My favorite day of the month is here…show us your books. I get so many book recommendations to add to my ever growing list of books to read. It’s basically a book lovers Utopia. I had a good mix of books this month. I also want to tell you to check back tomorrow because I have another book review with excerpt and a giveaway. So on to what I read this past month…
My rating system:
Five Stars: Blew me away, made me want to stay up till 3am to finish, would read again and again or I didn’t find anything I would want to change.
Four Stars: Really good book, fast paced or thought provoking, but may have dragged a bit or left something unresolved
Three Stars: Okay, didn’t thrill me but didn’t disappoint me either.
Two Stars: I almost didn’t finish, it may have irritated or offended me in some way.
*Disclosure: All books this month happened to be provided from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am always going to be honest in how I like the books, good or bad.
Once Pure – MMA Gym Owner Killian O’Brien lost his chance with Sophia Tres Santos when he was younger but he is determined to try again. Sophia is helping Killian re-build his website and help build his business. Their chemistry is undeniable, for an except and my full review click here.
Inside The O’Briens – I might be a little biased, since this book takes place in a neighborhood in Boston. Joe O’Brien is a tough cop in the city of Boston, a veteran of the force for over 20 years. He begins to experience involuntary movements, unclear thinking, and fits of rage. After his wife pushes him to get checked out he discovers he has a neurodegenerative disease called Huntington’s disease, and there is no cure. It is also a disease that gives children a 50/50 change of inheriting from their parents, Joe has to tell his 4 children. Each of his kids while in their 20’s struggle to come to the decision to get tested and what it might mean to them. Is the knowing better than not knowing, and how would you embrace life if you had the disease. It also takes you on Joe’s journey of struggling through the disease that ultimately takes his identity, his job and his pride from him. So beautifully written, heartbreaking, but so powerful.
Breath of Scandal – This book was actually originally published in 1991 but I didn’t feel it was dated, aside from a few stereotypes. This book does have really heavy subject matter. Jade claws her way back to the road determined to get her revenge, in her being run by one family. The sheriff is the father of one of the accusers, her own mother doesn’t stand by her. She moves away to go to college and plan her revenge. She hires Dillon a man on his own road to redemption when she comes back to town to take down everyone involved in destroying her childhood.
Flipped – Holly and Dan meet when Holly breaks into the house that she believes is hers, but Dan stole out from under her. Holly had dreams of restoring the historical home for her and her daughter. Dan is also the brother of one of her best friends, Johnnie, so they can’t get away from each other. Holly is hoping that if she can’t restore the house herself, she can convince Dan to restore the house the way she envisioned it. Great chemistry, cute story and I am excited to read the rest of the series.
Before It’s Too Late – DI Jackman is tasked with finding the student who goes missing Min Li. She just had a fight with her boyfriend, so he is immediately a suspect. When another student goes missing the heat is on to find them. You get to hear Min’s side of the story as she describes being buried alive. I didn’t understand the back story of Jackman’s wife but maybe that is explained in further books, it just seemed to be unnecessary, otherwise great story, loved the back and forth from Min’s telling and Jackman’s.
We Could Fall – I received this book from a GoodReads giveaway. Emmy and her husband Jack had a plan to get a divorce and on a fateful day he decided to tell her he wants to try again. That same she gets a voicemail from a famous actor, Duncan, who wants her as his therapist. There is a certain Mrs. Robinson theme and it even makes references to it. Duncan is so used to shielding every emotion and is working to be more authentic. Emmy and Duncan start to feel a connection but there is also the passive aggression husband to contend with in the end. A little too long but overall kept me engaged.
Back To You – Kelly has dated the rockstar, she even married him and had two kids with him, even divorced him. She is now ready to marry a new man and forget about her ex, Vaughan. Problem is Vaughan doesn’t want to let her go. She can see she is not in love with her fiance, he is just a safe choice. Vaughan begins to prove to Kelly he can be the father and family man that she needs him to be. I didn’t dislike this book at all, it just didn’t really have an arc or pull of emotion, just fell a little flat but I did root for them to find each again.
What books have you read this month?
Will you add any of these books to your list?
Linking up with Steph and Jana for this months reads.
Adding inside the o’briens to my list – i’m the same way I like to read Boston based books! Flipped is actually a hallmark movie I swear lol! xo, Biana
It was so good and the Charlestown parts were so spot on. No way?! I’ll have to watch it now if I can find it.
Inside the O’Brien’s sounds very good!
It was really powerful and sad, but really good.
i read jack shit this past month because of FNL! that said, i do have inside the obrien’s on hold at the library.
That is such a good one, hopefully it comes in soon.
My sister from another mister has Huntingdon’s Disease in her family. It took her father and another brother was diagnosed a few years ago. Always be grateful for your health!!
Thanks for the reviews.
Thank the universe for no bad storms and loss of power in PA last night.
Love, SMD’s Momma
It is such a devastating disease we really need more research and hopefully find a way to slow the progression or find a cure. GLad you didn’t lose power.
I added Flipped, I love books that are like HGTV for my mind! I just finished 10 Beach Road by Wendy Wax and the house flipping made the book so much more enjoyable!
It totally had an HGTV vibe. I’ll have to check that one out!
man I just don’t know about Inside the O’Briens. I am currently reading Still Alice by the same author, and it’s good but I have to keep spacing it out because I can’t breathe through all the crying 😉 But seriously. I might save it for when I’m in the mood for a heartbreaking book.
Adding Flipped to my list, it looks cute!
Haha! It is very similar in that it pulls on your heartstrings but it was so worth it. Flipped was much lighter and cuter.
Inside the O’Brien’s has been getting a lot of buzz lately. Sounds like it’s justified!
It is really justified. Very powerful, heartbreaking, but full of hope too.
I can see reading the O’Briens a few years down the road. I do that sometimes, let a book sit a long while before I get into it.
I say as long as you read it, it’s so powerful and well written. I think you’d like it.
Inside the O’Briens has been on my list for awhile now. I probably should put it on hold because it’ll take awhile to get. Then again, it might not. I don’t understand the preferences of people in my state.
Before It’s Too Late reminds me of the plot from the case in Serial. Might make for an interesting read.
I say add it now because it is really worth the read. It was very interesting and I didn’t guess the ending till just before reading it which is a good sign.
I’ve been slacking on reading… 🙁 Its taking me forever to get through Big Little Lies… & I’m DYING to see how it ends 🙂
i have a tough time with that author but just read a little bit everyday and soon enough you’ll finish.
I read Flipped last month and thought it was really cute! I will have to add Once Pure to my to read list. That one sounds really good.
Flipped was really cute and I want to read more on the brothers. Once Pure is really good, and recommend reading the whole series, that is the last of the three but the author said a spin-off is coming. So good!
I want to read Inside the O’Briens but it seems SO heavy that I may just watch the movie instead. And I need some Netgalley lessons. I don’t get it! I have only requested a few books but I keep getting rejected!
It is a little heavy but some humor mixed in too. I mean i didn’t cry the whole book or anything. That stinks. Did you set up your profile?
I read and really liked Inside The O’Briens last month too. I keep seeing Once Pure lately and it cracks me up because my husband is an MMA gym owner. Haha!
Wasn’t it so good?! So heartbreaking, but amazing. Haha! No way. Now you have to read it too see how it stacks up to reality! 😉
Books!
I recently finished Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottline. It was pretty good.
Give me all the books!! Haha! I’ll have to check that one out I do like that author.
Once Pure is already on my list, but I am going to add Inside the O’Briens! I always love your book posts because you have so many different books! I feel like a lot of posts I go to have the same I see everywhere.
Thank you. Most of it is due in part to NetGalley since most of them are Advanced Reader copies so they just came out. I do need to catch up my to-read list though and catch up on the others. So many books, so little time!
Breath of Scandal sounds super intriguing! I’ve been reading mostly books on bettering my photography recently.
It is worth a read, it covers really difficult topics but handled really well. Photography books are always a good choice too!
Inside the O’Briens sounds really, really, really good. I go over to add it to my goodreads. I already have it added. Guess I need to get on it!
It was so good, deep and thought provoking but so many emotions too. Haha! That is a sign you need to read it ASAP!!
Sometimes you can find the best books on Netgalley and it looks like you had a good month! I’ve seen Inside The O’Briens around a little bit, but don’t know too much about it, so it’s good to see you gave it such a high review! Flipped sounds so cute and totally reminds me of one of the Hallmark or ABC Family Christmas movies I watched last year.
Yes, I have found so many great books and new authors. It was such a good book and something that really impacted the whole family. I heard it was a movie so that is totally possible!
Inside the O’Briens sounds like a book I’d like to read. Even if it’s heartbreaking. Before It’s Too Late also sounds like a great summer book, though it’s dark.
It is really good, and I really enjoyed the different perspectives from all the family members that were effected. It was an easy, fast read and while not light it was good.
Yikes I haven’t read most of these and its rare that I get a list thats mostly unread by me. I need to step my game up!
That is awesome and gives you plenty of options to pick from now!
I was on the fence about Inside The O’Briens, but your review convinced me. I just added it to my holds. Breath of Scandal sounds like a good beach day read.
It is a really good book, even if sad at times. It was a tough subject but so well crafted!
So many good books to read!
Hope you find one or two or many you want to read! 😉