Review: Accidentally Yours

Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Veronica was just laid off after she spoke out about being overlooked for a promotion (again).  She worked at a "tech-bro" company.  While interviewing for another position, she accidentally crashes someone else's Zoom meeting.  And proceeds to eviscerate their (bad) ideas.  So she is surprised when the CEO comes after her with a job offer.

This was so fun.  I enjoyed the banter back and forth between Veronica and Jude.  They have chemistry (and don't know what each other looks like).  Veronica also has a crush on a neighbor (she doesn't know his name or what he does).  And surprise!  Yes, predictable, but so much fun.  

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Review: Lovelight Farms

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stella owns her dream Christmas tree farm, creating memories for other people to cherish. Raised by her mother, they moved frequently for her mom to find jobs. She had a hard time making friends because of all the moves. Her father abandoned her mother when she told him she was pregnant. She does have friends now; Beckett and Layla on her farm, and Luka. She met Luka shortly after her mother died and they have been best friends since. She is also in love with Luka. Further complicating things, the farm has had several problems (trees dying in one of the pastures, missing shipments, etc) and this has put a financial strain on the farm. She enters a contest with a social media influencer to (hopefully) win some money. Only issue, she needs a boyfriend, stat.
While I liked Stella and could understand her fear of being left/abandoned, she was also a bit naive and stupid at times. Just TALK to Luka dammit! The incidences around the farm are related (duh) and are solved. Luka was wonderful. They melded easily together and as a couple I could see them together for the rest of their lives. I also enjoyed her friends Beckett and Layla and I see they get their stories in the next two books.

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Review: Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy

Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy by Randi Weingarten
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Good explainer why MAGA (and MAHA) are so against public education. Teaching critical thinking? (That's bad! Indoctrination!) Supporting children and meeting them where they are at? (Indoctrination!) I think she rephrased book bans in a good way: Banning books take choices away from parents (since the right is all about "choices" and "parental rights").
Thinking for yourselves and questioning narratives are all good.

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Review: Attempting Normal

Attempting Normal by Marc Maron
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not that familiar with his comedy, but I wanted something funny and distracting with all the bullshit going on right now. This was more serious than I thought it would be. There are numerous stories and just about all are some level of unexpected, unconventional, wacky. Not what I was expecting.

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Review: Finding Her Edge

Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love watching figure skating (I don't skate myself; at all). I'm interested in the Netflix show and didn't know it was based on a book. So, I got the book first (and then will watch the show).
This is typical YA fare; a girl and 2 boys love triangle. What made this different was the setting. All are figure skaters (specifically ice dancers). What made this nice was the age appropriate focus on Junior Worlds and not the Olympics. I didn't particularly get on board with what was supposed to be the main couple; and this is definitely the first (that I can remember) where the fake dating didn't lead to more.

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Review: Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President

Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President by E. Jean Carroll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to this one. Narrated by E Jean herself.
I think I will never get over the intrusive questions that are asked as if the accuser is on trial; better be "perfect" and not have a past! I thought she had a good sense of humor and dry wit. She does go into a lot of detail that I think would have been harder to read, so if you can, get the audio.

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Review: People We Meet on Vacation

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I want to see the Netflix movie, but wanted to read the book first.  On the fence about the movie now (maybe it will be better?).  We shall see. 

Who doesn't like a friends to lovers story?  It's one of my favorite tropes.  This particular book?  I had a hard time getting into it.  The time jumps from previous vacations to the current one were annoying.  Just get to the fucking point already.  It took too long to get to What Happened that drove them apart.  I just thought for people who are best friends for over a decade would have had better communication skills.  Their skills sucked.  Just annoyed (but it did (briefly) take me out of the shit that is currently happening in the US rights now, so there is that).

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