Latinx Book Blogger, Reviewer & Bookstagrammer
This weekend I began reading ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’. I’m at Chapter 5, and I could see that this story is building up the character of Kya as a girl coming from very, very little. Another central character is also introduced, one who grew up with Kya (so it seems). I’m pretty interested in seeing where this story goes!
I’m also 3 hours into ‘The AI Who Loved Me’ by Alyssa Cole. That audiobook is getting pretty interesting, as it clearly sets up the romantic tension between Trinity and Wei!
During February, I read 6 books:
Audiobooks: 2
Physical Books: 3
Kindle/NetGalley: 1
Genres:
Fantasy: 1
Thriller: 1
Contemporary: 3
Middle Grade: 1
Historical Fiction: 2 (1 Fantasy, 1 Contemporary)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (5 Stars)
(Fantasy/Historical Fiction)
I’m so glad I finally made time for myself to read The Night Circus! This was such a beautiful story, set in two timelines that made a deep connection!
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo (4 Stars)
(Contemporary)
I read this selection through Audible. While I felt the characters were a bit too self-absorbed, I enjoyed this love story featuring two students in New York City figuring out their calling in life, while sorting through their emotions.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (5 Stars)
(Contemporary)
This was the February book club selection for my local library, and I really loved it! It was such an eye-opening novel about the lengths a mother’s love would go. It also features what happens when people’s perceptions of each other are not what they seem!
Honeybees and Frenemies by Kristi Wientge (5 Stars)
(Middle Grade/Contemporary)
I read this book as a NetGalley ARC, in exchange for an honest review. It was such an adorable story about friendships at a crossroads while competing in a well-known small town competition.
The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor (5 Stars)
(Contemporary)
I listened to this book on Audible in one sitting. I absolutely enjoyed this hard-hitting short story collection about women turning to each other in the midst of hardships and heartbreak.
The Other People by C.J. Tudor (4 Stars)
(Thriller)
I read The Other People as a Literally Dead Book Club selection for March. I loved the sudden twists this story took! The ending was quite a surprise!
WWW Wednesday was originally hosted by A Daily Rhythm, and now maintained by Taking on a World of Words.
There are three prompts for WWW Wednesday:
–What are you currently reading?
–What did you finish recently reading?
–What do you think you’ll read next?
The Other People by C.J. Tudor
I’m reading The Other People for BooksandLala’s Literally Dead Bookclub! So far I’m really enjoying the creepy premise!
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Such a wonderful book that speaks of the recurring theme of the power of motherhood!
Honeybees and Frenemies by Kristi Wientge
This was such an endearing middle grade story about friendship within a small town! Thank you NetGalley for the complimentary copy!
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
I purchased this as an audiobook, through Audible. I loved this tale set in New York City!
The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor
I can’t wait to read this book…I enjoyed watching the movie when I was younger, so I know that the book is going to equally wonderful!
I discovered ‘Wish’ while searching for another story at a local department store. When I walk into this location, the first stop I always head to is the large table of books that’s on display. It’s usually a mix of new releases and titles that have been out for a while. I didn’t come across what I was searching for, but my eyes fell on a cover with a young girl with an adorable dog. Being a dog lover, I immediately fell in love with the book cover! I made a note of the title, and reserved a copy at the library.
‘Wish’ by Barbara O’ Connor is about a young girl named Charlie, reluctantly placed to live with her aunt Bertha and Uncle Gus in Colby, North Carolina. Charlie feels very bitter and resentful about being removed from her home in Raleigh, despite the fact that her father is incarcerated and her mother was deemed unfit to care for both her and her sister Jackie. The peaceful, countryside surroundings is a world away from Raleigh’s city life, yet Bertha and Gus go to great lengths to make Charlie’s life as comfortable as possible. She also reluctantly befriends a classmate named Howard, a studious child who gets ridiculed due to his manner of walking, yet never lets that interfere with his life.
The story describes Charlie’s journey in socializing with new friends and community members while experiencing the internal struggle of missing her family. She goes to great lengths to make wishes whenever she comes upon a treasured color, a certain animal, or the first star in a twilight sky. Charlie hides her pain with anger, yet Howard expertly finds a bridge to communicate her fears so clearly by describing a ‘clothesline of troubles’ that everyone tends to in life. O’Connor refers to this phrase frequently in this story as Charlie learns how to trust Bertha and Gus, Howard and his family.
Charlie also discovers a stray dog near her home that she names Wishbone. Like Charlie, Wishbone also endures a journey to trust Charlie and her loved ones. Over time, Wishbone and Charlie experience the joys of good company, while uplifting one another. The story of Wishbone is a small piece of Charlie’s journey in her growth, yet the family and friends in her Colby community teach her that a loving home is not a distant dream.
‘Wish’ by Barbara O’ Connor is a Middle Grade children’s book (appropriate for children ages 8-12), so if you’re seeking a story for children about community, strength through struggles, and loving animals, then this book is for you. It was a very endearing read!
Rating: 4/5 Stars
