Review: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I often struggle with thrillers these days … I used to be a big thriller reader but I’ve read less and less over time. My reason for this change is that I’m often frustrated by how formulaic they often are. At some point, I get frustrated with the same story over and over with a ‘twist’ that I can solve pretty easily myself. Under normal circumstances, I would have probably skipped this one but after seeing so many readers I trust review it positively and hearing an interview with the author, I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad that I did. This was a solid psychological suspense thriller. I didn’t want to put this one down. The plot moved along so well that it was a ‘one more chapter’ read for me! I didn’t find myself second guessing ‘whodunnit’ the whole book because the story itself was interesting enough in and of itself. Ultimately, I really liked how the book wrapped up. I found it to be a refreshing take on this sort of story. I love the idea of a child psychologist with agoraphobia and its impact on her life – that was really interesting and gave me quite a bit to think about. All in all, I really liked this one. I’m eager to see what’s to come from this author!

Bookish Quote of the Week

This quote really speaks to me ... I can't imagine my life without books and reading. They are such a huge part of my day-to-day life that it truly isn't optional for me. It's a required activity that I don't want to even imagine my life without. I have a really hard time understanding people who don't read on a regular basis. My husband and my best friend are not readers and it's really hard for me to relate to that aspect of their life. Not reading for me would be the equivalent of not eating. Reading is just part of who I am.

And so ... my question for you is ...

What about you? Is reading optional for you? 

Review: The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been hearing about this book for MONTHS and the praise has been everywhere. This book is pretty straightforward … four siblings visit a fortune teller and she tells them the exact date of each of their deaths. The rest of the book reveals the lives of each sibling and how knowing the exact date of their deaths impacts them. I found the novel to be a great way to explore the idea of fate and whether or not knowing when our life will end has an impact on how we live that life. My husband was told by a fortune teller how old he’d be when he died and he’s convinced that she was right after she shared other things that there is no way she could have known. I’m not sure I buy into that but it’s been interesting to see how he’s reacted to that information. Reading this book was really enlightening. It made me think about my feelings about fate and creating your own life and/or death. I didn’t love this one nearly as much as some of my reader friends. But, I did enjoy it and I’m glad I read it. I really enjoyed learning more about each of the siblings and their journeys. I definitely recommend it and think it might make a great book club book as it could bring up some interesting conversations about life and death.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book that I’ve been hearing about since the moment it was released. It’s gotten so much buzz that I was almost hesitant to read it because it might not meet up to my expectations. But, I’m so glad that I finally read this one! It’s fantastic! One of those books that everyone should read – it explores some very current topics in a very thoughtful and engaging way. Thought provoking, heart-wrenching and totally captivating is the only way I can describe this book and how it made me feel. The characters were outstanding and Angie Thomas excels at exploring the complexity of the dynamics between them. This is the best of what Young Adult can offer to readers of all ages – a story that feels true to young adults but also doesn’t talk down to the adolescent reader. The communities that the main character, Starr, has to navigate are so well portrayed – her private school full of wealthy white students and her inner-city neighborhood. Her relationships with people from all of those communities make a really strong statement about how some people in this world are forced to navigate a variety of communities which often contradict one another. It gave me a new perspective on what it must be like to be black in America today – I have had exposure to much of this due to current events but this book made it particularly clear to me in new ways. I could write for days about this book but I really think it’s a book anyone and everyone should read, especially given the race and socio-economic realities of life in America. I highly recommend this one to adolescents and adults alike. This is a book that will help you better understand the things you’re seeing in the news and in pop culture. Don’t miss out on it!

Review: Red Clocks by Leni Zumas

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I struggled a bit with this rating – my feelings fall somewhere between 3 and 4 stars but I rounded up because I ultimately felt that it was an interesting exploration of women’s rights and the impact to life and liberty. Given our current political climate, the various pieces and parts of this novel are particularly scary as they constitute the hopes (and plans) of many conservatives in America. This is a dystopian novel that posits a world where abortion is illegal, in vitro fertilization is banned and a Personhood Amendment grants rights of life, liberty, and property to every embryo. The story is told through the experiences of five women in one community and how these new realities impact them. I found this book to be rather unsettling – I think that was perhaps because of how close to home this book is to what’s happening politically in America but it also came from the fact that this novel focused so much on the small, day to day aspects of the narrative.

Although I’m glad that I read this novel, it was not a perfect book. The writing style never completely connected with me as a reader. It felt choppy and cloudy in some way. It made it more challenging for me to connect with the women in the novel. But, I was able to overlook some of these aspects given that the rest of the novel really did resonate with me. The one thing that made a huge impression on me is the fact that the effect of complacency had on where the story went – it reinforced the need for political commitment by all of us. The cautionary tale in this novel is scary – and it should be. We lose when we ignore the signs … when we assume that certain things won’t ever happen. They can and do happen. We need to keep our eye on these cultural and political issues that can impact all of us so much.

I definitely think this book is worth reading but do know that the language and writing style may not connect with you. It’s something I’ve heard from a number of my bookish friends about this book. However, I do think it’s a good book that will remind you how important it is that we engage politically and not just let things happen.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Hard To Stay by S. Jones

Hard To Stay by S. Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy a good story about a woman in a bad relationship who is working to find her way to a better one. But, they can be tricky to make work. I really enjoyed this story of Lexi and Brad – how they meet, come to care for one another and ultimately make their way together. The controlling ex who won’t leave her alone and how Brad’s protective instinct is to take care of her was really strong in this novel. It didn’t feel superficial or even fake. It felt very real and honest. Lexi’s strength and desire to make a new life for herself really engaged me. The story had just enough drama and angst but not so much as to get in the way of the actual love story. Although this is the second in a series, it truly felt like a stand-alone. I didn’t even realize it was a series until after I finished it. I really enjoyed this one and hope to read more of S. Jones’ work in the future.

NOTE: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for an honest review.

Review: Best of Luck by Jill Sanders

Best of Luck by Jill Sanders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m generally a fan of romances that involve celebrities AND that involve stories of forbidden love – this one definitely delivers on both of those tropes. This is the third book in the Lucky series but I don’t feel like I missed anything by coming in without having read the first two. This definitely can be read as a stand-alone novel. This one was a sexy, fun, interesting romance. There is a suspense storyline that was done well but the romance aspect is what I enjoyed the most. I really liked Tom and Amber as a couple. It was interesting to see them navigate the complexities of their relationship. I love that Amber is so independent and confident. She forces uncomfortable conversations which was enjoyable to see in a romantic heroine. All in all, this was a really good read for me. I haven’t read a lot of Jill Sanders but I definitely will be picking up more soon!

NOTE: I received this book for free from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee

Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novel is beautiful inside and out. The cover on this one is absolutely stunning and the content inside blew me away. I will admit that everything about this book screamed out to me – the exploration of mental illness and its impact on families is SO up my alley. I had some trepidation going in since books on this topic have certainly disappointed me in the past for lacking authenticity. But, this book may well be the best I’ve read about mental health issues. It’s quite raw and achingly beautiful. It’s not what I’d call a happy book … rather, it’s a book that will move you and help you see things in a new way.

As someone who suffers from major depression and has many people close to me (family and friends) with mental health issues ranging from anxiety to bipolar disorder to schizophrenia and more, this book really connected with me and my experiences with the people that I care about. The novel is about a woman named Lucia who descends into psychosis and how it impacts those who care for her. It’s a novel about mental illness but also about sisterhood, motherhood, finding your place in the world, and so much more. These themes are all explored so eloquently. There is a rawness to this novel and it brings the experience of loving someone with a mental illness to life in a way that I really connected with.

I am astounded by the fact that this is a debut novel. There are no false notes here … the writing is outstanding, the prose elegant, and the characters complex. I did not find any of the debut novel pitfalls that I often see in a writer’s early work – this book was just fantastic! I didn’t want it to end. This is definitely a book that I want to buy for my home library. I highly recommend this, especially if you’re interested in mental health issues. It’s a really good exploration of mental health through a beautiful story of family and love.

NOTE: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for free for an honest review.

Review: I Love You More by Josie Riviera

I Love You More by Josie Riviera
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a novella that I quite liked. It can be difficult for me to fully embrace novellas sometimes because it can be difficult to fully capture the characters and their story in a smaller amount of pages. I think this was a heartwarming novella that I found to be charming and immensely readable. I like that the story covered a variety of issues – adoption, custody, blended families, and cancer. I think they were all dealt with in a sensitive way but I only wish there had been more time for exploring them. That’s really my only issue with the novella – I wish there had been more time to spend with the characters and more time for the story to develop. It’s a good, solid novella but I think it could have been a wonderful full-length novel. It was a light read but it could have been much more nuanced. I enjoyed it but I just wish Josie Riviera had more time to explore the story.

NOTE: I received this book for free from the publisher for an honest review.

Bittersweet by Jacquie Underdown

Bittersweet by Jacquie Underdown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a really fantastic romance. It's very sweet and sentimental feeling as it really revolves around a family. There is a great deal of emotion in this one. It's not a funny book. It's an emotional and moving story. This is one that definitely made me cry ... ok, it made me sob. But, in a good way - in that way that a beautiful and moving story will tug at your heartstrings. Jacquie Underdown has written such a wonderful book that I highly recommend. It's not a fun or raunchy romance ... it's sweet and lovely. It was such a nice change of pace for me after reading a lot of less emotional romance lately. I really enjoyed this one and definitely recommend it.

NOTE: The publisher provided me an ARC copy of this book for an honest review

Infraction by Rachel Van Dyken

Infraction by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this romance and look forward to going back and reading the first book. And I'm eager for the 3rd book to come out since it will wrap up quite a bit that began with this novel. I've been reading a lot of romances with the overprotective brother trope so I was concerned this one would be just another book with that trope. And yet, Rachel Van Dyken really delivered a unique and interesting novel with this one. I thought the storyline was well done and the couple at the center was really well done. It has a little bit of it all - humor, romance, etc. I really enjoyed this couple and all of the characters surrounding them. I really liked the world that was created here and I can't wait to go back to visit!

NOTE: This ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

Bad for You by J. Daniels

Bad for You by J. Daniels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really loved this romance. The hero and heroine were outstanding! This one really excelled at the relationship development - this isn't a relationship that comes quickly or easily. Which makes it all the more satisfying to see where it goes. The hero is broken and complex. The heroine has such a compelling personality and story. The two of them together is just magic. This is a story that is heartwarming and full of hope. It doesn't wrap everything up perfectly as it feels more realistic than that to me. But, it's themes of redemption and healing are so beautifully done that I didn't want to put this book down. It's extremely readable and compelling! I hadn't read the first two books in this series but I don't feel as if I missed anything. I do want to go back and read the first two since this one was so fantastic!

NOTE: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for an honest review.

Long Shot by Kelly Jamieson

Long Shot by Kelly Jamieson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this series and this one did not disappoint! I've been looking forward to Cade's story and Kelly Jamieson definitely delivered an amazing story! Cade and Reese are a fantastic, multi-faceted couple. They are not in any way perfect. They are complex, struggling people who begin to help heal each other. I love Reece's dog and how that storyline was weaved into the overall story. Quite well written, expertly paced, great character development. It has all the elements of a good romance! This one grabbed me and swept me up. I did not want to put it down and yet I didn't want it to end. I don't think you have to read this series in order but I think you'll get a lot of extra enjoyment if you do! I definitely recommend this one! Happy reading!

This one comes out on February 27th so be sure to make a note to pick it up then!

Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Don't Go by Alexa Riley

Don’t Go by Alexa Riley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm struggling with this review a bit because I liked this one but I didn't connect with it nearly as much as some other reviewers. I liked the story overall and the characters but the story arc felt very rushed and there were issues with the pacing for me. I haven't read the earlier novels in this series and I felt like perhaps I was missing something by coming in at book 3. Apparently, the hero in this book is the child of the hero/heroine from an earlier book ... which may explain some of what the disconnect was for me. I'm not sure but that was how I felt as I finished. There was an abruptness to the storyline and how things wrap up. And so I didn't love this one quite as much as I'd hoped ... but, after reading reviews by others, I'm wondering if maybe that was partly about coming in without having read the earlier books. And, so, if you've read the For You series and enjoyed it, this may be the book for you! If not, perhaps give those a shot before picking this one up.


NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book for an honest review.

Changes Coming ...

You are going to be seeing a number of changes here on the blog as I try to be a bit more present here and make sure I have a variety of content here for all of you! I tend to focus on reviews but I'd like to give you all MORE! You'll be seeing more variety as well as more frequent posts!

I don't know about you but I love quotes ... especially quotes about my favorite thing ... BOOKS! So, let's get this new phase of the blog started with one of my favorite quotes by Anne Lamott. Please comment and let me know if there are specific things you'd like to see me do here on the blog! I'm excited to see where this can go!