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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

What I've read lately

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I was a reading machine this month!  This is probably the most I've read in a month EVER!  I'm actually really proud of that. lol!  Also, I've already hit my Goodreads goal for the year....so that's crazy.  Next year, I will have to pick a higher number.  I honestly thought I was going to struggle to read 20 books this year, but I've really been enjoying this a lot!  I have such a long reading list that I will probably never catch up.  I read a total of TWELVE books this month!

Down the Shore by T. Torrest
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I thought this was a really fun read. I really enjoyed Livia's character a lot because she's not the typical "damaged" or "weak" girl. She knows exactly what she wants and she's not afraid to show it. While obviously being a happy romance book, it still doesn't have the feel of a typical romance novel. Sometimes, I need a good "fluff" type of book to break up the darker ones I read.
(c/o NetGalley)

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Speaking of the darker books I read..... this is definitely one of them. I didn't end up enjoying it as much as Dark Places and Gone Girl but I still thought it was okay. I think the main thing about this one that I didn't like was that the end didn't seem quite as shocking as her other books. I had already kind of guessed who the killer was...so that kind of takes a little away for me, I guess.

Premiere: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I had never heard this author's name before but I REALLY enjoyed this book! It was such a sweet love story. I am a huge theater lover and even hold a degree in back stage theater so this one was right up my alley! It was an easy and refreshing read.
(c/o NetGalley)

Nothing Like Looking by Chris Van Hakes
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Honestly, I thought it was a little strange that the main character faked being gay to be popular at her new school. I actually went to school with quite a few gay friends and it in no way made them popular. If anything it made them more of outcasts, so that took me a little bit to wrap my head around. I think I mostly enjoyed this one because of the J R R Tolkien references. lol!
(c/o NetGalley)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one a lot.  I loved the dorkiness of the main character with her fanfiction, because I can totally relate to that.  lol!  (I'm a big Harry Potter nerd)  I read Attachments by Rowell last month and liked that just a teeny bit more so that's the only reason that it has one less star, but I really did enjoy their love story.

Beyond A Doubt by Nancy Cole Silverman
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Honestly, I got about 35-40% of the way through this book and decided to give up on it. The main character, Carol, is investigating disappearances/murders of women in the area so she goes to a few nightclubs that she thinks they may have disappeared from, BUT for some unknown reason, decides to bring her underage daughter with her...??  Why would she do that?  What mother would do that?  Then she doesn't watch her at the nightclub (mother of the year award) and she ends up finding her drugged in a bathroom...duh!  Ugghh  I was just frustrated and done at that point...lol.  I only gave it a 2 star because, who knows, maybe it got better after I stopped reading.  I just couldn't get into the story at all.
(c/o NetGalley)

Don't Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This one was a lot different from the usual mystery/thrillers that I've been reading, and I really enjoyed it! It has a more paranormal story line than I'm used to but it was done in a really good, non-cheesy way. It was really creepy and had me guessing the whole time.
(c/o NetGalley)

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I think it's safe to say that I've found a new favorite author.  I really liked Me Before You when I read it last month and I loved this one even more!  I've added a bunch of her other books to my "to read" list now too.  I can't get enough.  I love the way she writes her characters and makes you really feel every emotion that they are going through.

Damage Done by by Amanda Panitch
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This one was definitely a page-turner for me, I think I ended up reading it in one day actually!  I ended up guessing the ending before it happened but it still held the creepiness factor.
(c/o NetGalley)

Don't Get Me Wrong by Marianne Kavanagh
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I was a little bit disappointed with this one.  They were saying if you loved Jojo Moyes than you would love this one, and also that it was a sort of modern day Pride & Prejudice type of story.  I felt as if the prejudice was all very once sided in this one.  I also felt like they rushed the love at the end...  The ending wasn't much of an ending and leaves you to sort of make your own guess too.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This one was super creepy!  It's a thriller about a 7 year old girl that lost her twin sister, and everyone in the family is keeping secrets from each other.  What is it about children that can end up being so scary?!  lol.  It definitely had the hairs on my arms standing up more than once. I didn't see that ending coming at all either!  I love a good twist ending.
(c/o NetGalley)

Flipped by Ines Saint
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This was definitely the type of book I needed after that last creepy one.  It was a light fluffy type of romance book, but I really enjoyed the characters a lot.  It is actually going to be a series, going through each one of the brother's lives and I will definitely try to keep up with them because the brothers were my favorite part!

What have you been reading lately?  If you are on Goodreads, we should be friends!





38 comments:

  1. Thanks for the new list!!! I am reading some of my series books right now -- seems like 5 of them came out at once! LOL!!!!

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  2. You are on fire, girl! I've got to get on board. Just joined Goodreads... Hopefully that will motivate me!

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  3. haha I can't believe I read so much last month, I'm already 2 in for next month's book review post. LOL! I'm super excited that you joined Goodreads! I found you (like a creeper!!) and sent a friend request! lol

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  4. haha that always seems to be the way it goes. I won't have anything to read in front of me and then a bunch of stuff comes all at once. I've got myself a long reading list now though...lol! Probably about 20 books! lol! I think it's safe to call it an addiction now

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  5. I have Sharp Objects and One Plus One on my to read list! I can only imagine how dark Sharp Objects will be, though I love Gillian Flynn's books, they are such page turners.

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  6. So many good books, so little time!
    melanie @ meandmr.com

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  7. hahaha! Yeah, I have sooo many more that I would like to get through.

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  8. They are definite page-turners. Sharp Objects just didn't have the pull of Dark Places for me. I don't know why. I LOVED One Plus One!

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  9. I enjoyed Sharp Objects. By far her most messed up book and that says a lot. I didn't love Fangirl but Attachments was fantastic! Her next book is a fantasy book based entirely on the Simon Snow universe so you might enjoy that.


    One Plus One is on my to-read list. Jojo Moyes and Liane Moriarty are on track to be my binge read authors this year.

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  10. I read Gone Girl in a day, I was so hooked. So I picked up Sharp Objects and was totally freaked out by it, haha. I am still on the fence if Dark Places will be too dark for me! I need a good summer read. :)


    Brooke
    pumps and push-ups

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  11. I want to read some more Jojo Moyes books, I really loved Me Before You.


    I've got The Ice Twins on my to read list so I'm glad it got a good rating.

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  12. Wow you did read a lot! And a lot of books I have yet to hear about! Thanks for so many new books to check out :)

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  13. I totally agree with your thoughts on Sharp Objects. I'm not a big fan of paranormal either but Don't Turn Around has me intrigued. So does The Ice Twins. I have a JoJo Moyes book at home on a bookshelf. I hear so many great things about her books, I'm almost scared to read it. I don't want to be disappointed.

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  14. You killed it this month!


    I might check out The Ice Twins.

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  15. Ok, so I HAVE to read a Jojo Moyes book like NOW because I haven't yet and her books are everywhere! I rather liked Fan Girl more than Attachments. I got hooked into Fan Girl much more quickly than Attachments. Maybe just something about college love that I love ;).

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  16. I really like Jojo Moyes too! I'm adding Premiere and The Ice Twins to my list!

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  17. This was a fabulous reading month! I would recommend Linwood Barclay if you enjoy crime thrillers.

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  18. It really was! I read a few really good ones, and I'm already working on a post for next month! haha! I've been reading like crazy lately. I will definitely check out Linwood Barclay, thanks!

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  19. I read Premiere on my Kindle but I think I'm going to buy an actual book so I can reread it someday, I really enjoyed that one. I thought The Ice Twins was super creepy. Let me know what you think if you check them out!

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  20. I've only read 2 Jojo Moyes books but really liked them both, so I added a bunch of her others to my "to read" list. lol! haha and I know what you mean about the college love stories. I ended up really loving both of them

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  21. Thanks! I'm trying to do even better this month but we'll see! haha! I have so many books to read on my shelves and I just can't get enough! lol. I thought The Ice Twins was really creepy. I always think stories with kids end up being creepier. LOL

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  22. haha I was a little nervous to try Jojo Moyes at first too because she came so highly recommended but I ended up really loving both books I read, even though Me Before You made me cry like a baby. LOL!

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  23. haha thanks! There are a lot of brand new ones or ones that are going to be coming out soon on my list. I was given quite a few of them in exchange for a review.

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  24. Me Before You made me cry like a baby. LOL! I really enjoyed One Plus One and have added a bunch of her other books to my "to read" list now too. I hope you enjoy The Ice Twins, it has a lot of twists and turns, that's for sure

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  25. I felt like Dark Places was a lot darker than the other two but that could just be me. It takes a little while to get going but it's good once it gets there. lol If that makes any sense

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  26. I enjoyed Attachments a bit more than Fangirl too, I definitely think I will check out the Simon Snow book she has coming out soon too. I really like Rainbow Rowell and Jojo Moyes right now. I still haven't checked out any of Liane Moriarty's books but everyone has been saying they are great

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  27. I really need to carve out more time for Rainbow Rowell. I've heard only good things about her book and I enjoyed Eleanor and Park, so I really want to read her other stuff. I'm also a huge Moyes fan after You Before Me. One Plus One is on my current list so I'm hoping to get through that before may's linkup.

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  28. Looks like you read some good ones this month. I requested Flipped and Damage Done. Down The Shore sounds really good, I need some light summer reads. Thanks for all the recommendations.

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  29. Dang girl! Way to go with all your books lately! I'm a little over halfway with Gone Girl and I love it so much! Even though I've already seen the movie and it follows the book pretty closely. I'll need to check out JoJo Moyes once I finish my large "to read" box of books under the bed.

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  30. The Ice Twins sounds good but I will have to read when I am with other people for a weekend so I am not too creeped out! Love Jojo Moyes too!

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  31. Living on Cloud NineMay 19, 2015 at 3:39 PM

    Julie, I love how you rated these for us. I have been wanting to read One Plus One and you validated that! ;) You so rock girl. I do get in about a dozen in the summer, but one month, wow!!! Hope you are having a super day!

    livingoncloudandreanine.blogspot.com

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  32. Thanks so much! I loved One Plus One, I think it took a little while to get started but I really enjoyed it. I go through phases where I read like crazy sometimes. lol!

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  33. hahaha I know what you mean! I'm like that too. If I watch a scary movie, my husband has to be there with me

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  34. haha thanks! I have so many books in my "to read" pile that I can't help myself! lol I go through phases where I read a lot and then I go back to only one or two every month or so.

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  35. I did have quite a few good ones this time around. I haven't been so lucky with some of my most recent ones though. LOL!

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  36. I loved both of those so much! I hope you enjoy them too! I will have to look into The Winner's Curse/Crime then too. Thanks!

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  37. I haven't read Eleanor and Park yet but everyone says they love it. I have a few of her other books on my "to read" list. I really enjoy her style of writing

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  38. Hurray! More books to read!
    Melanie @ meandmr.com

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