This was my last low-key weekend for the next few weeks, so I tried to enjoy the extra downtime as much as I could. I’m happy to have a few busy weekends on my schedule in August, but also aware that it will limit my alone time, which can lead to anxiety and overstimulation. Just have to make sure to build in some alone time when I can!
Last week, I finished three books and I’ll be interested to see if I can read at this same frenetic pace when my weekends are much busier than usual.
Books Finished
Title: The Last Time I Lied
Author: Riley Sager
Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover
Rating: ★★★★★
Plot Summary: Emma was 14 during her first summer at Camp Nightingale, a summer that ended in tragedy when her three cabinmates turned up missing and were never found. Now, fifteen years later, Emma returns to Camp Nightingale, this time as a painting instructor, with a secret mission to find out what really happened to her friends.
My Thoughts: I loved Sager’s first novel, Final Girls, and I was curious to see if his second novel would be just as captivating. The answer is yes. I think I loved this book more than Final Girls! The setting was terrific (come on, a sleepaway camp? Yes, please.) and I really enjoyed each and every character, even the ones that were written to be unlikable. I was also surprised by all the twists and turns this book took, and definitely didn’t see the ending coming. If you’re on the lookout for a really great thriller, pick this one up!
Title: Make Me Crave
Author: Katee Robert
Published: 2018
Format: e-book
Rating: ★★★★☆
Plot Summary: Roman has an investor interested in Allie’s women-only gym/women’s shelter, but she hasn’t taken any of his calls about it. When she takes off for a vacation to a Caribbean island for a week, he decides to follow her there to make her finally listen to his spiel.
My Thoughts: Romance novels often require you to suspend belief, and this one definitely required that because in any other setting, a man chasing a woman down on vacation is creepy and stalker AF. But there’s a good reason why Roman is so intent on his investor taking over Allie’s business and it didn’t come across as creepy as it might seem. The chemistry between Allie and Roman was sizzling from the get-go, and I was pulling for them to make it. They both brought a ton of baggage into their vacation-fling-turned-something-more, but I really love the way they worked through it. There was just something so sweet and lovely about their love story. I thought the ending was super rushed and since the book was only 225 pages, I definitely think the author could have tacked on an extra few chapters to flesh it out, but still a fun romance novel. (Be warned: this book has a lot of sex scenes, so if that’s not your jam when it comes to romances, you might want to steer clear.)
Title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Author: Mark Manson
Published: 2016
Format: Library hardcover
Rating: ★★★★☆
Plot Summary: A profanity-heavy book in the self-help genre that begs the question, you only have so many fucks to give, so what do you really give a fuck about?
My Thoughts: I loved this book. I had a feeling I would because self-help like this is my jam, and I found so much incredible insight from Manson’s words. I saved so many quotes from this book, and it really made me think about my life and the pain I’ve experienced in an entirely new way. Manson states clearly that it’s our negative experiences, our suffering, our pain, and our fears that help us to live more fully and happily. It’s only by going through those peaks and valleys that we find our truest selves. “We suffer for the simple reason that suffering is biologically useful,” Manson writes in the book. “It is nature’s preferred agent for inspiring change.” It wasn’t the epiphany I was hoping to get from this book (I mean, yeah, not sure most of us want to know that suffering is useful to our overall sense of self), but it’s one I’m continuing to ruminate on as I think about this book and Manson’s words.
Book Abandoned
Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis – I abandoned this book on page 55, and it’s the first time I’ve ever abandoned a Jill Shalvis novel. Her contemporary romances are some of my favorites to read, but this women’s fic novel left a lot to be desired. I found the writing to be a little over-the-top cheesy and the main character to be supremely unlikable. Meh.
What I’m Reading This Week
- Lies She Told by Cate Holahan – This is my book club’s August pick that I’m reading a bit early. I downloaded the audio version last week and have been dipping in and out of it. It’s a fascinating thriller and I have no idea where it’s going!
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware – Reading this for my work book club. It’s been on my TBR list for a long time now. It gets mixed reviews from the people I follow on Goodreads, so I’m hoping that by going into the novel with low expectations, it will exceed them!
- Never, Never Part 1 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher – This is a short little novel at just under 160 pages, and I usually speed through Hoover’s longer novels, so I figure I’ll finish this one in just a few days if that.
- Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance – I’ve heard so many mixed reviews of this novel, so I’m going into it with very low expectations (guess that’s my theme of the week).
What are you reading?
I really liked “The Woman in Cabin 10” – & everything by Ruth Ware, in fact. Curious to see what you think about it! I also looooved “The Last Time I Lied.” And is it just me or is the cover of “Make Me Crave” especially embarrassing? Hahaha
OMG, it’s so embarrassing! And I have no idea WHY that’s the cover when the male hero in the book never wore a speedo! I wish there was an alternative cover I could have used, eeks!
Very curious to see what you think about The Woman in Cabin 10 – I was mixed on it, for sure. I just started When Life Gives You Lululemons, which is in the Devil Wears Prada series. I’ve read so many heavy and deep books that I need a light book to give my brain (and my heart) a break.
The Woman in Cabin 10 is one of those books I enjoyed, but I could understand the mixed feelings on. I think it will make for a fascinating book club discussion, though!
I liked Hillbilly Elegy but I went into it with the understanding that it was his personal memoir and not meant to be a commentary on that region of the country. I mean, it’s sort of a commentary on it, but it’s his opinion on things. I read it for a book club and some liked it and some didn’t. Overall I was impressed that he is successful as he is considering all he went through during his childhood/adolescence.
I’m reading “The Alice Network” which I’m really enjoying. I just haven’t had as much time to read lately as my days feel so short between work, caring for Paul and making dinner. Plus I’m trying to have the lights off at 9pm so I can have a chance at 7 hours of sleep so that means less reading time in the evening. 🙁 Next up I plan to read “The Sound of Gravel.” I know you really enjoyed that book so I’m looking forward to checking it out!
Ooh, The Alice Network has been on my TBR for awhile! I need to get around to it.
Less reading time is never a good thing, but hopefully this is just a season of life for you! I think it’s great to prioritize your sleep during this busy time. You need it more than ever!
I want to read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck – sounds intriguing!
You definitely have to be okay with a swear-heavy book – he doesn’t hold back with his “fucks,” haha. But I found it overall very helpful!