Five Star Friday - April 2023

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 28 books, and I had  4 five-star reads. 

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Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman
Published by Dell on May 30, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Then. Katee Rose is living the dream as America's number one pop star, caught in a whirlwind of sold-out concerts, screaming fans, and constant tabloid coverage. Everyone wants to know everything about her and her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of adored boy band CrushZone. Katee loves to perform but hates the impossible demands of stardom. Maybe that's why she finds herself in the arms of another CrushZone member, Cal Kirby. Quiet, serious Cal, who's always been a good friend to Katee, is suddenly Cal with the smoldering eyes and very good hands. One unforgettable night is all it takes to blow up Katee's relationship with Ryan, her career, her whole life...

Now. Kathleen Rosenberg is okay with her ordinary existence, and leaving her pop star image in the past. That is, until Cal Kirby shows up with the opportunity of her dreams--a starring role in the Broadway show he's directing and a chance to perform the way she's always wanted. The two haven't spoken since the joint destruction of their careers, and each of them blames the other, making their reunion a tense battle of wits and egos. Katee reluctantly agrees to the musical, as long as she keeps her guard up around Cal. But rehearsals are long, those eyes still smolder, and those hands are still very good. Despite everything, Katee can't deny the chemistry between them. Is it ever a good idea to reignite old flames? Especially if you've been burned in the past?

A former pop star finds herself back in the spotlight--along with an old flame from her past--in this "friends to lovers" meets "enemies to lovers" romance from the bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask, the sensational Tik Tok romance!

Sussman dazzled me with Funny You Should Ask, and I was equally enamored with Once More with Feeling. Once again, she wrote a fantastic reunion/second chance romance that had me rooting for the couple, but I was also pushing hard for the heroine. Kathleen was looking to make a comeback in her own way on her own terms, and I wanted it so much for her. She finally had the opportunity to chase her original dream and to also get closure with respect to her past. Simply put, I had a fantastic time reading this book and was left very pleased with the ending Sussman gave to both Kathleen and Cal. 

[review]

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The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Published by Ballantine on May 30, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

“Clever, dark, and hopeful . . . a love letter to reading and the power that childhood stories have over us long after we've grown up.”—V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

. . . You might just get it.

I had no idea how wonderfully heartwarming this book would be. The premise was so interesting with readers competing to win the only copy of the newest addition to a beloved children's series. The competition was lots of fun, but it was really the people involved who made this such a hit for me. I was invested in their journey. I wanted them to come out on top and be able to have all their wishes fulfilled. Along the way, some beautiful relationships took root and grew, and a family was born. Overall, this was a beautiful tale of love and family that was told with a touch of whimsy and lots of heart.

[review]

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The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman
Published by Ballantine on May 30, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A former prodigy who refuses to believe her best years are behind her and a young virtuoso searching for his passion both get an unlikely shot at their dreams in this sparkling debut about second chances, unexpected joys, and the miraculous power of music.

Prudence Childs was once the most famous kindergartner on the planet. After teaching herself to play piano at age three, she performed at the White House, appeared on talk shows, and inspired a generation of children to take up lessons. But as adolescence closed in, Prudence began to see that she was just another exploited child star, pushed into fame by her cruel grandmother. Prudence ran away—from both performing and her greedy handler—as soon as she was old enough to vote. Flat broke and alone, she took a job writing commercial jingles, which earned her a fortune, but left her creatively adrift.

Now forty-eight, with her daughters away at school, Prudence is determined to reconnect with the artist she once was and agrees to compete on a wildly popular dueling pianos TV show. Unfortunately, her new spotlight captures the attention of her terrible ex-husband, Bobby, who uses the opportunity to blackmail her over a secret she thought she’d buried in the past. If she doesn’t win, she won’t just be a musical failure; she’ll also be bankrupted and exposed in front of millions.

Her on-air rival, virtuoso Alexei Petrov, a stunning young Internet sensation with a massive audience and a dreamy Russian accent, has problems of his own. His overbearing parents’ domineering ways made him a technically flawless pianist but left him without friends, hobbies, or any kind of life outside his music.

As they prepare to face off on stage, the retired prodigy and the exhausted wunderkind realize that the competition is their chance to prove—to their terrible exes, tyrannical family members, and most importantly, themselves—that it’s never too late to write a new ending.

I had no idea what to expect from this book, but it was fantastic! I am trash for stories featuring second chances of any kind, and I was happy to see Prudence finding the courage to return to something she had so much love for - music. Her motivation was due to a rather stressful situation,  but I was over the moon with the results. There was one issue that was resolved so beautifully that couldn't stop the tears from falling. It was perfect. An absolute delight from beginning to end. 

[review]

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Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Published by Forever on April 11, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match.

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

I will never tire of Jimenez's romances. They are always so wonderful, and I think this was the most gentle of them yet. Though both hero and heroine were dealing with some sort of betrayal in their previous relationships, and the hero battled anxiety, it was all dealt with so well and really didn't subject me to the emotional pain that I experienced with some of Jimenez's past books. I am sure readers will love Jacob as much as I did, and will probably get frustrated with Bri, but I beg you to be patient with her, she had scars that need to heal before she can fully accept the love Jacob has to give.

[review]

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Honorable Mention

April was packed with great reading. Here are my honorable mention books. All earned 4.5 stars.

• Marrying Off Morgan McBride by Amy Barry
• The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
• The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
• Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
• Family Tree by Susan Wiggs
• The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis
• Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza, Emily Harding

What were the best books you read last month?
Let us know in the comments!