Have you heard of this book yet? I had heard a lot of people talking about it a while ago so I put it on hold a d forgot about it. When I finally came up in the queue, I was pretty excited even though I didn’t know anything about the book except it had something to do with Shakespeare. 

So yes, it’s about Shakespeare, but not in your typical 6th grade history text book kind of way. This is the story of how he met and married his wife, Agnes, their growing family, and then the devastating loss of their son, Hamnet. It also how the play Hamlet, arguably one of his most famous plays, came into being. 

While not a purely factual account, I found the story intriguing and I’ll admit to Googling throughout the book to find out how close to the truth the story actually was. I’ll also admit that I didn’t love this story the way many others did. 

It’s a good story with some beautiful writing, but I was bored several times in the book and wishing the story would just pick up. 

If you grew up reading Shakespeare, I think you will find this version of his life very interesting. I recommend this one when you are looking for a book with a nice story to fill the time. I’m glad I read it, but I’m also glad I didn’t rush out to buy it just because of the hype. 

What a fun book! And recommended by my Dad, of all people!

This is the story of a pampered Southern housewife who finds herself transplanted to Vermont, with its weather, bugs, and lack of Southern hospitality. Although the story plays into and plays up stereotypes about both the North and the South, it’s done with such humor that I gave it a pass. 

As a Southerner who is living somewhere the temperature drops to ridiculous numbers and the snow seems endless during the 6 months of our winter, this story was so relatable! Even if you’ve never experienced the stereotypical New England or South, you will enjoy this book. 

Grab this one when you are looking for mind candy and you will not be disappointed. If you are someone who likes to nit-pick the books you read, you probably won’t enjoy it as much. 

The second book in Patton’s “Dixie” series, Yankee Doodle Dixie is another great mind candy book. 

Although this one didn’t have me laughing out loud as often as Whistlin’ did, I found it thoroughly enjoyable. I felt there was more focus on the characters and their relationships this time around, which still made for a great book. 

When you need a perfectly peachy read, this is the book for you. 

This one was a book club pick and I’m looking forward to discussing it! 

Although I didn’t love the book, I think it’s a great book club book. It reminds me of 1984 in that it’s gloomy outlook of the future is eerily prescient and very believable. 

I would not call this a thriller, per se, but it definitely has touches of suspense sprinkled throughout the book. 

If you are looking for a book club book that will give you lots to discuss, consider The Warehouse. Not in a book club? Add it to your TBR for when you want a book to unsettle you and make you think. 

Going into this, I assumed it was going to be a hard read. I’ve been a fan of Michael J. Fox’s since I was a kid in the ‘80s. Who didn’t love Alex P. Keaton (at least for the first several seasons? And Marty McFly!!! 

I remember being shocked when he revealed he’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He was so young!

Fortunately, this book is about more than his diagnosis. It’s a book about friends and family, love and laughter, but also sickness and struggles. He’s a fabulous storyteller who made me laugh and cry without overwhelming with emotions. 

Bonus: If you listen to the audiobook, he reads it himself. 

If you like biographies/autobiographies, definitely add this one to your list!

So much talk about with this one!

Overall, I really enjoyed it. Huge creepiness factor, especially in the beginning of the book. Plenty of twists and turns that make you think you know exactly what’s going on while simultaneously making you second-guess yourself. And I love a book where the setting is basically another character in the story. 

That said, it left me wanting in a lot of ways. 

The creepiness that sucks you in from the first page gets lost in the second half of the story. The second half is more about the characters than scaring the pants off of you. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy character-driven stories. I was disappointed, though, that the entire book didn’t give me the chills the way the first half did. 

Also, I felt like there were a lot of plot holes and unresolved issues when all was said and done. Even if there is going to be a sequel, I feel like I spent too much time scratching my head and asking, “Wait, what???” 

That said, this was still a really fun read. Grab this one if you love a good crime novel that gives you chills while you read it!

Any Chevy Stevens fans? This is my second book by her and she is climbing to the top of my favorite authors. 

Never Let You Go is a fast, fun read. Lots of twists and turns in this one; I was positive I knew what was going on at least four different times. 

Have you read it? Did you predict the ending?

I enjoyed this one!!!! At it to your TBR and grab it when you want something fast, fun, and twisty!

No, I’ve never seen this movie. I didn’t even realize it was a book first. Now that I’ve read the book, I’m not sure I can watch the movie. The book was utterly heartbreaking and I don’t need another dose of it.

That said, I loved this book. Did you know it is an actual autobiography? It reads like a very moving work of fiction, which makes it even more heartbreaking. It’s the story of a free slave that is abducted and forced into slavery in the South in the late 1800’s. While the story itself is extremely moving, the fact that it is true made the horrors even worse. 

Highly recommend this one, but not if you are looking for a fun, light read. 

I had heard mixed reviews about this one, but I committed to finishing it because I’ve loved most of the Reese’s Book Club picks. 

Although it took me a little while to get into this one, once I finally found my groove in the story and characters, I ended up loving it.

Although the premise was a little off-putting at first (a young boy has to find and return a missing finger to a corpse in order to save a soul), the story was compelling and the characters were well-developed and interesting. This book has a little something for everyone… mystery, romance, history, superstition and magic. 

Add this one to your TBR and grab it when you want to get lost in a book!

Raise your hand if you’ve heard the hype about this one!

I’m here to tell you, it lives up to the hype. Two mysteries to solve (past and present) in a small beach town, a true-crime podcaster who can’t let things go, and some hard questions about how our society views and treats victims of crime…. what more could you ask for?

Although I’ve seen this book branded as a thriller, I would say it is more of a mystery/crime drama. The story is very well paced and engaging, but I would not call this a nail-biting thriller. 

Skip this one if discussion about and depictions of rape trigger you. The author goes into great detail about how rape cases and their victims are handled by our society and criminal justice system. That said, I thought she did a great job handling a sensitive topic with care and respect. 

Add this one if you a book that will pull you in and keep you guessing!

I cannot remember who recommended this one, so a huge thank you to all of the #bookstagrammers who’ve posted about it. 

I’m a sucker for a story about strong women set during a time when women weren’t allowed to be strong. I also love a good dual-timeline story where you know eventually everything will come together, but the author does such a good job weaving them together that you’re sad when it’s all done. 

Grab this one and read it now!

I’ve had this one on my TBR for quite a while because there was so much hype when it first came out. I had a really good time reading this one, even if I’m not completely over the moon about it. 

I loved this book because it was such a fun read from start to finish. It addresses some serious issues (lots of different looks on how society’s expectations affect us in most aspects of our lives) but it does it with optimism and levity.

There were times in the story that conversations and actions felt trite and contrived, but never to the point of annoyance and it never made the book less fun.

Grab this one when you just want a fun book to read.

I grabbed this one because I was in-between reads and wanted something short and entertaining.

I’m generally not a huge fan of short stories because I always feel that there should be more to the story. While the ending of this one left the door wide open for it to become a full novel, it also felt complete at the end.

Not a full-on thriller, but it’s a compelling and enjoyable read. Grab it when you’re on. Karin Slaughter kick or just want something fun and quick to read.

I’ll say it straight out: I was disappointed by this book. Maybe because I loved the cover so much, maybe because I saw it circulate so often when I worked at the library, but I had really high expectations and felt deflated after I read it.

I was a good book, good story, good characters… if this is on your TBR, I would say read it. There was a lot I enjoyed about this book; I think I just built it up too much in my head.

Definitely not the best book review ever, but my feelings are so mixed! It was good, just not as good as I thought it was going to be.

Have you read this series? I read the first two back in 2016 in anticipation of the release of The Last Star, and then somehow lost track of time and never read this series finale.

The 5th Wave was on tv a couple of weeks ago, and then I realized I never finished the series. I’m glad I went back to get it, because this was a great ending to a good series.

It’s hard to judge subsequent books completely on their own merit; my feelings about 2nd and 3rd books get tied up into how much I’m enjoying the series. In this case, the book was good but I especially like the way it wrapped the series up. Without giving any spoilers, I felt like it was a very satisfying resolution to all of the story lines.

If you haven’t read this series yet, it’s a fun one. Just enough romance without it taking over, characters that are simultaneously likable and frustrating, and an enjoyable, well-paced story!

One of my closest friends recommended this one to me, “Put this at the top of your TBR!” When @bjorknicole endorses a book so heartily, I do as I’m told.

This is the story of a murder and its long-term effects in the small town and among the people in it. It’s not a thriller, but rather a character driven mystery that will repeatedly break your heart.

Although it was difficult to put down, We Begin At the End is slow-paced. It took me a while to get into the story, and I felt like a frog in boiling water when I finally realized how committed I was to the story and its characters.

I LOVED Duchess, the thirteen-year old protagonist of the story. She’s a force to be reckoned with. A protector. Old for her years because of what life has dealt her. She’s an outlaw and outlaws survive. Duchess is a character that is going to stay with me for a long, long time.

Overall, this heartbreaking and uplifting story about tragedy, vengeance, family, and survival is a must read. As Nicole said, put it on the top of your TBR now!