While I did love The House in the Cerulean Sea a tad more, this book did not disappoint. TJ Klune has a way with words and the imagery created is magic. I so loved all the children and their unique outlook of the world. The story was uplifting, funny, charming, and full of hope.

?Now To Forever (Life on the Ledge Duet #2)? By Ashley Manley After twenty years of running from her past, Scotty, a reclusive crematorium owner, is forced to face the heartbreak she’s tried to bury. When an unexpected inheritance and the sudden return of the man who once shattered her heart upend her quiet life, she must choose between the safety of solitude and the possibility of a second chance at love. True healing, she discovers, might require more than just a change of scenery, it may demand the courage to let someone in. I absolutely loved Forever and Back, the first book in this duet, so I was thrilled to get early access to Scotty’s story! Scotty, June’s quirky, strong-willed, reclusive best friend, was such an intriguing character, and this book dives deep into her complexity. Haunted by a traumatic past she’s never truly faced, Scotty’s journey is raw and emotional. She can be polarizing at times, and I occasionally found her choices frustrating, at times even a bit immature for a 42-year-old, but her character arc is undeniably powerful. The growth she experiences is both moving and hard-earned. While this book may initially read like a romance, it crosses into literary fiction territory, exploring heavy themes and deep emotional layers. Despite her flaws, you can’t help but root for Scotty and hope she finds her way. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I love Ashley Manley’s writing style and humor with her characters. She writes such layered characters that are vulnerable, flawed, and real. This can be read as a stand-alone, but it is helpful to have some background knowledge of Scotty that you get in the first book of this Life on the Ledge duet series. I highly recommend reading both of these books! Do check your content warnings. Scotty uses very colorful, explicit language if you are sensitive to that. ?? Thank you to Ashley Manley for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. Now to Forever published 7/1/25. ?? Rating: ????????

This book is a sequel to Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley.

This book brings Jack and Annie to Australia. They obtain the final gift they need to help the dog Teddy and finish their four-part quest. We learned about kangaroos and there was a scary wildfire.

I liked it because it teaches you that if you do not try something you will never know

Outstanding!

Great book! Colleen does a great job at writing another story that you just can’t put down.

This is a great book. It’s a shorter book but it’s a great book for readers who like adventure, scary, and mystery books.

It’s a great book about mental health struggles and overcoming them

This Julie Soto book has been on my radar for a while and I finally read it for a summer reading bingo. I liked the two main characters and their chemistry. The side characters also added to the story and were entertaining/enjoyable. The dual narration was great. I’m not the biggest tattoo fan, but Elliot’s body ink was cool, and I loved all the floral and wedding elements in the book.