It's that time again, book nerds - the Show Us Your Books linkup with me and Jana of Jana Says! Please extend some decorum and try to visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & me, as well as a few other blogs who've linked up below so you can get your money's worth and get some book talk going.
So I was on vacation during this interlude and there are consequently a lot more books on my list below than there normally are - I usually read five to seven books a month and there are 17 listed below as well as more that I didn't finish. I typically share them in the order I've read them, but this time I've taken the liberty of separating them out into three categories: Engrossing Reads, Passed the Time Just Fine, and Hard No in case you're like WTF there's too much here to read. Here's what I've read since my last Show Us Your Books Post on June 9:
Engrossing Reads
Engrossing Reads
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - I've never read this author, and I've seen her everywhere. I truly loved this story, and I'll be reading more YA books by Dessen.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - One of my absolute favorite heroines and consequently one of my favorite books. It's been a few years since I read it, and it was nice to visit Jane again. It's also nice to know that at every point in my life that I've read this book, it still holds up. If you're looking to dive into a classic, I suggest this one.
Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight - This book was totally engrossing. So many moving parts. So many people who could've been good or bad. A great read.
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover - A really weird premise and some crazy dark shit that Hoover pretty much glossed over, but I liked the characters a lot. It was a really good beach read.
Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittmore - Your standard rich people have fucked up secrets and lies tale. It made for a good beach read. Everyone was just a little bit off their rocker and that seemed fine to me.
Pines (Wayward Pines #1) by Blake Crouch - I was sort of all WTF while reading this book. It was so weird and I had no idea where he was going with it most of the time as he laid the groundwork for the series, but I wanted to go along with him. When I finished reading this one, I was glad I had the next two at my disposal.
Wayward (Wayward Pines #2) by Blake Crouch - In my opinion, the best book of the trilogy. I almost missed my stop on the train because I was so into this one morning.
The Last Town (Wayward Pines #3) by Blake Crouch - I kept picking this up and putting it down as the margin left to read at the end narrowed. Although this was not the best book in the series, I didn't want it to end. I hope there are more. Do you get my drift, Blake Crouch? I read all three of these in a matter of five days (maybe less?). More more more please.
Passed the Time Just Fine
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout - Oh dear, what to say...this was the okayest book I've ever read. That's not a rousing endorsement and you shouldn't take it as one. I kept waiting for a big thing and there was no big thing. I think Strout was going for some epic character family ties situation and she failed.
The Beach House by Jane Green - Mindless with dizzying coincidences, this was nonetheless enjoyable and a very quick read.
The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe - Some of these characters drove me insane and the book went on a little too long, but it was like drifting out in the ocean and lazily considering going in but feeling too comfortable to get up and actually get to shore, so I read through it.
The Summer Wind by Mary Alice Monroe - Second in the series, I basically have one question out of these books and I'll read them all to find out. I skimmed some parts of this.
Heat Lightening (Virgil Flowers #2) by John Sandford - I love Virgil Flowers. This book was fucked up but good. I finished it on the ride down to North Carolina.
The Pledge (#1) by Kimberly Derting - Your standard YA Dystopian fare, this had a little bit of a Cinderella twist. It was alright. I don't see how they're going to make this a series.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie - I was relieved that I liked this book, the first Hercule Poirot novel Christie put out. I hated the Miss Marple I tried to read and thought Christie was lost to me, but I liked Poirot a lot.
Fly Away (Firefly Lane #2) by Kristin Hannah - It's been quite a long time since I read Firefly Lane. I can't even recall it too well, but I vaguely remember disliking Tully then and I dislike her now. I liked other aspects of this story though, and it was a quick one day read on the beach.
Rough Country (Virgil Flowers #3) by John Sandford - Another enjoyable romp with Virgil Flowers. If you read this book, that sentence will be funnier to you. I'll make my way through this whole series. They're not too taxing on the brain and I like the characters and the writing.
Hard No
Otherwise known as books I started and chose not to finish in June:
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum - How dare this author use my word as a title, precluding me from writing a book under the same title about the glamorous art of housewifery, and make it such an un-enjoyable read? Pooh pooh.
A Half Forgotten Song by Katherine Webb - Isn't the title poetic? Doesn't it draw you in? Guess what doesn't draw you in? The book. Fart noise.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - Nothing grabbed me even though I really wanted it to because since it didn't, I had to walk up to the house and get another book.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - One of my absolute favorite heroines and consequently one of my favorite books. It's been a few years since I read it, and it was nice to visit Jane again. It's also nice to know that at every point in my life that I've read this book, it still holds up. If you're looking to dive into a classic, I suggest this one.
Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight - This book was totally engrossing. So many moving parts. So many people who could've been good or bad. A great read.
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover - A really weird premise and some crazy dark shit that Hoover pretty much glossed over, but I liked the characters a lot. It was a really good beach read.
Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittmore - Your standard rich people have fucked up secrets and lies tale. It made for a good beach read. Everyone was just a little bit off their rocker and that seemed fine to me.
Pines (Wayward Pines #1) by Blake Crouch - I was sort of all WTF while reading this book. It was so weird and I had no idea where he was going with it most of the time as he laid the groundwork for the series, but I wanted to go along with him. When I finished reading this one, I was glad I had the next two at my disposal.
Wayward (Wayward Pines #2) by Blake Crouch - In my opinion, the best book of the trilogy. I almost missed my stop on the train because I was so into this one morning.
The Last Town (Wayward Pines #3) by Blake Crouch - I kept picking this up and putting it down as the margin left to read at the end narrowed. Although this was not the best book in the series, I didn't want it to end. I hope there are more. Do you get my drift, Blake Crouch? I read all three of these in a matter of five days (maybe less?). More more more please.
Passed the Time Just Fine
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout - Oh dear, what to say...this was the okayest book I've ever read. That's not a rousing endorsement and you shouldn't take it as one. I kept waiting for a big thing and there was no big thing. I think Strout was going for some epic character family ties situation and she failed.
The Beach House by Jane Green - Mindless with dizzying coincidences, this was nonetheless enjoyable and a very quick read.
The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe - Some of these characters drove me insane and the book went on a little too long, but it was like drifting out in the ocean and lazily considering going in but feeling too comfortable to get up and actually get to shore, so I read through it.
The Summer Wind by Mary Alice Monroe - Second in the series, I basically have one question out of these books and I'll read them all to find out. I skimmed some parts of this.
Heat Lightening (Virgil Flowers #2) by John Sandford - I love Virgil Flowers. This book was fucked up but good. I finished it on the ride down to North Carolina.
The Pledge (#1) by Kimberly Derting - Your standard YA Dystopian fare, this had a little bit of a Cinderella twist. It was alright. I don't see how they're going to make this a series.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie - I was relieved that I liked this book, the first Hercule Poirot novel Christie put out. I hated the Miss Marple I tried to read and thought Christie was lost to me, but I liked Poirot a lot.
Fly Away (Firefly Lane #2) by Kristin Hannah - It's been quite a long time since I read Firefly Lane. I can't even recall it too well, but I vaguely remember disliking Tully then and I dislike her now. I liked other aspects of this story though, and it was a quick one day read on the beach.
Rough Country (Virgil Flowers #3) by John Sandford - Another enjoyable romp with Virgil Flowers. If you read this book, that sentence will be funnier to you. I'll make my way through this whole series. They're not too taxing on the brain and I like the characters and the writing.
Hard No
Otherwise known as books I started and chose not to finish in June:
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum - How dare this author use my word as a title, precluding me from writing a book under the same title about the glamorous art of housewifery, and make it such an un-enjoyable read? Pooh pooh.
A Half Forgotten Song by Katherine Webb - Isn't the title poetic? Doesn't it draw you in? Guess what doesn't draw you in? The book. Fart noise.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - Nothing grabbed me even though I really wanted it to because since it didn't, I had to walk up to the house and get another book.
This link up happens the second Tuesday of every month. The next one is Tuesday, August 11.
Non-bloggers, what have you read recently? Let me know what you recommend and what to stay away from. Bloggers, link up your posts below.
A couple of your "engrossing" reads are already on my "to read" list. Your description of Bittersweet sounds like my kind of book - added. I love Virgil. You know this. I'd totally be one of his women to fall for his charm. Someone recommended A Man Called Ove to me, and I don't remember why.
ReplyDeleteI've read a handful of Dessen books and have enjoyed them all so far. I'm not that into YA lit, but her books definitely get a thumbs-up!
ReplyDeleteBittersweet is on my list for sure. I keep skipping over Where They Found Her worried about the whole baby angle. A Man Called Ove was on my life but now I am second guessing it. :( That is a lot of books but glad there was some gems in there. I have been watching Wayward Pines but I am a little confused.
ReplyDeleteIm adding every one of your engrossing reads to my list! Sarah Dessen does a great job of captivating. Ive never been disappointed so I gotta read that one.
ReplyDeletei'm so excited to read the Pines series but need to get through 2 books first that i find i'm rushing these books just so i can get to Pines. i need to slow my roll.
ReplyDeletehausfrau - LOL! that made me laugh.
I think it's great you were able to read so many books - thankfully vacation helped with that too! I'm lucky if I read one a month so I need to pick my game up!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteI love looking through your recommendations!
ReplyDeleteI started Hausfrau on Saturday and finished it yesterday, so it will go into July books. I didn't hate it, but I don't know that I'd recommend it. The end was odd (though I actually threw the book when I realized what happened).
I'm going to check out the Wayward Pines trilogy. Sounds very interesting. Also, Jane Eyre is one of my all-time fave books!!!!
ReplyDeleteI really want to read some classics, obviously they are "classic" for a reason and Jane Eyre wasn't part of the classics we had to read in school so I never read it. Add to TBR list!
ReplyDeleteUsually I find new books to read when I visit on show us your books day. Today I found two that are on my to read list that I might just skip Hausfrau and A Man Called Ove.
ReplyDeleteI did add Wayward Pines to my to read list earlier this week.
I haven't read any of Dessen's work but my Twitter friends sure have- must add her to the TBR! The Wayward Pines series sounds good also, plus the titles kinda match my blog title so obviously that's a plus :)
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre is by far my favorite classic...LOVE.
i am SO glad you didn't like hausfrau haha. i have heard it's really bad and i was really hoping you wouldn't like it.
ReplyDeleteadded all your engrossing books to my list, some of them were already on it lol. i now have 2 copies of Jane Eyre, need to get on it!
I am intrigued by The Pines trilogy since it reminds me of Twin Peaks weirdness. I may borrow your Jane Eyre to read.
ReplyDeleteI have never read it. G always raved about it to me when I was growing up. I have not read many of the classics.
Have a happy day!
Love, Your Momma
I've actually never read Jane Eyre but it's always been on my "to read" list. I will get around to it eventually tho. I will have to check out some of those other ones too!
ReplyDeleteNot going to lie - I love me a good Sarah Dessen book... and a lot of YA fiction too.
ReplyDeleteI've got A Half Forgotten Song in front of me ready to read, now I'm deciding if I should read it. Thanks for all the suggestions!!
ReplyDeleteI've got A Half Forgotten Song in front of me ready to read, now I'm deciding if I should read it. Thanks for all the suggestions!!
ReplyDeleteI've got A Half Forgotten Song in front of me ready to read, now I'm deciding if I should read it. Thanks for all the suggestions!!
ReplyDeleteI've had Where They Found Her on my list for a while, although it must have only been on my mental list because I just now added it to Goodreads. I'm bummed you didn't like Hausfrau (only because it should have been YOUR book).
ReplyDeleteI like the 3 categories because wow that's a lot of books! I'll be on vacation next week but probably won't have that much time to read because KIDS. Hehe. I think I'll read The Truth about Forever for the Literary Ladies reading challenge. Seriously, when I saw Hausfrau on Goodreads, I immediately thought of you. You could totally write a book!
ReplyDeleteI've heard mixed reviews on Hausfrau. You've pretty much confirmed it so I'm not going to bother. I really want to read the Wayward Pines series. I don't even care that I've been watching the series first. Please tell me there are no loose ends? The tv show has too many questions and I hate when a series ends and you still like but what about...? Ya know, like Lost?
ReplyDeletePS The monthly book posts are by far my favorite posts and most popular on my blog
PPS I'm loving your daily gratitudes!
I thought about ordering my books similarly this month, or doing a "if you're in the mood for x, then try..." format but I got too lazy. I enjoyed the layout of yours, though, so I will definitely consider it moving forward. After we talked about Hausfrau I looked into it but then saw the cover and was like nah, so glad to see I didn't miss much. Since I thought Reconstructing Amelia was solid, I'm adding Where They Found Her to my list. Still torn on Wayward Pines. If you get to watch the show, I want your thoughts on how it compares to the books.
ReplyDeleteat least most of the books on the list are totally engrossing. i always appreciate a good book that is a little bit fucked up!
ReplyDeleteI love that we decided to do this linkup!
ReplyDeleteWhere They Found Her is already on my list as is the Pines trilogy but I also read a Dessen book last month and will be reading more of hers once the pile on my nightstand has dwindled.
I think you should write the Hausfrau book anyway. Who knows, you could wind up in a similar situation to that woman who wrote a book with the same title as a Stephen King book. That would be fun for you! I'll have to find the link to the story that explains what I'm talking about...
I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU FINALLY READ SARAH DESSEN!!!
ReplyDeleteYou should write your own hausfrau book. The Real Hausfrau
ReplyDeleteI like your categories! I started ordering mine, with what I liked towards the top to what I liked less, but not necessarily in a hard order ;) I have the Pines series on my list, we have been watching the show, so then I was interested in reading the books. I wonder how closely they follow. Where They Found Her sounds interesting!! As always this series is keeping my book list FULL!
ReplyDeleteGlad that link up takes place on... sentence was there because that was going to be my first comment. It's now in my phone, planner and there's a blank post tagged for that date. Major FOMO in case you couldn't tell :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the Poirot book. I prefer him to Miss Marple but I'll read those as well. Sarah Dessen became a favorite of mine after I finished Saint Anything. I just read another by her as well, That Summer. I'm going to give Wuthering Heights a try this fall. I'm hoping I'll enjoy Bronte because Austen's P&P was unbearable.
finished The Sea of Tranquility - excellent
ReplyDeleteread Wonder by RJ Palacio - good but predictable. enjoyed discussing it with Reghan
currently reading Mercy, Jodi Picoult - not too into it yet but too much time goes by between opportunities to read
That's it - like I said, not much time to read.
My goodness woman! You read so much, that's awesome. I hate when I settle in with a book and, try as I might, it just does not grab me.
ReplyDeleteI read "Girl, Interrupted" this month after always wanting to. Go me! ha, one book compared to your 5,677,982.
I know you were on vacation, but wow, I am impressed with how much you are reading!!
ReplyDeleteSo many actual summer/beach reads for the beach. I like it! I have Ove on my nightstand. I should skip it? I'm adding The Truth About Forever to my list!
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre is definitely one of my favorite books of all time, I enjoy it no matter how many times I read it. As always, thanks for all your recommendations!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love you have "a Hard NO" as a category - most people like everything (usually me- haha)
ReplyDeleteI never read Jane Eyre - I may have to give it a shot
I got addicted to Rhys Bowen's "Royal Spyness Mystery" series when I took a trip to Nice, France in June and accidentally read the #6 book in the series, not realizing it was a part of a series.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten through all 8 books in the series now & I'm looking forward to the 9th book coming out in August.
While I'm waiting, I'm currently reading "The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute".
I love how you categorized everything by how much you enjoyed the book(s). And as always I'm impressed with how many books you get through even on vacay! You rock gurlie!
ReplyDeleteThe Truth About Forever!! So glad you read it and loved it! I'd highly recommend Just Listen as the next Sarah Dessen book - probably my second favorite. Happy reading! - Svetlana @Life with a Side of Wine
ReplyDeleteI own two Sarah Dessen books but have been kind of skeptical about picking them up. But you give me an inclination now. Poirot books get better. Stick with him :).
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you have lots of recommendations this month because I'm almost done with my current book and need new choices soon. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSarah Dessen is one of my all time favorite YA authors. It's always similar story lines but they're always enjoyable quick easy reads.Is The Wayward Pines trilogy related to the tv show of the same name?
ReplyDeleteOkay I will have to check out the Wayward Pines books, I have been half heartedly paying attention to the show but honestly it is like...all Disney all the time here right now so I don't get a lot of TV time!
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre is one of the classics (of many!) I have yet to read, but I will someday.
ReplyDeleteI read Hausfrau too and thought it was crap. My friend raved about it, I still have yet to figure out if she read the same book I did.
I read A LOT of Sarah Dessen in middle school and high school. She was one of my first favorite authors. They used to always have her books at Sams Club and I'd beg my dad to buy me one every time we went :)
ReplyDeleteSarah
Midwest Darling
I forgot to tell you... my favorite book by Dessen was always This Lullaby :)
DeleteDessen is an author that pops up in my Goodreads from many YA readers, so she's been one I'd like to read but haven't gotten around to. Glad you loved Hopeless, Colleen is one author I really enjoy seeing what she does next. You should just name your book The Real Hausfrau or Queen of Hausfrau or something you would totally rock it!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read ANY of these before - which is crazy! - but I've added a bunch to my 'must read' list! Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Americanah, but I took breaks for some library books: The Rosie Effect (meh, liked it but not as much as the first one), Leaving Time (much twistier than her other books, I liked it a lot), The Girl With All The Gifts (interesting but not my preferred genre), and Modern Romance (LOVED this, listened to the audiobook, high recommend it cuz it's Aziz on love and so relatable). Up this week is Americanah and How To Start A Fire, plus whatever else I pick up. I'm on vacation for the next week, woohoo!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Dessen! I really need to get to her latest Saint Anything.
ReplyDeleteI loved Hopeless by Colleen Hoover! I am in need of a new suspense book and am putting Where They Found Her on hold at the library. I enjoyed Reconstructing Amelia so I'll hopefully enjoy this one too!
ReplyDeleteYou seriously put me to shame. Awesome month of reading! I've never read anything by Sarah Dessen but I do have Saint Anything on my list and waiting in my Kindle app for me right now. It's just a matter of getting to it with all the list I have before it.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of most of these! Too many good books out there and not enough time haha!
ReplyDeletewww.amemoryofus.com
i always love these roundups! i've been on an audiobook kick lately, so i'll check some of these out on there.
ReplyDeleteI always forget that I like Sarah Dessen. I'll have to read the latest. And Wayward Pines is on my list too!
ReplyDeleteI felt like I read a lot this time around, but then I saw you'd finished 17 and my first thought was, "Holy shit!" That's awesome, though. I don't think I read fast enough to finish 17 books even if I spent a week relaxing on vacation. I wish I could … I'd definitely hit my goal of 50 books for the year!
ReplyDeleteI actually had a book by Kimberly McCreight on my "To Read" list already (Reconstructing Amelia), and this one also sounds awesome.
Have you watched the TV show they made out of the Wayward Pines series? I see previews for it all the time, but it looks like it could either be really awesome or really awful. I may have to check out the books, though!
A Half Forgotten Song does sound lovely and poetic … Good to know I shouldn't get sucked in by the title alone!
How did I not know Wayward Pines is actually based on books? I continually see the promos for the TV show, but knew it was one that you need to watch from beginning to end. But books? That I can get behind. Now I must add those to my list.
ReplyDelete