1.) The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
I needed a nice palate cleanser book after reading Burnout. This seemed like a fun and quirky book. It was. It is a Rom-Com for book lovers.
From Goodreads:
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book. When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is? It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
The main character Nina is definitely eccentric. She kind of reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant but not as dark and neurotic. She is a brainy, introverted, socially awkward, millennial book nerd. She works in a book shop and has a quiet and OCD orderly life. Out of the blue she finds out that she has a father that she never knew about and inherits a large and wacky family. Her life is turned upside down.
There was much to like about the story. I loved the setting. It made me want to visit the neighborhood of Larchmont the next time I find myself in Los Angeles. It sounds delightful. I loved the cast of characters in her crazy new family. I loved her job at the bookstore and her trivia competitions. I especially loved all of the literary and pop culture references. But I wanted just a bit more as well. I wanted more time with her new family members. They were so much more fascinating than her love interest. Just when we meet each family member and start to love them; they suddenly disappeared from the story. I definitely wanted more of her new family storyline. I loved how Nina found her place in this family. The romance was okay but not the best part.
Overall it was an enjoyable and funny read. There were times when the story was more engaging than others. One downside was that there were some cheesy moments and some raunchy moments that made it a bit cringe-worthy and that knocked it down a star for me.
My Rating: Quirky.
2.) Emily Climbs by Lucy Maud Montgomery
This is the second installment in the Emily series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This is my slow and steady series that I am reading this year which is one that I pick up here and there and read a bit at a time when I can. This series is perfect for that.
From Goodreads:
Emily Starr was born with the desire to write. As an orphan living on New Moon Farm, writing helped her face the difficult, lonely times. But now all her friends are going away to high school in nearby Shrewsbury, and her old-fashioned, tyrannical aunt Elizabeth will only let her go if she promises to stop writing! All the same, this is the first step in Emily's climb to success. Once in town, Emily's activities set the Shrewsbury gossips buzzing. But Emily and her friends are confident -- Ilse's a born actress, Teddy's set to be a great artist, and roguish Perry has the makings of a brilliant lawyer. When Emily has her poems published and writes for the town newspaper, success seems to be on its way -- and with it the first whispers of romance. Then Emily is offered a fabulous opportunity, and she must decide if she wants to change her life forever.
I liked the first book in the series more than this one. I think second books in trilogies always struggle. In Emily Climbs...the characters are already developed and yet we barely see some of the characters that we have come to love. The setting also changed just as we have come to love Blair Water and New Moon Farm. I didn't love the setting of Emily in high school in Shrewsbury and I especially did not like the harsh and suspicious Aunt Ruth. How many stern and unfriendly aunts does this poor girl have?! The book ends rather abruptly and I had issues with the decision that Emily made. I am curious to see how it all pans out in book three.
My Rating: Okay.
3.) Atomic Habits by James Clear
This was our book club selection for January 2020. I love books like this. My favorite habits author is Gretchen Rubin but I love personal development books and was interested in reading more about habits and learning what James Clear's take on them would be.
From Goodreads:
No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.
The author's basic idea is that small habits compound. Small changes over time have a big impact. Your habits can compound for or against you. I liked his idea that you get what you repeat. I also resonated with his thoughts about identity-based habits. He feels that people should focus on identity-based habits rather than outcome-based habits. The best way to build a habit is to make it part of your identity. Those are the habits that stick. We are what we repeatedly do.
To build good habits we should make them obvious, easy, attractive, and satisfying. To quit bad habits we need to make them invisible, hard, unattractive, and unsatisfying. Many books talk about building good habits but there is less information on getting rid of bad habits. This book does a great job discussing both.
Clear also has an interesting take on goal setting. The author makes a distinction... goals are about the results you want to achieve and systems are the processes that lead to those results. Goals help us to set a direction but systems help us to make progress. He is against goals but for systems.
Something that has stuck with me after finishing the book is his idea that habits aren't all-or-nothing. If we skip a day...make a commitment to "never miss twice." I have used that several times since finishing the book.
I enjoyed Atomic Habits. I thought it was interesting. Especially if it is your first book about habits. I was already familiar with many of the concepts having read other habit/personal development books. I did learn several new ways of looking at habits that I found very beneficial. This book is a good practical guide although Gretchen Rubin remains my go-to.
My Rating: Great resource for identifying and changing habits.
4.) Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstein
This book was highly recommended on the 10 Things to Tell You Podcast and by Oprah. I knew that it was another book about spirituality and the Law of Attraction. I also knew going in that this book isn't for everyone. It is very new agey and a bit out there in parts but I was curious about what the author could add to the dialogue on this topic.
From Goodreads:
In Super Attractor, Gabrielle Bernstein lays out the essential steps for living in alignment with the Universe--more fully than you've ever done before. This book is a journey of remembering where your true power lies. You'll learn how to co-create the life you want. You'll accept that life can flow, that attracting is fun, and that you don't have to work so hard to get what you want. Most important, you'll feel good. And when you feel good, you'll give off a presence of joy that can elevate everyone around you. After reading this book, you will know how to fulfill your function: to be a force of love in the world.
The first half of the book was okay. It talks about realigning yourself spiritually, finding joy, being mindful, having a growth mindset, perception, choosing to see abundance and positivity. "Energy flows where intention goes." The second half was too woo-woo for me. Her talk of utilizing angels and spiritual guides was too out there. I also found her to be a bit too self-promoting.
My Rating: Not for me.
5.) Emily's Quest by Lucy Maud Montgomery
This is the conclusion of the Emily of New Moon coming-of-age saga and the last book of my slow and steady series read. It is the final Emily book. I was curious about how this series would end since I did not agree with the decision that Emily made at the end of book two. How was L.M. Montgomery going to wrap up the story?
From Goodreads:
Emily knows she's going to be a great writer. She also knows that she and her childhood sweetheart, Teddy Kent, will conquer the world together. But when Teddy leaves home to pursue his goal to become an artist at the School of Design in Montreal, Emily's world collapses. With Teddy gone, Emily agrees to marry a man she doesn't love ... as she tries to banish all thoughts of Teddy. In her heart, Emily must search for what being a writer really means.
Sadly, I did not like this book. This was by far the weakest of the trilogy. It was so slow and so depressing. I just wanted to shake Emily and tell her to get the heck out of Blair Water and head to New York!
Lucy Maud Montgomery is a wonderful writer. She is. But this book was a hard one for me. The story telling was so passive. Journal entries...telling not showing. There were too many detailed descriptions of nature rather than plot. There was too much of Emily looking at nature and marveling. I loved the descriptive nature in book one because there was also an interesting plot. That was not the case in book three. I grew weary of the constant misunderstandings that took YEARS to resolve while Emily sank into gloomy reflections on trees and snow and wind and being bossed around by Aunt Elizabeth and her Murray relations while her friends were all off living interesting lives. It was so frustrating.
I also didn't love Teddy. I mean I liked him. I was rooting for him but we never really got to know Teddy in any deep way. His character was so bland. I thought that good ol' Perry from Stovepipe Town had more spark and life in him. Even Dean is fully fleshed out...so much so... that he makes you feel very uncomfortable reading his thoughts. At one point I even kind of rooted for him just so Emily could have some kind of life and be able to travel the world. Ilse took a definite nose dive as a character too. She has always been immature but in this book she gets even worse. Even Emily and her "Murray Pride" became tiresome.
The conclusion of the story/series was a long time coming. It was so drawn out with miscommunication after miscommunication and so many weird side stories and then... it just ends. It was super anticlimactic. I did not feel like there was much of a payoff for a relationship that we are supposed to really care about. It needed a little more dialogue and more explanation. The decorations in the Disappointed House got way more page time than the conclusion of the series!! That was unfortunate. Book one of the series is by far the best.
My Rating: Frustrating.
6.) American Royals by Katharine McGee
I keep thinking that I need fun mindless fluff books so I keep reading them. This one was okay but maybe it is time to move onto another genre. American Royals came highly recommended. I think it actually falls into the YA genre. I loved the premise! An alternate history of the United States. Instead of George Washington becoming our first President he becomes our first King. This is the story of his Royal Descendants.
From Goodreads:
What if America had a royal family? When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.
I love a good alternate history. I haven't read many but when I do I find the "what ifs" fascinating. The world building in this novel was fun! I wanted more of it. I also enjoy a good royalty trope. I read it during all of the Harry and Meghan drama which added to my enjoyment. It's a quick read.
The story is told from four different points of view. Some POVs I enjoyed more than others. I was the most invested and interested in Beatrice's storyline. The plot is fairly predictable and for the most part entertaining. I think the premise had a lot of potential to go deeper into this alternate history which it never does which was disappointing. This is the first book in a series which I didn't know going in and, of course, it ends on a cliff hanger. It will be almost a year before book two comes out.
My Rating: Okay...a quick read.
7.) The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth
I know that I already blogged about this book for our first He Read/She Read but I want it in this list so I can easily find it. This book has had a ton of hype. Tyler and I picked this book to read together. He enjoys a twisty thriller so we thought this would be a fun read-together book for 2020.
From Goodreads:
A twisty, compelling novel about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in murder...From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom, and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.That was five years ago. Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer. But the autopsy finds no cancer. The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation. Who could possibly want Diana dead? Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?
The good news is I loved it. The bad news is it isn't a twisty thriller. It's a mystery for sure and a compelling one but I would never call it a twisty thriller. These are becoming publisher hype words and it is irritating. This book is a domestic drama with a page turning mystery. How about that? I really liked it!
The plot was fantastic! It was such an interesting look at the daughter-in-law/mother-in-law dynamic. Family relationships are complicated. The author does a great job showing how intentions and actions can be misinterpreted. I thought the characters were interesting and complex. Diana and Lucy were fully-fleshed out. I felt like I understood them and even in the case of Diana I felt like I would recognize her if I saw her walking down the street. Ha ha! I thought the plot was well-paced. It was definitely a page turner for me and it has been a LONG time since I have read one of those.
The book is thought-provoking. How many times do we misread people's motivations or make wrong assumptions? I loved how the author explored Diana's uncertainty about how to relate to her children. Relationships with adult children are tricky. This book did such a great job showing that.
There were some great quotes:
“...I doubt there is a loss in the universe more profound than a daughter losing her mother.”
“Sons see the best parts of you, but daughters really see you. They see your flaws and your weaknesses. They see everything they don’t want to be. They see you for exactly who you are …
“occurs to me that only a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law can have an all-out war without anyone so much as raising their voice. The funny thing is, if any of the menfolk were here, they wouldn’t have a clue”
Despite this book not turning out to be what I expected... I loved it. I think it would be a great book club book. There is so much that could be discussed and so many great themes. I look forward to reading more books by Sally Hepworth
My Rating: A quick and captivating read. I loved it!
8.) The Passengers by John Marrs
I heard so many rave reviews about this book! I was super excited to read it. Tyler decided to read this one with me too. We enjoy a good Sci-Fi thriller! It sounded intriguing and the premise sounded terrifying. Yes and Yes!!
From Goodreads:
Eight self-drive cars set on a collision course. Who lives, who dies? You decide.
When someone hacks into the systems of eight self-drive cars, their passengers are set on a fatal collision course. The passengers are: a TV star, a pregnant young woman, a disabled war hero, an abused wife fleeing her husband, an illegal immigrant, a husband and wife - and parents of two - who are travelling in separate vehicles and a suicidal man. Now the public have to judge who should survive but are the passengers all that they first seem?
I LOVED this book!! It was SO GOOD! This was my second page-turner in a row. I love it when that happens. But unlike The Mother-in-Law which wasn't a twisty thriller this book definitely was!! Twist after twist after twist. This book is a near future science fiction story. The premise is so plausible and realistic and that is what made it especially scary.
This was my first John Marrs book and I can't wait to read more. Tyler is already reading another one of his books called The One. I highly recommend reading this book with a friend or a book club because you will NEED to discuss it...while reading it...and after. It was a crazy thrill ride! It was intense, suspenseful, unsettling, and entertaining. I could not put it down!
It also had some thought-provoking social commentary, as you are flying through the pages, on social media, reality TV, implicit bias, classism, racism, artificial intelligence, fake news, mob mentality, lack of personal responsibility, and accountability. The fact that in this novel social media is playing a part in making moral judgments [of the passengers] without telling all of the facts. Sound familiar? We are already there. So many things to discuss... the effects of technology on moral and ethical behavior. The entire story will spark so much conversation about life and how things aren't as black and white as they seem.
This story will stay with me for a long time...especially since self-driving cars are already here...even Level 5s are being tested in Arizona. Right now!! There was an advertisement during the Superbowl for a self-parking car. I used to think...Yes!...bring them on. Now...not so much. This would make a great movie!!
My Rating: Terrific book! Five Stars. Super fun! Read with a friend or a book club.
9.) The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
I'm not much of a romance reader but this one came recommended by Anne Bogel of The Modern Mrs. Darcy and as she also isn't much of a romance reader but said she really enjoyed this book I thought I would give it a try. I think I am breaking up with The Modern Mrs. Darcy. We just don't like the same books.
From Goodreads:
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.
This book had a few things going for it. First, it is a romance novel that takes place DURING a marriage...the dating and the wedding...have all taken place prior to the start of the novel. That is unique! Second, it is about a married couple with children who are trying to fix their relationship and it doesn't involve a spouse that has cheated. Yay! Third, it is told from the male perspective. Also unique! I thought the premise was funny and whenever the "book club" met it was pretty hilarious. The downside is there is A LOT of profanity. I'm not sure if this is the norm for the author or if this is just how the "bros" talk but it was too over the top and that knocked the book down for me.
My Rating: Meh. Too much profanity.
10.) The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
This was my book club's pick for February 2020. Reading about slavery is never easy. This book was no exception. It is a heart-wrenching but important read. It is also a 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner and for good reason. The writing is excellent and the way that the author writes and tackles the subject matter is unique and insightful on so many levels.
From Goodreads:
Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hell for all the slaves, but especially bad for Cora; an outcast even among her fellow Africans, she is coming into womanhood—where even greater pain awaits. When Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Matters do not go as planned—Cora kills a young white boy who tries to capture her. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted.
Like the protagonist of Gulliver’s Travels, Cora encounters different worlds at each stage of her journey—hers is an odyssey through time as well as space.
Colson Whitehead writes this novel as speculative fiction/alternate history/magical realism. Take your pick. He mixes historical facts with fictional characters and events. His historical timeline is fluid and fluctuating. He intermingles many horrific events from other eras in history into this narrative. This requires some suspended disbelief but the effect is powerful. For example, the Underground Railroad in this novel is an actual railroad that is underground much like a subway. The protagonist Cora escapes from slavery and goes on a journey to freedom as she travels from state to state via the underground railroad. The writing is episodic and every time that she stops at another station she has a completely different experience in each state that she visits. The author compares this novel to Gulliver's Travels.
The subject matter is weighty and difficult. It is never easy to read about the brutal inhumanity of slavery and the continuing ramifications of racism throughout history to the present. But it is also a compelling story of hope and perseverance. The writing is superb. The structure inventive. I am glad that I took this journey along with Cora.
My Rating: Good. It is a thought-provoking and unique take on a horrific subject .
11.) Cozy White Cottage: 100 Ways to Love the Feeling of Being Home by Liz Marie Galvan
I follow Liz Marie on Instagram and enjoy her style of home decor. I knew that her book would be full of lovely photos and inspiration and it was.
From Goodreads:
In this beautiful book of house and garden photography and DIY inspiration, popular blogger Liz Marie Galvan shares a hundred tips and tricks, budget-friendly hints, and project how-tos to make every room in your house feel like a home you love. Each month hundreds of thousands of readers find design inspiration and DIY ideas on Liz's blog, where Liz shares stories of life with her veteran husband, their 1800s Michigan farmhouse, and the home décor boutique she co-owns. In Cozy White Cottage, Liz offers her best home décor and design tips to help you create a home you'll love coming home to.
This book is full of good ideas for the beginning home decorator. Especially if you like a neutral palette and a vintage vibe which I most definitely do. I liked how it was organized with 100 ideas to make a house a cozy and welcoming home. Most of the ideas were very simple and not too expensive. A perfect winter read.
My Rating: A beautiful home design book.
12.) Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
I continue to work my way through the classics. This novel that is beloved by so many has been on my list to read for quite some time. Pirates aren't really my thing but this novel has had such an influence on our culture that I decided to give it a try. I am glad that I did. I intended this book to be a slow and steady read but I got swept up in the adventure and enjoyed it immensely.
From Goodreads:
For sheer storytelling delight and pure adventure, Treasure Island has never been surpassed. From the moment young Jim Hawkins first encounters the sinister Blind Pew at the Admiral Benbow Inn until the climactic battle for treasure on a tropic isle, the novel creates scenes and characters that have fired the imaginations of generations of readers.
This book is an iconic classic. The most famous pirate story ever written. There are so many remakes, adaptations, and versions of this adventure story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Our culture is full of allusions to the novel, characters, and plot. Its influence is everywhere in books, films, cartoons, and even fast food restaurants. Stevenson set the stage for our understanding of pirates and buried treasure. Most pirate tropes and stereotypes can all be traced back to this book.
I loved the eerie start of the novel with Billy Bones coming to stay at the Admiral Benbow Inn and being visited by dangerous rogues and ultimately receiving the Black Spot. Then we set sail on such a fun adventure story! Pirates, treachery, mutiny, murder, and greed! What is technically rather dark children's literature turned out to be such an enjoyable read as an adult.
Long John Silver is clearly the most interesting character. He is a ruthless cutthroat and yet has his own complex moral code. I loved the earnest young hero Jim Hawkins. The setting was exotic and fun. The plot was fast moving. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
My Rating: A fun classic adventure story.
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