Sarah StrohmeyerBesprekingen

A fun book. The main character's transformation is inspiring.

It was good

This was a quirky and funny young adult read. I enjoyed it very much. If you like this genre you will enjoy this book ☺

beach read, light, humorous, fairly implausible

A good book to read without putting too much thought into what's happening. There are some decent twists and the 'rural' feeling is pretty authentic (I live in Maine). There are some unanswered questions that nagged me by the time I closed the cover, notably why was Gretchen working the wedding reception?

We Love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer is a recommended psychological thriller.

Holly Simmons and Robert Barron are on the property rehab show To the Manor Build and hoping to win the grand prize with their hilltop estate in Snowden, Vermont. Erika Turnbull is Robert’s assistant, who is efficient and secretly in love with him. When Holly and Robert go missing hours after their livestreamed "flash" wedding, Erika is a suspect. Erika's mother who is also the town clerk, Kim, is not about to let anything happen to her daughter and she becomes a detective to find out what really happened.

There are plenty of twists and the plot is entertaining, but you also have to suspend some disbelief in order to fully enjoy the turns the plot takes. It's been awhile since I watched any reality TV, and the narrative kind of confirmed why. While the interesting and enjoyable narrative will keep you reading, the characters are a little less compelling. The story is told mainly through chapters from the point-of-view of Erika and Kim. Neither character really captured my interest so I relied on the plot alone for the entertainment. This is a twisty tale that will likely appeal to many readers.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/04/we-love-to-entertain.html

Hands up if you like to watch House reno shows. I've got both hands waving!
Well, house renovations and contests are the vehicle for Sarah Strohmeyer’s latest book. We Love to Entertain. But it’s not all fun and games - there’s murder in the mix.

Is this a cozy mystery you ask? I would say yes, to a degree it is. But, instead of a retired librarian who loves tea and scones, we have we have Kim the town clerk and her (not so often helpful) assistant Doreen. Kim’s daughter Erika is working on the set of the reno. We Love to Entertain is told through alternating chapters from Kim and Erika. Kim sees things as they and worries about her daughter who comes up with excuses time and time again for what's happening. There’s definitely trouble on the set. Strohmeyer plants a number of red herrings along the path to the final whodunit. And what is happening you ask? Well, I'm not going to spoil the book for you, so I'll leave it for you to find that out. Suffice to say, it's a clever plot that I think takes inspiration from Strohmeyer's own life. She too is an elected town clerk in a small Vermont town.

I really enjoyed the skewering of the whole house reno/decorate thing. The reno couple, Holly and Robert, have the funniest (and spot on) newsletters and blog post. We also get a behind the curtain look at what it takes to achieve that final reveal. And I bet Strohmyers depiction isn’t that far from the truth!

We Love to Entertain was a fun read with lots of humor, a good plot - and a few bodies.

Meh. Wasn't super impressed with the writing or the storyline. Matt had a case of the "too good to be trues" and Lily annoyed me. I figured out part of the ending really early on-- and the red herring stuff that was thrown in was just too dramatic to be for real. So yeah, MEH is my rating for this book.

This book was not really what I was expecting from the title and blurb, though I did really appreciate the characters and the values they held.

I loved seeing high school characters who actually cared about the real world and life past high school. I felt like they were a little too self-obsessed at points though; the girls could sometimes seem overconfident and cocky.

The romance aspect was super sweet and absolutely adorable and I appreciated that again, both of them had character and it wasn't just hormones and attraction.

I did really appreciate that they tried to live life. In high school, I felt a lot of similar pressures to succeed and to get into a good college, and I think a lot of current students can relate a lot. It's very powerful to finally have a book that advocates for trying to have a life in addition to being an academic success.

This was a fun read, but relatively forgettable. I wouldn't advise against reading it, but there was nothing spectacular about it.

We Love to Entertain is a modern-day solid mystery with several predictable twists and turns. Quick easy read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Written as a thriller, this has a unique plot line and a main character with an unusual gift. Jane, with her special ability for facial recognition works for Homeland Security because she can easily identify people even when they are heavily disguised. When Jane sees Bella Valencia enter the airport, she immediately demands the authorities detain her because Jane holds Bella responsible for the death of her sister, Kit, eleven years earlier. But Bella, currently engaged to one of the Pease family millionaires, is untouchable. Jane sets out to infiltrate the Pease wedding in order to confront Bella and solve the case of her sister's death. There are some interesting characters and the initial pace is good. While it dragged at times and I was annoyed by the sub-plots, I did appreciate the ending.

Short version: I was incredibly happy with The Secrets of Lily Graves .

Slightly longer version: Lily Graves is one of those protagonists that yeah, maybe you don't identify with them directly because they're different than you but they are so unique . It's refreshing that she's not one of those self-proclaimed "average" girls who randomly gets the "super hot guy" to fall in love with her. Lily was amazing in my mind.

Regarding the mystery-esque part it had me guessing and second guessing how it was going to end. I did not expect the ending and was happy for a good conclusion for both Lily and Matt. I think my only complaint for the book was that I would have liked more romance to it, I would have liked to see more of the relationship between Matt and Lily and how it formed (because him teaching her how to drive- ADORABLE).
But seriously.
Really enjoyed it.

OMG! Pure bliss.
I loved this book!

It's perfect for inspiration and morale boosting.
It's purrfect.

One word review? AWESOME!

Loved this book. I never saw the ending coming.

Just finished this fabulous young adult debut novel from the already widely published favorite chick lit and mystery writer, Sarah Strohmeyer. Strohmeyer's voice is pitch-perfect for the genre. Her ability to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of her audience always leaves me waiting for her next book, regardless of the genre.

In this book of smart teens, Gigi, Bea, and Neerja vow to be not only smart but memorable as high school students. They struggle to break the stereotype of the geeky, nerdy girl who does not fit in and become part of the larger world of high school. Their challenges are met with creativity and courage, and the obstacles are both internal and external.

With what my daughter calls "a sweet ending," Strohmeyer will have you rooting for smart girls everywhere. Highly recommended for both teens and adults.

Okay, I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a great ending...and that's what Strohmeyer delivers.

The beginning and middle hummed along with enough to keep me interested, but the last third of the book packed a punch that tipped my rating from three to four stars.

If you're looking for a cross between The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and a quite love-conquers-all story, then Kindred Spirits is the perfect book for you.

For those of you who loved Strohmeyer's THE CINDERELLA PACT and THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL, you will love THE PENNY PINCHERS CLUB.

Kat seems to have it all: a loving, sex-filled 20 year marriage, a well-behaved, ambitious teenage daughter, and a job in interior design. And a heedless spending streak that does not seem to impact her lifestyle at all.

Well...at least not until she finds two condom wrappers in her husband's khaki pants when she is doing his wash after he returns from a business trip with his young, intelligent assistant.

Kat consults with an attorney who advises her to save up $15,000 for a divorce.

Joining The Penny Pinchers Club launches Kat into a world of coupon-clipping, energy-saving, and Dumpster diving all in the name of less is more.

Kat starts doing interior design side jobs, hoping her boss won't find out. But when her wealthy, ex-boyfriend returns to town and purchases an outdated mansion, Kat's employer tries to land the design job.

But Kat secretly snags the plum position...and slowly starts to lead a double life.

What follows is classic Strohmeyer: twists and turns and surprises that will delight even the most jaded reader.

I have read ALL of Strohmeyer's non-mystery books and I prefer the books she writes best--about real life women facing extraordinary circumstances and confronting and transforming the truth about themselves and their lives.

A good tale about suburban housewives, conniving businessmen, backstabbing best friends, cheating spouses, career challenges and more with some twists and turns toward the end.

Julie's career goals are about to come true with the chance to compete for a spot on the national TV circuit covering the presidential campaign. But complications--a botched news story, the return of her childhood crush at a dessert-making class, the discovery of a lump in her left breast, her mother's shaky health, and parenting a teenager as a single parent--derail her.

Although Julie is strong and independent with a quick wit and intelligence, her mounting problems do not make for a quick, light-hearted read.

I enjoyed this book for its intense realism, but it was not the book to read during the stressful holiday season. I'm sure I would have given this book 5 stars if I had read the book when I had less on my mind.

Warning: this is NOT your typical, light-hearted chick-lit novel. Serious themes, mature characters, and tear-jerker ending.

What would you do if you had discovered you had been waiting for a marriage proposal to transform your life?

Genie Michaels discovers she has been sleep-walking through life when her live-in boyfriend of four years proposes marriage to another woman on national TV.

Her plucky friend, Patti, decides to cover-up Genie's humiliation by pretending Genie is, indeed, engaged. What ensues from this lie is a fascinating roller-coaster ride of never-ending surprises that will leave even the most jaded reader riveted with delight.

When I confessed I had been sleeping in instead of going to the gym or writing because I had been up the night before reading THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL (just one chapter turned into three or four), he said, "That must be a good book!"

I can't wait to read THE PENNY PINCHERS CLUB. Any of Stohmeyers books would be a great gift for your chick-lit loving friend for Christmas! (Hint, hint ;-))

I stayed up WAY past my bedtime engrossed in this novel about a thirty-something overweight magazine writer who gets turned down for a sweet job as an ethics columnist for Sass! magazine only to be hired when she resubmits her entire application as Belinda Apple, a woman with a hot body and fashionable pink cowboy boots.

Unfortunately, Belinda Apple's validity is eventually questioned and an investigative search begins to discover her true identity.

Meanwhile, overweight Nola makes "The Cinderella Pact" to shed weight with her two best friends, Nancy and Deb, who are also battling their own weight-induced demons.

I enjoyed the way Strohmeyer wove the two narratives--the work-related plot and the weight-management plot--and tied them together like a bow in the end.

I am going out right now to find The Sleeping Beauty Proposal!

OK mystery involving a woman who can remember faces no matter how long ago she has seen the face previously. This fact serves as a plot device for the mystery of the novel, but once put into motion, the plot does not need this element, and its importance is gone. However, this is a decent, if a bit overly wrought, mystery novel involving the mysterious disappearance of Jane's sister many years prior. The ending was a bit much, and the resolution a little convoluted.

This is the first that I've read of this author's books. While I found it entertaining, it took a while to get into it. I received this book for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 4* rating. Our heroine is a beauty salon worker but thinks she know all about fashion. But she is slow in filling her dreams. There certainly a lot of twists and turns after she finds a body. There is just so much going on, but everything ties in at the end. Lots of bad guys to point a finger at, but I would never guess this.

This is such a fun book and the "penny pinching" advice is really in line with our times. Sarah Strohmeyer's writing style is great--not a boring moment! I'm a sucker for good writing.

Read this book because I liked the idea of friends who stick by each other through thick and thin. Strohmeyer does not disappoint. The friendship thread is strong throughout the book. Starts out a bit sad. Moves into roadtrip storyline. Since I have already read some books in the author's "Bubbles" series, I knew she was going to pepper the story with humor. The characters were all likable and all different. What I liked about these ladies' friendships is that there is no cattiness between them. Very light and pleasant read. Left me happy and wishing I had a group of friends in my life like the "Ladies Society for the Conservation of Martinis". I will say that I did not care for the ending scene. That one, I thought was a bit far fetched tied-up-neat-into-a-bow precious. As a warning, if you are bothered by alcohol use, you may not find the book to your liking.

3 Smart Girl Best Friends, with
No Ranking on
1 Unhygienic and Vaguely Misogynistic Popularity Indicator
3 Fears of Failure to Be Perfect
2 Handsome Love Interests
2 Long-Term Unattainable(?) Crushes

1 Unfair Cheating Policy
1 Team-Building Science Project
1 Romeo and Juliet Audition
1 Student Representative Election
1 Ski Team Race½