Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Recent Reading Updates

It's been a MINUTE since I was here sharing book updates and I'm excited to share some new books. But first, a little about my recent reading...

I have been in a reading rut for almost 6 months... I shared about my health challenges on Instagram back in January and have written a super long blog post about it that I will share soon. But, long story short, I was diagnosed with adenomyosis and PCOS in November/December and I really spiraled into a big life rut. I was only going to work and to teach barre and basically nothing else. Typically, I read to get through stressful times but this was next level stress and I just couldn't focus. Since social distancing began, my reading motivation has come and gone but I've read a few books.

I don't want to just recap all the books I've read since last August. So instead, I'm going to share some of my most favorites, some that were pleasant enough and some you should skip - because I love being told what to skip, personally.



DEFINITELY READ


One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid 

This book is so heart wrenching and I cried a couple of times reading it. I wanted every possible ending (yes, that's vague for a reason) to happen and that's obviously not possible. Highly recommend if you want a good tearjerker!


27189194. sy475

American Royals by Katharine McGee 

I listened to this via audiobook and it was a very cute, quick listen. The sequel is set to come out this Fall and I already can't wait. It's definitely a weird twist to think of America as a monarchy!

43744300

Get a life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

I've already lent this book to two friends with another one on the waiting list! It's so nice to read a romance with a non traditional lead. I'm trying to read romances that aren't your typical perfect people that are straight, white, and binary.

43884209

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren 

I've read a couple Christina Lauren books and didn't enjoy the others has much as this one. I really, really enjoyed this one and it sent me down a romance road of books for a little while!

40189670

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 

 I just read this book a week or so ago, and I don't normally like Liane Moriarty's books, but this one I did enjoy! So, if you don't normally like her writing, give this one a try. I had a friend who loves Liane books who said this wasn't her favorite so keep that in mind!

6469165

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine 

This is the only thriller on my "must read" list right now! I have been seriously let down by thrillers recently (as you'll see below....). But, I listened to this one as well and really enjoyed it! It's the first in a series and I own the rest but haven't started them quite yet.

33128934

PASSED THE TIME JUST FINE


The Holdout by Graham Moore 

I got this book from Book of the Month and was really excited about it! It was a great story but the "thrill" aspect wasn't there as much as I had hoped and you have to suspend reality a bit to believe the ending.

51211417. sx318 sy475

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid 

This book had been getting ALL the hype and I was so excited when I got a galley of it to read. But, I was let down a little bit because of the hype, I think. I believe I would have enjoyed the book more without that hype. I expected it to be a little more serious around the race issues but it wasn't. I don't want to say too much because it would ruin the book, in my opinion.

43923951. sy475

You Are Note Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen 

Again, with the expectations. Everyone kept talking about this being the *twistiest* thriller. And I thought it was a good book and very enjoyable but nowhere close to the the twistiest thriller. Maybe I should stop comparing everything to Final Girls by Riley Sager.

45046742. sy475

Whisper Network by Chandler Baker 

I really enjoyed this book!....until I went to book club. My book club didn't love it as much as I did for some reason. They felt that is was a little unrealistic - which I agree with! It was a heightened sense of what the real world feels like. But, I've worked in a male dominated field and a few of the plot points really hit home.

41555931. sy475

NOT FOR ME

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

I was so let down by this book. I LOVED the idea of it when I read the synopsis because I find polygamy so interesting. If you don't want any spoilers skip down now --------

this book ends up just being another "crazy lady is crazy" and I'm just really over that trope in thrillers.

43262893. sy475

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough 

I definitely seem to be in the minority in the dislike of this book. I was really enjoying it riiiiiight up until the last chapter. You'll see all over Goodreads about the "crazy ending" and "crazy twist" but that was a hard no for me. I wanted a crazy thriller and I mean, I guess that's what a got... if you've read this, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!

28965131. sy475

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo 

Again, possibly in the minority here. This book was advertised as a feminist book celebrating women's sexuality and that is just not  what is happening here and was really let down by this Book of the Month selection. It's currently sitting in my giveaway pile for when things open up again.

42201100

When Live Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger

I had been really looking forward to this book for awhile before reading it. I loved the Devil Wears Prada books and was excited to visit with Emily again. But, this book was terrible. In almost every chapter, Emily is shaming women for their food choices or how fat they are or the clothes their wearing. It's told from three points of view and I was only rooting for one POV and even then, I would use "rooting for" lightly.

36373647. sy475

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Please don't hate me!!! I know this is unpopular. But, the story just doesn't make sense. There's no way that the detective would have figured that out from the information he had provided to him. So, just nope. I only finished this for a reading challenge I was doing.

34066636. sy475

Currently Reading: 

Beach Read by Emily Henry
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
The Starter Wife by Nina Lauren

Audiobooks:  
The Witches are Coming by Lindy West
I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle Mcnara


See, I have a focus problem. 


11 comments:

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

I loved Stillhouse Lake.

I try to go into every read as expectation-less as possible, I think I find more things totally readable like that.

Kristin said...

So I really enjoyed Behind Her Eyes. I still remember listening to the audio on my way to work and thinking WTH!? when that twist popped up.
I don’t like Agatha Christie at all. I’ve tried multiple books and I don’t get the appeal.

Jana @ Jana Says said...

You can always count on TJR for a good book.

Whisper Network was a rough read. The characters were all so unlikeable but you also kind of understand why and support their choices.

I bought Such a Fun Age and the Holdout because the library waitlist for the eBook was too long. I never do that.

Anne said...

Ooh so many good selections here! I recently read The Holdout and Such a Fun Age - loved both of those. But for one that I felt like didn't get as much buzz, I really found The Whisper Network intriguing and quite a good read too.

Popping over from Show Us Your Books!

Carly said...

I have Such a Fun Age from the library right now and I'm not sure what to expect-- for some reason the cover does not match the synopsis for me as weird as that sounds. I liked Behind Her Eyes but the ending really annoyed me too-- I can't even remember what happened now, other than being disappointed.

Gwen said...

I actually liked Behind Her Eyes. I have Chloe Brown on audio (haven't started it yet) and I also got The Holdout from BOTM but haven't started that yet either. So many books!

Becki said...

I have my first Christina Lauren on my TBR pile now, but it's a different one. I read What Alice Forgot a while ago, but barely remember it. Great list - thanks for sharing :)

Elena Alice said...

I really enjoyed What Alice Forgot as well!! I had not read anything else by Liane, but had wanted to since I enjoyed this so much. Now I am worried nothing will compare to this one! lol

Here are my March reads, if interested! https://elle-alice.blogspot.com/2020/03/march-book-reviews.html

Curt Lennix said...

CRYPTO INVESTMENT SCAM RECOVERY

By now you should know about the Crypto investment scam. They are all over the internet posting Enticing adverts and making false testimonies about themselves using this to Lure people to their advantage and Scamming them, But you need not to worry, cause you can get all your money back.

You might have also come across some individuals that say they will give you guarantee on successful trades but they only end up as SCAMMERS as well. You here them say stuffs like 200% guaranteed in just 2 weeks and when you go into trade with them, they start telling you to pay profits percentage before you can get your income. These are all liars please avoid them. But if you have been a victim of this guys, then you should contact PYTHONAX now!

The big Question is “Can someone Recover their money lost to Binary Option and Scam!?
I will say yes, and will tell you how.

The only way to Recovery your money back is by hiring HACKERS to help break into the Scam platform Database Security System using the information you provide them with, Extract your file and get back your money. It seems like a really impossible thing to do, I will tell you, it should be impossible, but with the use of specially designed softwares known to HACKERS and Authorities (such as The FBI, CIA e.t.c) it is possible and the only way to recover your money.

PYTHONAX are a group of hackers who use their hacking skill to hunt down SCAMMERS and help individuals recovery their money from Internet SCAMMERS.
We just need the contact details of the SCAMMERS and Paymnet Info and within 4-8 hours your money will be return to you.

You can contact us via the emails below;
Help@pythonax.tech
Hackservices@pythonax.tech


Pythonax.
2023 © All Right Reserved.

Unknown said...

Good day everyone, I’m Erin Allen from Jurong East, Singapore, my husband and I own a Furniture business, about two months ago we invested some part of our money into a cryptocurrency investment platform and made a total of £498,640.00 payment through bitcoins to this cryptocurrency platform not aware that it was all a scam, they kept asking us to make more payments into their platform and that was when we realized we have lost our investment. It was such a difficult time for us but while I was surfing the internet, I saw someone share a post about Wizard Charles Group Hackers, a reputable company that recovers stolen and lost funds, I didn’t hesitate to contact them and after providing all the information they needed to work with Wizard Charles Group Hackers was able to recover our money in 6 hours. We were shocked that such a thing could be possible but we are super excited we were able to recover our money all thanks to him and his team. We are recommending them to everyone out there who have been defrauded too by these fake cryptocurrency investment platform. You can reach out to them with the information Email: wizardcharlesgrouphackers@gmail.com

Camille Maud said...

I was greatly relieved that Saclux Comptech Specialst provided me with the support I desperately needed after the terrible experience of losing my money to a deceptive online Bitcoin fraud. Saclux Comptech Specialst  They gave me technical support resulting in a large portion of my money being returned directly into my bank account. I would recommend that anyone report your case to sacluxcomptechspecialst@engineer.com  if you want to stand any chance of getting your money recovered. Viber: +44 7782 645302