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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

What I've read lately

(All titles link to Goodreads synopsis)

I read A TON of books again this month (FIFTEEN!!)!  I've been on a roll lately, I guess.  I have been doing one mini book review post a month for quite a while now but I'm wondering if I should start splitting them up and do two a month so it's not sooo many at once....  What do you guys think?  Would you rather me just keep things the same and list all the books I read that month in one post, or is it a bit too much information for you?  Let me know what you think!!

Paper Towns by John Green
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was my first ever John Green read, and I still have mixed feelings about it. I really love Quentin and his group of friends, and even the interactions with his classmates because they seemed very real and like people I would have known in school. But I really didn't like Margo at all. At first she didn't seem bad but then as the story went I liked her less and less. Without giving anything away, I would like to say that I'm glad Quentin made the decision he made at the end.

Caught Up in You by Kim Boykin
My rating: 3 out of 3 stars
This one was a really quick romance read (104 pages) so I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed it, but I also felt as if it could have used more story in some places. I think it would have been more complete with just a few more details.
(c/o NetGalley)

There Goes the Bride by Catherine Mann
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was another really quick romance read. I think the author did an amazing job with the chemistry between the two main characters. It really sizzled. I wish it was just a teeny bit longer. I didn't feel as if I got a good feel for the characters.
(c/o NetGalley)

Down the Aisle With Bridezilla by Carli Palmer
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I've always loved books that involve weddings and Bridezillas so I was really excited about this one. I thought there was going to be a little more humor in the book than there was. It was just another demanding bride after another and Megan (the main character/wedding coordinator) always seemed completely miserable. I didn't feel any real "sparks" between Megan and her love interest at all either. It was a fun read with lots of quirky and crazy brides though.
(c/o NetGalley)

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
First I would like to say that if you are not a fan stories involving things like: graphic violence, rape, adultery, eating disorders, etc then this is definitely not the book for you. I felt as if the story started a bit slow and then got really good towards the middle and then fell flat for me at the end. I wanted a bigger punch at the end! I was waiting and hoping for something big to happen but it never did. Almost every character in this book is VERY unlikable, including the main character. But I think that intrigued me even more.
(c/o NetGalley)

Love in a Time of Monsters by Teresa Yea
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I ended up loving this one! It was my first fantasy read in quite a while.  I loved how flawed and damaged the main character, Cat, is even though she is supposed to be the monster slaying "hero". This book is a lot grittier than I expected it to be. There were so many times that I couldn't put this one down because I needed to know what was going to happen!
(c/o NetGalley)

If You're Not the One by Jemma Forte
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I thought the concept for this book was really interesting: a woman who is unhappy with how things are currently in her life is involved in an accident that sends her into a coma where is is able to see how her life would have turned out had she chosen a different paths. It ended up dragging on a bit for me, especially when she kept going back through her and Tim's story. I couldn't stand his character at all so I had to force myself through those storylines. The story kind of ends open-ended and leaves you to sort of make up your own ending about what you think she decides to do. It ended up falling a bit short for me.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This story was designed to be a mix between Swan Lake and Robin Hood, so I knew I would really like it.  It is a Christian novel (which I actually had no idea before starting it) so there were a lot of mentions of God, and praying, and things like that.  I don't normally read too many Christian novels but the religious undertones didn't really bother me at all.  It ended up being a pretty nice love story.
(c/o NetGalley)

Spelled by Betsy Schow
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
The really cheesy play on words got old really fast. "pix you" "oh for Grimm's sake". Once I blocked out all of those I was able to enjoy the story a bit more. The princess starts out very self centered and I hated her at first so it was nice to see her go through a bit of transformation, and grow up a bit as the story goes on.  I really liked Kato's character a lot.  I like how the ending set it up for another book.  I also enjoyed all of the references to other fairy tale characters.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Lie by C.L. Taylor
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This one definitely kept me turning the pages.  I wasn't sure what to expect out of this one and it had my heart beating like crazy during some of the "5 years ago" chapters.  You had no idea who to trust or what was really going on some of the time.  I wasn't overly surprised by the ending, however.  Once they said Leanne was alive and out of an institution I kind of figured she would be up to something.  I really liked Al's character a lot
(c/o NetGalley)

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
It started out with so much potential but there was just something missing for me. they focus on her job in the company more than the relationship between the main two characters and then when something happens you expect for some kind of romance but it's came off more as lust. I would have liked to have seen them talk about everything that happened more until leaving it for one short talk at the very end. I didn't dislike it...it was just kind of "okay"
(c/o NetGalley)

Forward Pass by Desiree Holt
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I wasn't quite prepared for the heat factor in this one. It was much more of an erotica romance than I am used to reading but I ended up really loving it. I love stories where they have known each other all their lives. I love their witty and sarcastic banter back and forth too. The only criticism I would have is that the ending felt a little bit rushed
(c/o NetGalley)

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I just couldn't get into this one at all.  It sounded like such a great story: A woman from New York inherits property in Paris from a woman she doesn't even know. She tries to uncover the truth about why she inherited it instead of the family.  It started really slow and never really picked up for me, and the love story felt like it came out of no where.
(c/o NetGalley)

Faking Perfect by Rebecca Phillips
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really liked this one. I only wish there was a little bit more about Tyler in the book. we don't know too much about him other than him having a secret hook-up relationship with the main character. he was probably my favorite character though. I enjoyed "watching" the main character grow as the book went on. going from someone that was extremely desperate to fit in into someone who realized that it's okay to be yourself.
(c/o NetGalley)

Shroud of Roses by Gloria Ferris
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I really like Bliss' stubborn and witty sarcasm but I actually wasn't found of her "boyfriend" at all. Most of the time he acted as if he didn't care about her at all or treated pretty crappy. I understand that he had issues in his past, as did she, but I wouldn't have put up with it. Other then there relationship, the mystery itself has me pretty curious but I wasn't very surprised by the ending either. I enjoyed reading it but it just fell short for me in a few areas.
(c/o NetGalley)

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



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37 comments:

  1. Where do you find all this time to read so many books?! I've only read Paper Towns out of these but didn't love it either.

    Sarah
    thesurznickcommonroom.com

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  2. You are on a roll, girlfriend! I'm using Audible and have a book credit this month, so this is timely for me! Thanks for the suggestions! And go you!

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  3. You're the second person to give Spelled a not so great rating, it makes me sad because the awesome cover makes me want to pick it up.


    I have Luckiest Girl on my to read list but I'm saving it for the cold dark days of winter, I think it's to heavy for me to read in the summer.

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  4. If I'm being completely honest, I was totally guilty of judging the book by it's cover on Spelled. I saw the really cute cover and thought I would love it.


    There are parts that are really hard to get through in Luckiest Girl. I had to put it down and walk away a couple of times. Definitely parts that made my stomach turn. I hope you end up liking it though!

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  5. Thanks girl! Ever since I started using the Kindle app on my phone, I just breeze through books. lol! I read a chapter here and there. I haven't tried audiobooks yet but I bet that would be great while I'm doing things around the house or laundry!

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  6. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one that wasn't crazy about Paper Towns. I was incredibly underwhelmed after all of the hype.


    I downloaded the Kindle app on my phone and have been reading them from there. I seem to breeze through them if I read them on my phone. I've made it a habit to read for at least an hour before bed and during my daughter's nap time. I'm a super quick reader too.... I'm actually a bit surprised at how many I've read these past two months too. It really seems to relax me tho =)

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  7. I've only liked one John Green book, The Fault in Our Stars, even though I've tried others!

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  8. I have a huge crush on John Green (#noshame). Paper Towns was actually my favorite book of his but I can totally understand your opinion of the story. The movie version isn't a must see for me, though.

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  9. Girl you have been busy. Wait, bussssyyyyy. Except that looks funny so bizzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. I'm really hoping to actually have time to read this summer so I'm hitting up this list again in a few weeks!

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  10. I thought about reading The Fault in Our Stars but I chicken out because I know it's going to make me cry. lol! Anything dealing with cancer makes me extremely depressed (we have a lot of it in my family)

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  11. haha I know so many people that love John Green too but I don't know, I just wasn't thrilled with it. Maybe I just expected too much because of all the hype around it

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  12. hahaha bizzzzyy does look much better!! lol. I have a lot of "meh" ones but there have been some really good ones too. Reading really helps with my stress levels. I've been much calmer since I started reading again

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  13. I read 15 books last month too! You read some really great ones! I totally agree with you about the ending of The Luckiest Girl Alive. It was just like, oh, that's it?

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  14. I LOVE the cover for Love in a Time of Monsters! I'll have to add that to my goodreads list :)

    Sarah
    Midwest Darling

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  15. What a super star super reader you are! I giggled when you said that you weren't "prepared for the heat factor". I've read The Fault in Our Stars. I loved it, but I wasn't fanatical about it. I've been meaning to give another go to another John Green, I just haven't yet.

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  16. So impressed with how much you read this month. Faking perfect and Forward Pass sound good. I'll be checking them out.

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  17. I haven't read any of these!
    Melanie @ meandmr.com

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  18. Ooohh, a whole list of books I haven't read, so neat! You read a ton, lady, well done!

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  19. Too bad there was only one 5/5 book but plenty of 3/5 (so so) books. I like that you keep the reviews all in one place :). I hear ya about Paper Towns. This book did not turn me into a John Green fan.

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  20. Yeah, not too many super amazing ones this past month but I've already read 2 really good ones for my June "what I've read" post! lol. I was really disappointed with Paper Towns so I doubt I will go out of my way to read another one of his

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  21. haha thanks! I've already got a few on my June list too! I'm on a roll! LOL

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  22. Most of them are brand new books or haven't been released yet. I was given advance reading copies to review. It's fun to be able to check out some books before they are even out. I don't have to worry about spoilers! haha

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  23. Thanks so much! They were both really good! If you do check them out, let me know what you think!

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  24. hahaha! Yeah, that one definitely caught me a little off guard. I'm not a fan of erotica types normally, I like a good story. That one had a good combination of both. I've been on a big reading kick lately, I've actually already gotten started on my June "what I've read" post LOL

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  25. I haven't heard of any of these books but they sound like awesome suggestions! I have to confess though, I've been slacking with my reading lately.

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  26. That's awesome! Good job! I'm going to try to do the same or better this month. We'll see! I'm on my way but I'm not sure if it will happen. lol! And YES, the ending to Luckiest Girl was so disappointing! It was a fair story at that point but that just killed it for me

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  27. That was one of the big things that drew me into that book. The cover is so pretty! I try not to judge a book by it's cover but I'm super guilty of it. lol! This one ended up being really good tho

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  28. Most of them are books that are just being released or haven't been released yet, I was given advanced reading copies to review. It's so much fun, I love it. And I don't have to worry about reading any spoilers! haha! Before this year, it had been a LONG time since I read a book but it's like I rediscovered my love for it again and can't stop. lol

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  29. I've been waiting to see what someone thought about "love in a time of monsters" Since you liked it I might have to actually read it now! I'm so glad I came by!

    Also I'd like to invite you to join my weekly link up on The Reading List, The Cozy Reading Spot. We share what is on our hearts, minds and bookshelves, and you would be a great addition to the community there.

    I hope I'll see you there sometime!

    Marissa

    Reading List

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  30. Wow! 15 books!! You go, girl! I've been thinking of reading Paper Towns since the movie is coming, but even from the trailers Margo seems really annoying.
    ~Sara

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  31. haha thanks! I'm trying to get the same amount for this month, we'll see tho! Yeah by the end of the book I just wanted to punch Margo. LOL I was not a fan of her at all.

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  32. I really liked Love in a Time of Monsters. It was so different than what I expected, but in a good way. Very gritty and dark in parts.


    Thank you so much for letting me know about your link up! I will definitely stop by!

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  33. You are on FIRE Julie! I read a few books last month, including Paper Towns! I actually liked it much more than I thought I would. I have read several of his books but feel his storylines are too young for me as I can't really relate to the characters. I wasn't a big Margo fan either, especially at the end. I was happy with the ending. Will you be seeing the movie?

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  34. 15 books is seriously impressive! Love in the Time of Monsters sounds right up my alley. Definitely adding it to my to-read list.

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  35. Thanks so much! I trying to get around the same amount next month! Love in a Time of Monsters was great! If you read it, you definitely have to let me know what you think!

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  36. Thanks Lauren! I enjoy YA style books but I agree that sometimes they do feel too young for me. It just depends on the author, I guess. Yeah, I kind of wanted to punch Margo at the end. LOL! I'm not sure if I would see the movie or not. I was just so disappointed. I am really excited to see The Martian tho! That was my favorite book so far this year.

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  37. Ooh there are a few ones being added to my Goodreads here! I read Kiss Me First by Loggie Moggach recently and I can't get it out of my head, it consumed me.

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