Happy Show Us Your Books day with Steph & Jana! I've read a lot since the last link up, mainly because of how the dates fell and also because it is pretty much my only hobby. So there's that.
middle brother found dead in outback, which leaves few suspects
Technically this wasn't couldn't put it down because it took me over a month to finish it, but I really really enjoyed it and was totally captivated. I admit, I take my Australian books too seriously. I liked The Dry, but didn't love how she used certain American words no Australian would ever use. I understand why Aussie authors do it, but it bugged me enough to not jump at Force of Nature. Obviously I got over myself and picked this one up. Immediately, from the get go, it was more Aussie and I was so there for it. The ending shocked me and I loved that it was so interesting and compelling even without a lot of characters or a lot going on. Much recommend.
orphan girl goes to live on farm
I had heard of Anne of Green Gables but didn't know much about it, never read it or watched any kind of adaption. But Heather is always talking about how much she loves it and considering our tastes are so similar I figured I'd give it a go! I think I expected to like it but didn't really think I'd fall head over heels, but I did because it really was so delightful. Heartbreaking too, it's been a long time since I really cried in a book but this one definitely made me cry (both happy and sad tears). I am working on the rest of the series, then I am going to watch every movie/tv show adaption I can get my hands on.
sequel to nevermoor
I mean, no words. Need the next one. This series is just so freaking delightful. Again, I see the similarities to Harry Potter and I would recommend it to HP fans, but it stands on its own. I'd recommend it to kids and adults alike, as long as you are a fan of fantasy. Morrigan is a wonderful character, I adore the world and all the other characters. This author has a way with endings, I tell you what. I need the next one for sure. Also, Aussie Aussie Aussie.
harry's wife dies, goes to live in the forest, befriends widow & her child
Another one I picked up purely because Heather liked it. This is a weird one in the sense that it really was not 'unputdownable' because it was so intense and emotional that I had to keep putting it down, but I thought it was so wonderful that it belongs up here. I do see people comparing to AJ Fikry and Ove, I've not read Ove but I do see the feelings-comparison to AJ Fikry. Not the story, exactly. This one made me tear up several times. I thought it was beautiful.
book lover and introvert nina inherits a family she doesn't want
You know that feeling when you are reading a favourite book for the very first time? That was this book for me, I absolutely loved it from the very first page. It was hilarious. There are so many good one liners that I wanted to highlight. I am definitely going to be re-reading this when it is published. Nina is such a fantastic character. If you liked Eleanor Oliphant or The Rosie Project, I think you'd like this. If you like books about books and book lovers, I think you'd like this. Don't be put off by the romance, any scenes are closed door. Loved it, definitely recommend, wish I could describe it better. Bloody delightful.
Received from First to Read.
Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens
coming of age about an abandoned 'marsh girl', murder mystery
Firstly I have to say, just because something is under 'enjoyable enough' doesn't mean I didn't like it. It was enjoyable, it's right there in the heading. The start of this was super slow, it wasn't until like 45% that I felt like it was going somewhere. I really liked the second half. I did feel like the writing was a bit over the top descriptive sometimes. I get why, the setting was its own character and I saw the connections she wanted us to see with some birds and insects, but it was just a little too much. I also felt like there were some holes in the plot and some things I found unbelievable. But I felt feelings and teared up a time or two. I liked it, didn't love it. This was book club's book and it wasn't a huge hit. I still think it's worth a read though.
Aurora Rising - Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
ya sci-fi adventure, breakfast club-ish
This is by the same people who wrote Illuminae which I loved but still haven't finished the series (oops). This one took a bit to get into but eventually I couldn't put it down. I thought this was funny, fast paced and interesting. Lots of action, which can sometimes get a wee bit tedious to read (for me) but it kept my attention. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I need the next one now.
Received from Netgalley.
ya sci-fi adventure, breakfast club-ish
This is by the same people who wrote Illuminae which I loved but still haven't finished the series (oops). This one took a bit to get into but eventually I couldn't put it down. I thought this was funny, fast paced and interesting. Lots of action, which can sometimes get a wee bit tedious to read (for me) but it kept my attention. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I need the next one now.
Received from Netgalley.
Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams
queenie is a bit of a hot mess, long time boyfriend broke up with her
queenie is a bit of a hot mess, long time boyfriend broke up with her
This book had me at 'Bridget Jones meets Americanah'.... I haven't read Americanah but Bridget Jones is one of my all time favourites. So I expected a hot mess, but I expected a lighthearted hot mess - which is not what I got. It was really hard to understand and accept the choices Queenie makes, it made it really hard to read at times because you just wanted to shake some sense into her. At about halfway, I started to get a better handle on her and then I just wanted to give her a hug and take care of her. In the end, I liked it a lot, I liked Queenie, but this isn't an easy or light read. Also, this is kind of a spoiler but happens in the first chapter so whatever, it's something I would have liked to know going in: she goes to the doctor and realises she's had a miscarriage.
Love From A to Z - SK Ali
muslim love story, but also justice, equality, family, health and accepting yourself
I requested this knowing I don't really do YA anymore, so it's my own fault. I just couldn't resist it, the cover, title and synopsis were calling to me. I did like what it was about, it tackles so many things and I think it could resonate with a lot of different readers.. I just think I would have enjoyed it more when I was younger. The things that annoyed me were teenagers-are-annoying things and I feel like I shouldn't judge it based on that. Overall, I thought it was cute and I liked the ending. It's about so much more than the love story, so don't be put off by that. I would recommend it, it just wasn't my favourite.
Received from Netgalley.
Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune - Roselle Lim
woman returns after mother dies to reopen grandmother's restaurant
This one was a bust for me. The writing was a bit too flowery, there was too much telling and not enough showing, the story was underdeveloped, the magical realism was unexpected and just plain weird. I was also not expecting a romance subplot and it was so unbelievable and cringey. The book had a ton of recipes, which I am okay with but then there would be two pages following where every little action in the recipe was detailed. Too much. It felt like I was reading a script for a cooking show. Also, birds follow her around like she's a disney princess. Such a bummer because isn't that cover gorgeous?
Received from First to Read.
dying grandmother calls estranged granddaughter for help
DNF @ 19%. Perhaps this is the right book but wrong time for me, but I just can't do it. It's so depressing. I'm sure it gets better but I just can't handle it right now. Which sucks because I love Kristan Higgins and I was really excited for this one. I'm proud of myself for DNFing, I used to be so bad at it but this is #5 of the year. Go me.
Received from First to Read.
p&p retelling
DNF @ 25%. Womp. I tried, I did. But it was such a slog to get through. I didn't click with the writing and it took way too long to get going so I put it down and didn't pick it back up. DNF #6, look at me go.
Received from Edelweiss.
I liked this one a lot, though I was disappointed in one aspect. I will continue to read their books of course, but if the next one follows the same path this one did, I don't know. Which is super vague I know, I just felt like they removed something from this book that is in their others and it could have been fine but they didn't add anything else in to make up for the lack of development or connection the removing of the thing caused. If you have a peanut butter sandwich and you remove the peanut butter, your sandwich will be sad and boring. You need to add something else to make up for it. K. Loved the trope though.
Received from Netgalley.
I literally cannot even with this book. This was the cutest thing I have ever read. It's also strangely intense, I love when books do that, sprinkle the intense in with the fluff. The male's POV took too long for me to get into, it's written very differently and it was so jarring. Eventually I got used to it though and overall absolutely adored it. This book gave me all the feelings. Literally, all of them. Bloody delightful.
Received from Netgalley.
This one deals with infertility, which is in the synopsis and I knew going in. Kristen (in the book, not me) is going through a completely different situation than I am and I waited for Heather to read it first - I think both of those things made it a bit easier to read in that regard. There was only one line at the end that made me cry and that is because the character and I have the same name so it was like someone saying it to me. I cried. Anywho. Hella emotional, but not just because of infertility. Can't say more without spoilers. Funny, adorable, loved the characters. Much recommend.
Received ARC.
I can't imagine how hard it is to publish a second book when your first was as insanely popular as The Kiss Quotient. I told myself not to have high expectations and not to compare the two, but it was impossible. This one just didn't have that same pizzazz as The Kiss Quotient for me. I really liked Khai, but struggled with My/Esme. Just didn't 100% relate to or understand her motivations, especially when her feelings changed. Also there was a green card error that bugged me. I thought maybe the laws had changed since I got my green card, but nope, I checked. If I could google it in less than 5 minutes.....
Received from First to Read.
This was freaking adorable. Hardcore loved it. Bea was such a fun character, she reminded me a teeny bit of Hazel from Josh & Hazel. Just a little, in that she's quirky. I've never read about a magician before and I admit I don't often read about artists because I don't often click with that kind of personality, but I loved both characters and all the side characters too. Loved it.
Received from Netgalley.
This was a fun, lighthearted read. I'd recommend to rom-com fans, there are a lot of references to a lot of movies and I did enjoy that. I can see how it would be annoying if you weren't super into rom-coms. This is also a closed door romance, but I feel like the love story is the main focus so that's why it is here (whereas Nina Hill has so much more going for it). There were a few times I rolled my eyes or wanted to shake the main character, but overall it was fun and light, passed the time fine.
Received from First to Read.
I kept seeing this everywhere, it was a kindle freebie there for a bit so I grabbed it but kept putting it off until the NYMRBC podcast did an episode on it. I loved it. I wish I was better with the words, but this book was like, unassuming. It was good and fine and plodding along but when I finished I had a big goofy smile on my face. Every page was a delight. Added all her other books to my TBR.
I totally judged this book on the cover. I had low expectations and didn't expect much. I love when I am wrong. I absolutely adored it. Absolutely, 100000% not meant for everyone, but every single thing about this book worked for me. It was funny, it was adorable, I loved the writing, I wanted to smoosh the characters faces together and put them in my pocket. Loved. It.
The Immortalists for book club and Everything I Never Told You because Celeste Ng is coming to the ville next week. I'm also still working on Children of Blood and Bone.
Linking up with Steph & Jana.
TL;DR - I recommend The Lost Man, Harry's Trees and Nina Hill.
Read anything decent lately?
