Recent Reads

Sooo... I never got around to posting my books from November - December, or my favorite reads from 2022. (Hell, I didn't post AT ALL in December! What can I say... it was a busy month!) Both are mostly drafted, but I figured I'd just start fresh with the only 3 I got through so far this year (which is really low for me, but 'tis life). I've already gotten over the fact that this will be the first time I won't be completing Erin's Book Challenge for the first time in like, 7 years, and am already re-evaluating the Goodreads Challenge (which is precisely why I didn't set one last year). 

Anyway, I did set some other bookish goals, like reading the ARCs that have been sitting on Netgalley, reading 12 non-fiction, and reading books that are already on my physical bookshelf, so hopefully I'll reach those. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid: 5 Stars
Own

Short synopsis: "Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love."

This is only the third work I've read by TJR (and one was a short, so not sure that really counts), but I'm hooked. What a twisted story! I always pictured Evelyn as Marilyn Monroe in my head.  Probably because she felt REAL. AS. SHIT. She's devious, scheming, and generally a cold-hearted bitch... to most. But she's also human, and she has soft spots that she only lets a select few people see- like Celia and Harry, and now Monique, who seems to have been picked randomly but as ever, Evelyn had her reasons. I was going into detail about each husband but really, who cares? More than half of them were for convenience. But OMG Harry... I adored this character, and while was a saint for putting up with Evelyn for so many years, they were also such close friends- really Evelyn's first and only one in Hollywood. Which is why they kept each others' secrets so closely- it was a non-romantic love. Overall the themes of love, forgiveness, and acceptance pull at your heart strings. And that ending... DAMN. I also really liked the "tabloid articles" that were dispersed throughout the story- I've always liked seeing that kind of thing (news articles, text messages, etc.). could definitely see this being made into a movie and I would devour every second of it! 

Read for Erin's Book Challenge for Goodreads Award Winner- Best Historical Fiction

“People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is 'you're safe with me'- that's intimacy.”

pg.190

Scattered Showers - Rainbow Rowell: 5 Stars
Own (signed)

I was lucky enough to hear about a virtual event being hosted by Barnes & Noble where she was going to talk about this book and then mail it to participants. Umm... YES PLS AND THANK YOU! It was a discussion with Stephanie Perkins, another big YA author (though I've never read her work- whatever, she was just there to ask questions/have someone to talk to). It's always cool to see your favorite authors talking candidly about their work,... and other things as they come up, because it was a live event! 

Reading Rainbow (ha- anyone remember that show?! Sorry I digress... moving on...) feels like coming home. She never fails to disappoint. I read this in two sittings (could've been one, but I really didn't want it to end.) In this collection of short stories, I was happy to see some of my favorite characters from some of her other books (including my gateway into Rainbow's world - Attachments) getting a new story. 

I won't say I loved *all* of these. I still don't understand or like "The Prince and the Troll" which was in the Faraway Collection on Kindle Unlimited last year. I'd also already read "Midnights" (in the "If My True Love Gave To Me" anthology), "Kindred Spirits" and "If The Fates Allow" (as a standalone shorts), but I liked them all and it had been awhile since I read them, so it was nice to revisit these characters as well. "Winter Songs For Summer" was probably my favorite (and most original, in this case). Summer is in college and going through a breakup, and blasting sad Tori Amos music (LOL). Her downstairs neighbor asks her to turn it down; he can tell she's going through a breakup, but can she at least use some headphones because he's trying to study for real. *Relationship ensues.* 

In Waiting was a really cool concept. Basically it's about the characters that are being thought up in a writer's head, and sometimes they get put in a full length novel, sometimes they just sit in this "waiting room" type area, not sure if they'll ever be used by the autthor, but the author isn't ready to part with them completely yet, and other times these characters  are completely forgotten about (and thus "disappear" from the waiting room). I do hope to see these two characters in a novel at some point, and hope they get to fall in love in that universe too. 

Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro: 3 Stars
library e-book

This was the book that completely messed up all of my reading goals. It took me FOREVER to get through this because it was so confusing. First of all the language was weird- it took me awhile to understand that an "oblong" was a cell phone, and other similar things like that. 

I don't even know how to write a "short synopsis" for this because it was so f'n WEIRD. 

Short Synopsis: Klara is an AI (Artificial Intelligence Friend) for sale. A young girl named Josie, around 9 years old, chooses her and her mom agrees to purchase her (because this is normal- most "kids" have an AI friend). Josie is sickly, and Klara wants to make her better. Because she [Klara] uses the sun for energy, she thinks this might also help Josie, so she asks the "sun" for help? 

Fack, I have no idea how to describe this one. Klara also wants to destroy some machine that was causing a lot of pollution (thereby blocking the sun/ her energy source), which "she" thought was also "killing" Josie (her owner). 

There's a lot more going on here, but I can't say much more without spoilers. Just be aware if you try to read it- an "oblong" is a cell phone. (It took me 3/4 of the book to figure this out!) And the ending made me really, really sad. 

Currently reading: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin

Book Stats:
Total number read: 3
Owned: 2

Library: 1

Physical book: 2
Non-Fiction: 0
BIPOC Author: 1

Given Away/Paperback Swap: 0

What are you reading?

Linking up with Lauren!

My Month Is Booked: October Reads

I totally forgot to post September's read, so you get two months worth this time, though I definitely didn't read as much as I did in summer! And I'm having a hard time picking my next read (though I did read 2 books already this month). I'm hoping to get some inspiration from reading all your recent reviews in Lauren's linkup! Anyway, Here's what I read since the last time I joined:

Opium and Absinthe - Lydia Kang: 4 Stars
library paperback

Trigger warnings: drug abuse/addiction, rape

I was a little wary about reading this one as it's not something I normally would have picked up because it's set in 1899 (I'm not a big fan of historical fiction) and vampires (also not a fan of paranormal). It was a book club pick, but perfect for "spooky" season! I was reeled in hard though! Basically our MC, Tillie, gets into a horse-riding accident, breaking her collarbone and hurting her shoulder, and is given opium for the pain. The same day, her sister goes missing and then is found dead in Central Park with what appear to be vampire bites on her neck and a bottle of absinthe next to her. When she finds this out, she makes it her mission to find out more about vampires and who or what killed her sister, but she's heavily drugged the entire story. (It should be noted that "Dracula" was also just released around this time.) 

I felt bad for Tillie. First of all, she got hooked on opiates (as many young people do) due to an injury. It was actually a bit baffling since this is still such a raging issue today. Second, her family was awful (they had been keeping secrets of their own, which they continued not to discuss because it also kept them wealthy and "in good name"). Third, I was reminded how women were rated as second class citizens even when they were rich. She wants to WORK? Why, when she could be a "kept" woman?! Oh, Tillie is angry, reacting, and speaking up about it? She must be hysterical! Let's take her to the doctor for a dose of morphine immediately! Also, (almost) everyone was so willing to keep her drugged up so she would keep subdued, quiet, and just "let it go"! 

There was a lot going on in this story, and characters kept popping in, it seemed ad-hoc, to throw the reader (and Tillie) for a loop with a possible new killer candidate, which worked but was also a bit confusing. Our narrator is very unreliable so it's hard to figure out "whodunit" as she researches other vampiric-appearing deaths and more about the creatures themselves. Did Tillie truly know her older sister at all? As the pieces come together through the drug-induced haze, we begin to see a bigger picture of who her sister, and the people in her life, all played a part in her ultimate death... one that Tillie nearly meets herself.

The Golden Couple - Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen: 4 Stars

Own

Overall I really enjoyed this book. However the ending left me wanting to know one more thing - ___was acting really weird, and I want to know her full story. 

People We Meet On Vacation - Emily Henry: 3 Stars

Own

I liked this, but didn't love it. First of all, it was overly predictable. Second, I didn't really like either of the main characters. Third, I don't like it in general when a story goes back and forth in time, and this was no exception. It got so confusing! Fourth, I was irked that the title had absolutely nothing to do with the book. Or maybe I didn't love it  because I adored Beach Read so much?! 

I Choose Darkness - Jenny Lawson: 5 Stars

Kindle Unlimited

It's had to rate this because it wasn't a book... it wasn't even a novella. It was like a longer essay? But I love her reasoning for why she loves Halloween so much, the stories from growing up, her "conversations" with her editor sprinkled throughout, and of course the pictures. I was literally laughing out loud for most of it! 

Book Stats (recounted this month)
Total number read: 34
Owned: 22

Library: 12

E-book: 18

Physical book: 16
Non-Fiction: 5
BIPOC Author: 5

Given Away/Paperback Swap: 14

What are you reading?

Linking up with Lauren!

My Month Is Booked

I have been so bad about keeping up with my book reviews not just here, but also in my reading journal which I was SO EXCITED to get last Christmas! I need to catch up from the last... um... 6 months?! Eek! But let me start with the latest, yes? Here's what I've been reading since my last check in!

The Day The World Came To Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - Jim DeFede: 5 Stars

Own

I wanted to read this close to 9/11, so I was putting this off a bit even though I was REALLY anxious to read it. I also wanted to read this even more because I learned that the play/movie "Come From Away" was based off of this book (yes, I'm a sucker for book to screen adaptations). I thought this would break my lil Grinchy heart, but I was so deeply touched by these people's generosity, and the some of the personal stories that DeFede was able to gather. In fact, it was quite uplifting to see how the entire province came together to support and care for these strangers. It really gave me hope that humanity still exists, even if only in some remote corners of the world! It didn't matter who they were- there was a CEO originally headed for Fashion Week who found himself loving the quiet and helping other passengers, right next to the couple who adopted a child who (seemingly) didn't take to her new mother, which caused her extra anxiety - but EVERY townsperson chipped in whatever they could, whether it was donating food or their cooking skills, to shower space and towels, and even opening their homes to these strangers, that really got to me. A must read! 

Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng: 5 Stars

Own

This was a perfect example of "if family members only talked to each other more!". I thought this would be about finding out how Lydia died, but it was more about the family and how they all got to where they were. Classic case of a parent pushing their unrealized dreams on their children. This was a heartbreaking story but one I will keep in my heart and mind, probably forever. Another MUST READ! 

Luckiest Girl Alive - Jessica Knoll: 4.5 Stars

Own

"You have to know that no matter what they say about you, all that matters is what you know about yourself here."

This had a lot going on. And I'll admit that at times I thought it was too much. There are several trigger warnings, including rape, bullying, and a school shooting. I didn't know about the last one going into this book and as hard as that was to read, it didn't affect me as much as the first one. In fact, I didn't even realize how BADLY the first one affected me until I saw the movie (on Netflix, for anyone interested). I think Ani is the way she is based on her environment- where she came from, and where she wants to go. I don't think there is anything inherently "bad" about her, she just knows what she wants and goes for it and sometimes, other things got in the way. There are certain scenes that have stuck with me, and not just gruesome ones (rape, the gym shorts OMG EW) but some of the tender ones too (the seashell frame and what became of it). I can't say too much without giving everything away, but Ani is one strong female character. Spoiler (highlight to see): She demanded the truth from her abusers - and at least one of them admitting it.  And she stood up for herself in the end, even knowing the risks. (Also, I think anyone who read this in 2015 and/or saw any comparison to "Gone Girl" should give it another shot because it was NOTHING like that book and at the time the market was overrun with the "unreliable narrator" genre. This needs to be given another chance- I think that was part of why I liked this so much more than some others- timing is everything sometimes.) 

I Kissed Shara Wheeler - Casey McQuiston: 4 Stars
Library e-book

"I don’t know if I belong here. How can that be possible, to feel estranged from a place where everyone loves you? To owe your life to a place and still want to run?"

Oh Ms. McQuiston. You definitely pulled me again! This was nothing like the other novel I read by her (One Last Stop), but I really enjoyed how she took the town "It Girl" and made her a real person, with motives and desires completely different from her family's and her community's expectations. 

Shara manages to get three other schoolmates  with seemingly nothing in common - her rival for Valedictorian, the school  "bad boy" (who also happens to live next door to her) and her quarterback boyfriend - to work together to figure out where she went, and why. I loved how they worked together, with the help of the clues she left behind, and how that brought them closer together. I didn't love how orchestrated it was. And what bothered me most was that this girl was about 16, disappeared DURING a school dance, and her parents don't ask or even seem to care where she went and why? That didn't make sense. 

“Most of the things we’re feeling right now are things we’re feeling for the first time. We’re learning what it means to feel them. What we can mean to one another. Of course that matters. And this, here, right now—even if nothing changes, even if all we can do today is prove that we exist, and that we’re not alone—I think it matters a whole fucking lot.”

Await Your Reply - Dan Chaon: 3 Stars

Library e-book

Trigger warnings: mental illness

"The lives of three strangers interconnect in unforeseen ways and with unexpected consequences in acclaimed author Dan Chaon's gripping, brilliantly written new novel."

This was my local book club's pick. I've never heard of it and wouldn't found it otherwise and even though I didn't love it, I'm glad I did! I usually devour novels wither interconnecting storylines, but this was a bit far-fetched even for me. This was a bit of a slow burn book, even though it starts with a guy's severed hand being rushed to the hospital. Who is this guy? Who is his father who ALLOWED this to happen in front of him? And that's the whole plot - it's based on identity theft. 

I heard during our book club that the author did write this is three stages, years apart. And that's exactly how it reads- like 3 separate novellas pieced together at the end (vaguely, and with many holes and too much room for interpretation, IMO). 

Anyway, it led to a great discussion about mental illness.

The Last Anniversary - Liane Moriarty: 4 Stars

Own

‘Love is a decision.’

Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite authors, and I'm trying to work through her backlog. This is a far cry from some of her latest works such as Nine Perfect Strangers and Apples Never Fall. Originally published in 2006, this is the story of a young woman who leaves her life on mainland Australia after a disastrous engagement where she leaves the groom at the alter, to a nearby island and a family full of secrets. 

If you've read her more recent works, you can certainly tell this is an earlier work, but it wasn't bad. Her main characters were well developed, but overall there were too many characters and side stories (which I feel is true of all of her novels, TBH). I figured out the "mystery" early on, but I appreciate how Moriarty wraps up each storyline.

Milk Fed - Melissa Broder: 2 Stars

Own

Trigger warnings: body dysmorphia, eating disorders, homophobia

I'm actually surprised I'm even giving this book 2 stars, because I really, REALLY disliked it. 

However the writing wasn't terrible, but the plot/storyline grossed me out, TBH. Maybe I'm a prude or too conservative, but the main theme in this book was seriously disturbing to me. Perhaps you will find it provocative and thought-provoking! I mean, there's a breast on the cover, so that's what I was thinking going in. The actual plot is about Rachel, a bisexual lapsed Jewish woman who is obsessed with calorie counting to stay "healthy" (instilled by her mother), who falls for Miriam, the server at her favorite froyo spot, a devout (straight) Jewish woman of about the same age. 

None of that bothered me. It was all of the fantasies Rachel had, including ones involving the secretary at her job and Miriam, in which she fantasized either or both of them as "mothering" her... fantasies that started as sexual, and then imagining them coddling her in a motherly way (which was directly stated, not up to the reader's imagination), petting her head or soothing her, and then sucking or humping in a very aggressive, rough fashion... while STILL thinking of this other woman in a motherly way. I'm not disturbed by rough sex either, but it was the notion that she felt she was doing it with someone even she considered motherly. I don't know, I'm having a hard time describing how unsettling the fantasies, and even the actual sex was. 

And then there was Miriam. She pissed me off because she basically led Rachel on, and then dumped her. Of course, Rachel said some inappropriate things at a family dinner at Miriam's house, but it was seemed to be dropped soon after. I don't know- the plot didn't make sense. 

(If anyone else read this and wants to discuss further please let me know!)

What are you reading?

Linking up with Lauren!

My Month Is Booked: Books Read in July

I was really sad when Steph and Jana decided to end their book review link-up, but totally understood. I mean keeping a linkup running for 8 years is incredible! But since it's been such a part of my (blogging) life I decided to continue posting my reviews on the same day even without the linkup. So imagine my surprise when I saw that my friend Lauren had decided to start another book review linkup on the same day! Amen!! So without further ado, here are my reads from July. 

Island Time - Georgia Clark: 5 Stars
Netgalley

I absolutely loved how complex this story was, within a seemingly breezy rom-com! Even though there was quite a large set of characters, each one had a distinct voice and personality. I loved how the story unfolded from each of their perspectives. I wanted more from the epilogue (how far out was that set, about a week? too short), like how each member was faring in their new lives, but I really enjoyed how messy the author made these characters- as a family, and as individuals, and the pliability and realism in their relationships. I also liked how the author described everything; the island- I could actually feel the cool breeze off the beach(!), the terror during certain storm scenes, and resilience of each in the face of devastating and drastic changes. She also seemed to have a strong grasp of the ecology of the island and explained so without shoving climate change down the reader's throat and without standing on an environmentalist soap box, which I appreciated. 

The Woman in the Library - Sulari Gentill: 4.5 Stars

library hardback

I loved this reverse locked-room mystery! Basically, "Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream...four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer."

I immediately liked Freddie and Cain. I liked that Freddie was also an author who was in the library that day to work on her book. I loved that one of the other strangers sitting with her picked up on her nicknames for them (ha!). I found Marigold to be a bit too young and absolutely too intrusive in the others' lives. But I think my favorite part may have been learning about Freddie and her obsessive fan, who we only glimpsed correspondences of from him to her about her upcoming book. I knew at least two who DIDN'T commit the murder in the beginning, but was left guessing for anyone else, which leads to a solid murder mystery to me! 

Yerba Buena - Nina LaCour: 3 Stars

BOTM; Own

Trigger warning: addiction

In LaCour's first novel aimed at adults (as opposed to YA), she takes two women and tells us their story from teenagerhood through adulthood. These two women seemingly have nothing in common, except their experiences with addiction. I'm usually a big fan of FF romance, but something didn't sit right with me when progressing this one. Sara's life is complex and hard; Emilie is like a silly girl flitting around using her parents' money. Their "connection" felt too sudden and forced. I actually originally gave this 4 stars but I can't remember why, so I'm giving it 3. 

Landline - Rainbow Rowell: 3 Stars

Own

Oh, Rainbow. You've let me down again (but not as bad as you did with Fangirl). This was....fine.  Ok, maybe it wasn't you, it was me. I don't typically like stories involving science fiction, magic realism, or ::shudder:: time travel, and that's what you gave me. In summary, Georgie and Neal have been married for a long time, they're have some struggles, and then Georgie has to work over one Christmas vacation, when they normally got to Kansas to visit Neal's family. So Neal packs up the kids and goes without her. And then she calls his house, and *somehow* (through some "magic phone") gets to talk to a younger version of him. Like, when they first started dating version. I was intrigued by the premise but underwhelmed by the execution. I'm all for a HEA, but I would've liked some explanations. 

Currently Reading: The Last Anniversary - Liane Moriarty

Book Stats (recounted this month)
Total number read: 22
Owned: 14

Library: 8

E-book: 15

Physical book: 7
Non-Fiction: 3
BIPOC Author: 3 (same)

Given Away/Paperback Swap: 12

What are you reading?

Linking up with Lauren!

Show Us Your Books

I'm not gonna lie... my love of reading has certainly taken a nosedive in the last few months. We all have highs and lows even when it comes to hobbies, right? I just couldn't find my groove until recently, but better late than never! Here's what I read since the last time I linked-up: 

In Her Boots - K.J. Dell'Antonia: 3 Stars
Netgalley

I liked that the focus in this one was female friendship and mother-daughter issues versus romance, but Rhett was very immature and naïve for being nearly 40 years old. A lot of the drama could have been avoided easily by just talking. I think the best part was the Emily twist. I was really looking forward to this one, but it was a little too predictable and I found it dragging.

Almost Romance: A Memoir - Nancy Balbirer: 2.5 Stars

Kindle Unlimited

I liked this story- after 30+ years, these once lovers reunite. Yay. (That is not a spoiler, it's in the description.) I just didn't like the author's writing style. Too many Yiddish words that made following difficult without having to look them up, and other words that made it seem like she was trying too hard (ex: soupcon, just say a small amount! or heretoupon, etc). For a book less than 200 pages, there was a lot of "fluff" and it took me a lot of willpower to get push through this one. 

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler: 3 Stars

library e-book

What a weird little book. I was completely enthralled until about 24%, when we learn a fun fact about the MC's sister, Fern. And then the whole story changed course and I no longer loved it. I did enjoy the the dry humor and side characters, and support what the author clearly wants me to support, but can't say too much else about the story without giving away spoilers. If you want to know what I'm talking about, highlight below!

[spoiler]: There’s something you don’t know yet about Mary. The imaginary friend of my childhood was not a little girl. She was a little chimpanzee. So, of course, was my sister Fern. Some of you will have figured that out already. Others may feel it was irritatingly coy of me to have withheld Fern’s essential simian-ness for so long.

 

DNF: Exciting Times - Naoise Dolan

I did NOT have an "exciting time" reading this one. I usually try to give a book at least 20% before giving up but honestly, I don't even think I made it that far before marking this "nope, not for me, maybe for you." 

"I wasn’t good at most things but I was good at men, and Julian was the richest man I’d ever been good at."

Currently reading: The Smash-Up - Ali Benjamin

Book Stats 
Total number read: 16
Owned: 3 (same)

Library: 7 

E-book: 8

Physical book: 5 (same)
Non-Fiction: 1 (same)
BIPOC Author: 3 (same)

Given Away/Paperback Swap: 10

What are you reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana! 

March Reads

Friends, I haven't picked up a book since March 20 (as Goodreads tells me). I have tried physical and e-books, short stories and long, owned and borrowed, and nothing is grabbing my attention. Is this just me? Anyway, here is what I read before the slump.

Why Not Me? - Mindy Kaling: 4 Stars
Own

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf since it first came out in 2016. I love the way it's broken up- there are random lists, rules, anecdotes of her childhood, pictures...a little something for everyone. The only thing that truly annoyed me was/is her STILL talking about BJ Novak. That was only a small portion though, so I would definitely recommend!

On weddings: 

If you’re my best friend and the only way I get to have dinner with you is by traveling thousands of miles, selecting a chicken or fish option, and wearing a dress in the same shade of lavender as six other girls, I will do that. I won’t love it. But I love you.

Apples Never Fall - Liane Moriarty: 4 Stars
Own

Plot: Mom goes missing, Dad is a suspect, 4 grown children squabble about what happened, and one curious stranger seems to be at the center of it. 

At first I thought there were too many characters to keep track of, but they were all so exceptionally developed that it became easier as I continued. It was also a bit confusing with the timelines switching back and forth between last October and the present. I did enjoy the townspeople's POVs that were thrown in about why Mom went missing, or who dun it if something terrible happened to her as it added a bit of salaciousness to the whole situation. The entire mystery surrounding Savannah, the strange girl who just turned up at the Delaney's house late one evening in need of shelter and who stayed and made herself a fixture in their home was so well-done that even I didn't see that she had basically made herself an integral part of their "family" until it was too late. I've loved everything I've read by Moriarty and this was no different! 

The opening: "...odds were he’d get lucky tonight. He didn’t get lucky. He got very unlucky. Twenty minutes later he was dead..."

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island - Colleen Oakley: 3.5 Stars

library e-book

This probably would have received a higher rating from me if it didn't drag so much in the middle. I was expecting a breezy rom-com, but this actually tackled some much deeper issues which I found refreshing. And I definitely didn't see the main twist coming! I loved how absolutely flawed the reporter Anders Caldwell was, the townspeople, and the small town feel and descriptions of life and traditions on Frick Island. (In fact, I've read that the island is based off of Smith Island in Maryland and now I want to visit!) 

“Have you ever read The Phantom Tollbooth?” “No.” “It was one of Tom’s favorite books as a kid. I never really got the appeal, but there’s this one line that says: ‘If something is there, you can only see it with your eyes open, but if it isn’t there, you can see it just as well with your eyes closed. That’s why imaginary things are often easier to see than real ones.’”

Book Stats 
Total number read: 10
Owned: 3

Library: 5 

E-book: 5

Physical book: 5
Non-Fiction: 1 (same)
BIPOC Author: 3

What are you reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana! 

February Reads

Seems like the only posts I'm interested in writing this year are book-related, but I'm pretty sure this audience doesn't mind! One thing I bought myself this Christmas was a "reader's journal." Even though I occasionally come back to these posts to remember what I thought of a book, I hardly ever write/share spoilers and thrillers are one of my favorite genres, so this allows me to  write down and remember questions that I had while reading and those big AH-HA! moments. I love it. I'm still figuring out how exactly I want to structure it (like, I don't care about "character notes" but I am interested in how I got the book, whether it was from library or Kindle, or BOTM, etc.) and genres, etc. It's definitely still a work in progress, but I'm loving it so far! It actually helped me to write some of these reviews! So without further ado, here's what I read in February. 

What You Did - Claire McGowan: 5 Stars

Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 6 college friends get together for the first time in 20 years. They're having a great time until Ali (our protagonist)'s BFF Karen comes staggering in from the garden claiming that Ali's husband (and her friend as well), Mike, raped her. There is a trial, after which shit goes down and even more truths come out about that night and a night 20 years earlier at their graduation where another young woman that they all knew was sexual assaulted and murdered. 

Wow. THIS was the fast-paced domestic thriller I've been looking for. So many twists and turns, and even though our protagonist is a bit dim/wearing rose-colored glasses, I didn't see that ending coming!

"'Al. Ali. You know by now, don't you? You know and that's why you've come?'...

'What do I know?'...

'What I did...'"

The Call of the Mountain - Sam Neumann: 3 Stars

Netgalley (from 2015)

Summary: High-flying financial analyst Julian up and leaves his life in NYC because he's tired of the "rat-race." He moves to Denver because he's always wondered what it would be like to live "out west" after seeing an ad for the Rockies in his childhood. He gets caught up with some mob (like, really? How could you not know?) and a bunch of shit goes down.

This was just ok. Kind of predictable, but kept me intrigued enough to finish. I would not label this as a "face-paced thriller" but more of a slow-burn. Julian was a very unlikeable character with no real back-bone and there's 0 character development. The "romance" was lackluster at best.  The whole story was a bit far-fetched, but the ending even more so, and it needed an epilogue. It wrapped up a bit too tidily.

Jonny Appleseed - Joshua Whitehead: 2 Stars
Purchased, paperback

I wish I could summarize this one, but the storyline was so hard to pinpoint. I'll try though:  a young, gay man trying to make ends meet after he leaves the "rez," moves to Winnipeg and pursues a life as a cybersex worker (the author really makes a point of stating "cybersex worker" and not prostitute, but basically a prostitute). He is trying to make money to go back home to his grandmother's funeral- one of the few people who seemed to understand and love him for who he was. 

The stream-of-consciousness story-telling made this story extremely disjointed. There was just no coherent timeline and too many VERY graphic overly sexual scenes. I think the author was trying to be "edgy" but it just made me cringe. At least it was a short, fast read. 

Currently Reading: Why Not Me? - Mindy Kaling

Book Stats
Total number read: 8
Owned: 1

Library: 4 (same)

E-book: 4

Physical book: 3
Non-Fiction: 1 (same)
BIPOC Author: 2

What are you reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana! 

January Reads

Hello fellow bookworms! I'm coming in late with my book reviews from last month... what can I say? Monday night I stayed up late reading instead of writing this post... oops! It wasn't even a good book ::facepalm:: But I'll be sharing that one next month. Last year was rough for sure, and my reading reflected a lot of what I'd consider "fluff" because that's all I could handle. This year I'm trying to be more inclusive in terms of authors (last year I only read books 4 by men, 2 of which were short stories, and only 6 by BIPOC authors... oh, the shame!). Here's what I read in 2022 so far.

Let It Snow - John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle: 5 Stars
library e-book

Short take: 3 intertwined stories of teens caught in a snowstorm between Christmas and NYE in NC. 

I almost never read the book AFTER watching the show/movie, but I made an exception because I barely remembered anything about it other than that the stories were interconnected. (And of course I re-watched the Netflix movie directly after I finished, and they were vastly different.) All that to say that I loved both (though I think I liked the movie a wee bit more *gasp!*). And I'm pretty sure this was a timing thing, as I was still feeling a bit of the holiday spirit and this had just enough mush and romance and holiday without going overboard. Also made me crave Waffle House hash browns.

Shout - Laurie Halse Anderson: 4 Stars

library paperback

Content warning:  rape, sexual assault, PTSD, war, physical abuse, fat shaming, alcohol and other drug use.

I never read Speak but I knew what the premise was, and knowing that made me wary going into this memoir. But this wasn't all about that singular incident (which was called IT and I found that profoundly fitting); it included poems about her childhood and growing up, about her family, her subsequent relationships, and her After life.  I love that she's going to high schools and school boards and spreading her truth and empowering the movement because it at least gets the conversation going. 

"too many grown-ups tell kids to follow

their dreams

like that's going to get you somewhere

Auntie Laurie is says follow your nightmares instead

cuz when you figure out what's eating you alive

you can slay it"

Jane Austen Ruined My Life - Beth Pattillo: 3 Stars
library paperback

Short take: Emma (ha) finds herself cheated on and out of a job; she moves to England after getting a letter from a stranger stating that she has Jane Austen's long lost letters, so she moves there to find, steal, and publish them to get "revenge" on Austen and her life back on track.

I admit I've never read anything by Jane Austen nor do I know anything about her life. I solely picked up this book to fit Erin's Challenge, but I enjoyed it! While Austen factoids were thrown in, it wasn't much about her at all but rather one fanatic's journey after she falls (or tumbles, painfully and quite publicly) from grace and lands in England on the hunt for Austen's long-lost letters (really to sell Austen's private life out and publicize the letters because she read to many of Austen's novels and wanted to get revenge on her for "making" her believe in a happily-ever-afters or something like that, but also to clear her name and get her career  as a professor at a university back). I liked the eccentric character of Mrs. Parrot, the witty banter and playful romance, but was disappointed by the ending and too many unanswered questions that I can't mention here without major spoiler alerts. 

"'I can't believe any of this is coincidence.'

Mrs. Parrot gave me another one of her smiles. 'My dear, you should never fail to believe in the power of coincidence. I'm sure Jane Austen would give you the same counsel.'" 

The Knockout Queen - Rufi Thorpe: 2 Stars

library e-book

Content warning: pedophilia, homophobia, self-harm, alcohol and other drug abuse, physical abuse/bullying

Short take: An unlikely friendship blossoms between neighbors and "outsiders" Michael (who is poor and gay) and Bunny (who is 6 ft tall and rich); this is "their" story."

I just didn't like this author's way of story telling. The first person narrative felt like a stream-of- consciousness, however Michael isn't telling his story at all- he's talking all about events that are happening to his best friend, Bunny, which felt weird. Events that happened to Bunny that should have been gut-wrenching, as told from outside/Michael's POV, seemed less so, if that makes sense. This was definitely a coming of age story, but also involved toxic friendships, abuse, and privilege. (F'n RAY aka Bunny's dad, what a scumbag.) A few reviewers mentioned that if you liked Holden Caulfield and/or Wes Anderson movies, you might like this. I dislike both, so take this review with a grain of salt I suppose. 

"You were poor, you got a drug charge, you got a gun charge, ding, ding, scrape, scratch, because those were the problems that came from growing up in a poor neighborhood. They were not signs of individual moral turpitude."

Currently reading: What You Did - Claire McGowan

Book Stats
Total number read: 4
Owned: 0

Library: 4

E-book: 2

Physical book: 2
Non-Fiction: 1
BIPOC: 1

What are you reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana!