We Live and Breathe Books: Five Star Friday

Five Star Friday is my version of the monthly wrap-up. On the first Friday of each month, I will share my five-star reads from the previous month. Fingers crossed, I have lots of books to tell you about.

This month, I was able to read 30 books, and I had 5 five-star reads.

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman
Published by Amazon Original Stories on February 18, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
five-stars

Goodreads

The Gibson sisters weren’t expecting to speak to each other ever again after Isabel ran off to New York and left Sophie alone. But here they are, years later, running the family bookstore together on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. Isabel also thought she’d left Johnny Lenox behind, but whether or not she knew it, Johnny was always going to be there for her.

Five years into their happily ever after, Isabel and Johnny are making the most of their second chance at love. Then one night, Johnny awakens from an extraordinary dream…and their world is irrevocably altered. Isabel does her best to give Johnny space as he struggles to accept the new chapter life has opened for them. But Johnny can’t do it alone—no one can. As the whole family is soon to discover, seasons change, but love never does.

I am so in love with these sisters and their stories. Once again, Hoffman crafted a beautiful episode for this family, and there were a lot of big changes for everyone involved. I shed quite a few tears considering how short this story was, but the amazing thing was the variety of tears. I was sad, excited, and happy. Some things were bittersweet, but there were a lot of things to look forward to as well. I am excited to see there is another story on the horizon for the Bookstore Sisters as I hope Hoffman never tires of sharing their tales.

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
Published by Celadon Books on January 14, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
five-stars

Goodreads

From New York Times bestselling author Tracey Lange, a poignant story about the resilience of family, the importance of community, and the magic of middle school hockey

When Kyle McCray gets word his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, he returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, where he doesn’t expect a warm welcome. Kyle left suddenly two and a half years ago, abandoning people who depended on him: his father, his employees, his friends—not to mention Casey, his wife of sixteen years and a beloved teacher in town. He plans to lie low and help his dad recuperate until he can leave again, especially after Casey makes it clear she wants him gone.

The longer he’s home, the more Kyle understands the impact his departure has had on the people he left behind. When he’s presented with an opportunity for redemption as the coach of the floundering middle school hockey team, he begins to find compassion in unexpected places. Kyle even considers staying in Potsdam, but that’s only possible if he and Casey can come to some kind of peace with each other.

Full of love and hope, What Happened to the McCrays? takes an intimate look at both sides of a failed marriage and two people who must finally confront the awful pain of their past or risk being consumed by it.

This was such an emotional story. I shed a ton of tears, but by the end, I was filled with so much hope. Lange took her time telling me what happened to the McCrays. These two had built a solid life together. They were each others rock for over twenty years, so of course I was wondering what happened. As I read, I developed my own theories, and I hated that I was partially right. My heart ached for this couple, but I held onto hope for them. That they could heal and reconcile. They had a great team behind them, and that community aspect was really a standout part of the story. Absolutely loved this book!

[review]

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
Published by Pamela Dorman Books on Feb 11, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
five-stars

Goodreads

The #1 New York Times bestselling author, whose books so many love, brings us a fresh, contemporary story of a woman and her unruly blended family

“Nobody writes women the way Jojo Moyes does.” —Jodi Picoult

Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Her career is in freefall and her love life is . . . complicated. So when her real dad—a man she has barely seen since he ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago—suddenly appears on her doorstep, it feels like the final straw. But it turns out even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach you: about love, and what it actually means to be family.

This was such a fun and heartwarming book. I was terribly sympathetic towards Lila from the very beginning. I could not imagine having to face my ex and the woman he left her for on a daily basis. She was dealing with her divorce, her mother's death, her teen daughter's angst, the return of her estranged father, and writer's block. It seems like a lot for one person, but there was quite a bit of joy in all that chaos. Her step-father and father living under the same roof was an interesting situation, and a few more people joined their found-family. These people ended up being her support system and helped Lila through this difficult time in her life. I was happy to see her heal and make new connections while also rebuilding some relationships. Her family was crazy and chaotic, but there was so much love.

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid
Published by Avon on April 1, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
five-stars

Goodreads

A funny and heartwarming debut romance about two exes forced to reunite when a plane crash leaves them stranded on a deserted island.

Piper Adams is totally, one hundred percent, completely over Wyatt, the former love of her life. After he broke her heart, she stopped taking risks and focused instead on building a perfect—and perfectly safe—life. Bumping into him at the airport on the way to her best friend’s destination wedding wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was a canceled flight nor Wyatt’s offer of a ride on the tiny plane he’s flying to attend the same wedding. Desperate to make it on time she accepts his offer, but things go from awkward to full-blown nightmare when their plane crashes in the Caribbean, stranding Piper on a deserted island with the last person she ever wanted to see again.

At first, rule-following Piper clashes with adventure-driven Wyatt, but as the days tick by, she begrudgingly admits that the boy she once knew has grown into a man. A man who makes her laugh, knows his way around a fire, and is annoyingly hot shirtless. As the chemistry still simmering between them boils over, Piper begins wishing Wyatt could be more than just a survival partner. But for their love to survive a second chance, she’ll have to not only trust Wyatt again, but also learn to trust herself and find the courage to let go of her carefully curated life for the chance at something far greater—if they survive the island long enough for rescue.

I am not a huge survival romance reader, but I cannot resist a good second chance romance. Being stranded on a deserted island was a gift the universe gave these two because as they worked together to survive, they also spent time getting to know the older versions of each other. They were able to reconnect as they confronted their past, and I won't lie, I was rooting for them the whole time. I was so happy to see them grow and heal and fall back in love. Yes, my heart grew two sizes.

[review]

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Published by Berkley on February 11, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
five-stars

Goodreads

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore's romance hotline, that's a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—she begins to question if she's as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending... even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

This is one of those books that just makes you happy. The premise of a romance radio show host who was disenchanted with love and a single mom who was waiting for something magical struck a chord with me. I remember shedding happy tears as Lucie shared how she wanted more with the airwaves, and I was like - YES! But I also nodded as Aiden lamented all the negativity he has observed with the couples who contact him. All I can say is that I had an incredible time reading this book. I laughed and smiled and swooned, and the characters were so special. It's a story I fell into and never wanted to climb out of. I think it may be my favorite from Borison.