Tuesday, April 9, 2019

April Reads

Somehow, even though we moved mid March, I still knocked out a slew of books. I didn't used to enjoy audiobooks, but the library here seems to have a longer waitlist on many of the books I want AND I drive a lot around central VA for work, so I have the time to mix in. I'm still really into my podcasts, but it's nice to have a good book, too. Since I'm doing audiobooks, I think that's why I've been able to keep my count up through the move!

Rating: 3/5
Genre: Adult Fiction 
Challenge: Erin's - Freebie and Popsugar - book author from Asia, Africa, or South America


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This series was recommended so much over the last few years, that of course I caved last year and read the first two, but it took longer for the third to be available at the library and I ended up reading it as an ebook. Honestly, this was my least favorite of the three and I felt that there didn't need to be 3 books. They're meant to be "fluffy" but you just spend so much time dragging through designer labels that I skimmed a lot! 

Rating: 2.5/5
Genre: I thought it was a thriller but... nah. 
Challenge: Popsugar - book  with a plant in the title or on the cover


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I mean... what was this book, even? I thought it was some sort of thriller but it was really just a really terrible, snooty narrator whining and then you're supposed to feel bad for her at a certain point, but I just couldn't. And there wasn't a "secret" or "reveal" like the synopsis made it sound like.

On The Come Up // Angie Thomas
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA
Challenge: Popsugar - book published in 2019


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Angie Thomas can do no wrong in my eyes. She's working on her 3rd and 4th books and I already can't wait. I read this and THUG from the library, but am considering buying because they're that good and I want to support Angie Thomas. This is not a sequel to THUG, but it does also take place in Garden Heights (as will her next book) so there are references to the story but you wouldn't have needed to read that first.

Beyond the Pill // Dr. Jolene Brighten
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Wellness
Challenge: None

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Surprise! I'm officially off birth control. I've been really open about this in real life so why not on the internet, too? And no, we are not trying for kids, either. We are still rocking that 3-5 year plan. But, there are some things I've been dealing with that I think could be tied to hormonal birth control and I've been on it for a decade which is a really long time to be pumping synthetic shit into your body.

I don't even like to take Advil when I can stand it, so why have I been taking BC for so long? I may find that this doesn't work for me, but I want to at least try going off it so wish me luck as my body tries to figure out WTF is going on.

I picked up this book for some guidance and I will say she is BIG on supplements and I know I won't be doing that much. But, she has some great information around what BC does to our bodies (she is not anti birth control, though, she does give advice on  how to safely stay on it if that's what works for you!) and how to combat the side effects coming off and how to balance out the issues that so many people take it for (acne, cramps, irregularity, etc.).

An Anonymous Girl // Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Challenge: Popsugar - book by two female authors 


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You know, I had really high hopes for this book, but it didn't quite live up to them. Maybe it was because the book was so hyped and I should have managed expectations, but it just wasn't as "thriller-y" as I thought it was. Maybe I need to manage expectations about all thrillers? Worth the read, but it won't blow you away with twists.

The Sun is Also a Star // Nicola Yoon
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA
Challenge: Popsugar - book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title

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I listened to this on audiobook and it was SO GOOD. I mean, what a story. If you haven't heard of this book, it takes place all in one day. Daniel is headed to Yale for his admission interview and Natasha's family is being deported that night at 8 pm. They meet and have a very special day and it just gave me all the chills, cries, laughs, and just all the emotions.

Where the Crawdads Sing // Delia Owens 
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Challenge: Popsugar - book recommended by a celebrity you admire; March Book Club 


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Okay, I did give this four stars upon finishing, but I keep waffling on maybe its 3 or 3.5? Maybe I let the opinions of my book club sway me a bit. I thought the story was so powerful and I definitely felt for the main character in this book so I understand why it is hyped so much. But, my one issue (and the book club's too) is that it gets really bogged down in descriptions of things that aren't fully relevant. It's a slow start but definitely worth the read, too!

The Silent Patient // Alex Michaelides
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Challenge: None

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I learned about this book through Book of the Month Club (aff) and though I'm glad I didn't buy it, I am glad I got it through the library but it was good!  I saw some reviews saying the twist was obvious, but not for this girl. I reread it like 3 times and said "WHAT" out loud much to my sleeping husband's dismay. The only reason it didn't have a 4 star from me is that it was a little slow to get going in my opinion.

Rating: 4/5
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Challenge: None - it fits a few, but I've already read books for those categories!

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I just finished this Sunday night and oh my gosh, it's so good. If you've read American Marriage, you may spot some similarities, but this one does have a little bit better ending. It's focused on a family and the challenges they go through when both parents are put in jail. I can't say much more because it will spoil it. But, please read this! Also another find from Book of the Month (aff).


Currently Reading: 
The Killer in Me // Olivia Kiernan (ARC from FirsttoRead)
My Ex-Best Friend's Wedding // Wendy Wax (ARC from FirsttoRead)
Queenie // Candice Carty-Williams

Currently Checked Out from the Library: 
Queenie // Candice Carty-Williams
Hitler Youth // Susan Campbell Bartolli

April's Book Club: 
One Day in December // Josie Silver
* Yes, I've already read this but I wanted them to read it so badly and my TBR list is long enough!

As always, linking up with Jana and Steph!

14 comments:

Monica L said...

I should check out Beyond the Pill. I have terrible reactions to birth control but also would be great to get some semblance of balance with my hormones!

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

The environment was such a huge character in Crawdads, I get why there were so many descriptions.

Hated Luckiest Girl Alive, a lot. I don't usually hate books.

I loved On the Come Up!

Kristen @ See You In A Porridge said...

i keep meaning to read the next 2 in the crazy rich asians trilogy, but good to know about the 3rd. the designer labels and whatnot really drove me crazy in the 1st book. i wish i had read the beyond the pill back when i got off birth control, i'd been on it for over 10 years and my body was so freaking out of whack. the side effects were insane - some good, some bad, mostly bad. i've been off it for over 2 years now and i finally feel 'normal', though (tmi) it took a pregnancy (and loss) for my period to go back to normal. maybe i should check that book out anyway just to see if there's anything else i can do.
bummer about an anonymous girl - definitely not thrillery, more creepy. i think i prefer creepy books over thrillery books though, but i don't read a ton of them so maybe that's why.
i have definitely found that i let book club sway my opinion when i am waffling about a book, and funnily enough, crawdads is the next book club book lol.
i am also currently reading Queenie! only a couple chapters in but i like it so far.

Confuzzled Bev said...

I want to read The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls based solely on the title ! Ha.

I was in the pill for about 12 years and I now wonder whether that's the cause of my infertility. Of course it could be my age or maybe I was always infertile. I'll never really know now .

Kay R. said...

I read Crazy rich asians but haven't read anything else from the series. I didn't like the first book but I still plan to finish the series.

Yours is the first review of crawdads that Ive read that isnt glowing. I like conflicting views - makes me feel to read it even more.

On the come up was a good read. Not exceptional for me but definitely solid.

Tanya @ A Mindful Migration said...

I think publishers often misuse thrillers and mysteries and suspense when describing books, which is a real pain because wrong expectations can really affect how you feel about a book. Anonymous Girl is on my TBR but I'll try to not think about it in any genre (impossible but what the heck!). The Silent Patient is currently sitting on my nightstand. Can't wait to read it!

Jana @ Jana Says said...

Crawdads did lean really heavily on detail which usually annoys me if it's irrelevant to the story but for some reason, in this book, it worked.

Laura Darling said...

I've seen lots of reviews of An Anonymous Girl this month! It sounds intriguing, I might have to pick it up!

Julie said...

So many good suggestions!!

Heather @ The Maritime Reader said...

I loved The Sun is Also a Star and a few of these other books too. :) The pill one sounds super interesting and helpful for that information.

Brittany Always said...

Looking into Care & Feeding, thanks for sharing!

Anne said...

Ooh, lots of good titles here. I loved On the Come Up and The Sun Is Also a Star - so much good YA out there lately! And I just got my library hold of The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls, so I can't wait to get started.

Dara @ Not In Jersey said...

I read Crawdads this month too. I was so so on it. I have a lot of these on my tbr list and I added that last one!

Audrey Louise said...

I need to read Crawdad and On the Come Up. I tried reading Crazy Rich Asians and just couldn't get into it. I'll try again some time, but for now it's not on my radar.