readers of Mandy Baggot, Suzanne Snow and Sue Moorcroft.

This was a really cute romantic novel that I actually enjoyed reading and an unexpected romance between a rockstar and a teacher.

Damon is a rockstar of a popular band. When one of his bandmates died in a car accident in Berlin, Damon, wanted to get away from the hounding press and moved to Foxmore for some quiet time. He meets Ceri, who is a teacher who is struggling to keep the class in line. A romance blossoms develops Ceri and Damon and it is the story after that.

I always enjoyed reading Lilac Mills’ stories as it kind of gives a burst of sunshine. This book is no exception. Damon and Ceri seemed to have chemistry between them which made them fall in love with each other. The way Ceri helps Damon with weeding his grandmother’s garden and how slowly they started falling in love was too cute. The scenic countryside descriptions was beautifully descriptive and makes the reader feel like they are actually in the countryside with Damon and Ceri. Overall I actually enjoyed reading this romance novel and worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Local Woman Missing – Book Review

Title:- Local Woman Missing

Author:- Mary Kubica

Date published:- May 18th 2021

No. of pages:- 378 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

People don’t just disappear without a trace….

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Now, 11 years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find….

In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times best-selling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

This book is really an unputdownable thriller!

First, Shelby Tebrow goes missing when she went jogging at night. Then a few days later, Meredith and her daughter Delilah goes missing. The news shocked the entire town when Shelby’s body was discovered and Meredith and Delilah’s bodies aren’t recovered.

Eleven years later, Delilah returns back and no one is prepared to find what happened after all these years…

The story is told from Kate’s, Meredith and present day Leo’s POV. All the POVs interconnect with each other. Kate and her wife Bea are helping Meredith’s husband Josh with the search of Meredith which I found interesting, Meredith her POV is based on the days before her disappearance and Leo’s who describe his new relationship with his sister Delilah. There were some questions, some twists and turns and you never know what the whole connection between these three main characters is. The ending is where it was the most unexpected ending and I was actually shocked at te ending. The whole story was brilliantly written and the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story and making the reader feel like they are part of the story.

This is an engrossing and unputdownable thriller and I recommend this thriller to anyone who hasn’t read it yet–worth five stars in my opinion!

Mary Kubica is a New York Times bestselling author of suspense thrillers including The Good Girl, The Other Mrs., and Local Woman Missing. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. She’s been described as “a helluva storyteller” (Kirkus) and “a writer of vice-like control” (Chicago Tribune), and her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (L.A. Times). She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and children.

Christmas Book Review – Once Upon a December

Title:- Once Upon A December

Author:- Amy Reichart

Date Published:- October 4th 2022

No. of pages:- 336 pages

Genre:- Holiday Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

A one-of-a-kind Christmas market offers holiday magic in the new romance from the author of The Kindred Spirits Supper Club.

With a name like Astra Noel Snow, holiday spirit isn’t just a seasonal specialty–it’s a way of life. But after a stinging divorce, Astra’s yearly trip to the Milwaukee Christmas market takes on a whole new meaning. She’s ready to eat, drink, and be merry, especially with the handsome stranger who saves the best kringle for her at his family bakery.

For Jack Clausen, the Julemarked with its snowy lights and charming shops stays the same, while the world outside the joyful street changes, magically leaping from one December to the next every four weeks. He’s never minded living this charmed existence until Astra shows him the life he’s been missing outside of the festive red brick alley.

After a swoon-worthy series of dates, some Yuletide magic, and the unexpected glow of new love, Astra and Jack must decide whether this relationship can weather all seasons, or if what they’re feeling is as ephemeral as marshmallows in a mug of hot cocoa.

It’s almost Christmas time!! This is the third book review I am doing for the holiday season and my target is to read at least five Christmas themed books. So far, I think I am doing great.

This time, Astra Noel Snow doesn’t seem to be much lucky compared to her friends. She was divorced and had to share the custody of their dog with her ex-husband Trent. Then every year, during the Christmas month, at the Christmas market, Astra goes to the Christmas market every year where she meets Jack–who owns a family run bakery.

Jack Julemarked bakery only comes to Milwaukee during the Christmas and then will be in another different location. The moment he set his eyes on Astra, he falls in love with her. The story is how Astra and Jack fall in love with each other while Jack must tell the truth about the Yuletide.

This was a heartwarming and cozy Christmas read. I loved reading the book, even the small snippets about Jack meeting Astra every year. I also liked the writing and how the author managed to make the reader feel like they are also a part of the story. I actually did not expect to be this good so let’s say, I enjoyed this book very much. I liked the close friendship between Astra and her friends and the way relationship blossomed between Jack and Astra. Reading this book will make you feel like you are also in Milwaukee celebrating Christmas.

Overall this book is worth four stars!

Amy Reichert honed her writing and editing skills as a technical writer (which is exactly as exciting as it sounds). As a member of the local library board, she loves helping readers find new books to love. She’s a life-long Wisconsin resident with (allegedly) a very noticeable accent, a patient husband, and two too-smart-for-their-own-good kids. When time allows, she loves to read, collect more cookbooks than she could possibly use

More Than You’ll Ever Know – Book Review

Title:- More Than You’ll Ever Know

Author:- Katie Gutierrez

Date published:- June 7th 2022

No. of pages:- 435 pages

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

IT WAS A STORY THAT CASSIE BOWMAN COULDN’T RESIST.
LORE RIVERA LOVED TWO MEN.
UNTIL ONE OF THEM SHOT THE OTHER…

Lore Rivera was married to two men at once, until on a baking hot day in 1986, one of them found out and shot the other. A secret double life, a tragic murder. That’s the story the world knows.

It’s not the story that fascinates Cassie Bowman.

Carrying the weight of her own family tragedy, true-crime writer Cassie wants to know more about the mysterious woman at the heart of it all, Lore. How did one woman fall in love with two different men? How did she balance the love and the lies?

To her surprise, Cassie finds that Lore is willing to talk. To finally tell her heartbreaking story – about how a dance became an affair; how a marriage became a murder.

As the two women grow closer, Cassie finds she can’t help but confess her own darkest secrets. But when she slowly starts to realise that there might be more to the night of the murder than anyone has realised, can either woman face up to the thing they’ve been hiding from: the truth?

The plot of this story sounds interesting and intriguing.

Present Day, Cassie Bowman is a struggling true crime author and she decided to do a book about a woman named Lore who was married to two men back in the 1980’s. Then one day during the confrontation, one husband died and the other husband is sent to prison for the murder. Now Cassie, dealing with her own personal demons works with Lore to discover what really happened that night.

The story divides between the present day which is set in 2017 and past which is basically told from the point of view of Lore. The present day shift between Cassie’s and Lore’s POV. There were some tense moments, I got to know a little about the Mexican culture in general and I did enjoy the story. The writing was great and I do like how Cassie and Lore worked together. I also liked the backstory of Cassie’s background and her strained relationship with her father.

The only problem I had with the book is, I feel this book was way too long and that there were some unnecessary parts in the books that are not really relevant in the book. Nonetheless, I actually enjoyed this thriller and worth four stars in my opinion.