Author Archives: rachelauthorbarnard

Book Review: Her Ex’s Secret By Tricia Saxby

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Her Ex’s Secret By Tricia Saxby

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Pete’s Press (11/20/2024)

Summary:

Karen dreams of turning her design hobby into a career but first, she has to get her foot in the door. She plans to start at the bottom. The bottom is as an intern at Vale Designs in New York even though she has much more knowledge and skills than any other intern. Leo is a playboy to the highest extreme living the life of the rich and carefree at his Tuscany estate when he decides to take a short job as a photographer in New York. The same New York as Karen. The same Vale Designs as Karen. The same Karen that he used to date and then ran away without explanation five years ago.

Keywords:

Contemporary, Romance, Fashion Design, New York, Evil Boss, Exes, Winter, Photography

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

“Sometimes women need to hear the words and see the struggle. It means more to us than any fancy gift.” (Page 292).

Leo still feels guilty for leaving Karen without a word, but not enough to try to reconcile until their second chance meet cute. This is a quick read, coming in at a word count lower than a typical romance. The two main characters, Leo and Karen, already have a past as they are exes and don’t need as much middle chunk of the book to slowly fall in love. The spark of attraction is still alive but Leo will have to show Karen that he’s not just going to run away again.

Leo is not an immediately likable character. He will have to redeem himself in Karen’s eyes and the reader’s eyes in order to become the dreamy romantic lead we fall in love with.

Nat is the surface-level villain. The nasty little witch with an ego as big as the city she lives in. Her backstory may be short but it also involves Leo and she is one major Drama Queen. She is clearly the antagonist, a bully, and ready for her comeuppance.

From the POV switching between Karen and Leo, we get a true sense of how they view themselves and each other. Leo points out Karen’s glaring fault and has to see from her perspective even though we’re in his head. Karen downplays herself out of self-preservation and because she’s been ignored and passed over for years. Leo thinks her self-esteem is not what it used to be and wants her to stick up for herself. Karen doesn’t trust Leo after what happened in the past and even though his actions today show him to be a standout swoon-worthy gentleman, can she trust the new Leo?

There are many gems sprinkled throughout this fast-paced novel that made me slow down and appreciate the writing. “He wore his guilty conscience like a cloak, even after all this time. If anything, it weighed more than ever before.” (Page 76). If you want a quick exes-to-lovers romance, then you might enjoy this read.

This novel was published by Pete’s Press on 11/20/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.25

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Book Review: Chasing Karma by Susan Murphy

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Chasing Karma by Susan Murphy

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Susan Murphy (10/01/2024)

Summary:

“I mean that I think I’m realising that life is surrounding me with bad karma to force me to change.” (Page 101).

What is karma and how did Ava get so bad at it? Misfortune and disaster are always bringing her down but she’s determined to be grateful and find the good in everything. It can’t all just be bad luck. But if it is bad karma, Ava is convinced she has to change it to bring her life around. She jumps at every chance to do good deeds in her local community but soon realizes that she has to make her own opportunities to make a bigger difference.

Keywords:

Self-Discovery, Friend Group, Karma, Romance, Mistakes, Volunteering, Kindness, Small Town, Community

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

It’s all bad luck for Ava. She’s rear-ended someone (didn’t even try to brake), chipped a tooth, choked on a piece of donut, tripped, fell, stubbed her toe, and dropped a vat of soup. That’s just in the last few days. Every little incident looms big in her mind as bad luck, disaster, and misfortune. Ava is determined not to be a victim of her bad luck and to drown in any bad attitude. She can’t live her life in misery but she’s tried changing her attitude and it’s time to change her karma instead. Karma is the idea that a person’s actions and their consequences are connected in a cycle of cause and effect. Ava thinks she has the power to change her karma by doing good for others. At first, she intentionally tries to help others for the sake of a point-based karma system as if it were a game. Even her friends are skeptical that doing good deeds is going to magically bring good things her way. Yet, Ava perseveres in her quest for karma because she has hope that everything will eventually balance out in her favor.

Ava has an enviably supportive group of friends and a telepathic twin-like relationship with her sister which makes me jealous. Ava just so happens to be helped by a very attractive man and finds herself surrounded by welcoming people. She doesn’t just have meet-cutes she has meet-disasters. Her life is chaotic and I want to know everything that’s going to happen next. She is the car crash you can’t look away from but at the same time, I am rooting for her.

Ava needs to have her aha moment before anything will change. Much like Yes Man or Eat Pray Love, Ava must continue her quest of self-discovery to unleash her power to make a change in her life before anything changes. I love how powerfully this concept is presented. Ava doesn’t even realize that she’s stuck in a rut. It will take a new perspective and a drive for change both mentally in the way she looks at the world and in her physical situation. I love how feel-good this book is. Ava is not a glass-half-empty person wallowing in her self-pity. She is still so positive, so hopeful, even amidst her rampant bad luck. I want to have the same strength of character as Ava. She is a force. She carries the book. She could be the star of a movie. I would love to see this book as a romcom. It would work so well. The elements of self-discovery, humor, and romance are boldly present.

Even when things go wrong Ava is likeable and I love that about her. She is humble to the point of self-deprecation but it’s not over the top or grating. It’s still on the humble scale. When she realizes that she has to be the change, it doesn’t scare her. I want to be more like Ava in my own life. She realizes that doing something meaningful is important. In other words, if it’s not heck yes, then it’s heck no! Do what you love. Do what makes you happy. What a wonderfully uplifting message from this book. Reading this book was not just entertaining but made me happy.

This novel was published by Susan Murphy on 10/01/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Susan Murphy’s Website

Book Review: Kat Girl (Love Chronicles) Kindle Edition by Sarah Lahey

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Kat Girl (Love Chronicles) Kindle Edition by Sarah Lahey

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Cross Over Press (07/12/2024)

Summary:

“She had forgotten what it was like to be loved by a man, someone who wasn’t a friend or a family member. It was a different kind of love – it was fulfilling and reassuring and life-affirming.” Page 288

Kat works in the male-dominated construction space. After being made redundant at her company, she feels lost but quickly discovers an opportunity to work as a heritage consultant. Liam needs his construction project to work. When he meets Kat on the work site, he knows she is someone he wants to pursue. Kat is determined never to marry again but that is Liam’s single-minded focus, at least initially.

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Second-Chance, Construction, Australia, Male-Dominated Industry, Friendship, Romance

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

I love second-chance romance books and this one is a solid read. It has the perfect level of sizzle in the romantic department. The sex scenes were well-written and hot, yet still concise enough not to feel overpowering.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was up with Kat but I get the vibe that she might be neuro-divergent in the way that Christopher from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time appears neuro-divergent but no specific diagnosis is presented. Sometimes Kat reads social situations in a way that I think is neuro-divergent. She is also very levelheaded emotionally, emotionally, and physically capable of being independent and alone, and thinks through situations in a way that is often detailed and literal. Her perspective is fascinating. She is also working in a male-dominated industry but never appears to be intimated by her surroundings or peers. She is not overly confident or overly anxious. She is analytical and precise with specific opinions and preferences. I adore her and the way her tea must only be brewed for 20 seconds. She feels like a real person full of a complete personality and childhood.

Liam is also a character I love. I appreciated the gender role reversal with Liam and Kat and that both these romantic leads were fully fleshed characters with their hopes, dreams, and past baggage. Liam was equally as interesting as Kat, equally as real, and full of personality. I wanted both of them to be successful but also to stop being so stubborn! Because they are unique persons, they don’t always see eye-to-eye with each other and that’s where tension blooms. There is some miscommunication but it feels organic.

The level of detail for construction, business, buildings, and history was oftentimes over my level of knowledge but I appreciated the depth it added to the world-building of this book. I wouldn’t know any better but it felt genuine and like the author and characters knew what they were talking about.

I don’t always read books set in Australia and have never been to Australia, but I didn’t feel like this was a different place than any town in my own country where you can have a meet-cute in a bar, lose your job to the boy’s club takeover, or take a weekend to get away to the country.

This novel was published by Cross Over Press on 07/12/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Sarah Lahey’s website

Book Review: Christmas off Script by Evie Alexander

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Christmas off Script by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (11/04/24)

Summary:

Ella and Leo have always been best friends. They’ve known each other for so long and so well that they can easily finish each other’s…. Sandwiches. Ella has a lot going on. She’s been dumped by her long-term boyfriend. Her best friend, Leo, is only interested in her as friends but she’s always had feelings for him. Add to the mix her ex Zach coming back on the scene and her dad about to be released from prison. Leo is the perfect best friend but he’s always secretly had a crush on Ella. What will it take for them to overcome their fear of affecting their friendship and just admit their feelings and attraction for each other?

Keywords:

Friends to lovers, Christmas, Holidays, Foxbrooke, Christmas Panto, Cinderella, Steamy, Forced Proximity

My Review:

Friends to lovers is one of the best romantic tropes and this book delivers the bestest of best friends to fexiest of fexy lovers.

I love a good fairy tale retelling and this is a classic Cinderella retelling that features a story within a story – the pantomime mirroring real life throughout the novel.

Ella is funny, kind, smart, gifted, caring, thoughtful and stunningly beautiful – at least according to Leo. She fully embodies some of Cinderella’s qualities – kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and patience. Almost to a fault! I’m glad Leo was there to get mad on her behalf because Ella is the most understanding and forgiving person, and she doesn’t hold onto anger like so many of us. Leo is the friend who always loved her and will do anything for her, even just as a friend. He is obsessed with Ella in the best way, in the most unrealistic way, in the most fantastical swoon-worthy I-wish-Leo-was-my-best-friend-turned-lover way.

As soon as the heat picks up, there are quite a few sex scenes. The intimacy was also full of romantic sex tropes.

I absolutely love a good Holiday read; this one is full of the Holiday spirit. There are so many Christmas and British Holiday traditions, along with Ella and Leo traditions. I’d never heard of a Christmas Quiz before this book.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 11/04/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information

Goodreads

Book Review: Tell Me It’s Right by Katie Wismer

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Tell Me It’s Right by Katie Wismer

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Ahimsa Press (09/25/24)

Summary:

Gracie has spent months trying to get a job, even though she now has a college degree. Bills are due and she makes the tough decision to move back home. At least she’s not living with her parents, but her brother’s basement isn’t that much better. She gets pity hired by the local tattoo studio owner who also happens to be her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush. What could go wrong? Liam’s tattoo shop has never been profitable and he’s slowly running out of money. He needs to make the shop profitable and Gracie might be perfect for the job.

Keywords:

Romance, Tattoo, Baggage, New Adult, Recent Grad, Job Search, Small Town, Sibling, Best Friends

My Review:

I relate to Gracie so much. I also struggled to find any job, let alone a job that made use of my college degree, after graduation. It absolutely sucks to spend thousands of dollars on a required education and then not land a job. It sucks mentally. It sucks financially. I also spent time living at home post-graduation. Gracie is plagued by anxiety and spiraling thoughts. I also experience anxiety and felt an even closer kinship to Gracie through our anxieties. That’s where the similarities between us end as Gracie gets her romantic happily ever after with Liam and I get to live through her story.

 

Gracie and Liam’s story is very much alive through the plot and the writing. I’m not sure if Sweetspire is a real place but it was brought to life in this book. I imagined this book as an Amazon Studios romcom with all the right plot points and pacing. I can see a known B-list actor playing one of the lead roles.  I see it as a recommendation in the romance category. It’s a solid read as a book and would be a solid watch as a movie.

 

Contemporary romances are my favorite books to read and I’m thrilled that Katie Wismer continues to write in this genre as she is a wonderful writer. I love her writing style. She brings the setting and the characters to life and makes me want to live in her stories.

 

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

 

This novel was published by Ahimsa Press 09/25/24 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information:

Katie Wismer’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Louie the Lynx and Ryan the Lion by Sarah Lahey

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Louie the Lynx and Ryan the Lion by Sarah Lahey

A Contemporary Romance Novel published by Cross Over Press (09/30/23)

Summary:

“Relationships didn’t just devour time – they ate entire days.” (Page 97).

Louie thinks romance is nonsense. But when Ryan McDermott, he of the throw down factor of nine and a half, excellent drawing skills, and very good apologies enters her life, she’s thrown for a loop. She doesn’t have time for love or romance, but Ryan is determined to win her over.

Keywords:

Opposites Attract, Romance, Contemporary, PHD, Teacher, Art, Communication, Dog, Attraction, Dreamer

My Review:

“Difficult things build resilience.” (Page 113).

Louie does not have her stuff together. She has so many issues – anxiety, time management, sometimes her self-esteem is so low – it’s a lot for anybody to take on. She doesn’t think she and Ryan can work out because of where she is in life. Ryan is an architect, champion of low-income housing, lover of kelpies, painter of orchids, owner of a rope chair, lover of light. Yet he also needs to be in control and won’t take no for an answer when it comes to certain things.

“She wouldn’t have called any of her past boyfriends men. But Ryan was a man. He had a profession and knew what he was doing with his life. He fitted comfortably into the world. A world that she often found complex and confusing.” (Page 190). Louie is describing Ryan as a man, but she really means that Ryan is adulting and has his stuff together. Louie thinks, in this way, that they’re opposites and how could they work out? She feels like she has nothing to offer.

Both Louie and Ryan are impossible and fascinating. “When it came to parking fines, Louie was risk averse. She would happily walk for twenty minutes.” (page 25). Yet her phone passcode is 0000. Sometimes she spends hours in a brain fog, unable to move, captured by her own fear. She is the exaggeration of all my own anxieties and depression. I really, really wanted to see her triumph over herself because it’s like she is my champion. If she can pull herself out of a slump, then so can I. I also related to Ryan and his need for unrelenting control. Without compromise and compassion for each other, a relationship would never work!

I love the writing style in this novel. It is clear, succinct, and straight to the point. Yet sometimes the description of light, paintings, and landscapes go on so long that I feel like I’m there. I can feel my own response to the gray day with unending rain giving me Seasonal Affective Disorder (even though it’s summer and not a cloud in the sky where I live right now).

If you liked the show Lessons in Chemistry and you like to read contemporary and/or romance novels then you would enjoy this book.

This novel was published by Cross Over Press 09/30/23 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

Sarah Lahey’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: To Catch a Monkey by Richard Read

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To Catch a Monkey by Richard Read

A Middle-Grade Novel Independently published (01/28/2024)

Summary:

It’s not Calista Snipe’s job to support her family. Money is tight and when she is presented with an opportunity to help she’ll jump at the chance. The local zoo has lost their precious monkey and they’re offering a good reward for information leading to his capture. Calista, along with her friends, will learn about this special monkey but they’re not the only ones looking to snag the reward money. She’ll have to outsmart older kids, desperate criminals, and maybe even a monkey!

Keywords:

Puberty, bullying, friendship, problem-solving, sleuthing, teamwork, bravery, monkey

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

Small problems seem like big problems for the young protagonist. Any time one problem is solved or suddenly less of a big problem, a new problem pops up for her. Not all issues are equal; some require help, critical thinking, or creative problem-solving. Some are even more moral dilemmas than physical problems. The first problem to solve is about the bully from the bus. Then it’s her family’s financial stability. Then it’s the missing monkey. Then it’s what to do with the monkey after they find it. And so on. There are teachable moments throughout the story that ground it in the middle-grade category.

The plot is quite simple but touches on some more advanced topics. I was a little surprised that the story included drugs, kidnapping, and drinking. The bad guys are seen in their daily lives, which is not always the case with stereotypical bad guys!

At times I could tell that this was not the first book in the series, but it does stand on its own. If you want to get to know the characters more then you should probably start at the beginning of the series, but it was fine to start with this book as the author does a good job building the backstory, setting, characters, and story.

The pacing was good and the story kept me entertained, especially as it was a third-person narrative that kept switching perspectives. I really liked Otis’ brief yet distinct character arc. It was nice to see Calista’s friendship with Skyler (especially as they are different genders and that can sometimes be a point of tension).

This is a solid middle-grade book with easy-to-read writing. Sometimes there are word definitions to help out younger readers. Sometimes some pictures add to the descriptions and are fun to look at while reading.

This novel was Independently published on 01/28/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Book Review: The Throwaway Queen (Ushallav’s Queen series) by Whitney McGruder

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The Throwaway Queen (Ushallav’s Queen series) by Whitney McGruder

A Fantasy Novel published by Bowker (08/01/22)

Summary:

“There is always a happy ending beyond the horizon. We must only search for it.” (Kindle Page 138).

After her caravan was attacked, Queen Anjali barely escaped with her life and that of her unborn child. She was cautioned to stay away until the identity of the attacker was discovered but it has been over two years since Anajali has seen her firstborn son, husband, and kingdom. On her way back to her rightful place, she is determined to figure out what happened and reunite with her family but in her absence, many things have changed.

Keywords:

Fantasy, Action, Adventure, New Adult, Warrior Women, Unlikely Allies, Blended Family, Royalty, Mystery, Murder

My Review:

I enjoyed reading about a strong female heroine who is also a mother. Anjali has to protect both her family and her position. How do mature people navigate something like this? I greedily read every scene, thought, and piece of dialogue related to this conflict.

The aspect of blended families was also interesting to me. I liked how Anjali wasn’t just one characteristic, she was appropriately complex and had a rich and intriguing backstory. She isn’t just a mother. She isn’t just a warrior. Anjali was the best character. She was so balanced as a person and she is presented with such impossible situations! But the times she became frustrated she did have a reaction (which I appreciated).

I liked the mixing of sub-genres. This book had fantasy, action, romance, and mystery. There were layers to the book to unpack. I was curious about the world-building environment and the unfurling mystery as well as seeing how the relationships were going to break or strengthen.

I enjoyed reading about Anajali’s culture and traditions and wanted more of them and more descriptions. They weren’t always alive and tangible to me as an outsider. I didn’t fully feel the discrimination Anjali faced but I did feel her frustrations. I felt more sympathy for her regarding the gendered discrimination than the racial discrimination.

I loved the eventual reveal of the villain! It was a bit of a twist and I didn’t see it coming. It felt both satisfying and conclusive

This novel was published by Bowker on 08/1/2022 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Whitney McGruder’s Website

Book Review: Ugliest by Kelly Vincent

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Ugliest by Kelly Vincent

A YA Novel published by KV BOOKS LLC  (08/13/24)

Summary:

Nic is back in Oklahoma City’s boarding school. This school is so much better than the small-town high school they had been going to but Oklahoma is still a very conservative landscape. It isn’t just Nic experiencing discrimination but also their gender non-conforming friends. It’s a battle that’s becoming bigger than them but this time there might be even uglier consequences to speaking up.

Keywords:

YA, Contemporary, Bullying, Gender Nonconforming, Identity, Art, Introvert, Questioning, Labels, LGBTQ+ themes

My Review:

“Things were looking up, but looks could be deceiving.” (Page 17).

Nic is back, anxiety and all! The quote above encapsulates how Nic goes through the world. Even when things are going well, there’s always an edge of possible negativity and a sliver of anxiety. Nic’s anxiety is obvious, loud, and all over their life. And that is sometimes how anxiety is. For those without anxiety, maybe seeing it portrayed continuously in Nic’s inner voice will help them understand what living with anxiety is like and how that manifests in everyday interactions, actions, and thoughts.

Nic is more than just their anxiety. Nic is blossoming into a complex and very interesting person with their own personality, desires, and needs. Gender nonconforming and non-binary are two terms that are so general that it can be difficult to understand what they mean. As a reader, I get to live the everyday reality of what it means to be non-binary with Nic and their friends. I think all of Nic’s friends are gender nonconforming but they embody their own gender (or non-gendered) identities in unique and very personal ways. I appreciated getting multiple aspects and perspectives on gender and non-binary in this novel.

This novel takes Nic and their identity from discovery to action. Trans rights are human rights. LGBTQ rights are human rights. If they start taking away human rights for a group that identifies in one way, what’s to say they won’t come for others? It is up to Nic and their friends to stand up for their rights as individuals, as humans, and as people representing a vulnerable population. But with that action comes consequences and it’s so powerful to see such active characters. It was very rewarding to read this book and to see Nic and their friends stand up for themselves. The ending was also very rewarding, especially through all the aggressions Nic faces during this series.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

This novel was published by KV BOOKS LLC  on 08/13/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Kelly Vincent’s Website

DC House Sit and Philly Trip 08-2024

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Starting with the most important information! Where you must go to eat when in DC:

Menya Hosaki (karaage, tonkotsu, and tantan)
Affogato (recommended with pistachio ice cream) at Dolcezza Gelato (904 Palmer Alley NW location)

Thoughts and impressions from our trip 7/26 – 8/4 in Washington D.C.

  • Not all ride shares use the air conditioning even if it’s over 95 degrees outside
  • There was a little suitcase without any apparent owner on the bus and someone saw it, immediately told the bus driver, and then got off
  • There is a price surge for rideshare that can be 3x during the 5-6pm rush hour window
  • There is a price surge for rideshare that can be 4x when it’s raining out (which creates more traffic)
  • There are so many bikes, e-bikes, and scooters available to rent everywhere
  • Capital Bikeshare is a great deal for a day pass at $8 but even for a monthly pass if you can use it more than a day or two
  • A few blocks’ walk is tough when it’s over 90 degrees out
  • Sometimes parking can be just as expensive as an Uber (but not more than the bus)
  • We probably should have gotten a toll pass since we hit more than one toll in one direction and avoided it on the way back but added to our trip time
  • Food at many of the restaurants we went to came out absurdly fast
  • The food was more expensive and of higher quality than I was expecting
  • I regret that we didn’t get to eat Menya Hosaki twice — by the time we tried them they were closed for the remainder of our trip and we couldn’t order from them again
  • You can make reservations easily for restaurants and cancel within a certain time frame without penalty (and check back for openings that were not there before if you really want to go the day of and there are no more reservations available)

  • So many of the sightseeing and tourist stops are free! But some require advance reservation (like the Air and Space Museum)
  • Some of the more secure tourist stops are still free but require advance reservation much sooner than the requirement as they do fill up (White House and Pentagon among other places if you want to go inside)
  • Many of the museums close before the evening on weekdays
  • Some of the places to see are not open on weekends or Sundays (like the Supreme Court)
  • If sightseeing is outside – go early or late to avoid the summer heat
  • I wish we went to Philly when more places were open and available (Sunday was not the best day)

Other food recommendations:
Zatyinya restaurant – Ayran, bone marrow kibbeh, Turkish coffee chocolate cake
Ottoman tavern – Beyti Kebap
Ariake Japanese restaurant – Eel Cucumber Roll
Unconventional Diner – meatloaf and Lebanese fried rice, pot pie poppers
Ted’s bulletin – street fried corn
Honeymoon chicken – chicken poutine and/or chicken sandwich
Old Ebbitt Grill for dinner – fried oyster deviled eggs, oyster riot burger, melting thin mint dessert drink, and peanut butter pie

Avoid these:
The Baklava Pie at Gypsy Kitchen (an insult to Baklava everywhere)
The Kebab platter at Zaytinya (oddly spiced, a bit dry, and not worth eating)
Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken (expensive and meh food)
Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar (overpriced food that wasn’t that great)

Other stats and thoughts:

  • We tried out 24 unique restaurants/cafes
  • We spent a day in Philadelphia and hit at least 3 tolls on our way from DC to Philly
  • We took 15 Ubers and rode the bus twice
  • Had to purchase large band-aids, Neosporin, and nail clippers that we didn’t bring
  • We spent 4 nights in a hotel downtown and 5 nights at a house sit with two lovely Ragdolls just North of the city

Actual Spending for Dual Income No Kids Trip to DC, including a day trip to Philly

Category

Spent

% of trip cost

Food, Snacks, Groceries, Consumables

$1691

37%

Airfare (United)

$1150

25%

Hotel 4 nights

$844

18%

Car Rental Avis 8 days

$300

7%

Parking & Tolls & gas

$296

6%

Transportation (Uber, bus)

$241

5%

Misc., Souvenirs

$49

1%

Entertainment – tourist activities

$29

1%

$4600

DC activities planning chart

Activity

Notes

Hours

Cost

In/Out

White House

Landmark, historic home & office of the United States president, with tours for visitors.

45-minute self-guided public tours must get timed entry

21-90 days advance notice for tours

My rep: Michael T. McCaul

Public tours are typically available from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Free

In

Pentagon

Tours requested 14-90 days in advance (booked up for the next 5 weeks so book 6+ weeks in advance)

Fill out visitor registration form in advance (7 days prior)

Tour is 60 minutes, 1.5 miles

https://pfpa.experience.crmforce.mil/PortalTour/s/tour-creation

10AM – 4PM Monday – Thursday, 12pm – 4PM Friday

Free

in

Diplomatic Reception Room Tours

Monday – Friday 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 2:45 PM

Arrive 30 mins. Before tour

https://iipstate.my.site.com/drrtours/s/

Free

in

U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Requires reservation

Free

The Kennedy Center

https://www.kennedy-center.org/visit/Tour/

Daily tours every 15 minutes

Mon. – Fri. 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sat. & Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Free

In

The Supreme Court

https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/visiting.aspx

Self-Guided Tours

Monday – Friday (except Federal Holidays)

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Closed on Saturday and Sunday

Free

In

Washington Monument

A Landmark obelisk rising from the National Mall that honors America’s first president.

9AM – 5PM

$1

Out

Lincoln Memorial

Parthenon-inspired tribute to Abraham Lincoln with a 19-ft. marble statue, murals & reflecting pool.

24 hours

Free

Out

World War II Memorial

An iconic outdoor memorial honoring the 16 million Americans who served during World War II.

24 hours

Free

Out

National Mall

Washington Monument plus memorials to Lincoln, MLK, FDR, WWII & Vietnam vets along a grassy mall.

24 hours

Free

Out

Vietnam/Korea Memorial

Monument to Vietnam War service, featuring a wall with over 58,000 names of dead & missing soldiers.

24 hours

Free

Out

MLK Jr. Memorial

Memorial pays tribute to slain civil rights leader near where he delivered “I Have a Dream” speech.

24 hours

Free

Out

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

Museum documenting the history of aviation & space exploration, with displays of vehicles & more.

10AM – 5:30PM

Free

In

Smithsonian National Museum

Artifact exhibits & modern interactive displays examine the history & culture of Native Americans.

No tickets required

10AM – 5:30PM

Free

In

Washington National Cathedral

Grand, storied cathedral with stained glass, organ recitals & scenic vistas from the top.

https://cathedral.org/calendar/wind-down-wednesdays/

10AM – 3PM/5PM

$15

In

Planet Word

19th-century building home to immersive exhibits & karaoke sessions dedicated to the spoken word.

10AM – 4PM/5PM/6PM

Free

In

The U.S. Capital and Library of Congress

This federal cultural institution is the world’s biggest library & features tours, talks & concerts.

Advance tickets are available 1 month at a time

https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1038417/timedentry-ticket-reservations-washington-thomas-jefferson-building

10AM – 5PM W/F/Sat/Tues

10AM – 8PM Thursday

Closed Sunday-Monday

Free

In

Union Market

Warehouse-like food market with a host of artisans offering charcuterie, empanadas, gelato & more.

8AM – 9PM

In

National Archives Museum

https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/234645

10AM – 5:30PM

Free

In

9:30 Club

Enduring, intimate rock concert venue with shows, dancing, a pub food menu & beer.

Open 24 hours

$25-$37

In

Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

The sculpture garden closed atm

10AM – 4:30PM

Free

In

Further cost breakdown and schedule:

Day

Date

Location

Type

Description

Price

Friday

7/26

NA

Uber Bus

Uber to airport

$31

ATX airport

Food

Airport voucher meals

$21

ATX to IAD

Transportation

Fly from AUS to DCA

$1150

Avis IAD

Transportation

Car rental for 9 days

$300

DCA

Transportation

Parking downtown in/out 4 days

$169

DCA

Hotel

Hilton Garden Inn 4 nights

$844

Saturday

7/27

DCA

Transportation

Capital Bikeshare Day Pass x2

$16

DCA

Entertainment

Mega Lucario Raid Day

$0

DCA

Food

Farmer’s Market Cocoi’s Taste of Philippines (guava donut, caramel flan donut, brown sugar drink, and sweet corn pudding)

$27

DCA

Food

Farmer’s Market Turkish Baklava

$7

DCA

Food

Zaytinya restaurant: still water, 2 semi-sweet Turkish coffee, Ayran, Sprite, karpuzi me feta, hunkar begendi, bone marrow kibbeh, kebab platter, and Turkish coffee chocolate cake

$174

DCA

Groceries

WaWa: water, milk, OJ, and cookies

$12

DCA

Groceries

Whole Foods: Allagash white beer and water

$23

DCA

Entertainment

Bike around the White House, National Mall, Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Korean War Veteran’s Memorial, MLK Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial

$0

Sunday

7/28

Philly

Food

Dunkin’ Iced Latte

$5

Philly

Transportation

DCA to Philly tolls

$13

Philly

Transportation

Rental car toll upcharge

$24

Philly

Transportation

Hilton Garden Inn Garage for walking around the Reading Terminal Market

$4

Philly

Food

Kamal’s Mediterranean (in the market) Halva milkshake, kibbi, and meat pie

$27

Philly

Transportation

Rocky Steps and statue near parking

$2.50

Philly

Misc

Rocky Gift shop shirt for Jon

$33

Philly

Transportation

Autopark at Independence Mall

$24

Philly

Entertainment

Independence Mall Visitor’s Center

$0

Philly

Entertainment

Liberty Bell

$0

Philly

Uber Bus

Uber to cheesesteak area

$10

Philly

Food

Geno’s Steaks (fries and soda, cheesesteak cash only)

$27

Philly

Groceries

Supermarket drinks

$6

Philly

Food

Pat’s cheesesteak for small fish cake and original cheesesteak)

$21

Philly

Uber Bus

Uber back to the parked ca

$10

Philly

Transportation

Drive DC to Philly

$0

Philly

Food

Dunkin for coolatta and donut

$8

Monday

7/29

DCA

Food

Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken (4 donuts – Crème Brulee, Chocolate, PB&J, and jelly-filled along with a fried chicken biscuit $38.62)

$39

DCA

Food

Gong Cha Early Grey and Milk tea with boba ($15.02)

$15

DCA

Food

6PM reservation Unconventional Diner $108.92

$109

DCA

Food

Dolccezza gelato ($18)

$18

Tuesday

7/30

DCA

House Sit

House sit

$0

DCA

Food

Elle brunch (quiche, latte, goat cheesecake, Reuben sandwich ($66.56

$67

DCA

Transportation

Drive to Trader Joe’s

$0

DCA

Food

Ted’s Bulletin for dinner (truffle mac n cheese, fried calamari, shrimp tacos, and crab cakes benedict for ~$71

$71

DCA

Groceries

Trader Joe’s groceries ($34.21)

$34

DCA

Entertainment

6:45PM – 7:45PM POLETRY INT/ADV ($28.62)

$29

DCA

Groceries

CVS for supplies $18.50

$19

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber home $9.22

$9

Wednesday

7/31

DCA

Food

Honeymoon Chicken for lunch (~$100 for 2-piece chicken tenders with rolls, chicken sandwich, mac n’ cheese, chicken poutine, and lobster sliders)

$100

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber downtown ($13.70)

$14

DCA

Food

Old Ebbitt Grill for dinner ($157.50 for 2 raw oysters, fried oyster deviled eggs, crab cake single, oyster riot burger, Irish coffee, melting thin mint, and peanut butter pie)

$158

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber Home ($12)

$12

Thursday

8/1

DCA

Uber Bus

Bus to dinner ($2.25×2)

$5

DCA

Food

Café Divan dinner

$136

DCA

Entertainment

AMC movie

$0

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber back home $11

$11

Friday

8/2

DCA

Food

La Tejana 6 tacos for $24 ($26.40)

$26

DCA

Food

Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar $53 (Ye Belay (Superior) Medium Rare / Leb leb and Injera

$53

DCA

Food

DC Boba $22 (sea salt coffee and bubble milk tea)

$22

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber to dinner

$7

DCA

Food

Lullabelle’s waiting for dinner affogato

$7

DCA

Food

Entitlement Lounge waiting for dinner drinks Dark and smoky and 829 mojito

$23

DCA

Food

Menya hosaki karaage, tonkotsu, and tantan

$64

DCA

Groceries

Yes! Organic Market for dried fruit and 2 pints of Mcallan’s ice cream (peanut butter and vanilla)

$24

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber back to house sit

$9

Saturday

8/3

DCA

Uber Bus

Bus downtown

$5

DCA

Entertainment

Smithsonian museum of natural history

$0

DCA

Misc.

Gift shop fry bread and milk chocolate chips

$16

DCA

Entertainment

Sculpture garden

$0

DCA

Food

Gordon pizza

$55

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber to Dolcezza

$7

DCA

Food

Dolcezza affogato x2

$22

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber home

$12

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber to dinner

$28

DCA

Food

Ottoman tavern for Icli Kofte, raki, Ayran, and Beyti Kebap

$81

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber to Gypsy Kitchen

$11

DCA

Food

Gypsy Kitchen Gypsy Dragon drink and Baklava pie we didn’t like and didn’t eat

$30

DCA

Food

Ted’s Bulletin for a Glazed Donut

$5

DCA

Uber Bus

Uber home

$12

Sunday

DCA

Transportation

Gas at Exxon

$43

DCA

Food

Ariake Japanese restaurant Lion King Roll, Eel Cucumber Roll, Ariake Roll, Rainbow Roll, Dragon Roll, Super Dynamite Roll

$145

DCA

Food

Airport snack Dunkin’ 2 donuts and an iced coffee

$10

ATX

Uber Bus

Uber Airport to home

$48