Novel but Nice

The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard My rating: 3 of 5 stars An enjoyable read, with a twisty ending. The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard is a fast, interesting read. The story follows married couple Liz and Phil and Liz’s teenage daughter Danielle as they move into a gated, luxury home community called The Palms. Everything in The Palms is something most people could only dream of. Paradise, Phil calls it. Phil has taken a job as the community manager. He deals with any complaints, inquiries, and parties being thrown at The Palms. Liz is a high school guidance counselor, and Danielle is set to begin her freshman year of high school at the end of summer. In exchange for Phil’s job, they family gets to live in a magnificent home for free. And then one day shortly after they arrive, Danielle becomes best friends with beautiful Kelsey Jorgensen. Kelsey is stunning, popular, and cool, while Danielle is intelligent, nerdy, and still on the bridge betwee

Exquisite by Sarah Stovell My rating: 4 of 5 stars Go in knowing little, and you'll be pleasantly surprised! I must admit that when I read reviews that say the less I know about the book, the better, I find them to be frustrating. Sometimes I want a bit more than what the blurb says, and my favorite reviewers are the ones who are able to pull me into the book with more detail, and still avoid spoiling anything major. Now that I've read Exquisite , I understand some of the hesitancy of reviewers to say too much. That being said, I think there is actually quite a bit revealed in the book description that does not spoil the book whatsoever. So with that I give you a spoiler-free teaser to the book... Plot Teaser (Spoiler Free)   The book is about the close relationship that forms between successful writer Bo Luxton and misguided millennial Alice Dark. Alice is a lost soul. She is in an unfulfilling relationship with a struggling artist who is honestly mor

The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti My rating: 4 of 5 stars Slow build to a lightening fast ending... This was the first book I've read by Kate Moretti and I really enjoyed it. As other reviewers have mentioned, it has a slow build through about the first 2/3-3/4, and then really moves quickly at the end. I wouldn't say I personally found the twists that shocking, as I had considered some of them throughout, but they were certainly delicious and well-done! I found many of the twists to be satisfying. Plot Teaser (Spoiler Free) This book tells the story of Zoe, a wealthy woman married to one of New York's richest men. Zoe and her husband have everything, and yet something feels off. Zoe and Henry are in love, and Henry dotes on her and cares for her. They seem to have an incredible physical connection as well. But Zoe has a secret--her name used to be Hillary and five years before she ran away from her life in California and started over. Through fla