It's that time again! Best Linkup of the Month!
Here's what I read!
The Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick- This book was just fun. It was a little predictable and silly but a great one to read if you enjoy lighthearted romance novel types. Also I am so tempted to make the The Cure of the Common Breakup Drink! Also it is labeled as Black Dog Bay #1 so I am hopeful that it will be a series! I had read another book by Kendrick before the Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service and it is one of my favorite books. Also silly, a little predictable, and fun. Sometimes you just need something light!
Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- I own the movie but I had never read the book. I have to say that I was really impressed with how the movie stayed pretty much true to the book! Charlie was even more awkward in the book version however but that was okay. It made me uneasy and I think that is how you are supposed to feel when you read this book. Everything has another level to it and every event feels like a life changer when you are a teen...some of them are life changing and you never even realize it. Great book and of course it has one of the best quotes ever, "We Accept The Love We Think We Deserve" Some of the truest words ever written.
Death by Tiara by Laura Levine- This is number twelve in this series and yep it was predictable as all get out. I never mind though because I have been reading the series forever and I don't mind that it is a cozy mystery with pretty basic and stereotypical characters. I love Jaine and I love her cat Prozac. Her parents are super hilarious as well. This is a good one to read if you don't mind that the mystery is simple and are just in it for the laughs. Another good one for light reading that doesn't involve any effort!
People I want to Punch in the Throat by Jen Mann- I have a love/hate relationship with this one. I loved her wit and her blunt delivery. Some of the things she says I agree with wholeheartedly but some things I just couldn't get on board with, but the one thing that irritated me the most was that she referred to her husband as The HUBS through the whole book. Now this irritates me in general but since I got the book on audio book it was ten times worse. That being said this is a pretty funny book if you are into reading about the ridiculousness of the "mommy wars" and suburban life in general.
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen- I picked this one up on a whim and honestly I enjoyed it. It was a very quick read but the tension in it was very real. Basically the main character ends up stranded on a raft in the ocean. No one knows that she was even on the plane so no one knows where to look for her. Reminded me a bit of Life of Pi but not nearly as in depth. Still it was a good read.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed- To be honest I only picked this up because I saw it was going to be a movie with Reece Witherspoon. It was a good read and I can appreciate her determination to walk her way back to the person that she was....only to find someone better along the way. I did watch the movie and it did a very good job of telling the story and skipping over the slower parts of the book. If this isn't your style of book you might check out the movie.
Room by Emma Donoghue- Another one being made into a movie but I actually picked this one up because of this linkup! This story was really intense at the beginning but slowed for me toward the middle. Written from the point of view of a five year old, it can at times be a little frustrating to read. Jack has lived in "Room" all his life with his mother. "Room" is his entire world and he doesn't understand why his mother so desperately wants to escape from "Room" and from Old Nick. It was a good story but like I said it slowed at the middle for me and I had to kind of push through to finish it.
Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon- This is for my fans of JV fiction, or if you have kids that are ready for chapter books. A very cute story about a band of minions that are taking care of a castle and waiting for a new master to take over before the castle is decommissioned. A new master does arrive in the form of Molly, a young girl claiming to be the new wicked witch of the castle. Loved this one and I am hopeful it will turn into a series because I think Kyra will really love it when she is older!
Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison- So I've stated before that I'm not really into reality TV but when I was in college I did love to watch The Girls Next Door so when this book came out I knew that I would read it. It's a "tell all" style book where Holly Madison recounts her time at the playboy mansion as one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends. It covers everything from how she got to the mansion, her time there, working on Girls Next Door, and after she left. I personally enjoyed the book but I took it with a grain of salt as well. There are always different sides to the same story and while I did enjoy Holly's side I felt that some of it may have stretched the truth a bit. I would recommend this one if you were a fan of the show, or if you just want to read some down and dirty secrets of the mansion.
Whew! That was a lot of books for the month! I can't wait to read about all of the books you read last month as well! Be sure to join the linkup!
I felt the same way about perks. I didn't know Holly Madison came out with a book, but I'm adding it to my to-read STAT! I'm all about some tell alls! hah
ReplyDeleteHolly Madison has been on my TBR thanks to this link up forever and I'm on the hold list at the library, so someday I'll get to it!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good description of Perks.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Room is for me. I've read so many reviews/other people's views of it and I don't think I'd click with it. I dislike child narrators in general and the subject matter would make it a no go for me too. Worst fear - trapped/kidnapped/claustrophobia. LOL
I can't read anything where people say The Hubs. Blogs included.
Adding a bunch of these to my list! Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteI've actually never read or seen Perks of being a Wallflower ( i know, where have I been?!) . I really need to get on that!
ReplyDeleteWild and Room are already on my list but glad to hear they're good. I still need to see Wild but wanted to read the book first.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same about Wild. It was well written and the concept was so new back in the 90s before the internet, but i just couldn't PULL for the main character because she kept getting on my nerves. I am putting RAFT on my want to read list and I'm back and forth on Holly's book. I LOVED watching the GND, such a fun show, but I feel like she really went after Heff in this book and I'm like 'ummm you wouldn't be here without dating him'. I also heard there wasn't nearly as much 'behind the scenes' as expected.
ReplyDeleteps.com I HATE the hubs!
Perks is on my list already and I really liked Room. I will not read PIWTPITT. I used to like her blog but now I just find her obnoxious and annoying and I feel like her book would be mostly the same.
ReplyDeleteI did not know Room was going to be a movie! I loved it, though it was definitely frustrating at parts. The Raft sounds interesting, and kinda scary lol. and cure for the common breakup sounds really cute, sometimes I just want a light, easy, fluffy read!
ReplyDeleteI loved Room and didn't know it was being made into a movie! I've been meaning to read Wild, especially since I want to see the movie, but won't until I read the book. Perks was just okay for me....both the movie and the book.
ReplyDeleteI want to read Down The Rabbit Hole!
ReplyDeleteEek, I wouldn't like "the hubs" either. I can't stand when people use "hubs" or "hubby" or "wifey." I'll still probably check out the book though.
I think I have People I want to punch on my TBR list. The Raft sounds interesting going to check that one out. I totally agree with Wild I liked the book but I liked the movie better in that is got rid of some of the slower parts of the book.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad for this review of Room. I've tried to read it 2x now and just could never get into it and now you've saved me from it.
ReplyDeleteThere are some names that I cannot stand. The Hubs probably is one of the top.. although there is ONE more, but I'll save it for our emails.
YAY for liking Perks ANDDDD for the best quote evvvaaarrr.
I really didn't like Room when I read it a few years ago. It was so disappointing because the story sounded exactly like something I would love. I guess I had really high expectations, but the child narrator grated on my nerves after only a short time and chunks of the book just bored me. I definitely won't be seeing that movie! Haha.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could read anything in which the husband is repeatedly referred to as "The Hubs." Blech.
I really need to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, though sometimes I worry I won't love it now that I'm older and so far removed from that time in my life. Most people give it rave reviews, though, so I think I should at least give it a try!
You read a lot this month and a good mix of books too...go you!!!! I'm glad to find someone who wasn't "wild" about Wild. It seems so many people were really inspired by the story. I kept feeling like I was supposed to be inspired, but it just didn't do it for me. I still need to watch Perks, the movie. I felt about the book pretty much the same way you did. I really enjoyed the different voice of Room.
ReplyDeleteOMG, when you mentioned Jaine and her cat Prozac I thought that sounded familiar. I read Death of a Trophy Wife but I don't think I realized that it was part of a series. Now I'll have to start at the beginning!
ReplyDeleteI loved Perks, the book and the movie. I'm glad you read it even after seeing the movie! I also really liked Holly's book. I feel like she played up the victim role, but I still thought it was an easy, eye opening read. Hef is gross. Haha!
ReplyDeleteI read Perks when I was like a freshman in high school but still really like the story. I even enjoyed the movie which is a rarity but thought the casting was done well and it kept the quirkiness that the book has. The Raft sounds interesting. I read Room a few years ago and liked it. I remember it took me awhile to get into it because the kids narration was distracting.
ReplyDelete