Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (3.16.20)

Happy Monday? I don’t even know how to begin this post! Times are crazy right now and all anyone can talk about is Coronavirus. I hope everyone is staying safe and doing lots of hand washing and sanitizing. I know I am! I’m also working from home this week and going back and forth on whether or not it’s responsible to go on my kayaking trip this weekend. I think it is, as I’ll be around fewer people than I am during a trip to Target, but I’m not sure what the right call to make is. Argh! Such a weird time.

Anywho, let’s switch gears and talk about a much better topic: books! I finished four books this week and I’m currently three books ahead of schedule on my yearly book goal. (!) Setting that goal felt like a reach, but who knows: maybe I’ll surprise myself.

Let’s get to the reviews. 🙂

Books Finished

> Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway (★★★☆☆) – Emmy and Oliver were childhood best friends… until Oliver’s father kidnapped him when he was seven. Ten years later, Oliver is found alive and well, living with his father in New York. He returns home, but home looks much different: His mom has remarried and has two young daughters and his best friend Emmy is all grown up. Even though the central conflict of the story is a hard one, the story is ultimately sweet and redemptive and I really liked it. It wasn’t a standout for me in any way, but listening to the audiobook was an enjoyable way to spend my commutes to work nonetheless.

> To Have and to Hold by Lauren Layne (★★★☆☆) – Brooke has moved to NYC from California after her fiance turned out to be a con man. Her first client as the newest wedding planner at The Wedding Belles is Maya Tyler, a hotel heir who has a very sexy but very annoying brother, Seth, who is determined to stop the wedding. He’s suspicious of Maya’s fiance’s motives. Not only because her fiance will come into a considerable fortune by marrying her, but also because their courtship has been a whirlwind. When Maya announces she’s getting married, Seth has yet to meet the guy because they’d only been dating for three months. The story started off with such great potential for me—I loved the back-and-forth between Brooke and Seth—but it sort of fell apart about two-quarters of the way through. As another reviewer mentioned, it just didn’t seem logical that Brooke wouldn’t be sensitive to Seth’s worries when she was tricked by a con man herself. All that aside, I still liked this romance and can’t wait to see what’s next in this series!

> Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (★★★★☆) – Emira, who is black, is at a high-end grocery store with her babysitting charge, Briar, who is white, one night when she is confronted by the security guard on duty who thinks Emira has kidnapped the two-year-old. Briar’s father is able to come to the grocery store to sort out the whole mess and Emira leaves annoyed but also relieved that nothing worse happened. Afterward, Alix, Briar’s mother, is horrified by what her babysitter went through and wants to make it right, first and foremost by getting to know Emira better. This novel was a quick read and so well-written that I found it hard to put it down! The relationship between Emira and Briar was my favorite part, I think, because it was so sweet. I also loved the honesty in Emira’s struggles of becoming a “grownup.” How do you become a grownup when you have no idea what your passions are and what you want to do with your life? Oof, I feel that! (At least, I felt it when I was in my early twenties. Less so now.) There’s a theme of performative white “wokeness” that permeates the novel, and it is jarring and uncomfortable and so very necessary. If Alix’s actions or Emira’s responses made you feel uncomfortable, good. Explore that. Figure out why. I know I had to. While I felt like the novel went a little off the rails at the end, it’s still a powerful story and one I can’t stop thinking about.

> Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott (★★★☆☆) – In this slim novella, Anne Lamott talks about the three essential prayers (at least in her estimation): asking for help, giving thanks, and simply marveling. I love the honest way that Anne talks about faith, it’s really refreshing and frankly feels revolutionary, even though this book was written almost a decade ago. I’m really glad I have some of Anne’s other books about faith on my bookshelf because I’m so interested in whatever else she has to say on this topic!

What I’m Reading Now

I’m listening to The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton, which is our March book club pick. It’s an intense story and books about prison are very triggering for me so it’s been a tough read for me. But it’s a book that is necessary to read. The justice system is not very… well… just for poor people of color and Hinton’s story is proof of that.

My non-listening reads are much, much lighter, thankfully. I’m reading Every Wild Heart by Meg Donohue for the Unread Shelf Challenge and dipping in and out of Shacking Up by Helena Hunting, which I am loving. It’s so fun and well-written! Once I finish those books, I’m going to start Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. Gimme all the light, happy reads right now, please!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (3.9.20)

Happy Monday! Ohhh, friends, I had the most relaxing weekend. I haven’t had a weekend like this in ages, and it was so good for my soul. I really need to build at least one of these mostly plan-less weekends into my schedule on a monthly basis. My only goals were to take lots of naps, read lots of books, and snuggle the cats as much as they’d let me. I definitely accomplished that goal! I’m feeling refreshed and ready to tackle this upcoming week.

Let’s talk reading. I finished two books last week, both of which I liked but didn’t leave me gushing. It happens!

Books Finished

She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Ignited a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey (★★★☆☆) – Earlier this year, I read Ronan Farrow’s account of breaking the Harvey Weinstein scandal and found it incredibly compelling, well-written, and eye-opening. This is the story of two reporters at the New York Times who were uncovering this scandal at the same time as Farrow. It’s heart-wrenching to recognize how Weinstein silenced so many women and destroyed their careers and lives, as well as the number of people who were complicit in his dealings. While I didn’t find this story as compelling (there was a detached tone that made it hard to really sink into the story) and I don’t think the inclusion of the Brett Kavanaugh hearing was needed, it’s an honest look at investigative reporting, the pervasiveness of power, and the courage of women speaking out.

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams (★★★☆☆) – This was a super fun romance that kind of turns the romance genre on its head. It’s about a couple that’s headed for divorce: Thea and Gavin have been married for three years and have toddler twin daughters, and Gavin finds out that she’s been faking the “big O” for the majority of their marriage. He doesn’t have the best response to finding that out and Thea kicks him out. Thankfully, though, there’s the Bromance Book Club to the rescue. Gavin’s group of friends gives him a Regency romance to read to help him become a better partner and get his wife back. It’s such a sweet and funny novel, and I loved the feminist conversations between the men in the book club! So great. That said, I did find myself skimming the chapters that included scenes from the Regency romance that Gavin was reading (snooze) and I wanted more character development from Thea, but overall, a really fun novel that I feel safe recommending to non-romance readers. Pick it up!

What I’m Reading Now

I’m listening to a YA novel on audio right now, Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway, and I’m about halfway through it. The story is more light-hearted than I expected (considering it’s about a boy who is found alive and well ten years after his father kidnapped him…) and the teenagers aren’t super angsty, which is nice.

I’m also flying through Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. I started it on Saturday night and have about 100 pages left. I’ll finish it today or tomorrow and then I’m picking up Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott. At just over 100 pages, I’m sure I’ll speed through it!

As far as romances go, I’m currently reading To Have and to Hold by Lauren Layne, one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. It’s delightful so far! I’ll finish it early this week and then I’ll start Shacking Up by Helena Hunting, a new-to-me romance author. Fingers crossed she can be added to my arsenal of romance authors!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (3.2.20)

Happy Monday, friends! This weekend was my book club’s photoshoot, something our leader has been wanting to do for a really long time now. I’ll talk more about it on my February wrap-up post that I’ll be publishing on Friday. But it was a really great time with my favorite ladies, that’s for sure. 🙂

Keeping on the topic of books, I finished three this week so it was another solid week of reading for me. Let’s dive into the reviews!

Books Finished

> How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny (★★★★☆) – It’s kinda hard to talk about this book without giving away spoilers for the series! It’s definitely a series you have to read from the beginning. (While the central mystery can stand alone, there’s always a subplot involving the Chief Inspector and his homicide department that carries over from book to book.) This book felt a little chaotic at times because of all the different subplots, but it all came together beautifully and in a way I didn’t really expect! This series is just so good and listening to the books on audio has been the perfect way for me to consume them.

> Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor’s Reflections on Race and Medicine by Damon Tweedy, M.D. (★★★★☆) – This was an excellent memoir about what it’s like being a Black doctor and the way race plays such a vital role in the medical community. Systematic racism plays a role in the way Black people are treated in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and care facilities and it plays a role in the health struggles Black people face. This book is a comprehensive look at race in medicine and while likely not the reason Dr. Tweedy wrote it, it provides a strong case for why we need universal healthcare.

> Under Fire by Scarlett Cole – This is the first romantic suspense novel I’ve read in a fairly long time. It’s probably my favorite genre to read in romance, but very few authors can do it successfully. (Cindy Gerard and Suzanne Brockmann stand out in my mind as the best.) The suspense part of this novel was a little silly and hard to believe, but what I really loved about this novel was the female protagonist, Louisa. Louisa is a research scientist who struggles with an intense form of shyness and she was such a relatable character to me. While I wished the author had carried her shyness throughout the book (it seems she suddenly became badass thanks to the love of a man, which is not how shyness works), it was really nice to see a character who acts as I do and has my same type of anxiety. Anyway, I’d direct you to some other authors if you’re looking for a great romantic suspense novel—this one was just okay.

What I’m Reading Now

I’ll start this section by talking about the book I’m reading on the Serial Reader app—Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I promised to do periodic updates about my progress with this tome, and it’s going really well so far! I’m enjoying the story a lot and I think that’s because I’m consuming it in bite-sized chunks.

Other than that, I just started She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey. In January, I read Ronan Farrow’s account of breaking the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal (Catch and Kill – loved it!) so I’m excited to dig into this novel and learn about the reporting these women did. And, since I can never read one book at a time, I’m also going to start The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams. I’ve heard really good things from trusted sources, but time will tell if the book lives up to my high standards.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (2.24.20)

Happy Monday, my friends! What a weekend. Between Lila’s appointment at the vet (she did beautifully!), baby snuggles, catching up with Lisa over lunch, a reading date with a friend, and a birthday party for my nephew, it was quite a busy weekend. So it goes! 🙂 It was a weekend that really filled me up, though, so that’s always wonderful.

I finished four books last week, what! Two romances, one audiobook, and a long character-driven novel. All were wonderful, so let’s dive into the reviews:

Books Finished

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren (★★★★☆) – I loved this contemporary romance, mostly because the majority of the book took place on a film set and I found that setting to be fascinating! Twelve years ago, Tate was betrayed by Sam, a boy she met during a trip to London after graduating high school. They fell in love during that trip… until he sold her story (about how she’s the daughter of a legendary actor) to the gossip rags. In the ensuing years, Tate became a household name in the entertainment business, starring in TV shows and movies. She’s ready to start filming her next movie… until she finds out that the screenwriter is Sam. It’s a beautiful story about second chances, the power of family, and trust.

A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson (★★★★☆) – This was an inventive thriller that’s told in three parts. In Part I, we get the point-of-view of the father whose 18-year-old daughter has just been accused of murder. In Part II, we get the point-of-view of the daughter while she’s in prison awaiting her trial. And in Part III, we get the point-of-view of the mother during the trial. I enjoyed all three sections equally, although I felt like Part III was the weakest and I wanted more showing, less telling. But definitely add this one to your list if you love a good family drama/thriller!

This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell (★★★★☆) – Man, I really loved this novel! It wasn’t what I was expecting at all, following the lives of two people—Claudette, a reclusive movie star, and her husband, Daniel. Together, Claudette and Daniel have two young children. Claudette also has an older son from a previous relationship while Daniel has two older kids from his first marriage that he hasn’t seen in years. The novel is essentially a series of vignettes with different protagonists, sometimes Claudette or Daniel, sometimes one of their children, and sometimes a completely random person (like Claudette’s assistant), but all with the centering focus of describing who Claudette and Daniel are, both together and separate. It is a character-driven novel, which isn’t typically my favorite, but I found myself able to sink into this story and fall in love with these incredibly flawed people. The writing was phenomenal, too, and I’m so excited to read more of O’Farrell’s work!

Good Guy by Kate Meader (★★★★☆) – I loved this book, especially the way it dug into misogyny and sexism in pro sports. The novel follows Jordan who is a sports reporter and podcaster who finally gets her big break—interviewing the “oldest rookie in the league,” Levi Hunt. Hunt has joined the Chicago Rebels, a pro hockey team, after a stint in the military, and he was deployed with Jordan’s husband, who died overseas, so there’s an extra-special connection there. It was a fun read but also an impactful one because misogyny in pro sports is a real issue and I’m glad Meader explored it in this book.

What I’m Reading Now

I’m currently listening to the audiobook of How the Light Gets In, the ninth book in Louise Penny’s incredible Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. We’re back in Three Pines in this book and it’s so lovely to be reunited with my favorite characters.

Last night, I started Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor’s Reflections on Race and Medicine by Damon Tweedy, MD. I’m only about a chapter in so I don’t have much to say about it right now, but I imagine it will be a really eye-opening read. And since I know I’ll probably need to take some breaks with that book, I’m going to pick up Under Fire by Scarlett Cole sometime this week. It’s romantic suspense and I’ve really loved Cole’s other novels so I have high hopes for this one.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (2.17.20)

Happy Monday! I had a really strange weekend, ha. I spent all day Saturday on a road trip. Mom and I drove to the other side of the state and back in one day, which ended up being 12 hours of driving. For two people who hate driving, this was stressful for both of us, but we got through it and I spent all day Sunday recuperating. I’ve also been having really disturbing dreams lately (like: a nightmare where I found someone murdered in my bathtub!!) so sleep has been less comforting. Whew. I’m glad I have a low-key week ahead of me (no plans until Friday!) so I can try to recover as best as possible.

On that note, let’s dive into my reading recap! I finished three books this week, and all of them received 4 stars from me so that’s a fantastic reading week. Yay! Let’s review.

Books Finished

> Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis (★★★★☆) – I loved this sweet contemporary romance so much! It was just the kind of light-hearted read I needed. It follows a woman named Grace who stopped in the small town of Lucky Harbor after leaving a job where she was sexually harassed. She was basically destitute and needed a soft place to land. Over the past few months, she’s been working odd jobs around town while also interviewing for jobs in her field (accounting) at nearby bigger cities. She gets a dog walking job from Dr. Josh Scott, an ER doctor and someone Grace has been crushing on. Over the course of the next few weeks, Grace takes on nannying duties for Josh’s young son and, well, you can see what happens from here. It’s the “forced proximity” trope that I dearly love in romance novels and it was incredibly well-executed in this one. Another winner from my fave romance author!

> The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver (★★★★☆) – I loved this slim novel (it’s under 240 pages). It was such a lovely, heartwarming story about Taylor, a girl whose only goal is to leave her small town after high school. And she does just that. Not even a few weeks have passed since she left home and she ends up with a three-year-old girl who has been through obvious trauma. The toddler was shoved in Taylor’s car at one point, and there was nothing else for her to do but keep the girl.  What follows is a beautiful story about love, abandonment, and found family. There’s also this immigration subplot that feels startlingly close to today’s reality. (The book was written in 1988—had it been written today, I would have thought the immigration storyline to be a little over-the-top and trying too hard to be relevant.) Anyway, I loved this novel immensely and encourage others to pick it up!

> Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush (★★★★☆) – My mom and I listened to this audiobook (it’s 6 and a half hours long) during our long Saturday drive. It’s hard to find books that will meet both of our tastes, but I figured she’d be interested in this story, and I was as well. This is a memoir from former President George W. Bush’s daughters, Jenna and Barbara, about their life growing up in a political family, their time as First Daughters while they were in college and their incredibly strong sisterly bond. I really, really loved this memoir and the stories they told. (Giggling over the story of Jenna’s first date with her now-husband, Henry, whose car was parked in the exact spot Air Force One was about to land; having deep respect for what these women went through on and after September 11th; feeling appalled at Barbara’s college professor who told Barbara she could change her grade if Barbara would tell her father to vote against the war. !!) It’s a reminder that there is so much more to political families. Jenna and Barbara may be linked to their father’s presidency forever because of their last name, but they are truly their own people with their own political views, ideals, and motivations. The story of Barbara having a spirited debate with her father about gay rights was eye-opening, to say the least. I just really loved this memoir and even if you’re no fan of President Bush (I sure am not), I encourage you to pick up this book, if only to get a glimpse into what it’s like being part of a presidency.

What I’m Reading Now

I’m halfway through A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson. I’m listening to it on audio and it’s been a really intriguing read so far. I can’t wait to listen on my commute this week! I’m nearly finished with Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren, which I am loving, and planning on picking up Good Guy by Kate Meader (a new hockey romance series!) when I’m done. I’m also working my way through This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell, an Anne Bogel recommendation that is much different than I was expecting but in a good way. I’m about halfway through and really enjoying it. (What I’m not enjoying is the cigarette smell emanating from my library copy. Ugh.)

What are you reading?