Darlene

I expected to love this book because I love everything else I've read by Kristin Hannah (The Nightingale, The Great Alone, The Winter Garden). I went into it with such high hopes, but I have to admit that I found this one disappointing.

This story follows the friendship of Kate and Tully through three decades. These two women are so different, yet they become best friends. Kate, quiet and introspective, comes from a loving family while Tully, outgoing and ambitious, comes from a broken home with an addict for a mother. They experience ups and downs in their relationship, but they always come back together.

The problem I have this book is with the plot. I find it unoriginal and predictable with characters who do not have depth or development. The plot reads much like the movie Beaches. If you've watched that movie, you can pretty much predict this entire plot. I do not like when I can see everything coming. It takes the fun out of reading. I also found that the characters were extremely predictable in their behaviors. They did not grow or change much as the story progressed. I found their friendship a bit unbelievable because no one I know would remain friends with a person who treats them the way Tully treats Kate.

Now, you may be wondering why I gave this book 3 stars if there is so much I do not like. I gave it that rating because, like Hannah's other books, the writing itself is excellent. Reading a Kristin Hannah books is such an enjoyable experience because of her talent with prose. I also like the pop culture references to the 70's, 80's, and 90's.

Would I read this book again? No. Will I read Kristin Hannah's work again? Absolutely!

This Taylor Jenkins Reid book started slow for me. I wasn't sure I'd like it. I couldn't decide if I liked Lauren. I couldn't decide how I felt about the year off from marriage.

As I got further along in the story, I grew to like the book more. A lot of the lessons Lauren and Ryan learn about marriage during their time apart resonate with me as a married woman. I think Reid understands marriage and it's complications and writes about it well.

Do I agree with the idea of couples taking a year apart, even dating and sleeping with other people? No. But I agree with everything Reid reveals about marriage in this book.

Overall, I ended up liking this story. It made me value my marriage and all its layers.

I read this one because I love Taylor Jenkins Reid and it's one of only 2 of her books I have not read yet. I have to say this one is not a favorite. The letter format is different and interesting, but I think it's the reason I do not like this book as much as the others. I could not get a real grasp of the characters. I wanted to see more into their lives and their interactions. I like that the plot went in a direction I didn't expect, but I didn't really like how it ended. I guess I just don't like stories this short. There is no time to really develop the characters and make the reader care about them. I finished this book feeling a bit “meh.” It will not, however, keep me from reading more of Reid's work.

This delightful, charming, and uplifting story about a group of individuals learning how to be their true selves is a real gem. Julian Jessop, a lonely, elderly artist, writes in a notebook, “Everyone lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth instead?” He then leaves this notebook in a cafe, where it begins its journey through the lives of four people who all struggle to find balance between their public selves and their authentic selves.

The characters are what make this book stand out. They are complex and believable. The reader can see a bit of themselves in them. Monica's insecurities and Alice's struggles with parenthood are similar to what many women battle. Both women try so hard to appear to be in control and have it all sorted out, but the reader can appreciate the reality of their imperfections. One of my favorite lines from the book, “It took a lot of planning and hard work for Monica to be this relaxed,” rings so true to me. Pooley seems to “get it.” The male characters are just as flawed and intriguing. Hazard's struggle with addiction is portrayed as ongoing, not something that is easily fixed. It isn't sugar-coated.

The plot has just enough bumps and turns to keep the reader interested. Just when you think you have a character figured out, something surprises you. The end is mostly satisfying. I would change a couple things in the romance aspects of the book, but overall, I think the book finished as it should.

In the end, I finished this book with a smile on my face. I would definitely recommend it to any reader that enjoys a character-driven book in which people deal with real life struggles and learn to be their best selves.

The fourth book in the Cormoran Strike series is the best of the series in my opinion. In this book Strike and Robin deal with both work and life conflicts. Their investigation begins as a blackmail case and escalates to something much bigger. Both main characters face challenges in their personal relationships while deciphering the mystery of their case.

I like how this installment of the series digs even deeper into the characters of Strike and Robin. Their relationship is evolving, and I enjoy witnessing the progression. Their friendship is healthy and beneficial for both of them. So many of their other relationships are toxic in contrast.

The plot is very intricate. There are so many suspects and possible explanations. I love that in a good mystery/detective story. I was unable to figure out the culprit, but that's how I like it. If I can guess it, it isn't complex enough.

I hope this series continues. I want to see where the relationship between the main characters goes.

I really enjoyed this mystery/thriller from start to finish. I did not expect it go in the direction it did, which makes a good thriller.

This story begins with the main character, Amber, in a coma unable to remember how she got there. She can hear everything going on around her but cannot move or speak. Through flashbacks and diary entries, the truth is slowly revealed, and it is a shocking truth.

I think I like this book so much because it's dark and disturbing. The inner workings of the Amber's mind are intriguing. The reader sees all the other characters through the lens of Amber's mind, and she admits in first lines of the book that she lies. Therefore, the reader does not know what or who to trust. Are her memories truthful? Are the other characters really how she portrays them? The author makes great use of this unreliable narrator.

Alice Feeney has proven her skill in this debut novel, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

If you get the chance, listen to this one on audio instead of reading it. Listening to Amy Poehler narrate this herself is a wonderful, funny experience. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her talk about her childhood, her career, her experiences on both SNL and Parks and Recreation, her motherhood, and everything in between. She has several cameos by people talked about in the book, such as Seth Meyers and Carol Burnett. Her stories are genuine, heartfelt, and funny. 4 stars!

This is my first time reading Celeste Ng's writing, and I have to say I have found a new favorite author. I loved this book. Ng's writing style is beautiful and engaging. I didn't want to put this one down.

This story follows two families, the Richardsons and the Warrens, as their lives become entwined through the relationships formed by the children. The Richardsons have a seemingly perfect life in the idealistic community of Shaker Heights. The eccentric, artsy Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl enter their lives and shake up the supposed perfection.

I found the characters well-developed. There as a nice mix of both static and dynamic characters. I was surprised by some, but was able to predict the actions of others. I have to say I enjoyed the characters of Mia and Pearl the most. They just seemed more genuine than the Richardsons. However, I know more people in my life like the Richardsons, so I could relate to them.

The plot develops at a nice pace. I never found myself bored with the action. The story is very character driven, yet the plot has plenty enough revelations and interesting events to keep any reader engaged.

The idea that sometimes you have to burn something to the ground and start over is very relevant and universal. Fresh starts are necessary sometimes to get out of the ruts we dig ourselves into.

This was my first full read of 2020, and I couldn't have picked a better book to start my new year.

The story of Fallon and Ben in this book is original, sweet, fun, and heartbreaking all at once. Let's take each adjective one at a time.

Original - The plot is not like any I've ever read before. The main characters meet on November 9th when one of them is moving across the country, and they make plans to meet up again for five years on that same date. The book is structured into sections based on their meetings on those days. The chapters alternate from character to character so the reader can see into the thoughts and feeling of each. I like this aspect of the book's structure. I will say, however, that the idea of them not talking all year and meeting up on just that date is a bit far-fetched. But then again, this is fiction, so it's okay for it be a bit unbelievable.

Sweet - Ben's character is so supportive and kind to Fallon, who has burn scars from an accident and low confidence as a result. He constantly tries to make her see her own beauty and worth. The characters seem to bring out the best in one another. Sometimes, the sweetness factor is a bit much, but then the author tempers it with some tragedy.

Fun - This book is definitely enjoyable to read. The witty humor and banter between Ben and Fallon is cute and makes for some light and entertaining moments. I found myself smiling a lot while reading their interactions.

Heartbreaking - Without revealing any plots twists, I will say that there are several sad moments in the book. There are a few moments of tragedy that darken the mood here and there. This is not a flaw, though. I am glad for these tragic situations because they add substance to the story. They break up the sweetness and make the story more realistic.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book. I would rate it 3.5 stars. It's not the best Colleen Hoover book I've read, but it's still a good read.

I am surprised by how much I like this book. I do not usually enjoy YA books because I often find the characters immature and the writing style too conversational. This book, however, is written more like an adult contemporary to me. I did not feel at all like I was reading a YA book.

The teenage characters in this book are smart and witty and realistic. They do not feel stereotypical or cliche, at least not the two main characters. Pepper reminds me so much of myself at that age with her focus on being the best and make everyone else happy. And Jack is so funny and kind. They both have real struggles they are dealing with and they deal with them in a way that make senses to me. Nothing in the plot feels unbelievable or too conveniently resolved.

My one complaint is the epilogue. I feel it is unnecessary and too “perfect.” I don't feel the book needed to wrap everything up in such a neat bow at the end. I like the way the last chapter ended. I think it would have been enough to end it there.

Overall, I found this a very cute, enjoyable read. I'll definitely check out any other books that Emma Lord writes.

After reading and enjoying Donna Tartt's The Secret History, I went looking for another book with a similar setting and plot. This book was recommended by several Booktubers, so I decided to give a go. This book ranks as one of my favorites of the year. I absolutely love it. The characters, plot, setting, conflicts, themes - it's all top notch. It's dark academia at its best.

In this book, the main character Oliver is just being released after serving ten years of a prison sentence for murder. He was convicted of murdering a fellow acting student, but the cop from the case has doubts about his guilt. Upon his release, he returns to the school where the murder occurred and tells the true story of what happened there ten years before.

There are so many things that are done well in this book. I'll start with the setting. The story takes place at a prestigious art college where aspiring actors study and perform Shakespearean plays. Shakespeare becomes a constant player in their lives, so much so that they quote him in their daily conversations. I love this aspect of the novel because I am a huge Shakespeare fan. The seven fourth year students also live together and spend all their time together, which contributes to the complex relationships and the conflicts that develop.

Rio's characters are expertly developed in this book. While they appear to fit the mold of Shakespeare's characters (hero, villain, seductress, sidekick, etc.), they are much more complex than they seem. The relationship between Oliver and James is especially well-written. Each character has just enough mystery surrounding him/her to make it plausible that any one of them could be a murderer. It makes for a very interesting dynamic.

The plot structure is probably the best aspect of this novel. The story is structured like a Shakespearean tragedy with five acts. Each act has a prologue that is set in the present day after Oliver's release from prison. The act then flashes back to the events of ten years prior, the acting students' senior year. Anyone who knows about the structure of a Shakespearean tragedy (plot elements in each act) will enjoy how well Rio mimics that structure.

This book is intelligent and original. It captured my interest immediately and never let go. M.L. Rio deserves a standing ovation for this one!

I really wanted to love this book because so many readers that I respect loved this book. However, it fell flat for me. I just couldn't deal with the unimaginative characters and predictable plot “twists.” In this “thriller,” Grace and Jack present the perfect couple to Jack's friends and coworkers, but after reading the blurb, the reader knows to expect that image to be fake. Almost immediately, the reader learns the horrible truth about the marriage. From there, the plot moves back and forth from the present to the past to unfold Grace's nightmarish reality.

I found the plot to be engaging but not very suspenseful. I enjoyed reading the book, but I can't say I would want to read it again or really recommend it to someone else. The characters were too one-dimensional for my liking, especially Jack. If he had some complexity to his character, I might have enjoyed the story more. I also found Grace naive, especially when reading the events surrounding the wedding. I just kept thinking, “How can she be so blind and accepting?”

In the end, I felt like the action was fun to follow at some points, but the flaws in character and the lack of interesting plot twists just didn't do it for me.

This book is such a fun read. The characters are just adorable and lovable, and you can't help but root for them. Tiffy and Leon are flatmates that share a bed but never cross paths. It is such an interesting concept for a story. Their correspondence through notes and texts is quirky and cute. I just really enjoyed reading their love story.

Most of the secondary characters are charming and entertaining. I especially enjoyed the relationship of Leon and his brother Richie. I think the portrayal of the ex-boyfriend is a bit overdone, but it serves it's purpose. It was necessary to bring in the commentary on abusive relationships.

Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars. I can't wait to see what Beth O'Leary writes next.

I had a hard time deciding between a 3 and a 4 star rating for this one, so I'll give it a 3.5. I really enjoy Colleen Hoover's writing style, which makes her books so easy to read and get lost in. I read this one in two days. I almost didn't make it past the first couple chapters, though. I am not a big fan of YA novels, and I didn't realize this one was in that category until I started it. However, when I got to the chapters written from the mother's point of view, I decided to stick with the book.

In this story, we follow both Morgan and her daughter Clara as they deal with the aftermath of a family tragedy. I found Morgan to be a well-developed and believable character. I sympathized with her as she lived through some very difficult situations. I loved how she was always looking out for the well-being of her daughter, even when it brought pain upon herself. Clara was not my favorite character. I found her to be a bit self-absorbed and whiny. I did not find her to be as relatable as Morgan, but that's probably because I am an adult like Morgan.

While I did not love this book, I did enjoy the read. I will continue to pick up Colleen Hoover's books in the future.

Katherine Center's story about a woman's recovery after a life-altering accident is both upsetting and uplifting at times. On what was set to be the best day of Margaret's life, a tragic accident catapults her life in a totally different direction. Margaret's reactions to her situation are believable. I like that the author doesn't make her character naively optimistic.

The story reads very easily. I read it in two days. It was engaging to the point that I would pick it back up shortly after putting it down. The author weaves the plot together well. I could have done without the romance part of the story, though. I felt it wasn't necessary and was even a bit unrealistic. My biggest complaint is the ending. It wraps up too neatly for my liking. I won't say more than that because I would spoil the plot.

Even though there were some aspects I didn't care for, I still enjoyed reading this book. I read Center's other book, Things You Save in a Fire, and really liked it. I will definitely read more by her in the future.

This was a quick, sweet Christmas read. Was it groundbreaking and original? No. Was it fun to read? Yes. It was predictable like most Hallmark movies, but I did not mind at all. It was Christmas time as I read it, so it gave me all the requisite feel-good vibes. This author delivered exactly what was intended: a charming, heartwarming story of love and healing at Christmas time. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fast, enjoyable read to put them in the holiday spirit.

I read this book for a Christmas readathon, and I didn't expect much because I do not usually like holiday books. I am not a big fan of Hallmark movies and the like, so I had low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised, though. This book about three sisters who come together at Christmas time is actually quite good. Each sister is dealing with her own issues. They end up helping each other through their situations and healing some old family wounds in the process.

The book is set in Scotland, which is such a picturesque Christmas backdrop to the story. The small village setting is perfect for a holiday read. There are also scenes in New York City and references to the mountains in Washington State. Overall, the setting was a nice complement to the story line.

I found the female characters likable and relatable. They had enough layers to their personalities to keep me interested in their story arches. The male characters were a little one-dimensional, but I didn't mind it. It was just a nice, pleasant read for the holiday season.

Wow, Kristin Hannah has done it again for me. I thought no novel could affect me the way The Nightingale did, but I was wrong. This book is so well-crafted and utterly heart-wrenching. The story line went in a direction I did not anticipate at the start of the novel, in a good way. I thought the plot would be more about the two sisters, Meredith and Nina, who have been damaged by their mother's lack of affection. When they lose their beloved father, they are brought together to fulfill his dying wish for them to hear their mother's Russian fairy tale, which turns into an epic story of their mother's life in Russia during the reign of Joseph Stalin and World War II. Through the telling of Anya's story, the three women learn who each of them really is and who they are as a family.

I absolutely loved this book. Once I got to the middle of the book, I could not put it down. Anya's story of her years in Russia kept me captivated. For the last 100 pages, I was emotionally invested in the outcome. I will admit a few tears were shed during this reading. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a family saga mixed with engaging historical fiction. Five star read!

What would you do if you saw a child being abused? In this novel, Frey's main character Sarah is faced with this question. Her response is to take the child, a beautiful five-year-old named Emma, and run. The girl's overwhelmed, impatient mother Amy is left wondering if she even wants her daughter to return.

I found this book very intriguing. It made me question my ideas of right and wrong. I would never have thought I would feel empathy toward a kidnapper, but I did while reading this book. I could understand Sarah's motives for wanting to take this beautiful, sweet child away from her horrible family situation. I found myself actually rooting for her. On the flip side, I had very little sympathy for the mother, Amy. While Frey lets the reader see a bit of why Amy is so overwhelmed and unhappy, she does not allow any of Amy's experiences to justify her behavior toward her daughter.

The book is very easy to read. The narration alternates from one woman's perspective to the other's and jumps around in time, but it is never hard to follow. I found it hard to put down because I wanted to know what would happen to the main characters.

The only thing I did not like in the book was one unbelievable and, in my opinion, unnecessary story line connected to Amy's past. I did not find it added anything to the overall plot or character development.

Overall, I think this novel is well-written and highly engaging. I am interested to see what Frey produces next.

Jane Eyre is one of those books that I do not love, but I recognize its beauty and value. When I first read it back in high school or college (I can't remember which one), I did not care for it much. I remember liking the characters of Jane and Rochester, but the reading experience was tedious.

Now that I have read the book a second time, I can't say that my opinion has much changed. Reading this book took me forever (by my standards). It is very dense. Often, the extensive description of setting and the tediously long dialogue were too much for me. I had to keep putting the book down. I did not stop reading it, though, because I was enjoying the character of Jane. I like how she is practical and strong-willed. I like how uncompromising she is with her desires. At the same time, sometimes I got frustrated with her inability to be a bit more flexible. I also like Mr. Rochester. I have always preferred male characters like him who are rough around the edges. I like the build up of their romance. And the mysterious Mrs. Rochester is intriguing and adds a bit of a Gothic flare to the book that I appreciate.

The part of the story after Jane leaves Thornfield Hall was so boring for me to read. I found it especially tedious and slow. I do not like the character of St. John, no matter how moral and dutiful he is. I felt like that whole section of the book could have been skipped.

Overall, I like the story and the main characters. I recognize the value of the book and its themes. I do not, however, enjoy the read. It is slow and often dull. It's not my favorite classic, it still deserves a high rating.