Happy book day! Today I’m joining Jana and Steph for their monthly Show Us Your Books linkup. I didn’t get a lot read in April, but most of what I did read was good. I’ve ordered my reads from least to most enjoyed. I’m looking forward to checking out everyone’s posts and adding to my ever growing goodreads to read list!
3 Stars:
The Passenger by Lisa Lutz – “Tanya Dubois” is on the run….again. She has a secret past that the reader isn’t privy to until the very end of the book. This secret keeps her on the run, changing names and her appearance. While classified as a thriller, I didn’t find this book all that suspenseful. It was also annoying that of course I wanted to find out the secret, but was literally dragged along until the very end.
The Ramblers by Aidan Donnelly Rowley – This book is told through the perspectives of three different, but connected characters. They are all in their 30’s navigating adulthood amidst living in New York City. While slow in some parts, I was surprised that I enjoyed this one as much as I did.
Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again by Teresa Giudice – Okay, don’t judge me on this one! I’m a Bravo Housewives fan. While I’m not a big fan of Teresa’s, I was interested in reading about her experience in prison. I enjoyed the prison part, which reminded me of Orange Is the New Black, since she was housed in Danbury Federal Prison, the same prison that Piper Kerman was. This book reaffirmed that I’m still not a fan of Teresa though.
4 Stars:
The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman – This book tells the story of three generations of women and the stories behind the charms on the bracelets that they all wear. I really enjoyed this book and loved the charms and what they represented. I was surprised that this book was penned by a man, using a pseudonym, as he really captured the sentiments of the mother/daughter relationship.
Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes – This is the sequel to her thriller You. Like You, this book was a bit dark and disturbing. I actually even like Joe a little in this book!
5 Stars:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – I have started reading the Harry Potter series with my seven year old son. We either read the book together or we listen to the audiobook in the car and he follows along in the book. Last month we finished the first book in the series and then watched the movie. We plan on doing this with the rest of the books in the series. I’m hoping that we make it through the entire series, since I still have yet to read the last two books! I also promised the kids that once we finished all the books we’d be able to go visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. We are about half-way through the second book and it’s been a lot of fun for us to do this together.
I also like Joe more in Hidden Bodies.
The Ramblers is on my list, so I’m glad you enjoyed it more than you thought! I always love when that happens.
Yes, I didn’t think I’d like it because it was more “literary” than I normally read. But I was pleasantly surprised.
I’m a huge Bravo fan too, but not a huge Theresa fan. I’ve been debating about reading her book or just waiting until NJ comes back and I can hear her talk about it. The Charm Bracelet sounds like a really interesting read, and I think that I would love learning the meaning behind the charms. I love that you’re reading the Harry Potter books with your kids, and a trip to Harry Potter World once you’re finished sounds so awesome!
I didn’t get to see the most recent season of RHONJ. However, from past seasons, what and how she wrote about her husband and what was portrayed on television seemed very different. I did find it interesting to hear how her experience in prison went. I really enjoyed and recommend The Charm Bracelet.
I liked Joe a little less in Hidden Bodies. I still have a crush on that psycho, though.
I read a Lisa Lutz book this month, too, and was also annoyed at how she dragged out the “secret”. I’m looking forward to reading The Passenger.
Oh no, so it seems like it’s her “thing” to drag out the secrets?!! Maybe I won’t read her other stuff. It was pretty annoying. I think there were so many other crazy characters in Hidden Bodies that Joe seemed a little less psycho to me?!!
I’m a huge Harry Potter fan and love how you and your son are listening/reading the books (and the movie too!). One of my friends is doing something very similar with her son. I really hate it when an author drags through an entire story because you have to learn the “secret” but the story isn’t so great. Sometimes I cheat and look for the secret. If it wows me, then I keep reading. 🙂 I really need to read You. I’m anxious to see what all the fuss is about.
My son and I are really enjoying our Harry Potter time! Ooh, I’ve never “cheated” in reading a story! Not sure I’d mentally be able to allow myself to fast forward!!
How awesome you’ll all visit Orlando (right?) when you’re done the series. What a nice prize for you all!! I’m going to START the series (for the first time ever) this summer for the #ReadMyBooks challenge. I’m guessing I’ll love it but won’t count on it LOL.
Wow, I can’t believe you haven’t read them yet! Yes, Universal Studios is in Orlando. We passed it when we were driving to Disney. Hope we don’t finish too soon! Not sure we wanted to visit Florida again so soon!
I too am a Bravo Housewives fan, and I totally forgot Teresa wrote a book. Can’t wait for the new season to start 🙂
You’ve inspired me to re-read my Harry Potter books!
I hadn’t re-read the first ones until now and I totally forgot a lot of stuff that happened in book 2, so it’s nice for the reread!
So fun you are reading HP with your son! 🙂 Love that you are taking them to Harry Potter World once you’re done! 🙂
Yes, I’m hoping it won’t be for awhile until we are finished though!
That’s so fun that you’re reading Harry Potter with your son. I hope I will be able to do that with my kids. I have Hidden Bodies and You on my to read list.
Thanks! We are having fun reading them.
No judgement from me! I love the majority of The Real Housewives franchise and will probably read all of their books.
I know, I can’t help it, even when I think or know they’ll be bad I still read them!
the ramblers sounds interesting, as does the charm bracelet.. interesting that it was written by a man!
Yes, both were good books….I liked the Charm Bracelet more though!
The Charm Bracelet is not is my normal realm of books I read, but I’m intrigued… I added it. I like to change up genres, speeds, stories, etc. This will be perfect when I want a change of pace from my thriller books or heavier reads.
The Charm Bracelet will be a big change of pace from thrillers! I think it would make a nice beach read!
I just started Hidden Bodies today. I’m less than 100 pages in, but I’m enjoying it so far.
The Passenger is on my list already, but now I’m a little nervous about it. I love thrillers, but I really hate when a book is classified as a “thriller” and then isn’t very suspenseful. It’s all about expectations, I guess. I’ll probably still read it at some point, but now I’m not really in any hurry to do so.