Happy Tuesday! I am joining Steph and Jana to share what I’ve been reading lately.
I really thought I would get a ton of reading done this month, but I just didn’t. I had a few plane trips and some weekends away, which is prime reading time for me. I kept falling asleep on the planes and then I was running around like a crazy person playing catch up at home. I also didn’t love one of the books I was reading so it took me a while to get through them.
I read The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. I have had this book on my kindle since before it came out and I have a hard copy on my shelf from when I met her. This book was good! I loved how it was suspenseful, but not scary. I loved that it took me a long time to figure it out. I loved how it kept my attention all the way to the end because I was pretty invested in the characters. Rating: ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️
Sumer of 79 was a novella follow up to last year’s Summer of 69 by Elin Hilderbrand. Guess what?? I loved it!! I loved that she gave us a peek in to what was happening with the characters 10 years later. It was so good!! Way to go Elin! Did you know Elin only has a few more books to write before she retires?? I’m a little devastated about that. I think it would be a great idea for her to revisit some of our old friends (characters from the books) for short little bursts just like this when she’s finished writing full length novels. Elin, if you’re reading (oh my gosh I would totally die if she was!!) this is my suggestion to fill your retired time. 😘 Rating: ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid was my next book. I saw that it was Reese’s book club pick and I’d heard about it at the publisher book talk at my local book store, but I didn’t really know much about it. I thought it was definitely interesting and it made me think a lot about relationships and how I perceive others. There were parts in the book that seemed a little slow for me. I found myself trying to speed read it to finish it and to find out what happened at the end. The book did make me think about everyone’s background and the story that brought them where they are today. Rating: ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️
I had high hopes for The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver. I loved One Day in December and was ready to love this one. Only, I didn’t. It was good, but I didn’t love love it. Lydia Bird’s fiancé is killed in a car accident and she is devastated. The sleeping pills she gets from her doctor put her into another world where her fiancé is still alive. The book bounces between her awake live (no fiancé) and her asleep life (fiancé alive). Parts of it were a little slow for me, but I really loved the ending. Like Such a Fun Age, I found myself trying to read faster to get to the end, but I liked the end of this one so much more! I’d say read it, but know it isn’t as good as One Day in December.Rating: ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️
I am just finishing up Sanity and Tallulah by Molly Brooks. It is a middle grade graphic novel that I am reading for work. It’s good with lots of science themes and experiments gone wrong. It is set in outer space in the future and I recommend it to all kid readers! Enjoy!
The next few weeks are full of time at home, kid sports practices, and swim meets. Hopefully that will lead to lots of reading! I had some great book mail this week and I’m not sure which one to read first! Have a great day full of sunshine and books!
The Family Upstairs is on my to read list. I really enjoyed Such a Fun Age. Elin Hilderbrand has been hit or miss for me.
I love Jewell’s books! Haven’t read this one, but have never been disappointed by others. Need to check this one out too.
It’s great that you enjoyed the ones you did get to read! I read Lydia Bird this month too.
Sorry your travels didn’t lend to a lot of reading time, but it looks like you got quite a few read. I am curious about Such a Fun Age.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Sanity and Tallulah sounds fun! I love middle grade books. I’ll add this to my TBR.
This was a difficult month for me to get some books in, too, but a few are better than none.
I had no idea Summer of ’79 existed. I might read the follow up. I always want to know what happens to characters.
Good reads this month!
I just read Summer of 79 last week and really liked the update on everyone. I thought it was a nice way to end it.
I just read Summer of ’79 and thought it was a cute update; I was only disappointed that it was a novella and not a full novel. I will be so sad when she retires.
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird sounds good. I didn’t love One Day in December but I’d be willing to try it.
Interesting about Elin. Does she have a certain number of books to write or is she retiring at a certain age?
I’ve seen her on tour several times and she’s mentioned that she’ll be retiring soon.
Love when you share your books- always add a few to my list BUT I am devastated about Elin Hilderbrand- I didn’t know that- do we know how many books we can expect? That is very sad news!
Those all sound good 🙂 My kids love a good graphic novel – I’ll have to pick up Sanity & Tallulah for them.
I can’t wait to sit down and get to Summer of ’79!! I keep meaning to get to it!