Loved the continuation of Louisa Clark‘s journey through love, loss, grief, and new love. Can‘t wait to start the last book of this trilogy soon!

There are certain books that make me tear up every now and then, but this one had me sobbing my heart out. I loved the characters, the scene, and the emotions of this book. I feel confident in saying this will be one of my favorite reads of 2018!

DNF for me. I just couldn‘t connect with the characters and found that they weren‘t around long enough to care about.

Loved this one! It‘s got all the feels - heartbreak, anger, sadness, love, hope. The characters are deeply flawed and raw - you can‘t help but love each one of them!!

This is a raw and emotional look into one young girls battle with self-harming. Somehow, Glasgow managed to write a heartbreaking book that gave you hope by the time you read the last page. I loved this one!

To me, this isn't a discussion about whether or not abortion/IVF/adoption should be legal or not. It's about how far we're (as a country) willing to let the government make decisions for us. One of the founding principles of this country was freedom - freedom from tyranny and dictatorship. I don't think we want to be caught in a situation like the book presents only to realize we should have started fighting long before it's too late.

I didn‘t expect to like this book as much as I did. I found it super relatable to the Ebola outbreak of 2014. It‘s a plot-driven novel that can feel slow at times; however, it pays off. I loved the characters and there was a slight A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW vibe to the novel.

I thought this was going to be about something totally different. However, I did enjoy some gentle reminders about motherhood and raising kids. If your child is “different” in some way (the co-author struggles with OCD/ADHD specifically), you will find great value in this book!

I‘ll read anything by Kathleen Grissom! She‘s a master storyteller who gets her readers to emotionally connect with every character. GOE was just as good as her first book, The Kitchen House. The only thing bad about this book is that it had to end...

I didn‘t love this one. I knew the reviews were mixed going into it, but that‘s never stopped me before. I enjoyed Lockwood‘s humor and poetic prose, but found the story to be pointless, overdone, and boring.

This one was amazing! Think HUNGER GAMES meets READY PLAYER ONE...it‘s a thrilling ride with twists you didn‘t see coming. I can‘t wait for the next book to be released!

I loved Milk and Honey, but I loved this one even more! I felt all the emotions as I read this collection of poems. Rupi Kaur is a treasure! 💜

I HATE books like this (think A Man Called Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine). I do not find their unrealistic, ridiculous, and usually, predictable plots entertaining whatsoever. So basically, it‘s my fault for continually picking them up thinking that this time I‘m going to magically enjoy them. Many people loved it; it just isn‘t a book for me.

It was hard to find the rhythm of this book. Once I did, I enjoyed the book‘s distinct structure and then I became very meh about it all. Ultimately, I really didn‘t care how this one turned out or what happened to the characters. The so-so rating may be being generous. 😬

This one sealed the deal; I won‘t be returning to Winter Street to see how the story wraps up. The series became predictable with so many repetitive themes.

I loved the first book, but his one wasn‘t as good. The plot is becoming predictable and boring to me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this story. It was magical in all ways - from the storyline to Benjamin‘s writing. I was enthralled from the first page.

I wanted to love this book for so many reasons: cover love, Annie B. Jones recommendation...but I just couldn‘t get there. A slooooow buildup that actually never came to fruition. Loved the main protagonist, Cora, and enjoyed the author‘s writing, but just couldn‘t connect with the plot at all.

Thank you Hachette Books and Lauren for the free finished copy for review. All opinions are my own. Each of the Quinn's work their way into your heart quickly and I found myself flying through the pages of this one. What endeared me most about the Quinn's is their ability to see past each other's mistakes and to just love each other despite any wrongdoings or misgivings they may have - unconditional love at its finest. I can‘t wait to continue!

When I read memoirs like this, I'm always struck by the human spirit's will to survive. Unthinkable tragedies occur every day, and when the phoenix rises from the ashes, I'm in awe of their determination. Sarah Perry is no exception to the rule: she was the only witness to the brutal murder of her mother, and with that role, came the heavy burden to avenge her mother's death.

I found the plot to be very predictable; however, I loved the concept of the plot (& the Breakfast Club vibe) because it isn‘t one that‘s been done before. There was an interesting twist to the reason behind it at the end. I loved the characters and their dynamics with each other. If you enjoy a good YA novel, you‘ll like this one. I wish I would have read it at a time when I was in a better reading place. What were your thoughts on this one?

This was good, but not as un-put-down-able as I had hoped it would be. I loved the concept of the story, but I‘m not sure the author pulled it off. To be honest, for the majority of the book, I wondered if the family truly had any psychic abilities or if they were all just delusional about their abilities. Anyway, this one was just so-so for me.

I wanted to love this one, but didn't. (In full disclosure, romance/chick-lit is not my favorite genre to begin with.) I didn't really like any of the characters, and the one I liked the most was more out of pity than anything else. Goodreads and #bookstagram was full of glowing reviews, so I'm sure I was just an outlier on this one. I enjoyed the author's writing style and will give her next book a shot in hopes that I connect better with it.

This was a fantastic character study into three separate people whose stories become intertwined as the police work to solve the mystery of who killed Lucinda. Kukafka‘s writing is poetic and beautiful - I realized I didn‘t really care who committed the crime; I just loved living in each of their heads.

A story of survival amidst the worst of circumstances. Constantly shuffled around and given more responsibilities than appropriate, Ruth Wariner lives a childhood that is sad, abusive, and horrific. She demonstrates the human‘s incredible resiliency and even manages to forgive her mother‘s terrible choices.

Monica Hesse weaves each of the main player‘s back stories into this mystery, giving the reader a complete overview of this county, its residents, and ultimately, the motive behind all the fires. It‘s a true modern day “Bonnie and Clyde” though not nearly as dramatic (nobody dies). If you like Serial and S-Town, this is the book for you. It starts off strong and loses some steam about halfway through, but still very informative and interesting.

This book is about the slow radicalization of an American teenager into a terrorist organization. I wish the author would have wrapped the ending up better, but overall, I really enjoyed this book and the thoughts and feelings it brought up!

This book reminded me of the incredible people that devote their lives to minimal pay & thanklessness because they have a passion for kids that trumps their monetary desires. It‘s a story of heartbreak & despair, but also one of hope. It continues the conversation of institutional racism & the devastating consequences of our educational system - especially in the more disadvantaged neighborhoods.

What did I learn about my personality after reading Reading People? That I hate learning about personalities. (#sorrynotsorry #unpopularopinion) I wanted to love this one, but I honestly think it‘s more about me than the book. I think I‘ve finally realized that I‘m not all that fascinated with personality assessment. People who are will find this to be a great resource to add to their research and library!

#NonfictionNovember continues with Ranger Games: A Story of Soldiers, Family and an Inexplicable Crime. I have to admit, I went into this one with a completely inaccurate general idea of what the book was about. I‘m not sure how, or why, I misunderstood the premise of the story (I blame #Doubleday for the marketing and cover design), but I think it threw me completely off and, eventually, ruined the book for me.

Not one, but two, female protagonists? Espionage? WWI and WWII? An endearing male character who not only sweeps one of the main character‘s off her feet, but the readers too? YES, PLEASE!! This book has it all and I flew through the 500 pages like it was my job!

Alternating between two time periods (WWI and the end of WWII), two separate tales become intertwined as they build towards an exciting, unexpected, and redemptive ending.

This is the second book I‘ve read by Taylor Jenkins Reid and I‘m quickly becoming a fan! I LOVED The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo earlier this year so much that I had to read another book by her. This one is so good! I listened tot he audio version and the narrator was fantastic!

Braving the Wilderness was the perfect addition to my Nonfiction November reading list. I have read four of the five books that Brene Brown has written, so it's safe to say that I'm a huge fan of hers! Brown is a genius when it comes to forging authenticity and vulnerability in our lives, seeking true belonging, and honoring ourselves. While this book wasn't as good as the others, there were still so many useful (and quotable) tidbits throughout.

This one has many conflicting thoughts - making it a must read! (Trigger warnings: gun violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, incest, strong language)

I didn't expect to be captivated by this book. I misjudged its size (only 160 pages) as being puny. I wasn't sure how good it could be with such little content. BUT, I WAS SOOOO WRONG! This {small} book packs a punch! I read it in one sitting because I could not walk away. I had to know what happened to this family!

Parts of the story were predictable, but it didn‘t take away from the story in any way. I love Slaughter‘s description writing even if some of her analogies seemed like she was trying too hard. By the end of the story, I was attached to each of the characters, and I was genuinely interested in their stories. This book gives you two mysteries in one. The two plots weave together making for an explosive ending!

Definitely a story that will stick with you; however, as far as dystopian novels go, this one doesn‘t stand up to the likes of The Handmaid‘s Tale. I felt confused and disconnected throughout the story even though I was intrigued by the premise. This book had a ton of potential, but ultimately, it just didn‘t deliver.

This was raw and honest, but I quickly became bored. I applaud the author for the success she‘s found despite her difficulties, but the story just didn‘t hold my interest.

Not gonna lie - super disappointed in this one. I didn‘t get it. This is now considered a book?? It‘s nothing more than musings - some just a sentence or two! Maybe I had higher expectations for a book I receive through a subscription service. Maybe the reviews had me hyped up for something different. I‘m not sure, but this book did absolutely nothing for me.

Please stop what you‘re doing and go read this book ASAP. It should be required reading for humanity.

It just didn‘t work for me. I didn‘t find the plot, the characters, or the relationships believable in any sort of way. I know I‘m in the minority here, but I‘m just not sure John Green‘s writing is for me. I felt similar feelings when I read The Fault in Our Stars. I don‘t know...I haven‘t read other books by him and I‘m not overly motivated after having two very similar experiences.

Cyril Avery has earned a place in my heart forever. I haven‘t been able to stop thinking about his little world, and I know I will visit it again many times over the years to come. This is one of my all-time favorite reads - yes, it‘s that good!!

The plot was too predicable for me. By the end of the book, everything wrapped up so easily for me and I found it to be very unbelievable. Also, the big mystery that the entire story was based upon wasn't ever fully revealed, so that left me frustrated. This is a quick, light, and easy read. Had I understood there are some major flaws in the writing and story line, I may have been better prepared to enjoy it for what it is.

I loved how there was a “surface” story that was straightforward and plain, but stewing underneath was the “real” story-an insight into the whys behind the character‘s actions, and why they made the choices they did. It reminds us that things are not always as they seem; oftentimes, there‘s a deeper reason behind the story everybody else sees. It reminds us there are many layers to life, and specifically, relationships.

Still Life is the first book in the series and while I enjoyed the mystery, the characters, and the charm of Three Pines, I‘m not obsessed. I may return to the books every now and then, but I wasn‘t so invested that I feel the need to faithfully continue. I can totally understand why people love the series, but there just wasn‘t enough there to motivate me to make it a goal to read them all.

I loved everything about this story - the characters, the writing, the resolution. Ng proved herself to be a masterful storyteller and I loved every layer she weaved in her portrayal of Shaker Heights. One of my favorite things was the way Ng would begin talking about a character and seamlessly slip into their backstory without the reader even noticing. I think this showcases her writing ability the most. It was a page turner for me!

I liked this book. I‘m glad I read it, but it wasn‘t what I was expecting. From the jacket, I thought it was going to be a plot-driven novel full of survival and grit. It wasn‘t. In fact, it wasn‘t even the ticks the characters had to worry about – it was other humans. What?? The female characters were strong, but needed more development . The book has a TON of potential, but it‘s just not developed well enough. It left me wanting more.

An impt book to empathize with the refuge experience. The upper elem/middle school yrs are hard, but it is esp harder on children who are "different" in any way. This is an incredible resource (reminiscent of Wonder) to help teach our children to be kind to the kids that are ostracized in school. In beautiful poetic prose, Lai challenges us to be better humans to those around us - brilliant advice we can all use, but esp impt for our young kiddos.

Kathleen Grissom weaves an intricate tale about slavery; indentured servants; privileged, rich white people; depression; love; hate; and loss into a story that burrows deep into your heart. I loved so many of the characters like they were members of my own family. I found myself cheering for them throughout the story, all the while knowing how this all-too-familiar tale was going to end.

A beautiful book that I can't wait to share with my daughter. Stella's family and friends are role models in the way they handled themselves in the face of such disturbing behavior. They were calm, peaceful, and kind. They didn't match hate for hate and never lashed out. I'm anticipating lots of worthwhile conversations with my daughter after she finishes reading this one.