WHAT WE READ...
CARRIE BETH
First up for me this month was More Than Words by Jill Santopolo.
It's about a young woman who is an heir to a major hotel corporation, but instead of wanting to follow in her father's footsteps, she is following her dream as a speech writer for an up and coming politician. Her father is very ill and in caring for him she ends up learning a lot about her family history and uncovering secrets about her parents that she never knew. At the same time she starts developing feelings for her boss, but feels torn because she is in another relationship. I wanted to like this book, but honestly it was pretty forgettable to me. It kept me listening, but just wasn't one that stuck with me after I was done.
The next book I listened to was Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.
Wow. This book was one of those that does stick with you after you are done. It is a novel based on a true story that some would call one of the worst scandals that ever happened in America. A Tennessee woman who ran an adoption agency kidnapped and sold poor children to rich and powerful families all over the country. She tricked the poor families into signing over their rights to their own children. These children were treated so badly in orphanages and many of them went missing. This story focuses on one family with 5 children who were kidnapped off of their river boat and follows the heartbreaking life they endured as orphans and their life with their new adoptive parents. It switches between present day and 1939 and connects two families in a way you wouldn't expect. I felt like this book was so thought provoking, so disturbing at times, and made my heart ache for all of the children. It is crazy to think that something like this actually happened not too long ago. This will pull at your heartstrings for sure, but was one I really enjoyed.
After that last read I needed something light and happy. My last book of the month was Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
I have read several of Reid's novels and really have enjoyed them all. This one tell a story about a young woman who has recently moved back to LA and meets up with her high school boyfriend on one of her first nights back in town. It follows two parallel storylines based on one decision she makes. In both storylines she explores love, has some major life events occur and faces them all with her best friend by her side. It makes you think about the choices you make and how fate works in funny ways. It was a cute book!
JEN
Life is crazy right now. Crazy with a capital C. It's a wonder I was able to even have the time to shower this month, let alone have free time to read. But a book and a glass of wine in my world equal sanity, so read I did.
First up for the month was Regretting You by Colleen Hoover.
Colleen can be a hit or a miss for some (yours included), and I skipped over her last one after lots of people told me it wasn't their favorite. But after reading the premise behind Regretting You, I figured I would give it a try. (Carrie Beth also read it last month and enjoyed it.) Typically Hoover's books are love stories wrapped around deeper messages. This one kind of follows suit with that with a concentration more on a mother/daughter relationship as the center of the book. It was a story that had tons of secrets and lots of layers, but a few were predictable. It was a quick and enjoyable read, and I approved of the ending. It would make for a good Spring Break read if you need one!
(Psst! It gets the language disclaimer though!)
Next up was Jessica Simpson's memoir Open Book. I don't know why, but I was very intrigued when I heard this was coming out. I don't know if it was remembering watching her back in the day on MTV's Newlyweds, or if it was her rise in the fashion world, or her many celebrity boyfriends - but, something about it made me want to read it. And I'm so glad I did. It made me completely change my view of Jessica Simpson and how she is perceived. I didn't dislike her before, but reading Open Book made me want to give her a big high five and a hug simultaneously. She definitely puts it all out there, and gives you a behind the scenes peek at everything that really went on in her relationships, her rise to fame, and even her recent personal life. I loved that she gave an open and honest account of everything, and makes us all see that she really isn't the "dumb blonde" she's been portrayed as all these years. Good for her for being brave enough to share her faults and bring some clarity to the table on what it's like to live her life. It was a quick read, and I've heard the Audible is even better.
To finish off the month I just squeaked in Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn. This book wins for "cutest read" of the month. Love Lettering follows Meg who is a popular hand lettering artist in New York that is quickly gaining popularity. A former client realizes there's a hidden message in his hand drawn wedding program she did for him a year ago. Meg is nervous he will "out" her to her bosses. After realizing she is safe, it becomes apparent both of them are at a crossroads in life. The pair quickly become friends/more than friends in a journey of finding all the hidden symbols in New York. It's a super cute "chic lit" story with some hidden secrets mixed in to keep it unique and entertaining. If you like light, feel good romance stories this one is totally one to put in your reading pile.
WHAT'S UP NEXT...
CARRIE BETH
I'm excited to switch things up a bit and check out Open Book by Jessica Simpson. I loved her on Newlyweds back in the day and am excited to dive into this one!
JEN
I have my first book of March all ready to go! I've actually started listening to this one, but didn't quite get a chance to finish it before this month's reviews - so stay tuned! So far You Were There Too is shaping up to be one of my favorite books I've read in awhile. I'll give my final review in a few weeks, but going to go ahead and say put it on your radar!
What else should we read this month?
What have been some of your favorite books lately?
BOOK CLUB 2020
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HAPPY READING!
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