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).
I really enjoyed Evelyn Hugo but it was definitely different from her other stuff. I have Bear Town on my TBR s glad to see you loved it.
Yes, Evelyn Hugo wasn’t my favorite of TJR but was enjoyable. Hope you enjoy Bear Town!
yay beartown! i totally didn’t think i’d like it either. i had a man called ove from the library but i didn’t get to it in time. i’ve heard mixed reviews so i’m scared. i loved Evelyn Hugo, glad you liked it!
i read handle with care years ago and it still remains the most i’ve ever cried in a book. the last page man. killed me.
I’ve got to read A Man Called Ove soon! Yes, that last page of Handle with Care!
I thought Handle with Care was EXCELLENT!
Yes, I love Picoult’s books. Glad I finally read this one!
A terrorist plot in a book geared towards middle school aged children? Weird.
I like when I discover there’s a book in the catalog of a favorite author that I haven’t read yet.
I thought the terrorist plot was definitely a bit weird for the age range.
Seven Husbands & Bear Town are definitely on my TBR after this month’s link-up!
Both great books! Hope you get to read them soon!
I still haven’t read a TJR book, but I’m excited to give her a try! Evelyn Hugo and Beartown both have been raved about lately, and I can’t wait to dig into them! My book club selected Beartown this month, so I’ll be reading it soon!
I think you’ll enjoy TJR if you give her a try. Beartown was sooooo good!
I really liked Evelyn Hugo but it was my first TJR so I wasn’t sure how it compares to her other works. It’s good to know it’s a bit different so I manage my expectations when I read some of her other books. Beartown is getting so much praise. I have to give it a try!
Yes, definitely give Beartown a try! I thought the writing was fantastic. Hope you get to read some more TJR!
I’m pretty open about my TJR fangirling so obviously it makes me happy when someone likes her books.
I don’t remember loving Handle With Care but I don’t remember hating it like I did The Tenth Circle. I think it was one, for me, that was firmly in the middle of her catalog (I have read every single one of her books except for the ones she’s written with her daughter so clearly I’m a fan)
Yes, I’ve become a big TJR fan!
I’m reading Beartown now and it’s good enough so far but I didn’t like Ove :/
I felt the same way about Evelyn Hugo. It was *fine* but not my favorite of hers.
I thought the storytelling and writing of Beartown was so good. I have to still read A Man Called Ove!
I have the Evelyn Hugo once on my TBR, but I’ve never read anything by TJR! Where would you recommend I start? I added Beartown because I heard that it’s not like Bachman’s other books. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on A Man Called Ove once you read it!
My first TJR book that I ever read was After I Do, which made me a fan. I’ve loved all her other books but I think my fave was One True Loves. Hoping to read A Man Called Ove soon!
I read Ove this past month and am excited to try Beartown next! I loved Evelyn Hugo, but it was not my favorite TJR book either.
I’m hoping to read Ove soon! From what I’ve heard they are nothing a like though.
Aw! I featured Seven Husbands on my list this month, but I loved it! I couldn’t put it down!
I enjoyed it, it was just different than her other books!
I loveeeed Beartown and then I listened to A Man Called Ove and loved it too. I highly recommend the audio version. I know what you mean about the newest TJR. I really, really, enjoyed it a lot but it was definitely different from her other books.
Thanks for the tip! Will have to put the audio version on hold!
I was late to the Jodi Picoult game, but I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experiences with the 3 books I’ve read of hers. I will continue to add a Picoult book in the mix of others during my reading.
I’ve been convinced to give Beartown a read.
Picoult’s books can be a bit heavy, so yes, they have to be read spread out! I highly recommend Beartown!
I haven’t heard a bad thing about Beartown yet. I’m so excited to read it! Looking into the summer I dared because it sounds super cute. I love a good fluffy read. 🙂 XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
huge picoult fan here too! I haven’t read this one though, will have to check it out!