If you want more books from That’s Normal, check out our books page and Boozy Book Club! We have doozies for you this month and all the time.
The Ballroom
Written by: Anna Hope
Reviewed by: Heidi*
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Rating: 4 Padded Cell Walls
Recommended for: Fans of Gothic Romance
Set in the foggy Yorkshire Moors of 1911 England, The Ballroom is a tragic romance that will make you face the ugly truth of class inquality at the turn of the century. When Ella is dragged away from her workhouse for “hysteria” she is placed in an insane asylum with no opportunity for her to defend her actions. As she tries to find her place in, and her escape from, the asylum she meets John at the weekly dances in the asylum’s ballroom. Their romance becomes a light amongst the darkness of their surroundings. The Ballroom is loosely based on a true story and is a harrowing journey of fear, love and the terror of eugenics. This is a dark read, but well worth the journey. Buy it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
Overexposed
Written by: Megan Erickson
Reviewed by: Beth*
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Gay Romance
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Rating: 4.5 Shared Sleeping Bags
Recommended for: Anyone who likes hot guys hanging out in nature
I remember one of the first times I read a romance that seemed well-researched, modern and feasible. It sparked something in me that I hadn’t known I was missing: real life possibility in romance. That’s what this is. Of course, Levi is a former reality tv star and he meets Thad on the Appalachian Trail that they are both somehow hiking alone, but REALISM, man. Their conflict is real. Their dialogue is real. Their attraction is real. There aren’t crazy coincidences and ex-boyfriends popping up in convenient places for drama. It just is what it is. And that is a great romance novel. And I’m not qualifying it by saying it’s a great GAY romance (although it is). It’s just a believable, hot, sweet, funny and smart book. Loved the characters, understood their conflict 100% and rooted for them until the end. It will be out later this month, and in the meantime, you can read the THREE OTHER ROMANCE NOVELS that come before it in Megan’s In Focus series. Pre-Order it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
The Things We Wish Were True
Written By: Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
Reviewed by: Danelle
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: September 1, 2016
Rating: 4 neighbors with crazy secrets
Recommended for: People who like good contemporary fiction
So this was a Kindle First in August, and I usually skip their offerings because they just tend to be what I don’t care to read. But the title of this book really caught my eye, even though it’s contemporary fiction (which I also rarely read). We all know that life is different behind the closed doors of our friends’ and neighbors’ homes. This book does a good job of bringing some plausible stories right out into the open. What about that neighbor whose wife left him 10 months ago? Or the slightly creepy guy who lives across the street? These are the kinds of people who are in the book. But the relationships that the author builds are what make it so good. While I was reading and getting bits and pieces of the “juicy” and sometimes sad stories, I was also becoming invested in the lives of these fictional characters and cheering them on to make it.
Something I really enjoyed about this book is that each chapter is told from the viewpoint of alternating characters in the book…it gives the reader some good insight into the feelings and thoughts that I think we would have missed otherwise. There were a few things I’d have liked to see go a little bit differently, but the plot was tied up (mostly) nicely. Overall, it was a good read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good contemporary fiction that doesn’t fall into the romance/thriller/sci-fi category. It is straight contemporary fiction. Buy it.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Written by: Sarah J Maas
Reviewed by: Anne
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 Fantasy Stars
Recommended for: Anyone who likes fantasy, books involving hot guys who are Fae
A Court of Mist and Fury is the second book in Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorn and Roses series. I’m a sucker for world building and there are parts of this world that I would love to visit and parts I would avoid at all costs. And it’s not only the world building, but the characters, the plots, the relationships, I love everything about this book. It’s swoony, it’s daring, it has a strong female lead, everything I love and you will love too! Start with A Court of Thorn and Roses then fly through this book and wait in anticipation with me until May of 2017 for Book 3. It looks like there are slated to be 6 books in this series, so it’s one you’ll be able to enjoy for a while. Buy it.
Now That It’s You
Written By: Tawna Fenske
Reviewed by: Heidi*
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Rating: 3.5 Dead Cheating Fiances
Recommended for: Lovers of Second Chance Romance
Chef Meg Delaney is on her way to the hospital to forgive the fiance she left at the altar for cheating on her when she finds out he died. Talk about a bummer. His death brings up a lot of unfinished issues for Meg, but it also reintroduces her to her former future brother-in-law, Kyle. Kyle has always had feelings for Meg, but can those feelings overshadow the guilt of betraying the brother he lost? This is a romance story that will make you smile, swoon, and squirm in equal parts. As the reader you will feel the emotional turmoil of the two main characters as they maneuver their way through the mess they find themselves in. It’s a journey worth taking. Buy it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
One Night is Never Enough
Written by: Ann Mallory
Reviewed by: Beth
Genre: Regency Romance
Rating: 4 Red Hot Rogues
Recommended for: REGENCY WHORES
I read this on Sarah MacLean’s recommendation because when you’re favorite regency romance author talks about one of her top regency romances, you read it. And it WAS great … lushly written, stoic and smart heroine (aren’t they ALL smart … are there stupid regency heroines?). The hero has his own special blend of rogue, who softens for the heroine. Roman Merrick is one of those underworld bad guys, who is never bad to the ladies in his life, just the gentlemen who make bad bets and bad deals. Charlotte’s father has made the ultimate bad bet: a night with her on a card game. Roman takes those terms. Good times, y’all. Good times. Buy it.
A Scot in the Dark
Written by: Sarah MacLean
Reviewed by: Heidi
Genre: Regency Romance
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Rating: 5 Scottish Brutes
Recommended for: Droughtlander sufferers and those with good taste
Can we talk for a minute about how much I love Sarah MacLean? Because truly, love her. I’m convinced that she climbs into my dreams and then writes her books. I named my third child after one of her characters without telling my husband. I LOVE HER. Her most recent novel is no exception to the rule. A Scot in the Dark is the second in her Scandal and Scoundrel series. It focuses on Lillian Hargove who finds herself in the middle of ruination when the man she thought loved her betrays her in the most public and humiliating way possible. In the wake of her scandal, the relecutant Duke of Warnick finds out that Lillian is his ward and thus his responsibility to protect. The Duke, Alec, is a highland Scot who is too big, too strong, and too wild for London, but certainly not too much for Lonesome Lily. As always, Sarah MacLean manages to write a riveting regency romance while infusing it with the humor, feminism, and sexiness of a contemporary novel. Plus, who doesn’t love a Scot in the dark? Or the light? Or anytime really? Buy it.
Read More Sarah MacLean on That’s Normal
There you have it! Real quick reviews for books we loved … real quick because we lazy. Hope you find something new to read. But in the meantime, tell us what you are reading in the comments or on twitter using #TNReads.
