We’re back with another Sundays In Bed With… meme, which dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve been you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!
This Sunday, I’ve been in bed with Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekywood #1) by Becky Albertalli. I’ve heard a lot about this book and pretty much every review I’ve read is full of so much praise for it! I’ve already read Leah on the Offbeat, which technically comes after Simon’s book, so I kind of already know what’s going to happen at the end of this book. That said, I’m excited to learn more about the characters, especially since Simon was a favorite of mine in Leah’s book! You can read the synopsis for it below.
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.
What book are you currently reading?
As mentioned in last week’s wrap-up, I pretty much went completely MIA this week because I just didn’t have the mental or physical capacity to deal with all the work stress and anxiety, as well as writing blogs throughout the week. Thankfully, I survived the week (Ha). I think I got a measly 6 hours of sleep from Mon-Thurs, and due to my already bad sleep issues, I didn’t even sleep in on the weekend because my body wouldn’t let me! Still, I’m so relieved that the nightmare weeks leading up to this is finally over. The stress left my body in a huge rush on Friday and I could’ve wept with relief if I hadn’t been surrounded by my boss(es)! Despite the high anxiety that I faced thinking about giving my presentation, I did end up enjoying myself at the conference; I met a lot of like-minded individuals, people I could even see being friends outside of work, and even an old high school classmate from Bangladesh. It’s such a small world!
Since I didn’t check in on my blog this week, I’ve only made three posts but I’m really looking forward to getting back to blogging from now. Yay! Just in case you missed them:
Happy Saturday, book friends! How is everyone doing? It’s been a helluva week and now that the big conference and presentation is over, I’m feeling so drained of energy and mostly relieved that I survived! I’ve pretty much been off the blogosphere/bookstagram world this whole week and I came back a lot of awesome posts to catch up on but also fun book tags such as this one!
I wasn’t tagged for this but I thought I’d do it anyway because it looked fun and it’ll help me get back into the blogging flow! I can hardly believe it’s already THE END OF JUNE. I’m shook by how quickly this year has flown. In terms of reading, it’s been a pretty good year although I’m looking forward to reading many more amazing books in the latter half. I’ve pretty much already completed my 2019 Goodreads Challenge of 90 books (currently: 89/90) and I’ve already upped the number once (it was originally 75). I was wondering if I should up the number again, but I think I’ll just leave it now. Without further ado, here’s my answers for the 2019 mid-year book freak out tag!
Best book you’ve read so far in 2019?
This is a really tough pick. I have a Top 4 and I want to choose them all(?!) because I love them equally but for different reasons! But I think I will go for The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah because yeah, wow. You can read my review for it here.
Best sequel so far of 2019?
Okay, this is weird (and I also just realized it but) I haven’t actually read any sequels this year. There are a few that I’m dying to get to (eventually) but until now, I’ve been reading a lot of contemporary and historical fiction. Do graphic novels count though? Because if yes, then I’d definitely say Saga Vol. 9 by Brian K. Vaughan!
New release you haven’t read yet, but want to?
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim. This is another one with a lot of hype around it and I’m meant to be reading it right now as a buddy read, but I still haven’t got around to it!
Most anticipated release for the second half of 2019?
Oh, it is really SO HARD to choose just one but the first one that came to mind is The Toll (Arc of a Scythe #3) by Neal Shusterman. That epic cliffhanger of an ending in Thunderhead shook me and I’m so curious to find out where we pick up, what has happened since and how things are going to be fixed–if they’re at all fixable!
Biggest disappointment?
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. This was my second read of 2019 and it just really didn’t work for me. There was a lot of hype around it and I still see a lot of people praising it, but it just wasn’t my jam! While I thought the way the story was told was creative and different from anything else I’ve read, it was also confusing, and slightly boring at times. Also, so many questions left unanswered at the end!
Biggest surprise?
Normal People by Sally Rooney. I read Conversations with Friends, Rooney’s debut last year and I hated it. Like, I passionately disliked it. It’s written in Rooney’s distinctive style, and I enjoyed that, but it was just the characters that I found had no redeeming qualities. I couldn’t stand them and it frustrated me the more I read! I didn’t think I’d read Rooney again, but when Normal People came out and was a huge hit, FOMO (and #bookstagram) made me buy it. I’m so glad I did–I loved it! You can read my full review here.
Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?
Jane Harper. I’ve gone on about her in a couple of posts already but honestly, her atmospheric writing just blows me away. Also makes me miss Australia (even though I never lived in the outback lol)! You can read my review for her book The Dryhere.
Newest fictional crush?
Quan from the Bride Test by Helen Hoang. I really hope that Helen Hoang writes his book next because he deserves it! He’s the typical ‘bad boy’ with the tattoos, and the bad ass bike, but he’s such a sweet, caring softie when it comes to family. I’m so ready to read an epic Quan story! You can read my review for Hoang’s fantastic second book here.
Newest favorite character?
Kya Clark aka The Marsh Girl from Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The story of this girl was so heartbreaking but her strength and resilience in the face of all the adversity was amazing? Astounding? Simply mind blowing and I loved her character so much. She was so pure, and genuinely so good hearted and fiercely smart. Such a strong and amazing female lead! Review coming soon.
Book that made you cry?
Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys. This book gutted me. I was so scared that the ending would be so much worse than it already was, but I’m glad that Sepetys gave us a spark of light to hang on to. Books set during this period of history never ever fail to make me wail like a baby!
Book that made you happy?
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren. This book was so funny, sassy, and just all around awesome. Hazel is such a quirky character and to be honest I’m not sure who I had more of a crush on — her or Josh. They were adorable and I’m pretty sure that my heart didn’t stop singing throughout this one! You can read my full review here.
Favorite book to movie/tv adaptation that you saw this year?
I honestly haven’t watched many movie/tv adaptations this year, although I know that I want to! The only one that comes to mind is The Umbrella Academyon Netflix. When I watched it I had no idea it was written and directed by Gerard Way, who my bestie and I was lowkey obsessed with during my uni/emo days! I haven’t read the graphic novel though, but the show was pretty fun.
Favorite review you’ve written this year?
Hmm… Probably my review for Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I related to the MC so much and I loved the serendipitous storyline and discussions about fate/destiny. That made writing this review pretty easy but also fun. Plus, I included one of my favorite quotes. You can read my full review here.
Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)?
I’ve bought quite a few beautiful books this year and I’m so happy with all of them! I have to say though that The Binding by Bridget Collins is probably my most beautiful purchase. The jacket is already gorgeous but the naked cover and inside of the cover are also equally as beautiful.
What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
There are so many books that I’d like to have read by the end of the year–literally the list goes on forever–but I definitely need to read Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
How has your reading year been so far? I’d love to see your answers for this book tag! If you’ve done it too, leave your link down in the comments below and let’s chat 2019 reading 🙂
We’re back with another Sundays In Bed With… meme, which dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve been you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!
This Sunday, I’ve been craving to be in bed with my latest read, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I started this read a few weeks ago, but put it on hold to get through some ARCs and because work has been absolutely killing me with stress and anxiety, so I haven’t been in much of a mood to read. No, that’s a lie, all I want to do is ignore work and stay home in bed all day and read, but that’s not happening, so I’m trying to not start anything that’ll make the feeling worse for me 🙂 For those who haven’t read the book yet, you can read the synopsis below!
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She’s barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark. But Kya is not what they say. Abandoned at age ten, she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life lessons from the land, learning from the false signals of fireflies the real way of this world. But while she could have lived in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world–until the unthinkable happens.
What book are you currently reading?
Friends, this week has been super exhausting and as I mentioned above, full of stress and anxiety. Coming up next week is a huge conference that my office is organizing together with one of our biggest donors and we’re hoping to attract about 300 people for the first day, and about 160 for the second. While organizing these things is always stressful, the reason why I’ve really been feeling the pressure this time is because I’ve been asked to do a presentation on the second day, and the thought of standing up in front of that many people, and setting the tone for a workshop discussion makes me feel sick to my stomach. I’m probably the craziest introverted communication officer the world has ever seen, and just thinking about being put under the spotlight like that is beyond terrifying. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve sunk so far into my introversion the last few years, but while I’ve always been nervous in previous presentations, this is the first time I’ve had such a visceral reaction to even the thought of this. I haven’t been able to sleep, eat, or do the things that normally relax me (such as read or listen to music) because my body just rebels at everything and all it literally wants to do is shut down. The craving to avoid everything in the face of nerves is so real, and while I know that’s not good and I’m fighting my body’s “flight mode” like hell, it’s an insanely exhausting battle. That said, I’m probably not going to find time to post much next week, and I’ve been too stressed to prepare my posts in advance this weekend. So, sorry in advance for going MIA!
That said, here’s my weekly wrap up. It hasn’t been the best blogging week, but considering my current mental state, I thought it was pretty alright! Hope everyone has had a good week and weekend. Catch you on the flip side!
It’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:
What did you read last?
What are you currently reading?
What will you read next?
What did you read last?
I recently finished What If It’s Usby Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera and I binged the twelve issues for Fence by C.S. Pacat too. I read both of these for pride month, and I loved them a lot! You can read my review for What If It’s Us here and for Fence here. I can’t wait for the Fence series to continue because that last issue ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger, so I have a feeling the action and drama is really about to get started!
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading Mrs. Everything (ARC) by Jennifer Weiner. As I mentioned before, I’m super behind on my ARCs and this is one of them. Although I’m only about 30% in, this book is already pulling at my heartstrings! Jo and Bethie have already gone through so much and I’m excited to find out what happens with them next. I love family sagas, especially reading about the relationship between sisters, so I have a feeling I’m really going to love this one. This book is now out everywhere (published 11 June) so go get your copy!
What will you read next?
I’ve already started Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens but I put it aside to read Mrs. Everything. Once I’m done with that book I’ll definitely be picking this up again because I want to finally tick it off my TBR! Plus, I’ve loved what I’ve read of it so far. It’s slow moving, but the writing is so well done and atmospheric!
What are you currently reading? Have you read any of these books?
We’re back with another Sundays In Bed With… meme, which dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve been you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!
This Sunday I’ve been highly anticipating the moment I get to come home, crawl into bed, and pick up my next read: Mrs. Everything (ARC) by Jennifer Weiner. I’ve never read anything by this author before, but this book has been making small waves on bookstagram for a while now, so when I saw it on NetGalley I thought I’d request it! This book is coming out in two days, and I’m hoping that I can finish it by then. Here’s the synopsis for Mrs. Everything:
Do we change or does the world change us?
Jo and Bethie Kaufman were born into a world full of promise. Growing up in 1950s Detroit, they live in a perfect “Dick and Jane” house, where their roles in the family are clearly defined. Jo is the tomboy, the bookish rebel with a passion to make the world more fair; Bethie is the pretty, feminine good girl, a would-be star who enjoys the power her beauty confers and dreams of a traditional life.
But the truth ends up looking different from what the girls imagined. Jo and Bethie survive traumas and tragedies. As their lives unfold against the background of free love and Vietnam, Woodstock and women’s lib, Bethie becomes an adventure-loving wild child who dives headlong into the counterculture and is up for anything (except settling down). Meanwhile, Jo becomes a proper young mother in Connecticut, a witness to the changing world instead of a participant. Neither woman inhabits the world she dreams of, nor has a life that feels authentic or brings her joy. Is it too late for the women to finally stake a claim on happily ever after?
Can someone please tell me how it’s already Sunday? AGAIN? I mean, obviously I know this is what happens when a week passes, we get to the last day of the week, but how is it that it’s already the end of another week? I’m not ready for my days of lazing around reading to be over. Going into work is getting continuously more difficult after all these holidays/breaks! After finishing my last read, What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about, listening to and singing the songs from Hamilton! I’m so sad that I will never get to see the original cast play their roles, but I’m hoping so much that they’ll come out with a movie version, just like they did with RENT! Watching Hamilton on Broadway would be a dream come true, and it’s quite close to the top of my bucket list. I know all the lyrics by heart, and even after hundreds of listens, it still has the ability to make me laugh and cry as if it was the first time I was listening to it! Ugh, I love the music so much. Any Hamilfans here? 🙋🏻♀️ If you haven’t listened to the music, please do yourselves a favor and listen to it N-O-W! I’ll even make it easier for you and put the Spotify playlist below! 😉
But I digress! I’m here to share my weekly wrap up, so you can find a list of my posts from this week below. Overall, it was a pretty great week 😊 Hope you’ve had a good one too, friends!
Goodreads: What If It’s Us Genre: Young Adult Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance Panda Rating:
Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.
Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.
But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?
Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited. But what if they can’t quite nail a first date… or a second first date… or a third? What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work… and Ben doesn’t try hard enough? What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play? But what if it is?
You know that happy bubbling feeling you get inside your chest after you finish reading a great book? How it feels like you could just burst with all the satisfying emotions that are trying to clamber its way up your throat and out your chest? No? Yes? Well, this book had me feeling this way when I finished it yesterday. Y’all, this book made me so happy! Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera have delivered a wonderful contemporary YA romance about firsts, friendships and believing in yourself. This was a fast and fun read that had me constantly barking out with laughter throughout (this garnered me much unwanted attention from the public and I absolutely could not care)! Tbh, I think this is the first Silvera book I read that I didn’t cry over? It left me with all the great feels without any of the sadness! Basically, if you like Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Broadway (Dear Evan Hansen etc.), Harry Potter, and Barack Obama, then you will like this book!
“I believe in love at first sight. Fate, the universe, all of it. But not how you’re thinking. I don’t mean it in the our souls were split and you’re my other half forever and ever sort of way. I just think you’re meant to meet some people. I think the universe nudges them into your path.”
When Arthur and Ben have a random moment of connection outside the post office one day, Ben is mailing a box of his ex’s belongings to him and Arthur is captivated by his beauty, so obviously, he follows him inside. Their meet-cute is slightly awkward (Arthur has no chill) and geekily adorable, and they’re getting along just fine, until a flash mob in the post-office pulls them apart without having exchanged names or numbers. Arthur is a big believer of the universe, so would it throw him and this beautiful boy together for no reason at all? He doesn’t believe it. So begins the story of one boy trying to find that boy from the post office in a city of over eight million inhabitants. No big deal when you think the universe is on your side, right?
Maybe their connection was improbable, slightly corny or a little cliché, but this story was just all kinds of awkward, and adorable and was an absolute delight to read! There were so many things I loved about it: the characters, their stories, the friendships, the NYC setting, and Arthur’s fantastic obsession about Hamilton, the greatest musical to have ever been written (don’t @ me). Also, all the mentions about Lin-Manuel Miranda. The last two made me love this book even more because when it comes to Hamilton and LMM, I am 1000% Arthur serious, and that’s serious.
“God, Arthur.” He kisses me. “Te quiero. Estoy enamorado. You don’t even know.” And I don’t speak a word of Spanish, but when I look at his face, I get it.”
Ben and Arthur were such great characters and I honestly loved how their relationship grew. Although things moved pretty quickly between them once the ball got rolling, especially considering that they only had the summer, it didn’t feel contrived to me. There were lots of awkward firsts and do-overs, but their connection, banter, and love felt completely natural and perfect in its imperfections. Arthur’s experience of being in a relationship for the first time was so relatable and I couldn’t help but recall my own first relationship experience! Albertalli and Silvera did a really great job in describing the rush of having a crush and the high of discovering first love, but also about the importance of having people in your life who you can trust, be yourself around, and be supported by. Although this was a romance, I really enjoyed the friendships between Arthur, Ben and their best friends, as it reminded me so much of my own high school friendships with my own ‘crew’. Even the drama that erupted between the friends seemed so typically high school, and it really had me chuckling when thinking back on my own experiences.
I liked how the authors also highlighted the struggles and vulnerabilities that teenagers can go through and/or feel during this period (with friends/peers, school etc.); where it feels like you have to know what you’ll be doing once HS ends, what college you want to attend, what major you want to do. Ben’s struggles with school, and his overall insecurity of not being good enough and not believing in himself were so real, and I felt his struggle on such a personal level. Figuring himself out and finding his worth and confidence in himself was a key aspect of his character’s growth.
“I just need more time with me, I think. To really believe in my worth without anyone’s help.”
MILD SPOILER:
I’m giving this book 4.5 stars because the hopeless romantic was crushed with that ending. Open-ended endings always leave me feeling a little dissatisfied, and this was definitely one of them… I mean, I can acknowledge that the ending was sensible… but I didn’t want sensible, I wanted ALL THE THINGS for all the characters, damnit!
I’m so glad that I picked this book up yesterday. I really enjoyed reading it, how much it made me feel and how far down memory lane it let me stroll! I’m so glad that this was my first LGBTQ+ read for pride month!
Have you read What If It’s Us or is it on your TBR? What did you think of Albertalli’s & Silvera’s collaboration?
Early on in May I posted my Birthday Month Book Haul #1 and said that since it’s my birthday month and there were a large number of exciting new releases coming out, I was going to let myself go a little wild on the book haul front. Well… There’s no doubt that I certainly did that! I mean, my bank account isn’t even quietly raging against me after last month, but it’s shouting at me at the top of it’s very teeny tiny shrunken lungs to STOP! CEASE AND DESIST!! BUY NO MORE!!! I really think it might be time to really listen to my poor savings balance 😭 This is a judgement free zone right, book lovers!?
I literally just tallied up all the books that I purchased and well… It’s a lot. Like, a lot a lot. *drum roll please* In May, I purchased 35 physical books and 17 e-books (Kindle) for a total of: 52 books …😅 Yaaah, is that number really correct? Do my eyes not deceive me? No, it’s true. WELP. I already have most of these as I purchased them at the store, and my bestie brought some over when she visited me from Australia, but some I’m still (not so) patiently waiting for the rest! To be fair, some of these are also bookbox books (like my Owlcrate Finale!), one was a bookstagram giveaway win, and I’ve already read some of these but didn’t have the physical copies… So technically it doesn’t really count, right? Ha ha… *crickets* 🙃 Is it really a surprise then that I am putting myself on a book buying ban starting this month onwards? I’m trying to make it through until at least mid-July, which is a pretty ambitious target for me because sometimes I just can’t control the FOMO. But at the very least I will do my very best to not buy any books in June! Wish me luck because judging from this gigantic stack, we all know I need it! So without further ado, here are the books I got this month (in no particular order because yeah, we’re not gonna do that):
So… Did you buy any books in May? What did your haul look like?Let me know in the comments below and let’s talk about MY CRAZINESS 🙂
Goodreads: The Nightingale Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII, Romance, Fiction Panda Rating:
FRANCE, 1939 In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.
Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can…completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real–and deadly–consequences.
This book absolutely shattered me. I don’t even know how to start writing a review for this beautifully heartbreaking book. I was ugly crying so hard in the last few chapters—like literally full body heaving, and just as my tears abated after one chapter, they’d flow again once I started the next. What have you done to me Kristin Hannah?! I was not expecting to feel this EMOTIONAL. Holy wow, when I finished this last night, my whole body felt so heavy but equally drained of energy! This moving book talks about a side of the war that is seldom seen or talked about: the women, and it was equally moving, fascinating and absolutely spellbinding.
“If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”
The Nightingale is told in alternative perspectives between two sisters, Isabelle Rosignoll and Vianne Mauriac, from the start of the Nazi occupation in France until their liberation by the Allies. There were also a few chapters with an “anonymous” female narrator from the US in 1995, but we don’t find out who that is until the very end. I honestly can’t remember the last time I read a story about such strong female characters. Although they’re as different as can be, with Isabelle being the rebellious, bold and feisty younger sister to Vianne’s quieter, sensible and stable older sister, they both displayed awe inspiring strength and bravery during one of the most horrifying periods in history.
I was right there from the start with Isabelle’s character. I felt for her desire to be loved and accepted. She was wild and headstrong. Although it was reckless, I greatly admired how passionate she was about fighting for her people, resisting the Nazi’s, and how she dove right into the heart of danger by joining the resistance. She went on to save the lives of hundreds of Allied soldiers, and even though I was clutching my throat through every dangerous mission, how I cheered for her character to survive!
In contrast, I initially struggled with Vianne’s character. I thought her meek, almost cowardly and too willing to accept the changes happening around her. I wanted her to be bold like Isabelle, to fight—but in the end, I recognized that Vianne’s was a quiet strength that was just as admirable and courageous as her sister’s. As a mother she did everything she could to protect her children, and to survive the situation in the way she knew how to. She made a lot of mistakes that were sometimes fatal, but of the two, Vianne was the one who clearly grew the most throughout the story.
It’s so hard to believe that none of these characters are real. I grew to love all of them: Isabelle, Vianne, Sophie, Gaëtan, Antoine, Julien, Anouk, Micheline, Henri and so many others… I became so invested in their lives, safety and survival that it almost felt as if I was there and that I knew their fear, losses, strength and triumphs. With every scene, I could picture so clearly the surroundings. Kristin Hannah did wonders in bringing the setting and the characters to life with her simple yet descriptive prose. It’s not necessarily a “fast read” and it definitely wasn’t an easy one due to the subject matter, but I found I simply couldn’t put this book down. And when I was forced to put it aside, all I could think about was coming back to the story, and immersing myself back into the lives of these characters.
I think Hannah did a really fantastic job with this book and I learned so much about a different part of this historical period. Most books covering WWII, the Nazi occupation and the Holocaust focus on Jewish characters, and the horrors of the concentration camps. While there was a small part of that in this book, it was refreshing to learn about how other countries and citizens were also deeply affected, and especially to learn about the crucial role women played in surviving the war. One quote really got me:
”Men tell stories … Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over…”
How everything was tied together in the end was bittersweet perfection. It wasn’t rushed, and it answered the questions I had leading up to the “present day”. And like I said, my tears wouldn’t stop gushing. I want to give this book all the freaking panda stars!
I honestly didn’t think anything would top my feels for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which has held the top spot on my favorites so far this year, but The Nightingale knocked it out of the ballpark for me. I definitely wasn’t expecting that! This book has received rave reviews and a lot of hype, and it 100% worth all of it. I think it’s safe to say this is now one of my all time favorite historical fiction novels. I can’t wait to read more of what Kristin Hannah has written!
Have you read The Nightingale or is it on your TBR? Did it live up to the hype for you or were you disappointed?
It’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:
What did you read last?
What are you currently reading?
What will you read next?
What did you read last?
I finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah last night and let me tell you, this book absolutely destroyed me. I was crying buckets and was slightly afraid that I wouldn’t be able to stop. This book… was everything! Honestly, it has received so much hype and plenty of rave reviews and in my opinion, it completely lived up to it. I was so invested in all the characters, their stories and I was clutching my throat through all the heart thumping scenes, hoping that everyone I grew attached to would survive the war. It’s an incredible story and I’m still finding it hard to believe that none of these characters were real. Kristin Hannah breathed so much life into them and the action and surroundings of that period. I’m gutted I waited this long to read it, but I’m so glad I finally did and I can’t wait to read more of her books. My full review is coming right up, so keep an eye out for it!
What are you currently reading?
Since finishing the aforementioned incredible book, I’ve been indecisive about what to read next. So I’ve picked up Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and I’m finally continuing with the ARC for I’m Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come by Jessica Pan. I should absolutely be reading more ARCs right now (I’m so behind!), but I’m also in a historical fiction mood, so I thought I’d finally read Crawdads–I’ve been so excited to start it ever since I won a giveaway and requested it! But I’m Sorry I’m Late is also liberally sprinkled with humor and I’ve been having such a laugh reading it. Plus, after The Nightingale, I think it’d be good to have a bit of a lighter read as a “palate cleanser”, and from what I’ve read so far, I think this is going to be a great and highly enjoyable read!
What will you read next?
As June is Pride Month, I’m hoping to read a lot of LGBTQIA+ reads, so I think I’ll start What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli. Here’s the synopsis for it:
Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them? Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited. But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third? What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough? What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play? But what if it is?
What are you currently reading? Have you read any of these books? 🙂
Goodreads: Emergency Contact Genre: YA Contemporary, Fiction, Romance Panda Rating:
For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.
Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him.
When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.
For some reason, I’m having a really hard time stringing coherent sentences together to write this review. It’s been two days since I finished reading it and I thought that giving it some time to settle in my head would make it easier, but I’m still struggling; and not because I didn’t love it. So, sorry in advance for the rambling gushy review!! Straight up: this was 100% a cover buy. The blurb made the story sound cute, but the cover is what hooked me in. The art work, the pastel pink on white, and that rose gold title text made me want to add this to my shelf ASAP! Now that I’ve read the book, my favorite part of the cover is the fact that the characters depicted on it are 100% accurate of the characters within, and in terribly geeky fashion, when the cover gets it right, it pleases me to no end!
That said, I didn’t really have any expectations when I started reading it, but the story wasn’t anything at all like what I thought it would be. It’s an easy and fast read, told in alternating perspectives between Sam and Penny, and a mix of short text exchanges and paragraphs. When I finished this, all I wanted to do was lie on my bed with that book clutched to my chest and never let it go. The characters made me laugh, cry, get mad and want to give out all the free hugs. Thinking about Penny and Sam–their struggles, their friendship and relationships, and their pretty awkwardly wholesome personalities–actually still makes me want to cry (just a little). Although this could very well be my PMS? Hah, just kidding (sort of). In all realness, there was something so completely pure about both their characters and I felt for them so muchthroughout the book! This was more than just a cute love story, it was about characters learning about themselves, learning how to navigate college and all the freedom and expectations that this new “adult” life brings. We’ve all been there, some of us are going through that even now, so that made the story and characters very relatable.
“I like knowing that you exist. It doesn’t make me feel any less lonely, because life is lonely, but it makes me feel a lot less alone.”
I loved how Penny and Sam very awkwardly meet and become each other’s ’emergency contacts’. I loved that they texted ALL THE TIME and felt so comfortable being themselves “around each other” and there was no judgement from either. It reminds me a lot of the kind of friendship that I have with my own BFF (who I guess would be my OG EC) in that you can just talk about the silliest, most random things and they get it without you having to explain yourself. While their friendship was adorable, their awkward and dorky flirting was perfection!Thinking of their friendship/relationship and connection fills me up with a giant bubble of warmth!
I admit that I initially struggled with Penny’s character. I found myself really disliking her, not because of her incredibly awkward and seemingly cold personality, but mostly because of how she reacted to her mother, Celeste. How Penny treated Celeste really rubbed me the wrong way; however, as we learn about Penny’s character, we find out why she acts this way, and while it did leave me scratching my head a little, I understood that (however misguided) it does come from a place of love. I’ve been that girl too and seeing that reflected in Penny’s character, especially how her character grows at the end, reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my mum. Then there’s Sam. Sweet(!), mushy, lovable, tattooed(!!), BAKER BOYMAN(!!!), Sam. He was absolutely my favorite and ugh, I just wanted to constantly reach through the book and give him all the hugs! Watching how these two supported and grew together made me feel a little like I was watching my kids grow up, and honestly, I was just so proud!
Also, this book was perfectly quotable. There are so many random, quirky, funny, and relatable passages that I want to share, so the rest of this review is going to be just that!
I know we’re basically just a series of texts. But I’m glad that whatever led you to me happened.
“It wasn’t a romance; it was too perfect for that. With texts there were only the words and none of the awkwardness. They could get to know each other completely and get comfortable before they had to do anything unnecessarily overwhelming like look at each other’s eyeballs with their eyeballs.”
“Penny thought of this Korean saying for when you really, really liked something. You’d say it ‘fit your heart exactly.’ Sam fit her heart exactly.”
“Penny believed with her whole heart that there were moments – crucial instances – that defined who someone was going to be. There were clues or signs, and you didn’t want to miss them.”
“It’s piles and piles of emotional homework forever if you ever want to qualify as a grown-up.”
Have you read Emergency Contact or is it on your TBR?
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