whatcha readin'? {2018::book 10 - goal 24)

This was a pretty quick
and fast paced read for me...
I think I started and finished it
over the space of 24 hours.

It is one of those
what the frig is happening
wait a minute
is she...
did he...
would they...
wait...what did they say about her...
ohhhhhhh....I bet I know
only to realize
that maybe
you don't know...
(or maybe you are smarter than me
and you do figure it out
before it's spelled out for you...heh).

Anyway...good quick read
full of twists and turns,
would make a good summer read for sure!

3.5 out of 5 ♥♥♥♥♥'s

NEXT UP:  THE CHILD FINDER - RENE DENFELD

whatcha readin'? {2018::book 9 - goal 24)

I feel like I have said this before
but I definitely love the unexpected surprise
of finding a really good book
that you knew absolutely
nothing about
and had just picked up on a whim...

That was totally the case with
The Alice Network...
and I adored it.
I loved the writing, the story, the characters...
even the villians...well...I didn't love all the villians...
and then was thrilled to find out that
the book was based on some real actual women...
finding that out made the story that much better.

You should totally read this book.

Oh!  and Reese Witherspoon picked it
for her book club read
(I know!  I didn't know either that Reese Witherspoon,
who I adore, has a book club!!)

Oh!  And she (Kate Quinn) has a blog! :)

5 out of 5 ♥♥♥♥♥'s

NEXT UP:  THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 - RUTH WARE

whatcha readin'? {2018::book 8 - goal 24)

This is the second book of John Green's that I have read.
I read Fault in Our Stars a while ago...
well...so long ago that I don't really remember
if I liked it a lot or a little.

But I really liked this one.

I am not sure if I was drawn to it
because he describes debilitating anxiety
which hits close to home
as it is something my daughter had fought with
for years. 
I think that anxiety of that proportion and intensity
must be hard for the person experiencing it to
describe in adequate detail...
I have always felt that way with my girl,
she tries to explain it
and we try to understand
but it becomes frustrating for her
because it's impossible to really
know what it's like
unless you are feeling it, I think.

And it feels like he does a good job of
describing what parts of it must be like...
and as someone that loves someone with anxiety,
it helps to be able to get maybe a little
glimpse into what it must feel like
from their side of the equation.

All in all, I liked this book. 
I enjoy his writing and the characters.
I would definitely read other things he has written.

4 out of 5 ♥'s

NEXT UP:  THE ALICE NETWORK - KATE QUINN

whatcha readin'? {2018::book 7 - goal 24)

I really, really wanted to read this book.
First of all, the cover makes me happy.
Second of all, contrary to what most people think of me
deep down
I really do secretly aspire to be a badass.

Haha.  Which is even funnier if you know me.
And funnier still if you knew that I cringed
just writing badass.

Cause.  It's a bad word. 

(and yet I can start every sentence with the eff word).

So anyway.
Back to the book
(and again, if you were expecting an actual book review
please see this post)...
I enjoyed the book,
maybe not as much as I hoped I would
but it was pretty good.

There was nothing really "new" in it as far
pulling yourself together and setting goals
and all...but I liked her writing. 
I may go back through again and see if
there are key action type things I can try.

But I will tell you that the last line of chapter 26
stopped me in my tracks...to the point that I wrote it down.

"9.  LOVE YOURSELF
   with a kung fu grip"

I just kinda love that. 
And maybe...I just really needed that right now.
:)

4 out of 5 ♥'s

NEXT UP:  TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN - JOHN GREEN
 

whatcha readin'? {2018::book 6 - goal 24}

Ok...can we all just give me a little
pat on the back here...
it's February and I'm already at 6 books read!
(actually, it's 7 but I am getting ahead of myself).

Yay me!

I just went back to compare where I was at
this time last year
and I had read 1 book.
ONE book.
By February 20th!
What on earth was I doing!
Any wonder I didn't make my goal last year!
Such a slacker.

So anyway.
I just finished The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory.
If you read this blog at all, you will know that I
always preface my "reviews" with ... (& I use the word review in the
loosest possible way...I really shouldn't even say review...
it's not a review...if anything it's a recommendation...
or maybe even the equivalent to a facebook thumbs up or down...
but I do not consider what I write here to be a review....
that requires work & thought & proper punctuation
and well...
I just wanna say hey...that book was super-awesome
or that book?  not so much and leave it at that.)

So anyway.
I got off on a tangent there and didn't even finish the sentence I started.
This is why I can't write reviews.
Anyway.  I always preface my reviews (*see above) of this author
with guilt that I am admitting I like these books. 
And I wasn't going to do that this time.
This time, I was going to be like damn it, I love these books
and I am not apologizing for that.

But then,
I didn't quite love this one.
I'm not sure why.  I really don't think it was the writing...I always love her
writing.  I think it might have just been where my own head is at and just
bad timing and I just HATED ELIZABETH SO HARD that
it kind of frustrated me throughout the whole story.

So if you like these books, please do not let this "review" (air quotes) stop you
from reading it.  If anything, go read it and then maybe we
can be united in hatred of Elizabeth. 

Again.  So not a review.  More of a book-related-ramble.  Rambles I can do.
(and Philippa Gregory, if you happen to come by and read this
please accept my sincerest apology.  I really do love your books!)

4 out of 5 ♥'s

NEXT UP:  YOU ARE A BADASS - JENN SINCERO