I'm posting my May wrap up a little early. I have a lot going on with family this week, so I wanted to get this done. I read some good books this month, and some that were just okay. I'm looking forward to the summer reading season, as always! Here are my thoughts on the books I read this month.
If you love descriptive writing and atmospheric settings, you will love this book. I loved the character growth and the slow burn romance. I'm always up for a good dual time novel and this one really checked all my boxes. It had a depth to it that I find lacking sometimes in the inspirational genre. And that ending...Wow! I can't wait to see what this author is going to write next! Highly recommended!
I received a copy of this book for free for the purpose of review.
Tell Me Three Things
I don't read a lot of YA literature. I'm not a big fan of all the angst. This was the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club pick for May. It was defiantly angsty, but for the most part I enjoyed it. The characters were very genuine, and the parents were actual characters in the book. The ending was super cheesy, but really sweet. The teenagers act and talk like teenagers which can be really cringy and annoying, but over all it's a sweet read.
The Next Right Thing
I really enjoy Emily P. Freeman's writing style. This wasn't one of my favorite books by her, but it was still an enjoyable read. One of my big take aways from this book is that I don't really struggle with decision making. I find it hard to decide where to have dinner or what to spend my birthday money on, but major life decisions are fairly easy for me to make. I appreciated her chapter on critics. I really needed to hear that right now. I also appreciated her focus on making small decisions today instead of worrying about the big decisions coming up next month. This book is very introspective and touchy-feely, so if you are a more black and white decision maker, like me, you may not like it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of review.
The Refuge
I found this look at the Shaker religion very interesting. I didn't know much about them going in, but this novel caused me to do further research. I liked both of the main characters and sympathized with their situations. If your looking for romance, though, there isn't much to be found here. There are some great female friendships, though. I did feel like the author focused on the positive aspects of the Shaker faith and glossed over some of the more heretical beliefs. Still, I enjoyed its unique setting and want to try more books by this author.
I received this book for free from Netgalley and the publisher for the purpose of review.
Living Lies
I enjoyed this debut romantic suspense. It dealt with some really tough issues like mental health, depression, grief, and family struggles. The male lead was tough and swoony. The female lead did a lot of growing as a character. She was a little hard to sympathize with because she wouldn't be honest with anyone. By the end, though, I felt like she had really come into her own. The mystery in this book was really well done. Everything comes to a head in the end and really kept me turning the pages. Highly recommended for readers of mystery and suspense.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley for review.
Only Ever Her
I always pre-order Marybeth Whalen's books. They're quick reads and they always have a lot of depth and great characters. This one fell a little flat for me. It was still a page turner, but the characters were unlikable and the story felt rushed and incomplete. There were several side stories that didn't really make a lot of sense or seem necessary. So, not my favorite, but still a fun read.
Woman 99
This was an interesting historical thriller. It was fairly predictable, but the story line kept me turning the pages. The setting was dark and creepy, and the first person voice reminded me of Jane Eyre. I love the growth of the main character. She went from a sheltered rich girl to a strong capable heroine. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley for the purpose of review.
Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments. Happy reading!
