Happy Friday! It is especially a happy Friday for me since I scheduled today off to give myself a four-day weekend. I plan on sleeping in, relaxing, doing some work around the apartment, and then I’m going to a baseball game tonight. I’m not a huge baseball fan, but who passes up tickets to see a game in a suite? Not me! (Also: free food. And booze, if that’s what you go for.)

June was a solid reading month for me with 9 books read. (It should be noted this includes two Harlequin novels, which I can finish in a matter of hours…) I’m slightly behind my goal to get 100 books read this year, but I’ve been a reading machine lately so I know I can make it to 100!

41. Alias Mommy by Linda O. Johnston (2 stars)

A really cheesy, not very well-written Harlequin romance. These are my favorite books to get lost in on a lazy Saturday, which is exactly what I did. It was a sweet story where you basically knew what was going to happen the entire novel, but there were some twists and turns I wasn’t expecting.

42. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (3.5 stars)

My least favorite book of The Hunger Games series. The beginning was very, very slow and there were a lot of things that happened that I didn’t like. Katniss annoyed me a lot in this book and I didn’t feel as engaged with the story as I have been with the previous two novels. I can understand the slow beginning, though, because Collins had to get us fully in the know about what was happening and how it affects everyone. I thought the ending was okay, although some of the things that wound up happening made me very angry. In the end, a wonderful series and I’m glad I can finally say I’ve read it.

43. Perfect Partners by Carly Phillips (2.5 stars)

Carly Phillips is one of my favorite contemporary romance writers so I was excited when this series was on sale for $.99 on Amazon. This book was okay, but I later learned this series is one of the first she’d written (way back in 1999!) so I can tell how much her writing has improved over the years. There were a lot of inconsistencies I noticed – such as the two-year-old acted more like a one-year-old and I didn’t believe the female lead as being a woman who was domestically abused. It was really cheesy and I’m not even sure if I want to read the next two books in the series.

44. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner (4 stars)

This was the first audiobook I’ve ever listened to and I must say: I am a fan! First of all, the reader was such a perfect fit. She might have ruined me for all other audiobook readers with how perfect she was. She didn’t make up silly deep voices for the male characters and I started reading my books in her voice, which is odd, but whatever. She read like I would have read it. So, yes, I just want all of my audiobooks to be read by her. That’s not too much to ask, is it?

Onto the book itself! I have a hard time with Jennifer Weiner’s novels because they involve so much back story that my attention span wanes before I can get to the good part. (I abandoned Best Friends Forever for this reason.) I really, really enjoyed this novel and could identify with Ruth, the main character. I loved learning about the inner workings of a TV show, how it gets off the ground, and what putting together a pilot episode entails. It was all very interesting! And the love story was just so sweet that I may have “aww-ed” out loud in the car at some parts. I love love stories that give me warm fuzzies. Great, great novel.

45. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (2 stars)

This was our June pick for #twookclub and I have to be completely honest and say I did not enjoy this novel at all. It was a struggle for me and I have never been more happy to have finished a book! I did enjoy some of the characters, but the writing felt so pretentious and uppity. I really don’t understand why this book is so well-loved. I was bored for the majority of it and the ending just made me very, very angry.

46. Dr. Bodyguard by Jessica Andersen (3 stars)

This was a fairly good read, for a trashy romance novel. The writing was decent and not too cheesy, and I really loved the interplay between the two characters. I really don’t have too much to say about this novel!

47. When Summer Comes by Brenda Novak (3 stars)

I have a slew of books on my Kindle that I bought either for free or for $.99 that I need to read, and this was one of them. I liked the idea behind the story: a twentysomething girl finds out her liver is failing and she probably won’t make it past summer unless she gets a new liver. She’s living alone in her grandparents’ house in the middle of nowhere and a man bangs on her door late one night, needing help. He’s been attacked by a pack of dogs and needs immediate medical attention. This is a love story, so I’m sure you know what happens from there: she takes care of him and they fall in love. I won’t give away too much of the plot, but it was a sweet novel and I ended up really rooting for the two of them to somehow make it.

48. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (5 stars)

One of my favorite novels from this author! I read the second half of this book in one sitting last Friday night because I couldn’t put it down for anything. This book was about Annabel, a girl who just lost her best friend when she was found in a compromising position with her friend’s boyfriend. Her sister is undergoing treatment for an eating disorder and with her parents focused on her sister, she feels a bit alone. Then she meets Owen, a music-obsessed loner who has no issue with telling the truth exactly as it is (something she never learned to do with her family). I loved Annabel and Owen. Annabel wasn’t as angsty as most of the teenage characters Dessen writes and I loved how Owen got her to open up and be honest about how she felt about things. It was just a really, really great novel!

49. I Got You, Babe by Jane Graves (3 stars)

I felt like this book was longer than it needed to be and I simultaneously loved and hated the main character. Renee has been framed for a convenience store robbery and is on the run. After successfully getting away from the bounty hunter determined to bring her in, she rushes into a diner and straight for John DeMarco. At first, all she wants is a ride, and is willing to do anything for that. She propositions him, he accepts, and they leave together. Then Renee finds out John is a cop and he finds out she’s a wanted woman. The next 250 or so pages are filled with the two of them trying to get to the truth and learn to trust one another. The writing was pretty good, though the action scenes were pretty weak and it got pretty cheesy toward the end.

Books read in June: 9
Books read in 2013: 49

Have you ever listened to an audiobook?

I have a double dose of book reviews for you today. Since I couldn’t get around to posting about what I read in April last month, I decided to combine the two months into one blog post. There’s a lot, so props to anyone who gets through all of these reviews! 🙂

April Reads (Total count: 5 books)

25. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (4 stars)

This book has been on my “must-read soon” list for a while and I finally got around to reading it in April. It was a really good read and I took a lot away from it. I’m not sure I would ever complete my own happiness project (it started to feel exhausting!) but it was a really interesting read on the theory of happiness and how to achieve it in small ways in our life. Finding happiness doesn’t mean making huge, drastic changes to our environment – sometimes it can be as simple as being kinder, starting a blog, or reading more.

26. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (3.5 stars)

I really enjoyed this book, but there was something about the main character that rubbed me the wrong way which is why I knocked my rating down to 3.5 stars. I loved the story itself and the theme of letting love in, even though it has the potential to hurt you… but I didn’t care for Remy that much. I read somewhere that Sarah doesn’t create characters to be role models, she creates real people with real problems and issues and I can respect that. I like that, really. But this book doesn’t hold a candle to “The Truth About Forever.”

27. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (4 stars)

I had been wanting to reread this book, in honor of the movie releasing in May. And when it came up as an option for my book club, I pushed hard for us to read it. I remember reading it in high school and it being one of the few books I actually enjoyed. Ten years later, I still enjoyed the book but not one I would gush over or declare the best book I’d ever read. I’m not one to dislike a book just because themes of cheating are present but there was very little redeeming about the characters and the ending felt rushed and really sad.

28. In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (3 stars)

This was a fairly good read, although there were many sections I found myself skimming over because they bored me. But there were some interesting tidbits and it was fascinating to read about how different cultures approach food and eating. I can’t say I learned anything life-changing or he opened my eyes to my food habits, but it was a good read.

29. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (4 stars)

I am thoroughly enjoying reading through The Hunger Games series (taking my sweet ole time, too!) and these are books I can see myself reading over and over again. I’ve heard the second two books in this series aren’t as good as the first but I really, really enjoyed this novel. I felt like the story had a good flow and I enjoyed the give-and-take between Gale and Peeta. And I just adore Katniss and her badassness to the extreme. And the ending! THE ENDING! So intense. I am not someone who is really *into* the dystopian genre, but this series may turn me into a believer just yet!

May Reads (Total count: 11 books)

30. Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann (5 stars)

This was actually the first novel of Brockmann’s I’ve ever read – and I read it during a time when I was feeling down and very upset so it lifted my spirits and sucked me into the vortex that is the Troubleshooters series. (Still my very favorite series ever!) This is another thrilling novel, filled with humor, romance, mystery, and thrills. And for those who read this series, it is the novel where Jules & Robin meet. (JULES & ROBIN! JULES & ROBIN!) The main female character, Jane, was so sassy and awesome and I just loved her. Seriously. This series. A must-read.

31. Love Irresistibly by Julie James (4 stars)

A sweet contemporary romance novel. Julie James is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to authors when I need a sexy romance with great characters, sizzling love scenes, and a fun plot to follow. I really enjoyed this novel and getting lost in the characters and their issues. The perfect beach read!

32. Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann (4 stars)

This book felt a bit long and drawn out. I kept waiting for the climax to hit and it took forever. It’s still a crazy good book with lots of twists and turns and “how-are-they-ever-going-to-get-out-of-this”-ness. And as long as it was, it was still a book I couldn’t put down when I was reading it and thought about constantly when I wasn’t. I love this series… have I mentioned that at all? No?

33. Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio (5 stars)

I was swept into the worlds of Vera and Claire from the very first page. It was a mystery of sorts, an unraveling of a family’s secrets. It was about forgiveness and trust and the sacredness of time. It was two stories, woven as one. Vera’s takes place in 1933 while Claire’s was the present day. I was captivated by these two women. I was drawn to them. I loved them, felt sadness at the decisions made, and ultimately wanted everyone to just be okay. This novel touched me.

34. Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen (3 stars)

Chucking away at Sarah Dessen’s books. I only have three left until I’ve read all her books (which includes her most recent book that comes out in June). Go me! This book started off really slow for me and it was all very predictable. But I really enjoyed reading Colie’s story and I could definitely understand her battles with bullying and fat-shaming. The ending was sweet and left a lot of issues unresolved, but it worked for the story.

35. The Cottage At Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri (3 stars)

Full review of the book can be found here. A slow story where I wasn’t fully engaged in the plot, but the writing was so magnificent that I had to give it 3 stars.

36. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (5 stars)

Oh, this book. When I heard it was about assisted suicide, I wasn’t all that excited to delve into it. I don’t like depressing subjects, no matter how good the plot or the writing is. I was immediately swept away by this book. By the characters, by the story-telling, by the dialogue, by the utter rawness of the subject matter. I never felt depressed or sad or upset or angry. Instead, the author made me feel hopeful and happy. The subject matter itself is heartbreaking but the characters are so real and so personable that you can’t help but love everyone.

This book is right up there with A Thousand Splendid Suns as one of the best books I’ve ever read. Go out and get this book. It is a must-read.

37. Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann (4 stars)

This is the 10th book in the Troubleshooters series and I enjoyed it. It had lots of romance and intrigue and just enough crazy-serial-killer-drama to make my heart pound. I really, really loved Lindsey and think she is totally kick-ass, especially taking on a serial killer one-on-one. It wasn’t my favorite book of this series, but still a good story overall.

38. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (2 stars)

I had really high expectations of this book from reviews I’d heard. I knew it would be funny and inappropriately so at times. I was prepared for all the mentions of genitals and the cursing. All that stuff didn’t really faze me, as much as the writing felt very chaotic. Was it funny? Sure, I chuckled at certain parts of the book but I didn’t find it laugh-out-loud funny.

I’ve never read her blog and just recently started following her on Twitter so I went into this book not knowing much about her, other than she’s a mega-successful blogger. So maybe that was working against me, I’m not sure.

It just got to be too much for me, too ridiculous at parts, and too all over the place for me to fully enjoy it. It fell short for me.

39. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen (5 stars)

Sarah Dessen totally hits it out of the park with this book. I wasn’t all that keen on reading it, since I knew it involved physical abuse but this book is one of her best.

I had lots of issues with Caitlin but I think that’s what made this story so amazing. She was SO flawed and SO unlikeable for most of the novel but I was still gripped by her. I wanted to shake her, I wanted to hug her, I just wanted her to see she deserved so much better! Could I relate to her? No, not really. But I don’t think relating to the main character is necessary in all books. And I don’t think we were meant to relate to Caitlin (unless you’ve been in a situation similar to hers) – or even like her, for that matter. Dessen did such a great job portraying what it’s like to be in an abusive relationship – the panic and the fights and the make-ups and the hiding.

I had a lump in my throat for the last 2-3 chapters and I felt SO much emotion reading this book. I highly, highly recommend this one. Right up there with The Truth About Forever for me.

40. The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle LaPorte (4 stars)

This book was available for download through my library’s digital page, so I borrowed it. I’m not sure if I would have read it otherwise, but I am so glad I did! This book was so engaging, so full of encouragement and powerful anecdotes and wisdom. I was not a Danielle LaPorte fangirl before reading this book, but I’m totally on the bandwagon now. This book sparked so many ideas and revelations in me. If you’re looking for a book that will light a fire in you for change, this is it.

Total books read in 2013: 40

16. Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann (5 stars)

The Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann is, far and away, my favorite series by any author. Sometimes, I get sad that these characters are not real people! They feel so real and alive and I love reading their stories. This story was mainly focused on one of my favorite characters, Sam. His ex-wife and daughter go missing after an assassination attempt that she is linked to. There are so many twists and turns, so much action and drama, and yes, some very steamy scenes. Brockmann just knows how to write a fantastic romantic thriller. She creates characters you feel like you can touch and I finish her 400+ page books within days. I’m such a fan and I highly recommend these books.

17. Abby Road by Ophelia London (4 stars)

I received a digital copy of this book for free from Netgalley and I loved it so much. It was an adorable chick-lit novel, with a main character I was immediately drawn to and an easy plot to follow. It is the story of Abby, who is the biggest thing to hit the music scene since Britney Spears. She has a breakdown after her brother is killed and is forced to take a three-month vacation and escapes to her sister’s home in Florida. It is there she meets Todd and rediscovers herself. Abby the person, not Abby the rock star. It was a really cute novel and I would totally recommend this book. My only issue was the formatting on Kindle was awful. It was really, really hard to follow at times so that’s hopefully an issue the publisher can work out soon.

18. That Summer by Sarah Dessen (2 stars)

I am a huge fan of Sarah Dessen and her coming-of-age YA lit novels. This is her first book and it’s easy to see how much her writing has improved over the years. This book just fell flat for me. The plot was uninventive, the characters bland. The story reads quickly and I found myself just skimming through it to finish.

19. Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close (3 stars)

This book had been on my “must-read soon” list for a long time and when I found out I could download it for free from my library, I quickly did so. I’d heard great reviews of the book so I had a lot of expectations going into it. The thing about Girls in White Dresses is not that it was bad, but it just didn’t grip me like I wanted it to. There were so many characters and it was hard keeping their stories straight. I did enjoy the humor and wit and I actually laughed out loud a few times. (Something I never do!) And the stories felt very real and honest. So, in the end, I enjoyed the novel but didn’t feel any differently when I finished it.

20. Makeover Miracle by Charmaine Ross (2 stars)

(This was a Netgalley book, so I received a Kindle edition for free, in exchange for an honest review.) This was a really quick read (I read it in less than a day) and a cute story. It was the kind of story that you KNOW isn’t very good, yet it still entices you to keep reading.

The story was about Abbey, who has been bullied and teased all her life for her looks. She is taller than average, a flaming redhead, and overweight. She has dealt with so many disparaging remarks and the crux of it all: a man who took a bet that he could get her to sleep with him in less than 5 dates. (Which he won.) Abbey and her friend, Jennifer, are selected to be contestants on Australia-based Makeover Miracle. (Very similar to The Biggest Loser, except not so weight-loss and workout focused.) The producer of the show, Quinn, and her have an instant connection with each other that only grows stronger during the course of the show as they get to know one another.

I could connect with Abbey at first. I understood her pain of being overweight and bullied and feeling self-conscious. But then she just got annoying. I just wanted to slap her upside the head and tell her she is worthy, no matter if she’s beautiful or ugly, fat or skinny.

I feel like this book had the potential to address some very important issues on looks and worthiness and self-confidence but it did not. It focused more on the fact that this woman begins to find her self-worth because a guy tells her she is, not because she knows it inherently herself. She discovers she IS beautiful so now she is worthy. This is a slippery slope and I found the message of this book to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

21. A Mile in My Flip-Flops by Melody Carlson (2 stars)

I’ve read books by Melanie Carlson before that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed so when I saw this Christian chick-lit novel on Amazon, I decided to pick it up and check it out. I regret this decision. This book was not very good. It was cheesy, filled with cliches, and lacked the emotional and spiritual depth I like to see in Christian novels. The characters were one-dimensional and the ending was too cutesy for my taste.

22. Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockmann (5 stars)

This book is close to 500 pages… and I read it within 1 day. I just can’t put her books down for anything! They grip me from beginning to end. This one introduced new characters but James Nash is one of my favorite characters Brockmann has written because he’s so complex. There’s just so much to him, and I wish there were more books devoted to James and Tess. If you love suspenseful mysteries (and romance!), I highly suggest starting this series. It is so good.

23. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (5 stars)

Okay, so I’m always a bit late to the game when it comes to reading super popular books. I never want to jump on the bandwagon too fast, you know? I’ve had this book on my Kindle for months and I finally got around to reading it in March. And guys? WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ THIS BOOK?! I’m really not a huge fan of the dystopian genre, mainly because it is so saturated and it feels like that’s all anyone is writing about in YA fiction lately. But I decided to take the plunge and decide for myself. This book is good – it is really, really good. Katniss is totally kick ass and I need to get my hands on the next two books SOON!

24. Cowboy’s Texas Rescue by Beth Cornelison (3 stars)

Cheesy, predictable, and heartwarming… just how I like my Harlequin novels. While I found myself rolling my eyes at the stupidity of the main character in certain instances, it was an overall decent read.

Books read in March: 9
Books read in 2013: 24

8. Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker (2 stars)

The plot of this book was interesting: a baker who has diabetes. She can’t taste but a smidge of the creations she bakes and has to rely on her instincts. Her instincts have earned her an award and a new job at an up-and-coming hotel/wedding venue. Interesting premise aside, I could not get into this book for anything. At first, I was intrigued and loved all the characters but soon, it all became too much. There were too many wacky characters and not enough plot to sink my teeth into. And I really didn’t believe the romance that blossomed between the two main characters, which always gives me a case of the sads.

9. Perfect For You by Kate Perry (3 stars)

Graphic designer Freya Godwin has just been hit with an ultimatum: find her muse again or she’s fired. After giving her boss some very lackluster design proofs for an upcoming job, she learns she better find her inspiration again or she’s out of a job. Since she’s supporting her 21-year-old art student sister, she knows she can’t lose this job and becomes frantic with trying to find inspiration. Her first step? Posting an ad on Craigslist. Too bad the only place she finds this necessary inspiration is when she’s with her very annoying neighbor, Greg. This book was just okay for me. There were a lot of inconsistencies and the plot was very weak. Aside from the sister, the characters were very dull and dry and even the romance didn’t feel real. I also don’t understand why this character thought posting an ad for what is essentially a booty call on Craigslist is a good idea. No. No, no, no, no, no. NO.

10. The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (2 stars)

Julie Delgado’s restaurant had to close after a scathing review by food critic Andrew Kyle. Andrew is the sexy host of Edgy Eats and his review pushed her fledgling restaurant over the edge. Julie is now working as a caterer for a wedding venue and feels lost. Enter Andrew into her life again. He’s the brother of a bride and comes to the wedding venue to taste her selection for his sister’s wedding. Once again, he is very critical of her work, and once again, Julie is out of a job. This book just didn’t do it for me. I love a good romance novel, but this one fell flat for me. The romance was too quick and I never felt a connection between the main characters. Bummer.

11. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (5 stars)

This was the #twookclub pick for February and I can safely, easily, and assuredly say I have a new favorite book. This story broke my heart and pieced it back together again. It made me take a good, long, hard look at myself and my life. It opened my eyes to a world I had only heard bits and pieces about, but never a true full picture. This book intertwines the stories of two women – Mariam and Laila. They each have their own heartbreaking stories, they each sacrifice and suffer in their own ways. It’s a book that touched my heart and a story I will never be able to get out of my head. This book shook me to my core and I implore everyone to read this book and open your eyes to the oppression women are still facing to this day.

12. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey (4 stars)

I snatch up those free Kindle books like they’re candy and lately, the stories have been kind of meh. (See the first three books above…) So I really wasn’t expecting much out of this novel. And I was proven wrong. I was immediately captivated by the writing and the characters in this novel. It was well-written, with believable characters and a fun plot to follow. It wasn’t too cheesy, had the right amount of steamy romance, and while the ending felt a little dragged out, it was still a great novel. And I loved it enough to want to check out the other books in this series. Always a good sign!

13. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (4 stars)

I’ve heard so many mixed reviews of this book that I went into reading it thinking I wouldn’t enjoy it. I always do that to myself. I psyche myself out. But I needed to write a review on the memoir for my magazine gig, and it was one of those books I had wanted to read for so long that I just decided it was time to read it. A lot of people feel partial to one section of the three sections (Italy/India/Indonesia) but I’m an anomaly, I suppose, who enjoyed each section and got something different but life-affirming from each one. This book taught me so much, not just about love or faith, but about life itself. There is so much rawness, so much honesty to this memoir and I enjoyed it so, so much. A must-read, in my opinion!

14. The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers (4 stars)

You can read my entire review of this book here.

15. Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace (1 star)

I recently signed up for Netgalley because I was all, “Free Kindle books? Why the heck not?” This was the first book I reviewed for the site and it was not a good introduction to Netgalley. I am trying not to let it stain my view, but this book was hard to read. The writing was cheesy. The characters fell flat. And the plot dragged on and on and on (and on and on and on and on and on…). My review wasn’t kind, but I had to be bluntly honest about how I felt. I always feel bad being critical of other writers because I know how much criticism hurts when it’s directed at me, but at the same time, I had to be totally honest about how I felt.

Books read in February: 8
Books read in 2013 so far: 15