It is absolutely amazing to me that lockdown can feel SO LONG but also just fly right by. The days themselves feel long, but they go by fast. It’s strange. Nova Scotia is starting to re-open just a little bit after 5 weeks of strict lockdown. My kids are back at school in person! It’s incredible. I got a lot of reading done this month on audio because I did about a million dog walks around the neighbourhood. As always, linking up with my lovely Steph & Jana (Happy belated bday to Jana who shares a birthday with my hubby) for Show Us Your Books. Excited to see what everyone else has been reading!!!
Books I really Loved Lately:
Second First Impressions by Sally ThorneMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A few fun aspects to enjoy in this contemporary romance novel:
1) Adorable characters: Ruthie and Teddy were delightful. Melanie, their friend, was awesome. The Parlonis, two residents of the retirement community where the novel is set, were unparelleld as humorous characters.
2) The setting: a luxury retirement community with tortoises on the property! See my “tortoises” aka turtles pictured here
3) Strong character development. I loved watching Ruthie and Teddy grow and change. These types of plotlines almost always work for me when they’re done well
4) Great, snappy, funny writing. There were several LOL moments while reading and there’s just nothing better than that
5) A satisfying ending. ❤
You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This thriller was actually almost impossible to put down and its title and cover are SO fitting.
If you are in the market for a book with characters in which you aren’t quite sure who to trust and some past history that is left pretty murky until the near-end of the book, this thriller will be right up your alley. It is well written, the characters are great (there are some I personally *liked* more than others, as was intended, haha), and the plot thickens quickly and rapidly.
A perfect summer thriller – I don’t want to say too much about this because the twists are best experienced on your own, but the ending was worth the ride, for sure.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala YousafzaiMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
An eye opening and powerful book. I learned a lot about Pakistan and the Taliban. The audiobook was very well done. I admire people who feel as passionately about things in life as Malala does about education.
The Light Through the Leaves by Glendy VanderahMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book, much like Glendy Vanderah’s first book, was so unique. It took me a little while to catch on to the pace and I will admit the beginning hit me really hard in all the mom feels, but the end had me in tears. The writing is beautiful, the story weaves in a magnificent way, and I just don’t think I’ll ever find a type of story like this one to compare it to.
The Soulmate Equation by Christina LaurenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
This book was SO good and exactly what I love about Christina Lauren’s novels. The plotline was undeniably different and SO, so fun. River and Jess were fabulously wonderful characters. Juno is a little firecracker and one of the best 7 year olds I’ve ever read.
The premise of this book is so interesting – a company that is able to test compatibility based on genetic correlations. The stats nerd in me loved all of this, implausible as it may be in actual reality. The twist or expected “conflict” was fun, there were a lot of super cute early relationship moments, and a lot of general fun from side characters.
A perfect summer romance read!! Highly recommend.
Books that Passed the Time Just Fine:
Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan HydeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Catherine Ryan Hyde always manages to tug at the heartstrings, especially in this new book with 7 ADORABLE PUPPIES IN IT 🙂
I loved Abby & the way this story unfolded. It wasn’t a very easy read, but it was hard to put down and heartwarming at the end, as always.
One Two Three by Laurie FrankelMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really, really enjoyed a lot of parts of this audiobook even if I found it just a smidge hard to follow at the beginning. Once I was clear on who everyone was in relation to everyone else, it was full speed ahead (thank you to the e-book too). This story about a town that was wronged 16 years ago and the profound effects of a chemical on a generation of young adults is told in a unique way, by three VERY different triplets.
It’s hard to really describe exactly what this book is about, but the characters are everything and their stories and perspectives are heartwarming, fun, funny at times, heartbreaking at times, and so astute. A well-written story with just the kind of ending you’d hope to find at the end of this quirky story.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Netgalley for both e-book and audiobook advancied copies of this book that publishes June 8.
Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma JalaluddinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this novel, especially on audio, and meeting with the author on Zoom and hearing about her inspiration for it was really delightful too. Hana’s character was fun and I really enjoyed her family. I loved her podcast and her chit chats with Stanley P.
All of the events that conspired with her family’s restaurant and new developments in the area and Aydin moved the storyline along quickly and I really, really liked the way this book wrapped up. 🙂
An Unwanted Guest by Shari LapenaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a closed-door mystery that I flew through in a day. I didn’t see the ending coming at all – especially the very VERY end. Wow. It’s not too twisty or turny but it was still a well-crafted mystery in a snowy atmosphere.
The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy BirchallMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars rounded up – this book had a lot of funny moments in it, and the way it was written was really creative: Sophie has such a cool job as a “stand in” bridesmaid who also acts as a wedding planner. I loved the way the story unfolded & it was truly fun to read.
Illuminae by Amie KaufmanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was extremely well done on audio but like most books in the sci-fi type genre, I got a little lost along the way LOL. This is 100% me and not the book, though I did have to get out the hardcover as well from the library to clarify a thing or two. Overall, a very well written and unique story and quite an audio experience if you enjoy YA sci-fi/dystopian with a romance storyline.
Talk Bookish to Me by Kate BromleyMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I highly anticipated this book for month, but I hadn’t really read the synopsis. Second chance isn’t always my favourite trope, but I did enjoy the way this one went (their banter, the dog, the wedding setting, it was all really fun) until about 70% when something happened that made this book irretrievably not a favourite for me anymore. The last part felt completely distorted to me and while I expected the ending, I wasn’t cheering for it the way I often am in a HEA romance.
I’ll still read anything this author writes next though! Just one plotline here didn’t work for me at all on a personal level.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis HallMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Writing a review for this one is weird for me – there are parts of this book that were really enjoyable and really, REALLY funny. I did truly really like parts of it. There were other parts that just didn’t work for me at ALL though and the middle felt like a little bit of a slog.
I did love a lot of the characters, and I loved all the talk of food YUM, but I think parts of this could have been edited out. I definitely enjoyed the ending and broader message implied.
Thank you to Forever and Netgally for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I need to go back and read Boyfriend Material now.
The Road Trip by Beth O’LearyMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book has a second-chance now-and-then plotline that was easy to follow and I was quite invested in what happened in the past to lead to the present situation. There were a lot of funny lines and moments in this book and I laughed out loud several times as these very different 5 people end up squished into a Mini on a road trip to a wedding.
I will say that several elements of this plot weren’t my favourite, and I didn’t absolutely adore the characters the way I did in her past books. There was a little bit too much unbridled drama and my favourite relationship in the book was the one that Addie had with her sister, Deb. Second-chance romance storylines don’t always work for me, nor does the instant-love trope, so I’m not surprised that I wasn’t in love with this book.
It still makes for a fun summer read, but it wouldn’t be my first recommendation.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Currently reading: People We Meet on Vacation (LOVING IT, almost done), Lost Immunity, and The Lion’s Den.
The Maritime Reader 