It’s the second Tuesday of the month, which means that it’s time for Steph and Jana’s Show Us Your Books link up! I love being able to showcase the books that I read this past month as well as get lots of book recommendations to add to my already too long to read list! April was a slow month of reading for me. Like, only five books read slow. Fortunately, they were almost all great reads! I realize now that most of them dealt with death and grieving, which did not make for light reading. In order from least to most liked, here are my April 2017 reads:
3 Stars:
The Crooked Sixpence (The Uncommoners #1) by Jennifer Bell – Imagine an underground world where ordinary objects have special powers. This is where siblings Ivy and Seb find themselves after they escape from intruders who are looking for something in their grandmother’s house. Down in Lundinor the two must try to save their parents who have been kidnapped by producing the Great Uncommon Good. This is a fantasy, middle-grade fiction read that is being dubbed “part Tim Burton, part J.K. Rowling.” While I wasn’t a huge fan of this one myself, I think it may appeal to middle school readers who enjoy fantasy, adventure books.
4 Stars:
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough – Louise meets David at a bar one night and they kiss. A couple of days later she discovers he’s her new boss. Soon after that Louise meets Adele and the two become quick friends. But Adele is David’s wife. There’s a twisted triangle of secrets that kept me interested in reading. This was a quick, suspenseful read. I debated between a 3 1/2 and 4 star rating but don’t want to give spoilers as to my reasoning.
Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Elsie is married to Ben less than 10 days, when he is killed in an accident. Throughout their whirlwind romance of less than six months, she never met Ben’s mother, Susan. Susan actually never knew that Ben was married or that there was an Elsie. Susan and Elsie get off to a rocky start as they come to terms with Ben’s death. The book is told in alternating chapters between the past and present. Out of all the books about death that I read this month, this was the hardest for me to read. I think Ben’s young age and the unexpectedness of his death had me freaking myself out imagining myself in this situation. I am now caught up on reading all of TJR’s books and am looking forward to her new one coming out this summer!
I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi – Maddy is a stay-at-home mom to 16 year-old Eve and wife to workaholic, Brady. As the book begins we learn that Maddy committed suicide and is looking for a replacement for herself. With no note or reasons why, Eve and Brady grieve and try to come to terms with Maddy’s death. I enjoyed that each chapter is told through Maddy (narrating from the beyond), Eve and Brady’s perspectives, so you get to see all the characters’ perspectives.
5 Stars:
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner – Carver Brigg sends a text to his three best friends that might have been the cause of the texting and driving accident that kills them. Filled with guilt, he then discovers that he may be facing criminal charges. Feeling alone, he and his friend Eli’s girlfriend Jesmyn become close as they grieve. This was an emotional, YA read. I think it sends an important message about the dangers of texting and driving. I also love the concept of Goodbye Days.
I really enjoyed Behind Her Eyes.
Goodbye Days sounds hard but interesting. I’ll check it out.
Goodbye Days was hard but a good story.
Hooray for TJR! You’ll love her next one. Or at least I hope you do!
Goodbye Days sounds like my kind of book.
I can’t wait for her next book! And I guess you already thought Goodbye Days was your kind of book, as you mentioned on Twitter! LOL! 😉
I have Behind Her Eyes on my bookshelf. Hope to get to it soon. I love a quick suspenseful read. Stopping by from SMYB 🙂
Suspense/thrillers have become my current favorite genre!
I loved, loved Behind Her Eyes but it is hard to talk about because of spoiler potential. I’m reading my first TJR book this month. I got approved on NetGalley for her latest and I can’t wait to dive in. The Goodbye Days sounds really interesting. I’m adding it to my TBR!
Yes, I agree about the spoiler potential in Behind Her Eyes. Good for you to get to read TJR’s newest!
I have I Liked My Life on my NetGalley list, so I’m glad to hear you liked it! I definitely want to read Behind Her Eyes!
I think we have similar reading tastes and I think you’ll really enjoy I Liked My Life.
We’ve got Goodbye Days at work, and the cover intrigues me every time I walk by that shelf. I’m going to have to check it out!
Yes, you should give it a try!
Goodbye Days sounds quite emotionally charged!! So glad to hear it was a good read though! I’m all caught up with TJR too except for her newest book…Forever Interrupted was probably my least favourite of the 4 I’ve read, but it was still better than a lot of other books 🙂
Yes, emotionally charged is a good way to describe Goodbye Days. I enjoyed Forever Interrupted, but like I mentioned, I just found it hard to read.
You really did read quite a few depressing books this month, but they all still sound like great reads. I need to actually read a TJR book, but I’m thinking that this one might not be the one to start off on. I’m definitely adding Behind her Eyes and I Liked My Life to my list though! I Liked My Life almost sounds a little bit like Desperate Housewives with the one person committing suicide and then narrating from the afterlife!
I didn’t even realize until typing this book post that I had so many sad, depressing reads….but yeah, quite a heavy reading month!
Goodbye Days sounds interesting. I love love loved Forever Interupted!!!! TJR has become one of my favorite authors. I’m reading her new one right now!
I have got to read the new TJR! It will definitely be a summer read, if not sooner!
OHH- I’ve not heard of that TJR book! Going to have to add that one to the list!!!
Yes, and she has a new one, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo that just came out!
Oh boy this does sound like a heavy lineup. But they do sound like good reads! I just heard about I Liked My Life and I think I may have to pick that one up.
I recommend it! It was a great read!
Great bunch of books! I enjoyed Goodbye Days and makes me need to read his first book. Forever Interrupted is one I need to get to because I have loved all her other books. I think I need to pick I Liked My Life.