Books Lately

Happy Show Us Your Books day with Steph & Jana! I had a couple weeks of feeling like a reader again, then crashed and burned. I want to blame it mostly on a crappy book, but I think it's still me and the world. But I'm hoping with the election over now, things will magically get back to normal - reading wise, anyway.

Murder on Cold Street - Sherry Thomas

5th in lady sherlock series

I love this series, love these characters. It was super fun to buddy read with Heather, and I definitely enjoyed it. It wasn't as good as the previous book, but it was still a solid read and I recommend the series as a whole if it sounds like your jam.

The Devil and the Dark Water - Stuart Turton

I absolutely *loved* Evelyn Hardcastle. My expectations might have been too high, but goodness this was boring. So very very boring. What even happened? Couldn't tell ya. So much potential! So much disappointment.

In a Holidaze - Christina Lauren

This was completely and utterly delightful. Adorable and sweet, closed door but handled better than their last one. I thought it was really unique, well written, fabulous characters, fast paced, easy to read. Highly recommend, christmas or any time of year! Super cute and very enjoyable.

The Wedding Deal - Cindi Madsen

This was.... one of those romances that is perfectly fine and passes the time well enough, nothing super offensive or annoying, but nothing wow either. It was cute and I enjoyed it, but remember very little. I remember laughing a few times at some pop culture references and I liked the characters, so I don't not recommend it. 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - loving it so far!

Linking up with Steph & Jana. 

TL;DR - I recommend the lady Sherlock series, and In a Holidaze if you want a fluffy christmas read.

Read anything decent lately? Or are you struggling like me?

Checking in

Hi all! Hope everyone is well, as well as can be right now. I'm just popping by to say I'm skipping the link up again, this time on purpose. Just a lot going on, and you know how it is. So, perhaps next month! I'm not quite sure how to end this except to say hope everyone is hanging in there the best they can right now, and I'm just trying to stay positive and I hope you are too.

Books Lately

Happy Show Us Your Books day with Steph & Jana! Happy 6 year anniversary ladies!! Time flies when you're having fun. Speaking of fun, I've had so much of it lately (jk) that I straight up skipped my own link up and have barely read anything in the last couple months. Thankfully, I cut out something super time consuming very recently and hopefully that means things will calm down and I'll be back to a person who reads. If I can remember how.

Anxious People - Fredrik Backman

eight strangers, failed bank robber, hostage situation

Well this wasn't quite put it down since it took me a month to read, but that's me and not the book. I'll tell you what, this was beautiful and amazing and he is a fantastic writer and an amazing storyteller... but goodness gracious this was not  a light easy fun covid read, you know? I mean, it was so good, I cried, I loved so many lines, it was fantastic. I'm not mad I read it at all and highly recommend it. It's one of those books that you get so immersed in that you feel like you know all the people in real life, so you still think about them weeks later. It was good. I loved it. It's just heavy, and I know a lot of us aren't in the mood for that right now.

buddy reading Murder on Cold Street with my bestie Heather - this series is honestly so wonderful. Reminds me of our beloved Veronica Speedwell - a little bit content wise, but mainly the gooey happy feelings they both give me.

Linking up with Steph & Jana. Happy happy happy SUYB link up anniversary ladies!

TL;DR - I recommend... gosh you guys, absolutely so hard to choose from ALL the books I read. Too hard.

Read anything decent lately?

Books Lately

Happy Show Us Your Books day with Steph & Jana! I have not been a reader lately. August was weird. Maybe one day I'll be back to normal, but it is not this day.

The Secret Life of Violet Grant - Beatriz Williams

historical fiction, dual storylines
Well, not quite 'couldn't put it down' because nothing was unputdownable in August, but this was thoroughly delightful. Wish I had re-read A Hundred Summers before this one since apparently there are some reappearing characters. I adored Vivian, didn't really feel like I knew Violet as much, but overall it was a super fun, easy, enjoyable read. Teeny tiny quibbles about a few things, but nothing too big.

Tweet Cute - Emma Lord

teen rom-com, family business tweet war

This was super adorable, sickeningly sweet. I thought it was unique and fun and exactly what my brain needed. Made me hungry. Definitely recommend if you enjoy YA.

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book - Jennifer Donnelly

beauty and the beast retelling... kind of

I was so excited for this book - and the movie - that I preordered it. In 2017. It is now 2020. Honestly, it's like when I purchase a book it almost guarantees that it won't get read for a few years. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read it back when I purchased it, maybe not. It was cute, and fun, but not my favourite b&tb retelling. I liked the love & death characters, I liked the story within a story, but as a b&tb telling, mostly meh. It was fine and cute. Took me 2 months to read and 3.5 years to get to. Gorgeous cover though.

Boy Swallows Universe - Trent Dalton

coming of age, 1980s australia, convicted murderer babysitter, drugs, mute brother

This is quite possibly the weirdest book I’ve ever read lol. I have no idea how to describe it. The writing was absolutely beautiful, but sometimes it was a bit much and over the top and it’s almost like you couldn’t see the story for all the metaphors and imagery. I picked it up because it had really good reviews and because I’m trying to read more aussie authors – and I will say, 90% of my enjoyment of this book came from how Australian it was. From the dialogue, to the mentions of places, things, people, sports teams, to the food -oh the food! Man. This book made me so hungry and miss home so much. Some of it went over my head because I’m not from Brisbane and it’s set in the 80s, but for the most part, it felt like I was home when I was reading it. Anyway – the book. It’s kind of bonkers. I loved several lines, I laughed a few times, I was shocked and worried in certain scenes, I felt like I knew the characters. Completely crazy that it’s apparently semi autobiographical. 

The Wedding Date Disaster - Avery Flynn

Oh, this was such a disappointment. I love Avery Flynn. This felt like a different author. I was so confused and disconnected in the first chapter and I feel like it never got any better. Definitely needed some more development/back story before throwing us in there, no build up whatsover so absolutely no chemistry or tension for a supposed enemies to lovers. Such a disappointment and I am sad. I mean, I didn't hate it, but it was not at all what I was expecting and Avery Flynn was one of those authors I knew exactly what to expect from so it was extra disappointing.

Don't Hex and Drive - this publishes today so I'm a bit behind, but I loved the first one. 

Linking up with Steph & Jana. 

TL;DR - I recommend the Violet Grant - that was a solid read.

Read anything decent lately?