Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (10.8.18)

Happy Monday! My weekend was pretty great – I took in a comedy show with a friend, participated in a local pet walk with my fur-brother Chip, and took a looooong nap on Saturday afternoon. I also started reorganizing my apartment and getting it ready for kittens. Whee!

This week, I finished two books and I gave both of them five stars. Unheard of! Here are my reviews:

Books Finished

Title: Home Front
Author: Kristin Hannah
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: 2012
Format: Library hardcover
Rating: ★★★★★

Plot Summary: An unexpected deployment takes Jolene far from her family: her two young daughters and her husband of twelve years, Michael.

My Thoughts: This might be my favorite Hannah novel so far – yep, even above The Nightingale. It had everything I love about her novels: authentic characters, a fast plot, and emotion. I cried reading the last 50 pages, and I am not a crier. But this novel packed a punch. I loved how it gave a look into war and deployment from the female perspective, especially with this idea of a mother leaving her children. Jolene is asked numerous times, “How can you leave your children?” which is a question men are never asked. And there was also the perspective of a husband left behind, having to fall into the role of mother and father and keep the household running. It was an unbelievably beautiful book and definitely earned a spot on my top ten list this year.

Title: On Second Thought
Author: Kristan Higgins
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit
Published: 2017
Format: Library e-book
Rating: ★★★★★

Plot Summary: After Kate’s husband dies suddenly and Ainsley’s long-time boyfriend dumps her unceremoniously, Ainsley moves in with her sister to help them both heal.

My Thoughts: This novel reminded me why I love Kristan Higgins’s novels so much. She writes families so well and her characters are always so well-rounded. This novel was no different, featuring an incredibly interesting family dynamic and well-written plot. It was heartfelt and funny and moving, and while it could be gut-wrenchingly sad at times, it maintained a level of lightheartedness and sweetness so the novel never felt heavy. The way everything came together in the end was unexpected but in the best possible way. If you’re looking for a sweet, lighthearted read that also packs an emotional punch, pick this novel up.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez – I’m a little more than halfway through this novel and I’m enjoying it, as much as one can enjoy a sad book. It’s giving me a look at the immigrant experience in an entirely different way.
  • I Knew You Were Trouble by Lauren Layne – My romance for the week! I’m so excited to dive into this one because a Lauren Layne romance is always a great time.
  • A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas – I’ve had this book on my TBR for a long time and I’m glad I’m finally getting around to reading it. It’s about a gender-flipped Sherlock Holmes who masquerades as his sister to solve crimes. I’ve heard rave reviews, so I can’t wait to start it!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (10.1.18)

What a weekend! I visited an animal shelter on Saturday and fell completely head over heels for two kittens. However, I did not seal the deal, even though a part of me wanted to. But I also felt a bit panicky about making a decision that fast. I only went to the shelter to look at the kittens and make sure this is what I really want. And I really, really do. I really, really want to adopt some kittens. So yay for that!

After my visit, I spent time perfecting my online shopping cart on Chewy.com so I would have everything I need to welcome kittens into my life and finally pushed the order button on Sunday evening. I’m $200 poorer, but I cannot wait to get all of my items and get my apartment ready for my new babies!

(Also yes, I am continuing to check the shelter website to see if the kittens are still available. I’m going to take it as a sign that the kittens are meant to be mine if they’re still there this weekend. Sooo… we’ll see!)

Books Finished

Title: Dr. Strange Beard
Author: Penny Reid
Published: 2018
Format: Library e-book
Rating: ★★★★☆

Plot Summary: Simone and Roscoe were best friends until something happened when they were in high school, and Roscoe essentially “ghosted” her. Now, she’s back in town, working undercover at her mom’s restaurant, and has to force her way back into Roscoe’s life for her case.

My Thoughts: This was a really fun read, one of Penny Reid’s better romances. I really loved the back-and-forth between Roscoe and Simone, even though it took them forever to go from enemies to friends to lovers. There was a really interesting side plot involving a racist cop and Simone (who is black) that I thought was dealt with sensitively. Since the author is white, this could have come across as contrived, but it really didn’t. (However, as a white person myself, I’d be curious to read reviews from black readers to figure out if their reactions are the same.) This book had just the right amount of silliness and fun, and it was a great light-hearted companion to a much heavier book.

Title: Fear: Trump in the White House
Author: Bob Woodward
Published: 2018
Format: Library audiobook
Rating: ★★★★★

Plot Summary: Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews, meeting notes, and more, Bob Woodward offers readers an intimate look into what it’s really like being in the Trump White House.

My Thoughts: Well, it’s pretty obvious that I am no Donald Trump fan, and I was so excited to get my hands on this audiobook. I’ve been following what’s going on in the Trump presidency very closely, thanks to podcasts and a very informed Twitter feed, so this just felt like I was actually in the room when all of these decisions I heard about were happening. The book is written like a novel (and boy, do I wish it were one) and it gripped me from beginning to end. What I found the most interesting isn’t the way Trump acts as president, but the way everyone around him has to constantly assuage him and keep him from making stupid decisions. It’s a fascinating read and one I highly recommend.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • Home Front by Kristin Hannah – I have just about 100 pages left in this novel, and while it’s been a heavy read, I’m already sad about being finished with it. It’s one of Hannah’s better novels, that’s for sure, and my heart aches for every person in this story. Unless something crazy happens at the end, pretty sure this one is getting 5 stars from me.
  • On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins – I’m a little less than halfway through this novel, and ughhh, I just love it so much. It’s funny and I just love the way this author writes family dynamics. She’s the best at it.
  • The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez – I suggested this novel for book club, and everyone was on board, so I’m excited to finally read this novel. It’s been on my TBR list forever and I know it’s a favorite of so many readers. I can’t wait to start it!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (9.24.18)

Well. This was a very successful reading week for me. I haven’t finished many books in the past few weeks, but I have five reviews for you today. FIVE. Three of the books I’ve been working on for a few weeks now, one was a short audiobook, and the fifth a novella. So, settle in, my friends, for quite a few reviews.

Books Finished

Title: The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Our Own
Edited by: Veronica Chambers
Published: 2017
Format: Library audiobook
Rating: ★★★★☆

Plot Summary: In this essay collection, 16 writers talk about the impact Michelle Obama had, both in the unconventional way she lived as First Lady and in the way she challenged ideas of what womanhood means in this culture.

My Thoughts: This was such a lovely, lovely read. I listened to the audiobook version, which is just under five hours, so it’s a fast read and a good starting point for anyone wanting to listen to more audiobooks. Michelle Obama had such a massive impact in our culture, and it is especially so for black girls who grew up not seeing themselves reflected in pop culture or politics. But for eight years, we got to have a black First Lady and someone who owned her blackness and celebrated it, someone who was beautiful and gracious but also unflinching in her beliefs. She was unlike any other First Lady in history, and I’m so glad we got to have her for eight years.

Title: Taking Fire
Author: Cindy Gerard
Published: 2016
Format: Library e-book
Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Plot Summary: Bobby’s been betrayed by Talia once – six years ago on assignment in Kabul – and when they are unexpectedly reunited at the U.S. Embassy in Oman and thrust into a dangerous mission, he has to decide whether or not he can trust her again.

My Thoughts: Cindy Gerard is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, but I haven’t loved her last few novels as much as her previous ones. There’s something that feels… forced. The characters don’t feel real, the plot isn’t as dynamic as usual. This one even repeated a plot line from one of her previous novels, which I found to be just lazy writing. Plus, this book included my most-hated romance trope, a plot I just cannot get behind no matter what. Was the story well-paced and well-written? Yes. Was the action exciting? Of course. But I just expected more from Gerard.

Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen
Published: 1817
Format: e-book
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Plot Summary: Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth were betrothed once, but she was persuaded by her dear family friend to break off the engagement since the match was unworthy. Eight years later, Wentworth returns as a successful sea captain, only to find Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his sister renting the Elliot’s house.

My Thoughts: I gave Jane Austen a fair shot, and I have decided she is just not for me. And no, I don’t feel bad about this. I don’t feel I have to like Austen to be a “good bookworm.” I had to use SparkNotes to understand what was happening in this book, as so much of the language went over my head, and my reading experience was just not enjoyable. The plot could be considered compelling, but the writing felt so dense that it was hard to really get engaged in what was happening.

Title: Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life
Author: Emily Nagoski
Published: 2015
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★★

Plot Summary: This book, written by a human sexuality expert, explores women’s sexuality – how it works, why it doesn’t sometimes, and how women can have fulfilling and happy sex lives.

My Thoughts: This book is life-changing, and it’s a book I want to get in the hands of every woman I know. I think it is so, so important to understand how sexual functioning works and why it sometimes doesn’t. I have a lot of thoughts about this book, and I’m going to save most of them for the blog post I intend to write very soon, once I’m able to formulate my thoughts into something coherent. I understand that it can be embarrassing for women to talk about sex (and to have a book like this on their Goodreads profile, ha), but I think that’s the whole point of this book. We need to stop being embarrassed, to stop thinking our pleasure doesn’t matter. It does. We do. And this book is a great stepping stone for that.

Title: Never, Never: Part Three
Author: Colleen Hoover, Tarryn Fisher
Published: 2016
Format: Library paperback
Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Plot Summary: In this third and final novella, Silas and Charlie are desperate to find out why they continue to lose their memories every three days.

My Thoughts: Oy vey. I was so intrigued after part one – it was so well-written and I just needed to know what happened next. Part two was less intriguing, probably because Silas and Charlie spent most of the novel apart and it felt like the authors were opening so many different doors. And part three? Part three was so disappointing. The reason for Silas and Charlie losing their memory was… silly. The loose ends that were opened up in parts one and two were never fully wrapped up. I think the problem with this series was breaking a full book into three novellas (still not sure why the authors did that…) I think it could have been much stronger as one book, and I think it would have been easier to really wrap this series up in the right way. Meh.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward – I was surprised to get an email from my library saying the audiobook was ready for me to download! (When I checked it a few weeks ago, I was #24 on the list and they had one copy.) It is so, so good and reads like fiction.
  • Home Front by Kristin Hannah – Kristin Hannah is the kind of writer where I really have to be in the right frame of mind to read one of her books. Mostly because her books always pack an emotional punch, and most times, they have a slow pace. I’m a little over 100 pages into this novel, and I am loving it. It’s just so good, although I can tell it’s probably going to completely destroy me by the time I finish it. Eeks.
  • Dr. Strange Beard by Penny Reid – I’m about halfway into this contemporary romance, the fifth in Reid’s Winston Brothers series. So far, so good. (I’m reading it in between pages of Home Front because sometimes, I need a break from that heavy-ish read!)
  • On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins – Once I finish Dr. Strange Beard, this is next on my list! Higgins used to be one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, but she’s moved into women’s fiction and I haven’t read her recent releases. Remedying that now!

What are you reading this week?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (9.17.18)

Happy Monday, friends! I had such a lovely, relaxing weekend. So relaxing, in fact, that I managed to finish an entire 350-page book in two days. (Which is a good thing, considering it was for book club and our meeting is tomorrow!)

This week, I finished two books. My reviews are below!

Books Finished

Title: A Million Junes
Author: Emily Henry
Published: 2017
Format: Library audiobook
Rating: ★★★★☆

Plot Summary: June O’Donnell and Saul Angert are supposed to hate each other because that’s the way their families work. June’s family has a long-held grudge against Saul’s family, but June cannot help the pull she feels toward Saul. He’s gruff and sarcastic but sparks fly whenever they’re around one another. So, what happens when an Angert and an O’Donnell fall in love?

My Thoughts: I’m not one for magical realism typically, but damn, I loved this novel. It was fun and witty while also being emotionally moving, stirring my heartstrings. I loved the characters of June and Saul, and I could feel their chemistry immediately. Their love story warmed my heart and it’s what made me most curious to see how everything would end because it seemed like their love was doomed from the start. I also loved the secondary characters in this novel, especially the relationship of June and her best friend Hannah. They had a strong, healthy female friendship and it was a beautiful thing to witness. They just loved each other and wanted the best for one another at all times, and that’s something more YA novels need. Teenage female friendship can be healthy! Yes, yes. This book was so fantastic and so beautifully written. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA books and magical realism (but also encourage anyone who isn’t into magical realism to give it a try because that’s not my typical bag and I really enjoyed it.)

Title: Red Clocks
Author: Leni Zumas
Published: 2018
Format: Library hardcover
Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Plot Summary: In this novel, Leni Zumas has imagined a world where abortion is illegal, IVF is banned, and every embryo is granted the right to life, liberty, and property. She explores how this affects four very different women: Ro who is trying to have her baby on her own, Susan who is a mother of two and trapped in a disappointing marriage, Mattie who is fifteen and gets pregnant unexpectedly, and Gin who is a modern-day witch doctor who is arrested and put on trial.

My Thoughts: The premise of this book sounded great. Timely and important, and let’s face it, if Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed as Supreme Court Justice, a reality we could be facing in the not-too-distant future. However, the writing just didn’t meet my expectations. I found the writing pretentious as if the author was trying so hard to make this book as literary as possible. None of the characters were truly likable, and it just made me sad that none of the women featured in this novel had a strong relationship with anyone – not a romantic partner, not a family member, not a friend, not a colleague. If the author wanted to write a female empowerment book, well, I think she failed on that account. I will acknowledge that I thought the ending was well done and made up for a very slow beginning and lackluster character development, but eh. Not a book I’m going to be recommending.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • Persuasion by Jane Austen – Okay, confession: so much of this book has been going over my head that I finally broke down and read the SparkNotes chapter summaries for everything I had read so far. Mostly because I was getting the characters mixed up, and also because I read two chapters in a row where I was like, “Wait. What did I just read?!” I couldn’t have told you if my life depended on it. So now I’m reading the SparkNotes chapter summary before I read a chapter and the experience is so much better! Pretty sure after finishing Persuasion, I’m giving up on Jane Austen novels. Sorry not sorry?
  • Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski – Still working my way through this one! It’s so, so good, but also very dense, and I’m taking my time with it. But it’s definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who has insecurities or fears regarding sex.
  • Taking Fire by Cindy Gerard – Nearly done with this romantic suspense novel! It has one of my most hated romance tropes, but it’s an easy read nonetheless and I’m curious as to how it will all turn out.
  • The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Our Own by Veronica Chambers – My audiobook pick for September! I started this yesterday and it’s going to be a really quick read, as it’s under five hours. And an enjoyable one because, right now, I need to remember a time when our democracy wasn’t a garbage fire.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (9.10.18)

What a crazy weekend! I had my first therapy appointment, a much-needed therapeutic massage, and finally got my Dutch tattoo. And football started, which means my Sundays will now be spent at my mom’s, watching the games with my family and I couldn’t be happier about that.

Last week, I only finished one book but that’s okay! My reading definitely seems to have slowed down in recent weeks, but I’m not concerned about it. I’m still reading every day and finding fulfillment in it, and it’s kinda nice to not read at such a frenetic pace right now. Perhaps it will pick back up, or perhaps this will be my new normal for a while. Who knows!

Book Finished

Title: Sleigh Bells in the Snow
Author: Sarah Morgan
Published: 2013
Format: Library e-book
Rating: ★★★★☆

Plot Summary: Kayla arrives at Snow Crystal, a ski resort in Vermont, with one mission: to help this struggling business find its footing and start booking guests again. And then she meets Jackson, the owner of the resort, and sparks fly.

My Thoughts: This was the most perfect contemporary romance novel, filled with lovable characters and the plot reminded me of a Hallmark Christmas movie. (Right down to a “stop the car!” scene at the end, haha.) The setting was so charming and it’s absolutely a book I would recommend to anyone looking for a fun, sexy romance that will leave you feeling oh-so-happy.

Book Abandoned

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante – Eh, I ended up abandoning this book. I was enjoying the story, but I also kept thinking about all the other books I could be reading and I wasn’t engaged enough to care about how the plot unfolded. One of those “good for you, not for me” books.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • A Million Junes by Emily Henry – I am so close to finishing this audiobook! Only a few hours left. I’ve really enjoyed it, though, and I’m so curious to hear how it ends!
  • Persuasion by Jane Austen – Slowly working my way through this classic novel. I have about 100 pages left, so I should be able to finish it sometime this week. The writing is so dense, ah!
  • Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski – What a title, eh? This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for a while, and I finally decided to pick it up this month. It’s been transformative in helping me to feel more normal and setting a foundation for what sexual desire truly means for women. I may even write a blog post about it if I have enough courage to do so!
  • Taking Fire by Cindy Gerard – My romance for the week! Cindy Gerard is always a sure bet for a great, fast-paced read.

What are you reading?