Is another month really coming to an end?? I wouldn’t think that staying indoors would cause the days to fly by even faster, yet here we are at the end of May!
I’ve read 10 books this month! It’s been quite a mix:
Inconvenient Daughter by Lauren J. Sharkey Fiction (5 Stars)
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley & Kaylie Jones Books, and I loved it! It’s such a powerful story about a transracial adoptee searching to belong in every aspect of her life. Definitely pick up this book when it comes out! (Release date is June 23!)
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo YA Contemporary (5 Stars)
Elizabeth Acevedo’s third novel is such a beautiful story of two sisters (living in different countries) learning about their father’s deepest secrets after his death. This is a wonderful novel written in verse!
A Woman’s Place: Inside the Fight for a Feminist Future by Kylie Cheung Non-Fiction (5 Stars)
I received A Woman’s Place through Edelweiss and North Atlantic Books. Kylie Cheung discusses the state of feminism as it navigates the fourth wave. It was like a breath of fresh air!
Until I Find You by Rea Frey Thriller (5 Stars)
I received a digital copy of Until I Find You from NetGalley and St. Martins Press. It’s such an amazing story of the steadfast testament of a mother’s love in the search for her son.
111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh Children’s Non-Fiction (5 Stars)
I received 111 Trees through Edelweiss and Kids Can Press. This is the true story of a small Indian village that went to great lengths to nurture young women and better the environment!
Maddy McGuire, CEO: Bring Back the Bees by Emma Bland Smith Children’s Fiction (5 Stars)
I loved reading Maddy McGuire! This was part of a read aloud activity I read for students. Such an informational and diverse read!
Beach Read by Emily Henry Contemporary Romance (4.5 Stars)
I purchased ‘Beach Read’ through Book of the Month. I really appreciated the playful banter between both characters! The personal journey January endured was also very intense!
Love, Art, and Other Obstacles by Sadira Stone Contemporary Romance (4 Stars)
I received a copy of Love, Art, and Other Obstacles from the author. This was a fun story about two competing artists in a complicated relationship!
Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon Contemporary Romance (3.5 Stars)
I received a copy of Starfish Pier from Revell Reads Blogger Program. I think this is the first book I received from them that I wasn’t too crazy about! Idid, however, love the ocean backdrop, and the close knit community!
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson YA Fantasy (3.5 Stars)
I really wanted to love this book! While I loved Elisabeth’s character, I felt that a lot was lacking in her development.
What books did you read this month? Feel free to share!
Update: Turns out that I left out some titles! I’m adding three books to this list, bringing my total to 13 books read this month!
Obit: Poems by Victoria Chang Poetry (5 Stars)
A moving poetry collection centering around the loss of a parent.
Kiss and ‘Telle? by Nadine C. Keels Contemporary Romance (4.5 Stars)
An upbeat novella with playful banter!
Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi YA Contemporary Romance
I just finished reading this book, and I have so many thoughts about it! I will have my review & rating in a few days!
You know, I thought that April would slow to a crawl since all we could really do (at least here in New Jersey) was to sit home. But surprisingly it flew right on by! And I actually read quite a bit this month!
During April, I read eight books: –5 digital books –3 physical books
Genres read: –4 Contemporary –3 Fantasy –1 book of poetry –1 Historical Fiction
March has been such a chaotic month, to say the least! Here in the US, what began as a month to prepare for St. Patrick’s Day activities and friends’ birthdays shifted into a period of Coronavirus dangers and social isolation. We don’t know how long this danger will last. What I do know is that reading is always (and continues to be) my mainstay for healing!
I read 5 books during the month of March: Genres(books may fall into more than one category): Mystery: 2 Contemporary: 1 Historical Fiction: 3 Romance: 3
We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry(4 Stars) Thank you Pantheon Books for sending me an ARC of We Ride Upon Sticks! I enjoyed the throwbacks to the 80s as a female hockey team enlisted the help of supernatural powers to succeed!
The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole(4.5 Stars) I purchased The A.I. Who Loved Me through Audible. It was a lighthearted, sexy read! I loved that the story held a diverse cast of characters!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens(4 Stars) Where the Crawdads Sing was supposed to be a book club selection for March, but my library closed a couple days before the meeting due to the coronavirus. I loved that I got the opportunity to read the story though! While I wasn’t blown away, I deeply appreciated the North Carolina marshland depictions!
Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot(4 Stars) Thank you to Revell for sending me a copy of Out of the Embers! I loved this suspenseful-yet-sweet story of Texas in the 1850s!
Berried in the Past by Peg Cochran(5 Stars) Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Berried of the Past! I loved this cozy mystery set in a small Michigan town. The recipes given were also very yummy!
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver(5 Stars) The Two Lives of Lydia Bird is equal parts romantic and emotional! Lydia struggles to live life without her fiance while experiencing another ‘life’ with him!
Those were the books I read during March! How about you?
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
For the month of January, I read three books. Two of them were digital reads, and one was a paperback book.
Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith(YA) I received Don’t Read the Comments from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It was such a fun, thoughtful book, handling the relevant issue of cyberbulling wonderfully. I gave this book 5 Stars.
Collateral Damage by Lynette Eason(Christian Fiction) I received a complimentary copy of Collateral Damage through Revell Reads. This book took the reader through two Army vets living with the aftermath of PTSD while solving a murder. It was definitely an engaging read! I gave Collateral Damage 4 Stars.
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann(Non-Fiction) This was my local library’s book club selection for January. I was able to borrow a digital copy through Libby. It was a very riveting story about a Native American tribe’s brief touch of rewards through a land loophole, then having tribe members suffer mysterious deaths. David Grann gave a very thorough account of this dark period in history! I give this book 4 Stars.
I’m taking part in The Library Looter & Anniek’s Library Blogtober challenge!
This month I finished reading four books: two YA Fantasies, one Contemporary Romance, and one Historical Fiction novel. While I wish I got the chance to read more, I’m happy about the ones I completed!
I rated this story 4/5 Stars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Dream So Dark! It was a great sequel to A Blade So Black, as it follows Alice’s adventures through Wonderland’s nightmarish world. It left me wondering what will be covered next! You can catch my review of A Dream So Dark HERE!
I gave Jerusalem Maiden 4/5 Stars. This was a very powerful read, as it follows Esther Kaminsky’s religious journey throughout her life. She struggles with getting in touch with her passions while honoring God and the commandments. You can view my review for Jerusalem Maiden HERE.
I reviewed Keeping Her Close for Prism Book Tours, in which I received a complimentary copy from the author. I found this story to be quite a warm, feel-good story centered around trust. If you would like to check out my review, you can find it HERE.
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself. A prince in danger must decide who to trust. A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.
I gave Wicked Saints 4/5 Stars. I found this to be quite an interesting read that involved lots of esoteric discussion between two of the central characters. There was also an entertaining romance! My full review can be found HERE!
And that’s it! I began reading two other stories this month, which I will talk about more tomorrow.
I read six books this month. Now, I know that it’s not a huge number, but I’m very proud of my progress!
‘Tunnel of Bones’ by Victoria Schwab Length: 304 pages Genre: Middle Grade Publisher: Scholastic Press Release Date: September 3, 2019
I rated ‘Tunnel of Bones’ 5 stars. It was very exciting to revisit Cassidy Blake’s world, as she explored Paris in order to vanquish a restless spirit. Having a best friend who’s a ghost is an extra bonus! I’m already anticipating the next book in the series!
Sweet Melody by Heidi McCahan Length: 217 pages Publisher: Snug Corner Cove Press Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance September 13, 2019
I rated ‘Sweet Melody‘ 5 Stars. This story was read and reviewed for a tour stop on Prism Book Tours. This was an endearing novel that covers the issue of struggle after heartbreak. The message expressed that with a strong support network, and with a little faith, one is never truly alone!
‘Kingdom Cold’ Trilogy by Brittni Chenelle Length: 622 pages Genre: YA/Fantasy Release Date: February 14, 2019
I gave the ‘Kingdom Cold’ series 5 stars. I read and reviewed these stories through Caffiene Book Tours. Truthfully, I went into this series not expecting to be absorbed, but I was pleasantly surprised. Chenelle displays strong female characters and a steady pace throughout the books. I’m thankful that I gave these stories a chance!
‘The Lost Girls of Paris’ by Pam Jenoff Length: 384 pages Publisher: Park Row Books Genre: Historical Fiction Release Date: March 1, 2019
I gave ‘The Lost Girls of Paris’ 4 Stars. Learning about a female secret agent unit in London during World War II was truly eye-opening. Genoff artfully created fictionalized accounts of the three female leads in the book, while enlightening readers of the reality that women faced while operating behind enemy lines. It reveals that women played a greater role in war than originally thought!
This wrap-up is very underwhelming, since I only completed two books this month. I very much wanted to read sooo much more (I was looking forward to reading Lisa See this month!), but June has been a stressful mess of job transitions and wedding planning. The drama of these two factors have not lessened by any means, so I’m thrilled that I completed reading anything! My poetry page was also pretty dismal this month. I can count the number of poems written this month on one hand. Stress really does a number on creativity!
I read one Children’s Literature book, and one Adult novel. Both books are fictional works. The genres were Middle Grade and Historical Fiction.
Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald Genre: Historical Fiction Length: 417 pages Publisher: Penguin Random House Source: Kindle (via NetGalley) Standalone novel Published on June 11, 2019
I received Time After Time through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved reading this story centered within a slice of New York City life in the midst of tension and tragedy. Throughout the story, Joe and Nora navigate their relationship while enduring the effects of World War II. Since I enjoy reading anything involving New York City, I dove right in. Even though this novel was set in the 1930s, it brought back memories of me travelling through Manhattan and The Bronx while living there. Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis (from Goodreads): On a clear December morning in 1937, at the famous gold clock in Grand Central Terminal, Joe Reynolds, a hardworking railroad man from Queens, meets a vibrant young woman who seems mysteriously out of place. Nora Lansing is a Manhattan socialite whose flapper clothing, pearl earrings, and talk of the Roaring Twenties don’t seem to match the bleak mood of Depression-era New York. Captivated by Nora from her first electric touch, Joe despairs when he tries to walk her home and she disappears. Finding her again—and again—will become the focus of his love and his life.
Nora, an aspiring artist and fiercely independent, is shocked to find she’s somehow been trapped, her presence in the terminal governed by rules she cannot fathom. It isn’t until she meets Joe that she begins to understand the effect that time is having on her, and the possible connections to the workings of Grand Central and the solar phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge, when the sun rises or sets between the city’s skyscrapers, aligned perfectly with the streets below.
As thousands of visitors pass under the famous celestial blue ceiling each day, Joe and Nora create a life unlike any they could have imagined. With infinite love in a finite space, they take full advantage of the “Terminal City” within a city, dining at the Oyster Bar, visiting the Whispering Gallery, and making a home at the Biltmore Hotel. But when the construction of another landmark threatens their future, Nora and Joe are forced to test the limits of freedom and love.
Delving into Grand Central Terminal’s rich past, Lisa Grunwald crafts a masterful historical novel about a love affair that defies age, class, place, and even time.
Wish by Barbara O’Connor Genre: Children’s Literature (Middle Grade) Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux Length: 236 pages Source: Acquired from HC Library (Flemington, NJ) Standalone novel Published on August 30, 2016
I fell in love with Wish the moment I viewed the cover. Who doesn’t love a deep bond between a child and her furry friend? In the novel, Charlie is struggling to come to terms with being removed from her dysfunctional family, living with her loving aunt and uncle in Colby, North Carolina. As Charlie reluctantly endures daily life within a quiet community, she slowly realizes that ‘Home’ can be discovered in the most unlikeliest of areas. This book also tackles the uncomfortable topic of neglect in a tasteful manner for younger audiences. Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.
