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In my last post, I mentioned that I was way behind in my Netgalley reading. I still am. That said, the stash is getting smaller since I have been reading a lot over the last few weeks. I mean I always read a lot but I’ve been really into my books, probably because (as you will see below) so many of them were really good books.
So yeah, lots of books this month. Two of them were audiobooks, but most were kindle with a couple physical books in the mix too. Sidenote: I mentioned a couple years back that I don’t like audiobooks. I still don’t love them since I’m easily distracted and I low key still question whether reading and listening are the same thing. That said, in 2018 I started listening to them on my way to work and at the gym and I found I really enjoy them this way. I use Scrib’d when I do listen (use that link for a 60 day free trial). Its cheaper than most audiobook platforms and has a great content library.
Also not all of these were read this year – just about half were read in December. When I draft these posts, I start with the books I’ve read since my last post so these were read in the span of about 5 weeks.
Anyway, enough rambling, these are the books I’ve been reading lately:
Loved it:
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows ~ JK Rowling
I can’t believe I finished the entire series and that I loved it so much. This was another brilliant novel. I saw and noted the plot holes… but it didn’t detract from the story for me – I mean I literally had to suspend disbelief from book one so it didn’t take much to suspend it just a bit more. For the first half of the book I said ok this is not my favourite of the books but still a great book but the last quarter was just ridiculously good. At this point, I’ll decide my fave when I reread – which I probably will. I think it’s Goblet of Fire or Order of the Phoenix but this is a solid contender as well.
I’m pretty satisfied with the ending and will miss the wizarding world (until I re-read the series one more times). Legit I can’t believe I read the entire series … and enjoyed it!
4.5/5 stars
Goodreads link here
The Far Field ~ Madhuri Vijay
(Received from Netgalley for an honest review)
I’ve said it before but I did an elective in Indian literature while at college and loved it. I loved this book. It captured me from page one. It follows Shalini, a privileged girl from Bangalore who while grieving the death of her mother and the loss of her job, leaves her father and home for the Himalayan town of Kashmir in search of a man who forged a friendship her mother years ago.
The story takes us on Shalini’s journey with her – and shows the cruel political realities of the Kashmir regime, the Hindu/Muslim divide, poverty, the broken spirited villagers, betrayal and just the volatility of the community. The characters were so credibility written that it was like a movie. Finally, I really enjoyed that the concept of the book seemed so new and unique.
4/5 stars
Goodreads link here
Verity ~ Colleen Hoover
Ever read a book and you could feel the tension and unease and thrill, in a good way? That’s this book. I’ve had this book on my TBR before it’s release and never got to it because I really didn’t like Alll your perfects by Hoover. Well this was brilliant and did not disappoint. In short it’s a well written romantic thriller that had me reading all of New Year’s Day. A perfect first read of the year.This book gripped me … it was creepy. A good creepy.
First of all i loved the structure of the novel. Some chapters written from Lowen’s POV and some were excerpts of Verity’s autobiography. I also really liked the pace of this book. The creepiness intensified with each chapter and the ending was… brilliant. Definitely recommend.
4.5/5 stars
Goodreads link here
Mother knows best ~ Kira Peikoff
(Received from Netgalley for an honest review)
Y’all. This book. I’m not sure why it’s not more popular. After finding out that she had a mitochondrial disease that caused the death of her first child, Claire secretly has a procedure done to have another child with the DNA of three people. The Problem was that this three dna embryo procedure was illegal. As a baby born with two genetic mothers and one genetic father, Abby, Claire’s daughter, was the first of her kind.
So much happens in this book. Lots of twists and turns – some predictable, others not, and all paced perfectly. The characters had depth and complexities which means the multiple perspective that I don’t usually love added to the story. I’d totally read this author again.
4/5 stars
Goodreads link here
The unhoneymooners ~ Christina Lauren
This book was hilarious. Like, I actually laughed out loud several times. Audible laughter.
This is one of my Favourites from CL. The characters were realistic, the romance developed nicely and the awkward scenes were perfection. I also loved how everything turned out. A total recommend.
4/5 stars
Goodreads link here
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill ~ Abbi Waxman
Omg I loved this. A feel good read from beginning to end.
Nina was so exaggerated as a character but also so relatable. I loved her and rooted for her. She’s a character I will remember because I feel like I know her.
The relationships were well developed. The characters were hilarious. The Reynolds family members were stereotypical, but well done and the issues raised, even the serious ones, were dealt with in a way I appreciated. The romance was also well done. Complex where it needed to be but with tangible chemistry.
The both plots ran together concurrently but meshed well together. So glad I read this one. I enjoyed every second.
4.5/5 stars
Goodreads link here
Liked it:
Secrets never die ~ Melinda Leigh
(received from Netgalley for an honest review)
Apparently this is book 5 of a series that follows defense attorney Morgan and her partner Lance a private investigator, but you wouldn’t know it. It reads well as a stand alone.
When a retired cop gets murdered, and his step son gets framed for his murder, Morgan and Lance work together to solve the mystery. This detective drama really drew me in. Loved the writing and the characters and maybe I’ll check out the rest of the Morgan Dane series.
3.5/5 stars
Goodreads link here
Clause & Effect ~ Kaitlyn Dunnett
(Received from Netgalley for an honest review)
This is book 2 in a series but it thankfully read well alone. Sidenote: I seriously wish Netgalley would make it clear that a book is a part of a series when you’re requesting.
Anyway the book follows Mikki, a 70 something year old book editor tasked with editing a pageant script for her small towns historical society. While at the historical society human remains are found during a renovation and a murder mystery emerges. Cute book. I wouldn’t consider Cozy mysteries one of my favourite genres as it tends to spiral into the unbelievable (a 70 something year old solving a murder that had nothing to do with her is less than common). Still, it kept me interested, the mystery was actually a mystery (not predictable) and so, I did enjoy it.
3/5 stars
Goodreads link here
When life gives you lemons ~ Fiona Gibson
(Received from Netgalley for an honest review)
Viv is a 52 year old menopausal mother of two (the author made fair weather about the menopause). She has a 20 year old son and a 7 year old daughter. When her successful husband has an affair and her unfulfilling job takes a turn for the worse she is thrust into the world to find herself, all the while trying to maintain stability for her daughter.
It was a bit of a slow burn for me. The reinvention took too long to start as did the romance. It was also deeper and longer than I expected from the cover (don’t judge a book etc …). Still there were some incredibly funny and relatable moments and overall I enjoyed it. #lastbookof2019
3.5/5 stars
Goodreads link here
I see London, I see France ~ Sarah Mlynowki
The book follows 19 year old Sydney who, along with her friend Leela, travel to Europe for a summer vacation. On their flight is Leelas cheating ex and his hot friend Jackson. I LOVE Europe so books based in Euro travel make me insanely happy.
While it’s YA (or new adult I’m not sure – college students travelling seem new adult to me) it wasn’t overly melodramatic and even a chronic adult novel reader like myself was able to enjoy it. I’ll add that I loved the sub message of perseverance and the way anxiety and other mental illnesses are dealt with.
3.5/5 stars
Goodreads link here
Murder on the Orient Express ~ Agatha Christie
I think this is my first Agatha Christie (that I remember reading … I may have read her back in High School).
Good book. I feel bad for saying I didn’t absolutely love it but that’s where I’m at. Good. Not great. I did like the end and the big whodunnit reveal.
4/5 stars
Goodreads link here
The Great Alone ~ Kristin Hannah
Ok so I didnt know how to rate this one honestly. When this book came out it was all the hype. I waited for the hype to die down and then took a stab at it.
On the one hand I have to admit that this author is an artist. She painted the scenery so well that even as someone who couldn’t quite conceptualize a 1970’s Alaskan frontier, I got it. I saw it. I also thought that the relationships were well done. Leni and Matthew had one of the best developed relationships I have ever read. I also loved the town folk and the town itself. All of that sat well with me.
On the other hand it was a really slow burn to get to the juicy bits of the book and while that meant the relationships that I loved had time to develop it also meant I had time to develop an intense dislike for Leni’s parents. plural. I can usually see past character flaws and an awful character wouldn’t sway me from liking a book, but … it persisted for too long. So long that the eventual resolution was unsatisfactory to me.
3.5/5 stars
Goodreads link here
Not my vibe:
A palm beach wife ~ Susannah Marren
(Received from Netgalley for an honest review)
Well. This was almost torture to read … compounded by the further torture of me not being able to DNF books. I know most people say life is to short to finish a book you don’t like… but my brain doesn’t work that way. It would bother me more if I didn’t finish something I started, no matter how bad, than if I read it and hated it. I could forget a book I don’t like after Ive read it but ill never forget it if i didn’t finish it – my brain wont let me. So i finished this silly book.
Faith is a wealthy Palm Beach, that is, until she realized her husband Edward has lost all of their money and they are on the brink of losing everything. As time goes on we find out that Faith and Edwards’ life (and that of their wealthy friends) are filled with chaos and pretense. The book felt very real housewives except a really cheap shoddy parody. It just didn’t hold my attention and there was just sooo much that wasn’t developed. whatever. I didn’t like it. the end.
2/5 stars
Goodreads link here
Linking up with Steph and Jana
