I always love to learn new things, though sometimes I get into a funk where I start reading a book, put it down and never pick it back up. All this extra time being home with absolutely no where to go has given me a chance to change my habits (at least for now). My Favourite genre is autobiographies – and I am a huge sucker for a quick read romantic novel.
If you are a person who has only read paper copies, it’s time to get with the times and take advantage of having every book at your fingertip. I was that girl that refused to try the “kindle” or “E-Book” app on my iPad but girl, let me tell you now, you can not take me back to those ancient ways. I Love the iPad, you don’t need light to read, its easier to hold, always holds your page and in the age of convenience I cannot go back .
The unfortunate Importance of Beauty ***
“In the heart of New York City, a group of artistic friends struggles with society’s standards of beauty. At the center are Barb and Lily, two women at opposite ends of the beauty spectrum, but with the same problem: each fears she will never find a love that can overcome her looks. Barb, a stunningly beautiful costume designer, makes herself ugly in hopes of finding true love. Meanwhile, her friend Lily, a brilliantly talented but plain-looking musician, goes to fantastic lengths to attract the man who has rejected her—with results that are as touching as they are transformative.”
This started out very promising with a strong protagonist who was complaining about her appearance and consulted a therapist, but devolved into a silly plot line that I could not bend my mind around. This mix of magic realism and mystery had had come highly recommended, so I was disappointed when the story about conventional beauty drifted off in so many invaluable mini plots I just didn’t care. However, I did like some parts, hence the overall rating of a three, and I do plan on reading more novels by Filipacchi.
This book fell flat on consistency, but the characterization was remarkable.
Lilac Girls – Martha Hail Kelly ****
Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades. No matter how many stories I read about the holocaust, I feel like everyone must be read them, to tell the individual stories of death, heart wrenching suffering and despair so we don’t allow history to repeat itself.
In this novel the story of what happened at Ravensbruck, the concentration camp , infamous for the horrific medical experimentation on young Polish women is told from the perspectives of three women. Although I loved the story, it was sometimes hard to read the eye opening and disturbing details at Ravensbruck. The book alternates between three stories, Caroline Ferriday, Herta Oberheuser, and Kasia Kuzmerick. Two of those stories, Caroline’s and Herta’s, are based on real people. I found the beginning of the book with the alternating stories to be distracting and a little confusing at times. It was hard to follow and flip flopped so many times just when I was getting interested in a characters development but understand it was required to tell all three perspectives. Nevertheless it was a great story, well told and a wonderful thread of sisterhood and friendship in this story. With everything and everyone that was taken from them, all these women had were each other.
*** Over 130,000 women went through this camp with the majority never leaving: dying from disease, starvation or execution. These women were also subjected to grotesque experiments that would leave them disfigured, sterilized or dead.
One True Loves – Taylor Jenkins Reid *****
This was my second read by Taylor Jenkins Reid and what an emotional roller coaster it was. It is a tale of love, loss and letting yourself love again. It was powerful. The idea that one true love of your life doesn’t necessarily last forever, and that’s not only ok – it just might be necessary. People change, our wants and desires for life evolve. It doesn’t diminish who were were and who we loved in the past. It just might not be what we need in the next phase of our life.
What Emma, Jesse and Sam go through, together and apart, in this story is absolutely incredible. Their journeys were devastatingly emotional. I felt so torn, wanting happiness and love for all of them. Though I must admit – I was firmly #TeamSam.
This is easily my favourite book of quarantine.
Where The Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens *****
Where the Crawdad Sings is one part mystery, one part legal drama, one part coming of age story, and one part love story which equals a full heartrending poignant tale that will leave you gasping for air. It paints a beautiful picture of resiliency, survival, hope, love, loss, loneliness, desperation, prejudice, determination and strength. This book goes back and forth in time to tell the story of Kya Clark also known as ‘The Marsh girl’. She lives on the outskirts of town, in the Marsh, and the locals look down at her, she is judged, ridiculed and bullied. But there are those who show her kindness, friendship, and show her love. Oh, how I loved this book!
In Five Years – Rebecca Serle ****
Do you ever just finish a book, sit back and think to yourself ‘what on earth did I just read?’
I went into this book expecting a sweeping love story for the ages, one with a love triangle that would really feel heart wrenching and give me all those conflicted feels.
But no…
Don’t be fooled, In Five Years is a story about a woman’s self discovery, life choices and love and friendship.. And of course there is a lot heavy stuff that hurt your heart deeply. I cried on multiple occasions, The ending is nothing like I expected, but in a surprisingly good way. It put it into a neat little box and left room for her to grow into the person she needed to be. I just wanted more.
Jessica Simpson – Open Book ****
Highly recommend this book – it is everything of the sort and everything that people have been raving about. Jessica is so vulnerable throughout the telling of her story – She holds nothing back, taking her readers through the ups and downs of her tumultuous life, reflecting on her faith, her music career, her relationships, motherhood, and even her decades-long personal struggles with her weight and alcohol addiction. She digs deep and lets you into her most publicized moments and her feelings behind them. Her genuine heart and earning to help everyone makes her someone you can relate too, there is truly a little bit of Jessica in all of us.
At times I laughed-out-loud and at others I was so deeply moved to tears and sometimes even shocking, Jessica Simpsons autobiography is (brutally) honest, genuine and full-tilt entertaining dishing out just enough juicy gossip of past lovers.
Before We Were Strangers – Renee Carlino *****
I absolutely loved this story, I was emotionally invested in Matt and and Grace from page 1, both individually and together. Their characters are perfectly flawed, raw and real.
“You can’t recreate the first time you promise to love someone or the first time you feel loved by another. You cannot relive the sensation of fear, admiration, self-consciousness, passion, and desire all mixed into one because it never happens twice.”
It was first love beautifully portrayed in a brilliant pace. I don’t think I have enough words for. If you’re looking for a fantastic first love story, a second chance romance story, a friends to lovers story, or a beautifully emotional story- Before We Were Strangers is the book for you. Renee Carlino’s writing and character development is wonderful. The end left me with a happy heart and a smile on my face.
Nothing to see here – Kevin Wilson ***
Nothing to See Here is about two small children who have the power to spontaneously combust. Yup. Sounds crazy, but Kevin Wilson pulls it off!
I love the tone of Nothing to See Here–narrated by Lillian (the caregiver of the fire children), it’s dark, emotional, and filled with humor. Her voice was riveting and made me want to keep reading. I easily knocked this out in a day. Roland and Bessie, the fire children, are fascinating. They can cause harm but are really sweet and endearing children who have been deeply hurt by those who are supposed to love them.
This book left me feeling warm and fuzzy. Its is a unique read with a strong voice. The premise might be a little too weird for some, but if you are willing to approach this book with an open mind, it’s well worth the quick read.
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