In the second quarter of the year, (April, May, and June) I read 7 books so an average of two books a month, even though I didn’t finish a book in April. Here are the books I read (See my rating system at the end of this post):
Educated by Tara Westover – ♥♥
It was okay because the writing seemed a little scattered like she was writing as she was remembering it. Tara’s childhood was unbelievable, to say the least, but I didn’t feel any connection with it so it was hard to decide on a rating.
“It’s strange how you give the people you love so much power over you.”
― Tara Westover, Educated
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy – ♥♥♥♥
It was well written and was able to relate to the main character, Willowdean, as well as her relationship with her mom. Enjoyed the Netflix adaptation also.
“All my life I’ve had a body worth commenting on and if living in my skin has taught me anything it’s that if it’s not your body, it’s not yours to comment on.”
― Julie Murphy, Dumplin’
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han and the continuation P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han – ♥♥♥♥ (both books)
Well-written and funny with believable characters like Lara Jean and Kitty. A story well told.
“When you lose someone and it still hurts, that’s when you know the love was real.”
― Jenny Han, P.S. I Still Love You
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
♥♥♥
I really liked the language of the writing, it was very well written. This is the second book that I’ve read from Ng and I think I like Everything I Never Told You a little better. I thought Little Fire Everywhere might get confusing but the story was well written and resolved nicely.
“Anger is fear’s bodyguard.”
― Celeste Ng, Little Fires Everywhere
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? By Peter Hedges
♥♥♥♥
I really liked reading this book. It was funny and at times inappropriately funny. I found myself chuckling at things that maybe I should. It is a slice-of-life story about a small town young man named Gilbert Grape. This book is my jam. It’s melancholic yet amusing and this quote describes it perfectly.
“You can tell the idyllic nature of a family by the upkeep of its picnic table. Ours is its own indictment. We are splintering and peeling. We rot.”
― Peter Hedges, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi
♥♥♥
I liked this book and thought it was a well-written and witty novel. It’s a great book for teens and college-aged people to relate to but being older I still was able to appreciate it.
“Fiction was fine, but real life was the true freak show.”
― Mary H.K. Choi, Emergency Contact
My rating system. Nothing fancy here, it’s the same as Goodreads.
♥ – I didn’t like it
♥♥ – It was okay
♥♥♥ – I liked it
♥♥♥♥ – I really liked it
♥♥♥♥♥ – I loved it
Thank you for reading!
Nora
I finished reading The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters, a historical gothic fiction about Frances Wray, who accepts lodgers into her home that she shares with her mother. Although meticulously detailed in descriptions, it did tend to drag on in quite a few places. This bothered me more towards the end and it was really annoying waiting for the other shoe to drop especially when the shoe finally did drop, it was very unsatisfying. I also felt that there wasn’t that much chemistry between the main relationship and it felt like instalove. I think it would do good with some serious editing. Also, I consumed this on audiobook going to and from work and if I didn’t, I don’t think I would’ve made it through.
Last week I finished reading Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, the second book in the Grishaverse Trilogy. We finally get to meet Nikolai, whom everyone has been talking about and I’m sorry to admit, but he was the most exciting thing about the book. Maybe I’m not the target audience for this series. I was more interested in the characters and there’s some great dialogue, some quotable quotes. But I feel like the villain, The Darkling, and Nikolai shine brightest for me in the series. Alina and Mal aren’t that vivid to me and I’m not that interested in them but I have already started the last book, Ruin and Rising.
