Category Archives: Reason: Stake That TBR

May 7, 2024 · 1:16 pm

Falling for Dr. Winters by Andrea Kate Pearson

Falling for Dr. Winters by Andrea Kate Pearson

Falling for Dr. Winters is a sweet, clean romance. The end is excellent, a perfect happily ever after that left me smiling. At times the female main character drove me nuts, though. The one thing I find incredibly annoying both in books and real life is the old don’t contact me, I’ll let you know if I’m open to ever talking to you again and then the person who said don’t contact me getting upset when the other person respects what they said and doesn’t contact them. So I was already annoyed at Sheena’s behavior and then she did that. I wanted to smack her fictional self. Other than that the book was great. Good pacing, good premise, good execution. It’s a quick read and a nice mind vacation. If you like clean romances, this one is a good choice.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 23
Pages Read in 2024: 8648

Leave a comment

Filed under Adult: Romance, Reason: ABC Challenge, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: Like the Author, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven

Tagged as

May 1, 2024 · 6:49 pm

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

There came a point while reading Truly Devious where I had trouble putting the book down and when I had to I kept thinking about it and wanted to get back to reading it as soon as possible. There is so much going on with two mysteries, one in the past and one in current time that I am very sure are intertwined somehow, to solve. The end is quite a cliffhanger and usually that would bother me, but I didn’t even care with this book. It was just that good (plus I already have the next book… might have thought differently if I read it as soon as it came out back in 2018). The writing is excellent and exactly what I expect from this author having read other things by her in the past. A couple times I was so absorbed in the story my heart started pounding at an extra intense part. I very highly recommend this book to people who enjoy YA and mysteries.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 22
Pages Read in 2024: 8428

Leave a comment

Filed under Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Birth Month Bookology, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven, Young Adult: Mystery

Tagged as

April 22, 2024 · 5:58 pm

The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy by Carol Lynn Pearson

The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy by Carol Lynn Pearson

Some of the stories of how people have been affected by how polygamy in the afterlife works according to the LDS Church in The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy are heartbreaking. Those stories were the best part of the book. The author occasionally went on long tangents that could get dull and her absolute adoration of Joseph Smith was odd, particularly considering her view of polygamy. Unfortunately most see eternal polygamy as no big deal, or even try to make a joke of it like Dallin H. Oaks, and don’t see the hurt it causes so many people. Because of that, this book is a very important one. I recommend this book to anyone affected or concerned by eternal polygamy as taught by the LDS Church.

3 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 20
Pages Read in 2024: 7639

Leave a comment

Filed under Non-Fiction: Religious, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven

Tagged as

March 28, 2024 · 7:42 am

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a wonderfully strange book. The way the main character pops in and out of different days/people can be confusing, but each time a little more is added to what you know and a little more of the story is revealed. It’s quite fun to try to solve the mystery right along with the main character. I’m honestly not sure how the author kept track of whether things had already happened at each point in the day while writing this book, but he did it phenomenally well. I recommend this book to teens and up who enjoy mysteries.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 16
Pages Read in 2024: 6096

Leave a comment

Filed under Adult: Mystery, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven

Tagged as

March 22, 2024 · 4:25 pm

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

I absolutely loved The Wishing Game! It’s got fun riddles to solve, a little bit of a slow burn romance, and a mother/son storyline that will melt any heart. It’s not very long, but it’s packed full with no slow parts. While the end may be tied up a wee bit too neatly with a bow, it’s everything I wanted to happen so no complaints here. Books never make me cry, but this book made me tear up a few times. I recommend this book to all adults who love books and still make wishes.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 15
Pages Read in 2024: 5624

Leave a comment

Filed under Adult: Contemporary, Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Book of the Month, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven

Tagged as

March 20, 2024 · 8:26 pm

Recipe for Second Chances by Ali Rosen

Recipe for Second Chances by Ali Rosen

Told in a back and forth now/nine years ago style, Recipe for Second Chances utilizes the second chance romance trope very well. I wanted to keep reading to find out just what happened in the past that screwed up their relationship in the first place. The main character’s anxiety, which becomes very important, is written into the story extremely realistically. The ending isn’t exactly what I expected, but still was just perfect. I recommend this book to adults who enjoy romances and especially second chance romances.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 14
Pages Read in 2024: 5338

Leave a comment

Filed under Adult: Romance, Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven

Tagged as

March 16, 2024 · 6:13 pm

The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick

The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick

For an avid reader, The Messy Lives of Book People is a little extra fun with all the random mentions of books the main character is reading throughout the book. The way Essie’s story is revealed little by little keeps you wanting to read more. I loved how Essie’s and Liv’s stories converged long before they knew each other. I recommend this book to adults who love to read.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 13
Pages Read in 2024: 5071

Leave a comment

Filed under Adult: Contemporary, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven

Tagged as

March 12, 2024 · 9:44 pm

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down is written in slam poetry which is a very unique and very effective choice. Because of this it reads fast. The ending is completely ambiguous. You have no idea what Will does next. You know what choice you hope he makes, but whether he does or not is not explained. This is one of those books that’ll stay with you and haunt you for a long time. I recommend it to teens and up.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 11
Pages Read in 2024: 4337

Leave a comment

Filed under Reason: ABC Challenge, Reason: Birth Month Bookology, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Young Adult: Contemporary

Tagged as

February 25, 2024 · 8:41 am

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

While not quite as good as Ready Player One, Ready Player Two is another fast-paced puzzle to solve only this time the stakes are higher and there’s a hard deadline. I think I would’ve enjoyed it much more if I liked Tolkien and was more familiar with his work. John Hughes movies, too. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read (though occasionally stressful). I recommend it to everyone who has read Ready Player One.

4 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 5
Pages Read in 2024: 1783

Leave a comment

Filed under Reason: B&N Book Challenge, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: Like the Series, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven, Young Adult: SciFi

Tagged as

January 31, 2024 · 4:04 pm

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The author of Ready Player One certainly knows how to build tension! I wasn’t sure things would work out so many times. The book was so much better than the movie and I loved the movie! I can definitely see why my 15-year-old son has listened to it several times. Trying to solve the puzzles and riddles along with the main character was made the book even more enjoyable. I recommend it to anyone who loves video games and/or scifi books (or not since I like neither but loved the book anyway).

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2024: 4
Pages Read in 2024: 1374

Leave a comment

Filed under Reason: ABC Challenge, Reason: Disney Challenge, Reason: Flourish & Blotts Reading Challenge, Reason: Gotta Read 'Em All, Reason: PopSugar Reading Challenge, Reason: Stake That TBR, Reason: The Literary Coven, Young Adult: SciFi

Tagged as