Hi! It’s been so long since I’ve posted an On My Bookshelf. I did a lot of reading in October, but slowed down a bit as November and December rolled around. I read a bunch of great books and a couple I actually put down – which is rare for me!
Recent Reads
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
This book got a lot of buzz last year, but I didn’t pick it up until October. I don’t think I loved it as much as everyone else did, but I really appreciated the messages and insight behind it. It was definitely hard to read at times, but very important nonetheless.
The Home Edit Life by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin
You know how much I love everything Clea and Joanna do – and I think this book might have been better than their last! I know!! I love how they teach you how to organize your stuff, and don’t want you to feel guilty for having it. The minimalist lifestyle just isn’t for me, and if it’s not for you either you need this book!
The Twin by Natasha Preston
Hands down the best psychological thriller I’ve read recently. Iris and Ivy are twins – one lives with their mom, the other with their dad. When their mother dies in a tragic accident, Iris comes to live with her twin and her father. Ivy immediately feels like something is off with her twin, but no one else seems to see it. And then things get really wild you guys – I won’t say anything else because it will give it away! The ending was absolutely shocking.
The Selection Series (Books 1-3) by Keira Cass
I read part of this series in high school and I remembered loving it, but I never finished! I wanted to revisit and I was definitely still into it. Basically it’s like The Bachelor but with royalty. If you love The Bachelor franchise and all things royal, this is your book. The series focuses on America, one of the women chosen for The Selection. I read the second and third books as well, but it would give too much away if I told you about them! I hope to read the last few books in the series soon.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This is truly as good as everyone says it is. I somewhat caught on to the plot twist, however, it was really well done. I can’t believe it took me so long to read it! After the murder of her husband, Alicia has completely stopped speaking. Many assume that she did it, but Theo (a psychiatrist) wants to find the truth. He begins to treat Alicia, and the story unfolds in an unexpected way!
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
This one is about five students who go to detention, and one of them ends up dead. The remaining four students find their lives in chaos when they become the main suspects. I really loved how this followed each of the students in first-person and dove into their different family dynamics. I will definitely be reading the other two books in the series!
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
I was so excited for this because there was so much hype, but it fell flat in my opinion. I thought the plot – a horror story about racism and gentrification – was a great idea (similar to Get Out, which really made me think). However, it wasn’t executed as well as I’d hoped. The history woven in was eye-opening and much appreciated, but the horror aspect felt lacking. The final ‘action’ chapters were confusing to me, I just couldn’t keep up with what was going on. However, it’s definitely worth a read for the commentary and history on gentrification alone.
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
I was not expecting this one to go in the direction it did, but I loved it so much. I don’t even know how to properly explain it, but essentially Dannie gets a glimpse into her future, and spends the next five years wondering what it meant, and how she gets there. It was emotional and told a love story between friends that was really touching.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
This was my least favorite of this series (don’t worry – you don’t need to read them in order necessarily! Each book is like a spinoff of the last), but I still loved the royal and holiday vibes. I also appreciated that this story followed the relationship of an older black woman, which isn’t something frequent in the rom-com novel world. Would definitely recommend for a cute, easy holiday read!
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
If you guys remember what a hit The Unhoneymooners by the same author(s) was, this was even better. I LOVED it. Another time-travel-y situation, Maelynn keeps reliving her Christmas vacation over and over. And since we all feel like we’re living the same day over and over, I liked that this made it a little more magical and romantic. It was so cute and I was really rooting for the main characters!
One Day in December by Josie Silver
This one isn’t as festive as I expected but it does primarily focus on the months of December/January. It’s actually fairly sad, and reminds me a bit of In Five Years. In this one, Laurie experiences love at first sight – the only problem is she’s on a bus that’s pulling away and he is at the bus stop. She spends a year searching for him, and finally finds him. But… he’s dating her very best friend. I’ve heard so many good things about this book and I was a just a bit disappointed. It was good, just didn’t live up to the hype I’d heard! It was a bit slow in the middle, but the beginning and end I enjoyed!
It’s Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You’re Single by Sara Eckel
Okay this is so not what I normally read, but I actually thought it was fairly interesting. I’d read Eckel’s column in Modern Love (such a great column in the NYT that is actually a show on Prime now!) about singleness and how it’s really more about chance than about you. I was fascinated when she wrote a whole book, and while it may be targeted more towards 30-somethings, I found some of it really insightful! If you’ve ever been told you’re not in a relationship because you’re too picky or too intimidating (WRONG), this might be a good read for you.
Next Up…
Miracles and Menorahs by Stacey Agdern
It Didn’t Start with You by Mark Wolynn
HRH by Elizabeth Holmes (I started this, but am so focused on my holiday books I didn’t finish!)
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
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So many books, I know! And I’m in the middle of reading a couple more right now – mostly holiday themed! Have you read any good books lately? Let me know, I’m always looking to add to my list!
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