Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (8.10.20)

Happy Monday! I have a looooong list of books today since this recap comprises two weeks worth of reading. And I got a lot of reading down over the past two weeks—seven books, to be exact! Let’s dive into these reviews:

No Place to Run by Maya Banks (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: When Sophie, the woman Sam had a fling with on assignment in Mexico, shows up at his home, injured and pregnant, Sam will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

I liked this book, which is the second novel in Banks’s KGI series, but it felt oddly similar to the first book in which the hero has to take care of the heroine, who is in fragile condition. Really hoping the author gives us something different in the next book! There were parts I really liked about the novel—it was super suspenseful and I loved the family dynamics at play—and there were parts I super despised, mainly how the women in the book were treated. (As one reviewer pointed out, there was no real character development for Sophie. What did she do for work? What were her hobbies? Who were her friends?) Sophie felt one-dimensional and just a side character when she was actually the heroine! Just… meh.

Woman 99 by Greer Macallister (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: When Charlotte’s sister, Phoebe, is placed in a mental health facility against her will, Charlotte gets herself committed to save her sister.

What I enjoyed most about this novel was the historical aspect, as it took place in the late 1800s and discussed the type of women who would be committed to these mental facilities. Some of the women were in desperate need of a calm facility that valued order and isolated them from the outside world. Others, though, were only there because they had become a nuisance to their family by not marrying or desiring other women or wanting to seek higher education. It was horrifying to recognize what could sentence a woman to a place like this. What I didn’t love so much about this book was Charlotte. She was so naive and it drove me crazy at times. (I think that was the point, though, as she grew up very sheltered.) I also found the ending to be a bit of a letdown. Everything wrapped up in this neat little bow and something about that didn’t sit right with me. It left me wanting more.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: High school senior, Elwood, is sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called The Nickel School due to an innocent mistake.

I had high expectations for this book and I don’t know if they were fully met. That’s not to say that this book wasn’t beautifully written, because it was. Colson Whitehead uses sparse language to convey complex, horrifying themes and this book is phenomenally well-written. The incidents of brutality were vivid, but so were the hope and the tenacious spirit of Elwood and the other boys. From time to time, though, I felt myself a little bored with the plot and not sure where things were going. The book almost felt like a collection of vignettes rather than one cohesive story. Even still, this novel is one I will definitely be recommending because it’s worth the read.

Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (★★☆☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: When Liv gets fired from her job after confronting her boss about the sexual harassment she witnessed, she vows to seek vengeance, but that means relying on the one man she absolutely despises, Braden Mack.

Ugh, this book. I had such high hopes and I was so disappointed. This book attempts a #MeToo plot involving a serial sexual abuser, but I do not feel as if the author treated the subject matter with sensitivity. Instead, there’s victim blaming, boundary-pushing, and, well, harassing sexual assault victims in appalling ways. It was hard to root for any of the characters with the way they treated the sexual assault survivors in this story, and I just really wanted so much more from this book, the characters, and the writing.

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Lane, who has just been diagnosed with tuberculosis, is sent to Latham House, a sanatorium for other young TB patients.

This novel was so interesting! I learned a lot about tuberculosis and what it means to be diagnosed with this chronic illness. It felt fairly timely, too, with our current pandemic as TB patients are highly contagious and those without the condition have to wear masks when they’re around those with TB. The novel switches back and forth between two perspectives: Lane, who has just been diagnosed and is a new patient at Latham House, and Sadie, who has been at the sanatorium for over a year. It takes place in present day and Latham House operates like a boarding school for the sick. The kids go to classes, eat in a cafeteria, have regular doctor’s appointments, and require regimented downtime. The novel is heartbreaking at times (because these kids are sick with a potentially fatal disease) but also beautiful and heartfelt and fun. I really enjoyed it!

The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A collection of essays discussing the #MeToo movement, the misogyny inherent in so many pop culture phenomenons, abortion, politics, Ted Bundy, and so much more.

I enjoy Lindy West’s voice so much. She doesn’t hold back and man, is it refreshing. These essays are truly timely (so timely, I wonder if some of the references are going to feel super outdated even a few years down the road) and filled with humor, heart, and disdain for white males. I laughed my way through the chapter about wellness culture, got emotional when she discussed abortion rights, and felt uncomfortable as she schooled me on the misogyny inherent in Adam Sandler films (and most comedy films of the 90s/early aughts). There was so much good in this book, however, I struggled with the fact that I felt like West didn’t bring anything new to the table, especially when discussing politics and the #MeToo movement. These are the same points anyone entrenched in liberal politics has been hearing and reading about for many years. It read like an echo chamber of my own thoughts. It left me wanting more.

Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Sparks fly when FBI agent Amy and government contractor Cabe are partnered together for an undercover assignment, but is Cabe ready to move on after the death of his fiancee two years ago?

I loved this romantic suspense novel, and after a string of “just okay” romances, I was grateful to finally find one that I could truly sink into and enjoy. I loved the dynamic between Cabe and Amy; their chemistry was palpable! Cabe spends the majority of the beginning of the novel comparing Amy to his late fiancee, and at a certain point, it started to grate on me. But, gradually, as Cabe gets to know Amy better and they begin to fall in love, he stops spending so much time comparing the two women and starts to simply enjoy Amy as she is. It was really beautiful. As for the undercover assignment, which involved taking down a money laundering and sex trafficking ring at a successful casino, it was so well done! I loved the look into casino culture and being a dealer, and the ending had me quickly turning pages to make sure everything would turn out okay in the end! All in all, a great romance that came into my life at just the right time.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris (print) – This is my “slow but steady” read. I have a friend’s copy from high school, which is so special! I’m spending 10 minutes every day with this novel (and not stressing if I don’t get around to sitting down with the book on a particular day). I’ve read 75 pages so far and I’m enjoying it!
  • The Chain by Adam McKinty (audiobook) – I’ve been dipping in and out of this thriller on audio and it’s so good so far! I’m only 3 hours in (it’s a 10-hour audiobook), though, so fingers crossed it lives up to my expectations.
  • The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (print) – Eeks, I’m so excited to be reading Brit Bennett’s latest. The Mothers was in my top five the year I read it, and The Vanishing Half is shaping up to be just as excellent. And I’m buddy-reading it with Kim, which is so much fun!
  • You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria – New Alexis Daria, woohoo! It’s been a few years since we’ve had a new romance from her, and I’m excited to dig into this one that takes place on the set of a romantic comedy. Fun!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.27.20)

Happy Monday and happy last week of July! Whaaat. I’m hoping August flies by as fast as July did, because that means I’m just that much closer to my MOVE. (It’s all I can think about, honestly.) Last week, I made my first trip to the library since March! I’ll talk about the experience in my next COVID-19 update post, but I’m just so happy to have a whole stack of library books to get through. I didn’t realize how much I missed the crinkle of a hardcover library book until I opened my first one this week, and ahhh, such a delight.

Last week, I finished two books and abandoned one. Let’s discuss!

Down with Love by Kate Meader (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Divorce attorney Max and wedding planner Charlie are thrown together when Charlie is hired to plan Max’s brother’s wedding.

What a fun, flirty romance! I really enjoyed my time with this one. I think what I loved most was how distinct Max and Charlie’s voices were. Typically in a romance, there’s not a huge difference in voice between the male and female leads (aside from the male saying “fuck” a lot, which is always a little eye-roll-y). But with this novel, I could truly feel the difference and I really liked it, even though Max was a huge douchebag at the beginning. But he started to endear himself to me as the story progressed and especially when he began to lose his heart to Charlie. Their love story gave me all of the heart-eyes and I couldn’t get enough of this book! Definitely one to add to your list if you’re looking for a fun romance (but be warned: it’s steamy!).

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A story set in the Depression era about a group of women known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky who deliver books to rural communities.

Gosh, I loved this book so very much! It was compelling right from the start, but then it hit a point about 150 pages in where I just couldn’t put it down for anything! I found all of the women to be such well-rounded, complex characters and the setting to be so vivid that I felt as if I was riding with these women or inside their library. I loved the emphasis on literature and reading, and how necessary it is for the betterment of society. All in all, a lovely, compelling story that reminded me what a privilege it is to be a reader.

Circe by Madeline Miller (abandoned)

Well, I tried but this book just really wasn’t for me. It was just a little too… weird. I prefer my stories firmly rooted in reality and Greek mythology is certainly not that. I can certainly see why so many people rave about this novel and I really loved Miller’s writing style (I read 125 pages before abandoning it because the writing was so compelling!), but it just wasn’t the right book for my taste. Live and learn!

What I’m Reading This Week

I’m halfway through Woman 99 by Greer Macallister, a historical thriller following a girl who enters a mental health facility hoping to free her sister who was just committed. It’s fantastic so far and considering it draws on what these asylums for women were like back in the late 1800s, also really troubling. I’m also dipping in and out of No Place to Run by Maya Banks, a fast-paced romantic suspense that is keeping me on my toes. Once I finish Woman 99, I’m going to start The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, which I hear is a really difficult but necessary read. I’ll probably take my time with it, so it’s a good thing that my next romance coming up is Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams—a good palate cleanser!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.20.20)

Happy Monday, friends! It’s an exciting day here, as I will be going into my office this morning to pick up some of my personal belongings. It will be so weird to make that drive and walk into the office after four months away! When I left the office on March 13th, I imagined we’d be back within a few weeks, so I left everything. I’m looking forward to finally bringing home so many of my office comforts, like my daily cat calendar, my large Yeti tumbler, pictures of the girls, and my cozy blanket. I’m looking forward to seeing some coworkers, too! There’s a limit to how many people can be in the office at one time (I think 25?), but it will be good just to see some faces. (Well, their masked faces!) I don’t plan to be there long, just long enough to grab some stuff, but I am sure I will have lots of FEEEEEELINGS about being there.

Let’s talk about reading, shall we? I finished three books last week and liked everything I read—yay! Here’s what I read:

To Love and to Cherish by Lauren Layne (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Alexis and Logan have been friends for six years, ever since he became a silent partner in her wedding-planning business, and after spending all of that time in love with her, Logan is ready to take their relationship to the next level.

Ooh, the friends-to-lovers trope! It’s one of my faves! (One of these days, I need to write a post about romance tropes. They’re so much fun!) I really enjoyed this book—it’s the culmination of Lauren Layne’s Wedding Belles series and I think it tied up the series nicely, although I will miss these ladies and their partners something fierce! I had trouble liking Alexis for most of the book, especially with the way she constantly went hot and cold with Logan, who was just the most perfect hero. (I mean, how could he not be with his British accent?) Her inner conflict felt right and true, though, and I could understand her reluctance. I just wanted her to see how perfect Logan was for her and to stop jerking him around! Of course, she eventually does and it’s lovely when she lays her heart on the line for Logan.

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue (★★★☆☆)

Short synopsis: This novel follows the lives of two very different families: Jende and Neni, Cameroonian immigrants who have a six-year-old son, and Clark and Cindy, a wealthy white couple with two sons. Clark is a senior executive at Lehman Brothers and Jende becomes his driver right around the fall of 2007. The differences between these two families are stark and the impending doom of the Lehman Brothers collapse plays heavy in the background.

This book provides a much-needed lens to the immigrant experience in America. The macro- and microaggressions both Jende and Neni deal with as they try to navigate this new world were hard to read about, as was the awfulness of the American immigration system. Jende’s difficulties in trying to become an American citizen place a deep strain on his marriage, and I was once again reminded of the resiliency of immigrants and the unacceptable way they are treated by the courts and by Americans themselves. The characters in this novel are complex and well-drawn. I loved and loathed all of them at separate intervals—Jende could be so lovable and sweet, and then swing around to be rage-filled and hurtful to his family. Clark could be friendly and affable with Jende, but then dismissive and cold toward his wife. It spoke to the complexity of human behavior and the way circumstances can cause us to hurt the ones we love most. I’d caution readers that this isn’t a happy or hopeful book, although there are moments of joy, but it is a true exploration of family, the immigrant experience, and what it means when dreams don’t come true.

The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Charlotte Holmes and her team are back on the case when a blast from Mrs. Watson’s past comes seeking their services to steal a priceless piece of artwork.

These books just get better and better. I love that Charlotte now has a whole team of people working with her, including the suave Lord Ingram who pines for Charlotte in the sweetest way. I’m listening to these books on audio, which is a really wonderful way to consume this mystery series as the accents are perfection. I don’t really have too much to say about this novel, other than the fact that it was propulsive, witty, and sweet, and had a queer subplot that I wasn’t expecting (especially for a novel taking place in the 1800s!) but was really lovely. I highly recommend this series.

What I’m Reading This Week

I’m currently speeding through The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. I was on page 125ish on Saturday evening but then got to a point where I couldn’t put it down and read 150 pages alone on Sunday. It’s so good!

I’m also dipping in and out of Down with Love by Kate Meader, which is also outstanding. The voices in this novel are so distinct—the male voice is so unflinchingly honest and I love it—and I’m just thoroughly enjoying my time with this romance and don’t want it to come to an end!

Later this week, I’ll start Circe by Madeline Miller. It’s my July book for the Unread Shelf Challenge, and the prompt was “voted on by #bookstagram.” I’m not part of #bookstagram, so I picked two books outside the genres I normally read and had my Instagram peeps vote on which one I should read (the other book was Recursion by Blake Crouch)—Circe won by a landslide, so I hope it lives up to the hype! (Lots of people told me it was in their faves!)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.13.20)

Happy Monday! If you’re reading this in Feedly or another feed reader, you’ll want to click through to see my brand-new blog design! Yay! I’m so happy with it and it feels like the perfect change. And it was only $20! (I used HelloYayDesign and was really impressed with how thorough the installation instructions were. Plus, she edited the blog header for me for free!)

Last week, I finished two books so it was a much lighter reading week than last week, haha, but finishing six books in a week was crazy. Here are my reviews:

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A fictionalized account of the life of Beryl Markham, a celebrated horse trainer and the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic.

I really enjoyed this book! While I expected to read more about her journey to becoming an aviator, it was mostly about her teenage years, her tumultuous twenties, and her horse training career. I loved Beryl so very much. She’s an unconventional woman who makes a lot of terrible mistakes with men, as many women in their twenties are wont to do. I loved the setting of this novel (it mostly takes place in Nairobi) and all of the eclectic characters. I would definitely recommend this book, and just about everything Paula McLain writes. I love her writing!

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (★★☆☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: The attraction between Kristen and Josh grows stronger every day, but it can’t go anywhere because Josh wants a big family and Kristen can’t have children.

Ugh, this book. It’s like the author was trying to fit as many problematic elements into one novel. First, there’s the idea that Kristen is “not like the other girls,” something Josh explicitly states early in the novel. She’s a cool girl, ya know! She’s crass and sarcastic and looooves eating. Ugh. Second, there’s the infertility plotline. I loved how honest this book was about periods and infertility, but I hated how much shame Kristen had about her condition and upcoming hysterectomy. I really wish the author had taken a different tactic with this—it honestly didn’t fit Kristen’s personality to be so ashamed of her malfunctioning uterus. I know that can lead to sooo many complicated feelings, but none of those were fully explored. Most of the novel is about Josh wanting to be in a relationship with Kristen and her going hot and cold on him again and again, and I was so frustrated by her. I just wanted her to tell him why she didn’t want to commit! Be honest! The plot device of one character keeping a huge secret from another character is my least favorite, and it was particularly brutal in this novel. I also want to caution sensitive readers because the novel takes a complete left turn about three-quarters of the way in that I wasn’t expecting and it made a previously light-hearted novel feel heavy and tragic. Not what I expect from my romance novels! Anyway, as you can probably tell, this isn’t a book I would recommend but I’m willing to give the author a second shot. I hear her next book is better.

What I’m Reading This Week

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.6.20)

You guys. I have so many book reviews for you today! It’s slightly embarrassing, haha. I finished SIX books this week. Now, to be fair, one of those books was Anna Karenina, which I’ve been reading since January. Another was an audiobook. And I did have a three-day weekend where I didn’t have any plans. But still! That’s a lot of books to finish in a week. Whew. Prepare yourselves for many reviews.

Books Finished

Always on My Mind by Jill Shalvis (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: After Leah tells a little white lie to her best friend Jack’s ailing mother that she’s dating her son, Leah and Jack have to pretend to be dating.

This book was just plain fun! The trope of the fake relationship will always be one of my favorites, but it also had a touch of a “second chance romance” since Leah and Jack were best friends growing up and they nearly took their friendship to the next level after high school, but instead, Leah bolts out of town to become the next baking darling. While I’ll admit that I sometimes didn’t feel the strongest connection between Jack and Leah and wanted Leah to be slightly less standoffish, this novel did give me all of the happy feels. I especially loved all of the other relationships in the novel, such as Jack’s relationship with his mom and Leah’s relationship with her grandma.

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker (★☆☆☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: It’s been three years since Cass and Emma went missing and then Cass returns with an insane story involving kidnapping and a mysterious island and this plea: find her sister!

I hate-read this. I kept hoping it would get better and then around page 150ish, I realized it wasn’t going to and gave up on liking it. I did want to figure out what happened, which is why I kept reading, but the reveal was completely ridiculous. And, listen, I am usually here for the outlandish thrillers. I’m not as much of a critic of thrillers as some people are, but this one was just silly and improbable and nothing about the characters made sense. I think the author had a good idea for this novel—discussing narcissism and how it affects family dynamics and future generations—but it was just so poorly executed.

Open Book by Jessica Simpson (★★★★★)

One-sentence synopsis: Pop star Jessica Simpson tells her life story, from her early beginnings as a church kid to her career as a pop singer and beyond.

I loved this memoir! It was one that came highly rated and it lived up to all of my expectations. Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music so I had to listen to NSYNC, Britney, BSB, Christina, etc., in secret. But one pop singer I was allowed to listen to—due to her Christian background—was Jessica Simpson. I fell in love with her music first and then Jessica the person via her reality TV show, Newlyweds. So I’ve always been a big fan of hers, and I’ve become an even bigger one after reading her memoir. Jessica is brutally honest and intensely vulnerable in this book, and she doesn’t hold back. Not about her marriage to Nick Lachey (and their not-so-friendly divorce), not about her toxic relationship with John Mayer, not about her problematic drinking habits stemming from sexual abuse in her childhood. I loved learning more about the ins and outs of the entertainment business as well as her sweet romance with her husband Eric. I could gush about this book forever. It’s everything I want in a celebrity memoir!

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A sweeping novel about the lives of a whole host of Russian characters, including the title character, Anna, who’s in a lackluster marriage and begins a scandalous relationship that ends in tragedy.

I finally finished! It took me 162 days to read this novel, all of which was on the Serial Reader app. I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed it, even though there were many times that reading felt like a slog. (Which is why reading in small increments worked really well!) I also relied on LitCharts to break down certain chapters to help me interpret the meaning behind them, another thing I would highly recommend. These classic novels are sometimes really difficult to understand at times, no shame! All that said, I was still super fascinated by this novel and its complexities. I found myself loving and loathing all of the characters at different times, and I’m actually sad not to spend time with Levin and Oblonsky and Anna and Vronsky and Kitty and Dolly on an everyday basis. Do I think this is “greatest work of literature ever?” Not really, but it was an enjoyable read and I’m glad I can mark this classic off my list.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo (★★★★★)

One-sentence synopsis: Writer and speaker Ijeoma Oluo discusses some of the most pertinent issues about racism and systematic oppression today.

This book is everywhere right now, and for good reason. Ijeomo Oluo talks readers through some of the most important questions you may be asking as you begin the work of anti-racism. Things like, “What is intersectionality and why do I need it?”, “What is the school-to-prison pipeline?”, “How can I talk about affirmative action?”, “What are microaggressions?”, etc. Ijeomo speaks from the heart and is brutally honest with her advice. Some of my key takeaways from this novel:

  • Racism exists to exclude people of color from opportunities so there are more opportunities for white people.
  • Antiracism work is about more than seeing the humanity of people of color – it is about dismantling the systems that try to keep POC down.
  • Knowing where our privilege lies allows us to identify where we have power and access to change the system.
  • Believing POC experiences with police is CRUCIAL. This is not only to validate their experiences but to help dismantle a history of police brutality. POC should be able to trust the police as much as white people do.
  • Microaggressions normalize racism. They reinforce racial stereotypes. They dehumanize POC. They keep white supremacy in place.

Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Hugo and Mae are an unlikely pair, thrown together for a week-long train ride from New York to California.

This was such a cute read! I really enjoyed it. I loved the way the relationship between Hugo and Mae evolved, from uneasy strangers to friends to… more than that. There were also some other really fun elements to the story, such as the fact that Hugo is a sextuplet and all the baggage (and good things!) that comes along with those relationships. Mae is a budding film student and takes on the task of interviewing people on the train for a new project. And the parental relationships in this novel were so perfect. YA novels don’t always get it right when it comes to parents and kids, but this one definitely did. I’d recommend this book!

What I’m Reading This Week

  • Circling the Sun by Paula McLain (ebook) – I have about 100 pages left in this novel, which is a fictionalized retelling of the life of Beryl Markham, who was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. I’m really loving it!
  • The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (ebook) – I just started this contemporary romance so I don’t have too much to report about it just yet. It seems to have mixed reviews, though, so we’ll see!
  • The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas (audiobook) – I’m starting the fourth book in the Lady Sherlock mystery series today. I’m so excited to dive back into Charlotte Holmes’ world!
  • Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue (print) – Once I finish Circling the Sun, I’m going to pick up this beloved novel. It’s been on my shelf for way too long!

What are you reading?