How to Walk Away - Katherine Center
woman comes to terms with her life after an accident, who & what really matters
I actually read this back in March but wanted to wait until closer to the release date to share. On her website, it says she writes ‘bittersweet
comic novels about how we get back up after life has knocked us down’ and
that hits the nail on the head with this book. It made me laugh, it made me
teary, it made me feel all the feels. It was so
heartbreaking and realistic and I highly recommend. Comes out May 15th. Loved it so much I bought it via BOTM.
Received from Netgalley.
enemies to lovers romantic comedy
It's no secret I am a huge fan of R.S. Grey and will read anything she writes. I enjoyed this one more than The Beau & the Belle, but not as much as The Duet. I find this one very hard to rate or talk about because I love her books, so I am biased, but compared to others I've read lately, this one didn't hit all the marks? But it did for an R.S. Grey book? I don't know. I'll just leave it at that, if this sounds like your jam, you can pre-order it for 99 cents (it will go up on release day, which is May 10th). It will also be on KU when released, if you have that.
Received ARC from author.
It's no secret I am a huge fan of R.S. Grey and will read anything she writes. I enjoyed this one more than The Beau & the Belle, but not as much as The Duet. I find this one very hard to rate or talk about because I love her books, so I am biased, but compared to others I've read lately, this one didn't hit all the marks? But it did for an R.S. Grey book? I don't know. I'll just leave it at that, if this sounds like your jam, you can pre-order it for 99 cents (it will go up on release day, which is May 10th). It will also be on KU when released, if you have that.
Received ARC from author.
My Oxford Year - Julie Whelan
girl goes to oxford for a year, me before you-ish
I did enjoy this one - it's a 'romance' but that part is skipped over very quickly. The synopsis says 'for fans of Nicholas Sparks and JoJo Moyes' so that should tell you the kind of book it is, emotionally. Though I did enjoy it, something was missing for me. It felt like it was trying very hard to be the next Me Before You. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I didn't hate it.
Received copy from Edelweiss.
What Happened - Hillary Rodham Clinton
i'd wager the title and author make this pretty self explanatory
I'll be completely honest, this was a bloody hard book to read. It made me very emotional. I am not a citizen so I could not vote, but I do live here and the election showed me that I need to be more informed and involved. This was interesting, at times dry or boring but that's the nature of non-fiction for me. Most of the time it just brought up feelings I had the morning I woke up after the election. If you are interested, I recommend.
The Dry - Jane Harper
man goes back home when friend dies, old mysteries resurface
Ok, this one is hard for me to rate or put in a category, I did read it super fast but only because I procrastinated and left it until the very last minute before book club (as in, I finished it at the book club meeting, oops). I was definitely disappointed and expecting it to be more Australian (pickup truck and liquor shop, really? womp) but I didn't guess a thing and it was well written. I'll be checking out the second, though I've heard it's not as amazing.
Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin - Mariana Zapata
slow burn romance, girl goes on tour with brother's band
So, when you read an older book by an author you are slightly obsessed with, your expectations will be way too high and you may also allow things to slide that you wouldn't from a different author.. or maybe that's just me. I loved this because it was MZ. It was not my favourite of hers, the writing was not what I've come to expect and there is no way anything will ever beat Winnipeg for me. That being said, it was cute and I liked it.
Had to share that photo I took while reading this book in case you missed it on Instagram - perfect timing Penny.
Unbury Carol - Josh Malerman
girl dies all the time, husband buries her alive for money
I loved Bird Box - I thought it was terrifying, though I know a lot of people weren't fans. I had high expectations for this one, but it fell flat right away. I almost DNF'd but curiosity killed the cat and all that. Clearly, if the synopsis says something along the lines of 'girl dies all the time but it doesn't stick' I need to stay far, far away. It doesn't seem to work for me.
Received from Netgalley.
Forbidden Hearts series (yes, the covers and titles are ridic - I kept putting them off for this reason, but these were so well written, diverse realistic characters, funny, love love loved them) / The Kiss Quotient (Okay, sorry this doesn't come out until June, but trust - add it to your TBR. It was adorable, kind of like Eleanor Olipant and The Rosie Project - but way more romancey) / Pretty Face (I am officially a Lucy Parker fangirl) / Rock Kiss series (again with the ridiculous titles and covers, loved these).
Alexandra, Heather and Rachelle read Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin along with Gina and I this month, I hope we all enjoyed the book! Our next choice is This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel if anyone wants to read it with us before the next link up.
TL;DR - I recommend How to Walk Away, fo sho. Unless you 100% hate any kind of even the smallest bit of romance, ever, you hard hearted grinch, you. But seriously. I recommend. Add it to your TBR, or don't. I dig it.
Read anything decent lately?
Yay! Of course you know how much I love Katherine Center and that book. I'm excited it is a BOTM pick! She is also so great on instagram. And I also agree about Arrogant Devil - as you know :) I am so excited to hear that you girls are going to read This is How it Always Is! I know there are mixed reviews but it was one of my favourites last year. I loooove the married couple and the whole family in that book. I share your thoughts on Rhythm Chord and Malykhin. Not my favourite of hers but still good. I think I liked Truly Madly Guilty more than a lot of people and it would be interesting to discuss at book club! Bummer that The Dry wasn't more Australian. My Oxford Year is coming to me from the library asap!
ReplyDeleteUghhh. I need to read What Happened. But i also could use not having those feelings again. Gah.
ReplyDeleteI have heard Nalini Singh is good and have at least one of her books but yet to read. Haven't read any of the other romance books, so I'll be looking into those. definitely adding How To Walk Away and I need to get on the RS Grey bandwagon!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll have to get How to Walk Away! Anytime you love a book that much it's usually works out well for me. Plus it always gets me to expand my usual selections! Interesting notes about The Dry! I guess you don't have liquor stores or many pick up trucks?? Even in farming communities?
ReplyDeleteWhat Happened and Dear Madam President are on my TBR list and they are surfacing to the top soon (or as soon as the library makes them available in this blood red state)...
ReplyDeleteHow to Walk Away sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI already have This Is How It Always is on my list but I don't think I'll get to it any time soon. Too many books! Sigh.
Oooh I LOVED This is How it Always Is. I'll be curious to hear what you think. I haven't heard of How to walk Away but it does sound really good! Interesting about The Dry--is Jane Harper Australian? If she is you'd think she'd get references right, or maybe she was supposed to change them for her American audience? I'd rather hear more authentic language, even if at first I don't understand what they mean.
ReplyDeleteI want to read What Happened myself but know its just going to stir up emotions again that I'm not sure I want to deal with.
ReplyDeleteYep - you've got me hooked - I pre-purchased the new RS Gray book too :)
Can’t wait for the new R.S. Grey in a couple days! Thanks for getting me hooked on her. How to Walk Away is on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteAdding How to Walk Away to my list and definitely want to join in the fun next month.
ReplyDeleteYou and Nadine rave about RS Grey - I need to hop on that wagon too!
ReplyDeleteHow to walk away needs to hurry up and be available from the library!!
ReplyDeleteI have the arc for Unbury Carol and I meant to read it for this month's review but it feels like I have a ton of books with the coma/buried alive/can't remember narrator and they all blend together. After seeing your review, I'll know to DNF it, if I'm not feeling it. How To Walk Away is on my TBR. I can't read HRC's book right now, although I want to eventually. It will just depress me too much. And Penny - so freaking adorable! I take it she's a good reading buddy. So is Max. He loves to snuggle while I read.
ReplyDeleteI will have to give How To Walk Away a shot! Sounds like one I would enjoy! I also loved Bird Box so that is a bummer the other book wasn't as good!
ReplyDeleteI can't read Hillary's book. I am still struggling very badly with this.
ReplyDeleteHmmm you make me want to go back and order How to Walk Away from BOTM - I declined this month's.
I loved the Dry but Force of Nature was definitely not as good. Still haven't gotten to Hillary's book yet. I need to at some point.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really like Bird Box but I figured I'd give Unbury Carol a try and got it from NetGalley and still haven't read it.
I held What Happened and it made me sad all over... but I still want to read it.
ReplyDeleteI applied to become a citizen after the 2016 election, and I just did my oath ceremony last month. I am very excited to vote this coming elections!!
I need to check out Lucy Parker then. I added How to Walk Away after seeing it on your stories maybe? Cant wait. I loved Arrogant Devil, but I have only read that and Beau and The Belle so far by her. Maybe I need to read that MZ book before her newer onces since I am still a MZ virgin haha.
ReplyDeleteTotally bought Arrogant Devil on pre-order. Didn't need it, but so many people raved about it and I haven't read a romance in a loooong time. *shrug*
ReplyDeleteI bought The Dry when I found it on sale a while ago. I should pick it up soon... I just added Rhythm, Chord and Malykhin to my TBR list. I read Winnipeg after that :)
YAY for loving How to Walk Away. I second everything you said. I have a copy of The Dry somewhere. I should try to read it soon.
ReplyDeleteHow to Walk Away does sound like a really good book and it’s going on my list! I still need to read an RS Grey book! Maybe now that Erin’s challenge is over I’ll be able to fit it in! Bummer that the room on rue Amelie is a struggle for you! It has a really pretty cover and sounds like it’d be a great book about Paris!
ReplyDeleteOur book club was considering The Dry. Did it spark good conversation?
ReplyDeleteI also completely glossed over How To Walk Away on NetGalley but you made it sound amazing! I may have to check it out after all...
- Megan @ The Hungry Bookworm
i couldn't find your email so i hope you see this :)
Deleteeh, i don't think so. i don't know what your book club is like, but the discussion at mine seems to thrive if we really love it or we really hate it. we've only been doing it for 7 months/books, and we've had some good ones that sparked some great discussion, that turned into mature respectful discussions about racism, guns, politics, things like that. then we've some bad ones we couldn't quit attacking lol. but this one was kind of in the middle - we talked about it, like did anyone guess who did it, things we did or didn't like but then it kind of fizzled out. i don't know if it was the book itself, or if it was just an odd book club meeting for us.
i really hope you like how to walk away if you read it!
How to Walk Away seems to be a popular book this link up. I added it to my to read list. The Dry was already on my to read list.
ReplyDeleteHow to Walk Away sounds interesting! I’m adding that to my list :)
ReplyDeleteI’m loving your cat photos.... posed next to arrogant devil hahaha
ReplyDeleteI had a pretty lackluster reading month as well. I'm impressed that you were still able to get through so many books despite not really loving most of them. The number of books I read seems to be directly affected by how much I'm enjoying the books I'm reading. Blah.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks that the Josh Malerman book didn't work for you. I actually don't think I've even heard of that one. It does sound kind of weird (and maybe would also be a dud for me). But, like you, I loved Bird Box.
I need to read The Dry! I feel like everyone has already read it and I'm missing out on something awesome.
I'm with you on nonfiction ... Sometimes it can be pretty dull, and that's why it's so hard for me to want to read it. I think I would enjoy the Hillary Clinton book, but I also think I'd have to be in the right mood for something like that. I also don't know if I'd want to be reminded of the morning after the election. I spent much of it in a hotel bathroom in tears because I was so upset/enraged/terrified about the future of our country.
I don't want to end my comment on a depressing note, but I don't really have anything else to add. Whomp whomp.
Now I might be the only person left who didn't love The Dry. I only got through like 2 hours of the audio. Same with the Laurie Frankel book. I don't know what it was about that that I didn't like. Maybe the plot was too cut and dry from the beginning?
ReplyDeleteTruly, Madly, Guilty was a weaker one of Moriarity's because it's just...drawn out? Maybe that's the word.
I loved the Dry, but couldn't get into her second book at all. My Oxford Year and How to Walk Away are on my TBR list. Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteI'm so curious about What Happened, but I think it will be a tough one to read. I can't imagine reading it when you live in the country but couldn't have voted even if you wanted to. Granted, KY tends to swing one way only...so annoying. haha
ReplyDeleteI'm hearing Unbury Carol isn't that great, which is a shame, as I really did love Bird Box as well.
-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I want to read HRC's book...but I don't think I could handle it yet.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read How to Walk Away and The Kiss Quotient!
ReplyDeleteSigh. Your thoughts on Unbury Carol are similar to mine. I’m currently reading it, but haven’t picked it up in like a week. I think I’m still at the “what if something good happens soon?” Mode, but your review has me wavering on DNFing it.
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard so many good things about How To Walk Away. I really need to grab a copy!
ReplyDeleteSo many great reads! I listened to What Happened and felt it was an important read. I received an arc of How to Walk Away and it is moving up on my TBR thanks to your recommendation. Pam :)
ReplyDeleteI tried to get How To Walk Away from Netgalley and was denied. Hmph! I'll have to wait on my library. Truly Madly Guilty has been on my TBR since I read Big Little Lies. I hope you're enjoying it! And This Is How It Always Is is also on my TBR- I may have to join you guys before the next linkup!
ReplyDeleteBoth pictures of your cat with the Kindle are great, but the tongue is the best! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteI have The Dry on my TBR, the ever growing TBR, that is. I've toyed around with the notion of reading Clinton's book, but I'm... unsure. I may.
I just finished How to Walk Away and I definitely enjoyed it. I like that it wasn't romance heavy, but it also felt a little bit inconsequential.. which kind of bothered me. I dunno. Wanted just a little more. Like how did they even feel about each other!??!! But I loved her journey, and her relationship with her sister SO much. :) I can't wait to read Arrogant Devil. I've been avoiding the Hilary book out of sadness and rage, but it might be long enough now that I can stomach it. I liked Malykhin maybe just a little bit better than Lukov, but probably because Lukov was SOOOOO hate-to-love. I dunno. I quite liked that one too. Still saving Winnipeg (LOL) I have Lingus (UGH WORST TITLE) on my ipad too. I was really disappointed by The Dry. I wanted to love it.. but.. I didn't. I guessed some things that would happen. It was too easy for me. I wasn't super connected to the detective. And yeah, that setting! I seriously read The Dry around the time I started (still haven't finished) In Cold Blood (which takes place in KANSAS) and it was literally the same setting, town, situation. Rural town, whole family killed at close range by gunshot, etc. LOL. I'm not Australian, but.. I dunno. Added all the romance to my list if it wasn't there before. XO - Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I so want to read How to Walk Away. I really love your book reviews because of you I have discovered so many great books. You never disappoint!! You always knock it out of the park on your recommendations!
ReplyDeleteI thought How to Walk Away was really good!
ReplyDeleteI was so close to getting How to Walk Away because so many people love her other book (which I'm still waiting to read), but I decided to skip because I'm just not sure based on the synopsis, but now I kind of regret it. I just added that Zapata book to my tbr-- I haven't read anything else by her but someone else mentioned it too and it sounded kind of fun.
ReplyDeletealso, is that penny's tongue?? (crying laughing emoji x10)