We Live and Breathe Books: Isn't It Romantic?

Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford
Published by Doubleday Canada on October 8, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
four-half-stars

Goodreads

A guarded punk-rocker-turned-barista meets a big-hearted sound tech who charms his way into her life and helps her revisit her musical past in this truly charming, cozy fall romance.

Allie Andrews gave up on the music world ten years ago. No wild tours, no late nights, no career-ending inter-band blowouts. Just day after comfortable day of working in her aunt's café in Brooklyn and recording '80s cover songs in her tiny apartment. The last thing she wants, or expects, is to be recognized as former punk rocker Allie Jetski. But a last-minute coffee delivery lands her face to face with the big, charming, handsome (and quite possibly number one fan of the Jetskis) Ryan Abernathy.

Ryan isn't about to forget meeting the lead singer of one of his favorite bands. Undeterred by her prickly demeanor, he sets his mind to helping Allie find her way back to the Jetskis—so she can come to terms with what happened all those years ago. Allie finds Ryan hard to resist, and her quiet life is turned upside down as she is swept up in a whirlwind hunt for her old bandmates.

But when Aunt Mindy announces that she's decided to sell the café, Allie is faced with a life-altering choice: play it safe and take over the business, or risk opening herself up to a future in music . . . and maybe even love.

I grew up in the era of the mixtape. They served so many purposes. They allowed you to showcase your amazing musical tastes, could serve as a love letter to someone, or serve as a time capsule for songs that evoke memories. I think all three instances are touched upon in Make Me a Mixtape, and it was an interesting springboard for Allie's personal journey.

Once upon a time, Allie and her high school besties started a punk band called The Jetskis. The band enjoyed some success but eventually imploded. Fast forward ten years, Allie is working in a coffee shop and is recognized when delivering an order. This opens up an old wound, forcing Allie to confront her past while she also makes so many positive changes in her present.

I know Allie was shocked and dismayed by Ryan's "Allie Jetski" cry, but he was such a beautiful human. Him and his precious Labrador retriever ways had Allie doing things that she hadn't done in a decade - opening up and making connections. I loved the friendship that developed between them and seeing her found family grow was a wonderful thing.

Allie may have lost both her parents by the time she was eighteen, but she was lucky enough to find a place with her aunt and her coffee shop family. She may not have been living the life she thought she would, but she was actually surrounded by wonderful people, and the addition of Ryan and his roommate made it even better.

There were a few storylines I thought were fantastic. First, the search for Allie's former bandmate and best friend. Jessi was someone very important in Allie's life. When the band broke up, Allie not only lost Jessi but also her maternal figure (Jessi's grandmother). This left Allie hesitant to form meaningful relationships. I enjoyed the search for her, and the self discovery that resulted from that search.

I was also all about a romance between Allie and Ryan. Ryan seemed very happy go lucky, but he was wounded from his past, and this affected his romantic relationships. Be prepared for a slow burn, push and pull kind of thing, but keep in mind that both Allie and Ryan had scars and needed that time to grow and heal.

The ending was probably my favorite part. I swear the grin I wore split my face because I was so happy. Overall, a great found family vibe, excellent coffee shop setting, characters I grew to adore, as well as a fantastic soundtrack made this a wonderful experience for me.

Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner
Published by Forever on October 15, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction, Romance
four-half-stars

Goodreads

Opposites attract when a buttoned-up professor and carefree doorman must restore a magically missing identity in this sparkling romance, perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens and Ashley Poston.

For type-A mathematician Catherine Lipton, growing up with a free-spirited single dad who worked part-time as a clown was more than a little stressful. So as an adult, the only place she’ll allow for variability is in her data sets. Everything in Catherine’s life is ordered, from her lists to her lesson plans at her new job as a college professor. Catherine’s carefully calculated life goes awry, though, when the university’s human resources system rejects her employment paperwork. Soon after, her credit card is declined. At the Social Security office, Catherine makes a shocking discovery—she’s disappeared from the government’s records, and there’s no evidence she exists at all. Catherine can’t seem to convince anyone she’s a real person, even though she’s standing right there in the flesh.

Catherine knows she can’t count on her dad, and the university is only concerned with who will teach her classes. The one person who offers to help is Luca Morelli, her attractive but aggravating doorman who spends more time flirting with Catherine’s neighbors than he does enforcing the building rules. The older residents might fall for Luca’s charm, but if he can’t keep bikes out of the lobby or put packages in their designated area, how can he help Catherine get her life back?

Left with no other options, Catherine reluctantly agrees to enlist the help of Luca’s well-connected Italian family. Soon, Catherine finds herself following Luca into the back room of a smoky bar to meet a Mafia man named Vito, breaking into the records room of a local hospital, doing a little light stalking, and having a surprising amount of fun. She also finds herself growing closer to Luca, who makes her laugh and challenges her well-ordered ways. As Catherine begins to unravel the mystery behind her missing identity, she may discover that the “real” Catherine is someone she never expected.

From a young age, Catherine had to shoulder a great deal of responsibilities. Her father a free spirit whose unstructured lifestyle forced Catherine to become the rigid and ordered person that she was today. As she embarks on starting a new job, Catherine discovers that according to the government, she does not exist. She then sets out to find proof of her existence which results in a wonderful journey of self discovery.

This was a rather charming tale about a woman who began to see her life and herself in a different way as she uncovered secrets from her past. I think that was my favorite part of this story. I totally understood why Catherine grew frustrated with her father, but he did seem to be someone who really loved and cared for her. He was quite young when he became a single father, and Catherine only seemed to see his deficiencies. This search for herself helped her see how he filled her childhood with wonder and made her appreciate the community he built for her.

I also loved Luca and his big Italian family. It was funny the way they seemed to be EVERYWHERE, but wonderful how they were always ready to help each other. Luca was another person Catherine began to see in a different light. She made some snap judgements about him based on her past experiences with her father. But as she spent more time with him, all was revealed. He really was a gem, and I adored him.

There's a part of me that wants to say this book had a magical touch. That magic coming from someone very special. I don't want to say too much about it, but I thought it was very a very sweet part of the story.

Overall, I had a great time with Catherine as she uncovered some family secrets, reconnected with an important part of her past, and found herself along the way. Told with lots of humor, this book both made me laugh and warmed my heart.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER