Not even sure how to start writing about this. I was super excited when I saw this was coming out and just before I finally got my copy, a fellow bookstagrammer listed it as one of her biggest disappointments of 2020 😢 What???? I never pre-read reviews on Goodreads so, with the exception of her comment, I really didn’t know what to expect.

I enjoyed the book, but I understand why she feels the way she does. This is a very different book than the Hunger Games trilogy. It is more of a character study, so there is very little of the intense action like in the first three books. There is a LOT of hate on GRs bc the main character is Coriolanus Snow. And people seem disappointed that she didn’t pick up right where the third book left off.

You know I love characters that I “love-to-hate” so having Snow as the main character is just fine with me. I enjoyed getting to know him and seeing how he and the Games evolved in the early years. The book is set around the 10th Hunger Games, so there is a lot of backstory to the original trilogy. Maybe some didn’t enjoy that because it wasn’t full of action, but I did.

There are problems with the pacing of the book, I’m not going to lie. Even as a character study, there are parts of the book that drag and then the end feels full-on Hunger Games.

If you are a fan of The Hunger Games and want to know more about the backstory, I recommend this book for you. If you are looking for the next installment of the story, this isn’t it. This is a book that I think has a specific reader.

Anyone else read it? What did you think?

I loved this book. I have to say that, yes, it was totally predictable but even with that it was fun to read and see how Foley was going to put it all together.

And to clarify…. predictable doesn’t mean that I worked out every single detail. I didn’t. Without any spoilers, I had the basics worked out without knowing the exact details… when you read the book you’ll see what I mean.

Add this to your TBR for a fun, quick read.

Super cute, super fun, YA read. So much going on in this book and yet it manages not to preach or devolve into oversimplified stereotypes. I loved the main character ❤️.

Definitely add this to your TBR for a fun read that will leave a smile on your face long after you’ve closed the cover.

This was a hard book to read. Domestic abuse is ugly and Machado’s writing is raw and powerful. I loved the style of the book- short vignettes made it easier to stomach some of the terrible things she went through during her two year relationship.

It’s hard to recommend a book about something so terrible, but I really did love the writing and style of this book. Memoirs are often difficult to read and this one is no exception, but it was absolutely worth it.

This one was on my TBR for a while before I finally got it from the library. There are a lot of things to like about it (especially Kim’s writing) but overall it didn’t wow me the way I thought it would.

A lot of people really loved this book, so I am totally willing to say that it’s probably just me. Keep it on your TBR if it’s there and lmk what you think.

Just wow. Talk about a double timeline that weaves together perfectly, characters that are real and easy to love, and a story that is both mesmerizing and compelling. I loved this book, maybe more than Before We Were Yours.

Some hard topics but such a feel good book. Add it to your TBR. Now ❤️

This is a heartwarming, feel-good novel about coming of age in New Orleans in the Civil Rights era. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story. This is a book to read when you want to get lost for a little while.

This was a fun book. Super predictable until a different twist comes along. Easy read- add it to your TBR.

As an aspiring author, I have a thing where I never want to rate a book below a three. If I think I’m tempted to give a book lower than that, I won’t finish it.

This books has very mixed reviews on Goodreads. It’s told from several points of view, with a storyline that that I found very hard to follow. I was interested in the mother’s POV so I finished the book. That’s about all I can say.

Super quick read. Fairly enjoyable. More about sisters and familial/societal expectations than murder per se, but still a good book. Definitely one to check out from the library rather than buy.

This is a fabulous book. Even though it is formatted in the style of “Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis, it absolutely stands on its own. If you’ve read that book, you’ll hear some of the same stories, this time from Dave’s perspective and with his takeaways. He is much more introspective and as much as I love my girl Rach, this book resonated with me more. I am definitely a Dave, not a Rachel.

The chapter, “The Lie: I Know What You’ve Been Through” is an amazing breakdown of what white privilege is, why it doesn’t necessarily make you a bad person, how to learn more about it, and how to become an ally for diversity.

I probably should have given this five stars, but I am a cynic at heart. It was hard (both in a heartbreaking and cynical way) for me to listen to him talk about how all of these great things he and Rachel had done together made their marriage so wonderful, while knowing they announced their breakup just three months after its publication. The cynic in me has a hard time believing in his truths if they didn’t stick in his own life. Not a healthy way to think, I know; I’m working on it.

That tiny negative aside, this is a very thoughtful, authentic, and motivating book. I highly recommend it (unless you are super sad about their breakup… in that case, maybe give yourself a little time but definitely read read it at some point).

Be honest, am I the only one whose heart is broken about the split?

This book was definitely creepy, but it was extremely slow and I had a hard time staying with it. Five stars for the creepy factor, but three stars overall.

It’s easy to see why Mary Kubica is a best selling writer. This is a quick read with lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed her writing the way I have in her other books, but I felt the pacing was off and it was more predictable than in the past. Keep this on your TBR but don’t bump it to the top.

I have mixed feelings about this one. It took a long time for me to get into the story, then I was totally immersed in it, then I was wondering if it was ever going to end. ⠀
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The writing was so good and I loved the characters. I keep thinking about parts of the story, running them over and over in my head… ⠀
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Loving the writing and having the book stick with me usually make a book five stars for me, but I couldn’t do it here. I spent too much time wondering if the book was ever going to start or end. So, I gave it four stars instead.⠀
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I definitely recommend it, but I wouldn’t say jump it to the top of your TBR. There are so many five star reviews on Goodreads, that it might be just my state of mind that caused me to be impatient. In my mind, the middle was worth my impatience, well worth it.⠀

This is a quick read. Great for the beach or vacation or when you just need a mental break.

It draws you in almost immediately and moves perfectly between past and present so that even though it gave away its secrets almost immediately, I couldn’t help but read it cover to cover to find out what happened.

Add this to your TBR, you won’t regret it.

Another super fast read. ⠀
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The writing is simple, but that doesn’t make this any less thrilling. The story keeps you guessing from start to finish- even when you figure it out, you don’t have it figured out. Not the best book I’ve read this year, but I enjoyed it and recommend it!⠀

I was skeptical about this book for several reasons. First, I was disappointed by The Mermaid Chair. Second, writing about Jesus having a wife is a little sketchy IMHO, but it’s fiction and not claiming to be anything but that, so I can take a chill pill and read. Third, anything with this much hype is never going to live up to it.

I loved it. Absolutely as eloquent and engaging as The Invention of Wings. The book is about Ana, who falls in love with and marries Jesus before he becomes known as The King of the Jews. At the end of the book, the author gives a very detailed explanation of her research and how the book came about which I enjoyed almost as much as the book. IMHO, the book does live up to the hype.

I loved this book. SO. WELL. WRITTEN. I’m not sure if I loved the story or the characters more.

Add it to the top of your TBR now.

I loved this book.

I loved the writing, the story and the characters.

It’s a very compassionate look at what it’s like to have a transgender child. If you are someone that struggles with or has questions about this topic in general, this is a very gentle, non-judgmental introduction to the topic.

But this book is so much more. It’s a book about family, marriage, parenting, secrets, gender roles, and trying to find a happy ending. I related to the parents, Rosie and Penn, and their struggles to contain the chaos of their household and find their happy ending.

Frankel’s writing style is unique but I really enjoyed it.

This book came highly recommended and I understand why. I recommend it, but not just for the subject matter. Add this to your TBR.

Mixed feelings about this book. Easy read, very compelling, very weird. I can see why the ratings are very high and then there are people that hate it. I’m someone that falls right in the middle. I won’t tell you not to read it, because the writing is good and I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but I can quickly think of five books I would recommend before this one. Does that make sense? Life is short, there are only so many books we can read.

Are you looking for an awesome, twisty thriller that you can read in a day? This is the book for you.

I cannot say enough about this book. Part chick-lit, part murder mystery, this was a great story with relatable characters and I highly recommend.

I originally wrote a lengthy post extolling all of the book’s virtues and heaping praise on Jennifer Weiner, but I went into the book blind and I think it’s best if you do, too.

Read it now.

I loved this book. Even if you think you are tired of WW2 books, add this to your TBR.

This is not a book about the war. This is a book about relationships, unconditional love, loss, and about finally coming full circle. I loved the story because it moved me without breaking me; I trickled tears without unleashing a full-on ugly cry. And while I have nothing against a good ugly cry, it was nice not to be incapacitated by a book, but still feel all the feels during and after. Love that warm and fuzzy feeling after a book like this ❤️

I wish I could remember who recommended this to me so I could thank them.