A Few Adult Fiction Books I Quite Enjoyed

Hi all! Here is a short run down of a few adult fiction books I enjoyed — well one was a sort of, it was okay kind of read. Otherwise — check these out!

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Most of All You by Mia Sheridan
Published by Grand Central Publishing on October 17, 2017
Genres: Fiction / Family Life / General, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / New Adult, Fiction / Sagas, Fiction / Women
Pages: 384
Format: eBook, Paperback
Source: Library, Publisher
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From New York Times bestselling author of Archer’s Voice comes a slow burn, grumpy sunshine romance about finding the courage to move forward when the past has torn you apart, perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Lucy Score.

Crystal learned long ago that love brings only pain. Feeling nothing at all is far better than being hurt again. She guards her wounded heart behind a hard exterior and carries within her a deep mistrust of men, who, in her experience, have only ever used and taken.

Then Gabriel Dalton walks into her life. Despite the terrible darkness of his past, there's an undeniable goodness in him. And even though she knows the cost, Crystal finds herself drawn to Gabriel. His quiet strength is wearing down her defenses and his gentle patience is causing her to question everything she thought she knew.

Crystal and Gabriel never imagined that the world, which had stolen everything from them, would bring them a deep love like this. Except fate will only take them so far, and now the choice is theirs: Harden their hearts once again or find the courage to shed their painful pasts.

Most Of All You by Mia Sheridan certainly had drama. This book opens on a sad note as a little girl named Ellie is dropped off to the father she’s never met because her mother is dying. Unfortunately her father doesn’t want her. Flash forward to present day and Ellie is now working as a stripper with the stage name Crystal. Her life is the outcome of just one Adverse Child Experience (ACE) after another. One day at work she is propositioned by Gabriel, a sculpture artist. Gabriel was kidnapped as a child and escaped when he was a teenager. He is unable to engage in physical touch because of his trauma and wants “Crystal” to help him overcome that issue, as she’s safe. Of course, the two have a spark and feel safe around each other, but so much conspires to keep them apart.

I felt like Most Of All You didn’t really land for me. At first it seemed kind of slow as far as pacing. I also found myself scoffing at some of the events because they are a little over the top. Plus Ellie really could have benefit from therapy. Gabriel is a ray of sunshine, even though he also has his fair share of ACEs post kidnapping. Anyways, this book for sure has an audience — if you like Colleen Hoover, you’ll likely really enjoy this book. It wasn’t 100% for me and that’s totally fine, I’m just not at this place in my reading journey.

 

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton
Series: Matthews Brothers #3
Also by this author: How Sweet It Is
Published by Grand Central Publishing on August 1, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Family Life / General, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Small Town & Rural, Fiction / Women
Pages: 368
Format: eARC, Paperback
Source: Library, Publisher
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Goodreads

In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

When disaster strikes and chef Bryce Weatherford is given guardianship of her three young nieces, her life goes from cooking with fire…to controlling a dumpster fire. Five‑year‑old Addison refuses to remove her fairy wings, eight‑year‑old Cecily won't bathe, and tween June is majoring in belligerence. With all this chaos, Bryce jettisons hope for a life outside of managing her family and her new job.
 
It's been years since Ryker Matthews had his below‑the‑knee amputation, yet the phantom pain for his lost limb and Marine career haunts him. To cope, he focuses on his vehicle restoration business. He knows he's lucky to be alive. Yet, “lucky” feels more like “cursed” to his lonely heart.  
 
When Ryker literally sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store's baby aisle, they both feel sparks. But falling in love would be one more curveball neither is ready to deal with… or is it exactly the change of plans they need?  
 

Change Of Plans by Dylan Newton is the conclusion to the Matthews Brothers trilogy which I’ve really enjoyed thus far. Each book is a contemporary romance set in Wellsville, NY – just outside of Buffalo – about each Matthews brother. Change Of Plans features Ryker Matthews, the middle brother. Ryker is struggling with PTSD. He’s a Marine who returned from war a few years ago missing the lower part of one of his legs. And so, Ryker is battling some inner demons. One day, he’s at the grocery store and happens to help Bryce Weatherford, new guardian to three young girls, with a situation. In fact, Ryker keeps helping Bryce and the two are super attracted to each other. But, miscommunication keeps popping up and plans keep changing.

On the whole, I do really like this trilogy. Ryker is kind, but he also stops communicating to protect Bryce and his family when really that’s the opposite of what he should do and absolutely not reassuring or validating. I liked that Bryce loved cooking and cars – that she has some blue collar roots. However, there is one scene that absolutely should have been cut because it tainted my whole view of the book. The scene involves Ryker having a makeover from the girls. he goes back to his garage where his brothers are and they mock pronouns and transgender people. Like, what is that? It’s transphobic and makes me think less of this book. Otherwise, I did like that this book brought up garbage plates and I was able to guess that it would bring up Nick Tahou’s, so that was cool – local knowledge! I also liked how the relationships developed between Bryce and her nieces.

 

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

The Love Plot by Samantha Young
Narrator: Savannah Peachwood
Length: 9 Hours 42 Minutes
Published by Penguin on August 29, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Women
Pages: 352
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Publisher
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There’s a magnetic attraction when a happy-go-lucky gig worker agrees to a fake relationship with a rich, uptight New Yorker in this steamy romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

Star Shine Meadows is all about freedom, thanks to the hippie parents who raised her. Juggling her jobs as a professional costume character actor and a line sitter, she believes in no expectations, no stressful ambitions, and no-strings-attached relationships. So when she meets a birthday girl’s grumpy uncle while working a princess party, she can’t help but needle him. She’ll never see him again, and honestly, he's pretty hot.

Rafe Whitman may be a veterinarian with a great bedside manner, but that doesn’t mean his patience extends to anyone with opposable thumbs. His family will not stop nagging him about finding “the one,” so when he runs into obnoxiously cheery Star again, he makes her an offer: He’ll pay her more than she would make doing her odd jobs if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend at family gatherings. She can stop sitting in line waiting for someone else’s new phone, and he’ll get his family off his back.

When the tension between them heats to a breaking point, Star’s desire for "no strings" is tested against Rafe’s staunch stability. They say opposites attract, after all....

So, it turns out that I really like listening to Samantha Young’s books. The Love Plot by Samantha Young is such a cute contemporary romance – with some serious moments. The story follows Star Shine Meadows, a gig worker who is very much a sunshine sort. She is playing Princess Merida for a party when she meets veterinarian Rafe, who is moody and just not interested in interacting with her. She’s instantly attracted to him though. Flash forward a few weeks later, and Star Shine is waiting in line for the latest iPhone, this is one of her paid gigs and Rafe walks by. He offers her a job – she needs to fake date him for six months. This will give him some breathing room from his mom and sister trying to matchmake up. Star will also earn enough money that she can travel, which is a huge deal. Of course, the two better not catch feelings, that’s not part of the plot or the deal.

I truly enjoyed The Love Plot. Star is a delight – she’s warm and kind and accepting. She loves animals. Her life is absolutely not one I would like to live, she’s very bohemian, but she’s such a great person. I could see why eventually Rafe fell for her. I could also see why she fell for Rafe. It’s the whole grumpy sunshine dynamic, on steroids. I also enjoyed learning about why Star is the way she is — as we met her parents who are selfish and aging hippies. It’s all very interesting. And a great moment for Rafe too. There is spice in this book but nothing that felt overwhelming – I thought it was perfect. The audiobook is narrated by Savannah Peachwood who did an excellent job. I was fully engaged throughout this whole book. It was such a solid contemporary romance.

 

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on July 11, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 336
Format: eARC, Hardcover
Source: Library, Publisher
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Goodreads

The glorious new novel from the beloved author whose bright, hopelessly romantic New York Times bestsellers have been called “My perfect 10 of a book” (Emily Henry) and cheered for their “speedy pacing and sexual tension for miles” (People).

Love isn’t blind, it’s just a little blurry.

Choosing between two men isn't brain surgery, but for Sadie Montgomery, it's both. One moment Sadie is celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next, she finds herself struggling with face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. And she'll need brain surgery to (hopefully) reverse it. And that's not all. She's seriously crushing on her beloved dog Peanut's handsome vet, but she can't seem to stay away from her annoyingly endearing neighbor. She thinks she knows who she likes more... but then (like their faces) that starts getting blurry too!

If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to figure out who she wants, work through her condition, hang on to her artistic dream, and confront major family issues. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.

"With its emphasis on its central character, combined with its “swoony” romance, “Hello Stranger” is a hit. Sadie is everything you could want in a protagonist — the right amount of quirky, sunshiney and stubborn, and the men she’s in love with are equally fascinating. All the side characters provide humor and comfort, and even those characters who you aren’t really supposed to like are annoyingly intriguing and captivating. Center created a brilliant cast of characters, set to a plot that’s sure to keep you reading." --Michigan Daily

I keep seeing Katherine Center’s books every where. The covers appeal to me and always catch my eye. However, I had never actually picked one up to read until Hello Stranger. Friends, I LOVED Hello Stranger. This is the kind of book that appeals to my mid-thirties middle class woman self, and I can see how others in my category group would absolutely like this book.

Hello Stranger follows Sadie Montgomery who is about to hit it big as a portrait artist. Only, one day, she passes out, wakes up and finds out she needs to have brain surgery. After her surgery, it turns out she can’t recognize faces anymore. This messes with her life so much and also really gets in the way of her entry into a portrait contest. She finds herself also caught between two men — one a neighbor that she had an initial bad impression of, and the other, her veterinarian. But, she can’t see or remember their faces.

I really enjoyed how Sadie was written and characterized. She is so kind and nice and just a real girl’s girl. She is not a complainer and works so hard in life. I liked that she’s an artist. I loved how she treats her dog. The romance in this book was so interesting to me too. I totally knew the twist thanks to reading Goodreads reviews ahead of time, but it did not negatively impact my view of Hello Stranger. I know I for sure will be reading more of Katherine Center, as it feels like I am the target audience.

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Published by Tor Publishing Group on September 19, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Science Fiction / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Superheroes
Pages: 256
Format: eARC, Hardcover
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
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Now a New York Times bestseller!

Inheriting your uncle's supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who's running the place.

Charlie's life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.

Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.

But becoming a supervillain isn't all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they're coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital.

It's up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyper-intelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.

In a dog-eat-dog world...be a cat.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

I absolutely was not anticipating how much I would love Starter Villain by John Scalzi. I just picked this book up because it was short and was promised to be funny. Starter Villain is about Charlie who is living a sort of dead end life. He is a divorced substitute teacher living in the house his dad left behind — which his siblings want him to sell so they can split the money. One day Charlie is informed that his Uncle Jake has died. He has not had contact with his uncle since he was five. It turns out his uncle was more than just a parking structure magnate — he left behind a multibillion dollar empire and was something of a super villain. Now it is on Charlie to figure out how to run the villain empire. He’s not alone — he has the help of super intelligent cats, unionizing dolphins, and his uncle’s assistant, Morrison.

Starter Villain is a fast paced read. I walked in thinking it would be slow because the font is small. However, the plot really just zooms on by. Charlie kept surprising me in all the best ways. I loved his unexpected wit and how he handled some of the situations he was placed in. I also loved the cats – surprisingly. There were parts of this book where I laughed out loud too. Also, I felt like there was a nod to Douglas Adams with the whole dolphins thing. Read Starter Villain by John Scalzi for a clever adventure that happens when one comes into a large, unexpected inheritance.