Hey, Bookhearts! Pithy Picks are a bookish meme created to help you quickly find books that are worth your time and coins. Just read the pithy reviews below!
Title: Eruption
Author: Michael Crichton & James PattersonPublished: June 2024
Pithy Review: Two bestselling writers co-author this brand new thriller. Michael Crichton, creator of Jurassic Park and Westworld, had a story he'd been working on for years before his untimely death in 2008. His widow held onto the notes and partial manuscript until she chose the right author to complete it. None other than the world's most popular storyteller: James Patterson. Eruption is supposed to be a blend of Patterson's signature pace and Crichton's concept of a volcanic eruption and a terrifying military secret. Instead it was overhyped, cliché heavy and not gripping enough for me to read more than 50 pages.
Quote: "See for yourself." ~ pg. 42
Recommend or Nah? DNF
Title: The Teacher
Author: Freida McFaddenPublished: February 2024
Pithy Review: Eve and Nate's marriage is on autopilot. They live together, work together, eat together, repeat. They're both teachers are Caseham High School where a recent scandal involving a teacher-student affair rocked the community. At the center of it all is Addie. She's ostracized, bullied and a student in both Eve and Nate's classes causing hella mistrust between the couple. It's the Freida Effect! This is my seventh book read of this author and I consistently feel like a bra tangled in wet laundry, thrown in the dryer with no lingerie bag, twisted in the laundry basket with fabric softener sheets and other clothes waiting to be folded. 🗣️UNTANGLE, CLASP AND PUT ME AWAY, FREIDA!
Quote: "Every time I think I've experienced the worst day yet, there is a new winner." ~ pg. 129
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: A Love Letter to Whiskey
Author: Kandi SteinerPublished: October 2021
Pithy Review: Fifth anniversary edition. That's how long this romance has sat in my TBR waiting patiently to be read. I don't what I expected but it wasn't this. Fitting considering whiskey tastes better aged. This is not an alcoholic's story. Instead it is a best friends to lovers story full of angst and hope. Took me through all the feels. It is best to go in blind reading this thique novel so just take my word for it and READ.
Quote: "If I was whiskey, then she was the barrel that held me, that helped me age, that made me better." ~ pg. 439
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: The Other Side
Author: Kim Holden
Published: June 2019
Pithy Review: How did I miss this book that's been published for 5 years?! Thank goodness it was listed in my Kindle Unlimited recommendations. There are two sides to every story: reality and the other side that matters. Toby is a 17-year-old self-proclaimed asshole. He trades maintenance work in exchange for a roof over his head. Every day he wants to give up. Then a young lady moves into the building and brings light to Toby's dark world. This book is heavy heavy but so worth the read!
Quote: "I wear my depression like a winter coat, zipped up tight to my chin and bulky—a barrier that smothers out the rest of the world. No one has ever asked me about it because I hide it." ~ pg. 148
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Kim Holden
Published: June 2019
Pithy Review: How did I miss this book that's been published for 5 years?! Thank goodness it was listed in my Kindle Unlimited recommendations. There are two sides to every story: reality and the other side that matters. Toby is a 17-year-old self-proclaimed asshole. He trades maintenance work in exchange for a roof over his head. Every day he wants to give up. Then a young lady moves into the building and brings light to Toby's dark world. This book is heavy heavy but so worth the read!
Quote: "I wear my depression like a winter coat, zipped up tight to my chin and bulky—a barrier that smothers out the rest of the world. No one has ever asked me about it because I hide it." ~ pg. 148
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: I Hope This Finds You Well
Author: Natalie Sue
Published: May 2024
Pithy Review: A light LOL summer read! Jolene is constantly irritated by her incompetent co-workers that have no boundaries. She writes petty email postscripts changing the font color to white so no one can see. Well, one of her emails is exposed so now she's subject to termination, sensitivity training from HR and rigorous email restrictions. But somehow she gains access to everyone's private emails and DMs so uses the intel to save her own job. I haven't enjoyed a heartwarming office comedy since Holly's Inbox. From the very first page, I fell in love with the main character and her witty inner dialogue. The writing style was so engaging that I was in the cubicle right along with this quirky set of co-workers. (That's me...the Morale Booster with the scented hand cream.)
Quote: "This place could easily be a case study." ~ pg. 61
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Natalie Sue
Published: May 2024
Pithy Review: A light LOL summer read! Jolene is constantly irritated by her incompetent co-workers that have no boundaries. She writes petty email postscripts changing the font color to white so no one can see. Well, one of her emails is exposed so now she's subject to termination, sensitivity training from HR and rigorous email restrictions. But somehow she gains access to everyone's private emails and DMs so uses the intel to save her own job. I haven't enjoyed a heartwarming office comedy since Holly's Inbox. From the very first page, I fell in love with the main character and her witty inner dialogue. The writing style was so engaging that I was in the cubicle right along with this quirky set of co-workers. (That's me...the Morale Booster with the scented hand cream.)
Quote: "This place could easily be a case study." ~ pg. 61
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: The Idea of You
Author: Robinne Lee
Published: June 2017
Pithy Review: Chosen as the Sistahs Be Readin' BOTM; otherwise, it would have sat on the shelf unnoticed due to the older woman/younger man trope. Also I find it off-putting that the author had to write white characters as a Black woman because her previous book with a Black protagonist could not sell. So unfair considering she is a good writer so her stories should sell regardless. As a result, I was not as into the romance as I would have liked. I kept thinking how fame was affecting their relationship and loved ones. Never mind the 20-year age gap (ewww!) Was reclaiming happiness really worth it? I will wait to watch the movie adaptation with the Sistahs for our Patreon commentary to see if I like it better.
Quote: "You let me unfold you." ~ pg. 361
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Robinne Lee
Published: June 2017
Pithy Review: Chosen as the Sistahs Be Readin' BOTM; otherwise, it would have sat on the shelf unnoticed due to the older woman/younger man trope. Also I find it off-putting that the author had to write white characters as a Black woman because her previous book with a Black protagonist could not sell. So unfair considering she is a good writer so her stories should sell regardless. As a result, I was not as into the romance as I would have liked. I kept thinking how fame was affecting their relationship and loved ones. Never mind the 20-year age gap (ewww!) Was reclaiming happiness really worth it? I will wait to watch the movie adaptation with the Sistahs for our Patreon commentary to see if I like it better.
Quote: "You let me unfold you." ~ pg. 361
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: Lucky Me
Author: Rich Paul
Published: October 2023
Pithy Review: I'll be honest; I didn't know who Rich Paul was until I saw him sitting courtside revealed to be Adele's boothang. Who was this handsome Black man dating one of my fave music artists? I headed to the Google streets and discovered he is a highly successful sports agent. He was more than LeBron's friend. I wanted to know more about this successful businessman so I borrowed his memoir from my local library. What I got were valuable rules of life! Early on, Rich Paul's deck of life was stacked against him forcing him to play the hands he was dealt. Through a well-written, detailed, vulnerable view, Rich Paul takes readers from the very beginning moment of when his parents met to his present-day success sharing thoughtful lessons learned from his relationship with his father—the true heart of this memoir. I have so many highlights and take-aways! Bonus points for the title Lucky Me being named after one of his all-time favorite Jay-Z songs.
Quote: "I define a hustler as someone who is never complacent, always thinking two steps ahead of everyone else. Someone who can manage the transitions If things turn upside down, a hustler adapts to being upside down without missing a step." ~ pg. 26
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Rich Paul
Published: October 2023
Pithy Review: I'll be honest; I didn't know who Rich Paul was until I saw him sitting courtside revealed to be Adele's boothang. Who was this handsome Black man dating one of my fave music artists? I headed to the Google streets and discovered he is a highly successful sports agent. He was more than LeBron's friend. I wanted to know more about this successful businessman so I borrowed his memoir from my local library. What I got were valuable rules of life! Early on, Rich Paul's deck of life was stacked against him forcing him to play the hands he was dealt. Through a well-written, detailed, vulnerable view, Rich Paul takes readers from the very beginning moment of when his parents met to his present-day success sharing thoughtful lessons learned from his relationship with his father—the true heart of this memoir. I have so many highlights and take-aways! Bonus points for the title Lucky Me being named after one of his all-time favorite Jay-Z songs.
Quote: "I define a hustler as someone who is never complacent, always thinking two steps ahead of everyone else. Someone who can manage the transitions If things turn upside down, a hustler adapts to being upside down without missing a step." ~ pg. 26
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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