READING
The Love You Deserve by Jen Morris
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of The Love You Deserve in exchange for an honest review. I don’t know what it is about Jen Morris’ books, but she has this way of transporting you straight to New York. For someone from New Zealand, that’s pretty impressive.
This is the fourth book in Jen’s Love in the City series and it’s the first with a dual point of view (POV). I’m a big fan of the dual POV and I think Jen did really well in giving us Cory’s perspective. This book can be read as a standalone, but you’ll enjoy it more if you’ve read the first three because of reappearing characters – like Myles (my favourite!).
The Love You Deserve was steamy. Probably a little more steamy than I usually prefer to read, but it was well done.
The writing is swoony and provides an escape from real life. It’s easy to read and get lost in. I’m so captivated by this group of friends and I seriously look forward to the next character destined to find love.
I liked both these characters and I liked that the conflict wasn’t some sort of miscommunication, but a genuine need to work on themselves. It recognises that love isn’t enough and that we need to be at peace with ourselves in order to cultivate a healthy relationship.
I was so sad when nearing the end of the book because I didn’t want it to be over. I had a major book hangover. And instead of moving on to my next book, I started dreaming about New York. Bring on the next one in the series.
Hot bartenders, dogs and New York City? Yes, please.
You’ll love this if: you’ve ever wanted to move to New York and find that group of friends.
Tuesdays Like That by Carina Taylor
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Tuesdays Like That by Carina Taylor. Tuesdays Like That was a super fast paced read based around Tuesday and Jordan who fall victim to an accidental marriage care of a couple of meddling grandmothers. It’s super unrealistic in the best rom com kind of way.
You’ll love this if: you’ve ever had a crush on a family friend.
Commit by Kortney Keisel
Part of the Rom “Com” series by Kortney Keisel, Commit follows Matt and Remi as they attend a wedding two months after they’ve broken up. The novella switches between the past and the present in the sweet, second chance romance.
It’s a short read that drew me in instantly and had me laughing out loud. It’s fast paced as it’s set over just a few days, but I loved it and I’m looking forward to getting into the other books in the series that follow Matt’s sisters.
You’ll love this if: you’re close to your siblings.
The Off-Limits Rule by Sarah Adams
This is my third Sarah Adams book and I’ll be getting into my fourth next month. The Off Limits Rule made me laugh out loud and also cringe. The brother’s best friend trope is not my favourite, but the book was light and enjoyable and I can’t wait to see what Sarah comes up with next.
You’ll love this if: you ever had a crush on your brother’s BFF
Listening
Morgan Wallen
I’ve switched out audiobooks and podcasts for music this month and I’ve had Morgan Wallen on repeat. YES, I’m into country music and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. Here’s one of my favourites:
Watching
Travel Guides
Travel Guides is an Australian show where regular Aussies go on holiday and try out what a destination has to offer. It’s up to its fifth season and I’m obsessed. So far, the guides have visited Texas and Louisiana and are now back in Australia trying out some beachy destinations. It’s full of Australian humour and it’s gold.
Bridgerton
I told myself that I wasn’t going to watch this season of Bridgerton because I felt the end of season one was a little boring. And then I binged it. Of course. Who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers romance that is going against society’s expectations and wrapped in fabulous costumes? Also, I can’t get enough of all the memes.
Brooklyn 99
Why have I never noticed this on Netflix before? I’ve seen so many Brooklyn 99 memes and yet it took me way too long to watch this series. I’m obsessed. It’s hilarious and light and the characters are perfection.
Life
April started out as a really great month for me. I had my calendar worked out, there were public holidays coming up and I was eating those choc-chip brioche hot cross buns like they wouldn’t be available for the rest of the year. Then, it all came crashing down after an unfortunate incident with a neighbour that left me rattled and riddled with anxiety.
I spend so much of my life in a bubble of writing, reading and spending time with people I love that I can often forget about the real world outside of that. The real world can be filled with things that seek to bring you down and break you.
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been putting pieces back together and vowing not to let this experience take up too much space in my life. It’s been tough. Crippling anxiety made me lose motivation to do the things I love and made it almost impossible to do the things that I don’t love (hello, laundry!). I felt like a shell of myself drowning in chaos, but baby step by baby step, I’m bringing myself back to the surface.
On another totally unrelated note, my mum bought me a new candle that smells like passionfruit, raspberries, orange and lime and I’m in LOVE.
ANNE NOVEK 
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