Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships

You know the sign of a good book when you pick it up and don't put it back down till you hit the last page. This book had all the elements that you would want. It was funny, cute, sad, and fun. I especially loved all the characters. Even though there were several teenagers in the book, I didn't feel like it was full of annoying kid drama. The book was so well written, and it was the perfect summer read! I would highly recommend this book, especially to those who like Romcoms and getting emotionally wrecked.

omg, this book was good if you like books that have a list or social media aspect then this is the book for you! andddd it is a series the second book is about the side character who you get to know as well as our main characters Alex and Jo. also I love the name jo seriously it is on my future children's name list. The kids in this book made me want to hug all of them. kitty is a book nerd, mia is a anrgry and needs all the hugs in the world gery can talk your ear off in the best way

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I expected a cute rom com and got a strong novel about life, death, and love. I think the beginning was a little slow, but it ended up being very strong. Super excited for Nina and Ollie’s book! TW: child death, mentions of alcoholism, grieving/mourning

4.5

You know the sign of a good book when you pick it up and don't put it back down till you hit the last page. This book had all the elements that you would want. It was funny, cute, sad, and fun. I especially loved all the characters. Even though there were several teenagers in the book, I didn't feel like it was full of annoying kid drama. The book was so well written, and it was the perfect summer read! I would highly recommend this book, especially to those who like Romcoms and getting emotionally wrecked.

Love, Lists & Fancy Ships is a beautiful story that weaves friendship, grief, love, growth, and family into one tapestry. Sarah Grunder Ruiz writes characters that are unforgettable and impossible not to love. I was so impressed with her specifically subtle character building. Each person enters the scene as fully formed humans that you feel like you’ve known forever; yet you get to discover even more about them along the way — my favorites being the little preferences and personality traits. From the fiercely loyal and ever-entertaining best friend to the diligent security guard that enjoys curious after-hours hobbies, the cast is perfectly curated to make you feel like you are right there spending your summer with Jo and the rest of the crew (pun intended). When we meet Jo Walker, she is entering her last summer in her 20s. Avoiding pain from a recent tragedy and swearing off love thanks to a terrible boyfriend, we get to journey with her as she navigates moving forward through loss and explores the potential of finding love again. But this isn’t just Jo’s story. We get to witness the challenges of single-parenting as Alex tries to do what’s best for his daughter. We get to grieve as Mia reveals her guilt and pain. We get to cheer as Greyson finds a “family” of people that love her for who she is. We get to laugh as Kitty educates everyone in The Art of War. It is a story of blood family and found family that come together when the going is tough, and they carry each other through with grace, patience, and adventure. As a person who has recently experienced an eerily-similar tragedy as Jo, I was curious to see how the storyline would unfold. I was not disappointed. For the first time since my own experience, there were times I felt like I was reading my own journal. It felt like someone else understood me and my pain. The writing is exactly what I wanted, and I connected more than I anticipated. It is obvious that this book was written with love, intentionality, and deeply personal care. Well done, Sarah!

PERFECT, hits the perfect spot between women's fiction and romance, JO AND ALEX AHHHHH, THE CHEMISTRY, and the representation of grieve is pure magic. I highlight so much during reading this one AHHHH