An Appetite for: Books - The Breakaway

 

I have mixed feelings about this one. I’m a big fan of Jennifer Weiner, particularly her novels that have some mystery (Big Summer or Goodnight Nobody) and also loved her memoir. But this novel, about a woman named Abby who leads a bike tour and the ensuing drama of the fellow riders, was uneven. There were bright spots whenever the author wrote about backstory but all the present day action felt flat to me and I didn’t like the main characters. Abby had a lovely boyfriend for over two years and yet she was quick to cheat on him - made her very unlikable to me. I’ll still happily read more from this author but this one wasn’t as good as I hoped.

I'm grateful for NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An Appetite for: Books - Romantic Comedy

 

A deliciously funny and romantic summer read, enjoyed on audiobook. Sally, a writer at a late night show inspired by SNL, feels a romantic connection with host Noah Brewster, an uber-famous singer. I loved how the book was structured in 3 sections: 1.) a week in the life of the show, played out day by day, 2.) an epistolary interlude between the two main characters, and 3.) the steamy meet-up.

The crackling chemistry between Sally and Noah almost embarrassed me, like I shouldn’t be witnessing such intimacy. Reminded me of Before Sunrise, that Ethan Hawke film, where the main characters have so much chemistry and connection in how they speak and communicate.

Small quibble on the audiobook: I enjoyed it but had trouble distinguishing which of the characters was speaking at times.

An Appetite for: Stuff - Lovely Sunscreens

 

The best sunscreen is the one that you wear. I have started to build a collection of many that I actually enjoy using every day. The two I'm featuring today are lovely under make-up. I put my skincare on after I shower, let it soak in for a good 30 minutes while I do other things, and then put the sunscreen on as a first step before make-up. Each of these has a nice watery texture that feels light on my skin - and like a treat, not a chore!