Audrey
When life gets busy, reading tends to be one of the first things people give up. ‘Well-Read Mom' founders Marcie Stokman and Colleen Hutt discuss the importance of reading and why it should be among our top priorities. What's more, they discuss the impact of taking the time to read a good book (namely literature) and the impact it can have on your life as a Catholic.
I was excited to see a book like this as I don't often hear people discussing the correlation between reading (fiction) and spirituality. Although as I read on it became evident that I'm not entirely the target reader (the book being geared toward busy mothers whereas I'm a single/childless twenty-something), I still feel like I gained insight. There are also some great resources here such as reading journal prompts and scattered book recommendations.
While there was a lot I liked about the book, I did find myself struggling through the last quarter of it. It began to feel more like an advertisement for ‘Well-Read Mom' book clubs than a reading guide. I'll also say that the audience feels too limited, not only in demographic, but also the scope of books and types of readers. The goal of this book is to encourage people to take time and read thoughtfully, but at times dismisses mediums apart from physical editions of books.
Thanks to Ave Maria Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free digital ARC of the book!
Yunho and Myunghee are kids living in North Korea. Every day is a fight for survival, be it avoiding soldiers, bartering and scavenging for food, etc. They know their only hope for their futures is to sneak across the border to China, but even there they run the risk of being captured. Still, a chance at freedom outweighs the risks involved. The kids start off on different paths but are reunited after a chance meeting at the beginning of their escape.
I knew this was going to be a difficult read going in. It's hard to grasp that the events in this book aren't far off history or works of dystopian fiction. The book is set in 2013, but the situation is still relevant. The story and the illustrations portray this in a heartbreaking yet beautiful way. Despite the horrific things the characters face, this is a story filled with hope.
Thanks to HarperCollins/HarperAlley and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of the book!
It's the beginning of summer vacation and before the start of high school. Amber, Nico, and their friends have a strong friend group, but when Amber and Nico confess their feelings for one another, they notice a new distance between them and their friends. First love has the young couple oblivious to those around them and it takes a shared dream for them to realize their part in the rift. Their dream also provides a sounding board for their relationship. High school has made the already shy Nico even quieter, making him wonder why someone as upbeat as Amber would be interested aside from the fact they grew up together.
This was a sweet story accompanied by nice illustrations, especially during the dream sequence. I do wish there had been a deeper look at especially Nico's character in particular as there is a lot of vagueness around him. We don't see too much of Amber and Nico's connection until the dream. That said, this might not be as big of an issue for the younger readers this book is geared toward.
Thanks to IDW Publishing | Top Shelf Productions and NetGalley for providing a free digital ACR of the book!
Such a cute and lighthearted read! I especially loved it because many of the illustrations reminded me of my little black kitten both in looks and personality. A great pick-me-up kind of book, especially if you're a cat lover.
Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a free digital ARC of the book to read and leave my honest review.
Inseparable is the sixth and final installment in the Shards of Sevia series. I have read two other books in the series (Wrong Place, Right Time and For Better and Worse) and can confirm that the books can be read as a standalone. However, I would recommend reading the first book Wrong Place, Right Time first for the most context although it is not necessary. This book is very family-oriented, focusing on Dunya, Rado, and their adopted son Mosin. When they discover that Mosin's grandparents are alive, the couple is faced with a difficult decision. This leads to doubts and questions about their relationship. As has been the backdrop throughout the series, there is an emphasis on war as well as maintaining faith in God when things are falling apart. This was portrayed exceptionally through Dunya and Rado. I'm sad to hear that this is the last book in the series, but I am glad that I still have three others to go back and read. I look forward to seeing whatever E.B. Roshan creates next! A huge thanks to the author for reaching out and sending me a free digital ARC to read and leave my honest review!
Arthur Dodd was taken prisoner and sent to Auschwitz in 1942. Not willing to die at the hands of the Nazis, he begins sabotaging and orchestrating a mass breakout. I appreciated the story and the courage, however I struggled with the style in which it was told. Being told more like a novel, I feel like I didn't retain the facts as much as I would have liked.
It's wedding time! This is the third and final book in the Mothman in Love series and it's a doozy. A notable difference this time around is the addition of Moth's POV. Heather's bachelorette party takes a turn when she's kidnapped by a vampire king (Magnus) who has taken an interest in her. He intends to marry her and will seemingly stop at nothing. It's up to Moth (with the help of friends and family) to rescue his flame. This book has a wildly different feel than the first two books. Although I absolutely loved the addition of Moth's narration, I wasn't super into the plot. A ‘me' issue for sure as I'm more into magical realism if I pick up the fantasy genre (which was prominent in the first book, less so in the second) rather than full-on fantasy. I still enjoyed visiting with these characters again. I was also happy to see more involvement with the side characters as well. (Makes me wonder if there will be a spin-off series in the future?) A huge thanks to the author and 4 Horsemen Publications for providing me with a digital ARC through Booksprout! I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
It's been a while since a prologue gripped me as much as the beginning of Husbands & Lovers. 10/10 hook for sure. Had this book solely followed the modern storyline I think this could have been a five-star read. After a summer camp incident involving a poisonous mushroom, Mallory's son Sam is in need of a new kidney. With no matches in her immediate family, the obvious choice could potentially be Sam's father — someone Mallory has spent the last decade trying to forget. This historical portion of the book is set in the 1950s, centering on Hannah, a Hungarian refugee living in Cairo torn between two men, one of them the father of her baby. Though the two storylines do of course tie together, Hannah's portion had little significance in the long run. It was a separate story next to Mallory and Monk's story which was far more fleshed out. I struggled through the historical timeline, especially given Mallory has a number of flashbacks into the past.
I almost didn't pick up this book because typically I can take or leave romcoms. Just for the Summer was nominated for The Global Book Nook's group read at the beginning of the summer and I only picked it up in the last day or two of that month because I was waiting for a library hold to come through. Three or four chapters in, I ditched the library book and purchased my own copy because there was no way I wasn't going to pour my emotions into the pages. What begins as a comical ploy to break a ‘curse' when their internet presence and sorry dating records align, Emma and Justin agree to date for a little while, check some boxes, and then break up so they can move on to meet their soul mates. It seems foolproof, at least in the beginning. If nothing else, a bit of fun and a story to laugh about later. What they didn't anticipate were genuine feelings. This wouldn't be as much of a problem if not for Justin's life being uprooted by a family emergency. Emma, too, finds herself dealing with family drama as well. Even a couple of months later as I'm finally writing my review, I still cannot believe how much I fell in love with this book. I only wish I had picked up one of Abby Jimenez's books sooner! I felt so connected to both Emma and Justin despite not sharing the same life circumstances as them. Before even finishing the book, I shared it with one of my best friends because I knew she would love it as well (and she did). I'm so looking forward to backtracking in the series and (hopefully) reliving these emotions all over again.
Out of all of the space race books I've read, this one has been the most unique. It offers a look beyond the general facts that have become prevalent in the media/the typical narrative of the story. One Giant Leap is a play-by-play look at the Apollo program politically, logistically, and scientifically. It's less focused on the science that propelled the rocket to the moon, rather the human side. What was the driving force behind President Kennedy's ‘We choose to go to the moon' speech? I almost wish I'd taken notes or purchased a physical copy of the book to tab along the way. I found it thought-provoking and it makes me want to research some of the topics further.
Royalty and war are always interesting mixes in a book, particularly when it's based on a true story. Typically in World War II fiction, the royal focus is on the British Royal Family. In A Nurse's Tale, our hero is a Nigerian Princess.
Princess Adenrele Ademola trains in London to become a nurse. When the war breaks out, she stays behind and eventually goes on to become a midwife. Eighty years later, Ade's great-niece, Yemi, goes to England and meets a doctor who is trying to trace his roots having been born in an orphanage. The two of them start to realize the connections they have.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Nigerian culture and history, especially where the characters are based on real people. This was my biggest takeaway. I didn't find myself engaged with the story as a whole. Even still, I applaud what a standout it is.
A Stranger in the Family is the 11th book in the Maeve Kerrigan series, however, it stands strong on its own. I went into the book with no former knowledge of the series and was able to keep track of the characters. The book begins with the disappearance of the Marshall's young daughter Rosalie. Jumping to the present day, Helena and Bruce Marshall are found dead. At first look, it appears to be a murder/suicide, but Maeve Kerrigan thinks otherwise and begins her and Josh Derwent's investigation. As I said, despite being so deep into a series, this novel can standalone. I did feel a lack of connection to the characters though as I'm assuming most of the personalities have been established previously in early books, making the book dialogue/plot heavy. For that, I would recommend reading at least the first book. Otherwise, it was a solid mystery. (And the book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger!) A huge thanks to Harper360 for sending me an ARC of the book to read and review!
Mistletoe Kisses is a new contemporary/sweet romance from Jessica Baker. Though it's a venture into a new genre, it has the same charm and feel as her previous books, particularly An Invitation to Tea. Zoe Bennett is getting married and her childhood best friend Holly anticipates the role of maid of honor. To her disappointment, she instead finds herself on the staff. Instead of facing a wedding laced with complete misery, Holly reconnects with her long-distance pal Zach (Zoe's brother and Holly's childhood crush). The two of them come up with a fake relationship plan to get through it all. I am such a sucker for the fake dating trope and it's done wonderfully here. Holly and Zach are charming characters. The entire book has that cozy Hallmark Christmas movie feel to it. It's a perfect Christmas in July treat!
I usually enjoy travel memoirs like this but I struggled so much with this one. I only pushed through it because it was short. All hope was lost for a worthwhile confusion when the author compared gutting a chicken to sex (and this wasn't the only metaphor thrown out there). More pretension than heart.
I've really enjoyed other books by Fredrik Backman and his writing never fails to speak to me. I wasn't super into the plot of this one not being a hockey fan (or sports fan in general), but there were a lot of passages and moments I really liked. I did go into this thinking my heart was going to shatter completely... I think I made it more devastating in my mind than it turned out to be.