Review | In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero

In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero | ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Summary: Diane Guerrero, the television actress from the megahit Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, was just fourteen years old on the day her parents and brother were arrested and deported while she was at school. Born in the U.S., Guerrero was able to remain in the country and continue her education, depending on the kindness of family friends who took her in and helped her build a life and a successful acting career for herself, without the support system of her family.

In the Country We Love is a moving, heartbreaking story of one woman's extraordinary resilience in the face of the nightmarish struggles of undocumented residents in this country. There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US, many of whom have citizen children, whose lives here are just as precarious, and whose stories haven't been told. Written with Michelle Burford, this memoir is a tale of personal triumph that also casts a much-needed light on the fears that haunt the daily existence of families likes the author's and on a system that fails them over and over.

Thoughts: I picked this up for no reason, but I'm glad I did. This is the story of Diane Guerrero and how she lived in fear the majority of her childhood over her family's situation. Her family was deported when she was 14 years old, and from then on she lived with various family friends, never being helped by anyone except for the people who let her live in their homes for a few years at a time.

This hit me closer to home than I expected, since I am the first natural born in my family. My family came her on visas that expired not long after and stayed. It was many years before they all became citizens. In fact, my mom was the last one to become a citizen, and I found out much later in life that she found herself in situations where she could've easily been deported. I never knew, so reading this book made me so much aware on how not aware I was of my own family's situation as a child. While very different, there were certain circumstances that were similar, and I am thankful that nothing like what Diane lived through ever happened to me.

With that being said, the beginning of the book was very sad, but felt really important to me. I was wholly invested in Diane's story of how she grew up with the fear that her family would be ripped apart, and how it did happen. She had to learn to survive without her parents and brother for some of the most important years of her life, and she is still separated from them, although living a much different life now that she's become a celebrity.

The second half of the book talked a lot about her growing up, going to college, struggling with jobs, drinking and her mental health. There were times that I wasn't invested in her story because it had to do with her acting career, but nonetheless, found everything she talked about very memorable.

This was definitely something I'm glad I picked up and I think readers of all genres might like. I also recommend the audiobook, which she narrates herself, although her voice can seem very childish (she sounds really young) especially when listening to faster speeds, like I do. Overall though, this was a great first autobiography and I really enjoyed it.

Smutty Reads #1

I read a lot of romance and for some time I wanted to have a feature where I talked about some of the recent smutty books I've read. I love readathons that focus on romance/smutty books (Smutathon anyone?) Join me as I read some delicious romance books with lots of smut! 

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Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was definitely not something I would normally read, but I picked it up because of an event going on in my book club. Blue alien smut was not something I expected to like or be into, but this book caught me by surprise.

The protagonist is abducted, along with many other women, and they crash land on an planet with big, blue, aliens who are very attracted to them. While they try and figure out how to get back to work, lots of sexy times ensure between the main character and her blue hero.

I giggled so much while reading this, and most of my fellow book club members who read this also really enjoyed it. We had such a blast reading this and talking about it after. I don't think I'll be picking up the rest of the series (yet!) but I am definitely glad I gave it a shot because I loved it. It's definitely a fun time, even if a little weird because...blue aliens?!

Heat Level:
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

+ + + + + + +

The Deal by Elle Kennedy | ⭐️⭐️

This was a very typical college, friends-to-lovers romance. I was really excited for it but found myself bored very early on, which was disappointing. I struggled to get into it and when I finally did, I found the story to be very predictable, but not in a fun way (for me.) The sexy scenes were really great, but again, I didn't really care for the story all that much, so I didn't enjoy them all that much either.

I think this was the second Elle Kennedy story I've tried and I think this author is just not for me, I guess. I may give her another shot in the future, but I don't plan on continuing this series. 

Heat Level:

🔥🔥🔥

+ + + + + + +

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas | ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is considered more of a dark romance and maybe those are not for me, or its this author specifically since I didn't enjoy a previous book of hers I read, but I didn't love this one as much as I was hoping. I heard of this book years ago and it'd been on my TBR that long so I was pumped to finally get a copy to read. Unfortunately, the story felt a little flat for me.

This follows two protagonists who have been pen pals for years, but when they finally meet in person, they don't know it's each other. At least, one of them doesn't know. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, and the smutty scenes were good, but it also focuses on two teenagers so with that in mind, I enjoyed it slightly less than I would've if it had been older protagonists. I still enjoyed the story for the most part, but don't think it's as great as it's hyped up to be.

Heat Level: 

🔥🔥🔥

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I've been reading a lot more romance lately and loving it! And I will be sharing those as often as I can ;)

Review | Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter |⭐⭐⭐

Summary: Twenty years ago Claire Scott's eldest sister, Julia, went missing. No one knew where she went - no note, no body. It was a mystery that was never solved and it tore her family apart.

Now another girl has disappeared, with chilling echoes of the past. And it seems that she might not be the only one.

Claire is convinced Julia's disappearance is linked.

But when she begins to learn the truth about her sister, she is confronted with a shocking discovery, and nothing will ever be the same...

Thoughts: This was my first Karin Slaughter book and I picked it up because my book club had a 48 hour Slaughterathon to participate in and I was super excited because I'd heard great things about this author. It was a little difficult for me to get into the story, not because it had a slow start, but because of the changing point of views. The beginning starts off with a bang, and I wasn't really expecting to have a hard time reading the book but after the first initial scene that starts off Claire's story, I really didn't get that much into the story. Again, I think it was the alternating points of view that sort of threw me off at first.

This book follows sisters Claire and Lydia who haven't spoken in years but are brought together by a sudden tragedy. Claire is discovering more secrets than she ever expected to find, and is finding out more about a killer who is a on the loose. We alternate between the two sisters and their lives as they try and solve the mystery of their sister's disappearance and the present day murderer that's nearby. While the plot is intriguing, I found neither main character to be likeable and I just didn't really care for either them.

I found the book dragged on too much, had too much details where it wasn't needed and could've been cut down about 100 pages or so. I was entertained for plenty of it, but I was bored for more than I expected to be as well. There were a lot of gruesome scenes that were difficult for some readers to get through, and I can see why, but they weren't as frequent to bother me as much. There wasn't much that was thrilling, since we find out from the beginning who the killer is.

Overall, this was something I liked but I felt so unsatisfied with how it was wrapped up that I feel a little iffy to read something by this author in the future. I might give the author another shot, but maybe not anytime soon.

Reviews | April 2019

April started off as a really good reading month, but ended up not being so great towards the end because that's when I went into a reading slump that I couldn't really get out of it. I spent this month trying to catch up to my Goodreads goal so I read a lot of shorter books. It would've worked out if I kept it up but unfortunately, life had other plans. But, reviews!

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Reviews

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Bossman
by Vi Keeland

I don't know what it was about this book that didn't do it for me. I really thought this was going to be another one of those steamy books I love, but for the most part, it was okay. I think the past vs. present story line wasn't something I really enjoyed. While I get that the author was trying to show the tragic past of the male protagonist, I felt like it was dragged on too long. It could've been told as a prologue and then I would've felt more attachment seeing his side of the story as well. I found this to be a little predictable and overall meh in the sexy scenes.

Rating: ★★★

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We Should All Be Feminists
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I feel like this was waaay too short to make such an impact on me. I get why people love it and want others to read it, and in the moment of reading it (listening to it) I agreed. But now, I couldn't even tell you much about it. I think it would work better if it was expanded, but that's just my opinion.

Rating: ★★★

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Five Feet Apart

by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, Tobias Iaconis

I read this book only because I was going to go watch the movie. I don't know much about CF, but I knew far less before I read this book, and while it may (or may not be) the most accurate representation with those struggling with CF, it shed some light into the difficulties CFers deal with on a daily basis and I think that's important. The story was, overall, cute and possibly a little unrealistic (but a lot of cutesy YA romances are). I think I did shed a few tears while reading it, and possibly while watching the movie, but I don't really remember why now. I enjoyed my time with it and I am glad I picked it up and went to see the movie after.

Rating: ★★★

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The Ocean at the End of the Lane
by Neil Gaiman

I was mostly thinking "what is going on" during the entirety of this book. It was weird (which I expected) but also a little boring. I listened to it on audiobook and had a really hard time concentrating on what was going on and why things were happening. I know Neil Gaiman is very popular, but I definitely don't think his work is for me.

Rating: ★★

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And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
by Fredrik Backman

I think I would've liked this better if I had read it. I didn't feel that sad while listening to it and got a little confused in some parts of it, trying to figure out who was who. It also was a little forgettable to be honest. I get why so many people love it but I guess I was just not one of those.

Rating: ★★★

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Faithful (The Mountain Man's Babies #10)
by Frankie Love

I kind of feel weird being one of the few to give this book such a low rating, but to be honest, I found this romance to be pretty ridiculous. I've never read any of the other of The Mountain Man's Babies books so I wasn't sure if reading this one (the last one) was such a good idea, but I gave it a shot. But as soon as the couple meet and basically fall in love in under 10 minutes, I found myself internally rolling my eyes. I think I would've enjoyed it if the couple spent more time together before deciding they were in love. I don't know, this whole book was rushed and the sex scenes were kind of jarring. I read the whole thing to see where it went, but I wasn't a fan and I am not sure if I will pick up another book by this author any time soon. Just wasn't for me.

Rating: ★★

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Reviews | March 2019

March was a good reading month for me and I actually finished 9 books, but am only reviewing 8 here. I spent the month trying to get rid of all those 'Currently Reading' books on my Goodreads shelf and did a pretty good job. I also got through quite a few audiobooks which always helps increase my reading stats for the month. Onto the reviews, which are short and sweet since I am playing catch up and just adding whatever quick thought I had on Goodreads.

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Reviews

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

What a story! I can't believe I didn't think the hype would live up to this book, but it certainly did. This book follows a fictional actress who rose to fame in the 1950's, but she felt so real that I couldn't believe this wasn't someone's actual life story. I was captivated from the start, and couldn't stop listening to it once I really got into the story. This is definitely a new favorite and I am looking forward to reading more by TJR soon.

Rating: ★★★★★

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I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

by Your Sumino

I was really excited to read this one because it was my first standalone manga and the story sounded really heartbreaking (my fave). I was a little let down and ultimately found this to be just okay. This was cute, but not really as heart wrenching as I was hoping. The ending was a little surprising, but not in a good way. I enjoyed the art work, and am glad I read this but it was mostly just whatever. 

Rating: ★★★

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Siege and Storm (The Grisha Trilogy #2)

by Leigh Bardugo

Ugh, this was one was okay. It felt like we went in a giant circle in the story and basically ended up where we were trying to get out of in the first book. Okay, so the story picks up right after book one ends and then is nonstop for our protagonist Alina. But like I said, and not to spoil things here, but she goes through so much and were back at square one by the end of the book. Its made me not want to pick up book 3 right away. 

Rating: ★★★

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The Year We Turned Forty
by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

I'm going to be honest, this book drags. I struggled to get through this one, not because it was bad but because it wasn't very interesting. The ladies go back in time 10 years to change their lives, and once they get their old lives back I kind of felt the book got a little dull. I kept taking breaks from it, and finally pushed through. The ending was lackluster, but it wasn't a bad book. It was okay for what it was, but not really something I'm glad I picked up.

Rating: ★★

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Defy the Worlds
by Claudia Gray

I loved the first book because of the relationship between the two main characters. Was a little disappointed they didn't spend much time together in this book, and while it was fast-paced and entertaining, I wasn't as interested in the story as I was during the first book. I am looking forward to the next book (and hopefully conclusion) and will be checking it out as soon as it's available on audiobook.

Rating: ★★★

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Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture
by Roxane Gay

An important book that I think everyone needs to read to gain some understanding on how rape (and rape culture) affects people. I only knocked a star down for this one because the stories did not flow well together, and I think that could've been edited better.

Rating: ★★★★

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True (True Believers #1)
by Erin McCarthy

This was mostly okay for me. Forgettable, in my opinion, seeing as I can't remember much about it a little more than a month after finishing it. It was a quick read and I am glad I gave McCarthy another shot, but I don't think this author is for me.

Rating: ★★

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Heretics Anonymous
by Katie Henry

I was expecting to really enjoy this, but this was just an okay read for me. I liked it, yes, but it is also a very forgettable story and I think the book is a little over-hyped for no particular reason. It's a quick, fun read with a nice group of friends but there wasn't much substance to the story and I really don't know why I picked this up.

Rating: ★★★

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Reviews | February 2019

I read 6 books in February, which is one better than January. But I started several that I’m in the middle of, that I just didn’t finish before the month was up. It was a better reading month rating wise as well, since I read a few 5 star books and a few 4 stars. On to the reviews!

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Reviews

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The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

The Wife Between Us was one of those books I kept seeing around and wanted to read but wasn’t planning on getting to very soon. Then it was chosen as the book of the month for my IRL book club and I decided to download it as an audiobook. I can say that yes, I liked it, but it was mostly a just okay book. Because the summary warns you that there’s a big twist, I was able to guess it because I was waiting for it the whole time. Once that was revealed (about half way), I lost a bit of interest in the characters. I didn’t find the protagonist(s) likeable and really didn’t care about their marriage or the lives they were leading. It was interesting in the mystery aspect, but once I figured out what that was, I sort of felt meh about it. It was entertaining enough to keep interested until the end, but not for any particular reason other than I wanted to see how the authors would wrap up the story. The ending was just okay too, kind of weird. And the epilogue felt completely unnecessary and totally unrealistic. I gave this one 3 stars but it’s closer to a 2.5 (I just don’t do half ratings). It was fun to discuss for my book club but the book was just whatever for most of us.

Rating: ★★★

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Dread Nation (Dread Nation #1)
by Justina Ireland

This book takes place during the Civil War era but with zombies. It’s such an interesting take on history while being super fast paced, so I was sucked into the story immediately. There’s lots of twists and turns, non-stop adventuring, and plenty of zombie killing to keep me satisfied. The author didn’t shy away from the racist times and how such would have affected people of color if a zombie outbreak would have affected everyone. I wasn’t too sure if this one was for me at first, but I’m glad I gave it a chance because I really liked it!! I look forward to seeing where this series goes after this and hope to see the second book soon!

Rating: ★★★★

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Defy the Stars (Constellation, #1) by Claudia Gray

This one caught me by surprise because I was a little unsure if I wanted to read a Claudia Gray book. I tried reading her Evernight series and basically hated the first book. But I knew it was time to give her a chance and I’m so glad I did! This sci-fi book takes place in outer space and follows to different perspectives, both very different characters who are forced to team to accomplish a mission. I was pulled in from the beginning and came to really like both characters, Naomi and Abel, and really wanted them to succeed and survive. The story is fast-paced and I look forward to continuing this series with the next book because I want to know what happens next asap!

Rating: ★★★★

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Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #1)
by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve been hearing about this series for a while now because it’s so popular, but I’ve had this on my shelves for years and didn’t feel as intrigued to read it as everyone else. I finally picked it up to read Six of Crows, which takes place in the same world, but wasn’t sure what to expect. I don’t pick up fantasy books as easily as others because sometimes the expansive worlds are too much for me to actually get into, but that wasn’t the case with this one. Leigh Bardugo has written a very complex work but the story/characters are followed with ease because the protagonist, Alina, is discovering herself and world as we are. The book is slower paced, but I found myself captivated by she was dealing with and read this a lot faster than I expected. I am looking forward to starting the next book in the series right away.

Rating: ★★★★

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 1
by Hiromu Arakawa

I’d been dying to pick up the manga for Fullmetal Alchemist since I watched the anime years ago. I love this story of two brothers who go through so much to try and gain their bodies back after an alchemic mistake. I picked up the Fullmetal Edition and love it. The story is almost the same as the anime, as the first two or three episodes I believe, and I was able to appreciate so much. I definitely recommend any fans of the series to pick this up, although I do suggest watching the anime before the manga because it is a lot to take in and easier to be understood on screen.

Rating: ★★★★★

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White Fur by Jardine Libaire

In all honesty, I had no idea what this book was about but it was on my Netgalley list and I found it available in audiobook so I checked it out without knowing anything. The story takes place in dual perspectives following two completely opposite characters that develop a sexual obsession which eventually turns into something more. Together they face all odds, and I was really surprised which how much I wanted to know where it would all end. I wasn’t captivated throughout the whole book but I was interested in knowing where the story was going to end because of the glimpse into the future we get in the first few pages. I did lose some interest in some of the middle areas and probably would’ve skimmed it if I had been reading a physical book. Instead I found myself losing focus in the audiobook but kept going. I’m glad I got through it cause this was such a unique story that I’m glad I didn’t miss out or give up.

Rating: ★★★

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And that’s all for my review in February! I do hope to finish more books next month, but I’m glad I was able to get through these at least this month.

Reviews | January 2019

I read 5 books in the month of January, but my goal was to read about 8 a month so I’m already behind on that. For the most part, it was an okay reading month. There wasn’t anything I really loved, although there was one book I enjoyed more than others, which was Bird Box. I started a few other books during January but I have yet to finish them.

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Reviews

Dry Spell
by Vi Keeland

This was my first taste at a Vi Keeland book and while it was a cute, sexy read it was also too short. There was not enough sexy times, but I couldn’t really expect more from such a short read. I’m definitely looking forward to checking out a full Vi Keeland novel in the future.

Rating: ★★★

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Bird Box 
by Josh Malerman

I heard of this one years ago and I meant to read it sooner but never had the chance to. Once the movie came out on Netflix and there was so much hype surrounding it, I felt motivated enough to finally pick it up. It’s definitely a mysterious story about a dystopian world where people must keep their eyes shut in order to survive because once they look at whatever is outside, they die.

The story was thrilling enough to keep me listening, but slow paced enough that I was never overwhelmed. It switches from past to present through alternating chapters and I was intrigued to learn more. Definitely a creepy thriller to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Rating: ★★★★

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Jaded and Tyed (Forbidden Romance 2.5)
by Penelope Ward

While this could’ve been a good introduction to a new couple in the Forbidden Romance series, I couldn’t connect with it at all because one of the characters takes part in cheating on their partner and I was just not okay with it. Because of that, I really wasn’t enjoying the romance/relationship that was developed and felt like maybe this wasn’t a good place to start with Penelope Ward. I saw other reviews that mentioned this author usually does write books with cheating so I might just steer away from future Penelope Ward books.

Rating: ★★

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Sharp Objects
by Gillian Flynn

I was expecting a little more because Gillian Flynn is such a popular author, but for the most part, I found Sharp Objects to be anticlimactic. The plot follows reporter, Camille, who returns to her hometown after years of being away to learn about murders taking place. As a protagonist, she felt unreliable and her actions are so disjointed, I felt this whole book did not flow well. I was able to figure out the mystery (or part of it), early on and kept going only to find out if I was right. There are no likeable characters, Camille isn’t that great of a person, and the whole mystery aspect was sort of pushed to the side and overrun by the family’s issues. I was pretty disappointed but am looking forward to watching the miniseries soon anyways.

Rating: ★★★

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A Little Something Different 
by Sandy Hall

This is a cute story, and that’s about it. It takes place from 14 perspectives that are not the two main lovers being followed. The idea is unique, but the book itself was just okay. It’s cute, but not much else. I was hoping for a little more depth, although how much depth could I expect when some of the POV’s are from a squirrel and a bench? I can’t say I didn’t enjoy this, but it’s a very forgettable albeit adorable story.

Rating: ★★★★

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And that’s it for my reviews in January! I hope you guys enjoy this new way of reviewing will be taking over individual reviews on my blog, unless I specifically review a book sent by the publisher and/or tour here on my blog. I’m looking forward to continuing my reviews and staying up to date with them going forward!

Review | When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Title: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Series: N/A
Genre: YA - Contemporary
Publication: May 30, 2017 by Simon Pulse
Format: Hardcover/Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis: Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways. 

Thoughts: This was a really cute contemporary, and a little different than others I've read. We follow Dimple who is ready to take on the world and become a successful woman which does not involve getting married and settling down the way her parents expect her to. We also follow Rishi who believes his parents know best and will do anything to please them, which means going to a school and following a career he's not passionate about. He's also more than ready to fall in love with Dimple, who they've tried to set him up with.

Their relationship doesn't have the best start since Dimple is totally against it, but in order to win the competition they are there for, they have to work together. Of course, they friendship becomes more and overall, the story wraps up nicely. It's a cute story, it didn't offer much and it was predictable, but I really enjoyed it because their interactions felt realistic. It could be that I read this after reading too much horror, and it felt like a breath of fresh air. Overall though, it's a cute story and I really liked it.

Review | Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Title: Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
Series: N/A
Genre: Anthologies - Horror
Publication: November 9, 2010 by Scribner Book Company
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis: A new collection of four never-before-published stories from Stephen King.

1922: The story opens with the confession of Wilfred James to the murder of his wife, Arlette, following their move to Hemingford, Nebraska onto land willed to Arlette by her father.

Big Driver: Mystery writer, Tess, has been supplementing her writing income for years by doing speaking engagements with no problems. But following a last-minute invitation to a book club 60 miles away, she takes a shortcut home with dire consequences.

Fair Extension: Harry Streeter, who is suffering from cancer, decides to make a deal with the devil but, as always, there is a price to pay.

A Good Marriage: Darcy Anderson learns more about her husband of more than twenty years than she would have liked to know when she literally stumbles upon a box under a worktable in their garage.

Thoughts: I only picked this up to read 1922 because of the new movie adaptation on Netflix. I ended up reading all the stories and am glad I did, because I really enjoyed them.

1922
This was a pretty creepy story about a man who murders his wife in order to keep the land they live on and the aftermath of that murder. Its an interesting story, especially the turns it takes regarding his son and the ending left my skin crawling. There is some sort of paranormal type aspects, but otherwise, it's more of a simple kind of story.

Rating: ★★★★★

Big Driver
I didn't realize what this story is about, but there should be some trigger warnings for this one I believe. It is quite gruesome and mostly a story of revenge, but I found it a little disturbing and almost wish I would've skipped it.

Rating: ★★★

Fair Extension
This story was really short and I felt really unsatisfied with the way it ended, seeing as the "price to pay" didn't turn out that bad for the protagonist. I just found this one a little weird.

Rating: ★★★

A Good Marriage
I watched the movie adaptation and sort of remembered what this one was about, but still found it suspenseful and I was really worried about what the wife had discovered and how it would affect her life. I didn't really like the ending though, but I don't know why.

Rating: ★★★★

Overall I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed all the stories to some extent and appreciated the variety in them. I am really looking forward in checking out more of SK short stories.

Review | The Green Mile by Stephen King

Title: The Green Mile by Stephen King
Series: #1-6
Genre: Fiction - Fantasy
Publication:
Format: Audiobook/Paperback
Source: Library/Borrowed
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: Welcome to Cold Mountain Penitentiary, home to the Depression-worn men of E Block. Convicted killers all, each awaits his turn to walk "the Green Mile," the lime-colored linoleum corridor leading to a final meeting with Old Sparky, Cold Mountain's electric chair. Prison guard Paul Edgecombe has seen his share of oddities over the years working the Mile, but he's never seen anything like John Coffey--a man with the body of a giant and the mind of a child, condemned for a crime terrifying in its violence and shocking in its depravity. And in this place of ultimate retribution, Edgecombe is about to discover the terrible, wondrous truth about John Coffey--a truth that will challenge his most cherished beliefs....

Thoughts: There's a lot I can say about this one, but first, let me say this is one of my new Stephen King favorites. This one isn't a horror or a thriller the way its categorized on Goodreads. This one is about a set of characters that you will come to really love. This is a sad story with lots of happy little moments sprinkled in.

The Green Mile is about friendship, very difficult ones at that, as it takes place in a state penitentiary where criminals await their turn on old sparky (the electric chair). I knew what was going to happen because I'd seen the movie countless times, but this book still broke my heart and made me cry. I still tear up to think about it, even though it has been a few months now. There are small but important details that they don't add in the movie but add more to the story, so I am glad I finally gave the book a chance.

This is definitely an amazing book and one of King's best. The book-to-movie adaptation is also an amazing one.

Review | Gerald's Game by Stephen King

Title: Gerald's Game by Stephen King
Series: N/A
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Publication: September 1, 1992 by Smithmark Publishers
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: Stephen King cranks up the suspense in a different kind of bedtime story. A game of seduction between a husband and wife goes horribly awry when the husband dies. But the nightmare has just begun...

Thoughts: Gerald's Game started off...exciting enough. Jessie and Gerald have taken a trip to their secluded lake house to spice up their marriage. Unfortunately, Gerald has a heart attack leaving Jessie handcuffed to the bed. I was really drawn into the story at the beginning, but being in Jessie's head was a little overwhelming which seemed like a good thing at first but later was just too much.

The story added on a few more elements too, with unexpected visitors and possible hallucinations. I was more intrigued to see whether Jessie would figure a way out or not, and was actually creeped out enough to put down the book for a while. The ending, however, felt sort of rushed and unsatisfying. I don't know what it was about this book that sort of left me disappointed.

Review | The Long Walk by Richard Bachman

Title: The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
Series: N/A
Genre: Dystopia/Thriller
Publication: January 1, 2016 by Scribner
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: On the first day of May, 100 teenage boys meet for a race known as "The Long Walk." If you break the rules, you get three warnings. If you exceed your limit, what happens is absolutely terrifying.

Thoughts: The Long Walk is by far one of the creepiest Richard Bachman/Stephen King books I've read up to this point and I loved it. There's not much I can say without giving the whole premise of the book away, which I knew nothing about before reading this.

Like the quick synopsis explains, The Long Walk is a marathon of sorts where 100 young guys start walking. The reasoning behind the walk itself is never really explained, but the way the story unfolds is really terrifying. And while there is only one protagonist, we get an in-depth look at so many of the boys walking.

The story is pretty simple since all they are doing is walking, but the ending is left with a sort of cliff-hanger that left me feeling scared. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it's one of my new SK favorites and one of my favorites of 2017. I definitely recommend this to fans of Stephen King, it's strange and creeps up on you.

Review | Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

Title: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
Series: N/A
Genre: Nonfiction - Autobiography
Publication: November 15th 2016 by Touchstone Books
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: Even before she made a name for herself on the silver screen starring in films like Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air, Twilight, and Into the Woods, Anna Kendrick was unusually small, weird, and “10 percent defiant.”

At the ripe age of thirteen, she had already resolved to “keep the crazy inside my head where it belonged. Forever. But here’s the thing about crazy: It. Wants. Out.” In Scrappy Little Nobody, she invites readers inside her brain, sharing extraordinary and charmingly ordinary stories with candor and winningly wry observations.

With her razor-sharp wit, Anna recounts the absurdities she’s experienced on her way to and from the heart of pop culture as only she can—from her unusual path to the performing arts (Vanilla Ice and baggy neon pants may have played a role) to her double life as a middle-school student who also starred on Broadway to her initial “dating experiments” (including only liking boys who didn’t like her back) to reviewing a binder full of butt doubles to her struggle to live like an adult woman instead of a perpetual “man-child.”

Enter Anna’s world and follow her rise from “scrappy little nobody” to somebody who dazzles on the stage, the screen, and now the page—with an electric, singular voice, at once familiar and surprising, sharp and sweet, funny and serious (well, not that serious).

Thoughts: I'd been eyeing this for a while, since it was published actually, but I don't normally read non-fiction so I didn't give it a shot until now because I was planning on going to watch Pitch Perfect 3 (which I didn't) and I am glad I got around to it.

While Anna Kendrick's life isn't particularly interesting, and she hasn't done too much in her acting career, she is a down-to-earth actress and reminded me that actors are just regular people too. She's so honest in this book about everything, from how she became an actress, to her upbringing, to guys and dating, etc. that when I was done, I felt like she and I were really good friends. I went and followed her on all her social medias and wanted to just say hi to her because it felt natural. Her biography exposed her life and personality, and I just want to chat with her every day.

I can't say that the whole biography was great. While it was awesome to learn about her, and listening to her audiobook was actually awesome because it was like she was telling me all these stories over a phone call, I felt that the writing was sort of all over the place. Her anecdotes kept flip flopping back and forth, and there was no actual time line she followed because she focused on sections of specific topics which kept bringing her back to events she had already discussed. The end of the book also had tons of small sections of things, and it almost felt like I was listening to a dictionary definition of that specific topic. The sections had a tiny story and then the next section began, and it sort of felt like filler because she needed more pages to get the book published.

Overall, I enjoyed it. It wasn't the greatest biography I've read but the experience of listening to the author read her own biography has left me wanting more and I have already picked up another. So thanks for that, Anna.

Review | Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Title: Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Series: N/A
Genre: YA - Contemporary/Holiday
Publication: October 2nd 2008 by Speak
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. 

Thoughts: This was a cute read, to be honest. I didn't have high expectations because I am not big on anthologies, so I wasn't really expecting to enjoy this that much. But I did like it. All the stories had quirky characters, sweet short romances, lots of snow, and happy endings. A perfect combination to end off the holiday season.

The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson

This felt like the quickest story but not the shortest. Our protagonist, Jubilee, ends up on a train after her parents get arrested on Christmas Eve. That's about as much as I can share, but she goes on a mini adventure in search of warmth and to avoid cheerleaders. She makes some interesting decisions which I didn't were very smart, but everything turns out okay I guess, and it was simply a cute story.

A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green

I liked this story too, and it was a little different at the beginning, but I think had the sweetest little romance out of three. But I hated the whole "almost dying to get to cheerleaders because they're hot" plot so I think this one is my lowest rated one.

The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle

I think my favorite characters were in this one. Although, I felt that everyone was kind of unfair to the protagonist. Her friends kept telling her she was self-absorbed, etc. and I really didn't like them that much. But I thought the romance was really cute, but felt the plot was pretty far-fetched even though not much happens.

Final Thoughts: It was nice to see how the stories all came together at the end, although to be honest, they're a little forgettable and all the characters showing up at the end made me think, "Wait, who are they again? ohhh yeah." but that could be just my bad memory. Overall, it was a cute end of the year easy read that I'm glad I actually finished.

Review | The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Title:  The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Series: Guide #1
Genre: YA - Historical Fiction
Publication: June 27, 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores. 

Thoughts: This is one of those books that I was getting myself into without really knowing what it was about, only I'd seen it everywhere and was curious. It's cool that with being on Booktube I get exposed to a lot more books than I have been in a while, and this was one of them. Everyone was talking about, and while I never would have gone out of my way to purchase it, it was available as an audiobook copy from my library.

Let me tell you, it lived up to the hype. That doesn't always happen, especially when reading something out of your comfort zone right? Well, it's not like I'm uncomfortable with any LGBTQ+ representation, because I'm not, I'm just a little unfamiliar with it still. I've read very few books that have gay characters, so I am always a little weary because I am not sure what to expect. And I mean that in the best possible way.

Anyways, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue follows our protagonist Monty who is embarking on his last year long tour through Europe with his best friend (who he's in love with) and his little sister (much to his dismay) before he must follow in his fathers footsteps and taking over the family state (which he's not thrilled about.) Things don't go according to plan, and the story derails into quite the adventure.

Monty is a great protagonist, lovable and frustrating, but funny and charming. He had me grinning with his antics, and shaking my head *face palm* with some of the stuff he put the gang into. But he has a good heart, and really, you can't help but care about him.

The story is unlike any other I've ever read either, from highway robberies to pirates, hidden treasures to romance, it has so much packed into that you can't help but have a good time reading it.  The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue was such a satisfying and fun read, that I am really glad I picked up and highly recommend it to everyone looking for a historical adventure that has so much to offer. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year, without a doubt.

Review | Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist

Title: Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist
Series: N/A
Genre: Contemporary
Publication: January 3, 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: On his first day at a new school, blind sixteen-year-old Will Porter accidentally groped a girl on the stairs, sat on another student in the cafeteria, and somehow drove a classmate to tears. High school can only go up from here, right?

As Will starts to find his footing, he develops a crush on a sweet but shy girl named Cecily. And despite his fear that having a girlfriend will make him inherently dependent on someone sighted, the two of them grow closer and closer. Then an unprecedented opportunity arises: an experimental surgery that could give Will eyesight for the first time in his life. But learning to see is more difficult than Will ever imagined, and he soon discovers that the sighted world has been keeping secrets. It turns out Cecily doesn’t meet traditional definitions of beauty—in fact, everything he’d heard about her appearance was a lie engineered by their so-called friends to get the two of them together. Does it matter what Cecily looks like? No, not really. But then why does Will feel so betrayed?

Thoughts: Honestly, I had no idea what this was about and expected a cute romance from the cover. And it did have a cute romance, but that was not what this book was about. The protagonist, Will, is blind and has decided to mainstream into a school for sighted, which is a daunting task since he's gone to a school for the blind for his school career.

I thought Love and First Sight was short and sweet. I liked Will and his attitude on life, even things were going tough for him. I appreciated how real his relationship with his parents was, and the togetherness they had. I already liked all the friends he made, and how they were all unique, but a great group. The love interest was also a friend first, before anything, and it was great to see their relationship grow.

I really thought this book was great, there wasn't anything I didn't love about it and enjoyed the story thoroughly. I highly recommend it to contemporary lovers, especially if you are looking for something a little different, that doesn't shove the romance in your face.

Review | Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Title: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Series: N/A
Genre: YA - Contemporary
Publication: June 28, 2011 by Simon Pulse
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As de facto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: A love this devastating has no happy ending. 

Thoughts: I'd been looking forward to reading this for years, but I was a little weary about it because it has such a controversial topic, and I wasn't sure what to expect from it. I had heard good things, from the most part, about it but still wasn't sure.

This story follows two siblings who have cared and raised their three younger siblings after their alcoholic mother fails to do so. Because of the friendship they've formed as a team to give their siblings what they need, they have grown to fall in love with each other. As a reader, I was able to understand how this happened. But as a person who has a sibling, I felt this was really unnatural. Obviously, their circumstances are something I have never experienced, but I did feel a little weird about the whole thing as I was reading it.

I can't say that I didn't enjoy it, because I did. I felt a little uncomfortable with the thought of Lochan and Maya being in love and also being siblings, but other than that, the story was developed well and the struggle they go through is really felt. All in all though, I felt that I expected a little more from the conclusion, and even though I was a tiny bit surprised, I felt like it was predictable nonetheless.