It has been two months since I’ve shared the books I’ve read. The time I have for reading now is so much more, so I’ve been working on my to-read list and checking off some things that have been on there for a while. I have also hit the maximum number of books I can have “on hold” at the library, so I’m feeling like quite the book nerd currently.
Books I Loved
Becoming by Michelle Obama (Amazon/Goodreads) – That price on Amazon is really good for a hardcover and you should own this book. It’s the only physical book we brought with us on the trip and we will be leaving it in New Zealand, but I would buy it again in the future. I thought the book was amazing. I love her so much. I could have read a book for each of the three parts in the story and heard more about the different parts of her life.
Live From New York by James Andrew Miller (Amazon/Goodreads) – I loved this book. I thought it was so interesting hearing from all the different perspectives on SNL. They had writers, producers and the performers. It was grouped into different eras of the show. There were lots of skits I had forgotten that I rewatched on YouTube after reading about it. The one below was talked about because Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz could not hold it together and it’s hilarious to watch again. If you are a fan of SNL, I would recommend this.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (Amazon/Goodreads) – This story follows a few different characters during World War 2 in East Prussia. They are all trying to get out for one reason or another. I learned a lot about the Wilhelm Gustloff in this book which I don’t remember ever reading about. I couldn’t put it down, so I would recommend this one.
Home Fire by Kamala Shamsie (Amazon/Goodreads) – I picked up this book without reading anything about it. It tells a story about three siblings from an immigrant family that lost their parents and grew up taking care of each other. It is a story about loyalty and I would recommend it, but maybe not really a pool/beach read.
Books I Liked
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (Amazon/Goodreads) – I thought this story was something new. It has one of those apocalyptic feels, but there aren’t explosions everywhere and Hunger Games. It tells the story of a family that lives in the world when the days and nights keep getting a little longer each day. I was so interested in the idea of clock time vs. day light and how the world was impacted.
The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin (Amazon/Goodreads) – This felt like reading a season of Grey’s Anatomy with fewer characters. I enjoyed the book. It follows two best friends that encounter a person from their past and forces them to address some things that they’ve buried deep down. This would be a great pool/beach read.
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (Amazon/Goodreads) – This book has been on my list forever. I flew through it. It was adorable and cheesy and exactly what I wanted in that moment. If you are looking for a quick, feel good read, I would add this to your list.
The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll (Amazon/Goodreads) – This is definitely another pool/beach read. It is the behind the scenes of a reality show (like Real Housewives) where you pretty much hate every character, but it’s kind of interesting watching them all interact. I definitely liked this book better than the author’s first.
The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey (Amazon/Goodreads) – A homicide, strange family drama, teacher/student relationships. This book had a lot going on and I liked it. It kept my attention and helped me get through our really long flight to New Zealand. I’ll be reading more from this author.
Superficial by Andy Cohen (Amazon/Goodreads) – I am a fan of Bravo and Andy Cohen. If you are not, you would not find this book interesting or appealing at all. It is just Andy’s diaries of life day to day. It took me a while to read it, because you can pick it up and read a little and then not touch it for a while. I liked it, but I also know that many people would find it boring.
And the rest…
The Most Dangerous Place on Earth by Lindsey Lee Johnson – I finished this book because I wanted to see where they took it. It was pretty brutal. The story is set in a high school in an affluent community. The teenagers are all monsters. It made me so happy that I was in college when social media was born.
Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin – I bought this book on my kindle a long time ago and never read it. I thought now would be a great time. I didn’t like it. I just rolled my eyes a lot. I like Emily Giffin books, but not this one.
Currently Reading: The Hobbit
Linking up with Steph & Jana. This is my favorite internet day of the month because I get to find a bunch of new books to read. Tell me what you’re reading.
