Review: The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward

The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward by Melinda French Gates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A good reminder that our lives are full of transitions and changes. How do we handle them? That is up to us. Gates is a strong, opinionated woman. Good for her.

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Review: Just a Girl

Just a Girl by Alyssa Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tiana is just starting college and Covid hits. During this time she started posting on social media about cooking and college life. She gained a loyal group of followers. Now it's time to actually live on campus and dip into the dating pool. This starts when she says no to a man who feels like he's entitled to a woman's attention.
From online harassment that includes the dude and other dudes who feel entitled to women's attention to swatting, Tiana had to deal with it. There were many who supported her and were sympathetic. And many who felt she shouldn't have posted the original exchange (with identifying info crossed out) and brought this on herself.
Excellent (but short) read.
Smart Bitches Summer Bingo: Cover without people

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Review: Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service

Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service by Michael Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bottom line: individuals who chose to go into public service do so to serve their fellow humans and to make the world a better place. This was well done with a variety of points of view.

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Review: Perfect Addiction

Perfect Addiction by Claudia Tan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sienna walked on on her boyfriend having sex with her sister. She wants revenge and this drives her from that point forward. She happens to be a MMA trainer and is good at what she does. She's also in college (with very little page time devoted to said college education).
An opportunity comes up to train Kayden, a fighter too, just like her ex Jax. A complication is Jax beat Kayden in a previous fight. Sienna stikes a deal; she will train Kayden in exchange for his spare bedroom. It's a win-win; she needs a place to stay & he needs a trainer.
I thought Sienna held on to her need for revenge for way too long. While I liked that she was kick-ass in her job, she was a bit too perfectly accomplished for being so young (she couldn't legally drink).

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo: sport other than hockey, baseball, football (American).

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Review: The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death, Honor and Shame in the Turbulent Sixteenth Century

The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death, Honor and Shame in the Turbulent Sixteenth Century by Joel F. Harrington
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I shouldn't be surprised that executions were a hot ticket back in the day. This was based on a journal by Franz Schmidt who worked as an executioner for roughly 45 years. He not only did executions, but also torture to get confessions. Torture happened all the time, executions happened periodically throughout the course of the year. Interesting, but sad & depressing.

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Review: Cunk on Everything: The Encyclopedia Philomena

Cunk on Everything: The Encyclopedia Philomena by Philomena Cunk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have yet to check out this Netflix show, but I've heard good things! After this book, I will be checking it out. This was so funny! So full of fun "facts." Read this if you need something escapist to read. And totally not serious!

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Review: This Will Be Fun

This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Beatrice and Elowen are best friends and are involved in a quest with Galwell (Elowen's brother) and Clare (Beatrice's friend/lover/enemy) to save their country.  They succeed, but at a high cost and become heroes.

Fast forward 10 years later.  No one is in touch with the other.  Beatrice refused her heroes pension and married into money.  She is now divorced.  Elowen has his herself away and avoided must human interaction.  Clare has meaningless one night stands.  Each is dealing with grief.  They are reunited because the princess, now Queen Thessia is getting married.  And as it turns out, they are needed for another quest to save the day.

I did like the setting; this is a romantasy with several different elements.  Think people enjoy their TV shows/movies/soaps on a tapestry, coffee shops, etc.  It had an interesting start and then got slow.  It did pick up.  I wasn't crazy about the ending.  

2nd chance romances are not a favorite trope of mine, this has 2 of them (Beatrice and Clare & Elowen and Vandra).  I thought each couple got into their feelings too much which resulted in too much back and forth.  I also thought, in general, everyone read as younger.  However, everyone was 30 or older.  

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo:  Magic or 30+

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