Thursday, January 14, 2021

Reading Recap


I can't remember who recommended  Such a Fun Age but I'm so glad they did!  The story was compelling and grabbed me right from the beginning and what kept me so engaged was how well the author developed the characters throughout the book.  The two main characters lives intermixed in a really unique and unexpected way (I don't want to give too much away!) but it was super compelling.


"A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.

With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone "family," and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times.

It was thought provoking, had a few great twists and would make for great discussion if you're looking for a book club pick.  


Comfort and Joy was a fun holiday audiobook - and while it was a bit "Hallmark-ish" for my taste I always enjoy Kristin Hannah and this was no exception.  I feel like I can't say too much without giving away some crucial points but if you like Kristin Hannah and you're into "lighter" reads add this one to your list. 


I listened to  One by One and my only criticism for the book was the portrayal of one of the female characters - I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it and not listened.  Her character came across as whiny and with A LOT of people to keep track of (12 people total) it got to be a bit confusing at times (again, I think if I had been reading instead of listening it would have been easier)

"When the cofounder of Snoop, a trendy London-based tech startup, organizes a weeklong trip for the team in the French Alps, it starts out as a corporate retreat like any other: PowerPoint presentations and strategy sessions broken up by mandatory bonding on the slopes. But as soon as one shareholder upends the agenda by pushing a lucrative but contentious buyout offer, tensions simmer and loyalties are tested. The storm brewing inside the chalet is no match for the one outside, however, and a devastating avalanche leaves the group cut off from all access to the outside world. Even worse, one Snooper hadn’t made it back from the slopes when the avalanche hit.

As each hour passes without any sign of rescue, panic mounts, the chalet grows colder, and the group dwindles further…one by one."

It was suspenseful, Agatha Christie-esque and did keep me engaged despite the length. 


I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!  I read The Guest List not too long ago and really enjoyed it so I thought I'd give Another Lucy Foley book a try and I'm so glad I did.

I love a "locked room mystery" and this one grabbed my attention from the very beginning.  A group of friends (more like "frenemies" we come to find out) head to an isolated Scottish hunting resort for a NYE trip and one of them doesn't survive.  

"The trip begins innocently enough: admiring the stunning if foreboding scenery, champagne in front of a crackling fire, and reminiscences about the past. But after a decade, the weight of secret resentments has grown too heavy for the group’s tenuous nostalgia to bear. Amid the boisterous revelry of New Year’s Eve, the cord holding them together snaps, just as a historic blizzard seals the lodge off from the outside world.
Two days later, on New Year’s Day, one of them is dead. . . and another of them did it."

It kept me entertained and engaged and I really liked that you didn't even know who the victim was until well into the book.  Even when I thought I knew "whodunnit" it turned out that I didn't.  Highly recommend if you love a mystery like I do!

I'm currently about halfway through reading The Book of Essie and I LOVE IT!!  I don't want to speak too soon but so far it's been one of my favorite books in recent years.  The whole premise of the book is super intriguing and it's been a fairly quick read.  I'll keep you posted on my final thoughts after I wrap it up.


I'm also listening to  The Couple Next Door and all I have to say is "WHAT?!?!"  I feel like I've audibly said that every other chapter as more and more secrets are revealed.  It's CRAZY TOWN!  If you love mysteries/thrillers it's worth a listen.


So there you go! I'd love to hear what you're reading! Leave your  must-reads in the comments, please!

PS - this post contained affiliate links... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

13 comments :

  1. Love all of Shari Lapena’s books! An Unwanted Guest is my absolute favorite though! The Hunting Party is on my to read list.

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    1. Awesome! Adding An Unwanted Guest to my list!!! Thanks!

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  2. Do you consider listening to audiobooks “reading”? I always hesitate to say I read a book, when I actually only listened to someone else read a book. I feel like I cheated LOL.

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    1. I absolutely consider it reading.

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    2. Audiobooks are not cheating. I think some books are so much better as an audiobook and then there are other books (especially those with lots of characters or tons of flashbacks) that I prefer reading. I view any reading whether you do it or someone reads it to you as a win. That is certainly the same message I send to my kids.

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  3. I read one of these books this month and had similar thoughts!! I love me a good book review!!!

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  4. Love this! Half of these I've read (and enjoyed) and the other half were just added to my list! Great picks!

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  5. I loved Such a Fun Age. :) Will have to check out the others.

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  6. I just finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and I loved it. He also wrote A Boy Called Christmas (a kid’s chapter book) that I read aloud at night to my second grade son during December and he loved that one (I did too!).

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  7. Really liked The Book of Essie, although I would have liked a bit more of an ending, if that makes sense. Adding the Hunting Party to my list!

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  8. I just read Such A Fun Age too and thought it was a really good read. I also enjoyed The Couple Next Door and it's surprising twists and turns.

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  9. We just read The Guest List for our neighborhood book club and had the discussion via Zoom last night! I struggled with the first half of the book, but really enjoyed the second half! Also loved The Couple Next Door! I recently read The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell. Highly recommend!

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  10. I haven't read any of these but many of them are on my TBR.
    They all sounds incredible.

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