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It’s time once again to link up with Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup. Summer is flying by and I’ve been trying to read up a storm. I read a good mix of books this month including three non-fiction books and variety of fiction. And I’m happy to report that the majority of them were enjoyable reads! Here are my July reads:
3 stars
Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman – I have recently become a big fan of The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. If you are a fan of the show, do not read this book! This book will ruin the show for you. While it’s nice to know the truth behind the show, I’ve become jaded by the info I learned. I will continue to watch the show, but unfortunately, not with the same enthusiasm that I had.
Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris – I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown. However, I found this book to be a bit disappointing. I found several of the plot lines unbelievable and didn’t really like any of the characters. Fans of B.A. Paris may want to give this book a try. Otherwise, I don’t recommend it.
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking – I’m late to the hygge (hue-guh) game and only finally got to this book now. I feel like I picked the wrong season to read this book. Hygge is all about coziness (think warm sweaters, candles, stews, etc.). I thought this book was okay, describing all things hygge and how to live a life of hygge. This was one of three non-fiction books I read this month.
4 stars
Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee – Two sisters struggle as one sister, Lucia has a mental illness. Older sister Miranda feels responsible for taking care of and watching Lucia. But as an adult, Lucia is able to live her own life. This book was a good look at how mental illness affects a family.
How To Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake – This was a decent YA book. There are a couple of story lines going on in this book – one with Grace dealing with a mother who acts more like a child and the other with Grace falling in love with a girl. This book has gotten a lot of positive reviews in the LGBT community, as I know this was the first YA book that I’ve read with a bisexual character. I really disliked Grace’s mom and it’s hard to believe that there are really parents like her out there.
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park – Park was born in North Korea and fled the country at age 13. She eventually made it to South Korea and this book is the story of her escape. I found this book to be so insightful. I’ve heard about how bad North Korea is, but didn’t realize how bad it was, until reading this. Park’s story is so inspirational after all of the horrific events she survived.
Killman Creek by Rachel Caine – This is the second book in the Stillhouse Lake series. You do need to read the first book in the series, Stillhouse Lake, before reading this one. I found it just as suspenseful as the first. The third book won’t be released until March of 2019, but I will be reading it to see where the series goes!
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell – Ellie Mack disappears at 15. Her mother Laurel meets a man at a local cafe and the two start a romance. But when Laurel meets his 9-year-old daughter Poppy, who shares a strange resemblance to her missing daughter, she starts wondering what really happened to her daughter. I had taken a break from suspense books for a bit, since I was finding them to be so formulaic and predictable. This book was actually a decent read and a nice reentry to the genre.
I really liked Then She Was Gone. I do want to start the Rachel Caine series at some point. I don’t watch the bachelor but that book seems super interesting.
I recommend giving the Rachel Caine series a try!
I loved the Lisa Jewell so much.
Killman Creek is on my kindle. I’m looking forward to it.
Can’t wait to hear what you think about the Rachel Caine book. If you haven’t read Stillhouse Lake read that one first though!
I get the same thing with suspense. They’re always predictable to me but I still enjoy them. I put Then she was gone on my TBR list.
Yeah, I can’t help it. Even though many suspense books have gotten pretty formulaic, it is still one of my favorite genres.
Then She Was Gone is one I’m really wanting to read. I actually picked up Bachelor Nation this month and had to put it down. I just couldn’t handle how it read like a newspaper article and how I was getting a complete history of reality TV. Just not what I was expecting.
Yeah, I know exactly what you’re talking about regarding Bachelor Nation. Some chapters were unnecessary and the beginning was a bit boring. It did get better later on but still ruined the show for me!
Oooh now I’m torn…I’d be interested to read Bachelor Nation, but I don’t want to hate the show! Hmmmmm
Don’t read it then! If you want your Bachelor fix there are plenty of books written by former contestants! LOL!
Everything Here is Beautiful sounds interesting. I have Stillhouse Lake on my kindle so I’m glad you liked the second too. I’ve heard good things about Then She Was Gone, will have to add to my list!
Everything Here is Beautiful was a good read. I recommend the Stillhouse Lake series!
I need to read Stillhouse Lake!! I didn’t realize there was a third coming out – gotta catch up. 🙂
-Lauren
Yes, you should give it a try. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
So I love the Bachelor, but I feel like I always take it with a grain of salt. They did make a TV show that was supposedly based on the things that really do happen behind the scenes and it’s called UNReal, and it’s so good! Then She Was Gone is also going on my list!
I’ve heard about that show! I went to go watch previous seasons but can’t find in on Demand or on Netflix or Amazon.
I felt the opposite about Bring Me Back. I actually liked it more than the Breakdown.
I liked Behind Closed Doors too, so I may give her another chance if she writes more books.
I want to read the Stillman Lake series, looks so good! In Order to Live also sounds really good – adding it to my TBR. I didn’t read any thrillers or suspense for the past two months and I’m ready to tentatively dip my toe back into the pond. Like you, I avoided them because they have become so formulaic which really sucks all the fun out of them. Going to add Then She Was Gone to my TBR too.
The suspense books may get you out of your reading slump. Even when formulaic, they tend to be quick, easy reads. I do recommend the Stillman Lake series.
How To Make A Wish and Then She Was Gone both sound intriguing! I had been meaning to read that hygge book last winter, and agree that it sounds like more of a seasonal book with all of its cozy notions. I’ve yet to read a B.A Paris book, but based on this review, I probably won’t be starting here!
I recommend Behind Closed Doors if you want to try a B.A. Paris book. And yes, reading the hygge book in fall or winter is recommended!
I think that I enjoy The Bachelor franchise simply because I cannot take it seriously. The author of that book has talked about it on podcasts and, after listening, I don’t feel the need to read it.
Yes, The Bachelor franchise is total brain candy but fun to watch.
Then She Was Gone seems to be a very popular book right now. I will have to add it to my TBR list since I’m taking a break from that genre. Happy Reading!
I took a break from the suspense genre for awhile as well. Then She Was Gone was a good read though for when you’re ready to get back into the genre.
I really want to read Everything Here Is Beautiful, and Then She Was Gone is on my list too. I know very little about North Korea and In Order to Live sounds fascinating.
In Order to Live was very interesting and eye-opening since you find out what’s really going on in North Korea. Can’t wait to hear what you think about Everything Here and Then She Was Gone.
I loved Hygge! But yes, definitely more of a winter/fall read. 🙂 I have his other book, but haven’t read it yet. 🙂 XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Yeah, I didn’t love Hygge enough to try Lykke.
Then She Was Gone comes up a lot for me on Amazon’s recommendations. Glad to know it was a solid read…guess I’ll have to officially add it to my TBR. I read “A Thousand Miles to Freedom” which was also the memoir of a North Korean woman’s escape and it had a similar impact on me. It was very helpful to see the reality of people’s lives there!
Then She Was Gone was only my second Lisa Jewell book but I’ve enjoyed everything that I’ve read. A Thousand Miles sounds like a good read too.
I keep meaning to give Rachel Caine a try after seeing her first book all over the place!! I will do so now!!
I’ve enjoyed a few of Lisa Jewell’s book and have heard a lot of good things about Then She was Gone so it’s on my list!