Jojo Moyes has a gift to creating these flawed, yet oddly charming characters. A lovely story of growing as a person in light of some big life changesJojo Moyes has a gift to creating these flawed, yet oddly charming characters. A lovely story of growing as a person in light of some big life changes and one of unlikely, beautiful friendships ❤️...more
For You and You Only was so different from the previous three books, and I mean that in the worst way possible.
If in my review for You Love Me I said For You and You Only was so different from the previous three books, and I mean that in the worst way possible.
If in my review for You Love Me I said I empathize with Joe and that he's "not that bad", I have definitely changed my mind now, as I finally got to see the true psychopath that he is. Full review coming at some point. (I do mean it and hope I'll soon sit my butt down and review all these books I keep labeling "rtc" ...more
My main takeaway from this book: the word "stucco" was grossly overused - more times than I have ever heard or read it in all my 33 years, more times My main takeaway from this book: the word "stucco" was grossly overused - more times than I have ever heard or read it in all my 33 years, more times than one such specific word should be used in a single book. ...more
I picked up this book, because I saw Reese Witherspoon advertising it on Instagram. As with most of her suggestions I read so far, this was a good stoI picked up this book, because I saw Reese Witherspoon advertising it on Instagram. As with most of her suggestions I read so far, this was a good story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I just didn't completely love it. Full review to come....more
This story had a promising start and I was immediately drawn into it, but I didn't end up loving it. The plot follows an amnesiac in search of answersThis story had a promising start and I was immediately drawn into it, but I didn't end up loving it. The plot follows an amnesiac in search of answers, and it was all intriguing at first, but it became a bit slow as it progressed.
For the most part, Mia James, the protagonist, is a mystery. She has no memories after being found barely alive on a beach. Shortly after she is taken to the hospital, an attractive young man claims to be her boyfriend, but she does not like nor trust him. Slowly, she's piecing the puzzle of her life together, and the mystery deepens with every page. Because she's an unreliable narrator, you don't really know who to trust, who's on her side, or even who's good or bad. Many people will probably be surprised by the ending, but I saw it coming about halfway through, and I'm not sure if I'm disappointed or pleased with the direction it took.
Yet overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read. I almost listened to the whole audiobook in one session.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Shalini Boland for an aac in exchange for an honest review....more
I thought Make Me Disappear was an outstanding debut novel! Something like this appears just when you believe there can't possibly be any more inventiI thought Make Me Disappear was an outstanding debut novel! Something like this appears just when you believe there can't possibly be any more inventive ways to twist a psychological thriller.
The story alternates between two perspectives, the ones of Noelle and Daniel. He works as an anesthesiologist and she as a nurse at the same hospital, but they first met when he saved her life after she was in a car accident, and they became a couple shortly after.
Dr. Daniel Ashcroft appears to be the ideal boyfriend: he's handsome, wealthy, charming, and romantic, but he's also strangely overprotective and borderline stalkerish as we soon find out. As she starts hearing rumors about a previous girlfriend that vanished a while back and then discovers the hidden cameras he planted in her apartment, she realizes Daniel isn't as flawless as he appears to be. He's becoming more controlling by the day, and she strives not just to get away from him, but also to cause him some distress along the way. So she organizes her own kidnapping and what follows is both suspenseful and intriguing, as she is not really prepared for any of it.
From the beginning, I thought this book had a “You” vibe. Daniel is similar to Joe, with the exception that Joe is more relatable and likeable, whereas Daniel is an arrogant and self-absorbed jerk who I despised the moment he first opened his mouth. Anyway, Make Me Disappear is a fun read with great characters, plenty of twists, and a thrilling conclusion.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review....more
Normally, I would never have read this genre if Shonda Rhimes and Netflix hadn't introduced me to Bridgerton first. [image] And now, after reading the Normally, I would never have read this genre if Shonda Rhimes and Netflix hadn't introduced me to Bridgerton first. [image] And now, after reading the first two books, I must confess that they're far more entertaining, funnier and romantic than I could have imagined.
Season one of the Netflix adaptation gave us this fine man [image] so I knew I'd be at least watching another season to see what they come up with next. I was initially hesitant to read the other novels since, as I already mentioned, this is not a genre I usually read. But then came season two, which swept me off my feet so completely that I binge-watched all eight episodes in only two nights, and that's when I knew I'd be reading the next books as soon as I could. Consider me smitten. [image]
Before I get into the actual review of this volume, here's a quick disclaimer: I've said it before, and I'll probably say it a hundred more times: I strongly dislike the "enemies to lovers'" trope in romance. Honestly, I'm sort of baffled by the appeal of so many to first hate a person before falling in love with them. I just can't really comprehend it. [image]
And yet, I wasn't annoyed by this trope in TVWLM. Maybe it is because I first watched the TV series and had already been charmed by the characters, or maybe there's just something about Anthony and Kate?! Their chemistry is undeniable: [image]
Now to get to the point: I'm not going to give another synopsis or spoil the book for anyone. What I can say is that I can nearly guarantee that bits of this story are laugh out loud moments. This whole book is a fun adventure with charming and imperfect characters, love, witty banter, and an extremely lovable family dynamic.
The romance between Kate and Anthony is not terribly graphic (compared to book one), but it's steamy enough to keep you reading. There were a couple aspects about some characters' actions that irritated me, but people don't always make the best decisions, so it added authenticity to the plot and it didn't detract from the overall experience. The excerpts from Lady Whistledown's column at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch. The pacing was excellent, and the story has a happy ending.
I Must Betray You is an outstanding book - one I finished reading several days ago, and yet I'm still a jumble of feelings. A perfect example of histoI Must Betray You is an outstanding book - one I finished reading several days ago, and yet I'm still a jumble of feelings. A perfect example of historical fiction at its best!
Disclaimer: this is going to be a long ass review.
Actual facts that were referenced in this book: By 1989, Romanians had been subjected to a dictatorship for nearly two and a half decades. They were ruled by Nicolae Ceausescu, a ruthless tyrant who lived in luxury while the people lacked even the most basic necessities. Fear dominated the entire society. People were being robbed of their freedom to think, speak, and move around. Women existed just to reproduce, men were overworked, and kids were indoctrinated with propaganda. Many were imprisoned for minor offenses, or many would disappear, be beaten or tortured, and there was no one ever there to help them. In other words, life in Romania was hardly even tolerable from the time the Ceausescus assumed power until their execution (and shockingly, everything until 89 was mostly hidden/overseen from/by the entire world).
As a Romanian myself, I can't help but admire Ruta for relaying this narrative so masterfully, because this story is not easy to read. The violence and suffering that the Romanian people had to endure is unsettling to say the least, and it's a piece of history that I'm glad more people will learn about thanks to this book. Sepetys is also an amazing writer, who didn't shy away from the hard truths.
The plot:> The story is told by Cristian, a 17-year-old kid, as he attempts to cope with the difficulties of existing in a communist dictatorship's oppressive society. One day he's called to the principal's office, where he is questioned by the Securitate (secret police) and then forced to become an informer for them. He does this in exchange for medicine for his sick grandfather, as well as to keep himself and his family out of trouble. The author portrays the struggle of all Romanians through Cristian so well, as practically everyone was under constant surveillance by everyone else. Friends and even family members have been known to deceive one another for the smallest of benefits - even if it was simply for a small amount of extra food.
Cristian is stunned to discover details about life beyond Romania's borders from a new friend - the son of the American diplomat where his mother works as a housekeeper. That's when his eyes open to the whole charade and lies that Ceausescu has been feeding them, and he is determined to make a change somehow. So, despite his lack of a voice, he learns to fight back in whatever ways he can.
My thoughts: From the beginning, I empathised with Cristian. I admired how devoted he was to his family, particularly his grandfather. One of my favorite aspects of the novel was their relationship, as it shone brightly among all the fear and anxiety.
However, by the end of the book, I was wrecked. The events of the actual revolution were the most intense to read about, because days after the marches in the western city of Timișoara (which were violently suppressed on Ceausescu's orders), unrest spread throughout the country and most notably in Bucharest. Following a carefully prepared, but ultimately botched, address by Ceausescu, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators protested in the capital city. The same people who had gathered to cheer Ceausescu, turned against him and began shouting that they wanted freedom and change. Citizens then clashed violently with the army and the Securitate.
This part of the story brought tears to my eyes because I grew up hearing stories from family and friends about those occurrences. We lived just 60 kilometers from Bucharest, and when my father learned of the events in the city, he took off work in the middle of the day to join the revolution. Given how many people were imprisoned, tortured, or killed as a result of those demonstrations, and the fact that my dad was a part of it.. hit me even harder than I thought. My heart was with all the people who finally had the guts to stand up to their oppressors. And the fact that they won in the end, was all the more gratifying. I can't even properly describe all the feelings I had, it was all very bittersweet.
[image] Picture of the people in the Revolution Square, in Buhcarest.
As I said at the beginning of this review, I'm still an emotional mess and I could ramble on for much longer, but I'll just say one more thing - that this is an inspiring and worthwhile read.
P.S. I'll leave a youtube link here, in case anyone is interested in seeing real footage of how the revolution unfolded on December 21st 1989.
P.P.S. A round of appreciation is also due to the narrator for his stellar performance on the audiobook. He did an amazing job with each character, and his pronunciation of all the Romanian words was flawless. ...more
Unpopular opinion about this book: I am so utterly unimpressed and I honestly don't see what's with all the hype Unpopular opinion about this book: I am so utterly unimpressed and I honestly don't see what's with all the hype ...more
I've seen so many reviews that said this book is brilliant, charming, funny and witty that I dived in as soon as I got my hands on it. I ***2 stars***
I've seen so many reviews that said this book is brilliant, charming, funny and witty that I dived in as soon as I got my hands on it. I was very excited at first because the premise sounds like it's right down my alley, but I ended up bored af ...more
I began reading this book in August 2020, shortly after I got married myself, so I don't know if I'm biased, but I really enjoyed it.
Without a Hitch fI began reading this book in August 2020, shortly after I got married myself, so I don't know if I'm biased, but I really enjoyed it.
Without a Hitch follows the journey of Lottie Jones, a former Law Student, as she lands a new career in wedding planning at a prestigious company in Texas. She begins navigating a tough workplace, but no matter how outrageously extravagant the events get, she always manages to do a good job. However, as the clients get bigger and more famous, the stakes also start rising and as a result, Lottie will face a significant challenge in planning the wedding of her ex-fiancé (who is now a famous NFL player) to a Hollywood actress.
Many readers were put off by the fact that the plot does not revolve around romance too much, but what I enjoyed best in this book was precisely the fact that it was more of a journey of self-discovery than a romance. Lottie is relatable as she struggles to figure out what she wants to accomplish in her life and accepts the fact that she must enjoy living for herself instead of for everyone else.
Another highlight for me was reading about all the ludicrous and fun weddings that were described in such detail you could clearly picture them. I laughed out loud several times, cringed a few times, and was thoroughly entertained by each outlandish event.
One could say the pace of the book was a bit slow at times, but I didn’t have any trouble flying through it. I also honestly don’t understand why it got such a low rating here; it's not a bad story at all.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read the book in advance....more
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