What I've read lately

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!