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self-discovery

“The Promise of Tomorrow” by Samantha Tonge

5 out of 5 stars. The Promise of Tomorrow by Samantha Tonge helped me get out of a reading slump… it is such an amazing and reflective read. There are twists and turns throughout the novel. The cast of characters is diverse and the two main characters each have their own private struggles that ultimately help (predictably) them together. But, the personal realizations each one has about things they’ve thought about their life are relatable and honest. It gives the reader a lot to think about. I really enjoyed their growth and was happy with the ending. All in all, I would recommend this novel to everyone who wants to reexamine what’s important to them in life, how they want to live their life and a sweet romance.

Cover art for the novel "The Break-Up Pact" by Emma Lord

“The Break-Up Pact” by Emma Lord

4 out of 5 stars. I’ve read a few of Emma Lord’s previous novels and “The Break-Up Pact” seems to delve into more complex and heavy issues. On the surface, it seems like the novel is going to focus on the fake dating story but it’s much more more than that. Yes, there are some funny rom-com type moments but it’s also about learning to live with grief, changed or different expectations and more. It’s about learning to respect yourself enough to not be pushed around by others or compromise how you want to live your life. The writing was easy to follow and relatable; I’d recommend this to my friends!

Cover art for the book "Stressilient" by Sam Akbar, Ph.D.

“Stressilient” by Sam Akbar, Ph.D

4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed “Stressilient: How to Beat Stress and Build Resilience”. The title is a little deceiving to though because the book is about so much more than stress management. Instead the author broke the content up into chapters based on your goal. Each chapter included both the logic or reasoning behind focusing on that goal and how it relates to stress management as well as practical activities and questions to think about.

Cover art for the novel "The Second Chance Year"

“The Second Chance Year” by Melissa Wiesner

5/5 Stars. The Second Chance Year is an absolute 5 star read. It’s got so many things going for it. Sadie, the main character, is someone that so many people could relate to. Whether you’re a woman dealing with sexism and/or sexual harassment or a person dealing with any other kind of “ism”. Or, someone wishing they could go back and change just the past because they think if only this was different everything would be perfect. Or maybe you’re trying to figure out what your dreams are and accept that not everyone may understand or even approve. The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wisener is all about learning to be true to yourself and living for the life you have instead of living in the past.

Cover art for Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson

“Every Time You Go Away” by Abigail Johnson

3.5/5 stars. Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson is an emotional roller coaster of a novel. Told from alternating perspectives and from before and after Rebecca’s accident this was a hard one to read. It was full of heavy themes and I did have some difficulty following along with what Rebecca and Ethan were feeling. I’m not sure if it would have been easier if it was written in a linear fashion or not but maybe. I also felt like some important moments in the novel could have been expanded upon. Instead it felt like the reader had to fill in gaps of Rebecca and Ethan’s interactions.

Cover art for the novel If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

“If I Never Met You” by Mhairi McFarlane

4 out of 5 stars. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane is a cute albeit predictable story of a fake romance turning into something real. But, it’s also about self-discovery and realizing your own worth. I did find it a little hard to read at times because I wasn’t familiar with some of the pop culture references and British phrasing. All in all I enjoyed the book and would give it a solid 4 stars.