It’s one of my favorite times of the month, Steph and Jana’s Show Us Your Books link up! This is perfect timing for me as I’m starting to compile a summer reading list. No better day to get great reading recommendations! As I wrote this post I realized that I didn’t have the best of reading months. I read seven books in May, but only one of them rated 4 stars. Hopefully June will turn out to be a better month of reading! Here are my May 2017 reads:
3 Stars:
The Circle by Dave Eggers – With the help of her friend Annie, Mae Holland goes to work at the Circle, a powerful internet company. As she works there, Mae sees the Circle is very Big Brotherish and only getting bigger and more powerful. As she becomes more involved with the Circle, she has less contact with the outside world. Should there be worldwide transparency? At what cost will one go to have privacy? These are some of the questions that arise in this book. The book had me totally engaged, but I was super disappointed with the ending. This book was a book of the month pick for one of the Goodreads groups I’m in. Otherwise, I probably would have never even known about this book. It was also made into a movie, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Watson that I want to see, once it comes out on DVD.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles – This book opens in 1922 Russia, when Count Alexander Rostov is placed under house arrest at the hotel Metropol. The book follows him over the next thirty years as he lives in the hotel, meeting in a interesting cast of characters. This was another book of the month pick for a Goodreads group that I wouldn’t have otherwise picked up on my own. It was slow in spots but engrossing in others. Overall, I think it was an okay historical fiction read.
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins – Unfortunately, when you write a bestseller like The Girl on the Train, there’s no doubt that your next book will be compared to it. While I loved The Girl on the Train, I really didn’t like this book. The beginning is very confusing with all of the different characters. And the storyline just didn’t interest me. I honestly couldn’t care why the river has been the source of the deaths of several women.
3 Stars
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens – Lindsey Nash takes her six-year-old daughter Sophie and escapes from her abusive husband. Fast forward ten years later where Lindsey has created a new life with her now teenage daughter. But she learns that Andrew, the ex, has been released from jail, and she keeps sensing someone watching her. Her home is invaded and her daughter is followed. Is it Andrew, coming back for revenge? I’ve read a couple of Stevens other books and have had mixed reviews, liking some better than others. In this book I feel like the author purposefully set it up to throw the reader off track, which annoyed me. This was an okay thriller/suspense read.
The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda – I have not read Miranda’s recent book All the Missing Girls, so I was unfamiliar with her writing. This was a pretty good suspense read that had me guessing until the end. No one is who they seem, which adds to the suspense of the book. However, I felt like there was almost too much going on.
The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares – Sasha and Ray share a room in the family’s Long Island beach house. They have just have never met each other. Ray’s mom and Sasha’s dad used to be married and had three daughters before a bitter divorce. They both remarried, and had children with their new spouses (Ray and Sasha) but neither were willing to give up the house. (Not sure I explained the complicated family tree well there!) This summer, the families lives intersect as drama occurs and secrets are revealed. While I enjoyed Brashares YA Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, this book was a bit disappointing.
4 Stars
I Found You by Lisa Jewell – Alice finds a man sitting on the beach in the pouring rain. He has no memory of who he is or how he got there. In a London suburb, Lily’s husband doesn’t return home from work one night. Back in 1993, siblings Gray and Kirsty are vacationing with their family when Kirsty meets a guy who just doesn’t sit right with Gray. Told between the past and present, with multiple points of view, the three different storylines intertwine. This was a suspenseful read that had me guessing until the end.
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one confused by the characters in Into the Water, I felt like I had to keep flipping back to try and remember who each person was– and it definitely didn’t have a great buildup of suspense, that I’d want from a good thriller. I haven’t read anything by Chevy Stevens, but I always see her books pop up in this linkup.
Chevy Stevens writes quick, suspenseful reads. I recommend giving her a try if you like that genre. And yes, glad I found a fellow reader who didn’t enjoy Into the Water! It seems like people either love it or hate it!
I Found You is on my list!! Glad it was such a good read.
Yes, this was my first Lisa Jewell book, but won’t be my last!
It looks like I found You was the best for you this month. I completely agree about Into the Water. I hope the author gets it together for her next book!
Hmm, The Whole Thing plot sounds like my kind of thing (love a good messy family drama)…hate to hear that it wasn’t executed very well.
Into the Water is sitting on my dresser. I’ve definitely seen mixed reviews, which has me a bit anxious. I really enjoyed The Girl on Train. Never Let You Go was my first Chevy Stevens book. You could definitely see some puppet strings dangling around the characters. 😀 For me, the tension around the abuse in the past had me seriously stressed, which helped distract me. I enjoyed The Perfect Stranger but agree – there was almost too much going on and it seemed like everything in the world was aimed at Leah who seemed to whine a lot.
Yes, the reviews are really mixed for Into the Water. It seems to be you either love it or hate it! The Stevens book just really annoyed me because it’s like she purposely led you in the wrong direction.
I’ve been wondering about Into the Water. And when I saw Ann Brashares, I got excited because I loved the Sisterhood books. Bummer this one doesn’t measure up! I went back through my list and I didn’t have a lot of 4 stars either!!
Yeah, I wasn’t a fan of either of the books. But if you’re interested give them a try. I know some people really enjoyed Into the Water, so it really depends on the reader!
Into the Water is on my TBR but it’s not a priority right now. I’ll get to it eventually.
I really liked Never Let You Go. Chevy Stevens is a go-to author for me when I want a reliably good thriller.
I agree that Chevy Stevens is good for a quick, suspense read.
I really enjoyed I Found You as well. You should definitely try All the Missing Girls – I think it was better than The Perfect Stranger.
Yes, that’s what I’ve heard. I will have to check All the Missing Girls one out!
I specifically picked up The Circle because I wanted to see the movie as well! That’s a bummer that you didn’t like the ending that much. I See You is on my list as well, so I’m glad that it was a higher rated book for you!
I’m sad about The Circle! I never even heard of it though until I saw the preview of the movie.
Honestly, I didn’t really like Girl on the Train – it was too obvious for me, so I’m not really interested in her latest. sorry it didn’t work for you though!!
I’m curious about The Circle, especially the movie.
-Lauren
I want to read The Circle before I watch the DVD too. I felt the exact same way as you about Into The Water. I thought something was wrong with me because everyone else loved it. Haha! I’m adding I Found You to my list!
I really liked Never Let You Go but didn’t quite enjoy The Perfect Stranger or Into the Water.
Lisa Jewell is on my TBR.
I’m looking forward to reading more of Jewell’s books since this was my first.
I really loved I Found You, so I’m glad you liked it too! Such a bummer you had such an OK month though.
Yes, I didn’t have a great reading month in terms of quality, but June is looking really good!
I really liked Into the Water.
Also liked Moscow but loved Rules of Civility by that author much more.
It’s so interesting how people feel differently about the same book!
I’ve had the Circle on my tbr for a while. After hearing your review I think I will give it a try…Maybe in August. 🙂
Yes, it was surprisingly engaging! I’m looking forward to seeing the movie!
I need to read I Found You. Sounds so good! I have it from my library but the due date is approaching. Yikes!
I hate library book pressure! Happens to me all the time – all the holds come in at once! Hope you enjoy I Found You!
I read The Circle three years ago – I enjoyed it, but it was so long! I also saw the movie, and I think you’ll be happy with they way it differs from the book. I loved The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series! I didn’t realize the author had written anything new.
Yes, the Circle was a long book! I’m looking forward to the movie but I”m waiting for it on DVD which doesn’t come out until the end of August! Ann Brashares has written a couple of YA books since the Sisterhood series, and I’ve read a few, but I think I’m done with her stand-alones.
I’ve taken On The Water off my TBR. It consistently receives average reviews from readers. I was hoping for more from this book but I’m not convinced :/ I have I Found You on my night stand. I’m trying to decide between it and another book.
I Found You is good if you’re in the mood for a suspense type read. Some people I know have enjoyed Into the Water….so maybe one day you’ll get to it!