After I Do was a breath of fresh air, and I couldn't put it down. Despite not being married or 30 years oldTaylor Jenkins Reid has not failed me yet!
After I Do was a breath of fresh air, and I couldn't put it down. Despite not being married or 30 years old, I cried, laughed, and yelled out along the characters.
Although I found Lauren, the MC, a bit forgettable, the endearing side characters, quick chapters, and the gripping plot capture the reader almost immediately!
The beginning of the books starts out setting up the background of Lauren and Ryan's relationship: their cute first meeting in college, the overwhelming love story that followed, and the crumbling of that love as years pass. It's faced paced with quick chapters that have you invested in their relationship less than 100 pages in. I know college sweethearts. I know how hard love can hit you and how difficult it can be when it breaks down, so I needed to know what happened next!
The story slows down in the middle as Lauren navigates life without Ryan; however, the actions of the side characters keep the story going and the reader engaged. Just as I was rooting for Lauren, I wanted the same happy ending for her siblings Charlie and Rachel and for her sweet mama Leslie!
Towards the end, it's a gut punch. The family navigates big life milestones as does Lauren however without Ryan and you feel for her as she truly struggles with the weight of her decisions and the breakdown of her marriage.
The story is wrapped up well and the reader is left with so many nuggets of knowledge! Thank you TJR, this one is a good one! ...more
Lemme just say, this book is WILD. No matter how you feel about, we can all agree on that, and the hype is warranted because of it.
The beginning starLemme just say, this book is WILD. No matter how you feel about, we can all agree on that, and the hype is warranted because of it.
The beginning starts off slow with a lot of world building and fantasy lore. However, the saving grace amongst throughout the slow bit and the overall story is the MC. Poppy is reckless and fearless and she always seems to find herself in the most compromising situations that leave you wanting more. Towards the middle, the story really picks up and it's hard not to be invested. There are twists and turns, some felt very predictable while others not so much. The romance feels a little shallow but also intoxicating, and it's spicy! Good amount of smut in this one. Is this the most realistic or sophisticated read? No, but it's fun and I couldn't put it down!
Overall, although I thought the lore was excessive and I'm still not sure what ascending is, the characters are endearing and the overall plot is fascinating. I can't get wait to get my hands on the next one!
STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING...READ THIS BOOK! Even when you think what happened, it turns itself on its head and leaves you guessing even after the last paSTOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING...READ THIS BOOK! Even when you think what happened, it turns itself on its head and leaves you guessing even after the last page!
I feel like this is a great book to go in blind, but ultimately, an author, named Lowen, is asked to finish the book series of a famed author, Verity, who recently was in a car wreck. There is mystery surrounding her injuries but Lowen needs the money, so she shows up to Verity's home in order to gather notes and ideas regarding the novels she's finishing but finds more secrets and feelings they she expected.
I will not be giving much away when it comes to the plot of this one, but know that the writing is fantastic and the characters are even better. The setting is creepy and the characters all have a little something off about them, only elevating that uneasy feeling. The entire time I had no idea where this story was going, but by the end, I was literally shaking to know what happens next! The ending is one of the best I've read in my recent obsession with thrillers and leaves you questioning everything all over again. This is a great one, read it!...more
Following the lives of two twin girls, both light skinned black girls, who run away from their southern town at 16 and theWhew...THIS WAS A GOOD ONE!
Following the lives of two twin girls, both light skinned black girls, who run away from their southern town at 16 and the subsequent lives they lead; one who returns to their small town decades later with a daughter in tow and the other who lives a life of wealth and comfort and secrets as a white woman.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one! As a black woman, it was tough at times to read of other black women struggle with that identity and the lengths they'll go to avoid it and/or the lack of self worth present because of it, but it was honest and raw, which made for a great story.
The town's desire for whiteness or at least the proximity of it was uncomfortable to read about but a reality for some at the time and even today. It made for a very interesting plot point, especially when that proximity to whiteness did not eliminate grief for the twins or the town.
The characters were a joy to read about, even the side characters were fully realized and fleshed out. The alternating POVs and timeline made for a fast read and gave the reader even more to consider in the headspace of everyone involved.
This would make for a great book club read as there's so many topics and themes that would make for great discussion - family, colorism, the half we show ourselves and the half we show the world, love, etc.
The only downside to this read was the ending was SO abrupt and almost rushed. I felt there were still loose ends that would have been good to resolve. Otherwise, this would've easily been the perfect read. ...more
A sort of coming of age for an Afghan man that is equal parts harrowing and stunning.
Kite Runner follows Amir's childhood in Afghanistan to his adultA sort of coming of age for an Afghan man that is equal parts harrowing and stunning.
Kite Runner follows Amir's childhood in Afghanistan to his adulthood in California and flashbacks to his struggle to find his place and his father's love amid his reserved disposition, his complicated relationship with his best friend and servant Hassan, and constantly changing landscape amid civil unrest.
I really enjoyed this book. Hosseini's A Thosand Splendid Suns is one of my all time favorite reads, so I had high hopes going into this read. I went in blind and the story that unfolded was not the one I expected to read.
Hosseini writes vividly and purposely. Despite an overall slow tone/pace, I couldn't help turning the page and wanting to know what happens next with Amir and the cast of characters. I truly felt immersed and felt this story imprint itself into my heart as I truly empathized with the people of Afghanistan.
The plot is engaging. The themes hit you over the head again and again and feel immensely relevant despite the book being written 20 years ago. My only hang up with this book were the characters in that they felt almost unrealistic as it was very black and white. This character good. This character bad. I wish they were a bit nuanced so I could root for the "bad" characters or at least empathize with them.
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