What I’m Wearing… The perfect pink blazer I’ve been on the hunt for a bold colored and slightly over-sized blazer and was so excited to finally find the perfect blazer of my dreams. Heads up: It runs a bit on…
The post April Favorites appeared first on Kayla in the City.
April was all about reading books by authors I already knew and loved. I think each of these books would be a great choice to pack for a long weekend or a day at the beach this summer.
After loving Gabrielle’s most recent book Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow I was curious to read some of her previous books.
Quick Plot: A.J Fikry’s life isn’t what he thought it would be in his late 30s. He’s the owner of a struggling bookstore on a cozy island and mourning the death of his beloved wife. When an unexpected delivery arrives at the bookstore, A.J.’s life is completely changed.
My Thoughts: I wanted to love this book more than I did. It had all the right elements: A cozy island location, a bookstore, and the makings of a heartwarming story. But something about it just didn’t hit for me and it dragged on for a pretty short book. This also might’ve been my own life busyness while I was reading this book, though.
What I loved is Zevin’s glorious ability to develop incredible characters. and how this book talked about books and people who loved books.
If Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is a love letter to video games, this book is a love letter to books and bookstores. And for that, I love this book.
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars ★
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CW: Early pandemic days.
I remember loving Curtis Sittenfeld’s book Prep back in high school and was curious to read her take on the rom-com genre.
Quick Plot: Sally is a writer for a late-night sketch comedy show (think SNL). It seems all the average-looking, dorky, men she works with are constantly dating women far more attractive and successful than them… but the reverse of an average woman with a hot guy never seems to happen. She then meets Noah, the mega-famous pop star who is the guest host on the show this week. What follows is an unexpected romance between two unlikely lovers.
My Thoughts: As I said, I was curious how Curtis Sittenfeld would do a rom-com. The answer? It’s smart, full of great characters, and takes some risks when it comes to form. I don’t want to give away too much as I think it’s some of the fun of the book but the book is in 3 sections and the middle bit really took me by surprise.
While the genre of rom-com is ultimately predictable, I liked that this book felt surprisingly unpredictable in how the story was told. Would be a great book to read on the beach this summer.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars ★
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Oh, this book. I’m not gonna lie, Emily Henry’s books can be a bit hit miss for me so I wasn’t sure where I’d land with this one. If you’re looking for a light and fun rom-com, this ain’t it. But if you’re in the mood for a romance with big emotions that will gut you, this is for you.
Quick Plot: Harriet and Wyn broke up 5 months ago. But no one in their life knows. Now they have to pretend to still be together while stuck on a vacation with their close group of friends.
My thoughts: Even though I read a lot of romance I can sometimes find the genre too saccharine and fake. As a romance centered around a breakup, this felt so much more grounded and rooted in reality. The book is raw and tender in how it talks about the complexities of break-ups. I found myself sobbing at various points from quotes that just felt so damn relatable.
It was a refreshing take on romance and the fake dating trope. I also really appreciated the subplot about how friendships change and evolve in your 30s.
Where it fell *slightly* flat for me is some of the lines just made my skin crawl with how cringe-y they felt. The resolution also seemed really simple for how big I thought the problem would be.
All in all, though I loved the journey I had with this book. It takes the cake as my favorite Emily Henry book.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ★
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When I first heard the plot of this book I *knew* I was going to love it…
Quick Plot: In the early 2000s, Kat, Liana, Summer, and Noah were the stars of a super popular teen TV show. Think Hannah Montannah at it’s peak. The show ended in a major scandal, but now 13 years later the four stars have been asked to come back together for a reunion show.
And of course, all of their secrets from the past start to come out…
My thoughts: It is now my mission in life to make everyone fall in love with this book. It’s *such* a delight. It’s got 2000’s nostalgia, juicy drama, and some very unexpected turns. There was one part that SHOCKED me with how brilliant the twist was.
Throughout the book, I felt like I was reading the behind-the-scenes gossip of a TV show that actually existed. It just felt so real and fully fleshed out. Definitely Laura Hankin’s best book yet, and I say that having fully enjoyed her other novels.
My Rating: 4.5/5 ★
I’m back from my first big solo trip and here with a whole guide on London solo travel!
I’ve had “moments” of solo travel here and there over the years — things like one night in Copenhagen before other people arrived for a group trip — but I’ve never done a long solo trip until now.
I had been toying around with the idea of seeing Harry Styles on tour in the UK or Europe at some point this summer (can you blame me!) and after a few friends said they wouldn’t be able to go I decided “Screw it! I’m going on my own!”
Seeing Harry Styles in London at the iconic Wembley Stadium quickly became the the obvious choice for me:
And so, off I went to London solo to see Harry Styles… but also explore!
The Marylebone Hotel is great for solo travelers. I stayed in one of the “cozy” rooms and while it could be tight for two, for just me it was perfect. It’s close the tube which made it easy for me to get wherever I wanted to go.
The area of Marylebone is so charming with lots of great restaurants, cafes, and places to shop. The hotel is also walking distance to other shopping areas like Oxford Street and Carnaby… but far enough away that I didn’t feel like I was right in a tourist hub.
Most of all and arguably most important: I felt super safe at the hotel and in the area, even when I was walking back from the tube at night after a concert or theater.
Take the tube or walk! The public transit system in London is incredible I think easier to navigate than the NYC subway system…
Look up directions to wherever you’re going on Google Maps beforehand (there’s not cell service underground!) and then follow the signs. I was a bit worried at first that I wouldn’t feel as safe at night on the tube after theater, but I personally felt totally safe.
As far as paying, my family had a bunch of unused Oyster cards from previous London trips. I ended up using those but you can also just tap your credit card tor phone to pay.
I only took a taxi to get to and from the airport. London — it wasn’t necessary and was both cheaper and easier to get around underground.
Besides seeing Harry, my other London priority was to see as much theater as I could. For buying tickets I did a mix of using the TodayTix app for slightly discounted tickets or I bought directly from the show’s website.
Here’s what I saw:
Grease – This was my least favorite of the shows I saw. It was a perfectly adequate production of Grease and while it’s fun it’s also nothing special
Guys and Dolls – This production of Guys and Dolls is totally immersive. You have the option for standing room tickets (which is what I did!) and the set pieces move up down and around bringing you all over NYC… with a brief stop in Havana, of course. I always love Guys and Dolls as a show and this took it to the next level!
Cabaret – This new production of Cabaret is absolutely chilling. From the second you walk through the doors you feel like you’ve been transported to a seedy cabaret in 1940’s Berlin. Cabaret is a favorite show of mine and I’m glad I got to see this production of the show.
ABBA Voyage —This show is incredible and bizarre all at once. It’s essentially a concert… but with holograms of ABBA and outrageous intricate lighting and projections throughout. They literally had to build a special theater for this production! If you love ABBA like I do it’s a total blast.
Most of my London shopping was window shopping, but I still loved walking around the big department stores. My favorites are Harrods (it’s MASSIVE and a must if you’ve never been!) and Selfridges. Both also have surprisingly good bookstores in their basements.
Also on the topic of bookstores, here are the ones I visited:
Daunt Books: This cutie bookstore was around the corner from my hotel. It’s got this fabulous lofted area.
The Notting Hill Bookshop: I’ve never seen the movie Notting Hill (I know, I know!) and this bookstore was totally packed with fans.
Water Stones: The UK’s big chain bookstore the multiple locations. It’s similar to Barnes and Noble here.
South Kensington Books: Great indie bookstore walking distance from Harrod’s. Whole area is fun to explore around the bookstore.
For areas with lots of stores to visit I love Oxford Street and Carnaby street
A walking tour is a great and pretty inexpensive way to explore a part of the city. I searched for interesting walking tours on AirBNB Experiences and ended up signing up for one in Notting Hill, an area I haven’t been to on previous London trips.
The tour was SO good! I learned so much in 2 hours and enjoyed the area far more than if I would have just been there on my own. Everyone on the tour was a bit older than me, but it didn’t matter. It was still fun to chat with all of them and get to know them. I highly recommend signing up for Jordan’s tour if you’re looking for something fun to do!
I’m not much of a museum person, but I did visit The Wallace Collection to see their current Portraits of Dogs exhibit.
A lot of people asked me how I felt about dining solo in London. I do it in NYC from time to time so it’s not totally new to me. Something I noticed was there were SO many people also dining solo in London. I knew I was in good company… even if I wasn’t in any company!
It was warm while I was there and a lot of the restaurants had cute outside dining setups. I found eating outside solo to be especially nice. I’d pop in my AirPods and listen to a podcast while I’d people watch, scroll on Instagram, or read my book.
With that being said, this is also the category where I failed a bit on this trip. I had a lot of stomach issues throughout the trip (a me problem, not a problem specific to London or anything I ate there…) so I was a bit boring with my food choices.
On top of that I also had two nights at Wembley for concerts… although I will say the vegan hot dog was surprisingly good!
Pizza Express: I LOVE this chain pizzeria and wish we had it here in NYC! It’s got a to of vegan options which is great for lactose intolerant girlie like me!
Farm Girl Cafe: Super cute and health-focused cafe with a few locations. I went to ths one in Notting Hill and there was a bit of a wait. I got the avocado toast with poached eggs and the most incredible chai. Everything was great!
Harrods Cafe: I was starving after wandering around Harrods. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the cafe is. Maybe it was the extreme hunger but their chicken sandwich was amazing.
Oka: Sushi spot around the corner from The Marylebone Hotel. Cute spot for a solo meal or to meet friends.
Vapiano: I know, I know, wtf Kayla why did you go to so many chains!?!?!? As I said, I kind of failed on the food front because of my tummy issues, but one thing that didn’t fail me was the Italian chain, Vapiano. It’s a create your own pasta (or pizza!) situation and always hits the spot. There was one near the theater district which was perfect to pick up something to eat after a show.
And on the list for next time: Dishoom – So many of you recommended Dishoom for Indian food. I didn’t get to go, but definitely will next time!
I also visited Borough Market and while it’s incredible I found it VERY crowded and overwhelming and didn’t stay too long.
In the words of Bon Jovi “Woahhh, we’re half way there” and by half-way there, I mean halfway through 2023! I like to use this midway point as a time to check-in on my previous goals and do a bit of reflecting on the year so far.
Take a few minutes to reflect and answer these journal prompts
As always I’m a bit late with recapping some recent reads. I’ve started reading a mix of physical book and audiobooks. I am terrible about reading non-fiction with my eyes — I need plot! But on audiobook? I’m starting to really enjoy it! For audiobooks I’ve been using Libby through my library and Libro.fm to support local bookstores. I’ve noted which is which in the recap as they are a bit of a different experience for me personally…
One sentence plot: 10 years after spending one magical day together, Fern and Will reunite in an attempt to save the struggling lakeside resort Fern now owns.
One sentence review: I loved a book that makes my heart ache like this one and cried during the final chapter because I didn’t want it to end.
Read this book if: You love: Carley Fortune’s first book Every Summer After, Dirty Dancing (omg the resort vibes!), and an emotional second chance romance that’s SO much more than a romance.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
One sentence plot: Violet Sorrengail attempts to survive the brutal first year as a dragon rider at Basgiath War College.
One sentence review: I’m not typically a fantasy reader, but this very hyped-up book sucked me in from the start and I felt SO invested in Violet and emotionally attached to bunch of dragons.
Read this book if: You’re typically a romance reader (this book gets very steamy!) but curious about something that’s fantasy.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
One sentence plot: After her friend Athena passes away, author June Hayward reworks a manuscript of Athena’s and passes it off as her own… which causes a chain of bad events.
One sentence review: I was a bit iffy on this book at times but ended up really enjoying the twisty ride of this almost thriller meets satire of the publishing industry.
Read this book if: You’re in the mood for something biting and satirical… and/or work in the book industry.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
One sentence plot: Sam returns to her family’s beach house to look at a wedding venue only to run into the guy that absolutely broke her heart as a teen.
One sentence review: I couldn’t have loved this book more as it mixes so many of my favorite things: second chance romance, dreamy beach setting, dual timelines, and complicated drama.
Read this book if: You loved Every Summer After or are looking for something to fill your Summer I Turned Pretty craving after season 2 ends.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
One sentence plot: Imogen has always considered herself to be hopelessly straight but a great ally to her queer friends… that is until she visits her best friends at college and starts to feel a spark with a new friend there.
One sentence review: I found this book to be such an addicting read (I read in in less than 24 hours) and so appreciated the great characters and the nuanced conversations on queer identity.
Read this book if: You want to sink your teeth into a book you’ll read in one sitting.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
I have to admit, I haven’t watched anything by Shonda Rhimes… except maybe Crossroads as a teen? So, I’m probably not the best audience for her book that talks about the year she decided to start staying YES to things that scare her. With that in mind I’d say I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it the way I know some people do.
I’m a big fan of Seth Rogen — Knocked up is still one of my all-time favorite comedies. It was really cool to hear more about Seth Rogen’s childhood in Vancouver and his early launch into fame thanks to Freaks in Geeks. This book is SO fun as an audiobook as it features an elaborate cast of characters and Seth Rogen narrating the whole thing. I really enjoyed it.
I was really curious what a book by power-couple Megan Mullaly and Nick Offerman would be like. It’s of course very funny at times and a very interesting look into their relationship and how they got together. If you’re not super invested in one or both of them it’s probably not worth your time, but I found the book to be a funny, light-heated, listen.
Summer is in full swing! And as always going by WAY too fast. Here are a few things I’ve been loving lately. This super cute dress for summer weddings I’ve been on the hunt for a cute solid colored dress…
The post July Favorites appeared first on Kayla in the City.
Here’s what I read this July
Every summer I look forward to Elin Hilderbrand’s newest book. I thought this one was fun premise, the premise is that a blogger gathers a group of her closest friends for a special weekend together in Nantucket after her husband passes away. It took a little for things to get going as there’s a big cast of characters and everything takes place over one weekend. I still enjoyed it… and still dream of going to Nantucket for my own little five-star weekend.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
I will gobble up any book that takes place on Fire Island. This one in particular is an absolute gem. While the premise is a bit sad, a woman passes away at age 37 but gets to spend one last summer looking over her husband and loved ones, I found it to be really heart-warming and a unique take on death. I especially loved all the characters, it’s an eclectic crew that comes together despite their differences every summer.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
I listened to this oral history of RuPaul’s Drag Race as an audiobook. It’s got interviews with RuPaul, various producers, judges, and contestants over the years.
As a HUGE fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I so enjoyed this deep dive into the show and how it came to be. It’s full of great little trivia bits and I think even super fans will find something new. My only complaint is that the audiobook is read by one person. While I’m sure it would’ve been impossible to round up everyone that gave an interview for the book, at times I found it confusing all coming from the same voice.
I thought this book was super fun. It’s a little bit of romance but is more so focused on the complicated friendship dynamics between the gay main character and is best friends that are a straight couple. It’s laugh-out-loud funny at times but also has some very tender moments.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
I’ve been on the hunt for books that *feel* like The Summer I Turned Pretty. This book has some similarities — takes place over the summer, there are two brothers, their mom is a motherly figure to the main female, and it’s got some big feels. Something about it missed the mark for me, though. I usually love dual timelines but this one felt like it took forever to get going. I also thought there’d be more summer vibes and it just wasn’t there for me. I did enjoy where it ended up, just wish it didn’t take so long to get there.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
This book is quiet and took me a little to get into, but once I was there WOW, I loved where it went. It’s about a college student in Ireland, her best guy friend, and a complicated situation they find themselves in. This book is a great pick for fans of Normal People and Adelaide.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
This book is a guide to living a happier life. I first read this book in 2011 and I’m *convinced* it changed my life. I decided to do a reread via audiobook and enjoyed revisiting it. The tips throughout are simple by powerful.
I enjoyed this book but also have complicated feelings on it. It’s about a woman who doesn’t want to have kids and follows 9 different versions of how her life turns out. I appreciate the exploration of different ways motherhood can look, but if you’re looking for a book that affirms a child-free lifestyle this book ain’t it.
Out on 3/5/24
Rebecca Serle has done it again. Every time Daphne meets a new man, she gets a slip of paper that tells her how long the relationship will last. When the paper for her new beau Jake turns out to be blank, it’s time for her to figure out if this is what the universe wants for her — and if the secret she’s holding onto could ruin everything. I devoured this book in 24 hours and it turned me into an emotional puddle. I loved it.
After loving Ashley Poston’s most recent book THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP I was super curious to read her first romance.
This book is a unique twist on the romance genre. Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the biggest romance writers. She can also talk to ghosts… and ends up falling in love with a ghost who is also the editor of the book she’s currently working on. All this is going on while she’s also back in her hometown mourning the death of her father who owned the town’s funeral home.
I appreciated that this book went in some directions I was NOT expecting, but it felt like it could’ve been about 50 pages shorter. Having read THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP too, I feel like the two books have a lot of similarities as they both strongly deal with grief and it started to feel repetitive for me personally.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars ★
The memoir everyone is talking about.
Growing up I was a big Britney Spears fan, but I haven’t followed along too closely with recent news beyond the big headlines. Her memoir is a heartbreaking look at everything she’s been through. In the end, my heart ached for her and it left me thinking about the “price” of fame, especially for women.
Highly recommend listening to the audiobook which was read by Michelle Williams.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars ★
Romances have been a bit hit-miss for me lately, but this one hit. Something about it felt different for me — it’s not too saccharine, it’s complex, and the emotions felt really real.
It’s about a 35-year-old singer/songwriter on the verge of (finally!) making it big. She had previously made an “if we’re both single at 35” marriage pact with two different guys. One of them is her best friend, Garrett, who she has always had a thing for but the timing just never seemed to work out for them. And then there’s her former camp boyfriend, Asher, who is now a mega-famous actor.
The book is told in multiple timelines going back and forth between the past with Garret and Asher and Maggie’s present. I was not sure where it was going to go (rare in a romance!) but ended up loving the journey.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ★
I read one book in November. Which is a lot less than I usually read. But it was a good one!
Comes out on January 16, 2024
This book was such a delight! Rachel is a lawyer, wife, and mother of two living a relatively normal, although hectic, life in the suburbs. When racy photos of her and her now very famous high school boyfriend leak, her life and marriage get totally thrown for a loop.
This book is a celebrity-normal person romance AND a second chance romance which are my two favorite tropes. I loved those aspects of it, but what I especially loved was the journey the main character goes on when it comes to who she is and what she wants in life. I can’t wait for everyone to read it when it comes out in January.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ★