A Bunch of Mini Reviews 2

It's time for another batch of mini reviews! There were a few books I've read lately that I enjoyed but just didn't have the time to devote a full review post to. I hope you enjoy these mini reviews! Title links lead to the Goodreads page so you can check out the synopsis if you're interested.

The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs - Dana Bate

I had been seeing reviews and buzz about this novel and when I saw it sitting on my library's shelf, I knew I had to read it. I wasn't totally in love with Hannah's story but I was interested in it and her and did enjoy reading the novel.
Hannah's life gets turned upside down when she and her boyfriend break up. I thought it was for the best because I could see that he was stifling Hannah and her creativity but, as is common in rom-coms, Hannah didn't see it that way. I felt for her as she tried to figure out how she would live without him (not just emotionally but financially) and how she could move forward and do what she really loves.
There are tons of crazy mishaps and entertaining scenes throughout this book, particularly surrounding her new venture, and I think chick lit lovers (and foodies) would really enjoy reading this one.

Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins
Remember how I gushed over Anna and the French Kiss when I finally read it? It turns out I love Lola and Cricket more. Sure, reading a great novel set in Paris is awesome but characters play a huge role and the characters in Lola won out. I did, however, love that Anna and St. Clair made appearances in this book.
Lola had a lot more spunk than Anna but that actually made me worry about her a little bit more. She's very sure about herself, which is great, but she's still a teen with very teenage issues and emotions.
I think Cricket may now be my top book boyfriend (sorry Ron). I even texted my friend saying that I knew he was fictional and 18 and that I have a boyfriend but I still wanted Cricket. That's how much I love him, haha! He was a genuinely good guy (and even when he wasn't it wasn't totally his fault) and I couldn't wait for him and Lola to get it together and finally start dating.
I'm really glad I finally got around to reading this series though I'm now just as anxious as everyone else for Isla and the Happily Ever After to be released. Unfortunately, we now have longer to wait. Earlier this year Perkins wrote a blog post explaining that Isla will now be published sometime in 2014. I suggest you read this post that explains everything. I think she was incredibly brave to talk about the issues she was having.
All that being said, I love this series and highly recommend it!

Sex, Life, & Hannah: Volume 3, Summer Season - Dorota Skrzypek
I had been meaning to read this book for an embarrassingly long time. I read Volumes One and Two way back in 2012 (links lead to my reviews) and finally got around to the third book this month.
For some reason I thought this was the final book in the series even though there are four seasons in a year. The fact that I was expecting Hannah's story to be wrapped up made for a bit of a disappointment but I got over it. The thing is that I don't adore this series but I need to know how things end up for Hannah. Will she get back together with The Ex? Will she go through with the engagement that occurs during this book? Will another guy show up and cause some drama in the final volume? And what will happen in her professional life? Not only do I have all these questions but I'm not sure when they'll get answered! There's still no date for the Autumn volume.
One of the things I don't love about this series, and something I've mentioned before, is the tell all nature. Hannah and her friends don't hold anything back and sometimes I find that to be a little much. Think of the most outrageous conversation the Sex and the City gals had and multiply it by about ten. Funny? Sometimes. That's what kept me reading.
Basically, what you need to know is that I want to read the final instalment in this novella because I've grown to care about Hannah. I want her life to fall into place and I want to see what sort of craziness will happen before she gets to a stable place. 

Just Finished: Sex, Life, & Hannah: Volume 2

I was away on vacation at the beginning of September and thought it was the perfect time to dive into the second volume of Sex, Life, and Hannah series by Dorata Skrzypek. I read the first a few months ago (my review is here if you're interested) and while it didn't rate at the top of my list, I was genuinely curious about what was going to happen in Hannah's life. As it turned out, I felt the same way about the Spring Season volume.

Here's the synopsis of Volume 2: 

Hannah feels him stir. Holding an ice pack to her swollen face and stuck in a hospital elevator is not how she envisioned running into The Ex. She assesses the situation: Is she still in love with him? Is he still in love with her? They start kissing, then petting, then heavy petting, until she can feel his growing hardness against the inside of her thigh...
The Spring Season is a continuation of Hannah’s fall from perfect twenty-something grace. Hannah’s run-in with The Ex is more about icing her nose than melting her heart. She seems to be making all the wrong decisions about all the right men; rejecting the doctor who makes her vagina quiver for Mr. Smyth who turns out to be tall, dark, and sophisticated...with just one problem. The unexpected twists would drive any woman to the opposite side of nice girl, which is exactly what happens to Hannah. But a bad girl can have some fun along the way.

Let me start off by saying that I don't consider myself a prude. I love the ladies of Sex and the City and I did read the Fifty Shades trilogy. However, there's something about Hannah and her friends that just makes me cringe when I read about their escapades! Perhaps it's because I think there should be some mystery between friends. I really don't need to know the specifics from my BFF's night with her boyfriend, thank you very much. This shouldn't have been such a big deal, and it wasn't really when I read the first volume, but I think the over-sexualized content of this novella sort of turned me off (wow...that really makes me sound like I'm 25 years older than I am...). Do I think others would enjoy it? Most likely, yes. If you also enjoy the tell all nature of SATC, give Hannah a try.

I still wondered why Hannah was so set on The Ex. He seems like a bit of an idiot. Sure, she did spend a good chunk of time in a relationship with him but if something's not meant to be it shouldn't be forced. Right? Or does that sound too self help-y? :) She gets the chance to spend some time with some great guys but throws it away for a non-relationship with an older guy who doesn't actually want to be in a committed relationship. It was hard to read at parts because I wanted to realize what was best for her but at the same time I knew she had to go through these growing pains to, well, grow up.

There's not a whole lot I can add to my review of volume one. Hannah still has crazy neighbours and friends, she's still trying to find The One, and wants to figure out what's in store in the future for her career. I still also thought the format was pretty neat - being laid out like a magazine. There were some flow issues though and I don't know if that was more to do with the way the book was set up or with the actual writing.

Like I said, I wasn't crazy about the book as a whole but I really do want to find out how Hannah's life all turns out in the end. Does she get back together with The Ex? Does Mr. Smyth decide to make a commitment? Is she finally going to find her dream career? I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out for Hannah so I'm glad I have Volume 3 waiting for me on my bookshelf!

Happy reading :)

Just Finished: Sex, Life, and Hannah

I had no idea what to expect when I was asked to review Sex, Life, and Hannah by Dorota Skrzypek. What I got was an amusing novella that chronicles a season (winter) in Hannah's life.

Here's what the first volume is about:

When Hannah’s boyfriend of five-and-a-half years breaks up with her on New Year’s Eve, Hannah is shocked, and stunned…before picking up a glass and throwing it at him. Forced to search for love in the battlegrounds of L.A. she finds herself agonizing over The Ex, trying to comfort herself in the neighbor’s bed, and falling in love…again? Surrounded by a colorful cast of characters, Hannah treads the infamous waters of heartbreak and heartache.

Hannah's love life is really not going the way she planned. She's had an on again, off again relationship with The Ex that she hadn't quite realized was massively unhealthy for both of them. Even after they broke up she wasn't able to recognize that they really should not have been together and instead seems to go into a tailspin. And that was quite humorous to read about.

The format of this book was really neat. It was laid out as if it was a magazine - which was fitting as it was a totally Cosmo-esque novella. All sorts of love, laughter, life, and, of course, sex. You could look at Hannah's life as a how-to or a how-not-to, which is sort of what Cosmo is like too. Some people may not like how the book was set up but I thought it was great.

The synopsis mentions a "colorful cast of characters" and, boy, is that right. Her neighbours - and close friends - are a hilariously gay couple, who aren't really a couple any more. And there's a possibly bisexual guy living with them. Talk about a recipe for hilarity. Oh, and did I mention that's the neighbour whose bed she ends up in? Too funny.

Hannah is definitely flawed and, even though that can be frustrating sometimes, it provides an entertaining story. Even though I wasn't totally in LOVE with this book I really want to find out what happens in Hannah's life. I'm looking forward to volumes two and three so stay tuned for more reviews!

Happy reading :)