It feels like it has been a long time since a Show us Your Books linkup! When I went to look, I realized that it had in fact been 5 weeks (due to the timing of the weeks) 🙂 How is everyone’s summer going? I have been reading up a storm after a bit of a COVID-19 lull there for a few months. I have read some fantastic books lately and I’m excited to share them!! Check out Steph & Jana’s blogs for more bookish posts! I’m on vacation with my family this week at cottages a few hours away so I won’t get to read all the other posts till later in the week.

I’ve been reading a lot lately so I included a TL;DR at the bottom 😉

The Switch by Beth O’Leary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Switch was one of my most anticipated books of 2020, so much so that I debated buying it from the UK to get it a few months early until my friend bought it for me & it arrived in the mail!! The premise of this book sounded fantastic, and it was. Leena and her grandmother (and her mother) have both had a rough year after Leena’s only beloved sister lost her battle with cancer. Leena has a panic attack at work one day and is told to take 2 months of paid vacation. She goes down to visit her grandmother in a quaint English (adorable) town called Hamleigh and ultimately convinces her grandmother to swap places for 2 months.
This book is told in two perspectives, and I loved them both. I am a total sucker for small-town characters, and the ones in this book were fantastic. I loved Leena’s friends in London too whom her grandmother Eileen spends time with. There were really just so many lovely characters to root for and love in this book.
In many ways, this reminds me of the movie The Holiday, but with one of the house swap people being 79, there were some different layers to the plot, including a lot of no-nonsense life wisdom.
I loved this book so much and in a completely different way than I loved her debut, The Flatshare. Can’t wait for it to be out in North America in August.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Flatiron books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A few people recommended this book and I was quite intrigued by the cover so I requested it on audio and when it became available, I started it immediately. This book sucked me in immediately and I fell in LOVE with Coyote and her many fun friends on a road trip. This book was both parts absolutely hilarious and absolutely heartbreaking and so well done for a middle-grade book about grief. Cannot recommend it enough – plus, road trip books are always fun in the summer!!

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a quick but powerful read. I tried to read it to my older daughter and she got completely lost in the language, so we will try again in the future. I personally loved the verse it was told in and the story itself.

Excellent if you are looking to immerse yourself in what is presumably a completely different cultural experience than many of us born and raised in North America.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I went into this book knowing very little about it, and then I flew through the first 50% in one sitting from 8-11 pm one night. I woke up and promptly finished it. This book took me completely by surprise and caused me to tear up, sob, laugh, grimace, and cheer on the inside all at once. Emmie Blue is a character who absolutely steals your heart and you want everything to work out for her against all odds.
Throughout this story, you find out about Emmie and Lucas, who have the MOST serendipitous meeting you could ever imagine at age 16. Emmie experienced a devastating situation one night and wrote a message attached to a red balloon that she let go of. Lucas, who had just moved to France from London and was desperately angsty and homesick, finds her balloon and emails her and they become best friends. Throughout the years of their friendship, it grows and changes and is ultimately put to the test when Lucas gets engaged. There’s another important character in this scenario too – Lucas’ older half-brother Eliot.
Emmie has unbelievably loveable friends and a landlady who unfolds as a main character throughout the book as well. This story will tug at your heartstrings and be difficult to put down. It has been months since I’ve read a book that made me as emotional as this one did. I absolutely loved it.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed reading this book aloud to my children although I do feel that parts of it may have gone over their head language-wise. No worries, they can always re-read it in the future 🙂 The language in this book is beautifully lyrical, the story is familiar but different, and the characters are endearing. Fantastic if you are a fan of Beauty & the Beast in any format.

The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After I absolutely adored The Royal We, I was delighted to find out that there was a sequel coming out. I loved this book nearly as much in very different ways. I can’t necessarily say that it is more serious, although maybe parts of it are (there are some BIG serious events in the first book though, let’s be honest)…the characters do feel a bit more grown-up though. I loooooved Eleanor in this book and how her relationship with Bex evolves. I LOVED all of the royal history and a few major events that happen around lineage and inheritance. Of course, it was a joy to read more about Nick and Bex and Freddie and all of their friends. I really enjoyed the way certain topics were handled in this book, and I loved the ending.

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing for the finished copy in exchange for an honest review. If you loved The Royal We, I definitely believe you will adore this book too.

Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I might have enjoyed this one even a smidge more. Jenny Holiday’s books are some of my favourite contemporary romances. I love the small-town setting, all of the side characters, and the personal and emotional plotlines she weaves effortlessly into her stories.
Nora and Jake were adorable and SO much fun to read about. Moonflower Bay seems like an adorable and fun place to live and absolutely reminds me of Stars Hollow, as is referenced once in this book. There are some sad/triggering moments in this book but I found those plotlines were handled really well. Cannot WAIT for the third book in this series next summer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the e-ARC and the finished paperback in exchange for an honest review.

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like it says in the blurb, this book reminded me a LOT of a cross between The Hating Game and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Rowan Roth (aka Artoo as a cute R2D2 reference) and Neil McNair have pushed each other throughout high school to better one another and be the best in their classes. On the last day of school, the senior class traditionally plays a game called Howl which is a bit like assassin and Rowan and Neil end up pairing up. Of course, once they are stuck together, they get to know things about each other they hadn’t known at all in the 4 years they competed against each other and they don’t hate what they learn about each other.

This is pure fun YA and if you’re a fan of that genre, this one should definitely be on your radar. It moves quickly and is quirky and fun and nostalgic. The fact that Rowan loves romance novels and is writing one of her own is just icing on the cake 🙂

ARC received in exchange for an honest review from Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a little while to get used to this book, but once I got to “know” Adunni, I realized she was one of the easiest characters to root for EVER. She was so young and had so much growing up to do SO quickly that it was heartbreaking, but also SO inspiring. The dialect in this novel is one of the best parts even though it takes a bit to adjust to it. In many ways, this was a hard book to read, but it’s a story that needed to be told. (Enjoyed the audiobook)

Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I definitely enjoyed this book somewhat more than the first in this series, but it still lacked a little something for me personally. Overall, I really, really liked the characters but I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to them as I have in other similar-genre books. Still, the ending was adorable, Nick was a total sweetheart, and I did laugh out loud once or twice mostly due to a hilariously immature secondary character 😉 True to its premise, this book absolutely reads just like a cheesy rom-com so it definitely fits that bill!!
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a little while to familiarize myself with these characters, but I was pretty soon completely hooked on this story. I was profoundly moved by Lakshmi’s tenacity as a single-ish woman in 1950s Jaipur who encounters numerous roadblocks on her journey but never stops standing up for herself. All of the supporting characters are totally endearing too. This was a time period and part of the world that I knew very little about, and I enjoyed learning more about it through this fantastic fictional tale.
BONUS: I was able to join in a book club Zoom call with the author and she is lovely!!! Her tale of writing this book and its sequels (!!!!!) was incredible to hear first hand.
I listened to this on audiobook but I had to look up a lot of the spellings just so I knew myself. The audio narration was extremely well done.

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

WOW!! This book was nearly impossible to put down. I could not flip the pages fast enough. I went into it expecting a similar genre to B.A. Paris’ other books – i.e. a bit of a psychological thriller, and this one was more along the lines of family secrets/drama. It reminded me a bit of Liane Moriarty’s books. There was a lot to unpack here, and everything happened over a short period of time with reference to past events and time periods. I adored this family, felt very emotional about everything that happened, and felt that this book was exactly what I needed (i.e. an escape that held my attention SO completely). PERFECT summer beach read that is not fluffy or filler – deals with some very serious things.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Stars From Me to You by Nicole Bea
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book grabbed my attention immediately because I love stories about twins and I was heartbroken when one twin (Rion) was in a coma at the beginning of this story. I was intrigued by his twin Bellamie’s ability to communicate with him while he is in limbo. This was an excellent middle grade read about sexuality, identity, mental health, and family.

Thank you to Nevermore Press & the author for the finished copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this fun office romance with good characters, an intriguing plot that I didn’t see coming, and great chemistry. Samiah and Daniel were too much fun and their workplace sounds like a dream!! I can’t wait to read the next couple of books in this series (I hope!!) Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for granting my wish for an ARC!!

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall, I really really liked this book. I’d been seeing it everywhere and hearing about it for months, and it wasn’t quite what I expected but I was quite happy with how it played out. There was a surprise element at the end that I have to admit I did NOT anticipate in the least, so that was interesting. This book was well written, unique (I LOVED all the games about seeing letters in NYC) and definitely made me want to visit New York and look at all the signs and sights and art.
I also really like Meg and Reid together and the way they met again. Loved Reid’s family and Meg’s character development throughout the story. ESPECIALLY loved the ending, obviously.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After enjoying Get a Life, Chloe Brown earlier this year, I was antsy to read about her sister Dani in this second book in the series. I have to admit that I liked this book even more than Chloe’s. Dani was such a likable character, and I *loved* her and Zaf together and their story. This is a classic “fake relationship starts to feel like more” type of story but it was handled a bit differently than many other books and I was impressed with the depth of these characters’ development and how their pasts affected their present and future lives and relationships. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, including Zaf’s family and Dani’s best friend and sisters.
A perfect summer contemporary romance, in my humble opinion!!
Thank you to Avon and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I also read the 2nd book in Sarah J Maas’ Court series (A Court of Mist and Fury), The Wizard of Oz, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Adventures with Waffles with my kiddos, and a few other books not worth mentioning. LOVING the Court series!!

I read Me and White Supremacy and White Fragility too – I recommend both of these but I still need more. Any other recommendations?!

TL;DR: I highly recommend The Switch (it’s listen now on Netgalley audiobooks!!!), Dear Emmie Blue, The Henna Artist, The Girl with the Louding Voice, and The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. I also loved Paradise Cove and The Heir Affair but you’d have to read the first in those series first 🙂

Currently Reading: City Spies on audio for Molly & A Court of Wings and Ruin. I’ll probably try to read a book on the beach this week too! 🙂 What are you reading?!

Just like that, I blinked and it’s already time for the Show us Your Books link up. I’m still having a precarious relationship with books because I no longer have my usual 90 min transit commute to work nor does my brain always have the capacity for audiobooks after listening to adorable children chatter all day. This is just the reality these days. 🙂

Here’s what I’ve been reading lately. A couple of hits and a few “misses”. Linking up with Steph and Jana!!!

The Last Letter from Juliet by Melanie Hudson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This audiobook was extremely well done. The story itself was definitely captivating and I truly enjoyed the dual perspectives, which is typically the case for me with historical fiction. I had some issues with some of the content but I did really enjoy the characters.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the long-ago ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Experimental Marine Biology by Susannah Nix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed all of the books in Susannah Nix’s Chemistry Lessons series, but I think the 4th was still my favourite of them all. That being said, this book was adorable and sweet and fun. The characters were a blast and I enjoy series in which you get to “catch up” with past characters from the earlier books. This would make a good summer read especially if you enjoy female characters working towards STEAM careers and standing up for what they believe in.

Thank you to the author for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review 🙂

I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book and devoured it in less than 24 hours when nothing else was really sticking, so I appreciated t\that boost to my reading life immensely. Abbi Waxman has such a humorous tone to her writing, and I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading the paradox between a mom and a daughter’s reactions to the same situation in this book. In my opinion, this use of the two points of view worked so well and allowed us to experience the feelings of both main characters.
Overall, this story was sweet, hopeful, and heartwarming, and exactly what I hope for in this genre.
Emily and Jessica’s relationship seemed so realistic and although I don’t have a teenager yet, I’m close to it and this was eye-opening to me despite it being fiction.
I highly recommend this fun book as a lovely summer read!!

Thanks to Edelweiss and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I went into this book not entirely knowing what to expect, but I absolutely loved it. What an interesting concept and so well done! At times, I wanted a little bit more, that is, I wanted to follow almost EVERY year of Oona’s out-of-order life, but I was blown away by a few of the surprises that popped up, and I was rooting for future Oona throughout the book. I would never want to live my life this way, but I loved thinking outside the box while listening to this!!

What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I’m in a reading slump or just too tired to get into whatever good book I’m reading, I have always been able to get into a good YA novel and this one fits the bill wonderfully. This reminded me quite a bit of Tell Me Three Things, which I also loved. Halle and her brother Oliver were fantastic characters, and I adored their sibling relationship. I loved their grandfather, and though I didn’t support some of the decisions they made (lol! so YA of me!), I enjoyed the resolution of this book and found it SO FUN to be immersed in the high school life of a book blogger. 🙂 If you also turn to these types of YA books in busy times, this one is worth a try!

Someday in Paris by Olivia Lara
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book just a little bit more. The concept was very appealing and it started off really strong and I had a hard time putting it down. Then, rather quickly, I was left with a bit of a sour taste and I just didn’t quite get past that. Overall, while I did want to read to the end to find out how these damaged people all worked out their complicates lives, I found the premise just a little bit too coincidental and the flow a bit off and far-fetched.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely flew through this audiobook and found it absolutely eye-opening, clear, and helpful in knowing how to navigate difficult conversations about race moving forward. Oluo’s advice is spot-on and she describes exact situations that I’m sure many of us have been in, and what that situation felt like for her or her brother or friends. At times deeply personal and at other times over-arching in terms of discussions of affirmative action and politics, I found this so compelling and cannot recommend it enough if you’re looking for a place to start when it comes to standing with the Black Lives Matter movement that none of us should be ignoring.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was absolutely fantastic. It took me a little while to get into, just because it provides perspectives from various characters at various times in their lives, but by the end, I was flipping pages really quickly and wanting to know more. I was beyond impressed with Brit Bennett’s debut novel The Mothers but I think I enjoyed the content, the characters, and the writing even more in this book. This falls firmly in the category of fiction – there is not really a mystery element to it, but there is some family drama and prevalence of themes of race, privilege, opportunity, identity, family, and growing up. It is so worth the read.

Thank you to Riverhead Books and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now and making huge waves in its first week of release!!

Until the End by Juno Rushdan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It did not take me long to fly through this fast-paced book and I read the second half more-or-less in a single sitting. These books certainly keep you on the edge of your seat and this one was no exception. I enjoyed the romantic storyline a bit more in the first and second novels in this series, but I think I enjoyed the suspense storyline a bit more in this one, especially at one point when my jaw nearly dropped with a twist I did not anticipate in the least. Castle and Kit were fun together and the whole group is so intelligent and courageous and the entire reading experience certainly takes me out of my current reality and into a whole new world in some ways. LOL.

I enjoyed the inclusion of several new characters and I am quite excited to see what direction this series will go in (I had somehow assumed/been informed that it was a trilogy but this left the story open to continue, in my opinion). Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vanishing Girls by Lisa Regan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book sucked me right in and I loved Josie’s pluck when it came to her job. The mystery itself did not go where I expected it to, and it came to quite an intense and unexpected conclusion (in my opinion) which left me reeling a little bit. If you enjoy police procedurals at all, this series is going to be on my radar moving forward and I intend to read the second just as soon as the library will re-open and give it to me.

I’ve also read a bunch of Penderwicks books to my kids (we’re on book 4 of 5 now and we have ADORED this series. If you have children in your life, consider sharing these with them). I re-read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on audio (time EXTREMELY well spent!!!) and I’m almost done The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon (So far, really good!) and Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert. I’m also listening to The Henna Artist. I’m trying to find a bit of my groove again after a lot of days when I just couldn’t even pick up a book due to mental fatigue. Haha.

Today I’m sharing some short reviews of a few REALLY excellent books I’ve read in the past month! I have actually been completely floored by the books I’ve read lately – almost all of them have moved me to tears or made me grin like a crazy bookworm or cause me to gush about them to everyone I see, whether they care or not. I can’t believe how many great books I’m including in this post – I hope one or two of them make it on to your list too! Linking up today with Steph & Jana for Show us Your Books.

Lovely War by Julie Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book SOOOOOOO much. This book has probably/almost/maybe claimed a spot on my list of favourite books of all time. The audiobook was absolutely incredible with a full-cast narration. The premise of this book doesn’t necessarily sell it at all, but this is a story of two different couples during World War I as told by Aphrodite, the goddess of love when defending herself and her to her husband, Hephaestus, the god of fire. Throughout the story, I sometimes forgot a bit about the gods as narrators but there are other perspectives too: Hades, the god of the underworld, Apollo, the god of music and dance, Ares, the god of war, and others. It sounds a bit strange and fantasy-based but I assure you it works better than I could have imagined and I am blown away by the uniqueness and intimacy of this storytelling. I cannot recommend this book enough and I don’t intend to stop raving about how excellent it is anytime soon, so beware of that 🙂

What You Wish For by Katherine Center
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I’d been waiting not-very-patiently for this book for at least a year and a half when I saw on Katherine Center’s instagram that she was in Galveston doing research for a book starring Duncan from Happiness for Beginners. I already knew right then and there that I would love this book no matter what, but in many ways, reading it still surprised me and surpassed my expectations in ways I was not expecting. I originally expected lightheartedness and silly jokes throughout but there were some highly serious issues tackled in this book in a very realistic and universal way.

Needless to say, I really had no idea what this was about (aside from Duncan) until a few weeks ago when I read the synopsis here on Goodreads and I was quite surprised that Duncan might not be the incredibly easygoing and carefree character that I’d grown to adore in Happiness for Beginners. Why? How? Ahhh!! I knew there’d be a reason for it, and I knew I’d love it anyway, so when I got the ARC in an e-mail from St. Martin’s Press I dropped everything and started it that same day.

This book has some amazing underlying themes of seeking joy instead of sorrow, embracing friendships and relationships and friends becoming your family. There are several health issues that are touched on. I knew (hoped!!!) there would be a tiny mention of Helen and Jake from Happiness for Beginners, and that surpassed all my wildest expectations. I adored the setting including the incredible-sounding school environment. I choked up during several lines of this book and also grinned wider than ever other times. The side characters including all of the other teachers at the school (especially Alice with her math t-shirts!!) and a delightfully inquisitive 3rd grader named Clay were fun and multi-faceted.

Fans of Katherine Center’s books will adore this one, I’m sure. I really, really enjoyed the ending, and of course, the epilogue, but there are lines throughout this that I want to underline and remind myself of daily. Steam-wise and romance wise, this falls closer in line with Happiness for Beginners than Things you Save in a Fire in case anyone is curious about that. This book was inspiring, hopeful, funny, realistic, heart-wrenching, beautiful, and so special. I can’t recommend it enough. 🙂

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was exceptionally difficult to absorb, as it is meant to be, but also exceptionally well written and the narration by the author was wonderfully done. I know it’s been said before about this book, but I truly feel like the eye-opening stories and accounts of Bryan Stevenson’s work and experiences detailed here should be required reading for absolutely everyone.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was utterly fantastic. I’d seen it described as a read-alike to The Snow Child and Harry’s Trees, both of which I really enjoyed, and while I see the comparisons, this book is extremely unique as well. I really enjoyed the characters, my jaw dropped a bit when everything kind of came together and the story was revealed a bit more, and the ending was so nice. This book is full of a myriad of raw emotions and I would also say that there are some trigger warnings which I can mention in a private message to avoid spoilers here. Overall though, well worth the read if you enjoy contemporary fiction that takes awhile to figure out and has lovely imagery and fantastic characters as well as an interesting setting & premise.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was fascinating from the point of view of how and why we develop habits. It is *not* as much a manual for developing better habits and if that is what you are seeking, I would recommend Atomic Habits for a more how-to guide. However, I found the science included in this book super fascinating!!! Keep in mind that my background is in psychology, so I am fascinated in the way the brain works and how people behave, but this was written in a really interesting way with a lot of anecdotes and cases discussed to illustrate particular points. I highly recommend this one on audio but just know that while it is motivating, it is more about the background and effect of habits on lives.

The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Wow! I really loved this. It took me a little longer to get into than The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, which I loved instantaneously last year, but by the end of this, I was still in love with Abbi Waxman’s writing and characters. This book has some very sad moments due to the main character being a sudden widow as well as a mother of young girls (close in age to mine so I related well to some of her thoughts on these pages). The gardening aspects felt very appropriate to read in spring and some of those chapter snippets were really funny! Overall, Abbi Waxman’s writing is some of the best I’ve enjoyed lately in women’s fiction and I can’t wait to read her other books as well.

Photos of You by Tammy Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was hesitant to pick this book up despite being sent the ARC in an e-mail because I was worried it would be just a bit too sad and I figured I needed to be in the right headspace to read it. I was right – it is incredibly sad, but it is also immensely hopeful, completely beautiful, and so worth the time. We learn in the first few pages that our beloved main character, 28-yr-old Ava, has been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer after being in remission for several years. She has a couple of unbelievably close, fantastic girlfriends and two adoring parents. Many of her short years on earth earth were affected by her cancer. She decides to have a “wedding” in which she is the bride but there is no groom as a bit of a celebration of life and the story takes off from there. These pages are full of love, hopeful message, and poignant thoughts and observations about life. Ava is brave, but she is also sad and bitter about her situation at times. The ending of this book was lovely despite its sadness and I adored every moment with these interesting and fun characters. The setting of the book is also gorgeous and important at times – the descriptions of some of the locations were breathtaking and made me feel like hopping on a plane to New Zealand tomorrow. Fans of Me Before You will love this book. Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow – this is a book you should read if you or anyone you know has experienced depression. It is not a self-help book but more of a memoir that will likely cause you to feel so seen if you’ve had periods of depression in your life. Matt Haig’s experience that he details and shares in these pages is raw, intense, and so well described compared to all other books I’ve read about depression. Of course, not everyone will feel the same in any way, but I think this book includes enough broad strokes of experience to resonate with anyone, honestly.

I especially loved the parts about how books helped to save him, as well as writing, yoga, running, and his family and partner. So many quotable lines.

This will probably be an emotional book to read if you are in the thick of depression or anxiety at the present, but it might also just be the healing solidarity you need.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A few bookworm friends that I really trust mentioned that this book was fantastic so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I was also warned that they cried and that it was emotional and after devouring this, I can see how it would move someone to those emotions. I felt it myself.

The premise of this book is quite interesting. At the beginning of this relatively short novel, our main character Dannie, who is a major type-A lawyer in Manhattan with her entire life planned to the month, has a strange dream-like experience in which she wakes up leading a very different life than she could ever imagine five years in the future. We go back to the present day and skip around a little bit but it became obvious that something was going to happen to make this book UNABLE to put down and indeed that did happen.

I felt profoundly connected to these characters even though I couldn’t personally relate to them in the same way I often do with characters. I loved the NYC setting. I felt the pain that these fictional characters were going through as well as the decisions they were faced with and the consequences of those decisions. This story included a lot of friendship, love, sadness, joy, hope, unexpected turns, and everything in between. It was an extremely quick read that I did not want to put down.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I first started this book, I thought I was going to have to put it down. I felt absolutely heartbroken about the beginning and so frustrated for Laurie but I knew Mhairi McFarlane would make it all okay and I was along for the ride. I’m so glad I stuck with this book because I TOTALLY LOVED IT. I loved the character development, I loved the introduction of new characters and their depths, I was absolutely in love with how British everything was (it’s just so fun!!!). And of course, overall, I loved the ending too and the way things all played out. Was it predictable? Yes…of course…in some ways. Did I still feel very happy and enjoy every word? Yep.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

New Kid by Jerry Craft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After my beloved favourite book-recommender Janssen from Everyday Reading recommended this on Instagram or in a blog post (I can’t remember which!), I knew that I had to get my hands on this graphic novel immediately. Then it won the Newbery and I was beyond antsy to read it. This book did not disappoint and graphic-novel lovers should pick this up ASAP. I loved Jordan’s very profound and mature observations of his new school. His parents were wonderful and so human. This book really represents how many of us feel in middle school, but even more so starting at a new private school and starting to fit in and find one’s place. Jordan’s friends were so fun and there were a lot of very humorous and unexpected plot twists in this book.

Themes of embracing diversity and reducing prejudice abound in this book but it is subtle enough to be totally approachable to middle-grade readers. My 8 year old also loved it though I imagine some of it went over her head.

I also read the sixth book in the Ravenels series, Chasing Cassandra (it was SO good and potentially my new favourite), Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, The BFG with the kiddos, Lauren Layne’s newest, Yours in Scandal, which comes out today, and a few other books for Erin’s challenge. I’m currently reading The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel, When we Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal, and still slowly making my way through The Poisonwood Bible.

TL;DR: Add Lovely War, What You Wish For (out July 14!), Where the Forest Meets the Stars (on Kindle Unlmited!), and Just Mercy to your list ASAP!!