Tag: Books

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland | I’ve long been fascinated with Northern Ireland history and when Luke finished this book late last year, he recommended that I read it as well. It was a phenomonal read and one that will stay with me. The author spent four years doing research, interviewed over 100 individuals and made seven trips to Northern Ireland for this book. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about The Troubles through specific and real events, I cannot recommend this book enough!
(4.5 stars)

The Sun Does Shine: How I found Life and Freedom on Death Row | Anthony “Ray” Hinton was accused of crimes he didn’t commit. He spent 30 years on death row in Alabama because the racist system was stacked agains him. There was no evidence linking him to the murders he was being accused of, only a few accounts of false testimonies from people that were set to see him imprisoned. Ray spent three decades attempting appeals that ultimately failed until the Supreme Court decided to throw his case out in 2015, making Ray a free man. While Ray’s story is incredibly heartbreaking it’s also lined with hope and inspiration. He made a life for himself on death row, transforming himself and those around him.
(4.5 stars)

China Rich Girlfriend | This book is the follow-up to Crazy Rich Asians (which I read a few years ago). China Rich Girlfriend follows the same characters, only a few years later. The crazy stories and family drama intensify with each passing scandal. It was a fun escape into the extravagant lives of these ultra-rich billionaires in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
(3.25 stars)

Americanah | A story of two young adults from Nigeria that leave their country for America and London, respectively. Ifemelu learns what it’s like to be Black for the first time in the United States while Obinze navigates a life in London undocumented.
(4 stars)

White Fragility | An eye opening and important read. This books dives into why white people have such a hard time being confronted and challenged on racism and how we need to work at being anti-racist every day. This book really made me take a hard look at how I show up and what I can do to be anti-racist. 
(4.25 stars)

Know My Name | A powerful memoir by Chanel Miller, the young woman who was sexually assaulted on the Stanford campus by Brock Turner. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Chanel and I was blown away by her bravery and eloquence. While is story is horrific, it’s also filled with hope. 
(5 stars)

Here’s what I’ve been reading lately. All of the books in this post are all very different! There are cheesy young adult romances, historical fiction and stories of violent faith. My taste in books is usually all over the map; I just like to mix it up.Nantucket Nights | I’ve heard that people loveeee Elin Hildebrand books, so I thought I’d give this one a try. Truthfully, I didn’t love it. It was a cheesy young adult romance novel with a far-fetched storyline. An older woman gets pregnant by her best friends’ 18-year old son and fakes her own death, leaving her friends behind to take the blame. It was a little too far out there of a story for me.
(2.5 stars)

Forever, Interrupted | In all honesty I didn’t love this one from Taylor Jenkins Reid and I usually love her books. Elsie marries Ben after a whirlwind 6-month romance. After a little over a week of marriage, Ben dies in a tragic accident. Elsie now has to face the mother-in-law that didn’t know she existed and her own family that she doesn’t have a relationship with. Forever, Interrupted starts off with tragedy and then weaves in and out through time to tell Elsie’s story and how she picks her life back up.
(3.5 stars)

Truly Madly Guilty | I love a good Liane Moriarty book, but admittedly this one was not my favorite of hers. A lot of reviews said the book was about 100 pages too long and I agree. I felt myself frustrated and annoyed at how long the storyline dragged out.
(3 stars)

The Alice Network | I had borrowed this book from the library a while ago and got to about page 150 before I had to return it and never got back on the list. I recently got on the list for the audiobook and thought that would be a good way to finish it, as the book was quite long, haha. I love historical fiction (it might be my favorite genre) and I loved this different take from two different women that eventually come together to find answers about their past.
(4 stars)

Always and Forever, Lara Jean | The last book in the To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before series and by far my favorite of them all! The movie hasn’t come out yet and the first two books were quite different from the movies so I can’t wait to see what the movie is like!
(5 stars)

Under the Banner of Heaven | I grew up around the LDS church – a lot of my extended family are practicing mormons but my immediate family is not. I’ve always been curious to learn more about the religion as growing up around it I had a lot of negative experiences associated with the religion. This book dives into the history and evolution of the religion and the horrifying truths that come with it. As someone that knows more than the average person about the church, this book was still absolutely eye-opening to say the least.
(4.5 stars)

Here’s what I’ve been reading (and listening to) lately. A friend from work told me about the Libby app and it’s been a lifesaver recently. With our stay at home orders in Oregon, all the public libraries are closed for the time being, but you can still “borrow” ebooks and audiobooks from the library and it couldn’t be easier! If you have a library card, just enter your number in the Libby app and you can start borrowing from your local library.

I read a few of the books below and then also listened to a few of them on audiobook. I find that I’m able to get through a book faster when I listen to it. Being at home 99.9% of the time now I’ve been listening to audiobooks when I clean the house, when I’m putting a puzzle together, cooking, going on a walk, etc. What a game change this has been. I’m wondering why I’m just now catching on this this though, haha!

Open Book | I read Jessica Simpson’s book in a few days, it was such an easy read. Jessica is very candid about her life and her struggles as she navigates her relationships, career and fame. It was a fun read and I found that I relate to her in so many ways.
(4 stars)

Twice in a Blue Moon | I loved the last Christina Lauren book that I read so I thought I would give this one a try! I read it on a recent vacation and it was a cute and fun YA read.
(3.75 stars)

To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before | I really should have read this before I saw the movie! Although the movie and the book don’t share a lot of the same details I still found it absolutely adorable.
(4 stars)

P.S. I Still Love You | Just like the first book in the series, I should have read this before I watched the first two movies. While there still are some similarities between the book and the movie, they are quite different – it’s still adorable though!
(4 stars)

Tiny Little Thing | This is the first book that Beatriz Williams wrote in her “Schuyler Sisters series”. I had already read books 2 and 3… and loved this one as well. You don’t necessarily have to read them in order, I don’t think you’d be lost if you didn’t as the storylines focus on different characters/sisters. In true Beatriz Williams fashion she weaves in and out of different time periods and even throws a family scandal or two in there!
(4 stars)

Evvie Drake Stars Over | I thought this book was the cutest, a little predictable, but the cutest. Evvie is trying to move on with her life after the death of her husband and rents out a spare room to a retired New York Yankees pitcher who’s also trying to move on with his life after a career-ending injury.
(4 stars)

I have to admit that for the past few months I’ve fallen into a reading slump. I couldn’t finish anything for months. I attempted three different books and I either couldn’t get into them or couldn’t get inspired by them. I finally switched gears and went for a an author that I love (Taylor Jenkins Reid) and got out of my reading slump two days later 🙂 I have so many good books on my reading list this year that I can’t wait to get my hands on!

Here’s what I’ve been reading lately.

Matchmaking for Beginners | I had heard so many good reviews of this book that I was so excited when I finally got my hands on it. It was a fun read but I didn’t love the storyline.
(3 stars)

Maybe in Another Life | When I was deep into my reading slump of uninspiring books I decided to go back to an author that I love – and I finished this book in just a few days! It was such a fun and easy read. One of my favorite aspects of Taylor Jenkins Reid novels is that not only is she an amazing storyteller but she interjects life lessons and words of wisdom. I always take away so much more than a fun story from her books. Hannah is twenty-nine and has no idea what she wants to do with her life.   She moves back to her hometown in an effort to start over once again. On one particilur night out with her best friend she has to make a choice to go home with her friend or stay out and reconnect with her high-school boyfriend. Both decisions play out in concurrent storylines and those storylines take two drastically different turns. It raises questions about fate and how much of our life is determined by the choices we make.
(4 stars)

All Your Perfects | I picked this one up because I loved the last Colleen Hoover book I read and this one had great reviews on Goodreads. This was quite a heavy read. I loved how the main characters met and how they solved their differences, as I’m sure many married couples can relate to the challenges that Quinn and Graham faced. Similar to the last book I read of Colleen’s, I feel like I can’t go into any more detail otherwise I might spoil it!
(4 stars)

The Husband’s Secret | So many of my co-workers have recommended this book to me lately. I loved What Alice Forgot, so I thought I’d give this one a go! I found the main character in this book to be extremely similar to the main character in her last book I read, which I found kind of odd. Maybe the author has a niche character she loves writing about? Either way, it was well-written and fun to follow along with. I love a book that has multiple storylines that eventually come together and this one had three!
(4.25 stars)

Born a Crime | I recently saw Trevor Noah on tour and it inspired me to read his book which is composed of stories from his childhood, growing up in South Africa. Wow, did I love this book! Trevor is an excellent storyteller and he’s full of humor. His experiences growing up will leave you absolutely shocked. His book was also an eye-opener about the separation of class and race. I can’t recommend this one enough!
(5 stars)

The Boy Who Runs: The Odyssey of Julius Achon | This book holds a special place in my heart. I recently visited Uganda and got to work with the charitable foundation that Julius Achon founded and my experience was one that changed me. The Boy Who Runs tells the incredible life story of Julius and how he overcame the odds and made a life for himself outside of the small village he grew up in in Northern Uganda.
(5 stars)