Things to Do When It's Raining: A review

From Goodreads: When secrets tear love apart, can the truth mend it?

Mae Summers and Gabriel Broadbent grew up together in the idyllic Summers’ Inn, perched at the edge the St. Lawrence river. Mae was orphaned at the age of six and Gabe needed protection from his alcoholic father, so both were raised under one roof by Mae’s grandparents, Lilly and George. A childhood friendship quickly developed into a first love—a love that was suddenly broken by Gabe’s unexpected departure. Mae grew up, got over her heartbreak, and started a life for herself in New York City.

After more than a decade, Mae and Gabe find themselves pulled back to Alexandria Bay. Hoping to find solace within the Summers’ Inn, Mae instead finds her grandparents in the midst of decline and their past unravelling around her. A lifetime of secrets stand in the way of this unconventional family’s happiness. Will they be able to reclaim the past and come together, or will they remain separate islands?

My thoughts: I had a hard time with this one. I was really intrigued by the synopsis, title, and cover image, but it just fell short for me. Characters are integral to me, and I like a good flawed character, but I didn't like any of these characters. They all seemed to ruminate for years over things they did, or things that were done to them. So much so that it completely affected every aspect of their lives. I had a hard time connecting to anyone in the story, which is important to me as a reader.  

I was really confused for the first few chapters, too, because so many characters were introduced at once. I often forgot whose perspective I was reading from. There were two characters with names that started with 'V', and I kept confusing the two. 

I did really like the setting. The river played a big part and definitely felt like a character at times. The cover leads you to believe the story will be optimistic and sunny, but in reality it was kind of dark and dreary. I like when the atmosphere interacts with characters and becomes one itself. 

I ended up rating this 3 out of 5. It was a decent story, but just not the right one for me. I still think it's worth a read, though. I really wanted to like this one more than I did. 

A free digital copy of this book was provided by Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. 

I have a weird relationship with Colleen Hoover’s books. On one hand, I usually enjoy them because they’re very compelling and readable, however, on the other hand, there can be problematic elements in them that make me question why I keep reading these books. I didn’t find Without Merit as compelling as I hoped I would, and it left a bit to be desired.

 

Merit is kissed by a boy who shakes her whole world, unfortunately, she’s pretty sure he’s the boyfriend of her twin. The twin she’s really not that close with. She’s not very close with anyone in her family because of something that occurred when she was a bit younger. There is a lot of build-up to the ‘event’ with her family, and it takes a while to find out why Merit and her family do not mesh very well. It’s a disturbing revelation when it’s finally revealed, too.

 

I found it hard to like any of the characters, and I didn’t connect to any of them, which is important to me. They were all either shallow, selfish, inconsiderate, or all three. They didn’t treat each other like a family should, and it bothered me when suddenly they were able to resolve all their issues.   There were a lot of issues in this book, but none of them were handled or resolved very well. This book tries to deal with divorce, suicide, incest, abuse, and that’s only a few of them. It just seemed like there was too much going on. I didn’t understand the addition of Luck, either. He didn’t add anything to the story. Can we please talk about the names in this book, too? Merit, Honor, Luck, Sagan, and Utah. It’s silly, but the names bothered me.

 

I will probably keep reading Hoover’s books, but this one fell short for me.  I read It Ends With Us recently by Hoover, and really enjoyed that one.

 

A copy of this book was provided by Simon and Schuster Canada, but as always opinions remain my own.

Review: The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti

From the publisher:
“Where did they come from? Why did they fall? The question would be asked a thousand times…

Until, of course, more important question arose, at which time everyone promptly forgot that a thousand birds fell on the town of Mount Oanoke at all.”

In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a thousand dead starlings fall onto a high school baseball field, unleashing a horrifying and unexpected chain of events that will rock the close-knit community.

Beloved baseball coach and teacher Nate Winters and his wife, Alecia, are well respected throughout town. That is, until one of the many reporters investigating the bizarre bird phenomenon catches Nate embracing a wayward student, Lucia Hamm, in front of a sleazy motel. Lucia soon buoys the scandal by claiming that she and Nate are engaged in an affair, throwing the town into an uproar…and leaving Alecia to wonder if her husband has a second life.

And when Lucia suddenly disappears, the police only to have one suspect: Nate.

Nate’s coworker and sole supporter, Bridget Harris, Lucia’s creative writing teacher, is determined to prove his innocence. She has Lucia’s class journal, and while some of the entries appear particularly damning to Nate’s case, others just don’t add up. Bridget knows the key to Nate’s exoneration and the truth of Lucia’s disappearance lie within the walls of the school and in the pages of that journal.

My thoughts: This was the perfect book to read this time of year. Kind of creepy, kind of atmospheric, and definitely intriguing. I haven't read Moretti's previous bestselling The Vanishing Year, so I was able to go into this novel without any expectations. This novel is told from four points of view, Nate (the accused), Alecia (Nate's wife), Bridget (Nate and Alecia's friend, and also Nate's co-worker), and Lucia (the missing teen), which means it is very character-driven. Personally, I love character-driven books. I love being able to get inside a character's head, and try to figure out why they act the way they do. I think it allows a unique perspective into the plot, as well.

I found some of the characters hard to like and trust. Nate came across as unintentionally pompous. He had to be liked by absolutely everybody, despite their feelings towards him. Alecia was a bit hard to like, too, but I was able to sympathize with her more than Nate. She didn't know what to believe, which I understood. How easy would it be to deny that your husband is capable of something so horrible? At the same time, how easy would it be to believe once you start finding what you think is undeniable evidence? It's not as easy as one would assume.

Lucia was easy to sympathize with, especially the more you got to know her. She was a teen with typical teen problems, but she also had a difficult home life. She was my favourite character, and I wish we had more from her perspective. I loved her journal entries, and think she was very intelligent. She is accused of being a witch, and you can certainly understand why as you read the novel.

There was a lot going on in this novel, but it all fits together by the end and I loved that you never really knew who to trust. The ending was not what I expected, but I was happy with it. I rated this one 3.5 out of 5 stars, and would highly recommend it to people who love character-driven mysteries.

A copy of this book was provided by Simon and Schuster Canada, but as always, opinions are my own.

Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta

From the publisher: Eve Fletcher is trying to figure out what comes next. A forty-six-year-old divorcee whose beloved only child has just left for college, Eve is struggling to adjust to her empty nest when one night her phone lights up with a text message. Sent from an anonymous number, the mysterious sender tells Eve, “U R my MILF!” Over the months that follow, that message comes to obsess Eve. While leading her all-too-placid life—serving as Executive Director of the local senior center by day and taking a community college course on Gender and Society at night—Eve can’t curtail her own interest in a porn website called MILFateria.com, which features the erotic exploits of ordinary, middle-aged women like herself. Before long, Eve’s online fixations begin to spill over into real life, revealing new romantic possibilities that threaten to upend her quiet suburban existence.

Meanwhile, miles away at the state college, Eve’s son Brendan—a jock and aspiring frat boy—discovers that his new campus isn’t nearly as welcoming to his hard-partying lifestyle as he had imagined. Only a few weeks into his freshman year, Brendan is floundering in a college environment that challenges his white-dude privilege and shames him for his outmoded, chauvinistic ideas of sex. As the New England autumn turns cold, both mother and son find themselves enmeshed in morally fraught situations that come to a head on one fateful November night.

My thoughts: Mrs. Fletcher is my first Perrotta book, and I'm not sure how I felt about it. Eve is struggling with her identity as a recent 'empty nester', and after getting the 'U R my MILF' text ends up on a porn site. I thought it was interesting how the text and site led her on such a sexual identity journey. There is definitely some satire in this novel, but it manages to be up to date on current social headlines. I thought there was a lot going on with Eve's character. Discovering your sexual identity is not a linear thing, but I think there was just too much going on. I also did not connect with her, and I know that's not important to some readers, but it is to me.

Brendan made me very angry. He was so privileged and spoiled and he had no idea. He did not treat women well, and once he's finally called out on it, he goes running back to his mom. I don't know if it's because I'm a mom to a son myself (mind you, he's one so not the same) but I was very frustrated by most of Brendan's behaviour and I found his chapters difficult to read.

In the end I rated this 3 out of 5 stars. It definitely wasn't horrible, and I liked the way it made me question some of my own ideas, but it wasn't my favourite. I was a fan of the side characters more than the two Fletchers, and wanted more of their stories.

Good read, but not my favourite.

I received a copy of this book for free from Simon and Schuster Canada, but as always, opinions are my own.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

Are you looking for the perfect summer read? Well, you can stop searching now because The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid absolutely delivers a scorching summer read. This book has it all: diversity, romance, humor, and a little intrigue. If you've never read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid, you seriously need to. I read my first book by her last year and immediately fell in love. She's one of my favourite authors and one I can truly say just keeps getting better. This story is woven together so intricately that you will begin to wonder if you're actually reading a celebrity memoir.

Evelyn Hugo is a 79 year old former Hollywood headliner who is finally ready to tell the story of her seven husbands. Throughout her time in Hollywood she was the seductive blonde with massive sex appeal and more than one scandal to her name. There is way more than meets the eye with Evelyn, though. She recruits journalist, Monique, to tell her story. Monique is fairly young and going through a divorce. Evelyn's choice to recruit Monique leaves her curious and left me wondering if there was some sort of connection between the two.

I found myself getting lost in this beautiful story. Each section is about Evelyn's relationship with one of her husbands and I could not read this fast enough. There is one person in particular who is the love of Evelyn's life and one of the reasons she has chosen to finally tell her story. I won't spoil anything, though, because it is truly better to not know who her one true love is until she wants you to know.

This story was completely captivating. Evelyn was a fantastic character full of contradictions; humble yet bold, soft yet hard, and a little infuriating at times. She was the perfect actress and one Hollywood would surely be obsessed with today if she were real. I really did feel like she was real at times, which is a testament to Taylor Jenkins Reid. Reid has a way with words, especially when dealing with love and loss. She shines brightest when she's writing about love and loss and what it means to be human. Her characters become real people right before your eyes.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a must-read this summer! It's on sale today, so go out and buy it! While you're there, pick up one of Taylor Jenkin Reid's other books because she is amazing. I would probably read her grocery list and be enthralled.

I'm part of Simon and Schuster Canada's blog tour, so a copy of the book was provided for free, but as always, opinions remain my own. Make sure to check out my fellow bloggers posts; something tells me their feelings will be similar to my own.

Promises to Keep by Genevieve Graham

Hi everyone! It's been a while. My son is now 7 months old, which is absolutely crazy. Time flies even faster when you become a parent!

Today I've got a review of Promises to Keep by Genevieve Graham, which was sent to me by Simon and Schuster Canada. As always, opinions are my own.

I was initially drawn to this book because a.) it's by a Canadian author and b.) it takes place (partially) in Nova Scotia. I think I've mentioned it before, but I love Nova Scotia. I've only been there twice, but it completely stole my heart both times. I was also drawn to this story because it's based on actual events. In 1755, the Acadians of Grand Pré, Nova Scotia were expelled from their land by British soldiers. They were forced onto ships and sent away to various parts of Canada and the US. Promises to Keep tells the story of Amélie Belliveau and her Acadian family and their expulsion. Amélie and her family are loaded onto two separate boats and sent off to sea.

Amélie is a strong willed, spirited girl who falls in love with someone she shouldn't - a soldier for the British, however, Connor is not the soldier he appears to be. He is not as loyal as the British think he is. Amélie lives with her mom, dad, two sisters, and two brothers. She also has a close relationship with some members of the Mi'kmaq tribe who live in the forest nearby.

I liked Amélie because she was tough. She didn't just sit back and let the awful expulsion happen without consequence. She was perhaps a little too headstrong, but I liked her fearlessness. She was the sister and daughter her family needed her to be. I liked Connor for the same reasons. He was definitely not afraid of the British and had no trouble trying to undermine their mission.

I did feel like the connection between Amélie and Connor was a little instantaneous, but it felt and read genuine. I loved that it was written in dual perspective, because I was able to read how both were feeling and it made the whole experience that much more emotional.

I also really enjoyed the character of Me'tekw. He only has a couple of chapters, but they are so significant integral to the whole story. His story begins as a prequel and just leaves you wanting to know where his story ends.

I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars because I really enjoyed it and it was a quick read. If you're looking for a great historical fiction based on actual events then definitely pick this up. Pick it up if you're looking to read beautiful descriptions about Nova Scotia. Graham made me remember why I love the province so much and reminded me that I need to get back there immediately.

I've never been to Grand Pré (it poured rain the day we were going to go), but we did go to a lookout spot that overlooks the general area of where Grand Pré is. Fun story, our car died at the top of the lookout point.

Isn't it pretty? Go and buy Promises to Keep so you can read about these beautiful views. It's on sale today!

The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette Fay

 

Have you ever heard of vaudeville? I hadn't before I read this book. Vaudeville was a variety show program that was popular in the late 1800s to the 1930s. Acts ranged from singing and dancing, to impersonations, to even acts with animals. It was a pretty big form of live entertainment back then, and one I think sounds very cool.

From Goodreads:
In 1919, the Turner sisters and their parents are barely scraping by. Their father is a low-paid boot-stitcher in Johnson City, New York, and the family is always one paycheck away from eviction. When their father’s hand is crushed and he can no longer work, their irrepressible mother decides that the vaudeville stage is their best—and only—chance for survival.

Traveling by train from town to town, teenagers Gert, Winnie, and Kit, and recent widow Nell soon find a new kind of freedom in the company of performers who are as diverse as their acts. There is a seamier side to the business, however, and the young women face dangers and turns of fate they never could have anticipated.

My thoughts:
I loved reading about vaudeville and the different people that were involved with it. There were so many different characters involved in each show, and they really made the story interesting. While this may seem like a sweet story about sisters performing an act, there was a lot of serious talk about the issues that were prevalent in that time period. Racism was a huge issue (and still is), and I enjoyed reading about how the girls tackled it. They put themselves into a few dangerous situations in order to do what was right, no matter the potential consequences to themselves.

I loved each of the sisters for different reasons. They were all different, and you really got to see them grow and flourish throughout the story. Gert was headstrong and tough, Winnie was smart and determined, Kit was young and fun, and Nell was recently widowed and reserved. The story alternated between the perspectives of Gert, Winnie, and Kit, but I wish there had been chapters from Nell's perspective.

I did find it a little slow at times, but the slow parts didn't last long and the story was quick to pick u again. My final rating is 3.5 stars. It was entertaining to read, and filled with lots of different and quirky characters. If you're looking for a fun historical novel, definitely pick this one up.

A copy of this book was provided by Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

A couple years ago I wrote a post on why you should be reading Morgan Matson. Since that post, I've read Since You've Been Gone and her latest, The Unexpected Everything, and I can 100% say that everything I said in that post still holds true today.

In The Unexpected Everything, we meet Andie who has always been the girl with the plan. Until she was the girl with no plans. As you can imagine, this completely throws her off and leaves her disheveled. To top it all off  her congressman father, whom she's not really close with anymore, is being investigated and is home for the entire summer.

I loved the relationship between Andie and her father. It developed perfectly and really left me feeling good. Matson always has positive family relationships in her books and that's something I really like. It's easy to write about the dysfunctional family, but it's important to write about the realistic family. Mind you, Andie and her dad go through their fair share of dysfunction but they end up becoming much closer because of it. I loved seeing her dad really own up to being a good father figure for Andie.

Since Andie has no summer plan, she ends up walking dogs for the summer, which sounds like the perfect summer job to me. Who doesn't want to spend time outside in the sunshine with happy dogs? Add in the adorable guy she meets, Clark, and hello, perfect summer. Except it's not a perfect summer because there is no such thing. Clark is fantastic. He is absolutely everything that Andie needs and he's her complete opposite. I think Clark may be my favourite Matson guy so far. He's mature but super nerdy. Sweet, but not afraid to be tough if he needs to, and what he does for a living is super impressive.

Another thing I love about Matson's books are the friendships. She always seems to write about positive friendships, which is sometimes rare in YA. There are no frenemies here, and I love that. Andie has three best friends, Palmer, Toby, and Bri and I loved them all. They each had their own thing going on, but they were always there for each other. Like every friendship, they do have their issues but they aren't catty and mean to each other. I loved trying to decipher Toby's emoji conversations. They were pretty hilarious!

Andie ends up having the absolute perfectly unplanned summer and it's everything she never knew she needed.

This is the perfect summer book to completely lose yourself in on a beautiful day. Cute boys, friends, dogs, ice cream, and an awesome scavenger hunt. This book made me want to go back to being 16, and that doesn't happen very often. Definitely go and pick this one up. It's on sale today!

SimonTeen (Simon and Schuster Canada) provided me with a copy of this book for review, but that didn't sway my opinion at all.

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

Last summer I randomly bought The Seven Sisters and I fell in love with it. When I learned that it was going to be a series of seven books, I was excited and, of course, impatient. I reached out to Simon and Schuster Canada about reviewing The Storm Sister and since they're awesome people, they sent me a copy. Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada!

The general premise of these books is that there are six sisters who were adopted as babies by Pa Salt. Pa Salt has sadly died and has left each sister a clue to where they were adopted from and their heritage. The Seven Sisters followed Maia and her roots to Brazil. The Storm Sister follows Ally to her roots in Norway, where she finds she may be related somehow to a famous composer.

The thing I love about these books is that essentially, you get two stories in one. Ally is struggling to come to terms with some losses in her life and how to move on in 2007. The other perspective is of Anna and Jens in the late 1800s/early 1900s, who may be somehow related to Ally. I love the dual perspectives and the history involved in Anna and Jens story. Despite not being alive in the same time period, I found some similarities between Anna and Ally and their circumstances.

Riley weaves such an intricate story within a story and really leaves you needing to know if Ally is related to the famous Anna and Jens. Switching between the two time periods is effortless and even if you know nothing about classical music, you won't find the story hard to follow. In fact, you'll probably learn a thing or two.

I love all the characters in this story. Ally is (so far) my favourite sister and my heart broke for her on more than one occasion. I like how you get glimpses of the other sisters, but you don't get to fully know them until their own story is written. I want to know more about the secondary characters such as Ma, who has been the girls' guardian alongside Pa Salt. I figure those details will slowly come out as the series progresses.

I highly recommend this series. I've rated both books 5 out of 5 stars. I would advise starting with The Seven Sisters, but I don't think you absolutely have to. Why wouldn't you, though, when both stories are so good? This is definitely a series you want to get hooked on.

2015 Reading Survey!

I love doing the end of year survey written by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner every year. It's a fun way to review the books you read this year. I read a lot of great and not-so great books this year.

Number of books you read: 100! I read the most books I've ever read this year, which is pretty exciting. I also branched out and tried audio books and graphic novels, which I'm very pleased with myself for doing.
Number of re-reads: 3, and they were all Harry Potter books.
Genre you read the most from: I read a lot of contemporary and a lot of fantasy this year. I read more fantasy this year than ever before.

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?
Adult contemporary: Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.
Historical fiction: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I was so happy to see this book win a Goodreads Choice Award.
YA contemporary: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen and All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Also I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios. I can't pick just one!
YA fantasy/retelling: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Can't wait for the next book!
Thriller/mystery: The Blue by Lucy Clarke and Those Girls by Chevy Stevens

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige was massively disappointing. I didn't love The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins as much as I thought I would, but I think that was because of the hype.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  
Night Film by Marisha Pessl. I was so drawn into this book and basically didn't put it down for two days.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?I pushed Lindsey Kelk's books quite a bit this year, such as the I Heart series and Always the Bridesmaid. Her books are always hilarious and fun to read.

 5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?The Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes is fantastic so far. I also started and finished The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer and loved it. I started a few other series that only have the first book out so far. I'm excited for the next ones in the series, like An Ember in the Ashes and A Court of Thorns and Roses, and The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?
 Colleen Hoover. I have a love/hate relationship with her books.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?The Martian by Andy Weir. It was more science fiction than I usually read, but I loved it.

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?Any and all of the fantasy/thriller/mystery books I read.

 9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
 Honestly, probably the Harry Potter books again.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson because who doesn't like a taxidermy raccoon named Rory?

11. Most memorable character of 2015?I'm still thinking about Will Traynor.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin was beautifully descriptive of Paris.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?
The non-fiction books I read, such as Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, Big Magic by Liz Gilbert, and The Lost Girls.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read? 
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I wasn't sure that they'd be 'me' books, but I liked them a lot.

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?
I'm kicking myself for not making any notes on quotes/passages this year.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?
Shortest was Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed at 112 pages and longest was Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon at 1,070 pages.

 17. Book That Shocked You The MostEach book in The Falling Kingdoms series. Don't ever think your favourite characters are safe because Rhodes is ruthless.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
All the pairings in The Lunar Chronicles. I sound like a broken record, but it's true.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
The female friendships in both of Emery Lord's books.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Always The Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk.

21. Best Book You Read In 2015That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
The Martian, The Girl on the Train, and probably other new releases.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?
I don't really have a fictional crush, but probably Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series.
 
23. Best 2015 debut you read?
An Ember in the Ashes.
 
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowski.
 
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Anything by Lindsey Kelk. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard.
 
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?
ME BEFORE YOU. That book hurt my soul.
 
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, and Amanda Pressner was a non-fiction book about three friends traveling. I loved it so much, but it did nothing for my wanderlust.
 
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Me Before You, again. I'm sorry, but that book killed me.
 
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?
An Age of License by Lucy Knisley is a travel memoir drawn and illustrated by the author. It was fantastic.
 
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
All The Rage by Courtney Summers definitely gave me all the rage, but I really liked the book.

Looking Ahead to 2016

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?
Ahh, so many. I don't even know if I can pick!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)? When We Collided by Emery Lord and The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson. I also just learned that Jodi Picoult has a new one out in October and I NEED IT.
 
3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
I went through my shelves and couldn't pick any out. I'm sure I have one and I've just forgotten to shelve it.
 
 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?
I don't think any of my series are ending this year.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?
I want to read 50 books, and I want to read what I want to read. I don't want to feel pressured to read certain books. In my blogging life, I want to blog more and write different types of posts.

6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
I haven't finished it yet, but I'm currently reading Dark Territory by Susan Philpott and I think everyone should read the first book, Blown Red, and then read this one.

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

 

 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Christmas is rapidly approaching and all I've heard from the last month or so is, "what do you want for Christmas?" My answer is usually always books, which earns me 'that look' from my husband. Those with significant others probably know which 'look' I'm referring to.

I started this last year sometime, but I was not in a fantasy mood at that time, so I returned it to the library. I really do want to read it because I was enjoying it, so I'd love to own the box set.

I keep hearing about this series, so I really want to check it out for myself. I'm definitely in a fantasy mood.

 

Me Before You killed me earlier this year, and I need to read this one. ASAP.

I have a love/hate relationship with Hoover's books, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to read them all.

 

I NEED THIS BOOK. I read all the others in eBook or got them from the library, so I'm currently waiting for my library to process this book. I'm first in line and I want it immediately.



This isn't out yet, and I haven't read anything by Bracken, but I really like the sound of this book.

 

This is apparently out in the UK, but not here yet and this is another book that I NEED. I loved The Seven Sisters and I can't wait for this.

 

I've heard mixed reviews about this book/series, so I want to check it out for myself.

I need this in paperback to complete my set. I also need to read Clockwork Princess (which I own) and then I can finally read this one.

 

I own all of these in hardcover, but I absolutely love these covers and have started buying them. I own 5-7, so I'd love for Santa to bring me 1-4.

Those are all the books I'd love for Santa to leave under my tree this year. Some of them aren't even out yet, but we all know that Santa is magical. Are there any on here that you'd like to find underneath your tree on Christmas morning?

 

Top Ten Best Books I Read In 2015

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Narrowing down my favourite books of the year is next to impossible. In order to do so, I went to Goodreads and these 13 books are the only books to receive the coveted 5 star rating from me this year.

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - This book killed me and broke my heart.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - If you like historical fiction, this HAS to be on your list. It was fantastic!

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios - I loved this one. It felt very authentic and real.

The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, and Amanda Pressner - This made me want to quit my job and travel even more than I already do.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen - I was starting to wonder if I was outgrowing Dessen, but after this book, I definitely think I'm not.

Before The Storm and Secrets She Left Behind by Diane Chamberlain - Such a fun duology with an awesome main character.

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley - Another historical fiction, but this one takes place in the past and present. Can't wait to read the rest!

The Blue by Lucy Clarke - Clarke's books have the best settings and always make me long to travel. This one had a bit of a mystery, too.

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens - If you're looking for a thrilling mystery, this is the book you want.

Always The Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk - Kelk is hilarious and this one had me laughing out loud.

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes - Another one that broke my heart into a million pieces.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson - Lawson is a brilliant advocate for mental illness, but she is also hilarious.

Christmas Reads

I love Christmas books. They give me the feelings that actual Christmas no longer does. They leave me feeling warm and hopeful, while actual Christmas leaves me feeling stressed and anxious. I'm not a Grinch at all, however, I do struggle with Christmas. My favourite part is all the decorations and lights. My least favourite is shopping. It's become way too stressful and frustrating. I also lost my grandma on December 22nd, 2011, so Christmas just isn't the same anymore.

That all being said, I do love the feelings that Christmas books give me and I always look forward to reading them each year. So far this year, I've only read two. The first was Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber. I've read a few Macomber books and she definitely knows how to get that Christmas feeling flowing. This book wasn't my favourite. It had a great premise, but it fell a little flat for me.

Ashley has to get home to her mom in Seattle for Christmas and Dash has to get to Seattle for a job interview, but there's a problem, all flights are booked. They both decide to rent a car, but there's only one car left. Despite being strangers, they decide to share the car. I love road trip books, and this one had its moments but I had some issues. I did enjoy the banter between Ashley and Dash. I did not enjoy how elusive Dash was with his job interview. I just wanted to know what job he was interviewing for.

The entire FBI/mistaken identity of Ashley was a little too much and too unbelievable for me. I honestly could have done without that entire setting. The ending was very anti-climatic, and it all ended way too perfectly. I expect Christmas books to be cheesy, but this was almost too cheesy. I did give this 3 stars because I was looking for something quick and cheesy and that is exactly what I got.

I received this book through NetGalley

The next one I read was One Wish in Manhattan by Mandy Baggot. I really adored this one! Hayley is heading to New York with her nine year old daughter Angel with one wish: to find Angel's dad. Angel is the product of a one night stand in New York and now Hayley is determined to find him, even though they've had no contact whatsoever since that one night.

Oliver Drummond is the CEO of a large company, and has a reputation of being a bit of a ladies man. A chance encounter at a Chinese restaurant sets the whole book in motion, but Oliver also has a secret. He believes he has a life threatening gene defect that could end his life at any moment.

As I said, I really liked this book. I could see the setting perfectly, and to see New York at Christmas is on my bucket list. Baggot did an incredible job of setting up the scenery and I really did feel like I was there. Angel and Hayley were so much fun. I loved their relationship and banter. It reminded me a little bit of Rory and Lorelai in Gilmore Girls. They got themselves into a few silly situations, but they only added to the story.

Oliver was a little frustrating at times, but I liked his character, too. He was a little misunderstood, and through the book he really came into himself. I liked the romance because while it was a little unbelievable, it was sweet and imperfect.

My only complaint about this book was that it felt a little bit long at times. It dragged a little bit, but I still really enjoyed it and gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. It's the perfect book to read during this time of year.

What are your favourite Christmas books? I'm always looking for more to add to my list.

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2015

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Creating this list, I found I didn't actually read a lot of new authors. There was only about a handful more that I could have added to this list. I should make a goal to change that in 2016. Who knows how many other fantastic authors I'm missing out on.

This is not in any particular order, just the order they showed up in my Goodreads.

Some of these authors are debut authors, like Sabaa Tahir and Susan Philpott so I've only obviously read their debuts. You should check them out if you're looking for a new author. Sabaa Tahir wrote An Ember in the Ashes, which I absolutely loved and was one of my favourite fantasy novels this year. Philpott wrote an exciting cross-Canada story about an underground railway system that helps women in trouble. It's called Blown Red and I have an arc of the second one, Dark Territory, which is set to come out in January.

The others on the list all have multiple books out and some are very well-known. I wrote yesterday about my complicated relationship with Colleen Hoover. My favourite of her books so far is Maybe Someday.

Morgan Rhodes is releasing the fourth book in her Falling Kingdoms series next week and I cannot wait to get my hands on it! Check it out if you're missing Game of Thrones, like I always am.

Lucinda Riley writes historical fiction novels and I read the first book in her newest series called The Seven Sisters and I loved it. I'm impatiently waiting for the next one, The Storm Sister, to come out in the spring.

Emery Lord is a master at writing female friendships and I fell in love with her love of female friendships.

Marissa Meyer writes the Lunar Chronicles series and I should be ashamed that I only read them this year, but I actually loved being able to mostly marathon the series. Winter was an incredible end to the series.

Jennifer Niven wrote All The Bright Places which killed me and I think it's an important book for everyone. It's, of course, being made into a movie so that should be interesting.

Harlan Coben is the author of many suburban thrillers and I love me a good thriller. I seem to get instantly addicted to his books and fly through them.

I've only read one JoJo Moyes books so far, Me Before You, and that book left me a weeping mess. I seriously need to pick up her other books asap.

Confess by Colleen Hoover

I have a weird relationship with Colleen Hoover's books. I love them, but at the same time, I don't. Earlier this year I read my first, which was Maybe Someday and I freaking loved it. It was so good, and such a breath of fresh air for me. Then I read Slammed and really liked that one, too, but have no interest in reading the other two books. Then came Ugly Love, which was not my favourite but still enjoyable. I had a lot of hope for Hopeless, but the ending was way too dramatic for the storyline.

Reading that paragraph, you'd probably wonder why I keep going back to her books. It's because they're so addicting and I really do love the way she's able to weave a story together. There is always something different about her characters and I appreciate that. You know you're going to get some sort of twist at some point, and that keeps me going back for more.

This month I decided to pick up Confess, and it's another one that I seem to have a love/hate relationship with. The prologue drew me in immediately, and left me needing to know about present day Auburn. Auburn is a weird character. I didn't hate her, and I definitely understood why she ended up doing the things she does, but at one point she says she can't be spineless for reasons (spoilers, so I won't say), and yet being spineless is exactly what she's being.

Owen was another odd character. Hoover's characters are all flawed, but Owen was trying so hard not to be flawed, but may very well be the most flawed. Again, I won't say why because spoilers, but why on earth would you go that far for someone? Maybe I'm just a bad person, but I certainly wouldn't do what he did. The resolution between Owen and his father felt way too forced, too. I really doubt that someone would change that quickly.

The relationship between Owen and Auburn was a little too instantaneous for me, which I do find is a theme in Hoover's books. Owen was driving me crazy constantly saying that Auburn deserved him and having to hear her say it. I didn't hate the pairing, though, as I think they would be good for each other. I just hate that it happened right away.

I loved the art and confession aspect to the story. I read this as an e-book, so the photos weren't in colour, but they were still beautiful. The things like the poetry in Slammed and the art in Confess is another reason why I love Colleen Hoover's books.

I gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars because I didn't absolutely love it, but I didn't hate it. I always enjoy myself as I'm reading the book. It's only after when I start to think about what I'm reading that I develop my love/hate feelings. That being said, I will continue to read Hoover's books because I like her style and I always love the twists.

Mini-Reviews: Ink and Bone and Off The Page

The last two months have not been very good reading months for me. I always seem to get a bit slumpy during the beginning of fall, which makes no sense as fall is such a good reading time. I think I'm finally getting out of the slump, as it's only November 9th and I've already read 3.5 books. In an effort to make this blog more active, I have two mini-reviews today.

 



 

First off, this cover is gorgeous! The spine looks like an old leather bound hardcover, and I just love it. The reason I was so drawn to this book was because it's about books, and because it had a lot of Harry Potter comparisons. It is definitely nothing like Harry Potter. They both take place in a learning environment, but there is no awesome school like Hogwarts in this book. The only real similar thing was a chess set that moves itself, which to be honest, kind of bugged me. Oh, and there's a train that transports them, but it's much more fancy than the Hogwarts Express.

 

I spent the first half of this book not really caring about it. I was liking it enough, but it wasn't completely holding my attention. The premise is really interesting. Real books are kept controlled by the Library and to be in possession of them is a crime. There's a group of students who are being trained to work for the Library (there are different job titles), and then they are sent to war-torn England to try and smuggle out some books. Naturally, people are trying to kill the students. This was when the story got really interesting.

 

At times I found it hard to care about the characters. I thought they were well-written and such, but I just didn't care that much until about the middle of the book. It probably sounds like I didn't enjoy this book, and that's not true. I did like it, but I did have some issues. I didn't really like/care about the romance . It felt forced and rushed and just off. I do plan to read the next one because once I finally became invested in the story, I really needed to know what happens.

 

I gave this a 3 out of 5 stars because it was a bit slow at first, but it ending up picking up in the latter half.

 

 

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time then you know that Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors, and I will basically try anything that she writes. Off The Page is the companion book to her book Between The Lines, which was co-written with her daughter Samantha van Leer. I read Between The Lines back in 2012 and really liked it.

 

Between The Lines is about a girl who falls in love with a prince from a book, and about how they try to get him out of the book. Off The Page is about the boy, Oliver, out of the book and living in the real world. I'll mention right away that you do need to suspend your beliefs in order to read this book, but I really loved it. I had such a good time reading this book. It's fun, and cute, and maybe a bit cheesy, but there are also some serious undertones to it.

 

In order for Oliver to leave the book, someone had to take his place. The authors son, Edgar, happened to be the one who took Oliver's place.  The author doesn't know that the boy living with her is the character she created, and most definitely not her son.

 

Watching Oliver try to navigate modern life/high school was funny and sweet, until something happens to the author and it's decided that Oliver needs to go back to the book so that Edgar can come out and be with his mom. Problems arise when they try to get Edgar back out and Oliver back in. I loved the cast of characters, both in the book and in the real world. I will never forgive Picoult and van Leer for a particular THING that happened, though. I just don't think IT had to happen.

 

Like I said before, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It's almost like a modern day fairy tale, and is perfect for anyone who hasn't read a good old fairy tale in a long time. After all, who hasn't fallen for a book character and wished they could be a real person?

 

 



October Wrap-Up!

It's been far too long (again). I don't know what it is about this time of year, but I seem to go through a bit of a slow reading phase. I had computer problems at the beginning of the month, which left me without a computer for about a week. I also got sick, and didn't read or do much other than work that week.

This month I read 6 novels and 1 graphic novel, which is definitely less than usual for me.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy - This was a great book, and had an important message, but I did have some problems with the main character, Dumplin'. At times, she seemed very judgemental for someone who is aware of being judged for most of her life. She was flawed for sure, which made her more relatable, but I did find myself a little annoyed at her at times. Her relationship with her mother made me a bit sad, too.  I gave it 4 stars because despite my issues, I really enjoyed it.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson - I loved this book. Jenny Lawson is the face behind the massively popular The Bloggess. She openly suffers from mental illness and is not ashamed of it. She is an important advocate, and I think more people need to be aware of who she is. Her book was hilarious. I actually had tears running down my face at times, and read a few passages to my husband (who thought I was nuts, but laughed). While it's hilarious, it's also important and sad, and an eye-opener for those who perhaps don't suffer in the same way. 5 out of 5 stars.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl - I read this book in two days. Partly because my computer was dead at that point, and I was on vacation from work with not much else to do, but partly because I couldn't put it down. I really loved the format. There were articles, webpages, photos, police reports, and other random things scattered throughout, and that's honestly one of my favourite things to find in books. I did find that it dragged a little at times, which is why I gave it four stars, but this story gets into your head and does not leave until after you're finished.

What a Girl Wants by Lindsey Kelk - This is book two in her A Girl series (the final book comes out November 10th), and I liked it a lot. Tess is most definitely flawed, but I find obviously flawed characters relatable. She's hilarious and crass, and is torn between two men. This takes place mostly in Milan and should be read in the sun with a drink in your hand. 4 stars.

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson - I liked this volume more than volume 1 because more was revealed about her powers and how she came to have them. Also, Wolverine! 3 stars.

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain - This was pretty good, but not my favourite Chamberlain book. I think I would have liked it better had I not figured out the ending within the first few pages. Molly believes her mother murdered her father when she was a child and hasn't spoken to her since. She and her husband are in the process of adopting a child, which brings up her past. I did like how it was told, alternating between the past and present, but I had a hard time connecting with Molly, and like I said, I'd already figured it out. 3.5 stars.

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben - This was a quick read, and one I enjoyed, but it was a little unbelievable at times. I like Coben's ability to take suburban life and make it terrifying, because let's be honest, real life can be quite scary at times. 3 stars.

I'm currently reading Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine, which is pretty good so far. I'm still not in a huge reading mood, so who knows how long it will take me to finish.

Like I mentioned, this was a slow month. Tomorrow brings November, which already has me super excited to start reading Christmas books. I've been excited since, like, August. My TBR for the next two months will be full of fun Christmas reads. Do you have any favourite Christmas books? I always love recommendations.

Since today is Halloween, I'll end with a photo montage of my cats as pretty princesses last year, including our very male cat, Ollie. This year, they're a shark but they're even less co-operative and I value having fingers.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR

 

I'm not the greatest at sticking to TBRs because I like to read whatever I'm in the mood for, but I'll try my best. I love fall and everything about it, except that it leads to winter. I hate winter.

My husband loves Halloween and horror, so come October horror movies are constantly on our TV. October always makes me want to read some darker books, so there will be some of those on here.

The Green Mile by Stephen King - I've never read Stephen King (I know), and a co-worker lent me The Green Mile awhile ago, so I should probably get to it. The Green Mile was originally released as a serial. I thought that was really cool, and I'd love to see another book release that way.

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning - I read Darkfever earlier this month and liked it. It wasn't super amazing or anything, but it kept my interest and I want to know what happens next.

 

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine - I'm really interested in checking out the book that has received some Harry Potter comparisons. It sounds good, but nothing will ever live up to Harry Potter.

 

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman - This is a historical fiction YA, which I haven't read much of, so I'm really looking forward to it. Plus, it's beautiful. Look at that cover!

 

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain - Chamberlain is one of my favourite authors, so I'm definitely excited to check out her new release out on October 6th.

 

The Illegal by Lawrence Hill - I absolutely loved The Book of Negroes (loved so much that I read it in two days), so I cannot wait to get to this. I'm currently #30 in line at the library for this, which means I'll probably end up just buying it.

 

Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes - This comes out in December and may end up being a winter TBR book, but who knows. I recently fell in love with the Falling Kingdoms series and think everyone should check it out! This is book 4.

 

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy - I've been hearing nothing but great things about this book, so I definitely need to check it out soon.

 

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon - I've been feeling the urge to jump back into Jamie and Claire's world, and fall is the perfect time to settle in with this series.

 

The last slot is reserved for the mystery/thrillers that I love so much.

 My mom and I both love them, so we pass them back and forth between us, which is something I really love. The above are just a few that I have waiting for me.

 

What do you plan on reading this season? Are you horrible at sticking to TBRs, too?

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Series I have YET To Finish

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish. This weeks topic is ten series that are completed, but that I have yet to complete. I have a love/hate relationship with series. I love all the extra time spent with characters, but some series are just so long and drawn out. I don't even want to count the incomplete series that I have on the go that still have books to come out.

1. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare- I just need to read City of Heavenly Fire. I started this series late last year, and read the majority of them earlier this year. I was waiting for CoHF to come out in paperback, which it now has so I have no excuse.

2. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare - Another reason I haven't finished TMI is because I wanted to read this series before I read CoHF. I read the first one, and didn't like it a much as the TMI books, but I do need to finish it. I've been feeling the need to finish CoHF lately, so maybe I'll finish this series soon.

3. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan - I've only read the first one so far. I will eventually finish the others. I actually started listening to the second last week as I was on the treadmill, but I kind of want to just read it.

4. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery - I read the first one, and I've been collecting the others in used bookshops. I bought the first and second from bookshops on Prince Edward Island, which is where the books are based.

5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins -This is more of a companion series, but it counts. I've only read Anna so far. I didn't love it but I do want to continue, so I'm saving the other two for when I want a fun, quick read.

6. Lowcountry Summer series by Mary Alice Monroe - This series is about three adult half sisters who are visiting their grandmother for the summer. Each book follows a different sister. I actually don't know why I haven't finished this, as I flew through the first two.

7. Slammed by Colleen Hoover- This is one I don't think I'll actually finish. I really liked Slammed, but I don't know if I care enough to read the other two.

8. Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber - This series has 12 books and so far I've read 3 of them. I'm not in a huge hurry to finish these, but I will eventually.

9. The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen - I don't actually know why I haven't finished this series because I really liked it and as they're middle grade, they're really quick reads.

I think that's all of the completed series that I haven't finished yet. There was actually more than I thought that there would be. Have you not completed any of these? Which one do I absolutely need to finish asap?

Always the Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk

Have you read anything by Lindsey Kelk yet? Because if you haven't, you definitely need to get to it!

From Goodreads: Everyone loves a bridesmaid.
Except Maddie, who’s perpetually asked to be one.
Everyone loves a wedding.
Except Maddie’s best friend, who’s getting divorced.
And everyone loves the way Maddie’s so happy backstage.
Except Maddie herself.
One best friend is in wedding countdown while the other heads for marriage meltdown. And as Maddie juggles her best chance at promotion in years with bridezilla texts and late-night counselling sessions, she starts to wonder – is it time to stop being the bridesmaid?

My thoughts: Kelk is definitely on her game in this new book! If you've read Kelk then you already know that her books are funny, but this one was hilarious. Definitely the funniest book I've read in a while. What I like about her books is that, while funny, they're also real. Her characters are certainly flawed, but in a way that you or I are flawed.

Maddie is sick and tired of being walked on by her friends, family, and work, but is too nice to speak up and say much about it until she's had enough. I found her family to be really frustrating, her sister especially. I can't even remember her name because I was so annoyed with her. The only one who had any sort of redeeming quality was her brother, and even he was a bit of a wanker. Side note, Kelk's books always make me start using British slang. This is not a bad thing.

Maddie's best friends, Sarah and Lauren were also frustrating, but to a lesser degree. I really liked Sarah and her situation made me really sad because who wants to go through a divorce in your early 30s?  She was cynical (obviously) and sarcastic, and I always appreciate good sarcasm. I'd like to read a book with Sarah as the main character. I didn't like Lauren as much because I found her selfish and spoiled, but we all have friends like that. Unless you are that friend, in which case you probably don't even know it. Now you're wondering if you're that friend.

There is, of course, romance in this book. Maddie has a one night stand with Will, which turns into lots of one night stands with him. She can't get him to commit to anything more than bedroom fun, and naturally, can't see the other guy who would be perfect for her. I liked the romance in the book, but it wasn't my favourite part.

Maddie is an events assistant for a large PR firm and has been in the same position for the last 10 years. Her boss is an absolute nightmare and even Satan wouldn't want to work for her. An opportunity for a promotion comes up at work, and Maddie is forced into applying. This is where things got really fun because Maddie is put in full charge of planning a baby welcoming party for a gay couple with extravagant requests. As you can imagine, things don't go so well. This was one of my favourite scenes, and had me laughing like a moron alone on my balcony:

There was a lot of growth for Maddie in the book, and I was excited when she finally started to stick up for herself and refuse to make everyone else happy. It's hard to always be on for everyone else, especially when they don't appreciate it. It was refreshing to see her argue with her friends and finally tell them off because they really needed to hear it.

I loved the very end with all the IMs, emails, and texts, and wished those had been scattered throughout the entire book. I love when authors add little things like that to a story.

If you're looking for something hilarious and light, but with real, flawed characters, check out any of Lindsey Kelk's books. I'm still making my way through her books because I don't want to run out of them. 5 out of 5 stars!