Y’all, spring—AKA reading outside weather—has sprung. I’m sitting on my back porch in the sun as I’m typing these words, in fact. Soon enough, it will be too hot to read or work outside, so I’m making the most of it while I can!
Today I’ve got a solid list of books to share from my TBR pile, ranging from non-fiction to rom-com to middle-grade. I also have a solid pile of laundry waiting for me, so let’s get to it!
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Just Finished:
This was a challenging book. On the one hand, it was easy to read, jumping straight into the action and portraying characters you can’t help but root for. In other ways, it was difficult to read because of all the hardships and traumas depicted. This story of a mother and her son running for their lives from a cartel and becoming migrants who are desperate to sneak into the United States in hopes of safety will stick with me for a long time.
I flew through this book. It’s a YA fantasy romance that reads like a historical novel but with some magical elements. Alessandra goes to court with the express intention of catching the eye of the Shadow King. Her plan is to attract him, marry him and learn how to rule a kingdom, then eliminate him. But of course, nothing ever goes as planned…
I loved Alessandra’s sassiness and how she is so unapologetically herself. It was kind of weird because as I was reading it I kept thinking, “I shouldn’t like this character as much as I do.” She’s manipulative and selfish and a murderess, but somehow you really want things to work out for her! Can’t wait to read the follow-up book about her sister.
In Progress:
If you need a sweet, fun, low-stakes read, pick up any book in the Another Bailey Brothers series. This one follows Owen, one of the middle brothers, and his best friend Annie, whom he’s loved for years. Annie is determined to find a girl for him while documenting it for her advice column, but somehow she never considers herself for the role—until an overwhelming amount of people begin to point out this blind spot. Now both of them have feelings and both are scared to ruin the friendship by confessing them.
The thing I love the most about this book (and this series) is the meddling family surrounding both Owen and Annie. They want what’s best for them and will do whatever they think they need to do to make them see the truth—that they’re perfect for each other.
In this story, Lauren hits her head and when she wakes up, she’s lost four months of memories. Jonah is devastated that Lauren doesn’t remember anything about their relationship—all she remembers is the rocky start they had before they fell in love. Can he win her back when all she wants is to get out of town and start over with her dream job?
This story isn’t thrilling me like I hoped it would. The premise is good and I think it’s gotten better as I’ve gone along, but there’s something missing that I can’t put my finger on that would take this book from good to great. Maybe a faster pace? I do know that I historically like Denise Hunter books, so I’m going to stick with it and hopefully it will have a good ending.
I’m off to a slow start on my Middle-Grade March list, but I’m enjoying this story of an orphan girl who is sent away to an inn under suspicious circumstances. She isn’t sure why she’s there or who paid for her stay, but she knows it’s better than her awful aunt and uncle’s house so she’s willing to see how things play out. She soon finds herself embroiled in puzzles and mysteries that seem to suggest that she might somehow be connected to the house.
My daughter loved this book with her whole heart so I’m looking forward to discussing it with her when I’m finished. So far, it’s been a good mix of quirky characters and unusual circumstances that keep you turning the pages.
Up Next:
A romantic comedy about a librarian matchmaker who meets her match in a tattooed, misunderstood hero? Take my money! I preordered this book months ago and now it’s on my shelf just waiting for me to find the perfect time to enjoy it. Also, it has the absolute cutest cover in gorgeous shades of pink and purple.
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
I keep seeing this one on all kinds of ‘best non-fiction’ lists for months, and I do care about my health, so it seems like it’s time to give this whopper of a book a try. My husband read it and said it was a little dense but full of good information on how your body works and what it needs to be healthy for a long time, so I’m tentatively excited to see what I can learn.
All I remember about this book is that it’s a fantasy novel about a girl who is a healer in a prison that my sister got for Christmas and when I read the description, I immediately put the audiobook on hold. Now my hold has come in and I’m going to start it very soon! I’m hoping it will have lots of action and maybe some romance.
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