Recent Reads

It has been a hot minute since I recapped some of my recent reads, so that’s exactly what I’m doing today! I read quite a few good books throughout December and this month, with only one real doozy (in my opinion) thrown in there.

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks – 4 Stars

I full own that I read this book solely so I could watch the movie and swoon over Scott Eastwood for two hours – can you blame me?! I actually was pleasantly surprised by this book – for once, Nicholas Sparks didn’t give me cause to throw the book across the room from anger once I got to the ending. It was a sweet story of two relationships intertwined over time, and you can’t help but smile while reading it. The movie was just as cute, by the way.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – 5 Stars
After a paperback copy of this has been sitting on my bookshelf for a few years (and has made it through all our moves during that time), I finally made it my mission to cross this book off my list. I am so glad that I did. This is one of those books that stays with you a long time after you finish reading it – was it sad? Of course, but I also found it inspiring. I truly believe this is one of those books that should be required for high school students – it’s a classic in it’s own right.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll – 3 Stars
I had high hopes for this book since I had heard/read that it was Gone Girl meets Girl On the Train. Well, I was sorely disappointed. It was a good book – the story was interesting and intense, but I really couldn’t stand the main character. Yes, she went through an unimaginable experience and I’m not sure anybody could ever get over something like that, but did she have to let it define her and her entire life? I guess I got sick of the constant whining and martyr act.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain – 2 Stars
There’s not much I can say about this book because I think I slept through half of it. Yawn! I admit that I didn’t realize going into this book that it was based on the true story of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife and their tumultuous relationship, so that right there probably would have driven me not to read it in the first place. The only saving grace for this book (in my opinion) is the time period and imagining what Europe was like during that era. Beyond that, it was a trip to snoozeville-USA.

Ally Hughes Has Sex Somtimes: A Novel by Jules Moulin – 3 Stars
I saw this book mentioned in a recent issue of Redbook, and the premise seemed too cute to pass up. While the subject matter was kind of odd – a woman in her forties that only has had sex once, which resulted in pregnancy and the birth of her daughter when she only was in college – you can’t help but root for the main character as she finally comes into her own and takes control of her life. It was cheesy, but super cute.

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz – 3 Stars
First of all, I have to send a huge thanks to Kristen for graciously sharing this book with me! This was an easy read that kept my interest from start to finish. While it was fairly predictable with not a ton of character development, I still liked it nonetheless – mystery, romance, friendship. It basically was a winter version of a beach read.

I’m currently (slowly, might I add) making my way through The Goldfinch, and I have about four other books on hold at the library right now that I can’t wait to dive into next month.

What are you currently reading? I’m always looking to grow my books-to-read list!

Linking up with Kristen