Back with another On My Bookshelf! I haven’t done one of these in the year 2021 yet! I read a ton of books at the start of the year, but the amount I read ebbs and flows so as of late it’s been on the slower side. But since it’s been so long since my last reading update, there are a lot of books in this post. After writing it though, I realized around half of them weren’t very good… haha! Usually I put the books in the order I read them, but I rearranged a bit so we could end on a positive note!
Recent Reads
It Didn’t Start with You by Mark Wolynn
I thought this book would be an interesting read about understanding family trauma and how it shapes who you are – and it some ways it was – but it was definitely a little woo-woo for me. Basically, the idea is that traumatic events that happened to your relatives/ancestors can have an affect on your physical and mental wellbeing, and once you realize it’s not your trauma – BAM! You’re cured! Nothing to do with your own brain chemistry or life experience. Obviously trauma your parents or relatives experience can affect you, but I’m not sure it’s this easy to ‘fix.’ Plus, it ignores any trauma you specifically may have experienced. It was definitely fascinating, but it was a lot of anecdotal evidence without enough science to back it up.
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
This was a really good thriller/mystery. It’s about a con artist and an influencer/heiress and the relationship that develops between the two amidst a complicated scam. It took place in Tahoe which made it fun to read since I’ve spent a lot of time up there! The book was dark and intriguing and I wouldn’t want to spoil it by telling you any more. I did hear Nicole Kidman will be starring in the TV series, which would be exciting!
Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown
I liked Pretty Things so much I had to read another Janelle Brown novel. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t great. It also took place in Northern California – this time in Berkeley. Billie vanishes on a hike, leaving her husband and daughter behind. Jonathan and Olive then start to uncover secrets about Billie and begin to wonder if she is still alive. This book reminded me of Where’d You Go, Bernadette, which also wasn’t my favorite. Unless you really loved that book, I’d skip this one!
The Duke and I & The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
It pains me to say this but the Bridgerton books are… just not that good. I completely understand why they were adapted into a show (and you KNOW I love the show) but they really are a slow read. And super predictable and cheesy. But also very steamy. The show does an amazing job of picking up the pace and excitement, especially with creating more interest and speculation on the identity of Lady Whistledown. I decided to stop reading after the first two books because of this. I’d much rather be surprised by the future seasons than already know everything after forcing myself through the books – especially when the TV series is so great!
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
This was a cute storyline and was a quick, easy read… but, I didn’t love the male characters. They felt very misogynistic and I kinda thought we’d moved beyond that in our chick lit ya know? The premise is about a college student who finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend/roommate. She has to find a new living situation which puts her in the middle of another love triangle. It’s not the best book I’ve ever read, but one of the main characters is deaf and I appreciated that in terms of inclusion! It was interesting and educational to learn a bit more about deafness in the context of a romance novel.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Ugh you guys this one was the worst! Verity by Colleen Hoover is one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read, and I was looking forward to reading more of her stuff. I’m so disappointed! This one is… problematic.
*Spoilers ahead and DA trigger warning*
This book is about a woman who grew up seeing her father abuse her mother and vows what happened to her mother will never happen to her. Unfortunately, she does get into a very similar relationship. The book follows Lily navigating this relationship while reconnecting with someone from her past. To be clear, I don’t take issue with this subject matter being written about it an honest way – what I do take issue with is the sympathy and excuses made for the abuser throughout the story. I understand these issues are extremely nuanced, but even in the afterword the author defends abusers. It really rubbed me the wrong way and I don’t think I’d read another one of Hoover’s novels after this.
Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane
This was a pretty good thriller – it’s about a woman Lila whose husband disappears. As the description puts it Lila is “definitely confused about her missing husband but only because she was the last person to see his body, and now it’s gone.” The ending was really shocking but I felt like it could’ve used more explanation!
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
I LOVED this book… until the end. It follows a group of college friends on their annual reunion, this time to an isolated hotel in the mountains. When a snowstorm hits, there is no way for anyone to get in or out of the property. And, you guessed it, someone ends up dead. This book was super suspenseful and honestly scared me a little, but the ending fell flat. It felt predictable and didn’t match the tone and build-up of the rest of the novel. Plus, many of the characters seemed unnecessary and I think giving them more depth would’ve added a bit to the mystery. I would still recommend based on how great the other 90 percent of the novel was!
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
If you read any of the books in today’s post, let it be this one. Louise finds herself in a sticky situation when she realizes she kissed her new boss (before she knew he was her boss!). It gets even weirder when his seemingly perfect wife, Adele, attempts to become best friends with her. Adele is hiding something and Louise tries to uncover what exactly is going on in her boss’s marriage. I would definitely say to read before watching the show on Netflix! I think there were a few key details/characteristics the show left out, plus the ending (which you will NOT see coming) was more clear in the book. One of the best thrillers I’ve read!
Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough
Because I loved Behind Her Eyes so much, I had to pick up another one of Pinborough’s books. This one is about a woman Lisa and her teenage daughter, Ava. Lisa is overprotective and a bit secretive, so when a photo of her and Ava ends up in the newspaper, Lisa panics. Her past is uncovered and it’s truly shocking. A lot of the details in the book were really disturbing/unsettling. I wouldn’t recommend it – read Behind Her Eyes instead!
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
Another disappointing read… I kept seeing this book and hearing how helpful it is for 20-somethings. Maybe some young adults found insight in this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I think a lot of that had to do with it being written based off of knowledge of a different generation of 20-somethings. I didn’t get much out of it, and Jay’s advice seemed to be for privileged individuals who lack motivation and, in her opinion, were wasting their lives. Jay was essentially saying if you’re unemployed or underemployed it’s because you’re just not trying… I think we all know that is not true for most people. She also encouraged one of her patients (and subsequently anyone reading her book) to stay in an extremely toxic work environment that was damaging to her patient’s mental health. Did I mention Jay is a therapist? I got so frustrated reading this one I stopped before I finished it, but based on other reviews I read I think I got the gist.
A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
This book was gifted to me by a friend, and I really loved it. The book follows the stories of a grandmother, mother, and daughter (hopping between time periods) as they navigate being Arab in America. It thoughtfully addresses the struggle to reconcile two very different cultures, patriarchy, and racism. It was definitely difficult to read many parts, but it was beautifully written. I would highly, highly recommend!
HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by Elizabeth Holmes
SO. MANY. THOUGHTS. I love love loved this book. I am a huge fan of both Kate and Meghan, but really didn’t know that much about the Queen or Princess Diana before reading this. While it obviously focuses on how each royal uses fashion to convey different messages, I also learned a lot about their lives and who they are! Anyone who is a fan of the royals should read, or just grab a copy to flip through all the gorgeous photos! The author is also one of my favorite people to follow on IG (@eholmes) – she gives real time updates (a series she calls “So Many Thoughts”) where she breaks down royal style!
Up Next…
Vanity Fair’s Women on Women edited by Radhika Jones with David Friend
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Nothing Like I Imagined by Mindy Kaling
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein
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Sorry most of these reviews were downers!! Hopefully it saves someone from reading a mediocre book haha! I’m trying to get back into reading more frequently (especially since I can rent library books on my Kindle!) and will be back with more reviews. Let me know if you have any good book recs – trying to branch out from the thriller genre even though those are my favorites!
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