june book recap [100 words or less]

Hello, hello! I really can't believe we're already halfway through 2018. I'm currently reading my 29th book of the year and I've gotta say... I'm pretty proud of myself! I've always loved reading, but I never made it a true hobby. Now it's all I want to do in my spare time! 29 down, and maybe another 29 by the end of the year?! We'll see! 

In June I read: 

The Lying Game
After Anna
The Outsider
Something in the Water
The Nightingale

The Lying Game

Thea, Kate, Isa and Fatima were four girls who went to school together at Salten House. Seventeen years later they are grown women who've left the past where it belongs... in the past. That is, until the past comes to them. 

I liked this book as a general story. I did not, however, like this book as a thriller at all. In my own personal opinion, this book would have had stellar reviews across the board if they listed it as general fiction instead of suspense/thriller. The "crime" or issue at hand that causes this to draw suspense is something that I found to be boring and not even remotely close to as big of a deal as they made it out to be. This is the third Ruth Ware book I've read and I know that she has it in her! The writing is phenomenal and the characters are satisfying to read about. 

After Anna

Maggie has always wanted to be a mom… A mom to a daughter, no less. Her daughter. So when Anna reaches out after nearly 17 years of no communication, Maggie will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter in her life now.

This book started out very slow and often made me think “where is the story?”…but then there was a plot twist so un-predictable (to me, at least) that it immediately became obvious where this story has been. I wouldn’t say it’s a favorite book, but I definitely do not regret listening to it.

The Outsider

A young boy, Frank Peterson, has been murdered … Detective Ralph Anderson has this one in the bag. There are multiple eye witnesses who put Terry Maitland as the suspect. They know him well since he’s the town’s favorite coach! But Terry has an alibi... a very, very tight and confirmed alibi… Can he be at two places at once? 

The good: the first half of the book is phenomenal! It’s suspenseful, quizzical and the story keeps your attention so well. It started off at 5 out of 5 stars – amazing! But then it went downhill, and it went downhill fast. They introduce a character, Holly, and I sadly had to force myself to finish it. It's hard to really emphasize how disappointing this book became. King's work will live on for centuries and centuries but anyone who says this is his "best work" must've stopped reading after the halfway point and called it a novel. I really can't believe the praises. 

Something in the Water

Erin and Mark are married and enjoying their honeymoon on the beautiful island of Bora Bora. Living life slow with the occasional adventure they decide to go deep sea diving. But their plans change when they find something in the water…

This is Catherine Steadman’s first book… and I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t read it myself. Her writing strikes a fine balance of not over promising the story or lulling. It builds at a steady pace and then goes out with a bang! I can't wait to see what more she has to offer to the literary world. I became a fan after this read for certain! 

The Nightingale

Vianne and Isabelle are sisters with two completely different personalities. They are forced to find their own way through a Nazi occupied France during WWII. Isabelle is rebellious and very much a risk taker. She will do whatever it takes to keep as many people safe and alive, even if it means risking her own life. Vianne is a mother to Sophie and a school teacher. Her husband, Antoine has just been sent to fight for the war. Vianne does not want to leave France, or her home... even when the German soldiers decide to live there. Read to unfold the miraculous story that is "The Nightingale".

THIS.BOOK.IS.INCREDIBLE. 

The moment I finished it I was tempted to go back and skim through it AGAIN! Wow. Wow, wow, wow! Kristin Hannah took a gut wrenching time from our history and told it like she was there, first hand. The detail of the locations, the clothes, the breeze blowing through the garden. I saw it all and felt it. Truly magnificent! I fell in love with these characters. My entire body was layered with chills at certain parts and tears fell from my eyes a few times. This book is 550+ pages and I could've read another 550. Wow. Really.