Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!
- What am I currently reading?
- What did I just finish?
- What am I reading next?
Even the title – Mrs. Nashes Ashes – sounds like fun, so I just had to read this romantic comedy, road trip story, women’s fiction mash-up for myself. Sarah Adler is a debut author, and I find it so wonderful to discover new and promising authors, which I hope she is. I know early reviews have been great. I’ll start reading this today.
- Genre: Women’s Fiction
- Pages: 352pages
- Publisher: Berkley
- Publication Date: May 23, 2023
A Most Anticipated Book by BookRiot ∙ Culturess ∙ and more!
A starry-eyed romantic, a cynical writer, and (the ashes of) an elderly woman take the road trip of a lifetime that just might upend everything they believe about true love.
Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process.
She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.
After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.
But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own.
Rubi Ramos’ Recipe for Success by Jessica Parra is a fun read though it is laced with a more serious look at bias and racism. It felt very authentic yet loads of fun. AND Seven Rules or Breaking Hearts by Kristyn Miller is a great contemporary rom-com. It just hits all the more contemporary issues people face, and I enjoyed that.
- Genre: Rom Com (YA)
- Pages: 320 pages
- Publisher: Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press)
- Publication Date: May 16, 2023
Most Anticipated YA by Goodreads!
“An earnest, charming coming-of-age story that will come for your heart and your appetite.” —New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord.
Graduation is only a few months away, and Rubi Ramos’s “recipe for success” to get into prestigious Alma University is already off track.
When Alma waitlists Rubi’s application, Rubi will need to be distraction-free to make the grade and keep her parents—who have wanted this for her for years—from finding out. Which means falling for her cute surfer-slash-math tutor, Ryan, definitely won’t work. And neither will breaking her mother’s ban on baking—her parents didn’t leave Cuba so she could bake just like them.
But some recipes are begging to be tampered with.
When the First Annual Bake Off comes to town, Rubi’s passion for baking goes from subtle simmer to full boil. Add to the mix her crush on Ryan may be turning into a full-fledged relationship and Rubi’s life is suddenly so different from what it was. She’s not sure if she has what it takes to win the Bake Off, or where the relationship with Ryan is going, but there’s only one way to find out—even if it means going against her parents’ priorities.
Now Rubi must differentiate between the responsibility of unfulfilled dreams she holds and finding the path she’s meant for.
A joyful novel of first romance, new possibilities, and the chance to define yourself, Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success will find its way into your heart.
“[A] thoughtful, joyful coming-of-age story…beautifully written and brimming with love and acceptance.” – Kirkus
- Genre: Romantic Comedy
- Pages: 352 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
- Publication Date: May 16, 2023
“A fresh take on modern romance.” – Lauren Blakely, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Love breaks all the rules.
Margo Anderson is sworn off commitment. Alongside her best friend Jo, she runs a viral podcast featuring rules for hooking up without catching feelings. So when Jo surprises her by deciding to get married and takes up a sponsor’s offer to host an all-expenses-paid wedding trip on Catalina Island, they have the whole internet to answer to.
In a scramble for content to appease their disappointed listeners, Margo cooks up a social experiment: break all her own dating rules, just to prove that it’s a bad idea. And she’s found the best man for the job in the groom’s best friend and her old high school nemesis, Declan Walsh. He may be easier on the eyes than Margo remembered, but he’s sure to be as smug and annoying as he was before. There is no chance Margo will ever catch feelings for him…until she does.
The more time they spend together through cake tastings and wedding party activities, Margo can’t ignore their obvious spark, and she may actually be enjoying getting to know Declan. But can she let go of the rules to let him in?
McKinnon and I follow each other on Instagram, and she has been promoting The Revenge List so heavily that when it was offered to me, of course, I had to read it. I’m looking forward to a good thrill ride after all the lighter fare I’ve been enjoying.
- Genre: Psychological Thriller
- Pages: 368 pages
- Publisher: MIRA (Harlequin Trade)
- Publication Date: May 23, 2023
“This twisty, original thriller through the dark side of self-help is a breath of fresh air that ends with a jaw-dropping gasp.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest
“The Revenge List checks all the boxes of what a thriller should be. Brilliant premise? Check. Mounting tension? Check. Jaw-dropping twist? Double-check. I couldn’t put it down!”
— Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of The House Across the Lake
They say life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die. But all she could see was regret.
The people in Frankie Morgan’s life say she’s angry. Emotionally stunted. Combative. But really, who can blame her? It’s hard being nice when your clients are insufferable, your next-door neighbor is a miserable woman and the cowardly driver who killed your mother is still out living it up somewhere.
Somehow, though, she finds herself at her very first anger-management group session—drinking terrible coffee and learning all about how “forgiveness is a process.”
One that starts with a list.
Frankie is skeptical. A list of everyone who’s wronged her in some way over the years? More paper, please. Still, she makes the pointless list—with her own name in a prominent spot—and promptly forgets about it…until it goes missing. And one by one, the people she’s named start getting hurt in freak accidents, each deadlier than the last.
Could it be coincidence giving her the revenge she never dared to seek…or something more sinister?
If Frankie doesn’t find out who’s behind it all, she might be next.
I received a nice mix of genres this week: 2 romcoms, 3 mystery/thrillers, and what I think will be a sci-fi thriller-ish book, as Chuck Wendig’s typically are.
What are you reading? Do you love it?
Tessa Talks Books 
Once again all of these look amazing, I’m reading summer wedding by Sarah Morgan at the moment 😊
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That sounds wonderful and so timely 😊
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Looks like you got some great reading going on. I didn’t know there were going to be any more Enola Holmes books!
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Yes! I’m looking forward to reading it. I’m not sure which I like better Lady Sherlock or Enola Holmes. They are both so good ❤️
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Ooh, The Revenge List! Can’t wait to see what you think, Tessa💜
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I can’t wait to read it. ❤️
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Looks like you made your week a romantic contemporary week. I’m reading Twisted Lies and it’s so far really good.
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There were quite a few 💕
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Oooh, The Revenge List sounds good. And I’m interested in learning more about the Wendig book. That’s quite a haul, Tessa.
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They both do look good 👀
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A Great Mix of books, Tessa. I also got the Enola Holmes book and plan on reading The Revenge List this week. I hope we both enjoy it. Have a great reading week.
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I hope we both enjoy it too!
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Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts is on my tbr! It looks cute!
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It is! Hope you enjoy it 💕
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I also got the widget for Black River Orchard but haven’t downloaded it yet. I’ve been trying to limit myself – but it’s a Wendig book. I’m sure I’ll be downloading it today, lol. Happy Reading, Tessa!
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Exactly! I debated for a bit because they also call his books horror but then I reminded myself that his type of horror is more SciFy thriller to me (so far)
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Chuck Wendig is great, I’m currently waiting to see if I get that one. Such a great week Tessa!
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He is! I’ve loved so many of his books 💕
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Glad you to hear you have been enjoying your reading and have lots of nice, new shiny books to look forward to as well. I have just finished reading the historical-fiction, The Queen’s Lady by Joanna Hickson – I loved it so much it took over my other reading and finished it really quickly. I will now continue by re-read of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 🙂
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That sounds like one I would enjoy too 💕
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I highly recommend it and I enjoyed the previous book The Lady of the Ravens too 🏰
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This looks like a lot of fun reading! I haven’t read any of the Enola books but I adore the movies on Netflix! I feel like I would love the books!
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I bet you would. I think the books are even better than the movies.
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