The.ReadingNook

Pub Date: April 20, 2021
I adored this one! It was so beautifully illustrated and the concept of focusing on women authors of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries - who pioneered the lit scene for women - was fantastic. I enjoyed learning more about authors such as Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, and the Bronte sisters. The format is that of which each woman is celebrated with a summary of what inspired her to write, followed by graphics that depict a pivotal moment in her life. This book explores women and their untold histories, including: “The success of Little Women, the diary of the ‘first modern lesbian,' Austen's struggle with writer's block, and the forgotten mother of the gothic genre” (@netgalley). Highly recommend this book! Overall, I gave it 4.5/5 Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Happy pub day to I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are by Rachel Bloom, star and writer of the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and thanks to Grand Central Pub for the complimentary review copy. This hilarious, witty memoir follows Rachel from her prepubescent years up to June of this year, on her quest to debunk normalcy. Her writing style is very relaxed and relatable - it reminds me of real-life conversations I'd have with my BFF. I thoroughly enjoyed her collection of essays and poems, some of which were more far-fetched than others. And can we talk about the Babysitters Club-esque cover and the Little Mermaid play on words title??? Love it. Especially the baby pink cover. The one thing I will say is that some serious topics were discussed in non-serious ways - which is to be expected - but some essays felt like bad essay prompts (the essay written out as a musical was not my favorite, but discussing unhealthy relationships as a fairytale was fun and intriguing). Overall, I rated this book 3.5 ⭐️

I give this book 3⭐️. I'm so torn over how I feel about it. Based off of the synopsis I was expecting a thriller. However, the synopsis didn't really match how the book played out. I was left wanting so much more from the plot; it was like a slow burn, with much left to be desired. The writing style itself was also not really for me - there's mixed POVs and sometimes, it was overly-descriptive. I read another review that compared this book to Jordan Peele's “Us”: a white couple and their two kids are in an Airbnb in the Hampton's, when the elderly black homeowners unexpectedly arrive at the home declaring an emergency in New York City, insisting they return to their home. It was, however, an interesting take on race, age and class. Again, the synopsis was promising but it didn't seem to deliver (at least not up to my expectations).

It's safe to say that this book is a roller coaster of emotions - from heartache to warm, fuzzy good-for-you feelings, this story has me hooked. I loved the first P.S. I Love You book and the premise of the story, and this sequel is not disappointing me yet. Holly discovers through this journey and revisiting the letters Gerry had left her, that the experience is much more rewarding than she could have imagined. Highly recommend this to those who adored Gerry and Holly's love story, or for those looking for a good heartwarming plot.

3.5/5 Stars

First off, I RACED to snag this as my Book of the Month once I saw that the author is Bryn Greenwood- author of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, which I adored. Seriously, it's one of my top reads of 2019 thus far. However, I wasn't as big of a fan of The Reckless Oath We Made. The synopsis on the book cover (it is different than the one Goodreads lists) does not give the reader an accurate idea of what the book is about, so I honestly went into this story with a skewed expectation. For example, I was unaware that Gentry is autistic until we're introduced to his family during the story.

Regardless, this is definitely a “modern-day fairytale” so-to-speak. Gentry is called upon to be Lady Zorzha's champion, as he is a knight - equipped with armor and jousting matches. Upon learning that Zee's sister LaReigne has been kidnapped, Gentry comes to Zee's aide and makes an oath that he will protect her as her champion. Cue the involvement of Zee's ex-con uncle who connects with his ties to the KKK to assist Zee in finding - and rescuing - her sister. Gentry, of course, accompanies Zee on her journey.

A few things stuck out to me, then stuck with me as I read. For starters, we can absolutely not ignore Gentry's dialect. His sentences are crafted as “My lady. If thou wilt allow me to help thee,” all throughout the book. It is quite difficult to adjust to, and I skimmed through some of Gentry's POV chapters because the dialect was really not jiving with me. But, as the book continued on I grew more and more accustomed to his speak and it became a bit easier to figure out what was going on (there are some key things that the reader uncovers through Gentry's POV that I skimmed over, and ultimately, missed until a following chapter). However, I give Greenwood a hell of a lot of credit for writing full chapters in that f'ing dialect. Incredible. In addition to the dialect struggle, I felt that some of the story was breezed over. Not to spoil anything, but after the trip Zee & Gentry take to Missouri, the remainder of the story just skims over some of the conflicts that built up over the first 300 pages. It felt somewhat inconclusive, and I wish there was more context provided.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you're into fantasy of sorts and a twisty-bit of romance. However, be far-warned that the dialect is difficult to wrap your head around, especially right off the bat.

4/5 Stars

This book was such an emotional journey. I loved it from start to finish. We're introduced to two sisters - Lily and Jess - from the very start. Jess catches Lily sneaking out of the spare bedroom, where she was told not to go. Jess then pokes her head in the spare room and witnesses something that changes the course of her and Lily's relationship for the next 28 years.

As the reader, we spend the following 300 pages trying to uncover the truth about what happened that morning 28 years earlier. This secret that Jess has kept has not only affected her relationship with her sister, but has kept both of their teenage daughters from meeting, and has put a strain on their mother Audrey, who we learn is ill. Audrey puts her needs to the side as her dying wish is for her two daughters to reconcile their differences and mend their broken relationship.

This book reminded me a lot of the show This Is Us: it's a mix of family, drama, love, friendship, and grief, plus it pulls at every one of your heartstrings. As I said, this was a pretty emotional book so prepare to have some tissues handy. The book is so compassionately written and has such a fulfilling ending. I loaned this book to a friend, and she too loved this - she finished it in just two days! I would recommend this over and over, especially to those who love a good tug at the heart.

3/5 Stars

I have a lot of mixed thoughts surrounding this book. I really take well to books that give you a real sense of what a different culture is like; I love feeling immersed in the culture and grasping a sense of customs, environment and traditions. In that sense, I loved it. Nods to Caribbean mythological creatures and traditional foods were weaved throughout. I also throughly appreciated the plot of the story. The “Golden Child” obviously refers to Peter. It's heartbreaking, really, how the plot plays out in the end. The sacrifices the family makes in order to provide Peter with the life they envision him having and the success that awaits him, are tragic. It was distressing to see Paul as the outcast and the lack of faith in him as a person, especially by his own father. It's clear that Clyde is disappointed in Paul, referring to him regularly as “retarded.” I won't say too much about the ending of the book, but know that you should mentally prepare yourself for heartache and betrayal.

Unfortunately, I felt as though the pace of this book was relatively slow. It started out promising, with Paul missing, and from there back-tracked to Paul & Peter's childhood. The childhood piece I felt was too drawn out. I didn't feel as though I was truly interested in the book again until about 175 pages in (the book is 260 pages). I also felt as though there were too many characters introduced in a short span of time. I caught myself referencing back to previous pages to refresh myself on who is who.

Again, I did enjoy the overall plot of the book and the tragedy & betrayal that unfolds in the end. However, it took a lot of “fluff” to get to the meat & potatoes. It's because of this that I'd rate this book a 3/5 stars.

4/5 Stars

Coming out of 2018, one of my favorite reads was The Wife Between Us, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkan. I mean I loved this book. So upon choosing my Book of the Month for December, I jumped at the chance to get An Anonymous Girl.

This story follows Jessica, a 28-year-old makeup artist who, quite frankly, is not the most financially stable. In fact, she's struggling pretty hard with money. When one of her more privileged clients shrugs off the opportunity to collect the $500 from a psych study, Jessica immediately crafts a plan to obtain the place in the study and ultimately, the money. Claiming that the original participant sent her as a replacement, Jessica finds herself in a 2-hour-long study calling for 18-32-year-old women. She figures by completing a few questions, that she will collect the money and go on her merry way. However, the questionnaire isn't as peachy keen as she anticipated. The questions start to become more invasive, more personalized to her experiences. Jessica definitely has that weird gut feeling that something is a bit...off about the questionnaire but she brushes it off, hopeful upon completion.

Soon after completion of the study, she is invited back to complete a follow-up portion. The study continues, and soon she is tasked with dressing a certain way, acting a certain way, etc. all as part of the “study”. What Jessica does not know is that Dr. Shields has taken a personal leave from work to focus only on her; that she's being used as bait for Dr. Shields's own relationship insecurities. As Jessica starts to get deeper into Dr. Shields's confines, she starts to question whether or not she can trust the doctor's motives or not.

Now this story definitely kept me flipping through pages. (Fun fact: this was also my first completed read of 2019!). Hendricks and Pekkan sure do know how to craft an eerie thriller. Again, I tend to compare a good thriller to Lifetime movies (I know that does not say much for some, but there's definitely some eerie thrillers on Lifetime). I liked that within the first 100 pages, Dr. Shields's creepiness and darker motives started to surface. I felt as though the pace of this book was spot-on; there was not too many slower points, or points where I felt as though the authors skimmed over any significant details. I did, however, find myself lost at one or two points when there was references to the past “victim”. If I were to recommend one of this duo's books, it would definitely be The Wife Between Us.

3/5 Stars

Nine strangers set out to a remote health and wellness resort searching for a 10-day transformative experience. Some are looking to lose weight, some are seeking relationship help, and others can't quite figure out what they're looking for...

The charismatic and peculiar owner/director of the resort, Masha's approach to healing and wellness is a bit....original to say the least, and leaves guests doubtful. However, Masha has this trance about her that seems to virtually brainwash not only her right and left-hand wingmen, but eventually the guests seem to take to it, too.

I felt as though this story should have left out the “nine” strangers and narrowed it down to the “six” that Moriarty focused on most. We have Frances Welty, romance novelist who arrives at Tranquillum House broken-hearted and a bit skeptical. Ben and Jessica Chandler are seeking marriage counseling after a lottery win sparks a plastic-surgery binge for Jessica, and a love for a new car on Ben's end. Then we have Heather, Napoleon and Zoe Marconi, the seemingly happy family that is still grieving the loss of their son.

As the reader, I had a solid grasp on the above characters' thoughts, backgrounds, and feelings. I felt as though I understood the characters and could successfully do that picturing-in-my-head thing of what the characters are like. The remaining characters, Lars Lee - a divorce attorney, Carmel Schneider - a woman with a major resentment of the new relationship her ex-husband has with a younger woman, and Tony Hogburn - a former professional athlete, seem as though they're supporting characters. I think it irks me that I didn't get to know these three as well simply because the whole basis of the book is surrounding nine strangers embarking on a wellness journey under the watch of Ms. Masha.

Additionally, I felt as though I was waiting for something that just never happened. When I finished the book I thought “that's it?”. I was quite honestly disappointed. I read so many great things about this book and when I saw it was an option for my Book of the Month I hopped at the chance to get this, but I was left wanting more and I hate feeling that way after finishing a book! I will say that one thing I appreciated is that Moriarty gave post-resort updates on all nine characters and I love knowing how life has played out for characters (in any book, TV show, movie, etc.) after-the-fact.

Did I dislike this book? No. Did I love this book? Also no. I would recommend other awesome books before this one.

4/5 Stars

Australian art teacher Kimberly Leamy is approached by an American accountant, claiming that she is Sammy Went, a two-year-old child abducted from her home in Mason, Kentucky. Convinced that the man has mistaken her for someone else, Kim brushes off the encounter. But there is something about the man's persistence that has her investigating her family's past. Soon secrets are unearthed, and Kim finds herself in Mason, KY searching for answers.

I was so incredibly lucky to have won an Advance Reader Copy (this title released on January 22, 2019) of The Nowhere Child from Minotaur Books publishing(!!!) and I never win anything, so this was a pretty big deal. I was, at the time, reading a different book so I put this guy to the side. I honestly was a bit hesitant about starting this book! I kept bringing it with me on my commute to and from work, but I just could not bring myself to open it! I think it was a serious fear of the unknown. I had never heard of this author and I had no idea what was in store. Also, since I won the book I was nervous that I wouldn't like it, because then I'd feel bad, because I felt that I was almost obligated to like it. But that's just me creating scenarios out of virtually nothing. Anyway, I'm so happy to report that I finally cracked open this book (after a week of a good stare down) and well...I wasn't able to put it down. I finished this book in three days. THREE. That's pretty dang good considering it was during the week, which is when I don't have as much time to read!

The story starts off getting right to the point. I mean within the first few pages, Kim has already been confronted by this man. The American who confronts her reveals that for 26 years, he has been searching for Sammy Went, approaching many women who turn out to be a case of mistaken identity. Kim cannot begin to fathom the idea of the woman she knows as her mother, to cross international borders with a kidnapped child in tow. However, that little voice in her head keeps telling her that it is quite odd that this man is thoroughly convinced of her true identity. Going with her gut feeling, Kim starts to unearth secrets - secrets that have been kept for 26 years.

Flashback to April of 1990, where Jack and Molly Went's youngest child goes missing. Already an estranged couple, the vanishing of their daughter stretches Jack and Molly's thinner and thinner. Molly finds solace in her cult-like church. This particular religious group that Molly belongs to plays a major part in the story. To be honest, there were a few moments when I felt myself getting a bit bored of the references and explanations of some practices, but there's all relevance in the info provided. Trust. But that's besides the point. White consistently presents flashbacks to 1990, where the reader is taken on a journey through the Went's life and the turmoil that ensued after Sammy went missing.

I love how White connects the past to the present consistently throughout the story; it takes away all of the guesswork while reading. Additionally, there's little “twists” that seem rather minuscule in the moment, but then factor in quite heavily in another part further down the timeline. I was more than satisfied with this book, and especially with how the ending transpired, and I was genuinely blindsided by the plot twist at the very end! Trust me, what you think you know, is not what you know! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves some good suspense.

10/10 would recommend this especially for those who've suffered the loss of a loved one! This is beautifully written for those who are struggling with the grieving process. I personally was drawn to this book because after my dad passed away 5 years ago, I developed severe anxiety. This book thoughtfully walks you through such a sensitive topic, supported by personal testimonies and personal development prompts. I was a bit nervous to read this because it is such an emotional, sensitive topic for me; I went through each chapter and completed the prompts and genuinely feel as though I have a better understanding of my own grieving process.

3.5/5 Stars

I feel as though Stephen King books are either a solid hit or a solid miss. The Outsider, however, was the first Stephen King book I read where my overall thoughts & feelings on the story were just very...neutral. Let me break down what I enjoyed and what I was not so much enjoyed:

Likes:
The idea of the “Outsider” was a really cool, unique idea that really only Stephen King could concoct.

The characters - I like how well-liked men of their communities were the main target, and were the ones that stood trial.

I liked the connection between Heath Holmes and Terry Maitland, one that came deep in the story.

The element of sci-fit that Stephen King can so tastefully intertwine into a thriller. The characters themselves were acknowledging the fact that the supernatural is unbelievable, which made this seem more realistic as opposed to a far-out-there idea.

I always enjoy how Stephen King weaves in characters and little “Easter Eggs” that are a nod to his past work. In this case, Holly Gibney is a character that comes into play about halfway through the book - she is actually a main character in the End of Watch book I reviewed (read that review here!).

Now that I have discussed some positives that really stuck with me throughout, let's pinpoint some dislikes, which ultimately drove the review from a 5-Starrer to the 3.5 mark (which, by the way, is above average!).


Dislikes:
The book started to drag about 3/4 of the way through, as Detective Anderson, Holly and crew worked to find this perpetrator before he gets ahold of victim #3. I felt as though some parts were unnecessary and wordy.

Too many characters. There is a good host of characters in this story, but there's too many to really follow and get to know. I usually enjoy books with less characters and more time/info/mannerisms to get to know them as if he or she is real.

Some unacknowledged “leads”. I swore swore swore that Bill Samuels was going to have something more to do with the murders, because there were notes here & there of his odd mannerisms.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Stephen King, as you folks have a greater love for his lengthy, character-dense stories. However, if this book would be your first Stephen King novel, I would suggest maybe starting off with something smaller. I really loved End of Watch and I heard Elevation is great.

3/5 Stars

The May Mothers. That's what they call themselves. A group of women who joined together through an online forum, all with due dates in the month of May. They meet weekly at the same park, under the same tree to talk about their babies, their pregnancy, and motherhood. Channeling their pre-baby social lives, some of the women agree to meet at a local bar for a Mom's Night Out. But this MNO takes a turn for the worse when one of the mother's babies goes missing from his crib. Cue the media. Bashing the mothers for “abandoning” their babies at home and stirring up any tidbits of information they can get their hands on to paint the women in a negative light. Mothers Francie, Nell and Collette take matters into their own hands to help solve the mystery of what happened to baby Midas.

One thing I would say that I appreciated most about this book is the way in which the reader really got to know the main characters' personalities and backgrounds. I truly felt as though I had a solid grasp on what the characters are like and how Molloy wanted to portray them. I caught myself sighing, saying “really, Nell would do that!,” almost as if I knew them myself. I will say that I was mislead a few times (although I've found that I'm not the best detective when it comes down to who-done-its), and that the ending was not my favorite. 1) The Mastermind behind the abduction came out of left field and I was genuinely surprised because this person was barely mentioned throughout the book. Also, there's excerpts - almost like thought bubbles - where the narrative switches to first person and the narrator is unknown...until the very end of the book. And 2) the Epilogue almost reminded me of the last scene in Mean Girls - when Cady is looking at the new Plastics and breathing a sigh of relief. Almost as though she paved the way and these newbies don't know what's in store for them.

I heard a lot of mixed reviews on this book. Some loved it while others had wishy-washy opinions on it. Was this my favorite book? No, not really. But was it my least favorite book? Also no, not really. I would rate this a solid 3/5.

3.5/5 Stars

Honestly, I was torn between Look for Me and one other book at Barnes & Noble and the synopsis for this one really won me over. Upon further research, Look for Me is the ninth(!) part of a series by Lisa Gardner. Gardner's Find Her - which precedes Look for Me - introduces us to Flora Dane. I was completely unaware that this is a series but since I enjoyed this book, I will be sure to check out Find Her and the other 7 books. Anyway, I'm a sucker for a good thriller and Gardner certainly delivered. There's a lot of motive, trauma and relationships that give the reader a chance to play “detective”. I will say that there are quite a few players in this game, and their paths intertwine often so it's key to pay attention as some important details could be an oversight. However, the million dollar question remains: is Roxanna Baez a victim or is she the perpetrator?

I became engrossed in the family's troubled past, stemming from mother Juanita Baez's alcoholism which lands her children in a year of foster care. The young children suffer levels of abuse in foster care, and moving back to the area where they spent their time in foster care opens up a door to rebellion and sought-after revenge. I like that Gardner sheds a light on the foster care system, as well as the real consequences one suffering from alcoholism and/or drug addiction can face.

In terms of the mystery itself, D.D. Warren and appointed CI Flora are the front runners that really drive the case; D.D. almost taking a back seat to Flora's lead. It's interesting to see how different perspectives driven by different motives can lead to very opposite but also very similar ideas of what happened to the Baez family. Flora's survival instincts are key in keeping the case moving forward. Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed is that Gardner included those key survivalistic techniques, which I noted myself.

I find it intriguing that the story is written in multiple points of view: Flora being the sole First Person P.O.V., Warren in the Third Person, and Roxanna through personal essays titled The Perfect Family as well as the Third Person. I wondered why it is that Gardner decided upon that style of writing rather than have all main characters' stories in the First Person, but now that I know Flora was introduced in the preceding book I feel as though Gardner did it to make Flora and her post-kidnapping life a main focus of her moving forward, and what struggles real-life survivors could face.

I enjoyed the clues and different leads from both Warren's and Dane's points of view - being that they were driven by different motives - as well as the “hidden” past Roxanna and Lola faced in foster care, which the reader learns about through Roxanna's essays. I love that Gardner kept the reader guessing as to who the hell the “mystery shooter” is. She constantly throws out little stories and flashbacks that make you second guess your theories. I will say, however, that as I neared the end of the book it became a bit predictable and my theory of who the suspect is ended up proving to be true.

All in all, this book kept me turning pages; I finished within 5 days and with my semi-busy schedule, finishing a book in less than a week has been a rarity for me lately. I would say that the book as a standalone is great; knowing that it is just one of a 9-part crime series speaks to my Nancy Drew-loving middle school self and I'll be sure to check out the other installments in the series. Although I wouldn't say that this is my all-time favorite read or even my favorite read of the year, I would recommend it.

2.5/5 Stars

One Folgate Street is not your ordinary home. It comes with a very specific set of rules that the occupant MUST adhere to - no questions asked. Edward Monkford - owner and architect of One Folgate - carefully chooses the occupants and is quite frankly, a sociopath. He's insanely controlling and has a pattern of seducing the occupants and falling in love with them. This book got quite erotic quite quickly and I honestly was not prepared for it. It was like 50 Shades of Gray-esque with a hint of thriller, but not a healthy mix of both. It was like a roller coaster of sexually innuendos and, well, sex that heightened toward the middle of the story and then faded out toward the end of the book. I was actually a bit bashful reading this, as 1) I'm not too into eroticas and 2) I was sitting on the train reading this during my commute and I swore the commuters next to me were reading over my shoulder, judging me. However, I did appreciate the thriller aspect of this, as I typically do in my bookish picks. There was a touch of mystery and suspense, as we try to piece together what had happened to Emma. I would say that this was a quick read, being that it flipped between characters Jane and Emmas' POVs quite frequently. However, I was not blown away by the writing or the overall story. I felt as though there were a lot of loose threads and that the story just kind of ended. There was a minor plot twist right at the very end, but not the kind of plot twist that blows your socks off, just an “oh interesting” type twist. Overall I don't say that this would be in my top 5 recommendations to anyone, whatever the preference.

4.5/5 Stars

This book. Ok, so Stephen King is a genius. But I'm pretty sure most people know that by now, amiright? End of Watch was such a well-crafted, twisty/turny psychological thriller/sci-fi mix of a book. AGAIN, I chose a book that I found out after-the-fact, is part of a series. This one in particular is part of a trilogy. Anyway, this book was a page-turner. Honestly, when I started off reading it I was a bit skeptical and everyone kept telling me how amazing this book was so I powered on despite my skepticism (OK, so I was skeptical only after the first three pages but STILL) and I'm so glad I did. I just started a new job in the city so that means a lot of commuting time on the train back and forth, so I have plenty of time to read (yay!). I finished this book within in four days of commuting! I couldn't put it down.

Brady Hartsfield, donned the “Mercedes Killer” comes out of a vegetative state after a world-renowned doctor starts giving him experimental medication over the course of a few years - years after his mass killing in City Center. Although when Brady emerges from this comatous state, he has special abilities: he has the power of telekinesis and the ability to take control of other peoples' bodies and minds. Sounds crazy, right? I did say that this had some sci-fi to it. Brady Hartsfield is also known as the “Suicide Prince,” which is a bit morbid TBH but that's what he's notoriously obsessed with. I feel like if I even give a bit of info about Zappits - this old-school handheld game console - and his relation to them that I will give away some twists and turns, but know that these Zappits are directly linked to Brady and these mysterious suicides that are a recurring theme throughout the book. Despite efforts from both he and his partner Holly, Detective (Kermit) William Hodges will stop at nothing to take Brady down for good. My boyfriend is a die-hard Stephen King fan and I love me some Stephen King myself, and when I read this synopsis one day at Barnes & Noble I immediately took note of the title, and promised myself that I had to read it! It for sure did not disappoint. Like I said, I read roughly about 100 pages a day, before I finished. I would highly recommend this book. I'm not too much of a sucker for sci-fi or fantasy, but there are a few books that I love that have the element of fantasy weaved in, and this 100% makes the cut. I wish this was a movie, honestly. But I would assume the ongoing theme of suicide would limit this to a book-only story. Just know that Stephen King never disappoints.

My heart went on such a rollercoaster while reading this book. My heart swelled as Autumn navigated high school and getting to know herself and love. But my heart also broke for her multiple times throughout the story as well. I loved both Finny and Autumn as the main characters!!! There was such great character development. This was a beautiful coming of age that explored a lot of young love and friendship. I've always heard good things about this book and it did not disappoint! 4.5 stars!

Everyone talks about romantic love stories but what about the love story between two best friends? You know, the one with tremendous amounts of love and support, but also with fights and heartbreak? Firefly Lane does exactly that. This story follows Katie and Tully's ups and downs spanning their 30+ year relationship as best friends. God this book was wonderful. I loved the characters, the plot, the writing. Everything. It made me want to go hug my best friend (of over 20 years). This one gets 5 stars, no doubt.

So, I love a good animal story and this just pulls at my heartstrings. This is book #2 for the year thus far, and I absolutely loved it!! I love that a) it's a true story and b) that Dean found purpose in a rescued kitten. Ugh it's just so cute! Bonus - there's pictures in the book too! Love seeing pics in books based on true stories; it just puts everything you imagine into real life.  I also added @1bike1world on Instagram because how could I not continue to follow these two and their journey?! Anyway, if you're into stories about pets (dogs, cats, horses, fish, ya know?) I'd definitely suggest picking this one up! 

Dedicated a couple of hours to plow through the remaining 200 pages of this book and all I can say is holy cannoli. Such an intense, suspenseful plot with some great character development. I loved how strong the main character, Gwen (formerly Gina), is. Forreal. This woman is a bad asssss. This storyline was exhilarating and I found myself not wanting to put this down. I had my suspicions of who the “bad guy” was - it wasn't too hard to figure out - but it didn't feel as though the book was “ruined” by figuring it out before it's unveiled in the story. Makes me a little weirded out knowing that it was reiterated that serial killers put on a good front...😵‍💫.  However, I give this book 5⭐️! 10/10 would recommend if you're looking for a thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seat! Now on to the next 4 in the series...

“Falling in love is the easy part” Man, this was a great book. It pulled at all the heartstrings and really allowed me to reflect on my own past love.  It was actually a bit triggering for me in the beginning, as I - at one point - was on a break with someone that I loved and didn't know how it would end. The fear of the unknown set in and the heartache was so real.  I truly felt for Lauren and Ryan as they navigated a year apart; how they discovered the important of making a marriage work.  I enjoyed how Reid really captured the emotions that come with love. That come with separating from the one you love. That come with finding yourself.  I also love how Lauren re-discovered the importance of her family, and the relationships she strengthened with her mother, Rachel, Charlie, and her grandmother.  This was such a heartfelt book and definitely had me in my feeeeeeels.  It was also a great reminder, with love, to “give it everything you got”. ♥️