The Oxford Comma Momma

Rating 4.5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Thriller Goodreads Summary How far would you go to protect your perfect life?   Marianne  has a life others dream of. A beautiful townhouse on the best street in the neighborhood. Three bright children who are her pride and joy.  Sometimes her past still hurts: losing her mother early, growing up in foster care. But her husband,  Simon , is always there. A successful surgeon, he’s the envy of every woman they’ve ever met. Flowers, gifts, trips to France: nothing is too good for his family.  Then Simon says another woman’s name. The way he lingers on it,  Caroline   , gives Marianne a shudder of suspicion, but she knows it’s nothing – she can’t entertain this flash of paranoia.  In the old days, she’d have distracted herself by excelling at work, but Marianne left her glamorous career when she married. She’d speak to a friend, but she’s too busy with her children and besides, Simon doesn’t approve of th...

Rating 4.5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Romance Goodreads Summary Have you ever heard of supernovas? They shine brighter than anything else in the sky and then fade out really quickly, a short burst of extraordinary energy. I like to think you and Ben were like that . . . in that short time, you had more passion than some people have in a lifetime. Elsie Porter is an average twentysomething and yet what happens to her is anything but ordinary. On a rainy New Year's Day, she heads out to pick up a pizza for one. She isn't expecting to see anyone else in the shop, much less the adorable and charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant and electric. Ben cannot even wait twenty-four hours before asking to see her again. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they've eloped. Only nine days later, Ben is out riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens outside her apartment, but by the time she gets downstairs, ...

Rating 3/5 stars Genre Fiction - Suspense Goodreads Summary A novel of suspense that explores the complexities of marriage and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love. When you read this book, you will make many assumptions. You will assume you are reading about a jealous wife and her obsession with her replacement. You will assume you are reading about a woman about to enter a new marriage with the man she loves. You will assume the first wife was a disaster and that the husband was well rid of her. You will assume you know the motives, the history, the anatomy of the relationships. Assume nothing. Review I feel like I should preface this review by saying I've been on a major book hangover since reading The Light We Lost. Because of that, it was hard for me to pick up another book, and I feel like I probably didn't enjoy this as much as I normally would have. I have heard rave reviews about The Wife Between Us and have been so excited ...

Rating 5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Romance Goodreads Summary He was the first person to inspire her, to move her, to truly understand her. Was he meant to be the last? Lucy is faced with a life-altering choice. But before she can make her decision, she must start her story--their story--at the very beginning.  Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes both of their lives forever. Together, they decide they want their lives to mean something, to matter. When they meet again a year later, it seems fated--perhaps they'll find life's meaning in each other. But then Gabe becomes a photojournalist assigned to the Middle East and Lucy pursues a career in New York. What follows is a thirteen-year journey of dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and, ultimately, of love. Was it fate that brought them together? Is it choice that has kept them away? Their journey takes Lucy and Gabe continents apart, but never out of each other's hearts....

Rating 4.5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Women's Summary When their dear friend Emerson passes away, best friends Georgia and Marley are heartbroken. They find that Emerson left behind a list that the three of them created long ago detailing the things they would do once they lost weight. Challenged and ready for a change, they slowly begin to work on checking items off and soon both embark on their own journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Along the way, they deal with deep-rooted issues from childhood, adolescence, and the present. Georgia has a strained relationship with her family and is still recovering from the demise of her marriage. Marley lost her twin sister as a young child and has felt a missing piece ever since. They begin to realize that both of them have issues that need addressing and that what they always assumed would leave them feeling happy and fulfilled seems to fall completely short. Review This was my first Kristan Higgins book, and it was...

Rating 4.5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Suspense Summary She looks beautiful in her wedding dress. It fits her perfectly and is exactly what I'd imagined she'd go for: elegant, understated, and unique—just like her. My heart breaks that her days will never come, but she doesn't need to know that yet. I think about the guests who won't attend, the picture frames with no photographs, the first dance that will be silent, the cake that won't get eaten, and I feel my resolve weakening. I pull myself up. This is not a time for doubt. There is still so much work to do, so much more pain to inflict, but I will not be deterred. I failed once before, but this time, I'll get it right. There's too much at stake to get it wrong. (from the Prologue of The Other Woman by Sandie Jones) When Emily meets Adam, they quickly fall for each other and make plans for their future together. All appears fine and dandy until Emily meets her future mother-in-law, Pammie...

Rating 4/5 stars Genre Fiction - Chick Lit Summary Days away from marrying the man of her dreams, Poppy Wyatt loses both her engagement ring and her cell phone. Amidst the panic, she stumbles upon a cell phone in a garbage can and quickly claims it as her own. After all, finders keepers, right? It turns out that the actual owner of the phone, businessman Sam, is none too happy about her claiming. Soon Poppy is playing assistant to Sam—without his knowledge—while also trying to find her ring, gain the approval of her fiance's family, and make last minute preparations for her wedding. Follow Poppy's hysterical, witty story as she learns to love herself, flaws and all. Review What a fun read this was! It was a nice little break from the types of books I normally read. Poppy is amusing, clever and dramatic, and I loved every bit of it! Maybe that is because I can relate to her crazy ways! Her antics and the way she handles awkward, less-than-ideal situations will ...

Rating 5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Suspense Summary Amber Patterson arrives in Bishops Harbor, Connecticut with a plan to turn her life around. With a painful childhood and rocky past behind her, she is determined to create the life she deserves. Her eyes are set on affluent millionaire Jackson Parrish, knowing that she will have all that she wants in no time. First, Amber asserts herself into the life of the Parrish family through Jackson's wife, Daphne. Once the two bond over their similarities, they form a friendship that Daphne has been longing for. Before she knows it, Amber is—more or less—considered a part of the Parrish family. She has family dinners with them, vacations with them, helps with their children. Soon, her manipulation starts to touch every area of Daphne's life, and her past begins to unfold. But nothing will stop Amber from getting what she thinks is rightfully hers. Review I can now understand why people were talking about this book so muc...

Rating 4/5 stars Genre Fiction - Metaphysical/Romance Summary If you could choose five people—dead or alive—to have dinner with, who would you choose? At Sabrina's thirtieth birthday dinner, she is accompanied by five individuals of her choosing. Sitting with her are her absent father, her favorite college professor, her best friend, the love of her life, and Audrey Hepburn. Each is there for a particular reason, which they will soon learn, as Sabrina recalls the past and looks ahead to the future. Review This book had it all: love, friendship, abandonment, coming of age, and more! It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The beautiful love story that unfolded really captured my heart. I could relate to the ups and downs, and I felt like part of my own story was being shared. The struggles that Sabrina faced are real and relatable—things we have all gone through in one way or another. I enjoyed the interweaving of the past and present that told a larger story a...

Rating 5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Suspense Summary Jessica is a young makeup artist trying to find her footing in New York City. Struggling to make ends meet and help her family out back home, she joins a study on morality and ethics to earn some extra money. After the session, she leaves feeling a bit exposed and vulnerable. When the professor of the study—Dr. Shields—contacts her for further participation, and thus money, Jessica accepts. After all, everything is confidential. But as the requirements for the study grow stranger and more demanding, Jessica starts to wonder what type of study she got herself into. Is she being paranoid or being manipulated? Review This was a fantastic book! The whole premise was intriguing to me since it is rather unique and original. I love when a book can keep me on my toes and guessing throughout, and this book did exactly that! Any time I thought I knew what was going on, I started to question myself. The plot twists were so fascin...

Rating 2/5 stars Genre Fiction - Thriller Summary When the president of the United States learns of a significant threat through an unlikely source, he's forced to put his recent personal loss and health issues to the side in order to save what could destroy his country. The most dangerous and daunting kind of cyberterrorism that the world has ever seen causes the president to make some choices that leave even his closest White House staff wondering what he could possibly be thinking. And with a possible traitor in his own cabinet, not a single person can really be trusted. How far will the president go to protect the country he has been appointed to put above all else? Review I was so excited to read this book! I've always enjoyed James Patterson's books in the past, and adding Bill Clinton into the mix sounded super intriguing! I don't know if it was my mood, the book, or a combination of both, but I could not  get into this book at all. It was way ...

Rating 5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Contemporary/Christian Summary Follow the lives of Camille, Jen, and Anaya as their worlds entwine when an inner city school district loses its accreditation, sending many of their misplaced students to a well-to-do school district that is less than excited to take them in. Camille seems to have it all—a wealthy husband and three beautiful children that attend some of the best schools available. How will this school integration affect her affluent family? Jen, her husband, and their newly adopted Liberian daughter are new to town and just trying to settle into a normal life. Should they send their daughter to school with other kids like her or one where she is the minority? Anaya is in her first year of teaching and has accepted a job in the school district receiving transfer students. Despite her hesitancy, she is determined that she will make a positive impact somehow. With racism and segregation at the forefront of this story, these thre...

Here are some more recommendations for you all! I have read each of these books this year and gave them 4 out of 5 stars. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I did! Big Little Lies   by Liane Moriarty In A Dark, Dark Wood   by Ruth Ware Read Bottom Up  by Neel Shah & Skye Chatham The Lying Game   by Ruth Ware The Couple Next Door  by Shari Lapena Crazy Rich Asians  by Kevin Kwan As you probably know, the  Crazy Rich Asians movie is currently in theaters. I always prefer to read the book first and then see the movie. Hoping I can see it sometime soon! Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts on them? I am such a huge fan of Liane Moriarty and Ruth Ware, in case you don't know that yet. 😊 Happy Reading!

Rating 3/5 stars Genre Fiction - Contemporary Romance Summary Up and coming political enthusiast Ella Durran is off to fulfill her childhood dream of a year studying at Oxford University. Upon arrival, as she quickly worries that she is in way over head surrounded by Oxonians, she meets an arrogant playboy named Jamie Davenport, who turns out to be her professor. As their relationship develops into something unique, Ella learns that Jamie has been hiding something from her. In order to figure out how to move forward, she must look within to decide if what was important when she first arrived at Oxford is still important now. Review So, I went into this book knowing very little about the content. I had only heard it had received great reviews, therefore I suppose my expectations were a little high. The first half of the book was a bit rough for me. I definitely wasn't pulled in from the first page. I felt like a fair amount of the language was way above my head, w...

Rating 3.5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Suspense/Thriller Summary Meredith Price feels like she hit the jackpot when she marries a wealthy, older man with two children. She quickly settles into her new life of luxury—spa days, yoga classes, and shopping. But when she suddenly goes missing, her wallet and keys still left in her car, no one has a clue what could have happened. When her sister and closest confidant, Greer, flies into town, she starts to wonder who can really be trusted. And soon she might be more wrapped up in this case than she ever thought possible. Review I enjoyed this book; it was definitely good, but I wouldn't put it in the category of great. I really liked the suspense—it kept me reading as I was always curious to know what was going to happen next. I do, however, think the ending was a bit short-lived. It felt rushed and anti-climatic to me. It's the classic woman goes missing, money is involved, whodunit book. Nonetheless, this is a great ...

Rating 4.5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Humor Summary A year in the life of eight friends as told through their emails and text messages. Each friend has their own unique personality and quirks that speak to the type of friend they are. From failed relationships to job issues to planning for an upcoming wedding, there is no shortage of hilarious antics in this quick read that will keep you entirely entertained. Review Guys, I loved this book! I found it to be so hilarious—there were many times I was laughing out loud. It was also a fast read due to the format of writing. I was worried that I might not be able to differentiate between the eight friends and keep everything straight, but as soon as I got into it, it was super easy to tell them all apart. This is a group of girls being totally candid so with that comes some crude humor and language, but I found it to be at a manageable level. I would definitely suggest this book as a light, easy read; one that can be a ni...

Rating 3/5 stars Genre Fiction - Contemporary Summary The Richardsons are an affluent family living in the pristine community of Shaker Heights—where things are perfectly planned, laid out, and cared for. Worlds collide when Elena, the family matriarch, rents out a home to Mia and her daughter, Pearl, who come from an entirely different background and way of life—only just making ends meet and moving from place to place. As the Richardson children grow close to Pearl, Mrs. Richardson begins digging up Mia's past. Secrets are uncovered, friendships are formed and destroyed, and no one is likely is to be the same after all is said and done. Review This one started out slow for me. I had seen others say the same thing so I decided to keep reading anyway. The first portion focused on getting to know each character and definitely moved at a snail's pace. However, about one-fourth of the way into the book, it started to pick up. The character development was nice...

Rating 4/5 stars Genre Fiction - Romance Summary A beautifully-written, heartbreaking love story about two soulmates who meet in the most unlikely of ways. Their relationship, then and now, is explored—how two people can grow and change in different ways over time. Graham and Quinn must dig into the depths of their souls to determine whether or not love is truly enough. Review Graham and Quinn are two fascinating characters. With chapters switching between the past and present, I grew to understand and empathize with them both, and I felt like I was personally invested in their relationship. I was elated by their successes, heartbroken by their hardships, and hopeful through it all. I love a book that exquisitely establishes its characters and their relationships, and this book does just that. However, there is a fair amount of sexual content included, a distinction that I, personally, could have done without. Additionally, one of  the main topics is infertility...

Rating 4.5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Suspense Summary Anna Fox lives a lonely life inside her four-story home. A home she never leaves. A home from where she regularly watches her neighbors' lives through her window. One night, shortly after a new family moves in across the park, Anna sees something horrifying. As she tries to sort out what she saw, she begins to question what is real and what isn't, who is lying and who isn't. Review Wow, I really enjoyed this book! It has definite similarities to The Girl on the Train , but it has enough differences that I wasn't at all bothered by it. My overview of the book above may seem vague, but there is so much great content in this book that I don't want to give away. I think you're better off going into it knowing very little. The super-short chapters and page-turning suspense make it an overall quick read. There are so many twists in this book, and I don't think I saw any of them coming. If yo...

Rating 4/5 stars Genre Fiction - Contemporary Summary The Hicks have made quite a name for themselves as an upstanding, virtuous family with their own reality show, Six for Hicks . Father is the leader of a mega church; Mother gives off the image of perfection and maintains control in all situations. Their spotless reputation is suddenly at risk when Essie, their youngest daughter, winds up pregnant. Essie's mother, Celia, begins concocting up ideas of how to handle the "situation." Abortion? Arranged marriage? They'll do anything to cover it up and keep their image. However, Essie has her own idea of the direction this could possibly go and, with that, she stands to both lose and gain immensely. It turns out this isn't the only secret the Hicks family is trying to hide. Review I have to admit that the first thing that drew me to this book was the presumed similarity to the Duggar family and their television shows. This book was full of many ...

Rating 3/5 stars Genre Fiction - Suspense Summary Meet Cassie Bowden–a flight attendant in her late thirties with a highly self-destructive lifestyle. If she's not actively tending to customers on a flight, she's drinking, to the point of blacking out, or engaging in some form of promiscuity with the next random guy she meets. Then she wakes up next to the dead body of a man she slept with the night before with no recollection of what happened. Did she kill him? She can't seem to remember. If not her, who did this? And why? Cassie is determined to figure out the truth, which, of course, isn't as simple as it may seem. Review I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book, but I suppose it was to be expected after reading four five-star books in a row. The book was decent overall but didn't live up to my expectations of it. I found it drug on a bit, and I was hoping for a bit more suspense. However, the author did a really nice job of esta...

Here are six books I've read so far this year that I've given a 5 star rating to. I highly recommend each one! I've linked each to Amazon for ease of finding. The Woman in Cabin 10  by Ruth Ware What Alice Forgot  by Liane Moriarty The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Defending Jacob by William Landay I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of the above books! Did you love them as well? Or maybe they weren't your favorite? Let's chat in the comments below! Happy Reading!

Rating 5/5 stars Genre Fiction - Contemporary Summary Eleanor Oliphant is a lonesome, socially inept twenty-nine-year-old who lives alone, works a less than exciting nine-to-five office job, and talks to Mummy every Wednesday evening. Her only social interactions, seldom and usually unwelcome, are with co-workers. That is until one day, she is forced into human interaction when she and the IT guy at her work save a man lying unconscious in the street. And so begins a series of events that switch up Eleanor's very simple life. She soon begins to wonder what is it like to have a friend? Could another person truly want to spend time with me?  But underlying it all is an extensively complicated relationship with her mum. Review I loved the story of Eleanor's life and getting into her mind to understand why she is the way she is.  Yes, she is blatantly awkward and clueless, but she also has such a longing, like all of us, to just be loved. I really took to ...