July Reads

 

July has provided me with some MAJOR reading material that did not disappoint.

Caution:  Neat Reads Up Ahead

I know. I know.  Everyone has this on their list (which usually means I don't).  A friend encouraged me to read this book about 6 months ago, but I just kind of pushed it to the side until recently when I was invited to a "Crawdad Movie" party.  I had no choice but to read it so I would know more about the movie than anyone else! 🤣  

I'm not exactly a nature girl, but after few chapters I was a goner.  I finished it within hours.  It was that good.  

The story has a sweet romance but the most touching part of the story is the survival of 'Marsh Girl'- Kya.  I loved the setting (even if detailed) of the North Carolina Marsh, the strength of the main character Kya, and the many characters that made up the Marsh town.  Owens painted a perfect relationship- the land was tied to Kya and she to it. 

If you haven't already jumped on the Crawdad Train- do so now! 

5 out of 5 stars easily.

Ps.  Did you know the author is possibly tied to real murder (as an accessory)?  

I had to do some research. Watch this for more info.- 

Crawdad Movie Party

I have never had any luck with novellas, and this was a bit of a disappointment too.  I love Simon and Caroline in previous books, but this one focused more on their friendships over the relationship between the two.  I found the conversations between friends just crass/trashy.  There is even a scene where Caroline is being rushed to the hospital and Simon is reminiscing over their sexy times.   It didn't fit with reality.  I'm so happy Simon and Caroline found a happy ending but their love story could be read without this one. 

2.5 Stars

Holy. Cow.  What an emotional ride!  

Hello to Taylor Jenkins Reid.  

Sorry kids, you have to get your own dinner tonight because mama HAS to finish this one.   

I will not give anything way about this story but it wasn't what I was expecting.  It begins with our main character as a child in Hell's Kitchen and takes us through her entire life with all of the glamorous highs and lows.  

Evelyn is QUITE the salacious character.  I envisioned her as a latin Jayne Mansfield.  Still, she was a very human character who brought the emotion out in me (tears and more tears).

Even if you don't like Evelyn and her choices (because sometimes I didn't), it doesn't matter because you will find yourself falling in love with her story.  

The Moral:  Life is all about the Relationships

5 Stars

"Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish." via Goodreads.

Once our main character, Lowen, moves into the Crawford estate to begin research on Verity's books, she runs across a memoir that shares some MAJOR family secrets.  From that point on, you never know what in the heck is going to happen and you won't until the very end!  While there is a romance in the story, I didn't find it to be very romantic.  I was turning those pages for the mystery.

This is my first Colleen Hoover book, and she provided a pretty intense read.  

 I only dropped a star because I didn't feel that Lowen was fleshed out enough in the story, and the mystery was a touch anti-climatic.  We could have had five more chapters to the story to really dive in.

I am definitely going to be reading MORE Colleen Hover in the future. 

4 Stars

I found this book at my doctor's office on a table that said 'free books'.  I later rented the audio on libby app so I could listen while I cleaned the house. 

This is a book about a beautiful and intelligent woman names Stella who is obsessed with work and has an equal dislike for dating and kissing.  Having Asperger's and strict routine doesn't help with finding a partner.  Due to pressure for companionship and her mother (she wants grandchildren), Stella hires an escort to teach her the ropes!  

I had a love/dislike relationship with this book at times.   

I ADORED Stella and Michael.  They each had such unique stories, families, and BIG issues to overcome.  Stella's autism was part of her charm.  Michael was a good guy who felt he had no choice to be an escort because of his family's financial issues.    

I will be honest when I say, I really didn't like the start of the book because it was like an autistic version of Pretty Woman in reverse.    

I didn't love the descriptive love scenes.  There is no way you can play this audio without the ear plugs (NOT for littles under 19).   A personal preference but I thought it took away from this type of story.  As the story continued I fell in love with the characters!   

Great Ending!! 

I typically don't read the author's note but I was curious about the unusual concept.  Helen Hoang's daughter was diagnosed with autism in preschool which set Hoang on a journey to be diagnosed at age 34!!  

4 Stars

Darby Thorne is rushing from college to her dying mother's home in a horrible blizzard.  Soon the roads are shut down, and with her life in danger she is forced to wait the storm out in a rest stop with four other strangers.  Desperate to reach her mother, Darby goes outside and tries to find a signal on her phone when she makes the horrifying discovery- a little girl is locked up in the back of a van and caged like an animal!  What follows is a night of terror with the clock ticking.  Darby is constantly challenged to find a way to save the little girl (and herself).  

It took a little while for me to get into this one, but about a fourth of the way in I was turning pages like crazy.  I loved the character 'Jay' most of all.   This story is written over the course of one night and nothing is what it seems.  

4 Stars

I was telling Connor about this book and he told me they have made this one into a movie on Hulu.  We can't wait to watch it (after we find someone who has a subscription). 

I literally have three weeks until school starts- 

I better get to reading because there are so many more on my list!!