Happy Show Us Your Books day with Steph & Jana! I read quite a lot since the last link up, including lots of romance books.
cursed child escapes death and finds herself in magical world
Never would have picked this up if it weren't for Heather - it sounded cute but I thought it might have been too young for me. It's definitely for a younger audience, but it's one of those that adults can enjoy too. It was so, so fun. It was just super delightful. Plus, Aussie author. I have the second one from the library and can't wait to get to it. Also, there is a big talking cat in this. Loved it. I do see people comparing it to HP and I get that, kind of, but really the only similarities are that it's about a young neglected kid thrust into a world she knows nothing about and she may or may not turn out to be someone super important who can defeat a bad guy. As you do.
thriller/mystery/romance
This was the most recent book club choice. It's hard to describe it and I think it's best going into it kind of blindly. It was hard to read at times and more than a little disturbing. There are some things I didn't love or wanted more from, but overall, there's no denying it was unputdownable and super messed up. If you go into this expecting a typical CoHo book, you will be disappointed and probably more than a little disturbed.
two soldiers from opposite sides of war fall in love, sci-fi
Wow. Wow. I am not normally into comics or graphic novels. I could not put these down. I read all 9 in just a few days. Even though these came highly recommended, I didn't expect much or think I would like them. I was wrong, obviously. I can't even explain it - they are addicting, super quick reads, they will break your heart... They are sci-fi, I'd still recommend them even if that's not normally your genre. They are 100% not meant for children and the author makes no bones about killing beloved characters. Actually, on that note, I take back my recommendation because #9 killed me dead and there is no #10 yet and I have too many emotions.
1 person in 8 bodies needs to solve murder mystery
This is the third book I've read now where a character keeps dying - I hated the other two, but Tanya recommended this one and thankfully third time is a charm! I loved this book. It's a little confusing and you definitely have to enjoy fantasy-ish books because of the whole 8 bodies thing - I had no problem with that, though it's frustrating when you want the character to just accept it and move on to the investigation. Super interesting, fascinating idea, well written, all the yes. Loved it. I was a bit skeptical with one part of the ending, but eh. I never guessed who did anything and I gasped at the big twist. The audio was top notch.
aftermath of teenage girl disappearing
Gina gifted me this audiobook (thanks Gina!) and it was my first Lisa Jewell book. I loved it. It's different in the sense that you kind of find out what happened, or who did it, fairly early on, but it's still super suspenseful because you don't find out everything. This was also very emotional, I got teary quite a few times - not what I expected from a suspense novel! It also felt real, in the sense that I was super sad for this fictional teenage girl and her family. Definitely recommend it. Off to read all the other Lisa Jewell books...
Next Year in Havana - Chanel Cleeton
cuban american travels to cuba to spread grandmother's ashes
I liked this one, but didn't love it. I do agree with Gina's review, the history and politics were a bit much, especially the way they are presented. I would have preferred more 'living' the history vs talking about it. That being said, I didn't hate it, perhaps because I went into it prepared for that. Some parts were very enjoyable, I just wanted more of some things and less of others. I really didn't hate it though.
Exit West - Mohsin Hamid
two people meet in war zone, magical doors
I kept seeing reviews saying the magical realism felt odd or unnecessary and I kept thinking 'why pick up a magical realism book if you don't want to read about magical realism?' and here I am saying it definitely felt odd and unnecessary. The book started off strong, but there would be these random snippets of other people that never seemed to have a point or come back up? Anyway. It was beautifully written and super short, but it wasn't an easy read because just when I'd get into it, the doors would come back up and I'd want to put it back down. I was disappointed in the love story as well. I saw someone on goodreads compare it to Monsters Inc and lord I laughed so hard. So true.
Basically, I thought this was going to be a love story chick lit style, but instead it's just selfish insecure characters treating each other poorly and lying until their daughter finds something that makes her start asking questions, which makes the adults fight and lie some more.
Received from Netgalley.
Good for fans of lighter chick lit, or maybe Sophie Kinsella. It wasn't bad, I just wanted the main character to be stronger, have a backbone and stop being so naive. I also wasn't a fan of the love triangle angle, regardless of how it ended. Also, I don't like Jason Momoa, there I said it, no regrets.
Received from Netgalley.
Wild Aces trilogy - Chanel Cleeton
By the same author as Next Year In Havana, but trust me, not the same. Way more my jam. Loved this trilogy, the first was my fave. If you liked Next Year In Havana and that is your romance limit, do not pick these up. If you like romance, I highly recommend. Loved them and wish she would write more like this.
Sin & Ink and Passion & Ink - Naima Simone
loved loved loved loved loved. These aren't for everyone because the tropes are 'taboo' which aren't normally my jam, but dang Naima Simone can write. Warning, these are steamy AF though.
Hate Notes - Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward
I have had mixed luck with this author duo and I wasn't really interested in trying again until Heather recommended this one. Since I trust her with my book life, I added it to my TBR. Of course, she was right, it was amazing and so emotional.
Loyal League trilogy - Alyssa Cole
I adore Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series, so I had high expectations for this trilogy. I know next to nothing about American history so that part could be kind of hard to get through, not that I'm not interested in learning, I've just lost the ability to absorb history I didn't learn in school. Thankfully, it's not a huge part of the first 2 books, though the 3rd book definitely read more like historical fiction vs romance with a bit of historical fiction and was my least favourite.
Received third from Netgalley.
Fumbled - Alexa Martin
This is by the same author as Intercepted, which I really enjoyed. Didn't love this one as much unfortunately. Thankfully, not a hashtag in sight, but the main character was just a smidge too immature for me. Also, second chance romance is one of my least favourite tropes because sometimes it's like 'hey we used to love each other and still do' with absolutely no development in the book so the reader doesn't get to fall in love. This happened in this one for me. But, I didn't hate it, at all. Just didn't love it.
Received from Netgalley.
Huge Deal & Passion on Park Avenue - Lauren Layne
Loved Huge Deal, disappointed in Passion on Park Avenue. If you are a Lauren Layne fan, Passion on Park Ave is different than her other books and I was a bit bummed. It wasn't awful, at all, it just wasn't like LL. I will continue the series, I will just adjust my expectations. Huge Deal was probably my favourite from that series. Loved it loved it loved it.
If you are a Kleypas fan, you know this book is amazing simply for existing. Ha. But seriously, it was adorable and thoroughly enjoyable and please may I have a West of my very own. That being said, Winterborne is still my favourite and I will fight you for him.
I fully admit I judged the shit out of this book based on the cover and title. I was 100% wrong! I love when that happens. This book was freaking hilarious and adorable and gah. I loved it. Unfortunately, disappointed in the second one - it wasn't awful but my expectations may have been too high. I definitely recommend this one.
I also read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH after Bev mentioned it last month - it's probably been 20 years since I last read it, but it was like curling up with an old friend.
TL;DR - I recommend the Saga series, Evelyn Hardcastle, Nevermoor, Then She Was Gone and Verity. And anything else that sounds like your jam.
TL;DR - I recommend the Saga series, Evelyn Hardcastle, Nevermoor, Then She Was Gone and Verity. And anything else that sounds like your jam.
Read anything decent lately?
