Happy Friday Guys!
I can't even express how happy I am to finally be posting my May 2016 wrap up!
It should have gone up a whole week ago, but unfortunately due to health issues, I had to postpone blogging for a bit. I also don't think I realized just how many books I burned through while I was sick until I went to post this today. I guess that's the one benefit of being sick, is finally having time to catch up on my TBR pile!
Anyways, here's my May 2016 wrap up:
One Star Books:
I've mentioned in every wrap up I've done, how I try to never rate a book one star, as I know how much time and effort authors put into writing their novels, and I always try and find at least one redeeming quality with which I can move it up to two stars. Unfortunately, this month, there was one book with which I just couldn't find any redeeming quality with which to do so, and that was:
Kill The Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky: I always try and at least find one redeeming aspect of a book, that will bump it up to a two star rating, but I'm sorry to say, I just couldn't do it with this book. I have been anticipating this book, ever since I first heard about it, but since I had already purchased so many looks lately, I decided to order it from the library instead, and I'm so glad I did, because I will never read this book ever again. I was expecting a humorous, amusing look into the fandom lifestyle (a lifestyle that I'm proud to be a part of), but instead I got a dark and twisted, not remotely funny, mockery of anyone who's ever been a fangirl of anything. All four main characters were rude and obnoxious, and the reader was led to believe that their actions were completely acceptable because Rupert P was a horrible, human being, and they were doing the world a favor by taking matters into their own hands. There was also, in my opinion, fat shaming towards Apple's character, and racial stereotypes in both Apples' and Isabelle's characters, and Erin and the main character, who we never actually know her name, were both mean girls with twisted minds, that left me reeling long after reading this book. I'm sorry to say, but I feel that Goldy Moldavsky made a mockery of fans and fandoms everywhere, and although this is supposed to be a dark, satirical look at the fangirl generation, I personally didn't find this one iota funny, and I will not be recommending this book to anyone, and I thought it would be a highly recommended read from me. I don't usually read books that inspire me to dislike something so much, but this book is definitely the exception, and it really rubbed me the wrong way.
Two Star Books:
This month I also had a couple of two star books, books that just didn't prove to be a great read to me, and that I wouldn't recommend to anyone in the future, and those were:
French Roast by Ava Miles: The premise of this one really intrigued me, and I decided to go ahead and read it, even though it was the second in the series, and I hadn't read the first. Unfortunately, I thought the two main characters, Jill and Brian, both behaved like preteens, instead of grown adults, and I couldn't stand how juvenile, and honestly, embarrassing they both acted throughout the novel. The one redeeming grace to me on this book, was the lesser story happening throughout between the characters of Peggy and Mac, and I honestly might be tempted to pick up the next book in the series, as it tells their story, and I think they have way better chemistry, and personality than the two main characters of this book did.
Red Girl, Blue Boy by Lauren Baratz-Logsted: I feel really horrible rating this book as two stars, since it's no secret that I absolutely loved the previous books (and the later books), in the If Only series. The premise of this one had me anxiously awaiting reading it, as I thought a novel about the children of opposing political leaders running for the US presidency, falling for each other, was an awesome story idea, and I looked forward to seeing where Lauren Baratz-Logstead was going to go with this awesome idea. Unfortunately, this book just fell short of the mark for me, especially because of how ridiculous and unbelievable Katie's character was. I'm sorry, I understand the concept of sheltered, as I myself was home schooled throughout junior high, and high school, but believing that Katie actually believed she was supposed to break out in song to tell Drew how she felt because High School Musical told her too, and also, the fact that she didn't know what a landline was, honestly just felt completely over the top, and ridiculous to me. I'm sorry to say that this book was just not what I expected, and it's definitely my least favorite in this series to date.
Christmas Love by Alathea Wright: My disappointment with this book I guess is partially my own fault. I didn't pay attention to any of the details before purchasing it through Ibooks, and instead just saw that it was a Christmas romance novel, and that it was one of the daily bargain deals. So I honestly had no idea that it was going to only be a short novella taking place all in the span of a few hours, and honestly there really wasn't much of a romance story to work with. I understood that the author was trying to portray that the main characters had known each other for quite some time, and had been avoiding their feelings that whole time, but it would have been nice to have gotten more of those details, like the hinted at kidnapping that had just happened. Instead this novella was basically one long sex scene, that felt like an insta love connection, which I'm never a fan of, and it was honestly not at all what I thought it was going to be going into it.
The Last Summer of You and Me by Ann Brashares: I had high hopes for this one, as I've loved every other Ann Brashares book I've ever picked up, but honestly I felt no connection to any of the characters in this book, and I was so sick of the whole I love you I hate you connection between the three mains. And honestly, the heartbreaking tragedy of the book made me feel absolutely nothing, as there was just no emotional component shown. Sorry to say but this one was a huge letdown for me, and I'd recommend sticking with Ann Brashares other amazing novels over this one.
Three Star Books:
I had quite a few three star books this month, and most of these I really did honestly enjoy.
The One For Me: Kyle and Jenna by Rachel Hanna: I really enjoyed this sweet romance about two people who first fell in love as teenagers, but drifted apart thanks to familial objections. Of course, they find each other later in life, and neither is where they thought they'd be. It was a really cute story, and I will definitely keep this series on my list for the future.
A Family Affair by Mary Campisi: I'm going to preface this particular recap by saying I'm not generally a fan of books about affairs, and this one is exactly that, except it's even more so by also being about a man not only engaging in an affair, but in a secret relationship, and family, that's been going on for numerous years. In that regard, even though the mother in the secret family is sweet and so loving towards the main character, it was hard feeling sympathy for her, or her deceased lover, or honestly the wife of the deceased, as I just didn't like this particular story line. However, I did actually really enjoy the main character, Christine, and her developing relationship with Nate, and the way they have to handle all the horrible secrets revealed throughout the book, but I just didn't care much for the background characters, and the plot upon which the rest of the story is built, and that did hinder my opinion of this book a bit. However, I did honestly enjoy a good part of it, and this series remains on my list of books to continue reading in the future.
Reawakened by Colleen Houck: I've mentioned many times on my blog just how much I loved Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck, and so I was beyond belief excited when I learned she was writing a new series about Egyptian mythology, and that it was going to be a another star crossed love type of story, which to be honest, I'm always a sucker for. Unfortuntately, I didn't end up loving this one nearly as much as Tiger's Curse, and that was partially because I didn't feel the same connection to Amon and Lily, that I felt with Kelsey and Ren. I also personally found that the Indian mythology in her previous series, appealed to me more than the Egyptian mythology in this series, but overall, it was still a decent book, and I'm excited to read the arc of the second book, which I received from RT Booklovers.
The Island House by Nancy Thayer: I was super excited to receive this arc from RT Booklovers, as Nancy Thayer was an author I'd been wanting to read for awhile, I just hadn't got there yet. I did love this overall story about a wealthy family whose matriarch considers her children's friends her "summer children", and I loved the setting of Nantucket, as I think it perfectly fit with the overall story. The only reason I rated this one three stars instead of four stars, is I really couldn't stand a couple of the surrounding characters, and I really felt there was no depth or development for them throughout the novel. However, I really did enjoy my first experience with a Nancy Thayer novel, and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.
Everything But The Truth by Mandy Hubbard: This book was a huge step up from Red Girl blue boy, but I didn't like it quite as much as some of the other ones in the If Only series, and that was mainly because I had a hard time sympathizing with Holly's deception. Overall, it was a really cute story, I just think it lacked a little of the warmth I've come to love in so many of the other books in this series.
A Hearth In Candlewood by Delia Parr: I started out really disliking this book, and it ended up taking me a few days to finish, which is pretty unusual for me. However, about two thirds into it, I really started to like some of the characters, and the overall sweet setting of an elderly widowed lady running a bed and breakfast with her mother in law, but I felt that Delia Parr spent the majority of the novel building up to a big climax, and then the novel ended abruptly, and left everything hanging for the next novel. I can't say for sure that I won't ever continue with this series, but at the moment, it's definitely not high on my priority list.
Four Star Books:
I discovered quite a few amazing books this month, that definitely deserved their four star rating from me.
Winter In Sweetwater County by Ciara Knight: This was an adorable and unexpected read about a woman on the run from an abusive boyfriend, and the amazing town that takes her under their wing. I adored all the characters, and I really enjoyed the romance between the main character and her business partner's son.
The Shop On Main by Kay Correll: This is another one of the many free Ibooks I downloaded this month, and I honestly thought it was such a sweet story. A single mother who's put every amount of effort she has into making her antique shop a success, is soon threatened by a new buyer of her building, one who has honest intentions for doing so. I look forward to reading more from Kay Corell in the future.
Nil by Lynne Matson: I really wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, as I'd heard it described as a mixture between The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, and that most people thought it was amazing. I definitely agree with it being a mix between those two amazing series, but there was also so many other amazing elements to it that I wasn't expecting. I also really loved both of the main characters, and how it was told from both of their points of view. And, I was a big fan of Lynne Matson's writing style. I'm very much looking forward to jumping into the next book.
All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: I currently have a huge book hangover on account of finishing this book. This one is definitely my favorite in The Naturals series so far, and I was honestly not prepared for the amazing web of connections that Jennifer Lynn Barnes spun throughout this novel. I was also not prepared for that amazing ending, and now I find myself anxiously awaiting the release of the last novel so I can finally find out how this is all going to wrap up!
The Rancher's Christmas Proposal by Sherri Shackelford: I've mentioned many times on my blog just how much I love the Love Inspired novels, and this one was definitely no exception. It was such a sweet story about a marriage of convenience, and includes an adorable pair of twins, outlaws, and a cozy, historical setting. I really loved this one.
The First Phone Call From Heaven by Mitch Albom: This was my first experience with a Mitch Albom novel, and I really found myself enjoying this. I was expecting an inspirational, uplifting novel. In a sense, it was this, but it was also a mystery novel, in the sense that the main character sets out to prove that these phone calls from Heaven are a hoax, and one that he's determined to get to the bottom of. I definitely won't hesitate to pick up a Mitch Albom novel in the future.
What You Always Wanted by Kristin Rae: I previously loved Kristin Rae's earlier novel in this series, and this one definitely lived up to my expectations. It was such a cute story about a teenage girl who's been forced to move after her father loses her job, and their family lifestyle changes drastically. Maddie's not your typical teenager however, and is completely in love with the theater, and old movies, particularly those starring Gene Kelly. She seems to have found her perfect match in Jesse, but finds a hard time understanding how his sports could possibly mean to him what theater means to her. I really enjoyed this novel, and it's definitely on my list of favorites from this series so far.
Shopaholic On Honeymoon by Sophie Kinsella: I was honestly so excited when I discovered this novella, cause I had no idea it existed. I always felt the reader had missed out on so much between Shopaholic Ties The Knot and Shopaholic and Sister, and so I was definitely overjoyed to discover this. It was awesome being back in Becky and Luke's world, and as always. I found myself completely laughing over Becky's selfish tendencies, and Luke's inadequacies to deal with her, but this book fell short of the five star rating for one reason and one reason only. It was really only a tease! It's super short, and we really only got a story from one of their honeymoon destinations, when there were so many places they'd visited. I completely loved this short story, I just wish there had been a little bit more to it.
Bah, Humbug by Heather Horrocks: This was honestly one of my most pleasant surprises this month. I wasn't expecting much from this free ebook, and was more just prepared for a so so sweet Christmas story. but I actually really adored this one. The set up of an interior decorator moving next door to the miserable author of her children's favorite books series was a pretty awesome storyline, and I was really happy with the direction that Heather Horrocks went with it. I definitely want to read the rest of the books in this series in the future.
Once A Soldier by Mary Jo Putney: This was an ARC that I received while attending RT Booklovers, and was my first experience with a Mary Jo Putney novel. Most of the historicals I've personally read have been more about regency England, or settlers in the west, so this loveable story about a small European country famous for their wine, that's been devastated by the war was a pleasant change for me, and I absolutely adored it. I loved both Will and Athena's characters, and really enjoyed the blossoming romance between the two of them. This one is a highly recommended read from me, and I look forward to checking out more books by this author in the future.
All In by Simona Ahrnstedt: This book completely blew away any expectations I had going into it. I was lucky enough to receive this ARC from RT Booklovers, and it's the first foreign langauge romance to be translated and published in America. It deals with a topic that I know nothing about, and that is corporate takeover, and the romance between the two main characters was so well done, and left me reeling long after finishing this book. I also really enjoyed most of the surrounding characters, and even those ones that I loved to hate were written so well, that I felt like I was right in this world. I look forward to reading more from Simona in the future.
Five Star Books:
Lastly, we come to the three best books I read in May 2016!
Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca: This was one of the best books I read the whole month of May, about two high school seniors, Kelsey and David who became inseparable freshman year, until a misunderstanding causes a huge rift between them, and leaves Kelsey mistrusting of everything David does. My favorite thing about this novel is how Gina made all the suffering the two of them are going through seem so real , and also the pain they're both experiencing because of feelings left undeveloped for too long. I really loved this book, and it's definitely a recommended read from me.
The Darkest Lie by Pintip Dunn: This was my first experience with a Pintip Dunn novel, and I've been anxiously awaiting reading this ARC ever since I received it at RT last month. I have to say that I was expecting a cute, contemporary read, and was not prepared at all for this intense thriller novel that really reminded me of Natalie D Richards amazing novels, and everyone knows just how much I love those ones. This novel had me pulled in right from the start, and while I did guess correctly at a major part of the plot point, I felt this was pure luck on my part, and is not to say that the ending was predictable in the least. This was a novel that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I may have stayed up way too late reading the whole thing in one sitting. I highly recommend that everyone pick up this amazing book when it releases next month!
The Help by Kathryn Stockett: This particular novel has been on my TBR list for quite some time, ever since I first saw the movie in the theater a few years back. I had heard from many people that this was one book that the movie had actually done justice to, and after reading it, I can definitely say that I agree. :) This was such an inspiring, and amazing story about three vastly different women on varying sides of the social spectrum in Mississip in the early 1960's. While I loved how Kathryn Stockett chose to focus on such a serious issue for her debut novel, and also loved the fact that I felt she did it justice. but I also really enjoyed the bits of comedy that she wove throughout the novel that honestly had me laughing to almost crying point. I adored most of the characters, and had tears in my eyes at the descriptions of what some of these amazingly strong women had to go through. This is a highly recommended read from me, and I've already convinced my book bestie that she needs to read it ASAP.
Thanks so much for reading guys! I know this month's wrap up was quite long winded, but that was due largely in part to how many books I ended up finishing while I was sick. This month's wrap up should be back to normal, or at least I hope so anyways. :)
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
I can't even express how happy I am to finally be posting my May 2016 wrap up!
It should have gone up a whole week ago, but unfortunately due to health issues, I had to postpone blogging for a bit. I also don't think I realized just how many books I burned through while I was sick until I went to post this today. I guess that's the one benefit of being sick, is finally having time to catch up on my TBR pile!
Anyways, here's my May 2016 wrap up:
One Star Books:
I've mentioned in every wrap up I've done, how I try to never rate a book one star, as I know how much time and effort authors put into writing their novels, and I always try and find at least one redeeming quality with which I can move it up to two stars. Unfortunately, this month, there was one book with which I just couldn't find any redeeming quality with which to do so, and that was:
Kill The Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky: I always try and at least find one redeeming aspect of a book, that will bump it up to a two star rating, but I'm sorry to say, I just couldn't do it with this book. I have been anticipating this book, ever since I first heard about it, but since I had already purchased so many looks lately, I decided to order it from the library instead, and I'm so glad I did, because I will never read this book ever again. I was expecting a humorous, amusing look into the fandom lifestyle (a lifestyle that I'm proud to be a part of), but instead I got a dark and twisted, not remotely funny, mockery of anyone who's ever been a fangirl of anything. All four main characters were rude and obnoxious, and the reader was led to believe that their actions were completely acceptable because Rupert P was a horrible, human being, and they were doing the world a favor by taking matters into their own hands. There was also, in my opinion, fat shaming towards Apple's character, and racial stereotypes in both Apples' and Isabelle's characters, and Erin and the main character, who we never actually know her name, were both mean girls with twisted minds, that left me reeling long after reading this book. I'm sorry to say, but I feel that Goldy Moldavsky made a mockery of fans and fandoms everywhere, and although this is supposed to be a dark, satirical look at the fangirl generation, I personally didn't find this one iota funny, and I will not be recommending this book to anyone, and I thought it would be a highly recommended read from me. I don't usually read books that inspire me to dislike something so much, but this book is definitely the exception, and it really rubbed me the wrong way.
Two Star Books:
This month I also had a couple of two star books, books that just didn't prove to be a great read to me, and that I wouldn't recommend to anyone in the future, and those were:
French Roast by Ava Miles: The premise of this one really intrigued me, and I decided to go ahead and read it, even though it was the second in the series, and I hadn't read the first. Unfortunately, I thought the two main characters, Jill and Brian, both behaved like preteens, instead of grown adults, and I couldn't stand how juvenile, and honestly, embarrassing they both acted throughout the novel. The one redeeming grace to me on this book, was the lesser story happening throughout between the characters of Peggy and Mac, and I honestly might be tempted to pick up the next book in the series, as it tells their story, and I think they have way better chemistry, and personality than the two main characters of this book did.
Red Girl, Blue Boy by Lauren Baratz-Logsted: I feel really horrible rating this book as two stars, since it's no secret that I absolutely loved the previous books (and the later books), in the If Only series. The premise of this one had me anxiously awaiting reading it, as I thought a novel about the children of opposing political leaders running for the US presidency, falling for each other, was an awesome story idea, and I looked forward to seeing where Lauren Baratz-Logstead was going to go with this awesome idea. Unfortunately, this book just fell short of the mark for me, especially because of how ridiculous and unbelievable Katie's character was. I'm sorry, I understand the concept of sheltered, as I myself was home schooled throughout junior high, and high school, but believing that Katie actually believed she was supposed to break out in song to tell Drew how she felt because High School Musical told her too, and also, the fact that she didn't know what a landline was, honestly just felt completely over the top, and ridiculous to me. I'm sorry to say that this book was just not what I expected, and it's definitely my least favorite in this series to date.
Christmas Love by Alathea Wright: My disappointment with this book I guess is partially my own fault. I didn't pay attention to any of the details before purchasing it through Ibooks, and instead just saw that it was a Christmas romance novel, and that it was one of the daily bargain deals. So I honestly had no idea that it was going to only be a short novella taking place all in the span of a few hours, and honestly there really wasn't much of a romance story to work with. I understood that the author was trying to portray that the main characters had known each other for quite some time, and had been avoiding their feelings that whole time, but it would have been nice to have gotten more of those details, like the hinted at kidnapping that had just happened. Instead this novella was basically one long sex scene, that felt like an insta love connection, which I'm never a fan of, and it was honestly not at all what I thought it was going to be going into it.
The Last Summer of You and Me by Ann Brashares: I had high hopes for this one, as I've loved every other Ann Brashares book I've ever picked up, but honestly I felt no connection to any of the characters in this book, and I was so sick of the whole I love you I hate you connection between the three mains. And honestly, the heartbreaking tragedy of the book made me feel absolutely nothing, as there was just no emotional component shown. Sorry to say but this one was a huge letdown for me, and I'd recommend sticking with Ann Brashares other amazing novels over this one.
Three Star Books:
I had quite a few three star books this month, and most of these I really did honestly enjoy.
The One For Me: Kyle and Jenna by Rachel Hanna: I really enjoyed this sweet romance about two people who first fell in love as teenagers, but drifted apart thanks to familial objections. Of course, they find each other later in life, and neither is where they thought they'd be. It was a really cute story, and I will definitely keep this series on my list for the future.
A Family Affair by Mary Campisi: I'm going to preface this particular recap by saying I'm not generally a fan of books about affairs, and this one is exactly that, except it's even more so by also being about a man not only engaging in an affair, but in a secret relationship, and family, that's been going on for numerous years. In that regard, even though the mother in the secret family is sweet and so loving towards the main character, it was hard feeling sympathy for her, or her deceased lover, or honestly the wife of the deceased, as I just didn't like this particular story line. However, I did actually really enjoy the main character, Christine, and her developing relationship with Nate, and the way they have to handle all the horrible secrets revealed throughout the book, but I just didn't care much for the background characters, and the plot upon which the rest of the story is built, and that did hinder my opinion of this book a bit. However, I did honestly enjoy a good part of it, and this series remains on my list of books to continue reading in the future.
Reawakened by Colleen Houck: I've mentioned many times on my blog just how much I loved Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck, and so I was beyond belief excited when I learned she was writing a new series about Egyptian mythology, and that it was going to be a another star crossed love type of story, which to be honest, I'm always a sucker for. Unfortuntately, I didn't end up loving this one nearly as much as Tiger's Curse, and that was partially because I didn't feel the same connection to Amon and Lily, that I felt with Kelsey and Ren. I also personally found that the Indian mythology in her previous series, appealed to me more than the Egyptian mythology in this series, but overall, it was still a decent book, and I'm excited to read the arc of the second book, which I received from RT Booklovers.
The Island House by Nancy Thayer: I was super excited to receive this arc from RT Booklovers, as Nancy Thayer was an author I'd been wanting to read for awhile, I just hadn't got there yet. I did love this overall story about a wealthy family whose matriarch considers her children's friends her "summer children", and I loved the setting of Nantucket, as I think it perfectly fit with the overall story. The only reason I rated this one three stars instead of four stars, is I really couldn't stand a couple of the surrounding characters, and I really felt there was no depth or development for them throughout the novel. However, I really did enjoy my first experience with a Nancy Thayer novel, and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.
Everything But The Truth by Mandy Hubbard: This book was a huge step up from Red Girl blue boy, but I didn't like it quite as much as some of the other ones in the If Only series, and that was mainly because I had a hard time sympathizing with Holly's deception. Overall, it was a really cute story, I just think it lacked a little of the warmth I've come to love in so many of the other books in this series.
A Hearth In Candlewood by Delia Parr: I started out really disliking this book, and it ended up taking me a few days to finish, which is pretty unusual for me. However, about two thirds into it, I really started to like some of the characters, and the overall sweet setting of an elderly widowed lady running a bed and breakfast with her mother in law, but I felt that Delia Parr spent the majority of the novel building up to a big climax, and then the novel ended abruptly, and left everything hanging for the next novel. I can't say for sure that I won't ever continue with this series, but at the moment, it's definitely not high on my priority list.
Four Star Books:
I discovered quite a few amazing books this month, that definitely deserved their four star rating from me.
Winter In Sweetwater County by Ciara Knight: This was an adorable and unexpected read about a woman on the run from an abusive boyfriend, and the amazing town that takes her under their wing. I adored all the characters, and I really enjoyed the romance between the main character and her business partner's son.
The Shop On Main by Kay Correll: This is another one of the many free Ibooks I downloaded this month, and I honestly thought it was such a sweet story. A single mother who's put every amount of effort she has into making her antique shop a success, is soon threatened by a new buyer of her building, one who has honest intentions for doing so. I look forward to reading more from Kay Corell in the future.
Nil by Lynne Matson: I really wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, as I'd heard it described as a mixture between The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, and that most people thought it was amazing. I definitely agree with it being a mix between those two amazing series, but there was also so many other amazing elements to it that I wasn't expecting. I also really loved both of the main characters, and how it was told from both of their points of view. And, I was a big fan of Lynne Matson's writing style. I'm very much looking forward to jumping into the next book.
All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: I currently have a huge book hangover on account of finishing this book. This one is definitely my favorite in The Naturals series so far, and I was honestly not prepared for the amazing web of connections that Jennifer Lynn Barnes spun throughout this novel. I was also not prepared for that amazing ending, and now I find myself anxiously awaiting the release of the last novel so I can finally find out how this is all going to wrap up!
The Rancher's Christmas Proposal by Sherri Shackelford: I've mentioned many times on my blog just how much I love the Love Inspired novels, and this one was definitely no exception. It was such a sweet story about a marriage of convenience, and includes an adorable pair of twins, outlaws, and a cozy, historical setting. I really loved this one.
The First Phone Call From Heaven by Mitch Albom: This was my first experience with a Mitch Albom novel, and I really found myself enjoying this. I was expecting an inspirational, uplifting novel. In a sense, it was this, but it was also a mystery novel, in the sense that the main character sets out to prove that these phone calls from Heaven are a hoax, and one that he's determined to get to the bottom of. I definitely won't hesitate to pick up a Mitch Albom novel in the future.
What You Always Wanted by Kristin Rae: I previously loved Kristin Rae's earlier novel in this series, and this one definitely lived up to my expectations. It was such a cute story about a teenage girl who's been forced to move after her father loses her job, and their family lifestyle changes drastically. Maddie's not your typical teenager however, and is completely in love with the theater, and old movies, particularly those starring Gene Kelly. She seems to have found her perfect match in Jesse, but finds a hard time understanding how his sports could possibly mean to him what theater means to her. I really enjoyed this novel, and it's definitely on my list of favorites from this series so far.
Shopaholic On Honeymoon by Sophie Kinsella: I was honestly so excited when I discovered this novella, cause I had no idea it existed. I always felt the reader had missed out on so much between Shopaholic Ties The Knot and Shopaholic and Sister, and so I was definitely overjoyed to discover this. It was awesome being back in Becky and Luke's world, and as always. I found myself completely laughing over Becky's selfish tendencies, and Luke's inadequacies to deal with her, but this book fell short of the five star rating for one reason and one reason only. It was really only a tease! It's super short, and we really only got a story from one of their honeymoon destinations, when there were so many places they'd visited. I completely loved this short story, I just wish there had been a little bit more to it.
Bah, Humbug by Heather Horrocks: This was honestly one of my most pleasant surprises this month. I wasn't expecting much from this free ebook, and was more just prepared for a so so sweet Christmas story. but I actually really adored this one. The set up of an interior decorator moving next door to the miserable author of her children's favorite books series was a pretty awesome storyline, and I was really happy with the direction that Heather Horrocks went with it. I definitely want to read the rest of the books in this series in the future.
Once A Soldier by Mary Jo Putney: This was an ARC that I received while attending RT Booklovers, and was my first experience with a Mary Jo Putney novel. Most of the historicals I've personally read have been more about regency England, or settlers in the west, so this loveable story about a small European country famous for their wine, that's been devastated by the war was a pleasant change for me, and I absolutely adored it. I loved both Will and Athena's characters, and really enjoyed the blossoming romance between the two of them. This one is a highly recommended read from me, and I look forward to checking out more books by this author in the future.
All In by Simona Ahrnstedt: This book completely blew away any expectations I had going into it. I was lucky enough to receive this ARC from RT Booklovers, and it's the first foreign langauge romance to be translated and published in America. It deals with a topic that I know nothing about, and that is corporate takeover, and the romance between the two main characters was so well done, and left me reeling long after finishing this book. I also really enjoyed most of the surrounding characters, and even those ones that I loved to hate were written so well, that I felt like I was right in this world. I look forward to reading more from Simona in the future.
Five Star Books:
Lastly, we come to the three best books I read in May 2016!
Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca: This was one of the best books I read the whole month of May, about two high school seniors, Kelsey and David who became inseparable freshman year, until a misunderstanding causes a huge rift between them, and leaves Kelsey mistrusting of everything David does. My favorite thing about this novel is how Gina made all the suffering the two of them are going through seem so real , and also the pain they're both experiencing because of feelings left undeveloped for too long. I really loved this book, and it's definitely a recommended read from me.
The Darkest Lie by Pintip Dunn: This was my first experience with a Pintip Dunn novel, and I've been anxiously awaiting reading this ARC ever since I received it at RT last month. I have to say that I was expecting a cute, contemporary read, and was not prepared at all for this intense thriller novel that really reminded me of Natalie D Richards amazing novels, and everyone knows just how much I love those ones. This novel had me pulled in right from the start, and while I did guess correctly at a major part of the plot point, I felt this was pure luck on my part, and is not to say that the ending was predictable in the least. This was a novel that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I may have stayed up way too late reading the whole thing in one sitting. I highly recommend that everyone pick up this amazing book when it releases next month!
The Help by Kathryn Stockett: This particular novel has been on my TBR list for quite some time, ever since I first saw the movie in the theater a few years back. I had heard from many people that this was one book that the movie had actually done justice to, and after reading it, I can definitely say that I agree. :) This was such an inspiring, and amazing story about three vastly different women on varying sides of the social spectrum in Mississip in the early 1960's. While I loved how Kathryn Stockett chose to focus on such a serious issue for her debut novel, and also loved the fact that I felt she did it justice. but I also really enjoyed the bits of comedy that she wove throughout the novel that honestly had me laughing to almost crying point. I adored most of the characters, and had tears in my eyes at the descriptions of what some of these amazingly strong women had to go through. This is a highly recommended read from me, and I've already convinced my book bestie that she needs to read it ASAP.
Thanks so much for reading guys! I know this month's wrap up was quite long winded, but that was due largely in part to how many books I ended up finishing while I was sick. This month's wrap up should be back to normal, or at least I hope so anyways. :)
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
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