Chrissy and the Burroughs Boy (#4) by Cathryn Hein

30 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers, Romance

Published: 22 August 2017 (print)/1st February 2025 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Cathryn Hein/Bolinda Audio
Pages: 176/4 hrs and 42 mins
Narrator: Ayesha Tansey
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Rural Romance
★   ★   ★ – 3.5 Stars

No girl forgets her first crush. The least he could do is remember it.Chrissy James has only been home in small-town Levenham a few weeks when her teenage crush plays hero and saves her from an aggressive drunk. Seven years ago, Nick Burroughs was the school hottie while she was the overweight girl with braces, bad hair, and an unrequited obsession with the sports star every girl in school wanted. Her failed efforts to attract Nick’s attention still burn.

Chrissy sure has his attention now, but she’s older, smarter and focused on settling into her new dream job as wine marketer. No matter how sexy he’s grown, or how keen his interest, Nick will need to do a lot more than see off a drunk if he wants to win her over.

But Chrissy doesn’t count on the determination of a Burroughs boy in love. Nick will do anything to recapture Chrissy’s heart, even if it means acting the romantic fool and embarrassing himself in the process.

Will Nick’s efforts to make amends for the past backfire or will Chrissy’s career thwart everything? 

Three books under our belt we are well into the dynamics of this small country town. Chrissy arriving home gives her a chance to catch up with old friends, recap what’s happened with their books, and get reacquainted with the town. It’s also a great way to fill in readers who aren’t going through the series in order.

The characters once more are powerful on the page, their whole beings come to life as Hein uses words skillfully to capture someone’s essence right away. The Aussie voice shines through and the country friendliness and community returns as we see more of this town and the residents.

The connection to previous books remain, we see a continuation of their stories in the background, Chrissy’s job is a good spot to learn about the local events and find out information. That’s one thing I enjoy about these books is the organic way information is shared and told. It isn’t orchestrated in convoluted ways to have everyone just happen to all be in the square to hear something or have one busybody sharing news around town. It’s a thriving community and as people go to businesses and use the services you get to know people, even if they aren’t all the close knit friends.

I liked this, it wasn’t as enjoyable as the others but it connects well with the previous stories. With Danny and Beth getting together in the previous book we’re introduce to the Burroughs boys and in Hein’s creative writing we’ve opened a door to find out more about the rest of the Burroughs family.

Nick tries to make up for his bad behaviour when they were younger and I understand Chrissy’s apprehension. I liked how Nick accepts his failings and it was sweet how he tries to fix it. It’s the kind of book where you are on both characters side. I understand Chrissy’s perspective, but it is endearing to see Nick tried to make up for past behaviour.

As a continuation of the series it was a good stepping stone and I liked the gradual way we’re moving out from the original group, expanding the town while keeping the key figures and town staples.

You can purchase Chrissy and the Burroughs Boy via the following

 Dymocks | Blackwell’s

Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author

 

The Way I Am Now (#2) by Amber Smith

02 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Young Adult Tags: , , , , , ,

Published: 7 November 2023 (print)/7 November 2023 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books/Spotify Audio
Pages: 229/10 hrs and 37 mins
Narrator: Jordan Fisher and Rebekkah Ross
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
★   ★   ★ – 3 Stars

Eden and Josh never had a fair shot at a healthy relationship. When they dated in high school, they each had their own problems getting in the way of the deep connection they felt toward one another. Unbeknownst to Josh, Eden was carrying the burden of a devastating sexual assault, while Josh was dealing with his own private struggle of having an alcoholic father.

Months after Eden and two other girls publicly accuse their rapist, Eden is starting college while her case goes to trial. Now when she and Josh reconnect, it seems like it might finally be in the right place at the right time for them to make it work. But is their love strong enough to withstand the challenges and chaos of college and the crushing realities of a trial that will determine whether Eden gets the justice she deserves?

It took me a year to read this after having read the first book in the duology. While I had conflicting feelings over the first story, having read the second made me remember the key moments of the first book and fade away what I found to be boring. I think the driving part of this was the Eden/Josh relationship. That was the better part of the first book and while I immensely respect the story Smith told the first time around, I liked this one better.

There really was something about Smith’s writing in the first book that kept me thinking about trying the sequel. I would see it there and keep it on my saved list to get to when I had a chance around other books I wanted to read. I was connected to Eden and Josh and if that was the pull of the sequel then that’s what got me to finally pick it up.

I really like the Eden/Josh relationship. They are good together, work through their issues together, and have a good communication style. It’s interesting how fond I feel for these characters, especially when I gave book one 2.5 stars, but the dynamic and honesty between the pair, the emotional connection, really grabs you. Maybe not intensely or dramatically, but it hooks on and doesn’t let go.

The story itself is good. We’ve been with Eden for three years and now she is at university and trying again with Josh, the right way round this time, dates and all. The characters we’ve met in book one are back. He mother is different, her father is worse, and her brother is more supportive and in her corner which I loved. The friends she has have also had their own experiences which change them and mixing all of these together brings its own challenges.

The story is nowhere near as dark or intense as the first, more reflective, less emotional (but not emotionless), and full of hope. There is intrigue and a compelling story right away so it keeps you engaged. You are enamoured by these people and want to see where their story goes. Having the history of book one behind you Smith doesn’t need to give us a huge reintroduction into any of these people because we know them already, the only difference is seeing how they’ve evolved.

The storyline from book one continues and we see the consequences from Eden’s action of outing her rapist which was great. Her bravery and the challenges she faced are played out and it was good to see the “after” moment of the big reveals and challenges that characters often make.

Aside from the court case in the background, this is a very character driven story as Josh and Eden find their place and work out their lives together. Their affection for one another never feels saccharine or unrealistic, it’s solid, especially given the risk and the dangers they started out with.

I was sceptical going in, but Smith does a great job finishing the story that began so dark and traumatic, moving it into a lighter more hopeful space. There is still the ongoing consequences of the first book which was a realism I appreciated. There are no perfect fixes, Eden isn’t magically healed, Josh isn’t always perfect, and the stresses of life and emotional tolls cause conflict.

I’m curious as to whether there will be a third. I don’t think it needs it, I think Smith finishes the story in a perfect place that is open and up to the reader. Especially given how it ends I think picking a solid conclusion would be risky. But if a third one came along I would no doubt be intrigued enough to see where it went.

You can purchase The Way I am Now via the following

QBD |  Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery |  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Spin With Me by Ami Polonsky

23 Jun 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, LGBTQIA, Young Adult Tags: , , , , ,

Published: 16 February 2021 (print)/16 Feb 2021 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)/Tantor Audio
Pages: 224/5 hrs and 6 mins
Narrator: Amanda Dolan
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult
★   ★   ★ – 3 Stars

In this elegant dual narrative, Essie is a thirteen-year-old girl feeling glum about starting a new school after her professor dad takes a temporary teaching position in a different town. She has 110 days here and can’t wait for them to end. Then she meets Ollie: delicate, blue eyes, short hair, easy smile. At first, Essie thinks she has a typical crush on a beautiful boy. But as her crush blossoms, she soon realizes that Ollie is not a boy or a girl, but gender non-binary.

Meanwhile, Ollie is experiencing a crush of their own . . . on Essie. As Ollie struggles to balance their passion for queer advocacy with their other interests, they slowly find themselves falling for a girl whose stay is about to come to an end. Can the two unwind their merry-go-round of feelings before it’s too late?

As much as I love the range YA offers, it’s important to remember this ranges characters from 13 to 17 or 18 at times. This is one of those times a character is 13 and I think that’s important in how you view the story. There’s nothing bad, but you can definitely attribute the naivety and the newness of puberty and feelings being worked out in a clumsy way that feels right for a thirteen year old. Polonsky does a great job of pointing out that it is a weird thing Essie does and in a gentle way pulls her up on how she treats Ollie and their identity. On the flip side, the circumstances of being more mature than a parent would think but also needing the guidance one can give is explored wonderfully.

I like that it isn’t normalised to start asking private questions, even if it is innocent curiosity and trying to understand. Sometimes you have to leave it alone. But it’s also great as Essie suddenly realising she might have to look at her own identity, while still lamenting why anyone needs a label and what that means.

It is a fast read, one clearly directed but it’s a good exploration of family, friends old and new, growing up and new beginnings. It’s not quite an introduction to gender –  Polonsky doesn’t go that deep. But it is a personal reflection about what it means when these feelings come up and how to navigate them. As one character says the kids are far more ok with it than the adults so it isn’t a big deal, but it still is something that requires understanding and as a gentle introduction this is a good start.

I loved that this story makes a point to constantly remove itself from being a book About Gender. As Ollie gets to narrate we see the struggle to be themselves instead of their sole identity being their identity. There’s more to being a person than their gender and it’s a fight Ollie has and the balance to be seen as other than the non-binary kid is real.

The story is told from 110 days down to the final days from Essie’s perspective then it switches to the same 110 day countdown from Ollie’s. I knew it was a duel narrative but I thought it was alternating simultaneous, but I didn’t mind, especially cause we get a speed run of Ollie’s since their side is less detailed than Essie’s while still getting their story in their own words.

This is a great book to bridge the gap between primary school read and early high school. It’s about starting a new school, finding friends, growing up, and it still reads like a YA novel. There’s gripes with parents, trying to grow up and be cool but still dealing with being children and discovering their footing in a changing world.

You can purchase Spin With Me via the following

QBD |  Dymocks | Booktopia

 Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

A Letter to My Best Friend by Yangsook Choi

29 May 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: , , ,

Published: 9 July 202Goodreads badge4
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Illustrator: Yangsook Choi
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

Today is the day I’ll make friends.
At least, that’s what I promise myself.

Jihun recently moved to the United States. In his new classroom, he receives an assignment to write a letter to his best friend―but he’s not sure how it will turn out. First off, he’s still learning English. Second, he doesn’t have any friends at school yet. What’s more, his best friend back in Korea can’t read.

Fueled by wonderful memories of his former home, Jihun uses his creativity to craft a letter for his best friend, Oto. The result is nothing short of extraordinary and opens a door for Jihun to make new friends.

This is a sweet story about taking a chance and learning to try things even if it’s scary. I enjoyed how our character Jihun tells the story of his cat friend back in Korea. The creative way the Arabic letters are used to draw is clever and the apprehension and the uncertainty comes across really well. The revelation at the end is great and the hopeful ending is a great reward.

The illustrations are realistic and I liked the layout of the present on one side and the past on the other. As Jihun tells us about his memories with Oto in the present we see them reflected in the past.

It is relatively simple but the story captures Jihun’s old life and we understand the connection and friendship he had with Oto. It’s a sweet story about finding a new home and reflecting on what you’ve lost while embracing change.

You can purchase A Letter to my Best Friend via the following

QBD |  Booktopia

 Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Summer and the Groomsman (#2) by Cathryn Hein

21 May 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers, Novella, Romance Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Published: 10 November 2015 (print)/1 December 2024 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Cathryn Hein/Bolinda Audio
Pages: 106/3 hrs and 20 mins
Narrator: Ayesha Tansey
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Rural Romance
★   ★   ★ – 3.5 Stars

It’s Levenham’s wedding of the year but unlucky-in-love Harry Argyle has more on his mind than being groomsman.

After yet again nearly colliding with an escaped horse while driving home to the family farm, Harry Argyle comes face-to-face with its pretty owner, and doesn’t hold back his disapproval.

Confronted by a bad-tempered giant on a dark country road, beautician and new arrival in town Summer Taylor doesn’t know who to be more afraid for: herself or her darling horse Binky. It’s not her fault Binky keeps escaping. The alcoholic owner of the paddock she rents won’t fix the fence and Binky can be sneaky when it comes to filling his stomach. But no matter how big and muscled the bully, she refuses to be intimidated.

When Harry’s wedding party book a session at the day spa where Summer works, both she and Harry are horrified to be paired together. Grudgingly, they agree to make the most of it – only for the session to spiral into disaster. Realising he’s made a dill of himself in front of sweet Summer yet again, Harry vows to set things right.

Summer isn’t about to easily forgive the man who called her horse stupid, no matter how brave and kind, but with everyone on Harry’s side, even fate, resistance is hard. Can these two find love or will Summer’s wayward horse put his hoof in it again?

Being a novella this is a quick and easy read but manages to fulfill all the requirements of a cute love story. The depth of character is there and with a few words Hein can bring this town to life and expand on the story we’ve already built upon.

I enjoyed the grumpy nature of Harry and how he and Summer both have justifiable causes for their apprehension for one another. The stakes and issues are real, the dangers of car accidents, loose horses, and fences only the start of the troubles.

Hein brings real cause for conflict with her characters and also the need to have characters prove they’ve changed, or show they are not who they first appear. Harry is a sexist guy but there is hope for some redemption by the end of the book otherwise there’s no reason to root for Summer and he to mend their relationship.

The small town country feel we gain from book one is there to welcome newcomer Summer, but Hein also makes sure we can start right here and not miss a step as we get to know this town and these characters.

There is heart, community, and faith in doing the right thing. It’s a great continuation of the series but also a great story in its own right.

You can purchase Summer and the Groomsman via the following

 Booktopia

  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author

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