Girl Walks Into a Bar... by Rachel Dratch

Most famous for being on Saturday Night Live, Dratch is also known for not having been on 30 Rock even though she started off as one of the stars. In the book, she tries to emphasize that that is just how it works in Hollywood but she was still disappointed that she was replaced. But most of the book isn't supposed to be about her time on television but more about what happened in her midlife when, at 43, having given up hope of having children, she suddenly found herself pregnant by a man with whom she was in what could best be called a friend-with-benefits-when-they're-in-the-same-town. 

I do like autobiographies, especially when they are read by the authors. The book was a little thin but I found myself identifying with Dratch in various places of her life, including being a single, childless woman at baby showers.

Four stars

This book came out March 29, 2012

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Set on You by Amy Lea

Crystal Chen is a fitness influencer. Her father thinks she should find a new job; her followers mostly adore her (though there are the trolls who say that she is too curvy to be focusing on fitness.) Her ex boyfriend dumped her for his previous girlfriend making her officially a rebound. So she's not very excited when the jerky (but Hemsworth-handsome) guy at the gym leaves his seat unwiped after he's done using a machine. So she says something to him. And he remains a jerk. 

Unfortunately, even though we get to see more of Scott Ritchie (he's a firefighter) because his grandfather is engaged to Crystal's grandmother, he never really gets his character redeemed. He sort of remains a smug, too smooth dude bro throughout the rest of the book and, for me, that made the book less enjoyable. I also didn't love the last Big Mistake that the two characters have but this was an okay first book and I would be very interested in reading another book from Lea.

Three stars

This book came out May 10, 2022

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

June 2022 Monthly Reread

As always, all opinions are my own

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

Primas of Power #1

This book came out August 4th, 2020

Followed by A Lot like Adios

Audiobook borrowed from Libby

A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria

Primas of Power #2

This book came out September 14th, 2021

Follows You Had Me at Hola

Audiobook borrowed from Libby

Headed for Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann

Troubleshooters #16.5

Four stars

This book came out April 28, 2013

Follows Breaking the Rules

Followed by Some Kind of Hero

Some Kind of Hero by Suzanne Brockmann

Troubleshooters #17

Four stars
This book comes out July 11, 2017

Follows Headed for Trouble

Ebook from Libby

Tightrope by Amanda Quick

Three and a half stars
This book came out May 7th
Followed by Close Up 

Audible book
Opinions are my own

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster,Rainn Wilson

This book is a favorite of many people's childhood and with good reason. Milo is a normal boy who one day discovers a box in his bedroom. The box contains a car and a tollbooth. The tollbooth takes him to mysterious lands where two feuding kings (brothers) have declared that either words or numbers is supreme and they have banished their sisters, Rhyme and Reason, from the land of Wisdom. 

The word play in this book is fantastic and listening to Rainn Wilson tell the story was a cherry on top.  Juster includes a foreward and is funny and self-deprecating, talking about how this book came about as a result of avoid other work.

Five stars

This book came out 1961

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Scientific Keys: The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga Scientific Keys: The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga by Ray Long

This is definitely a book to have as a hard copy. There is a LOT of great information about muscles, their placement in the body, antagonists and agonists, etc. It is a little overwhelming, and thus me saying that it would be good to have on hand to re-read often. For yoga teachers, this book is incredibly handy. 

I loved the introduction and opening chapters. They set the book up well. The illustrations are also a major plus. But again, so much to learn.

Four stars

This book came out November 1, 2009

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik

Captain Octavia Zarola has not had good interactions with the Valoff race. So when former general Torran Fletcher asks for her help in finding a thief. Octavia very much would like to turn the man down (Valoffs on her ship for the next two months? Blergh) but he is offering a buttload of money. And her team needs it. She might have been labeled a hero in the war between the Valoffs and the humans but that doesn't mean it came with a monetary reward. Nor does she feel particularly heroic. And that can be a problem since the Valoffs can read minds and Tavi has a lot of secrets.

Of course, she also gets to know more about the handsome Torran. It seems he has a lot of secrets as well. And his secrets are even more deadly. 

This book definitely sets up a series that I think is going to be very interesting but this book definitely suffered from having to do a lot of world building. There were repetitious points that never went anywhere in this book.

Three stars

This book came out 

Followed by Eclipse the Moon

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak

Three women head to a small island to try and hit the reset button on their lives. Marlow Madsen is recovering from losing her larger-than-life father, Senator John "Tiller" Madsen. It is her family beach house, Seaclusion, that they are visiting and her mother who is going through a health scare. Her friend Claire Fernandez not only lost her house amidst other drama and Aida has just gone through a divorce, represented by Marlow.  

Reese and Walker Cantwell grew up with Marlow since their mother was the housekeeper at Seaclusion. Reese was younger but he has grown up into the 22-year-old tennis pro at the local club. Walker, Marlow's particular playmate, had moved to Atlanta but has returned to be the chief of police.

There is a lot going on in this book. A LOT. It means that nothing is really ever developed as well as Novak usually does. Definitely a beach read. 

Three stars

This book came out April 5, 2022

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own