Brianna's Book List
From the Modern Colonial
Brianna's Reading List
My goal is to read 52 books in a year. This is a newer passion of mine that I enjoy when I am not attempting DIYs, home renovations or running after my two kiddos, but it is something that I love just as much. I also love sharing all of my reviews and recommendations with all of you.
How do I rate these Books?
I give each book a rating based on its flow, story line, plot twist, and the ability to keep me from putting the book down. If a book keeps me so enthralled that I cannot put the book down, then it is obviously one hell of a good book. Whether the characters are so captivating that I just cant get enough of their story, or if it is a major train wreck from start to finish that I just need to see what happens next, those are books that were crafted well and deserve to be read.
My Top Ten Books
From June 2022 to June 2023 I read a total of 54 books, smashing my goal of reading 52! While you can read all my reviews on all 54 books from the last year, I have put together a list of my Top 10 books!
One of my favorites mostly becasue of the imagery. Not only
is it a fantastic story, but the description of the 'Paper Palace'
makes the lake side summer living on the cape sound so good.
2. Verity- Written by Colleen Hoover
This is one of the fastest books I read because I simply could not
put it down. It was like watching a train wreck, you cant look away
and you have to know what happens. My favorite thing about CoHo's
writing is that she ends each chapter with a cliff hanger, making you
need to keep going. If you get this book- get the goldedition (that's what's
linked) it is the extended edition with the new epilogue.
3. 28 Summers- Written by Elin Hilderbrand
I love this book for the ultimate determination that both characters
had. While it is incredibly frustrating in the end, the determination is
nothing short of amazing and makes for the ultimate love story, but
not the love story you would be expecting.
My Top Ten Books
4. Then She Was Gone- Written by Lisa Jewell
This page turner is a thriller and had me not wanting to put it down.
You figure out relatively quickly, but you have no idea how they got
from point A to point B, so for that, you have to keep reading.
5. The Return -written by Nicholas Sparks
Similar to the Paper Palace, the imagery in this book is fantastic. You
feel as though you are in a small Carolina town, in a little cabin, with so many
questions needing to be answered. In the end, you get all the answers you need.
6. Beach Read- Written by Emily Henry
I loved the chemistry in this book. So much tension, so much angst. Two
writers who happen to be living next to each other, who happen to have gone to
school together makes for a great story.
7. Things We Never Got Over- Written by Lucy Score
Holy Spice! This is a racy book! The small town and the chemistry between Knox and
Noami i what pulls you in from the start. For a long book, you want to read every page!
8. Confess - Written by Colleen Hoover
This book has a different plot line than most books, as I feel like MOST of Colleen Hoover's
are not your average love story. This one tugs all all the heart strings. Like many of CoHo's books,
she likes to leave cliff hangers right at the end of each chapter, making it difficult to put down.
My Top Ten Books
9. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo- Taylor Jenkins Reed
So far, my favorite book of hers and its such a good examply of not
to judge a book by its cover, or title. completely not what you would expect and
such a good read!
10. The Nightingale - Written by Kristen Hannah
This is a beautiful historical fiction that really makes to you take a moment
and realize , though fiction, how much of it is based on true stories. Don't like the
length intimidate you, because it is a great book though long. Some of the length has
to do with how descriptive she writes, I don't think I have ever found an author
more descriptive than Kristen Hannah.
Honorable Mentions
11. Regretting you - Colleen Hoover
12. Reminders of Him- Colleen Hoover
13. Where the Crawdads Sing- Delia Owens
14. Hopeless- Colleen Hoover
15. Something Wilder- Christina Lauren
16. Golden Girl - Elin Hilderbrand
17. Layla- Colleen Hoover
18. Heart Bones- Colleen Hoover
19. Love and Other Words - Christina Lauren
20. The Great Alone - Kristen Hannah
28 Summers
Elin Hilderbrand
This is an epic love story of two very determined individuals. You will ask yourself over and over why they couldn't just achieve their fairy tale ending, however, the story between these two lovers is one of the best I have ever read. If you have not read anything from Elin Hilderbrand, this is a great place to start.
5 Stars
Must have this on your book shelf
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
Where the Crawdads Sing
Delia Owens
I consider this book another must read. The way in which the marshland was described made me fall in love with it, just as much as Kyra did. This story is a painfully beautiful story of isolation and finding a true unwavering love. It can make you feel nearly every type of emotion, while leaving you sad yet satisfied at the last few pages.
5 Stars
Must have this on your book shelf
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
The Return
Nicholas Sparks
After Trevor loses his grandfather, the person who raised him, Trevor moves into his grandfather's old southern home, in major need of repair, to try to find his own peace and answers surrounding his grandfather's death. He ends up solving more than one mystery. This is a very touching love story that tugs at the heart and has you rooting for Trevor from start to finish.
5 Stars
Must have this on your book shelf
To purchase from Amazon, Click the link below
Hotel Nantucket
Elin Hilderbrand
This is the grown up Nantucket version of Gossip Girl. It's a coming of age story, but for a hotel with a dark history. While we watch the Hotel Nantucket climb to the top of the Nantucket hotel food chain, we also learn about all of the gossip regarding the hotel patrons and the locals who run it. This story wouldn't be complete with out a good haunt in order to learn more about the history of the hotel. Perfect family vacation book to devour.
One of my favroite things about this book is the very accruate blue book at the back of it. It includes real restaurants and places to visit in Nantucket. I fact checked them with my husband who travels to Nantucket for work often. Elin always includes real places in her books, which makes them so much more appealing.
4 Stars
Perfect addition to your library
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
The 6th Wedding
Elin Hilderbrand
Continuation of 28 Summers, because no one can get enough of that epic story. Sweet little novella that ties up all of the loose ends from the previous book.
**Only available on kindle
5 Stars
Must have this on your book shelf
To purchase the kindle version, click the link below
Confess
Colleen Hoover
This book tugs at your heart almost immediately. This was my first CoHo (Colleen Hoover) book and the first thing I was sucked into was how the story was told in the point of view of BOTH main characters, by swapping the POV in each chapter. This makes for a much more in depth understanding of the story. This is a love story unlike any other. It is steamy, like most of CoHo's books, but the story is incredibly in depth as we find out how the two main characters are linked before they ever even met.
5 Stars
Must have this on your book shelf
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
Reminders of Him
Colleen Hoover
Another fantastic CoHo love story. This story is absolutely not your average one. Kenna is a young mother who was in jail for making the wrong decisions. After being released she just wants to set things right and meet her child that she hasn't seen in 5 years. You might think you know this story, but you don't. Its beautiful story about a mother's love and finding another love where you would least expect it .
5 Stars
Must have this on your book shelf
To purchas from Amazon, click the link below
The Wish
Nicholas Sparks
This was a very slow moving book until the very end. The end was poetically beautiful and left me in literal tears with a twist you don't totally see coming. The book focuses on a woman with cancer who owns an art studio and is telling her story to a new employee about her childhood and the baby she put up for adoption. While the ending was tragically beautiful, 75% of the book was a bit too slow moving for my liking. Because we are mostly looking back and the main character's childhood love story, I often felt I was reading a young adult book when I didnt want to be.
3 Stars
Not at the top of my list, but a good book nonetheless
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
Verity
Colleen Hoover
Holy twisted insanity! I finished this book in 24 hours because it was a literal train wreck that I could not put down. If you are going to venture into the world of Verity; 1) its not for the faint of heart and 2) make sure you get the gold cover and not the black and green cover. The Gold contains the extended chapters at the end.
This book is the craziest mind f*ck I have ever read and still leaves people on team 'the letter is true' or ' the manuscript is true'- just so you know im on the ladder team. I cannot give this book a synopsis that is worthy, so please do yourself a favor and read it!
I do want to give a disclaimer that some moments in this book are hard to read. They may in fact be harder to read if you are a mother. So please be aware that this is in fact a twisted book focusing on a budding romance and getting inside the mind of a writer, You will in fact be left wanting more. But how much more can you handle?
5 Stars
If I could give it more stars I would
To purchase the extended chapter version, click the link below
Beach Read
Emily Henry
I picked this up on a whim and I am so glad I did. This may be one of my top 5 books I have read because I just love the chemistry between the main characters, January and Augustus. After her dad dies and January moves into her dads 'other' home where he had himself a girlfriend, we find out that not only does January know the mysterious guy next door, but they are both well known writers. January sets out trying to fix her writers block by writing something new and she not only fixes her writing problem but also finds love and answers to her most burning questions.
5 Stars
Must have on your book shelf!
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
The Paper Palace
Miranda Cowley Heller
One of my ultimate favorite books! From the description of the family camp on Cape Cod, to the highly complicated love story between Elle and her childhood love interest, Jonas, you fall in love with everything even though Elle is technically a cheating trollop. Are you team Jonas, or team Peter? Read the book and find out. My only complaint, I wish I knew if Miranda was going to write a sequel because it is BEGGING for one!
5 Stars
A Must have for your book shelf
Ugly Love
Colleen Hoover
True to CoHo's style, this book is spicy with layers upon layers of truths that need to be uncovered to find out why Miles has an incapability of being in a relationship with anyone. While there is clearly steamy chemistry between Tate and Miles, Tate won't be able to truly have all of Miles until he becomes honest with himself and forgives himself for his past. You wont be expecting the trauma that Miles has gone through and neither did Tate. Excellent read and heavy on the steam.
5 Stars
Must have on your book shelf
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
November 9
Colleen Hoover
I feel like this book is CoHo's version of 28 Summers. While so many people seem to absoutely love this book, I prefer the 28 Summers version. Perhaps its because I read that one first, or because I think the determination in 28 Summers just makes it more epic. Whatever the reason, this is not one of my faves (possibly the unpopular opinion so please read it for your own analysis). Just like all of her books, Colleen Hoover does a great job with the story and the chemistry of the main characters.
To buy from Amazon, click the link below
4 Stars
Absolutely worth the read
It Ends With Us
Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover did a great job showcasing idealized loved and how it's sometimes easy to stay in a relationship when the obvious answer is to leave. This story pulls at your heart from the very beginning. When you think Lily has found the love her life in Ryle, only for us to find out maybe he isnt the best suited for Lily. It has you rooting for love, but unsure who you are rooting for at times. In the end, the best match becomes very clear, however you are left wanting more in the story of Lily and Atlas- Luckily CoHo gave us 'It Starts With Us' to finish off the story.
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
It Starts With Us
Colleen Hoover
A sweet continuation of Lily and Atlas. This is a very happy read. Enough happened to Atlas and Lily in the last book, that this is a mostly upbeat and positive book surrounding the future for these two, who were in love since childhood. We uncover more truths, watch Lily and Atlas maneuver their romance around Ryle and and her daughter. Its the perfect ending for Lily and Atlas, leaving you fulfilled in their love story from start to finish.
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To purchase from Amazon click the link below
Something Borrowed
Emily Giffin
this book comes two ways, separately or with the sequel attached to it. I read the latter. Something Borrowed was an exceptional book. I loved the plot, I loved the twists, I loved the reality of this book. Rachel and Darcy have been best friends since childhood, both move to NYC and continue to have an extremely close friendship. That is until Rachel, who is a selfless and caring best friend and MOH, ends up sleeping with Darcy's fiancé. You might think you know who you will root for, but you don't.
5 Stars
A must have for your bookshelf
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
Something Blue
Emily Giffin
I will say right off the bat, I did not LOVE this book. With that being said, I am glad I got closure in reading it to find out what happens to Darcy and Rachel in the end. What I liked about the book; the transformation of Darcy and her finding love where she did not expect it. What I didn't love about the book; Darcy I already knew from the previous book that I was not a Darcy fan, then to start this book and find it was from Darcy's point of view had me a bit deflated. However, perhaps that is the entire point of this book; to show you that even a person as self centered and rude as Darcy can change and become a better person, allowing her to not just love herself, but another person selflessly and whole heartedly, just in time for her to become a mom and understand what true love entails.
3 Stars
Not at the top of my list, but a good book nonetheless
To purchase from Amazon click the link below
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reed
They say dont judge a book by its cover, well, you should also not judge a book by its title! Based on the title alone I was expecting a very different book. First, this book is about a lengthy interview between a very green journalist and an American icon like the late Marilyn Monroe. The entire time I was trying to figure out what is Evelyn's angle for searching out Monique to write her memoir, and in the end I was thoroughly surprised at the why. Now for the title, you are expecting a bit of a hussy to be the likes of Evelyn Hugo, with her husband count so high, we all assume she cant keep a man or likes men too much, what we find out is mind blowing! Up there in my top 5 books, I could not put this book down..
To purchase from Amazon, click the link below
5 Stars
A must have for your bookshelf
Maybe Someday
Colleen Hoover
I am sure by now you have realized my author preference is the great Colleen Hoover. She tells a story so well, even her young adult books are well orcastrated and well told. Once again, CoHo delivers something you are not expecting. You think every love story has been told and how could she come up with something new, and then she does. I dont want to give away the part that caught me off guard, so I am going to keep this synopsis vague; Sydney finds out her boyfriend of several years is cheating on her and, though devestating, it couldnt be any better for her. This leads to a beautiful and heartwarming love story between to people that are clearly so meant to be together.
5 Stars
A must have for your bookshelf
To purchaser fromAmazon, click the link below
Maybe Not
Colleen Hoover
This short story explains another relationship we come across in 'Maybe Someday.' It shows the tumultuously turbulent love story between the very broken Bridgette and extremely determined Warren. Their romance is a world wind of frustration, anger, and pent up aggression, which ends with a softer side of both characters. This book is the second book in the 'Maybe Someday' trilogy and my least favorite. While good, you feel like your reading it just to finish the entire story. There are a lot of steamy moments, but the back and forth between the characters aren't as electrifying as Sydney and Ridge.
4 Stars
Worth the read, especially since its part of a trilogy
Maybe Now
Colleen Hoover
This is the third and final story in the 'Maybe Someday' story. We pick up where we left off with Ridge and Sydney, but we also meet someone new. This is a unique book to Colleen Hoover as it is told by 4 different characters. Not only do we hear from Ridge and Sydney's points of view, but we also hear from Maggie, Ridge's ex, and her unexpected love interest. Not only do we get an entirely new story, but we see all 5 of the charaters from the previous stories tie up loose ends and get a happily ever after. Great book!
5 Stars
A must have for your bookshelf
To buy on Amazon, click the link below
Without Merit
Colleen Hoover
This is a great young adult book about a slightly odd ball family that lives in a converted church. I love this family's crazy and the fathers ability to hold a grudge. He simply bought the church because he couldn't stand the pastor. This is a great book about young love and miscommunication. There are a lot of secrets to uncover, and so many layers of lies within this unorthodox family. But, in order for Merit to get through life, she needs the family to come clean with all of their lies and hopefully, she will be able to end up with her the boy who she has been infatuated with since the moment she saw him.
4 Stars
Worth the read!
To buy on Amazon, Click the link below
Layla
Colleen Hoover
Holy twisted moly! I dont even know where to start. When CoHo decides to give us something twisted, man does she deliver. She breaks down every single mold, allows herself to mix genres, and takes something so far fetched and makes it believable. Without spoilers, the best I can do is say this is a paranormal, romantic thriller that gives you everything you look for in a CoHo book along with things you didnt know you wanted. You will feel every type of emotion you can encounter and once you are thoroughly confused in wondering where the heck she is going with this book, the stars align and you have all of your twisted answers. I didn't not know how I felt about this book right away, but I blew right threw it and needed to know how it ended.
5 Stars
While I loved this book, it is certainly not for everyone
To buy on Amazon, click the link below
Golden Girl
Elin Hilderbrand
I feel like most books by Elin Hilderbrand have a sophistication to them. I mean, they are all set on the prestigious Island of Nantucket and make you feel like you are part of the elite life that is Nantucket in itself. Golden girl is everything you would think of in regards to a Hildebrand book. There is gossip, there is love and there is Nantucket. However, this story is very different in that it is written from heaven.
Vivi is a well known author (seemingly emulating Hilderbrand herself), who gets hit by a car while running and dies. The rest of the book is written from Vivi's view of her family and friends from heaven. She learns things she did not know and is allowed 3 nudges to try and help out her family. She has to use them wisely though, she only gets three.
4 Stars
Worth the read and a perfect one for the summer and the beach
To buy one amazon, click on the clink below
Hopeless
Colleen Hoover
One of my favorites from CoHo and the start of a 5 book collection that intertwines characters in a way worth reading. This book is based on one major lie and so many secrets. Sky was home schooled by her adoptive mother for what seems like forever. However, when Sky decides to enroll in the public school for her senior year only to find out secrets she never even suspected to be true. This story has so many jaw dropping moments all surrounded by one of the most intense love stories. When you think you have it figured out, you end up being left with a guttural realization and one of the most selfless acts of love.
5 Stars
A Must have for your book shelf
To Purchas on Amazon, clock on the link below
Losing Hope
Colleen Hoover
In a change from your average CoHo book where the POV flip flops between characters, Hopeless was written only in Sky's point of view. So the second book is written entirely from Holder's point of view. It dives even deeper into the original story and helps to answer questions surrounding the death of Holder's twin sister. Again, you are left with another earth shattering truth that makes your heart hurt, but makes everything finally make sense. Because there is a lot of repetition in this book, it makes for a quick read.
4 Stars
I am only giving this 4 stars because of the repetition of this book. It was still a fantastic book.
Finding Cinderella
Colleen Hoover
This short third book in the Hopeless Series is a perfect little novella. It now follows Sky and Holder's best friends and their slow to start romance. However, When Six and Daniel spend more and more time together they realize they have met before. Suddenly Six has a lot to tell Daniel and they eventually try and solve their problems together. A sweet yet beautiful story that we get to learn more about in the final installment of the Hopeless series.
5 Stars
This is a must read in order to watch the brilliance come together in the 5th book.
To buy on Amazon, Click the Link below
All your perfects
Colleen Hoover
Though this is the 4th book in the hopeless series, if you dont plan on reading any others, this can be a stand alone book. It is an EXCELLENT book that truly outlines the real struggles in marriage, especially for those who struggle with fertility. Like so many couples, we meet Quinn and Graham seemingly broken in their marriage, unsure if it has the strength to whether the storm. Quinn wants nothing more to have a baby and it does not seem to be in the cards. After a miscarriage, Quinn decides to visit her sister in europe to think about what she wants to do with her marriage. Can they work things out and find their way back to each other? It is worth the read to find out.
Quinn feels all the feelings that so many women feel everyday admit a fertitity struggle and so many women need to know they are not alone. ,
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
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Finding Perfect
Colleen Hoover
This book combines the characters from both 'Finding Cinderella' and 'All your Perfects.' If you haven't read Finding Cinderella yet, without risk of spoiling things for you, this short novella gives us all the closure we needed from Six and Daniel and well as a truly beautiful ending for Quinn and Graham. This is such a beautiful book that just leaves you feeling happy and fulfilled for everyone. I just love how CoHo was able to develope the entire story overall between the different books.
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To buy on Amazon, Click the link below
Winter Street
Elin Hilderbrand
I feel like so many books are 'beach reads.' So being that its bitter cold during the winter in New Jersey, I was looking for something a bit more on pace with the NJ winters. I found it in Elin Hilderbrand's 4 part series 'Winter Street.' It follows a unique family with normal problems who own the famous Winter Street Inn in Nantucket. In this book we learn that not everyone's life is perfect, Nantucket is still incredibly beautiful in the winter, and that you want to know more about this family. With 4 siblings and two sets of parents, there is bound to be a lot to cover, including the fact that one of the siblings joined the military and is MIA.
5 Stars
I really loved this book and its worth the read
To buy on Amazon, Click the link below
Winter Stroll
Elin Hilderbrand
We pick up with another Christmas season at the Winter Street Inn. First, I need to say that the winter stroll on the island of Nantucket sounds like such a magical tradition and it makes me want to live there year round. With that out of the way, let's get back to the Quinn's, who are once again navigating the holiday season. This time, however, Kelley (dad and owner) is feeling down and out after the crazy year he has had. Kelley is newly single and, in good old fashion Quinn family tradition, all of his exes show up at the Inn for the Holidays. While things are good with his first wife Margaret, not so much with his second wife Mitzi. In case you are reading this review without reading 'Winter Street' yet, I don't want to give away too much of what lead to their demise, but it wasn't mutual. Tensions rise, drama occurs, yet the family still remains. Great sequel to the first book!,
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To buy on Amazon, Click the link below
Winter Storms
Elin Hilderbrand
In the third book of the 'Winter Street' series, things seemingly start falling into place for the Quinn family. Some wrongs are righted and there is much to celebrate with an upcoming wedding, someone's release from jail, and a war hero finally returning home. While everything finally seems so incredibly perfect and happy, a huge storm threatens the perfect wedding AND the return of said war hero.
Lose ends begin to tie up, while others still slightly dangle, waiting fo rthe fourth and final installment of this series.
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To purchase the book on Amazon, click the link below
Winter Solstice
Elin Hilderbrand
Im going to be honest here. I didnt love the fourth book. I felt like it was slightly boring. I then read the acknowledgments to find out the contract was for 4 books in this series, which might help to explain why this book wasn't as great as the other three, perhaps Elin felt like most of the story was already tied up in the third book, which is how I felt. Some parts of the book were great, don't get me wrong, but I didn't feel the same way about this book as I did about the other 3. Unfortunately, (spoiler alert) a lot of this book is about watching Kelley die, along with Bart's return into society after being a POW. I felt like there was a lot of filler in this book, which just made for a different pace.
4 Stars
I would give this book a 3, but I do feel its necessary to get the entire 'Winter Street' story
To purchase on Amazon, click the link below
Heart Bones
Colleen Hoover
Absolutely Loved this story. I don't know how CoHo comes up with a different love story each time and not sounding remotely repetitive! Beyah is a smart girl, with a full ride to Penn State for Volleyball, from Kentucky that certainly got the short straw when it comes to mothers. Though she already has been raising herself for years, the death of her mother finds her homeless, forcing her to go live with a dad she barely knows, in a place she has never lived. While she is sorting through this stark contrast in lifestyles and the new charcters in her life, she finds someone who could detrail everything she has worked toward. Not only is this person not at all who he seems, but maybe they have more in common than she realizes.
Another perfect story about two imperfect people that you wont want to put down!
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To purchase the book on Amazon, Click the link below
The Nightingale
Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah likes to make a fictional story yet focus on something factual within history. This is a beautlul story that takes place during WW2. I have to give Kristin Hannah major credit for nto just developing a beautiful story, but also staying true to the facts surrounding the War. Hannah is one of the most descriptive writers I have come across so far. I will say the beginning of the story, like many of her stories, starts out slow, however it is because she takes her time with character development. In the halfway mark I no longer could put it down and I blew through this nearly 600 page book in just about 72 hours. It is a great story about sisters, love, and war. In the end, you will not be expecting the outcome, but you will love the story for its poetic nature.
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To purchase the book online, Click the link below
Regretting You
Colleen Hoover
This is such a good read! Again and again CoHo comes up with something unique and amazing. This book is written from the point of view of a mom and daughter. At first I thought it was going to be slightly juvenile from reading the back cover, but it wasn't and the story is simply something you would have to read to understand. While a mistake created this family unit, love seemed to keep it together. However, we find out that not everything is as it seems and a whopper of a lie is waiting to crash down on the whole family when there is no left one to answer to it. .
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
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Things we Never Got Over
Lucy Score
Super steamy story about a woman who always takes care of everyone else and a man who always has his heart guarded due to past trauma. These two individuals couldn't be any more different, but their chemistry is something to yearn for. Knox is every girls dream version of the bad boy next door and Naomi just left her last relationship scratching his head at the altar. What happens when the two of them get together? Sparks. A lot of them.
Naomi falls in love with this little town that she haphazzardly stumbled into the night of her not wedding because her evil twin (yeah, theres really no other way to describe Tina), got herself into trouble and needed to be bailed out. Thats how she ends up in this town, falling in love with everything that it is, and all the people in it. This is the first book in a 3 book series about the different couples in the town of Knockemout. .
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To buy from Amazon, Click on the link below
Things We Hide From the Light
Lucy Score
The second book in the Knockemout series focuses on Knox's brother, Nash, who I am convinced is the literary version of Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead. He is definitely the stereotypical 'officer friendly' yet a good looking one to boot, air go my visual of the bad ass, friend to all, Rick Grimes in TWD. Anyway, in the last book, we find out that Nash has gotten shot and we now learn that he has some PTSD to work through. However, we also met Lina, Knox's old flame and long time friend and these two clearly have a mutual attraction. Similar to Knox, Lina doesn't do relationships and does not want to enter one. However, Nash and Lina seem to be drawn to each other like magnets and they have to figure out whatever this is while trying to hunt down who targeted nash in the first place.
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To buy from Amazon, Click on the Link below
The Great Alone
Kristin Hannah
The first half of this book is slow. It took me halfway through to decide if I liked it or not, but once I hit that halfway mark and the tides changed from character building to major character development, I was hooked. Kristin Hannah managed to make living off grid in Alaska sound appealing The vital need to rely on your community to survive every winter is a very real thing in the rural parts of Alaska. It is both terrifying and intriguing, which makes for an excellent book. The Albright family has been moving around, trying to find the right 'home' for them since Ernt came home from War. He has been seemingly chasing a happy life ever since returning home to no avail. After finding out his late friend from war had left him land .in Alaska, he decides to move his family and attempt to live off grid. While Ernt feels as though he needs to prepare his family for winter and how to become an Alaskan, but perhaps the women in the family had what it takes all along.
This is a beautiful story about triumph, love, and all things Alaskan,
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
To buy from Amazon, Click on the link below
Never Never
Colleen Hoover and Taryn Fisher
Along the lines of Verity and Layla, this is another twisted thriller, mixed with love and something slightly paranormal, if that is even what you call it. I have never been so thoroughly confused while reading a book, in a good way. I couldn't put it down because I needed answers and I needed them yesterday. Colleen Hoover wrote this book with Taryn Fisher resulting in a truly different type of thriller, allowing no room for boundaries. Have an open mind while reading this book as it is once again something incredibly different. While Silas and Charlie have lost their memory at the same time, CoHo and Taryn do an excellent job making you feel just as confused, stunned and frustrated as they are while they try and unravel the truth.
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5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
Something Wilder
Christina Lauren
This was my first book from Christina Lauren, which is a pen name for TWO authors and best friends who have written 29 books together, 'Something Wilder' being their most recent. I LOVED this book for the fact that it was so different. It had love, adventure, drama, and even violence. My favorite part about this book, besides the charcters and their chemistry, was the setting, SUCH A GREAT SETTING! I thought this book was fun along with the sexual tension you could cut with a knife between Lily and Leo. This is a story about second chances in love and it couldn't be more perfect.
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5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
The Lies That Bind
Emily Giffin
This book is about a woman who seems to finally meet the right person for her while wallowing at the bar after a breakup. However, he is hiding a few secrets we have yet to discover. Once she has fallen for Grant, he disappears without a trace during the tragic events of 9/11.
I just couldn't love this book. The ending was great, and while the point of this book is to never settle in love or your career, I feel like it took Cecily a hell of a long time to figure that out. I also just felt like the vibe I was getting from this story was that Cecily couldn't let go of either man and was stringing along a man she had no interest in, for fear of being alone, and holding on to a literal ghost. That just didn't sit well with me through the entire book. In the end, I liked the ending enough to say its worth the read for you to decide yourself.
One little Easter egg I did love was that we got to revisit some of the characters from 'Something Borrowed.'
3 Stars
Though I give it 3 stars, I do still think its worth the read
The Wives
Taryn Fisher
I was not expecting that! This book starts off very cut and dry, a story about a woman who is one of 3 wives, in this day and age its actually not that crazy, I mean, I've seen Sister Wives, whatever floats your boat. Halfway through you start to question EVERYTHING, yet still believing everything. And then, right when you think you have it all figured out, you do not. Similar to her book with Colleen Hoover, Taryn Fisher creates a level of confusion that keeps you wanting and needing to know more. This thriller had me guessing and catching me off guard straight up to the literal last words on the book. .
4 Stars
Worth the read
Black Lies
Alessandra Torre
Holy steam! This is by far the steamiest book I have read, Lucy Score following closely behind. While the sex is good, the plot is equally as good. I had yet to come across a book like this and I really don't want to give anything away. The best I can give you; Layana grew up with money, trying to avoid the same lifestyle as her parents. However, when she falls for the billionaire tech mogul, Brant, at her annual fundraiser, she finds herself living the life didn't think she wanted. This love seems perfect, until she meets Lee and her life gets turned upside down. You think you know what is going to happen, you think this is a story like every other cheating story you have read, well, I promise you it is not.
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
Love & Other Words
Christina Lauren
Okay, I am pretty sure I am adding this to my top 5 books, so I may need to push another book off that list. It is so good! This is the sweetest, most endearing love story! It goes back and forth between their past, growing up next door from each other, and now, meeting each other again as adults. It is a perfect, beautiful story of how two kids, Macy and Elliott, build a seemingly perfect relationship, learning how to love, in more ways than one. While reading, it's hard to imagine why these two would have separated and gone eleven years without speaking, until we actually do find out why. It's a beautiful story about finding their way back to one another, overcoming the past, and truly allowing yourself to realize what makes you happy and that you are in fact deserving of that happiness. It is realizing life is too short to waste time away from the people who you love and are meant to be with.
5 Stars
A must have for your book shelf
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The Last Thing He Told Me
Laura Dave
This is a Mystery book that certainly has you scratching your head from the first page. It kept me interested, I loved the storyline, I loved that I was always curious. It was a quick and easy read because of how well it was written, however I am not quite sure how I feel about the ending.
Without giving much away, Hannah met Owen, they fell in love and when they got married she found herself to be not just marrying a man, but also his daughter. Hannah knows just how important Bailey is to Owen, but when he goes missing, it makes Hannah second guess everything she has ever known about him, with the exception of how much Bailey means to him. Because that seems to be the only thing she knows for sure about Owen, she is able to navigate the wild goose chase that her and Bailey set out on, trying to find answers and a normal life without Owen.
4.5 Stars
I want to give it 5 stars, but there is just something missing in it for me to give it out.
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Daisy Jones & The Six
Taylor Jenkins Reed
I am SO sorry to all of the Daisy Jones lovers out there, but I just could not love this book! The entire book is an interview, so at times it is hard to keep track of who is talking and who has what story. Because of that, there isnt much dialogue. Once you get used to the actual interview format, it isn't too hard to follow, its just a little different than the average reader is used to. Now with all of that being said, the book is mainly about drugs and a band. I would argue its mostly about drugs and what it does to people in a band. I think because this book from start to finish is one man's struggle is drugs and others survival with drugs, it just wasn't my cup of tea. The tension was mainly between the main character and the drugs, opposed to the normal sexual tension you get between to characters in a book. The other thing I didnt like about the book is that there was no surprise element. Nothing shocked me. There was no twist and I certainly was able to keep putting it down.
In case you plan on reading, I don't want to give it away, but this book to me is the ultimate story of 'the one that got away' and I just felt like it was slightly depresing in the end.
Now this book has a large following and a lot of die hard fans. So please, dont take my word for it and try it out yourself.
3 stars
While I did not LOVE the book, its worth finding out what all the fuss is about.
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Slammed
Colleen Hoover
This is CoHo's very first book published and I am SO impressed. It isnt the best book of hers, but considering it's the very first, all I can say is I am impressed.
I feel like CoHo always adds so many layers to her books, so many secrets you have yet to discover. I always love how she suprises you almost every time with at least one major plot twist. It is so interesting to see how she started out. While is book doesnt have as much depth as her others, as many layers you need to dive into, this is only because she got so much better with time. If I hadnt read every single one of her books before this, I would have loved this story and loved the easy read without any hesitation,
CoHo brings us to Michigan in this book, where Layken has had to move after the death of her father. She left her entire life behind and moved into a smaller rental with her mother and her nine year old brother. She is hating the move, that is until she meets the cute next door neighbor.who she finds out is raising his brother alone after he loses both his parents tragically. The soon fidn that have a lot more in common than they bargained for.
Its a forbidden love story with a twist. It had me laughing out loud in some parts and made me want to keep reading.
4 stars
Very much worth the read
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Point of Retreat
Colleen Hoover
This is CoHo's second book ever and her second book in the 'Slammed' series. It had more layers than the previous book, but still not as developed as her other books. That aside, it's still extremely well written and an absolutely adorable story line. A lot of drama in this book with the resurgence of Will's ex girlfriend and a near death experience for one of the book's main characters. Over all, a very good young adult book and worth the read indeed.
Just like in the first book, this book had me laugh out loud several times due to a new the sarcastic humor and also the introduction of an 11 year old new character who's family brought more color to the story.
4 stars
Very much worth the read
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Point of Retreat
This Girl
Colleen Hoover
Similar to the Hopeless series we are now retelling the first book from Will's point of view. However, slightly different from the Hopeless series, the book is set in present day, with Will and Lake revisiting their nearly two years together. If you watch 'Big Brother' or 'Survivor,' this is the episode where the cast has a script and they ask them to look back on the entire previous season, so we just end up watching clips that we've already seen. .
First, I want to point out this really shows off Coho's ability to elaborate on things she mentions in the previous books. She picks out little details from the previous books and makes them biger details in showing Will's side of things. While a lot of the books is repetitive, it makes for a bigger pictures a better story, knowing everyone's point of view.
3 stars
Worth to the read to get a bigger picture, but very repetitive
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This Girl
The Christie Affair
Nina de Gramont
Ah, a book totally different from anything I have read before. Thie title in and of itself leaves much to speculate, but is it an accurate speculation? No, no it is not. First and foremost, the book is loosely surrounded by the historically accurate disappearance of Agatha Christie, the famous writer of the 20's, as well as her husbands alleged affair. However, besides those facts, the rest is pure fiction. It is also written from the point of view of the mistress herself, giving you a side of the story you were not expecting. Lastly, like any good book, there is a twist. Perhaps you can see it coming a mile away, perhaps you do not. My opinion was of the former, however I didn't pick up the twist until more than halfway through the book and I was second guessing myself quite a bit.
I feel like this is gossip girl of the 1920's. The drama was piled ontop of drama, which was piled ontop of more drama. My only qualm with this book is just how much of it has heavy period references and terms that you would only know if you were from Ireland or London. At times, it made it a little difficult to follow.
Overall, this was a good read. However, I was not so enthralled that I couldn't put the book down, which brings down my star rating. The ending is left somewhat open ended and also somewhat confusing. We know the outcome, but yet we don't actually know how the characters got to that outcome. Confusing? I guess you will have to read it to figure out what I mean.
3 stars
Worth to the read for a good story, but at times difficult to follow
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A Summer Affair
Elin Hilderbrand
Another great Nantucket story! This book was exactly how it sounds; all about an affair. There are some things I loved about it, and some things I did not love.
First, I thought this book did a great job showcasing how easy it can be fall into an affair if your marriage isn't strong. It paints a perfect picture of how even a seemingly perfect marriage can be subject to an affair if the marriage as any bit of weakness. If someone is feeling unappreciated, or constantly taken for grated, cracks form in that marriage and a gaping hole can emerge. And then the person who you always thought had the most perfect marriage is the leading story in the rumor mill.
This book covers the affair for a full year, and while the actual story was very good, I did feel as though there were some mundane things added for fluff that didn't need to be there.
4 stars
Worth the read!
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The Castaways
Elin Hilderbrand
Yet another great Nantucket story! This book starts off with a tragedy when a couple on the Island gets into a boating accident and both die. They left behind a set of twins and a large friend group that were all extremely close.
The book focuses on a group of 8 friends who refer to themselves as 'The Castaways.' They travel together at least once a year and get together weekly. The couple who die in the boating accident seem to be the 'it" couple of the group, BUT there are SO MANY secrets within this group of friends. There is a lot of unfaithfulness, a lot of lies and a lot to uncover when Tess and Greg die and leave everyone behind with a million questions.
Besides, uncovering all the secrets and history within this group of friends, we also see how each of them handle the death of their friends in very different manners. Some it hurts more than others, and for some it ends up helping them turn their lives around.
this is a standsard Elin Hilderbrand book, so if you like Elin, you will love this book. , .
4 stars
Worth the read!
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Then She Was Gone
Lisa Jewell
This was my first book I've read from Lisa Jewell after a recommendation that this book was so good, it was read in 24 hours. With my interest peaked, I started the book and was getting more and more feedback about how great this book was from followers.
Well, this book did not disappoint! I read it relatively quickly, it held my interest, and I definitely wanted to keep picking it back up to read.
This is a thriller, set in London. Some of the terminology is a bit hard to follow being I am not from London and have never been but you can figure it out for the most part. You do figure out 'the ending' relatively quickly, or at least what happened to the missing girl, Ellie. However, there are so many holes you are needing to find out that keeps you needing to read the story to find out how exactly we got from point A to point B.
Its amazing how something so sad and deranged can have a happy ending where you actually enjoy the entire story from start to finish. While this could definitely be in the same category as Verity in its sinister storyline, it is not written nearly the same. It reads less terrifying somehow. possibly because you already know what happens in the end, but its a lot easier to swallow the saddness in this book and creates for a really good story.
5 stars
Didnt want to put it down!
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People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry
Since 'Beach Read' made it into my top ten books from 2022-2023, I was expecting 'People We Meet on Vacation' to really knock my socks off. The first half of the book was pretty slow for my liking and slightly boring.
However, the second half of the book I couln't put down. This is a story about two best friends that have seemingly always been in love, but were both too afraid to change their relationship into something else, for all different reasons. Poppy's sarcastic personality makes for a good laugh, and the chemistry between Poppy and Alex is very good. They are complete opposites in every sense of the word, but they are drawn to eachother like magnets.
4 stars
I would have given this book a 5 if the first half of the book kept my interest like the second half
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Too Late
Colleen Hoover
Another twisted thriller from Colleen Hoover. While some have said this book is even more dramatic and more sinister than Verity, I would have to disagree. Verity still holds a place on my book shelf as one of the most sinister books I have ever read. This one definitely has trigger warnings, just like Verity. But these trigger warnings are more in the realm of domestic violence and drug related crime. All in all, it was a great, quick read, as found in a most of CoHo’s novels. It was another book that I had a hard time putting down and had a turn around of about 36 hours. without giving much away, this is a great story about a young woman who clearly drew the short straw for most of her life, was easily manipulated and easily coerced into this lifestyle, until she finally met someone who made her stronger and allowed her to break free from her situation and realize that she is worth more than she knew.
5 stars
in true CoHo fashion, I could not put the book down!
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Too Late
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5 Star weekend
Elin Hilderbrand
Besides 28 summers, this might be my new favorite Elin book. This book starts out with a heartbreaking loss for the main character, Hollis, who is a food influencer. After the death of her husband, she finds herself feeling very lost and unsure of how exactly she is to continue her life. Her relationship with her only daughter is very rocky and her only solace is to escape to her nantucket summer home. She found a fellow influencer recently hosted something called a 5 star weekend, after she herself went through a tough loss. This consisted of a girls weekend where she invited one friend from each part of her life. Hollis thinking this would be a great idea, decided to to the same, inviting someone from each major part of her life. However, the woman from her “current” life is someone she has never met, a follower of her website, and this person is not at all what she expected.
This book was a very good read and developed faster than your average Hilderbrand book. Very worth the read!
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5 stars
Such a good story
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Pretend You’re mine
Lucy Score
For those of you who like a good steamy read, look no further than anything Lucy Score. If you have read the Knockemout books and loved them, this is for you. This is the first book in another one of her trilogies ( I read them out of order, but to not confuse you I am putting them in the right order for this review).
This book has everything you would expect from a Lucy score spicey romance novel; heroics, drama, sadness, and two extremely magnetized people.
Luke suffered a traumatizing loss early on, and he has a hard time opening up to an actual relationship with the lovely and chaotic Harper. However, when his sister suggests the two of them “pretend” to be a couple in order to get the family off his back, he gets a taste of what a real relationship can actually be like, and maybe, just maybe, he can let her in.
5 stars
great story, great spice!
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Finally mine
Lucy Score
............
5 stars
great story, great spice!
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Finally Mine
What am I currently reading?
Too Late
Colleen Hoover
This is the last CoHo book I have to read! I cannot wait to share with you my first impressions
Want to try and read along with me? I will always update this section to let you know whatever I am currently reading and what my first impression is.
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What is in my TBR (to be read) pile? have a Look...
Elin HIlderbrand
Elin HIlderbrand
Kristin Hannah
Chevy Stevens
Emily Henry
Elin Hilderbrand