books

Happy Tuesday.  I want to wish all my Jewish readers a Happy Hanukkah! It is also time once again to share my November 2017 Reads.  As usual, I’m joining Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup.  November was a slow reading month.  I just had very little motivation to read.  So, unfortunately, there’s not much to share this month.  However, I’m looking forward to checking out all of the other posts in the link up to add to my to read list!

3 Stars

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier –  This review was posted in my new monthly The Tweens Read post, since both my kids read this book last month.  This is a graphic novel with a telling title, since the book is about ghosts. Catrina’s little sister Maya has cystic fibrosis.  Their family moves to Northern California for Maya’s health.  As they explore their new neighborhood they discover that there are ghosts all around them.  This book was inspired by Dia de Los Muertos.  This was the first children’s book that I’ve read that has a character with cystic fibrosis.  I thought the author did a good job of describing the illness.  There has been some controversy over the accuracy of how Dia de Los Muertos is depicted in the book. If this is a child’s first book about the Day of the Dead, they make get a skewed idea of what the day is really about. This book is different than Telgemeier’s other graphic novels,  like Smile and Sisters, which are more realistic fiction based.  Both my kids enjoyed this book.

I Totally Meant to Do That by Jane Borden – I’ve had this memoir on my shelf for so long.  Borden is from North Carolina but moves to New York City.  It’s basically living in two different worlds.  Some parts of the book were humorous and others dragged on.  Overall, just an “eh” read for me.  Now that it’s read though it’s getting donated!

4 Stars

Far From the Tree by Robin Benway – This YA book is about three adopted siblings living in different families.  They end up meeting each other in their late teens.  Each of them is going through their own issues but end up supporting each other.  This book really takes a look at adoption and what defines family.  It’s an emotional but really good read.

The Last Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine – Amber Patterson is a nobody, but she has a plan to make herself into a somebody….doing whatever she has to to get there.  This suspense/thriller book got me out of my recent reading slump.  Although it’s slow in the middle, it picked up at the end.  I found it interesting that this book was co-authored by sisters (Liv Constantine is their pen name).

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng – This book is a family drama with a LOT going on.  Everyone has secrets and nothing is as it appears.  I enjoyed Ng’s storytelling  even though it took me awhile to get into the book.  This is the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Fiction. Ng’s other book, Everything I Never Told You has been on my to read list for awhile now.  Since I enjoyed this one so much, I may have to read it sooner than later.

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It’s time once again for Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books link up.  It’s a time where I get to show off my October 2017 reads as well as see what other bloggers have been reading this past month.  My to-read list grows significantly today! October was a decent reading month for me.  I read seven books last month, with about half being really good reads.  I’ve been in a reading slump lately and even though it’s mid-November, I have only book read so far this month.  I’m hoping that some recommendations from this link-up will help get me reading again!

3 Stars

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse (c/o NetGalley) – Nina is happily married and a stay-at-home mom to two boys, living a life of luxury.  When her husband Finn dies in a car accident, she discovers that he has been hiding their huge financial problems.  Her house is repossessed and she must start a new life with her sons.  She moves closer to her sister and begins to find herself, discovering that she’s stronger than she believed.  I didn’t hate this book.  It just was a very slow read for me.  I didn’t realize that Prowse has written so many other books.  I am not giving up on her as an author yet and may try some of her other books.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer – I finally read the second book in the YA Lunar Chronicles series and I’m kind of disappointed.  I read Cinder so long ago and don’t remember much of it.  I do know that I enjoyed it a lot more than this second book.  For those of you unfamiliar with this series, the books are futuristic, fantasy takes on familiar fairy tales.  Scarlet is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with references to grandmother and the Wolf.  There’s a lot of action and adventure in this book, but I haven’t been into this genre recently.  I’m not sure yet if I’ll finish up the series.

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley – A book that revolves around a bookstore where people leave notes to each other in the pages of books sounds like a book that I’d love.  I just didn’t. I found this to be a very slow read until the end.  And it was just so sad and depressing.  I know a couple other Show Us Your Book bloggers have read this book which is where I think I got the recommendation.  It just wasn’t a fave of mine.

4 Stars

Class Mom by Laurie Gelman – Jen Dixon is an older mom with two grown daughters in college and a son Max, in Kindergarten.  Her friend Nina convinces her to be the class mom for Max’s class.  Jen sends out snarky, but hilarious, e-mails to the other parents.  One of the dad’s in the class is a former high school crush of hers.  She also trains for a mud run and has to deal with some parent and teacher drama.  This is a light, funny read.  While I am involved in the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) at my kids’ schools, I have never volunteered for the role of class parent.  This book totally reminds me why!

So Happiness to Meet You by Karin Esterhammer – (digital copy provided by Prospect Park Books) In 2008, during the recession, Karin and her husband leave LA with their young son.  They move abroad to Vietnam where they can live more cheaply.  We get an inside look at Vietnamese culture as they live among the locals for almost three years.  I found this to be such an interesting read.  Esterhammer gives a realistic account of what it’s like to live as an outsider in a new country and I loved learning about the Vietnamese culture.  It’s been awhile since I’ve read a non-fiction/memoir book and this was a good pick!

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover – I am a huge Colleen Hoover fan and I think I’ve read most of her books.  I knew nothing about this book before reading it, just that it was her newest book.  Every character in this book had some pretty deep issues.  I felt like the issues were glossed over and never really addressed beneath a surface level.  So this wasn’t a favorite of Hoover’s.  However, I really enjoy her storytelling, so it still gets 4 stars!  If you’ve never read a Hoover book, don’t make this one your first!

5 Stars

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate – This is a middle-grade chapter book that I read with my son.  It’s told from the perspective of Ivan, a mighty silverback gorilla.  He lives in a mall with his friend Stella, an elephant and Bob, the dog.  When new baby elephant, Ruby, arrives, he is forced to reevaluate his situation and make some important decisions.  This book had me laughing and crying and was just an overall great story for both kids and adults!  This was my first book I read of Applegate’s, but now I’m going to have to check out some of her other children’s books.

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It’s time once again for Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup.  I love being able to share what I read during the past month as well as get lots of new reading recommendations. Most of my September 2017 reads are suspense/thrillers, which is my favorite genre to read.  Even though I didn’t get as many books as I would have liked read this month, the ones that I did read were pretty good.

3 Stars

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware – Four girls meet at a boarding school and play “the Lying Game,” earning points for telling lies.  Fast forward to adults, and the women are summoned back to Salten when one of them texts the others, “I need you.” The girls were expelled their last year of school after being involved in an incident which now has them worried that it will be discovered.  It was really annoying being dragged along for so long with “the incident” being referred to, but not knowing what it was.  I found the ending to be pretty anti-climatic.  I’ve enjoyed Ware’s other books but wasn’t a big fan of this one.

4 Stars

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris – On her way home from a night out, Cass takes a shortcut and drives through the woods.  She sees a car pulled over on the side of the road but doesn’t stop due to the pouring rain from a storm.  Only later she discovers that the woman in the car was killed.  Now she fills guilty for not stopping and starts forgetting things.  Then she starts receiving silent phone calls and thinks the killer is after her.  Although this had a slow start it turned into a suspenseful read.

A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman – After reading Beartown a couple of months ago I had to read another Frederik Backman book.  Ove is an eccentric old man who is used to his solitary life. A young family moves in next door, turning his world upside down. Backman is an excellent storyteller and I really liked Ove and other characters. I really liked this book but I loved Beartown more.

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond – The goal of the Pact is to keep couples happy and married.  While it sounds good in the beginning, Alice and Jake don’t realize what they have gotten themselves into when they sign up. When the two decide that this isn’t for them, they learn too late that the Pact is for life.  This was a great psychological suspense read.

The Other Girl by Erica Spindler – Officer Miranda Rader is called to investigate the brutal murder of an esteemed college professor.  A newspaper clipping detailing a horrible night from her teenage years is found at the scene.  Then a retired cop who took her statement that night many years ago is found murdered. Miranda is unsure of who she can trust but knows that she has to prove her innocence.  This is the first book I’ve ready by Spindler, but I enjoyed this one enough to read more.

5 Stars

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling – I finally read the last book in the Harry Potter series!  We started listening to this on CD and then my son and I finished reading it together. This book had me angry at times and crying at others.  I thought Rowling wrapped up the series nicely.  Now, we have to see the movies and then plan a trip to Universal Studios to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

It is time once again for Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup!  With summer upon us, I would have thought that I’d have a lot more books read.  However, we did a lot of traveling and I just didn’t get in a lot of reading time.  Here are my five July 2017 reads.  I’m happy that two of them are books from my own bookshelf that I’ve had forever!  Looking forward to checking out everyone’s posts and adding to my to read list!

3 Stars

Independence Hall (I.Q. #1) by Roland Smith – I found this book when researching books for my Visit Philadelphia Through Children’s Books post.  Based on the title, you’d think this book would be more focused on Independence Hall…..but it’s not.  However, it’s a decent spy/thriller book (and series) for middle grade readers.  I wasn’t a fan of the terrorist theme, especially for the targeted age group and it was just so unrealistic for my liking.  My 11-year-old daughter read the book too though and enjoyed it enough to want to continue the series.

The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky – This book takes place in Big Sawyer Island, Maine, a small island where lobstering is the main source of income for many of the families.  Julia is traveling on a boat with several others from the mainland to the island when it gets in an accident.  As one of three survivors, the accident makes her evaluate the life she was living.  She and Noah, a lobsterman and one of the other survivors who lost his father in the accident, end up forming a close friendship as he also makes life-changing decisions.  I’ve read several other of Delinsky’s books and have enjoyed them more than this one.   This was a book off my own shelf that I’ve had for years, which I can now give away (……and make room for a new book!).

4 Stars

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I know many of us are big TJR fans.  I found her newest book to be a bit different than her other books that I’ve read.  I found this one enjoyable, but it wasn’t my fave.

5 Stars

Beartown by Fredrik Backman – After hearing so many good things about this book, I finally decided to give it a try.  Ice hockey isn’t really my thing, so I went in thinking I wasn’t going to like it.  Boy was I surprised.  Backman’s writing drew me right in and he took me on quite an emotional ride.  Although this was my first book of his, I will be reading his other books ASAP!  A Man Called Ove will be my next read of his.

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult – Picoult is one of my favorite authors.  I’ve had this book for years on my bookshelf and am so glad that I finally read it.  This book is about Willow, a 5-year-old born with Osteogenisis Imperfecta (OI), a collagen defect that causes her bones to be brittle.  At such a young age, she’s already broken almost every bone in her body, at least once.  Of course it wouldn’t be a Picoult book without moral and ethical issues being brought up.  I had never heard of OI before reading this and as a parent, I’m lucky that I’ve never had to think about  some of the questions Charlotte and Sean face. I have now read all of Picoult’s novels, except for the YA books she co-wrote with her daughter (which I own).

It’s the second Tuesday of the month, which means that it’s time to link up with Steph and Jana for another edition of Show Us Your Books. While May was disappointing in quality of books, June definitely made up for it!  The majority of my reads were 4 stars and I even had a 5 star book this month!  Here are my June 2017 reads:

3 Stars:

Always by Sarah Jio – Cade and Kailey were young, in love and planned to get married.  But one day, he disappears, never to be seen from again.  10 years later, Kailey is leaving a restaurant with her fiance when she sees a homeless man and realizes that it’s Cade.  She feels compelled to help him and she tries to figure out what happened since they last saw each other.  The book is told in alternating chapters between the past and present. I had previously read Bungalow by Jio and loved it.  So, when I saw this book at the library, I picked it up.  Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed by this one. I felt like some of the character decisions seemed so unlikely and unrealistic.

4 Stars:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver – This YA book had been on my to read list for awhile.  I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie, which was what finally got me to read it.  Although I never watched the movie Groundhog Day, I believe this book is similar in which Samantha relives the same day seven different times.  Each do-over she is able to manipulate and make changes based on her past experiences.  The book has been nominated for a bunch of awards and I can see why.  I enjoyed the storyline and Samantha’s character as she evolves through the book. And my own personal rant, there was one character in particular that I couldn’t stand and couldn’t understand how Sam was friends with her….rant over!  BTW, as usual, the book is so much better than the movie.

The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman –  After her husband dies in a car accident, Lilian Girvan is left to raise their two young daughters.  As an illustrator, she’s given the job of working on a vegetable gardening book.  But, she must take a gardening class which her two children and sister accompany her to.  During the six week class, the students form friendships and help each other through difficult times.  In between chapters, vegetable gardening tips are provided.  I enjoyed Waxman’s writing style and even though the topic of being a widow is heavy, I found her writing style to be fun and engaging.

The Hope Chest by Viola Shipman –  Mattie Tice was once a famous garden designer.  Diagnosed with ALS, the time has come where her husband Don of almost 50 years needs some help in taking care of her.  Enter Rose, Mattie’s new caretaker and her daughter Jeri.  In the move to a new house, Mattie discovers her hope chest and shares the contents and the memories they bring with Rose.  This is the second book in the “heirloom novel” series.  I read the first book, The Charm Bracelet and enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed this book.  What I find so interesting is that Viola Shipman is a pen name for the author, Wade Rouse.  I am surprised at how well he writes from a a female perspective.

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware – Leonora (Lee/Nora) is unexpectedly invited to her friend Clare’s hen party.  Surprised since she hasn’t seen her in over 10 years, Nora decides to go with their friend Nina.  They drive to the country to find a glass house set in the middle of the woods, where they will stay for the weekend.  But during that weekend Nora wakes up in a hospital and learns that someone has died.  She has no recollection of how she got in the hospital and she tries to piece together her memories of the past couple of day’s events to figure out what is going on.  I was a fan of The Woman in Cabin 10 and had heard that this book was even better.  This was an enjoyable, suspenseful read, even though I had it figured out before the big reveal.

This Is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel – Rosie and Penn have five boys.  But their youngest, 5-year-old Claude prefers wearing dresses and wants to be a girl when he grows up.  What ensues is the family having to keep secrets as they navigate raising a transgender child.  This is a beautiful, well-written story that is very relevant in today’s times. This is not a “light” summer read, but in my opinion, a book definitely worth picking up.

5 Stars:

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – 16-year-old Starr lives in the poor and drug-ridden neighborhood of Garden Heights where her father runs a store.  But she goes to a school an hour away where she’s one of 2 black kids in her grade.  She’s with an old friend Khalil on their way home from a party when Khalil is pulled over by a white cop and shot to death.  Starr is the only witness and when the shooting makes national headlines she has some tough choices to make.  This YA book handles a serious, relevant topic but is so well written.

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.

It’s the second Tuesday of the month which means that it’s time for Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books link up.  This is where I share my monthly reads, visit a bunch of other blogs and add to my ever-growing to read list! I have to say I had a pretty good month of reading, with almost all of my reads being 4 stars.  However, after writing the summaries, I realized I read a lot of depressing, but good books!  LOL!    Here are my March 2017 reads listed in order of least to most liked.

3 Stars

It’s Not Okay by Andi Dorfman – If you have not seen Andi Dorfman on The Bachelor and then on The Bachelorette, then this book is not for you!  If you are a fan of the shows, then I recommend this read.  Dorfman spills about her broken engagement with Josh (#26).  I enjoyed learning about what happened to her relationship with Josh after The Bachelorette and getting behind the scenes info about the show production itself.

Westminster Abby by Micol Ostow – Abby is a high school student spending a semester studying in London.  She has overprotective parents and after a breakup with a cheating ex-boyfriend she’s looking for a little adventure.  This book is part of the YA series Students Across the Seven Seas (S.A.S.S.).  This was the first book I’ve read in the series and my daughter is currently reading the book now.  I felt it was a good intro to English culture but could have been more descriptive of places instead of being what felt like a laundry list of tourist stops.

4 Stars

Booked by Kwame Alexander – Told in verse,  this book is about 8th grader Nick Hall who loves soccer.  His parents are having marital problems, he competes against his best friend in a soccer league and he’s trying to impress April, a girl he has a crush on.  So, normal middle school stuff.  The poetry format makes for a quick read.  I’m always on the search for new books for my kids to read.  Although he’s only 8 1/2, I got this book with my son in mind, since he enjoys playing soccer.  While he didn’t enjoy the book as much as I did, I think it’s a great book for middle grade readers.

Close Enough To Touch by Colleen Oakley – Jubilee Jenkins suffers from a rare medical condition in which she is allergic to human touch.  For nine years she has lived alone, never leaving her house. When she’s forced to get a job she ends up working at the town library.  It’s there that she meets Eric and his adopted son Aja, whom she forms a special connection with.  I knew nothing about this book before starting to read it, so went in with no expectations.  Some of the characters were definitely quirky but endearing, especially after learning their backstories.  It was an enjoyable read that interested me enough that I want to read Oakley’s other book Before I Go.  She also gets bonus points for commenting on my Instagram post!

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein – The new town library is opening and 12, twelve-year-old children will be chosen for a library lock-in experience before it officially opens to the public. It turns out the lock-in is actually a game.  Using clues, the children have to find a way to escape from the library (not using the same way they came in), with big prizes for the winner. The book is filled with puzzles and lots of book references.  This book will appeal to children who love puzzles and reading!  My daughter owns this book and has read it several times.  My son and I read this book together over a course of about a month and we both really enjoyed it.  There are two other books in this series that we will be checking out soon!

Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid – At 29, not sure of what she wants to do with herself, Hannah returns to her hometown of Los Angeles where her best friend Gabby lives.  At a bar one evening she bumps into her old high school boyfriend, Ethan.  He offers to give her a ride home at the end of the night.  From there, two different story lines play out in alternating chapters.  One where she goes home with Gabby as planned and the other where she leaves with Ethan.  This was my third Taylor Jenkins Reid book.  I really enjoy her storytelling and she’s become a favorite author.  This wasn’t my favorite book of hers but was entertaining, nonetheless.

The Memory Book by Lara Avery – High school senior Sammie McCoy is valedictorian and a star member of the debate team.  She’s planning to attend NYU in the fall and life is looking pretty good.  But then she discovers that she has a rare genetic disorder Niemann-Peck (NPK) which will lead to her losing her memory, motor function and eventually death.  So, she creates this memory book to help her remember her life.  While coming to terms with her diagnosis she also navigates friendships and romantic relationships while trying to beat the disease.  This was another engaging, emotional YA read.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon – Natasha’s family is being deported back to Jamaica later in the evening and she’s doing everything she can including making a trip to an immigration attorney to plead her case.  Daniel is on his way to get his hair cut for an alumni admission interview for Yale  later that day when he first notices Natasha.  Of course, possibly by fate?, the two end up meeting and spending a perfect day together.  The story is told from multiple points of view over the course of the day.  While the idea of instant love is hard to believe, this story is so much more than a teen romance.  The book deals with immigration, race, having different life expectations from your parents and more.  A quick, enjoyable YA read.

When We Collided by Emery Lord – Jonah, one of six siblings, is helping to take care of his younger brothers and sisters.  Since their dad died, their mom rarely leaves her bedroom.  So, the older siblings have to juggle running the family restaurant and taking care of the house.  Vivi has moved to Verona Cove from Seattle and works in the local pottery shop.  It is here that she meets Jonah and his youngest sister.  The two form a relationship, with Vivi bringing spontaneity and fun to his life.  This YA book was a quick, emotional read. Although I’m not very familiar with bipolar disorder, I feel like Lord did a good job of depicting mental illness and the impact it has on others.

With Love From the Inside by Angela Pisel – Grace Bradshaw has been on death row for 17 years after being found guilty for murdering her baby son.  With her execution date set, her one wish is to reconnect with her estranged daughter Sophie.  But Sophie has created a new life for herself where even her husband knows nothing about her past.  When Sophie finally visits her mother, she has a lot of soul searching and decisions to make.  This was an emotional tearjerker of a read that had me engaged from the start.