Books Lately

It's the best day of the month! As always, I love reading what other people have been reading so I can add to that never ending TBR list. Shall we?

One True Loves - Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4 Stars
I  received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

TJR is shaping up to be.. well, not a 'favourite' author, but one that I know I will absolutely enjoy her books. The first one was good, the second one was great, this one was the best so far. It was well written, hilarious and I just freaking loved it. I've always been intrigued by situations like this, ones that don't happen often, and I like to think about how I would act or who I would choose. I think it takes a very good writer to take a super complicated situation or storyline and make it work seamlessly, or get characters into such a mess that you wonder well how the heck are you going to get them out of this? But she does. Plus, the characters liked cats and I don't know if you know.. but I like cats too. 

Finding Fraser - KC Dyer - 3 Stars
I  received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw Jess post about this I was like yep. Mine. Need it. I have only read the first Outlander book so I was worried that this would talk about the others too much, but it barely mentioned them. I don't know if a non-Outlander fan would like this, to be honest. It was a very cute book and I did enjoy it most of the time. Unfortunately, I really disliked the main character. I mean, I don't have to like characters to like a book, but to put it nicely, this girl was an idiot, she had no backbone and she fell for the most ridiculous things. I understand these things were essential to make up the story, but still. Nothing wrong with making the character strong or at least not stupid. I also really didn't like the sister, mainly because the main character wouldn't stand up to her. But overall, it was a cute book and I did enjoy it. Just wanted to smack the main character.

A Year of Being Single - Fiona Collins - 3 Stars
I  received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was okay, it was cute. As Steph would say, it passed the time just fine. It was very light and fluffy, predictable too. It was short, so a lot happened in not a lot of time, and it was paced a bit oddly. I didn't connect to any of the characters because of that.

The Girl from Summer Hill - Jude Deveraux - 4 Stars
I  received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a P&P variation and there is a lot of P&P going on. For one, it talks about Jane Austen and the original, then there is a play and then it is playing out in 'real life'. It's hard for me to rate/judge P&P variations because I go into the book already knowing all the characters and the stories. I can definitely see how going into any P&P variation is a bit hard because there are so many characters and stories to keep up with, but for me, I am just matching who is who in my head (oh, there's Jane, he must be Bingley, where is Caroline? etc). But overall, this was a super cute read, I enjoyed it, and it would definitely be a good beach read. I can't say how a non P&P fan would like it though because it's hard for me to separate the two. But Nadine liked it!

Batter Up - Robyn Neeley - 3 Stars

This book was super cute, adorable, cheesy and predictable. It was not bad though, and it didn't annoy me or make me want to skim just to get it over and done with. It's just a simple, fluffy, adorable, romancey beachy type book.

Beauty - Robin McKinley - 4 Stars

I had no idea this book was written so long ago, but I really enjoyed it. It's not the best retelling I've ever read, but it is far from the worst, and I read it one sitting so it must have been good. I did want a wee bit more in the end, but all in all, an enjoyable read.

Strangely, Incredibly Good - Heather Grace Stewart - 2 Stars

Unfortunately this book was not good. I was not a fan at all. First off: talking shit about someone because they are skinny and you are not, does not make you skinny (I know, shocker). Assuming everyone in a gym is there for fun or chit chat and must have no idea what it's like to be overweight is ridiculous. Saying thin people don't have to work hard or don't understand is preposterous. Guess what, once you lose weight, you look just like the skinny people you were making fun of, and then what? You think you get a free pass? You think you wear a sign that says 'it's okay, I'm not one of them?' NO. I am so sick of body shaming in general, whether it is people, movies, or books. So sick of it. Bringing someone else down does not bring you up. Of course, the book is much more than skinny/fat but nothing else redeemed it after that for me.  I thought it would be a quick, enjoyable, fluffy read. It was quick. I wouldn't recommend it or read it again.

This Sky - Autumn Doughton - 4 Stars

This book was honestly more of a 3 star, writing wise, but I really did enjoy it, much more than other 3 star books, which is why we hate the star rating, right? But seriously. It's a bit older than YA (apparently that's called NA?) and I wasn't the biggest fan of the style of writing, sometimes it felt like it was trying to be too flowery or familiar (like familiar with me like we just met, not familiar like it reminded me of something) but despite that, I kept thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it, I kept trying to sneak a page here and there on my phone. I really enjoyed it. It was funny, cute, a little sexy but not smutty, sweet but emotional. I really liked it and if you like these kinds of books, you should check it out. It's only 99 cents on Amazon! (not an affiliate link).

A Rogue by Any Other Name - Sarah MacLean - 4 Stars


Yeah I know this cover is just... yep. I don't remember who recommended this to me, but it sounded good. For what it is and what I obviously expected, I thouroughly enjoyed it. No complaints. Actually, one huge complaint. I am a sucker for an epilogue. THAT was NOT an epilogue, Miss MacLean. An epilogue is your chance to make me feel all happy and gooey and lovey and happy endings and shit. It is not to start a new story. Okay? I don't mind the new story at the end of the current one, makes me want to read the next book - just don't call it an epilogue when it has nothing to do with what I just read, k? K.

Vampire Academy series - Richelle Mead - 4 Stars

I can't remember if I read these books before or after Twilight, but they came out when I was like 20 and I loved them, I got an inkling to re-read them recently (after watching the 'guilty pleasure' that is the absolutely shockingly appallingly movie version) and I enjoyed them just as much as I did when I was younger, even though this time I knew everything that was going to happen, and I could see how incredibly lame these books are.... but guess what, I don't care.

Do I recommend these? Eh. They aren't books I'd recommend, unless you're super into YA and vampires (not that I am into vampires.. but apparently I was when I was younger) and in that case, you've probably already read them..

Just One Day - Gayle Forman - 4 Stars

Hmm. This book is super hyped and everyone seems to love it. I went into it not only with high expectations, but with a pretty firm idea of what I was reading... It did not meet my expectations exactly, but it completely blew me away with how wrong I was and I couldn't seem to wrap my head around that. I was so sure I knew how this book would go and it went the opposite way and it left me a little gobsmacked. I truly enjoyed it and I loved the growth, the story and the relationships... but then at points, I was bored. I think I was waiting for it to get where I thought it would go, but it didn't. All in all, this book was a pleasant surprise, but not in the way I thought it would be. Hard to explain.  I enjoyed it.

Rumour Has It - Jill Mansell - 4 Stars

This was an adorable, lovely book. I really, really enjoyed it. It was exactly what I needed and expected. I hate to use the words chick lit, but if you like chick lit, you will like this. Adorable, but not cutesy. Funny but not cringe worthy. Sexy but not smutty. I really enjoyed it. It made me giggle and smile and I promptly gave it to my mother in law to read when I was finished.

Oh and check this out:

I know authors are people and all that jazz, but it makes me squeal and jump up and down like an idiot when they favourite a tweet or reply back to me. 

I also read Exposure to a Billionaire for book club, which unfortunately I do not recommend. 

Linking up with Steph and Jana. 

TL;DR - Books I'd recommend because I enjoyed them: One True Loves, This Sky and Rumour Has It.

I was planning on reading more this past weekend, but KC and I got in a wreck on Saturday and it kind of put a damper on relaxing and reading. Thankfully we are both okay and that is what matters. I have been drawn to lighter books lately, as I'm sure you can tell. I am almost finished with The Lake House but bloody hell it's long. I've also been stuck on page 1 of Ready Player One for like 75 years, every time I try and read it, I am overcome with a need to put my kindle down. It's weird.

We leave for the cruise this weekend, I am looking forward to a lot of relaxing, eating lots of food, drinking all the cocktails, and reading all the books.

Read anything decent lately?