Hey book lovers! This is my personal page about my bookish life. The page is broken down into three sections. The first section includes the books I have just finished with my review. The second section are books I am currently reading. In the currently reading section I try to include how far I am along, what drew me to the book, and how I am enjoying it so far. The final section are a few books I am going to try and read within the next month and am excited about.

Just Finished

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Choice Award Winner in Fiction in 2020

The first sentence starts with "Nineteen years before Nora decides to kill herself..." while that may sound like a book that you want to put down because of the sensitive topic it brings up, I would encourage you to keep going. Nora Seed has hit a rough patch in her life. She is in her 30s and living with lots of major regrets in life. She is also dealing with changes that are happening around her that she can't control. Nora decides to kill herself by overdosing on some pills. She ends up in a place called the "Midnight Library". In the "Midnight Library" there are shelves and shelves of books that seem to go on forever and every book represents a different choice that Nora could have decided to make in her life and the alternative life she could have lived based on that choice. As she waits for death, she must come to terms with her regrets in life.

Nora has been medically diagnosed in this book with depression and she does talk about suicide and approaches the topic several times in the beginning of the book. Though these are hard topics the tone of the book did not dwell on those topics too harshly. I found the book more to be a somewhat similar female version of It's a Wonderful Life. While Nora tries different lives in the Midnight Library she begins to see how her life has affected those around her for the good or the bad. In the end, the book is about choices and regrets and how messy yet beautiful life can be.

View all my reviews First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction in 2015

The follow-up companion novel to Garden Spells continues to follow Claire and Sydney Waverley ten years after the "year that changed everything". Claire has stopped her catering business to pursue candy making and has been more well known outside of the small town of Bascom as the popularity of the candy grows. Sydney has managed to stay put in Bascom after running for so long and now owns a popular salon in town. The sisters are getting ready for First Frost which is an event that is important in the town of Bascom as the magical apple tree in the Waverley's garden starts to bloom. Until First Frost happens the town is on edge and unsettled. There is something in the air that causes anxiousness in the small town and a mysterious stranger shows up causing more questions to be raised and uneasiness in the Waverley family.

Coming back to Bascom and these characters is a treat. These characters and the town are likable and the magic in the story is just enough where it is not overwhelming. Though there are heavy moments in this book, the tone is light and refreshing. The main stories of Sydney and Claire in this book were somewhat frustrating to me because both sisters go through a struggle of trying to understand themselves and their family. Claire's daughter and Bay have better storylines that I was more interested in reading but overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters but not as much as the first.

View all my reviews One Day in December by Josie Silver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One day in December Laurie is on a commuter bus and sees at a bus stop a man she can only describe as The ONE. It just took one simple glance to see this man that seemed to be just as mesmerized as she was but the bus pulled away and he did not get on the bus or follow. For the next year, Laurie and her best friend Sarah searched everywhere for this man she affectionately called "Bus Boy". Eventually, she finds "Bus Boy" and discovers his name is Jack and that he happens to be dating her best friend Sarah who is in love with him. For the next 10 years, Jack and Laurie decide never to discuss or act on their attraction to each other on that one day in December.

This story is told from both Jack and Laurie's alternating perspectives throughout the years. The timeline changes throughout the story so it moves quickly through the years and highlights what has happened in the last few months. The story will be somewhat predictable before you even start. But it is a sweet story and gives a good perspective on how imperfect love can be.

View all my reviews All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Choice Award Winner in 2015 for Young Adult Fiction
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee in 2018 for Best of the Best

Violet Markey and Theodore Finch meet for the first time at the top of the bell tower at their high school. There are different circumstances that brought them to the top. Violet is living with survivor’s guilt after a car accident. Theodore Finch is trying to get the feeling of what it’s like to be close to death. They both end up coming down from the tower and Violet is declared a hero for saving Finch from harming himself. Afterward, Finch and Violet are paired together for a Geography project to explore the wonders of their home state of Indiana. Finch is excited at the prospect of the project but Violet is dreading it for multiple reasons. Eventually, both teens let their guard down and become more aware of who they are and how they can move on from past pain.

This book addresses the hard issues of mental illness and depression. It is a hard read and seemed a little bit slow in the beginning. The storyline is somewhat predictable but the message is important and if you decide to read this book please read the author’s note.

View all my reviews Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Goodreads Choice Award Winner in 2020 for Young Adult Fiction

In a novel written in verse, Yahaira and Camino are two teenage girls living different lives in diverse parts of the world. Yahaira lives in New York City with her mother and father. Camino lives in the Dominican Republic where she lives with her aunt and dreams of becoming a doctor. Though they are strangers to each other, they have a strong bond that they don’t become aware of until the day a plane leaving New York City for the Dominican Republic crashes. Onboard is their father who has been traveling back and forth between them for years. After his death, his secrets come out and his daughters learn of each other and the past that caused their current circumstances.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. It is a strong story about forgiveness and family. Clap When You Land illustrates how hard it is to accept the mistakes that people make and to forgive them.

View all my reviews Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A story about two sisters who think they know each other but one night during a drunken party changes everything between them. Ruby is the 19 year old teenage girl who has everyone in their small town wrapped around her finger. Everyone seems to do anything she asks and she always gets her way. Chloe is her 14 year old sister who adores her and wants to be just like her.

One night at a reservoir in town Ruby brags that Chloe can swim across the two mile reservoir. Chloe willingly obliges Ruby and starts to swim. When Chloe gets tired she stops and discovers a dead girl in a row boat. The girl is Chloe’s classmate London Hayes and has overdosed.

Afterwards, Chloe is forced to leave town and live with her father for two years. Then randomly, Ruby shows up and tells Chloe to come back home. When Ruby does come she comes face to face with London Hayes who has been dead for two years. How is she alive? Why doesn’t anyone remember her death? Why did Ruby come back after two years to get Chloe?

I found the premise of this book engaging and intriguing. I wanted to read more about these mysterious circumstances. But other than the premise there was not much else to like about this book. All characters were unlikeable in this book and that never changes. Even worse, none of the characters change or grow throughout the book they are pretty much the same selfish cold people they were in the beginning. I had trouble with the writing style as well it seemed as though scenes were not transitioning and all of a sudden the characters were doing something completely different from the previous paragraph. In the end, I finished the book because I was interested enough to keep reading but it really wasn’t for me.

View all my reviews Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult in 2020

Pepper is the classic good girl. She makes good grades, is the captain of the swim team, on the way to one major ivy league school in the country, and manages a major Twitter account for her family's business Big League Burger which is growing all over the country. But while Pepper is trying to keep it all together she is actually starting to lose track of all of her goals in life. Jack is the exact opposite of Pepper. He feels as though he is living in the shadow of his "amazing" twin brother Ethan. Ethan is the popular, smart, and athletic brother while other students become quickly disappointed when they mistake Jack for Ethan. Jack works at his family's delicatessen in the city and acts out, cracks jokes, and basically feels like an outcast in the prestigious school that both he and Pepper attend.

Both Jack and Pepper, unknowingly, begin a Twitter war between the two family businesses over a new grilled cheese item that will be added to Big League Burger's menu. The grilled cheese recipes are eerily similar to each other and so begins the war of grilled cheese.

I came across this book from a source I trust for good book recommendations. It was described as the You've Got Mail of teen romances only a grilled cheese war and not over a bookstore. The characters are likeable in the story and the story is actually believable and not so far fetched or overly cheesy (ha ha see what I did there?). You will root for these characters and love the grilled cheese war.

View all my reviews Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The first book in the Fairytale Retellings series tells a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Similar to the fairy tale, Scarlett and Rosie's grandmother is viciously attacked in the first few pages of the book by a Fenris. The Fenris look like humans except for one jarring feature which is a tattoo on their wrist that signifies their pack. The Fenris then transforms into a wolf once it becomes time to devour their female meal. After the loss of their grandmother, the now permanently scarred Scarlett and Rosie decide to get revenge and begin hunting Fenris in their small town of Ellison to prevent further attacks.

Scarlett and Rosie are concerned when they learn from a Fenris that there will be a bigger and stronger presence of the pack coming. The Fenris packs are aware of a Potential that can be converted into their pack by one bite during a full moon. Rival packs are now walking among everyday people and hunting for their Potential and won't stop at anything to recruit a new member. Scarlett and Rosie begin doing everything they can to stop more attacks before another Potential becomes part of the pack.

While reading this I found the book to be gorier than I thought it would be. The attacks from Fenris are frequent and sometimes graphic. At some point, I had to put the book down and say to myself "you can't read this at night". It was an engaging story that had my adrenaline going at times. There were certain aspects of the characters I didn't appreciate mainly involving Silas who is their friend and a fellow hunter that I can't reveal because it would spoil the book. Overall, the story was engaging and well crafted maybe just a little bit darker than I thought it would be.

View all my reviews Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Winner of the Newberry Medal in 1998 and the Scott O'Dell Award in 1998

Billie Jo is a scrawny, long-legged 14-year-old living in Oklahoma in 1934. Currently, both the depression and the Dust Bowl are hitting her small town hard. Dust is constant in her home, food, and clothes and there seems to be no rain or hope in sight for recovery of the crops. Many of her friends and neighbors have decided to leave and travel to California to escape the dust and poverty. Billie Jo's parents decide to stay. After a terrible accident, Billie Jo unexpectedly loses her mom. Billie Jo tries to find a way to grieve and keep going after her death but her father becomes distant and closed off. Both she and her father struggle to stay optimistic and hopeful while battling the dust.

This book was a re-read for me I have read this book as a kid and have a fond memory of buying it at a scholastic book fair. The story is written in free verse as a way to emphasize words and phrases. It's a short read but a powerful one about family and hope.

View all my reviews Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame by Mara Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Humor in 2016.

Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Miracle on 34th Street were all movies I enjoyed as a child. I must have watched Matilda dozens of times as a kid. I decided to read this book after reading the book Matilda earlier this year. I was curious to find out what happened after she seemed to be in a few major movies. But you don't have to be a huge fan to enjoy the book.

Mara Wilson writes about her childhood and fame and what made her step away from Hollywood. The book does jump around a little bit from her childhood to adulthood and she writes openly about her struggles. She explains her OCD and anxiety and how it affected her life and made her feel different. There are other themes of grief over her mother's loss, mean girls, and finding your people. Overall, an easy read, the stories flow well and have a poignant feeling but I honestly did not feel like I was reading a humor classified book. There were some heavy themes throughout the book.

View all my reviews Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Leave Me Breathless tells the story of Ryan Willis and Hannah Bright from their alternating points of view. Ryan Willis is an ex MI5 and working in protection at the beginning of the book and decides to quit after his final assignment to go back home. Hannah Bright has just moved into a small town an hour outside of London called Hampton. Ryan and Hannah meet after Ryan accidentally runs Hannah over driving down a somewhat deserted street. When they meet they instantly find each other attracted to one another but Hannah is hesitant to get attached to Ryan as she only plans to move to Hampton temporarily and then move on. Hannah seems as though she is running away from something or someone and is scared to get close to anyone. Hannah eventually lets her guard down and opens up about her troubled past but her past may be more trouble than Ryan can handle.

This book has some racy, open door scenes, which Jodi Ellen Malpas is known for. The tone of the book is mostly light but there is a secret that makes circumstances complicated and gives the reader a little bit of an adrenaline rush. It is a classic damsel in distress and here comes Mr. Hunky and Fit who is going to save the day but it's what you want and what you expect in a book like this. At times, the dialogue is corny and there's one character in the book who I had a minor issue with but overall it delivers what its expected to deliver.

View all my reviews Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The first book in the Darcy and Rachel Duology. I reread this book in 2020. Nine years after reading initially I can tell I was in a different place when I first read this book. I am downgrading the book from 5 stars to 3 and removed from my favorites shelf. I’m not saying I am on board with the rampant cheating that goes on in this book. Rachel and Darcy have been friends since they were little girls. Darcy is the self-centered, vain and beautiful friend that seems to have everything go her way. Rachel is the quiet, goody two shoes, and insecure girl who lives in the shadow of her energetic best friend. On the eve of Rachel's 30th birthday, Rachel makes a big mistake and sleeps with Darcy's Fiancee Dex. Rachel tries to understand how something like this could happen surely it was because of how much they both had to drink. Dex confesses he did not have that much to drink and does not show regret.

It was an okay book I kept reading and maybe rolled my eyes a few times. I rooted for the girl who felt she was overshadowed by her friend because of her looks. I felt like the movie adaptation made Rachel more likable and sympathetic. The movie adaptation also is completely different from the book. The only scenes that are the same are the beginning and the end. I will not reread this again.

**2011 Review***
Reading about Darcy and Rachel's friendship was greatly enjoyable. I think in some way everyone can relate to their friendship. I read most of the book in one day. I never wanted to put it down! Obviously, it isn't a hugely in-depth, life-changing book. But I was greatly in need of something fun to read and this hit the spot perfectly.

View all my reviews Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"I must, I must, I must increase my bust". I have to admit this made me laugh a little reading it. I have never read this book before and I have no idea how I would have reacted as a sixth-grader reading this book. The book illustrates how innocent and how new things are when you are going through an awkward time in your life. The reason for my three-star rating is because a part of me was curious about what her religious experiences taught her. Also, ***SPOILER ALERT*** as soon as she gets her period the book is pretty much over. I guess I wanted a little bit more. But it is a unique book for the tween category about being awkward and getting through an awkward time.

View all my reviews Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Young Adult Fiction in 2019

Stella is a goody-two-shoes who has been suffering her whole life with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). She knows all the treatments she needs and follows them down to the second to ensure that she can fight CF. She is familiar with the hospital staff and treats them as a second family. She is hopeful that she will be able to fight CF. Will is a fellow CFer who has just been admitted to the same hospital as Stella. Unlike Stella, he has been bounced around to several hospitals trying experimental treatments to treat his more severe form of CF. He is not hopeful for treatment or a cure. Instead, he believes in the philosophy he might as well live the life he wants while he can. Can Stella change Will's philosophy on life while staying five feet apart?

I have to admit I liked this story more than "The Fault in Our Stars" even though the stories are similar there are parts of this book that I just loved and made me smile. Though both main characters are battling hard circumstances there are some scenes that just illustrate teenagers being teenagers. I felt the ending was a more realistic ending to the story and nothing within the story felt forced to create a more emotional story. Overall, a well written story and I am excited to watch the film adaptation.

View all my reviews The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway from the publisher.

"Understand, friend, there are millions of us. Millions of people who struggle with (and overcome) all sorts of problems. You would be shocked to know how many people understand EXACTLY what you are going through. That doesn't mean that what you are going through is somehow less. Meaningful. Special. Unique. On the contrary, it means that what you are going through is more. It is important. It deserves to be seen, spoken of, and understood."

I went back and forth with this book. In the beginning, the letter format and the grammar and sentence structure was a little hard to get familiar with. Charlie, the main character writing letters, also came across naive and too innocent for the people he was around. I also felt the author was trying to address too many issues at once, depression, rape, incest, abortion, alcoholism, racism, homophobia, etc. It all seemed quite overwhelming.

Overall, though I really loved the quote at the end of the book from the last letter.

View all my reviews The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's 1935 in Key West and unbeknownst to anyone one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded will be hitting the Florida Keys in the next few days. The story begins with Helen, local to the area, who is 9 months pregnant working at Ruby's Cafe with an alcoholic abusive husband at home. The story then shifts to Elizabeth who is on a train heading to Key West to look for a gentleman who recently wrote a letter to her that was postmarked somewhere in Key West. Then finally, we meet Mirta, originally from Cuba who is traveling to Key West for her honeymoon with a man she hardly knows. The three women must find strength once the impending hurricane comes and make difficult decisions about what their future holds.

View all my reviews Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s the beginning of the 2008 recession and Louisa Clark has just been let go from her job. She heads down to the Job Center in London to find work. Unfortunately, with little experience and skills there are few jobs she is qualified to do. She eventually goes on an interview to be a care giver to Will Traynor who is a quadriplegic after a terrible road accident. Will is a bossy and rude man who is sulking because of his accident. Louisa and Will are nothing alike. Louisa is reserved and has not travelled outside of her hometown. Before his accident, Will was successful, adventurous, and pushing the limits of how exciting life can be. Louisa takes the position because her and her family need the money. Louisa and Will begin to learn more about each other and learn more about themselves as both characters begin to let their guard down.

This book has a wonderful story and characters that are realistic. The choices they have to make are tough. You will root for most of the characters along the way. This book reminded me that you never really know how quickly your life will change and how much of an impact certain people can make on your life.

View all my reviews Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lara Jean is in her senior year of high school and making decisions about going to school and how she feels about her father's relationship with their neighbor from across the street. Peter and Lara Jean have been together for about a year and are enjoying senior year activities such as dances, trips, and parties. As Lara Jean heads into college she keeps hearing her mother's advice in her head "Don't go to college with a boyfriend and miss out on your freshman year." Will Lara Jean make the decision to take her mother's advice?

The three-star rating is what I settled on because a few parts of the series that I wish were tackled differently. Overall, the whole series itself I would give three stars as well as the last book. The main hook that brings you into the series is the love letters that are sent out without Lara Jean knowing. In the series as a whole, that probably makes up about 20 percent of the books. The rest of the series is more about making hard decisions and how hard it is to be a teenager. I guess I would like for everything to come full circle with the letters but it didn't. The whole Peter and Gen storyline was strange as well as Margot and Josh.

Lara Jean's mother's advice was just really terrible advice. I feel like the characters felt they had to follow it to respect their mother's wishes but their mother wasn't around to further clarify or help them understand. I also felt like in all the books there was a long build-up to the ending and then the ending felt anti-climatic. Overall, it was an okay series. I'm glad I read it but I don't think there was anything too memorable.

View all my reviews This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The year is 1932 and times are hard for families in Minnesota as the Great Depression continues throughout the country. Four friends find each other at Lincoln School, a government ran "school" for displaced Native Americans to be "educated". As a tornado comes through town these four friends have found their circumstances have changed and they take advantage of this uncertain time to leave the school and travel down the river to the Mississippi to find a better life. Along the way, they meet many colorful people in similar circumstances and discover how the Great Depression has affected the country.

I read this book as a book club pick and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book because it would not have been a book I would have picked on my own. The story sounds similar to Huckleberry Finn and also makes several parallels to Homer's "Odyssey". There were some small twists and turns that I didn't infer possibly because I was so enthralled in the story I didn't think about the possible connections that would come later. I decided to give it four stars because there were some scenes that I just had a hard time reading. The ending of the book was somewhat resolved but not entirely I somewhat felt I had more questions than answers. But overall, I would recommend this book.

View all my reviews The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In a post-world war era, we are introduced to characters in a small town of Chawton, England. All characters are trying to work through their own personal hardships. Some are mourning losses or dealing with the circumstances that were caused by the war. Chawton is an important town as it was seen as the last place that Jane Austen called home before passing away. It is also believed that the town is where she finished her last three novels. Because of this history, Janeites make their way to this small town to see where Jane lived. Some of the villagers welcome these visitors while others see no importance in Jane Austen's history. Life long residents often find comfort in Jane Austen's work and eventually find each other by sharing their love of the books. Through their love of the work, they begin to work towards a goal that brings all of them together in ways they did not expect.

Before I begin my review, I have to say that I feel I would have appreciated this book more if I had read Jane Austen's books and had also known a little bit more about her life. This book has wonderful writing and you can tell by the history and the character evaluation that the context of this book is extraordinarily well thought and enriching. Outside of the Jane Austen references to the work, there is a small story of the characters themselves and how they come together. Because of the indepth references to Jane Austen's work and life there isn't much else to cling to in the book. I feel that I will have to read a little bit more of Jane Austen's work and her life and come back to re-read as an audiobook at a later date.


View all my reviews Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Little Women tells the story of the March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Each daughter unique and learning the lessons of life through the years. The book spans over several years and describes some of the everyday activities as well as the major changes in their lives as they grow older. Mr. and Mrs. March guide their daughters through good times and hard times and teach them life's lessons.

Some of the chapters that I enjoyed within the book illustrated so wonderfully lessons that must be learned. One of my favorite chapters was about how the girls decided to give up their chores and relish in whatever activities they enjoyed. After a while, the girls learn that their favorite activities were less enjoyable when spending their time leisurely and not working. A simple message told in a sweet way. Towards the end of the book, I found certain chapters slowing down for me. Reading the book in two parts as it was originally published may have been a more enjoyable experience. Reading this book was sometimes hard for me. The writing within the book strikes me as more readable than other classics. However, there were long passages of explanation of everyday activities that were somewhat mundane. Though not a favorite of mine it is understandable to see why this book has stood the test of time.

View all my reviews Matilda by Roald Dahl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one hundred percent a comfort read. I have watched the movie several times as a child and loved it. I actually broke one of my reading rules to read the book after I have seen the movie. The book is just as enjoyable as the movie. I even found that as a kid there were parts of the movie that I felt weren't fully explained. In the book, everything is clarified and told beautifully. There were things that the movie added and took away. But overall, I love both the movie and the book.

Matilda Wormwood is an extraordinary child with unbelievable gifts. Since she was born she was mostly neglected by her parents and older brother Mike. While she is left alone much as a child she learns to take care of herself and teach herself what she needs to know. She begins reading at a young age and ventures to the library every day to pour over the collection of books. Once she begins school she finds her teacher, Miss Honey, and her friends who help her to better understand her gifts. She also finds fun and excitement with the mean Miss Trunchbull running the school. Matilda uses her gifts for good to help those who need it and punish those who are cruel.

View all my reviews Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Audiobook! Audiobook! Audiobook! I must confess I am not an audiobook person but in one of the bookish communities I am a part of a reader gushed about how this book was MEANT to be an audiobook so of course, I had to try it.

Daisy Jones and the Six tells the story of a 70's band going hard and trying to make it in the music business. Daisy Jones finds the Six and they come to understand that they are better together than apart. The book follows all members of the band and how seven different personalities come together and make an amazing album. Eventually, the band decides to go their separate ways and no one understands why.

Listening to this book will make you feel like you are listening to Behind the Music on a television in another room. If I had read this book, I probably would not have loved it nearly as much. What makes the audiobook so great? It's a performance you can hear the cast become the characters and there is so much emotion in their voices that you can easily get lost in the story. Reading the words on the page I can see as being somewhat beautiful but hearing them... is a whole different level.



View all my reviews Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Annie is waiting for her Tom Hanks. She is well aware that Tom Hanks is a married man but she has fallen in love with his characters in Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. Annie loves other rom-coms as well and believes that she can fall in love the same way as Meg Ryan does in the movies. When a rom-com comes to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio it is almost too good to be true. Annie finds a job on set and hopes to find her Tom Hanks. A sweet, light book that will definitely remind you of your favorite rom-com. All the usual and familiar cast of characters; the best friend, the goofy guy, the guy you want to leave you alone and the guy who makes you fall head over heels. ((no open door scenes)).

View all my reviews Fly Away by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fly Away is the continuing story from Firefly Lane of Tully and Kate and their families. At the end of the first book, Kate passes away from breast cancer. Tully and Kate's family now are grieving for their lost and trying to understand how to continue without their wife, mom, and best friend. Tully, John, Kate's daughter Marah, and Dorothy are the main characters you follow through the story that begins with Tully getting into a serious car accident. The story then goes back in time to the days after Kate's death and builds to the present and how the decisions made had led to this point. At certain times, you see the same scene a few times in order to get the character's thoughts and feelings. There were several times during the book where I was so upset and frustrated with the decisions that were made. The despair and heartbreak that all characters felt caused them to make poor decisions to feel less pain. In the end, it is a story of redemption, hope, and strength. It was a little bit of a long story but it was well told.

View all my reviews Titanic: Voices From the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Titanic has always been a subject that I have always found fascinating. All the circumstances I guess make for an amazing story, a majestic ship labeled "unsinkable", a confident captain and crew, a mix of passengers from all over the world. There is an endless amount of stories from different points of view that can be told about the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

What I specifically enjoyed about this book was learning about a wide variety of passengers on the Titanic both those who survived and those who perished. The book does jump around quite a bit between stories but at the end of the book, there are biographies of all that were mentioned in case the reader gets lost. I also was happy to see many recommendations for more reading and historical facts about the Titanic. Hopkinson mentions interviews that were recorded by survivors and lists the websites to visit to hear from their own voices what happened. This book is a great dedication to the survivors of the Titanic, published 100 years after the sinking.

View all my reviews The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A few years ago on a California vacation, my husband and I went to a taping of Jeopardy!. It was one of the most fun activities we have ever done in California. Hearing Alex Trebek talk about Jeopardy! and all that goes on behind the scenes took me back to that fun time. I decided to listen to this book on audio than read it.

The audiobook is mostly read by GOAT champion Ken Jennings, Alex comes in and out from time to time to speak about his wife, Ken's appearance on the show, and the last chapter. Alex talks candidly and almost as though he is talking to a friend. He is honest about his success but not in a pompous way. He speaks of his mistakes and how he keeps himself grounded and positive with a hard cancer diagnosis. What surprised me the most was how much he talked about all the causes he supports. The book itself is short, most chapters or stories are quite brief which helps the book move along. He speaks much about topical issues such as COVID 19 and the current climate concerns. Overall, a quick listen (the audiobook is only about 4.5 hours) and a smart collection of reflections about where we are in the world and how to embrace life.

View all my reviews The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Xiomara is a 15-year-old Dominican teenager growing up in present-day Harlem. She has lots of questions about life and about finding herself. Her mother is highly religious and is pressuring her to go to confirmation class to prepare for this religious sacrament. But Xiomara doesn't feel the same about religion and questions the catholic faith. Xiomara's mother becomes more and more distant and harsh to Xiomara as her daughter begins to question and break herself free from her mother's grip. Xiomara begins to write her feelings in a poetic way and finds people in her life who support her while she opens her mind to others.

I wanted to listen to the audio version of this book for a few reasons. First, it was a pretty short audiobook (about 3.5 hours). Second, I am not a big poetry reader so I was afraid I would lose interest or have a hard time following. Third, Elizabeth Acevedo reads her own books on audio. I am so glad I listened to it because hearing her voice the way she wanted it to be read was powerful. After listening to the book and reading her highlights that she has available through Goodreads, you can see her words are beautiful. I feel this one will be a re-read for me in the future but I am definitely reading the words next time.

View all my reviews The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time centers around Christopher, an autistic 15-year-old who is accused of killing the dog Wellington at the beginning of the book. Christopher decides to start an investigation into who killed Wellington. As he goes about conducting his investigation he explains about his thought processes and what causes him discomfort and what he does not like. He does not like the colors yellow or brown and does not eat foods that are brown or yellow. He believes the color red is good luck. He doesn't like people touching him. He likes math and does well with Math and hopes of becoming an astronaut. He eventually does find out who has killed Wellington and soon it becomes clear that the death of this dog is far more complicated than expected.

I went back and forth with this book. I thought it was thoughtful to put the thoughts of a character struggling with a developmental disorder into context. I thought a lot about all the different facial expressions and inferences we make throughout our lives without having to explain bluntly. The story itself was engaging and I found myself wrapped up in both the investigation about finding who killed Wellington as well as understanding more about the people in Christopher's life. Towards the end, it seemed as though everything ended suddenly and quickly. Overall, this would be 3.5 stars for me.

View all my reviews Elegy by Tara Hudson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the final book of the Hereafter series Amelia learns that the dark forces that have haunted her have not given up on initiating her to the netherworld. They have given her an ultimatum: either surrender yourself to the dark side or watch someone die every week. Amelia wants to stay on earth to protect her friends and Joshua from the bridge in the town that has dark powers and has already claimed too many lives. Amelia decides she is going to fight back and do everything she can to prevent further deaths at the hands of the demons and the wraiths of the netherworld.

The premise of the last book seemed as though this was going to be an epic showdown. It was not as satisfying as I would have hoped. My main issue with the book was the conflict of the story. Everyone but Amelia will die every week unless she surrenders herself. I couldn't help but thinking the whole time "how selfish can you be?" you are going to continue to live so others can die? Then when there were others who were willing to help her with conquering the darkness my only thoughts were "what are these characters' motivations for helping Ameilia?". It could have been the fact that I read the first two books a few years ago so maybe that may have clouded my understanding.

View all my reviews The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cormoran Strike is down on his luck. After leaving Afghanistan with an amputated leg he begins business as a private detective. Business is not going well and he has bill collectors calling. When John Bristow walks into his office and offers to pay to Strike twice his fee to find out who killed his sister Supermodel sister, Lula Landry, he can't help but take the case. But the case has been properly investigated by the police who ruled her death as a suicide. Lula had a rough life and seemed to have suffered from mental illness so suicide seems likely. Is there something that doesn't quite add up?

I went back and forth on this book. Originally, I was considering a 4-star review. But this is a rare instance where I would give 3.5 stars. The story and characters kept me interested and intrigued and I kept reading eagerly wanting to know more and get to the conclusion. When I finally was at the end, I wasn't overly surprised and I wasn't blown away. I had a suspicion throughout the book of who the killer was and the ending fell flat for me. There was also some language that was used that I felt was somewhat unnecessary and bothered me more than I thought it would. I will be reading The Silkworm because I am curious to see if this trend continues.

View all my reviews Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book revolves around the main character Willowdean who is a self-proclaimed overweight teenager. She is not exactly proud of her weight but she is strong in that she doesn't allow others to make her feel less because of it. Dumplin' is the nickname her beauty pageant mother has given her. After finding a beauty pageant application in her deceased Aunt Lucy's belongings she decides to join the local beauty pageant as a tribute to her and to prove that she, and others like her, should not be deprived of anything because of their weight.

Overall, I liked the story and the characters but I didn't love it. There were many side storylines and I would have appreciated more of a deeper understanding between Willowdean and her mom. I understand that mom and daughters don't always have meaningful discussions but I was waiting for that talk and it never happened. Overall, a good read and I am looking forward to the Netflix film adaptation.

View all my reviews Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is something that is quite magical about this book. It is a rare book where I found that I enjoy the characters, the story, and the setting.

Claire and Sydney are sisters but could not be more different. Claire is quiet, reserved, and stable in her job and her life. She rarely makes changes and does everything that is expected of her. Sydney is traveling around the country after leaving home and living a more troubled life stealing from whoever she comes across and running away. The Waverley family has always been known as somewhat odd in their small town of Bascom. Within their yard there is an apple tree that has special powers and surrounding the tree is a garden with plants that have magical powers. The small town becomes weary of the family as they are afraid of the sisters using these resources against them. When Syndey suddenly arrives back home in Bascom both sisters begin to learn more about each other and understand why they chose their paths.

I did not want this book to end. I enjoyed all the characters even with their flaws and even the characters who found the sisters odd. This is magical realism at its best. One of my favorite books.


View all my reviews The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book follows the story of Danny and Maeve and their lives surrounding the Dutch house. In the beginning, you meet both characters as they first encounter Andrea Smith. It is unusual for them to meet someone new at the Dutch House as their father does not entertain anyone since their mother left. As you continue to read the book, the reader begins to see points of time throughout Danny and Maeve's lives and how the Dutch House influenced their lives both as the house they grew up and by the people in the Dutch House. It's a whirlwind journey that eventually leads back to their childhood home and how Danny and Maeve learn to understand each other and learn forgiveness and love.

I listened to this book on audio read by Tom Hanks. Listening to Tom Hanks read the book and the way I would have read the words in the book were two different experiences. He puts embellishments and emphasis on words that I would not have put in my head. There were times when I found the characters somewhat unbelievable with their stubbornness but they were flawed characters. Reading this in print might not have been as enjoyable as there can be long passages of explanation of times in their lives.

View all my reviews

Currently Reading

Last Updated: 11.17.2020

My Currently reading confession: My head is in so many books right now and I can’t seem to settle on two or three to keep with consistently. I keep going back and forth and stopping certain books and picking up other ones. This is the whole list of books I am still set to “current reading” but I am probably only about one chapter into most of them. I also started the Popsugar 2016 Fall Reading challenge as a way to prep myself for the Popsugar 2021 reading challenge. I have never done a reading challenge. This year I am trying to do two. The MMD(Modern Mrs. Darcy) 2020 Reading Challenge which has ten prompts but equates to 12 books (one prompt is 3 books by the same author). PopSugar’s 2016 Fall Reading Challenge has 15 prompts that equates to 16 books (one prompt is a book and its sequel).

Sister’s Red By Jackson Pearce: A fairy Tale Retelling perfect for this time of the year but I feel I should stop reading right before bedtime. The scenes are a little too intense to lull you to sleep.

The Great Believers By Rebecca Makkai: I am only a few pages into this book so I don’t have much of an opinion. I picked this up for both reading challenges. One for a book by a local author and the second prompt for a book recommended by a local indie.

Up Next: November 2020

Contact

Email Sara

Top