Book Review: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

 0 stars for Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. If I have to choose a star to leave a review, I'll go with a 1. I was looking forward to this read, having heard amazing things about it. This was my first Fredrik Backman novel so I had high hopes of falling in love with another writer's work. 

By page 100, I felt like I was watching 8 squirrels chase each other all around the yard and up and down the same trees. I was appalled at the police interviews and the only reason I kept reading was because I was fascinated with the way all of the characters were related. After I figured out how their lives intersected, I just could not keep flipping the pages. 

I tried flipping 50 pages forward to see if I could just get past a section. No luck. After reading other reviews, I find that others felt the same way, which makes this very interesting. It appears people either absolutely loved it or absolutely hated it. #anxiouspeople #bookreview #1star #toughread #didnotfinish #dnf #readgoodbooks #bibliophile #booknerd #sendmebooks #hardtoleavebadreviews #nextbookplease 

Book Review: The Return by Nicholas Sparks Release Date 9/29/2020

3 Stars for The Return by Nicholas Sparks! It has been years since I've settled down with a Nicholas Sparks read. I'm always impressed at how different his novels are from one to the next and always sure I'm in for a quick read. I gave this one 3 stars because I found the middle to drag quite a bit, atypical for Sparks, in my opinion. 

A young veteran is left his grandfather's house and bees to tend to. A small town sheriff has her heart on guard, and a runaway with a secret past all collide in a way only Sparks could create for us. His recipe for great reads remains dependable with loveable characters in heart-wrenching situations. With 3 pages left, I was still on edge to see how this one would end!

I've read every.single.one of @Nicholassparks books the week they have been released since I was a teenager. I was thrilled to receive an ARC of #thereturn from @grandcentralpub in exchange for an honest book review along with my #ncbookstagramfriends for a buddy read. #NCReturnstoSparks #booklovers #ncreaders #ncwriters #newrelease #newbern #grandcentralpub #bookreviews #5stars #fallread #giftidea #holidaysarecoming #cantwaitthatlong #bookbuddies #buddyread #bookclubidea #beekeeper #buzz #generatebuzz 

Book Review: The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

 

5 Stars for The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager!

I held on to this book for a bit, knowing it was the only remaining @Riley.Sager book I hadn't read yet. What I truly love about his writing is that the style, detail, and suspense are all a guarantee. And, each plot, mystery, and book is very different. 

A summer camp nestled far away for girls from prominent and wealthy families is forever changed by the disappearance of 3 young campers. Their only other cabin mate returns 15 years later when it reopens. She returns to uncover the secrets buried 15 years ago. 

Each time I thought I knew where this one was leading, Riley flipped the script and led me down a different wooded path. His incredible ability to paint with words is why I will continue to seek out all of his future books. If you're looking for a thriller, a mystery, a fast read, I can recommend this one with 5 stars.  #thelasttimeIlied #rileysager #5stars #bookreview #sendmebooks #readgoodbooks #readmore #mystery #thriller #suspense #mustread #bookstoreadduringcovid #cozybooks

Book Review: One by One by Ruth Ware

3 Stars for One by One by Ruth Ware! To say this book was "highly anticipated," for me would be the understatement of 2020. I've been fangirling Ruth Ware books since The Woman in Cabin 10. I was overjoyed when this one was an option for my Book of the Month box. 

 It was atypical of Ruth. I found it hard to follow, even after investing 100 pages. But, because it's Ruth Ware, I gave her time to fold in all of her ingredients and let it marinate. And then, on page 282, my waiting finally paid off. My breath caught and I literally exhaled with excitement.

 The setting for One by One will have the tip of your nose and your toes chilly. Overall, I was disappointed but that may have been because I had been anxiously awaiting it for so long. The reviews on this one are mixed. What did you think? 

#thriller #thrillsandchills #avalanche #bangingcover #anticipatedread #3starreview #bookreviews #booksarelife #booknerd #getalifeandread #booklover #sendmebooks #disappointedwiththestart #morebooks 

Book Review: Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

3 stars for Elin's Summer of '69.  I've lost count of how many Elin books I've read this summer. Each one catches me off guard. For some reason, I expect her books to be the same. But, I am continuously surprised at how she comes up with the characters in circumstances so relatable. This one was easy and light-hearted, one you could crawl into and let the rest of the world march ahead for a bit. I gave it 3 stars because it just wasn't one I had a hard time putting down. I had to keep grabbing it and carrying it with me, knowing I have a few other books lined up made me want to fly through this one. I feel it could have been about 100 pages shorter and had the same ending. Nevertheless, it was classic Elin with her amazing setting and descriptions. #easyread #3stars #covidescape #booklover #bookreviews #sendmethebooks #bookedlife #Nantucket #Marthasvineyard #readgoodbooks

Book Review: What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand

 

5 Stars for What Happens in Paradise by @elinhilderbrand! Elin took my back to St. John and her beloved characters seamlessly. I can't imagine having to wait for this one after reading the first one. However, now I find that I'm waiting until October for the final book in the series. 

The first book had a cliffhanger of an ending and so.did.this.one. What the heck? Elin's honed use of imagery is powerful and immersive. I felt like I needed to keep applying the SPF50.

 
If you're looking for something light to read in between your thrillers like I was, I can recommend anything by Elin so far that I've read. However, I'm slightly in love with the characters in the Paradise trilogy. The ingredients I love the most about her books in this trilogy are: scandal, sibling rivalry (#teamcash), the FBI, references to restaurants and bars I hope to one day visit, and a few romances that never seem to workout like I think they will. 

I'm in the middle of Summer of '69 by her as well. Then, I've got One by One from Ruth Ware and Anxious People from Fredrik Backman waiting impatiently patient. I'm off for a few extra days next week and looking forward to fancy drinks by myself with lots of page turning. 

#paradisebook #setinstjohn #islandlife #introvertlikeitsmyjob #bookreviews #5stars #sendmebooks #lovetoread #nerdalert #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookie #readgoodbooks #flipthepage #covidreads #summerturnstofall #grabablanket #getcozyandread #mixadrinkandgrababook