Monthly Archives: April 2023

April 30, 2023 · 6:39 pm

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

From Twinkle, With Love is a super cute story with a perfect ending. It really shows how friendships change as you grow up and how your words affect others. At times I was so frustrated with the main character, but she realized when she did wrong and tried to fix it. I really cared about what happened to the characters. It’s written mostly in journal entry format which is somewhat unique and worked quite well. I recommend this book to teens and up.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 50
Pages Read in 2023: 16,451

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Filed under Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Grim Readers, Reason: Owlcrate, Young Adult

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April 29, 2023 · 2:47 pm

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Verity by Colleen Hoover

It’s easy to see why so many people say Verity is their favorite Colleen Hoover book. It’ll have you questioning everything you think you know and even after you’ve finished reading it you’ll wonder if your assumptions are correct or if you have it all wrong (this goes double if you read the new bonus chapter/epilogue). The story drew me in and I wanted to read it as fast as I could to find out what was going on and if my guesses as to how it would turn out were right (some were, some weren’t). More than once it made my heart race. The only problem I had with the book is the sex scenes are just a bit more graphic than I like. I recommend Verity to adults who enjoy psychological thrillers.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 49
Pages Read in 2023: 16,121

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April 26, 2023 · 12:33 pm

Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond

Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond

In Poverty, By America Matthew Desmond explains in easy to understand language how so many of America’s policies keep people in poverty, how and why money earmarked for the poor doesn’t reach them, and why having so many living in poverty is a problem for all of us. He gives some ideas on how to work toward the goal of abolishing poverty which is very motivating, though there are so many changes that need to be made and so many ways to go about it that it is kind of paralyzing as well. Fully half of the book is notes and index. The research that went into writing it is impressive. I very highly recommend this book to every American in their late teens and up.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 48
Pages Read in 2023: 15,883

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Filed under Non-Fiction, Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: The Coven of Forbidden Books

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April 24, 2023 · 6:22 pm

Xamnesia by Lizzie Harwood

Xamnesia by Lizzie Harwood

Xamnesia is one crazy memoir. The author spent a few years working for the ultrarich in an undisclosed Middle Eastern country. And it was a seriously crazy time with seriously crazy things happening. The whole thing is written with an incredible sense of humor so even when she’s describing appalling things you can’t help but laugh at least a little bit. I recommend this book to adults who enjoy memoirs.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 47
Pages Read in 2023: 15,549

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Filed under Memoir, Reason: Alphabet Soup Challenge, Reason: Grim Readers

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April 19, 2023 · 8:39 pm

Darling Girl by Liz Michalski

Darling Girl by Liz Michalski

Darling Girl is a unique take on the Peter Pan story. It focuses on Wendy’s granddaughter and great-grandson and great-granddaughter. I really had no idea where the book was going through most of the time, but really enjoyed piecing the clues together as I read. While I could easily put it down, I always looked forward to picking it back up again to continue the story. I recommend it to adults who like the world of Neverland.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 46
Pages Read in 2023: 15,352

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Filed under Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Book of the Month, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Grim Readers

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April 19, 2023 · 8:18 pm

Quackery by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen

Quackery by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen

The humor and sarcasm surrounding all the facts in Quackery is what makes it such an enjoyable book. A couple of the later chapters were mostly missing that humor and I found that part rather dreadful to read. The humor came back before the end of the book, though. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about the history of medicine.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 45
Pages Read in 2023: 15,011

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April 19, 2023 · 8:06 pm

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

The Robe takes the reference to casting lots for Jesus’ robe and follows the Roman who won on a quest to learn about the man he crucified. It’s very long, but feels like it reads fast. The story moves along at a good pace and so it never seems tedious to read. The wording is kind of poetic at times. I recommend reading this book to all Christians.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 44
Pages Read in 2023: 14,722

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Filed under Historical Fiction, Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Book Club, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge

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April 13, 2023 · 10:33 am

Dead Line by RJ Patterson

Dead Line by RJ Patterson

While there are some minor plot holes in Dead Line, overall it’s an exciting thriller. It reads super fast. The idea that the FBI would ask a small time sports writer to help them/be used as bait just because he happened to see something is kind of crazy and totally unlikely, but as long as you can suspend that disbelief the book is great. I recommend it to adults who enjoy thrillers.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 43
Pages Read in 2023: 13,952

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April 10, 2023 · 1:11 pm

One of Us Is Next by Karen McManus

One of Us Is Next by Karen McManus

The Bayview Four have graduated and are moving on from the drama of their final year of high school. But now a copycat has started a truth or dare game leading to secrets being revealed and the death of another student. One of Us Is Next is the perfect follow up to One of Us Is Lying. Some of the characters are new, some were in the first book. As always, the author is a master at making you guess (usually wrong) who the culprit is. I figured out who did it about five pages before it was revealed and gasped because I was so surprised and yet it made perfect sense. But then with like two pages to go there was a twist I didn’t see coming at all. This book is very well written and sucks you in totally and completely. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys young adult mysteries. You don’t absolutely have to read One of Us Is Lying first, but it will definitely make One of Us Is Next more interesting and understandable.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 42
Pages Read in 2023: 13,692

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Filed under Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Grim Readers, Reason: I Like the Author, Reason: I Like the Series, Young Adult

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April 4, 2023 · 1:29 pm

Zero Cool by Michael Crichton (John Lange)

Zero Cool by Michael Crichton (John Lange)

Zero Cool is a very early Michael Crichton novel. The plot is very well developed and had me guessing the whole time. I both expected and didn’t expect the final twist. The dialogue was not realistic, though. It sounded way too formal and not like how people talk to each other. Otherwise I enjoyed it very much. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 41
Pages Read in 2023: 13,317

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