Cozy season has arrived and we're prepped with all the things. And by that we mean with all the books. It's BOOK CLUB DAY!!
But in full transparency, we were both talking the other day about what we've been reading, and nothing has stood out to us lately as a "WOW!". Like a read that you text all your girlfriends about because you *need* someone to talk to about it.
If you have a suggestion we would love to hear it. We want to close out the year with a five star, tell all your friends, can't wait for the movie/sequel read!
With that said, there have been a lot of good ones, and we can chat about some of those today.
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WHAT WE READ...
CARRIE BETH
First up for me this month was Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley. This story is set in a London trail and having just returned from our trip to London, I loved hearing the British accent of the narrator and hearing familiar references.
No one talks on the train. All the commuters having a routine they follow and notice fellow passengers, but none of them talk and almost no one interacts. That is until an almost tragic accident forces commuters to break out of their regular silent train ride and the snowball effect of friendships that follows is enough to make anyone smile! You never know what others are going through and these fellow passengers end up being an important part of each others lives. Its as a heartwarming story and one I really enjoyed!
I had the highest of hopes for
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover. If I write a books release date on my calendar you know it's one I can't wait to read or listen to. I named
It Ends With Us as my very favorite book a few years ago and was over the moon when I found out there was going to be a sequel. Unfortunately this one just didn't do it for me. It felt sort of boring and honestly kind of corny to me. Not at all what I'm used to with Colleen Hoover books! I did like having a follow up to the characters and knowing how everything turned out, but I was really disappointed in this and it didn't at all live up to the hype I had built up for it.
The last book I listened to this month was The Bodyguard by Katerhine Center. It was cute, entertaining, and had a really sweet story! In a role reversal, the female in this book is a bodyguard and goes undercover to protect an A-list celebrity posing as his girlfriend. What happens in the time she spends with he and his family is nothing sort of an ideal rom-com movie plot. I feel in love with the characters and didn't want this one to end.
JEN
Holy cow! This one was an intense one.
Things We Do in the Dark follows the story of Paris Peralta. She is married to a celebrity comedian who unfortunately dies a gruesome death in a bathtub. Found next to him is Paris, unconscious, with a knife. She knows she will be charged with his murder, but that isn't even the part that worries her the most. She fights to hide her past and protect her future all while the media is digging into anything and everything about her.
This was a chilling suspense novel right from the first line. Murder, secrets, hidden identities, celebrity level drama…this one had it all.
The tough part comes from stomaching the abuse situations the main character had to endure. This book touches on emotional, physical and sexual abuse - as well as suicide and mental health. The author did a good job of keeping the descriptions less graphic, but it was still tough to read.
Overall a great thriller with lots of twists and reveals.
The Final Gambit was next up for a little bit of a lighter mystery novel. This series is YA, but it's been such a fun read! I am so sad this series is finished! This book was just as good as the first two. The riddles, the games, and the love triangles served us all the things we’ve loved since the first book. This book answered a lot of the “why” and let relationships play out in a way that you felt satisfied that the series wrapped up just the way it was supposed to. If you haven’t done a deep dive into this author’s novels - start now!
Like Carrie Beth, I remember loving
It Ends With Us years ago. I was so excited to read the sequel when it was announced that I apparently pre-ordered it. Twice. (oops!)
It Starts With Us was a quick read for me, but I have mixed feelings about it. I love that Hoover felt that the story deserved a sequel with all of its popularity, but after reading the story I felt that I was missing that same angst from the love triangle that drew me in the first time. I did, however, love seeing a different side of the story. I enjoyed seeing how Lily and Atlas handled their relationships beyond their divorce.
The story was more of a sweet nod to the first novel, which I think was the intended goal.
The Paper Palace has been sitting on my TBR for almost a year. I picked it up, not quite remembering what it was about. I've heard a lot of hype about it, so I figured why not go ahead and dig in.
The story opens with Elle awakening after a night that will alter her life forever. Visiting the vacation property that has been a part of her family for generations with her family and close friends, old feelings emerge and secrets reveal themselves in unlikely ways. Now Elle is faced with a choice - staying with the love of her life, or staying with her husband.
The novel is darker than I expected based on the synopsis. It features themes of multi-generational abuse and how it affects choices/relationships. The main character of this story has secrets from her past and present and sometimes her actions or attitude made me dislike her even though I understood that she was often placed in a tough situation. Even as the book ended and she made a choice I felt was a good one, I still found her unlikeable. It was a good book overall, and one that will sit with you for a long time after.
WHAT'S UP NEXT...
CARRIE BETH
Next up for me I have Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens downloaded and ready to go. Check back next month so see what I think of it!
JEN
I feel I need a palette cleanser after this stack of books. Something a little lighter and less "abusive". I'm going to start November reading with The Roughest Draft. It's been sitting on my TBR since the Summer, and I'm looking forward to happy romance.
WHAT DID YOU READ LAST MONTH? ANYTHING YOU LOVED THAT WE SHOULD PUT ON OUR READING LISTS? SHARE WITH US!
BOOK CLUB 2022
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September |
BEST BOOKS OF SUMMER 2022
HAPPY READING!
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