Book Club Title: That Night by Chevy Stevens

When Chevy Stevens published her first novel in 2010, Still Missing, I had heard her style was similar to Jodi Picoult and Jennifer McMahon, two authors I've enjoyed.  Still Missing was also met with excellent reviews from critics and advance readers, so I grabbed a copy and tried it out.  I liked Still Missing, it was a fast-paced thriller with definite twists and turns, but it wasn't my favorite book ever.  Now four years have gone by and Chevy Stevens released her fourth book, That Night, which was chosen for our book club's September read.  

I was actually pretty excited that one of her books was chosen.  I know several people who read her books each time a new one releases, and they tell me that they get better and better, but I had yet to pick up another book by Chevy.  Book club gave me that extra push to try out her writing again (love my book club)!  Review time...

That Night by Chevy Stevens 

4 of 5 Stars

The premise of this book: One night can change the course of your entire life... especially if someone is found murdered.  Tori, an eighteen year old girl, has a strained relationship with most people in her life (her mom, her sister, her dad, her "friends") and is viewed as a trouble-maker.  Her ex-best friend, Shauna, treats her beyond terribly, and seems to want nothing more than to ruin Toni's life for good.  The only light in Toni's life seems to be her unwavering relationship with her boyfriend, Ryan, and the fact that they are almost done with high school and ready to begin their lives together.  That is until Toni's younger sister, Nicole, is found brutally murdered one night when Toni and Ryan had taken Nicole out.  Toni and Ryan are found guilty of murdering Nicole, but claim they are innocent...

This book was a definite page turner!  The chapters jump from "that night," to Toni's time in prison, to the time after she is released back into society.  I found myself reading just one more chapter each time I read so I could try to figure everything out or gain another clue as to what really did happen "that night."  The ending was worth the wait.  Chevy threw in some good curve balls throughout the novel to keep her readers guessing until the very end.

The thing I was most impressed with was my hatred for Toni's antagonist, Shauna.  I despised her.  Every time her name came up or she found another way to make Toni's life miserable I would literally get angry.  Everyone who has attended high school knows there are school bullies and some can be absolutely horrid... Shauna... she wins the "worst ex-best friend turned bully award" of all the books I've read.  It's obvious that Shauna has some definite issues with insecurity, but seriously... what a...

I will say I wasn't in love with Toni's character either though.  I understand why Chevy made her imperfect (in many ways), but she was so flawed that it made it harder to empathize with her character.  Yes, I felt terrible for her when she was bullied, and I wanted the truth of what happened "that night," but she had messed up in so many ways with her family prior to "that night" that I understood why her family and community questioned her involvement in her sister's death.

Long story short, if you're looking for a good thriller with an interesting plot, pick up a copy of Chevy Steven's That Night.  You won't be disappointed and hopefully the ending will surprise you!

This novel did make me want to check out some more of Chevy Steven's books.  I actually saw that she has an e-novella, The Other Side, available too (for only $0.99!), so that might need to be downloaded for a quick read!  

I love chatting with my book club each month about the book we chose, but I also love that I can go to them for excellent recommendations.  Is anyone else out there in a book club?  What books have you chosen and enjoyed?  Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and got lots of reading time! :)

The e-novella.

There is a new(ish) trend in the book world lately... the e-novella.  Now that e-readers are so widespread and popular, many publishers and authors take full advantage of the fact that a short story or novella can be published quickly and a lot cheaper than when everything was physically printed.  Therefore, many authors are publishing novellas between books, before a new book release, or simply because they have a short story they'd like to share :)  This is a great way to make the wait for a new book in your favorite series or a new novel from a favorite author a little more bearable.  (Well I suppose perhaps this is a matter of opinion... if the short story is amazing and you still have to wait a few months for the book... perhaps it makes the wait feel even longer... but there's still new reading material... so no complaints!)

I actually really love this new trend, especially when the e-novella is a prequel for an upcoming novel.  Typically these novellas give you a glimpse into the characters and world of the novel and lets you see if the novel is really something you'll like.  Plus, novellas are typically inexpensive (some are even free!) and short (usually 200 pages or less), so if I'm hesitant on whether or not I'll like an upcoming book or author, I download a novella to see how I feel about the story/writing.  

I asked some of the authors I've met recently how they felt about publishing these works and if it's something publishers are pushing.  They mostly responded that it is kind of the "in thing," and many publishers ask if the author would be willing to put something out prior to a release to build excitement for an upcoming title.  Other authors said they take it as an opportunity to tell a different perspective of a story or share a related story that might not fit into their final novel.  All-in-all I think these e-novellas are a win-win-win for authors, readers, and publishers.

Some novellas that I've scooped up and enjoyed lately are:

Little Lies by Heather Gudenkauf -- This was the prequel to Heather's latest novel Little Mercies.  It's a short mystery/suspense novel in which social worker Ellen Moore is brought in to help with a four-year-old boy who is found next to the body of his murdered mother.  An excellent stand alone story as well as a great introduction to the characters from Little Mercies.



The Other Girl by Pam Jenoff -- A short companion novella to Pam's latest novel The Winter Guest about a newly married, pregnant young woman name Maria during WWII who finds a Jewish girl, Hannah, hiding in the barn.  This short story definitely makes you want to read more about the characters and their lives... luckily The Winter Guest is out already, so there's plenty more of Pam's wonderful writing ready to be read!

The Undertaking of Tess by Lesley Kagen -- A prequel to Lesley's upcoming novel The Resurrection of Tess Blessing this novella tells the story of 11-year-old Tess and her 10-year-old sister Birdie.  The story takes place right after their father accidentally drowns and Tess now must navigate the world, and look after her sister, without his help.  Equal parts heartwarming and funny, I loved this short story and can't wait to get a copy of the novel!




Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't, The Mummy That Was, and the Cat in the Jar by Gail Carriger -- A short story set in the world of Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series which gives a bit more background on Alessandro Tarabotti's character.  Carriger's writing is so humorous and fun... for anyone who likes science-fiction with a dash of British humor... I recommend checking out this series (and you can start with the novella to get a sampling of her writing style!).




The Wanderer in Unknown Realms by John Connolly -- A stand alone novella written by the author of one of my favorite books of all time (The Book of Lost Things... if you haven't read this novel... do it!) about madness, obsession, and books.  This story would actually be a good one to check out with Halloween on the way... it's definitely got a horror vibe to it!



So, if you're looking for a way to see how much you may or may not enjoy a new author, or for new works from an author you adore... see if they have any e-novellas available... you just might discover something new!

Happy reading! :)

I've Got a Mystery For You...

To be honest, I'm not a huge mystery reader.  It's not that I don't enjoy reading books with cases to be solved or strange happenings that need explanation, I just haven't really picked up many authors that fall into the "mystery" genre.  I am, however, a huge J.K. Rowling fan so I decided to try out her Cormoran Strike mystery novels.

The Cuckoo's Calling

I chose to listen to the audio version of The Cuckoo's Calling, and am so glad I did!  The reader, Robert Glenister, is perfect for this series.  The story begins with detective Cormoran Strike, a war vet who lost his leg in Afghanistan, and is now trying to make ends meet as a private detective.  Struggling to pay rent, bills, or the new assistant the temp agency sent him, Strike must come up with something or be out on the streets.  Then out the blue, he lands the case of a lifetime when a former childhood friend comes to him for help finding his sister, Lula Landry's, killer.  Lula was a famous model, and suddenly Strike finds himself meeting with the famous and wealthy of London to put together how the events unfolded the night Lula died.  The plot of the main mystery is great with interesting characters and twists to make you second guess who you assumed the killer might be over and over again.  The side stories definitely deserve credit to... an interesting relationship between Strike and his newly found assistant, Robin, as well as Strike's background and connections throughout the novel.  I would give this novel 4 of 5 stars.

After finishing the first in this series, I put in a request at the library for the audio of the second book (because lucky me the second book had already been released!).  Of course there was a waiting list since the title was new, but within a month or so I got the audio of the second novel...

The Silkworm

This book, I felt, was more twisted and even more "adult" than the first novel.  The main case that Strike is investigating is the gruesome murder of a writer, Owen Quine.  Once again, the characters are extremely well thought out and unique, but even more unique, Quine's last book (which was not published before his death) is the main evidence and motive for his murder.  Quine was an interesting man and very interesting writer.  The world of writers in this novel is full of jealousy, greed, and high emotions (I wonder where J.K. Rowling got these ideas from...), and if Strike doesn't get to the bottom of this murder fast enough, the wrong person just might be charged.  I like this novel just as much as the first one (perhaps not some of Quine's writing, but really that's secondary lol), and I love that Robin's character is developing as well as Strike's.  I would also give this novel a 4 of 5 stars... and now this time I have to play the waiting game for the next book...

Lucky for me, my friends have my back when I need a new recommendation.  Since I enjoyed these mysteries, a friend of mine recommended that I try Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache novels on audio.  I got the first book Still Life a couple of days ago, and I have a feeling I'll enjoy this series as well.  Of course, this series already has 10 books in it... so it'll keep me mighty busy if I do like it :)  

What are some of your favorite mysteries and mystery authors? I could use some more good recommendations!  Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and got lots of reading time in!

Michael Perry Author Event

A few months ago, one of our associates told me that there's a new Michael Perry book coming out in September.  Michael Perry's memoirs have always been extremely popular in our store for two reasons 1. He's a Wisconsin author writing about life in Wisconsin and 2. They're incredibly funny while still being heartwarming. I was thrilled to hear he had a new book coming out, but was shocked to see that it was labeled young readers fiction.

Scavengers is the story of a young girl named Maggie who is living during tough times.  The world has been divided into two halves: communities that live "UnderBubble" and the people who chose to live as scavengers "OutBubble." Maggie's family decides/is forced to live "OutBubble" where even basic needs such as food and shelter are not guaranteed.  The story contains adventure, family, and a terrific female protagonist that readers from ages 8 to 98 will enjoy.

I was beyond thrilled when Michael Perry agreed to come to our store a couple weeks after his book release to do a reading and signing.  Now, you should know, Michael is a writer, singer (his band is called Michael Perry & The Long Beds), nurse, radio show host, firefighter, and a real family man.  He's kind of the epitome of jack-of-all-trades.  This makes his readings entirely entertaining.  He read and spoke for about an hour, sharing snippets from his book Scavengers as well as From the Top.  The audience laughed so hard at his anecdotes... stories about his brothers, neighborhood, and creating the book Scavengers.  He puts on such an incredible event... I think the audience could have listened to him for hours!

After his reading, he signed books for everyone, chatted, and answered questions. Michael was so gracious to everyone who came out and thanked everyone personally as they stopped to get their books signed.  He even made one little girl's night by complimenting her pink princess dress and thanking her for coming because she reminded him of his two little girls at home (it was a super sweet moment, and one mom and daughter will not soon forget).  

When his event was through, he stayed to sign stock for the store and chatted with me about the events he has scheduled and how much time he spends touring (he tours like a madman!).  For Scavengers, he's doing even more touring because of school visits.  He says he absolutely loves doing these events because it lets him meet the people who read his books and allows him to keep his dream of writing, but you can tell it's hard to be away from his wife and two girls.

Authors do a lot of traveling and promoting to get the word out about their books. Obviously, they love to meet their fans, but next time you go to an event, thank the author for visiting your town/city/state.  As much as it's "part of the job," they're probably missing home and tired from the road, so give them an extra special thank you for spending this time with you and other fans.  Then go out and let everyone know how much fun you had meeting them and how much you love their books.  This will be the best thank you you can give to any author... word of mouth is the greatest advertisement for their books.

On that note: A huge THANK YOU from me and everyone who has attended author events at Barnes & Noble Appleton to all of the phenomenal authors who have visited us and spent time sharing their books with us.  I cannot say how many wonderful things I've heard about each and every event we've had, and we absolutely love having authors visit.

Now, go out and grab one (or all) of Michael Perry's books (they're all phenomenal and will definitely make you laugh out loud) and find out information about Michael's tour dates from his website here.

Happy Reading :)
  

Lori M. Lee and Erica O'Rourke Author Event

I love reading YA books and discovering new YA authors, so imagine my glee when I found out there is a YA author who lives right in the Fox Valley!  She just published her first novel GATES OF THREAD AND STONE, and was having a book signing at the local library.  I had to check out her website and see if she was willing/able to do other events!  Google Lori M. Lee and this wonderful website appears.  

Lori is the sweetest person you will ever meet... she writes a badass leading female, but as a person, she is nothing but lovely.  After meeting with her, we talked about having her do an event... to which she responded, "Can I bring a friend?"  Anytime an author wants to bring a fellow author to an event... the answer is always yes.  I mean come on, as if it's not awesome enough to meet one incredible author, two just makes it double the fun!

Google Erica O'Rourke and this amazing website appears.  I'm going to be honest, I hadn't heard of Erica until Lori told me her name... but now I've come to find out what I'm missing (love discovering new authors!).  Erica's latest book is DISSONANCE, and before that she wrote the TORN TRILOGY.

Prior to their event, I wanted to read both of the author's newest books (obviously always a good thing to try to do!), and I have to say they were hard to put down, making this an easy "homework" assignment to give myself.  I started with Lori's book GATES OF THREAD AND STONE, and my review ended up being:

4 of 5 Stars

The world that Lori Lee creates is very interesting, and the backstory behind the citizens and their ruler unravels as the story goes on, but it took a bit to get there. The main character, Kai, is a pretty awesome chick with powers that can toy with the threads of time, causing time to slow or even stop. She doesn't know why she has this ability, but knows that she shouldn't let anyone know about it. When her adoptive big brother, and only "family" that she knows, goes missing, she decides to seek answers with her friend Avan (a boy she just happens to have a slight crush on) and bring her brother home. This leads to interesting plot twists as the journey through different parts of the world that they have never been to, especially through the last third of the book. Lee did throw some great surprises into her work that I did not see coming, and that I really enjoyed.
That being said, I am glad that I kept going with this book. Once the history of the world and Kai's family tree are unearthed, it really makes for a great story. This is book one of a series/trilogy, and I am curious where Lori Lee is going to take these characters.  I'm looking forward to the sequel next year!  I'd recommend this book for anyone who enjoys YA fantasy with a bit of romance thrown in.

The more I thought about this book, the more I loved it.  The world-building that Lori must have put into Kai's world is crazy.  To develop the powers for each character and lace them all together... be sure to check this book out!

Next up, Erica's latest book DISSONANCE.  

5 of 5 Stars

I was slightly hesitant about this book since it's classified "teen romance," which can be a bit much to take (think the neediness of Bella in Twilight). But man can Erica O'Rourke write an independent, dominant female! I absolutely loved Del's character and the way O'Rourke uses string theory and music to help develop Del's world. I've been a huge music person since I was young, and dissonance in music is used as a way to tell if an alternate world is stable or unstable. Del is a "walker" who are individuals that can go between worlds and "tune" or destroy them in order to keep the Key World (our world) safe. When the boy Del has a crush on begins appearing in almost all of the world she visits and causes some interesting fluctuations in these worlds, she knows something is wrong... but once he notices her in school, does she really want to make it right?
This book is full of interesting characters, who you're never quite sure you can trust, and a family story at its core (who can Del really trust in her family?). But, the thing I was most impressed with was O'Rouke's world-building. The idea that a new world is created each time someone makes a choice, and the choice you do not choose becomes an alternate universe that plays out differently is so fascinating to me. I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book... now I just have to impatiently wait for the sequel...

So, now that I've finished this book... I had to go on my nook and download a copy of TORN while I await DISSONANCE's sequel next year.

I already knew Lori and Erica's author event was going to be wonderful because their books offer lots of opportunity for questions... but it was such a blast!  Both women were so fun and had such great answers and advice to share with everyone who attended.  

They were asked questions about being a budding author... L: "Just keep writing, and never stop."  E: "Read critically... find what you love about a book and dissect it... use what you learn from books you love to make your own works stronger." About how they come up with character names... E: "I typically don't name characters after anyone I know, especially not bad characters... you don't want to give them that power over you." L: "I pick names I like... and have a name for my characters before I start writing."  Books/authors they'd recommend... L: "Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy, Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis, and anything by Neil Gaiman" E: "Anything by Libba Bray, The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth, and The Testing Trilogy by Joelle Charbonneau."  

Along with solid advice and fun trivia/facts they talked to everyone who came and signed copies of their books.  They were both so encouraging to the teen readers and writers who came... their young fans will definitely remember meeting such inspirational authors.

I have nothing but gratitude and admiration for both of these women.  Be sure to pick up a copy of their books and enjoy!  

P.S. They *might* both be coming back to do another event this December!!  Possibly on December 14th!  Perhaps at 1:00 in the afternoon! :)

Everett's Top Five

Everett has been enjoying a ton of books lately, and since his vocabulary is increasing daily, it's super fun to hear him start "reading" books back to us!  I've been eyeing up the Fall/Halloween books since a week ago, but Everett isn't quite in the fall season yet... his current favorites are:

1. Alphablock by Christopher Franceschelli (art by Peskimo)

I actually found this book just before Christmas last year and had to get it.  The art work is so fun!  The pages are cut out to look like letters of the alphabet, and when you turn the page, there is a picture of something beginning with that letter.  The pages are board book style, so it's a little harder for little hands to completely destroy them even with the oddly shaped pages.  Next time you're in the bookstore, just pick this book up and take a look... you'll love it.  

Next purchase: Countablock by the same authors. This one teaches numbers from 1 to 100, and the art work is just as awesome.

2. Big Snowman, Little Snowman (Disney Frozen) by Trish Rabe

Everett is obsessed with the movie Frozen right now.  So really I could pick any of the many Frozen books we own as a favorite, but this one he's constantly asking me to read again and again.  It's a beginning reader, and there's not really a story, but there are great short sentences that include lots of opposites.  Plus he can name the characters over and over which he loves.

3. Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

Okay, so I had to throw one Fall book into the mix! Everett really loves to read this book no matter the season though.  It's a cute board book about Duck and Goose searching for a pumpkin until eventually their friend Thistle asks if they've tried the pumpkin patch!  The story has a fun repetitive rhythm which makes it easier for Everett to remember the words, so he likes to "read" this book back to us a lot.

4. Peekaboo Kisses by Barney Saltzberg

This book was a gift from a coworker of mine and Everett has loved it since he was about 6 months old.  It's a touch and feel book, plus it has a squeaker, and a mirror which is perfect for younger kids who really don't care so much about a story.  Now he loves it because he knows the animals on each page and likes to say the colors/noises for each animal (he does still love the mirror at the end, too!).  

5. Football Opposites by Mark Weakland

These Sports Illustrated Kids Rookie books are awesome!  Perfect for football season!  My husband is a huge sports fan, so when I found a board book that contained actual sports pictures... it was a must have.  My husband reads the book to Ev, but also tells him the player and team from each photo (super cute daddy/son bonding).  This title teaches opposites, but there is also an ABC book and a colors book in the series.

There are so many amazing books that have been coming out for kids, and especially in board books lately... it's extremely tempting to come home with a new one each day!  I will have to get Everett a couple fall and Halloween books soon... any recommendations?

Hopefully everyone is enjoying the beginning of fall as much as we are!  Happy reading :)

At the bookstore saying hi to Olaf!

Wish List Books

Our little family has been hit hard with end of summer colds.  For the past week or so we've all enjoyed our share of fevers, runny/stuffy noses, coughs, and sore throats. Thus, we've all been pretty miserable.  Luckily, the worst seems to be over, and we can see the wonderfulness that is fall straight ahead!

Fall is my favorite season of the year for many reasons... crisp weather, beautiful colors, Halloween, leaves, pumpkins, apples, Halloween, pumpkin lattes, cinnamon and chai flavors everywhere, spooky stories, and did I mention Halloween?  No, I'm not going to jump into a blog about Halloween books or wonderfully scary stories (yet...).  But this time of year tends to kick-off the amazing-new-books-before-Christmas season!  I already have my wish list created for well past the Christmas season, if I'm being honest, but a few that are on it for the upcoming weeks are:

Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

I read Lauren Beukes's debut novel The Shining Girls for book club last year.  It was a very interesting read about a serial killer who could time travel.  It wasn't my favorite book, but I gave it 3 of 5 stars.  The concept of The Shining Girls was interesting and Lauren Beukes's writing was well done, but the twisted plot of Broken Monsters seems even more intense:

"In Detroit, violent death – along with foreclosure and despair – is a regular occurrence. But the part-human, part-animal corpses that have started appearing are more disturbing than anything Detective Gabriella Versado has ever seen.

As Gabriella works the case, her teenage daughter Layla embarks on a secret crime-fighting project of her own – hunting down online paedophiles – but it all goes horribly wrong…

TK has learned how to make being homeless work for him and his friends, but something evil is threatening the fragile world he’s constructed on the streets…

Ambitious blogger Jonno is getting desperate. The big four-oh isn’t that far away, and he’s still struggling to make his mark. But then he stumbles across some unusual and macabre art, which might just be the break he needs to go viral…

Broken Monsters lays bare the decaying corpse of the American Dream, and asks what we’d be prepared to do for fifteen minutes of fame, especially in an online world."

I don't know where Lauren Beukes gets her plot-lines, but this sounds like the perfect creepy-won't-be-able-to-sleep fall book!

Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood

I have been a huge fan of Margaret Atwood since I picked up a copy of The Handmaid's Tale years ago (if you haven't read it yet, trust me, and pick it up).  I especially love the way she writes female characters, which this collection of nine short stories is supposedly about: women.  

"Margaret Atwood turns to short fiction for the first time since her 2006 collection, Moral Disorder, with nine tales of acute psychological insight and turbulent relationships bringing to mind her award-winning 1996 novel, Alias Grace. A recently widowed fantasy writer is guided through a stormy winter evening by the voice of her late husband in "Alphinland," the first of three loosely linked stories about the romantic geometries of a group of writers and artists. In "The Freeze-Dried Bridegroom," a man who bids on an auctioned storage space has a surprise. In "Lusus Naturae," a woman born with a genetic abnormality is mistaken for a vampire. In "Torching the Dusties," an elderly lady with Charles Bonnet syndrome comes to terms with the little people she keeps seeing, while a newly formed populist group gathers to burn down her retirement residence. And in "Stone Mattress," a long-ago crime is avenged in the Arctic via a 1.9 billion-year-old stromatolite. In these nine tales, Margaret Atwood is at the top of her darkly humorous and seriously playful game."

And, in case you missed it on my Facebook page, Margaret Atwood has agreed to write a book for the Future Library.  One author per year will be selected to write a work for this "library" which will not begin to be released until 2114.  Pretty awesome gift to the future!

Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle

This book will be a must for Everett's collection!  Now I just have to force myself to keep it under-wraps until at least St. Nick's Day.  This looks like a super cute story about the little blue truck delivering Christmas trees to all of his animal friends (and don't forget to save one for Blue too!).  Best part about this book: there will be twinkle lights in it!! 

Rooms by Lauren Oliver

I have read a few books by Lauren Oliver, and my favorite thus far was Liesl & Po.  Liesl & Po is actually a young readers novel, and I couldn't put it down.  The story is of a young girl, Liesl, who is locked away in an attic by her cruel stepmother where meets a ghost, Po, and an alchemist's apprentice, Will.  Together they end up going on an unexpected journey to fix a mistake that has been made.

The reason I'm so excited about Lauren Oliver's new book is it's another ghost story, but this time meant for an adult audience.

"Estranged patriarch Richard Walker has died, leaving behind a country house full of rooms packed with the detritus of a lifetime. His alienated family—bitter ex-wife Caroline, troubled teenage son Trenton, and unforgiving daughter Minna—have arrived for their inheritance.

But the Walkers are not alone. Alice and Sandra, two long-dead and restless ghosts, linger within the house's claustrophobic walls, bound eternally to its physical structure. Jostling for space and memory, they observe the family, trading barbs and reminiscences about their past lives. Though their voices cannot be heard, Alice and Sandra speak through the house itself—in the hiss of the radiator, a creak in the stairs, the dimming of a lightbulb.

The living and dead are haunted by painful truths that surface with explosive force. When a new ghost appears, and Trenton begins to communicate with her, the spirit and human worlds collide—with cataclysmic results.

Elegantly constructed and brilliantly paced, Rooms is an enticing and imaginative ghost story and a searing family drama that is as haunting as it is resonant."

Okay, Lauren Oliver, you've got my attention... I only have to wait a couple more weeks to finally read your story!

So maybe I am thinking of Halloween (and Christmas...) a little bit with these picks, but I can't help it!  Fall is here! :)

What are some books you can't wait to read in the upcoming months?

Taylor Jenkins Reid

I love discovering new authors.  There's something so exciting about hearing a fresh, new voice.  I had been hearing rumblings on social media about an author named Taylor Jenkins Reid, and after seeing her name posted on several pages I follow, I figured I better check her out!

Her first book, Forever, Interrupted, was what I had planned on reading, but I ended up finding a copy of her new book, After I Do, for a really good deal, so I started with that.  I read it in a matter of days... I didn't want to put it down!  Taylor writes with such honesty and heart... she writes true love stories.  It's not a story of perfect, magical love, but a story of what happens when love is no longer in that new, everything-is-perfect stage.  A story of when love has become expected and routine rather than being cherished and exciting.

My Goodreads review ended up being: 

5 of 5 Stars

I found out about Taylor Jenkins Reid through social media. All of a sudden a bunch of people were discussing her books and how amazing they are. I found a copy of "After I Do," and picked it up to give it a try. I breezed through it, and the night I finished it, I went online and ordered a copy of her first book "Forever, Interrupted." In other words... I'm a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid.
"After I Do" is about couple, Lauren and Ryan, who have been together for eleven years (married for six) and are realizing that they actually cannot stand to be around each other anymore. They don't enjoy each other's company, don't talk about things, and have lost any spark their relationship once had.  After discussing some options of possible solutions, they decide to take a year-long break; no seeing each other, talking, emailing, texting, etc. Then after that year they will meet again and figure out how they feel. I was a little leery of the subject matter... I mean this couple decides after 11 years together to basically allow each other to be single for a year... they can have relationships with other people... do whatever they want. But I loved the way Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote their story. She made it real.
The novel is told from Lauren's perspective, and the feelings she goes through during this year... the highs, the lows, the jealousy, and ultimately the ability to discover herself and what she wants from her life are so honest. This book will make you laugh, and yes, make you cry. I think anyone looking for a realistic take on love should check this book out.

In other words, I cannot wait to dive into "Forever, Interrupted."  

Who are some authors that you have recently "discovered"?  

Audiobooks

Audiobooks really weren't my thing... I mean I love the Harry Potter audiobooks, but honestly who wouldn't love Jim Dale reading one of the best series written?  But, I never really gave listening to audiobooks a thought.... until my husband changed the way I think!  

After my son was born, I was telling my husband that I'm bummed out that I don't get as much reading time as I once had.  Don't take that the wrong way... spending time with Everett is the highlight of my day, but my reading time practically disappeared.  Or if I found time to read, I was so tired that I'd get through a page or two before falling asleep with my glasses on and a book resting on my face.  So, my husband said, "You drive 40 minutes to work and 40 minutes back each day, why don't you listen to audiobooks in the car?"  I stared at him.  Audiobooks?  Hmm...

I gave it a try.  I started with Me Before You by Jojo Moyes because it was on sale on iTunes.  I think this was definitely a good choice for me to start with.  First of all Jojo Moyes is a British author and the reader has an British accent.  I love audiobooks read with a British accent (possibly a throwback to the Harry Potter audios!).  The story is about a young woman who comes from a lower-middle class background and suddenly loses her job in a cafe forcing her to find something else.  She applies for a job taking care of a man (approximately her age) who had been in a horrible motorcycle accident and is now a paraplegic.  I loved the way Jojo Moyes told this story, and the topic and ending make it a perfect book for a book club discussion.

When I finished the book, my little blurb about it on Goodreads was:

4 of 5 Stars

I really thought this was a great book, but I just don't think I related to it enough to really "love" it and give it 5 stars. I actually listened to it on audio which I think made me enjoy it more. The actresses/actors who read were really good (and British!). I thought Moyes developed her characters wonderfully and made readers care about their lives and decisions. The most important part of my short "review" of this book... the ending did not disappoint. With a book on a topic such as this, I'm always afraid the author will write an ending I'm unsatisfied with, and Moyes did not disappoint!

I decided that I would definitely make audiobooks a necessary part of my commute to and from work... it allows me to get so many extra books in!  The next book I chose was The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom.  This was a very different experience from Jojo Moyes.  I was not a fan of this book.  For such a short book, it felt incredibly long.  I tried really hard to get into the story, and the reader for the audiobook was fine... I just felt Albom could have written the entire novel in two sentences.  I didn't really care about the characters, they just felt like pawns used to drive home a very obvious message.  I have read other Albom books that I've enjoyed, but this one didn't work for me.  I didn't write an official "review" for it, but I gave it 2 of 5 stars.

My next pick was the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  The reader for the book took a little getting used to, but in the end I absolutely loved it.  Here's my Goodreads blurb:

5 of 5 Stars

This book really was everything it's said to be. R.J. Palacio has written a book that I believe everyone should read... not just young adults... but everyone.

Yep.  That's all that needs to be said about Wonder.  It's the story of a boy, Auggie, who was born with a severe facial deformity which prevents him from going to school until 5th grade.  The book begins as he is about to start his first year at Beecher Prep school.  Not only is he the "new kid," but he's the new kid with a face that will stand out amongst the crowd.  The book is told in alternating perspectives which gives the reader an opportunity to see Auggie's story from different points of view and how this situation affects not only him, but those around him.  

So, audiobooks and I have been living happily now for the past few months, and I thank my husband for finding another way to support my reading habit!  My newest audiobook addiction has been The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.  The first two books were okay and the audio quality wasn't the absolute greatest, but the third book really made the series take off (and I think James Marsden got a better studio to record the books in!).  I also really enjoyed The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) on audio and my current car-read is the sequel The Silkworm.

What are some books you've listened to on audiobook that you've enjoyed?