Happy Friday friends! Boston finally decided to show off and grace us with gorgeous, albeit hot, weather! It’s promising to be a flawless weekend as well which is good news because we have a wedding we’re coordinating tomorrow!! There wasn’t necessarily an “omg that was such a great read” book this month, but definitely ones I was happy to have read! Ratings are all relative – so even if I didn’t like, doesn’t mean you wont and same goes for books that I love!
The Futures 3.5 stars|| Evan & Julia are college sweethearts and recent Yale graduates that moved into their first NYC apartment together and are ready to tackle their futures. The book is interesting in the sense that it takes place in 2008 during the start of the financial market crash and also in the sense that you get Evan’s point of view of things and then in the next chapter you’ll get Julia’s point of view of things. Obviously, the two are very different. I can’t say that I liked Julia’s character at all, she seemed to self sabotage herself, but at the same time she was a 23 year old fresh out of college and on some level we could all understand what she was going through. Evan works at a Hedge Fund and Julia works at a Non-Profit – how do their two worlds intertwine now that they really don’t have much in common anymore? This book is one that could have done with an epilogue – I felt like I didn’t get the full complete picture of things! It was a decent read and working in finance, I think the author did a really great job of bringing to life the events of the 2008 financial crisis.
Pretty Baby 3.5 stars || Of the few Mary Kubica books I’ve read, I’d have to rank this as my least favorite one. I found it to be in line with her dark, thriller motif, but I was less engaged with it than with other books in the beginning. I will say that as the story unfolds it does become far more interesting, but to me, it felt like a pretty abrupt ending. Each chapter alternates with points of views, but I felt like adding in the husband’s point of view made it too fussy – it was an added part that wasn’t needed – again in my opinion. If you’re a fan of thrillers, then I think you’ll like this one too.
Wedding Night 4 stars || I’m a fan of Sophia Kinsella books and this one is on par with her other’s. It’s a little quirky with the escapades that the characters find themselves in, but overall, the book had me smiling so I find that to be a good beach / pool read! Told from the point of view of two sisters, Lottie seems to be the more flightly one, while Fliss is a bit more level headed yet doesn’t really have it all together. I think we can all agree that we remember times in our lives that were the best, but in reality we’re not really remembering everything all that well…we just see little snippets of the good times. I felt like that was the point while reading this book – you can’t relive your past & you certainly can’t go back to who you were when you were 18, but you could have fun trying! Lottie basically flies off the handle and decides to marry her former flame after her current boyfriend decides not to propose to her…and hilarity ensues. Kidding, but it’s a cute read!
The Best Man 2.5 stars || This was my third Kristen Higgins book in a row and my least favorite out of the bunch. I am happy to report that there wasn’t a widow in this one, but rather a jilted bride – left by her coming out of the closet groom thanks to his, you guessed it, best man! After some time away from her hometown, Faith returns to her family’s vineyard just in time to for the harvest and running into her least favorite best man, Levi, all over town. This felt like a Hallmark movie in the making. I just barely got through it. Sorry to say that I wasn’t really a fan.
Confess 4 stars || Colleen Hoover is an amazing author and one that has you connecting to the characters at the start of the book. With that being said, Maybe, Someday & It Ends With Us were so amazing to me, that this one, while a great read wasn’t as amazing. I’d still say it’s a solid 4/5 stars, but after being completely enthralled with each character I didn’t connect with any of them in this book (once you read the book it might be a good thing to not connect with them LOL). It could have been the age of the characters – they are in their early 20’s. As you can guess the book is about confessions and as seamlessly as she intertwined lyrics into Maybe, Someday – she does the same with art and confessions in this book. All of the confessions were made by anonymous people which I thought was really powerful.
What have you read lately? Anything I should add to my reading list?
Wedding Night looks good! I've haven't tried a Sophie Kinsella yet. I recommend Along the Infinite Sea by Bea Williams. It's so good so far! Enjoy the beautiful weekend!
xo
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
Confess wasn't a favourite of mine. As I read some of her earlier books I agree with you. It's skews young so I have trouble relating. But the other two you mentioned are really amazing. I'm reading crazy rich Asians right now. Funny!!
Wedding Night sounds right up my alley. I need a few beach reads! Thanks for the review!
Brooke
Pumps and Push-Ups
I am readying Outlander right now – it's pretty good! I haven't seen the show and recently hear again about the book so figured I would check it out.
I am buying a bunch of new books for summer reading this weekend, so I definitely need some new recommendations. Thanks for sharing!
Oh I have a laundry list of books I want to read, and I am hoping to get to them soon! I love all your reviews, really helps me weed things out! 🙂
Wedding Night sounds interesting!! I'm currently not reading anything and I hate that 🙁
Yesss! Love your book review posts so much! The Future and Wedding Night both sound like my kind of reads! I'm reading The Nightingale right now and if you haven't read it yet I highly recommend it!!
Rosy Outlook
Loving your reviews and numerical ratings 👌🏻 I just started my first Mary Kubica book (The Good Girl) last night!! 🙊
I thought Wedding Night was a cute read too! Perfect for a summer beach/pool day!
My books to read list is getting too long haha! I have 4 books ready for our trip next week and now I want to add Wedding Night to the list! I will be lucky to get through one haha! Have a great weekend, Biana!
xo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
You always have the best book recommendations! The Wedding Night was a fun read! I'm adding the others to my reading list!
Jill
Doused In Pink
I get almost all of my book recommendations from you! I read Confess and didn't love it as much as the other ones but it was still really good! You've got me totally hooked on Colleen Hoover! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
It seems like a decent mix of enjoyable reads, even though some were not as satisfying as the others. I'd most likely be interested in reading the The Futures, it sounds so interesting and I love that it's written in a way that we can understand based on real life events; I'll have to keep an eye out for it. Thanks so much for sharing, beauty, and I hope you have a great weekend ahead!
XO,
Jalisa
thestylecontour.com
Always add to my plane books when I read your reviews! Hope you have a wonderful weekend sweet girl.
The Wedding Night sounds like a fun read! And I'm happy you've gotten some warmer weather – that picture is beautiful!
Amanda Kids and Cabernet
I liked Wedding Night (but then again I love Sophie Kinsella!) I'm re-reading "The One and Only" by Emily Giffin b/c it's one of my favorites of hers! If you haven't read it I highly recommend it!
Haven't read any of these… I'm currently reading The Nightingale which so many people have told me is the best book they've ever read. Have you read that one?
I do like a good Kinsella book now and then. Still haven't read any Hoover books yet and I've got to get on it!!! I am read the new Taylor Jenkins Reid book right now, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It's good so far!
I was just thinking last night how I wish you would come out with another set of book reviews. I need a nice light read because I have been reading some pretty heavy books lately. Wedding Night sounds perfect! Thanks girl!
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
Wedding Night is going on my list!
Happy Friday! It sure has been hot but I'm trying not to complain, I know others are getting snow. Best of luck with the wedding and have a great weekend! xo Beautifully Candid
I am just finishing The Dinner. Next is The Apprentice bu Jacques Pepin.
From your book lists, I think we have a pretty even interest in the same kind of books! <3 Confess sounds like a good read. I'll have to check it out!
I totally keep forgetting about Maybe Someday! Adding now.
I've been looking for a good book to read! Thanks for the suggestions. These all sound awesome! Have a nice weekend.
xoxo
Rachel
thetrendytomboy.com/
I will be adding Confess to my list, thank you! Have a great weekend!
I had the same thoughts with Pretty Baby. I did like it as it ramped up, but I agree that the ending was too abrupt. Have a great weekend. I can't wait to check more of these out for my vacation reads!
I love book reviews- I do them on my blog too and have one coming up next week! I love the sound of Confess for sure 🙂
xo
Phyllis
desgeulasse.com/
I always love your book reviews! May have to check out a couple of these.
Zelle | Southern Style
Wedding Night sounds good! Adding it to my list 😉 xo jillian – cornflake dreams
I love getting ideas for new books to read. I haven't read any of these but Confess sounds intriguing! Happy weekend girl friend!
Confess sounds interesting. unfortunately, I haven't read any books recently except kids books that I read to my little daughter .
Nina's Style Blog
Thanks for sharing!! I will have to check these out sometime. Gorgeous picture of your city too. Good luck with your wedding and have a wonderful weekend!!:-)
I love Sophie Kinsella books and had no idea that there was a new one out! Heading to Amazon pronto!
Heidi || Wishes & Reality
You always introduce me to new books! The Futures sounds good enough, so I'll probably add it to my list. Wedding Night has been on my shelf FOREVER, so I need to get to that, too. Glad you finally read Confess! That was the first C. Hoover book I ever read, but I definitely agree with your review now that I've read others.
I haven't read these, so I'm always on the look out for new reccs, esp since beach/pool season is coming up!!
I always like seeing your book lists – it inspires me to read more! I liked Pretty Baby and just recently read another one of her books called Don't You Cry. Another good page turner!
xoxo, Jenna
Boston Chic Party
I need to actually read a Collen Hoover book! And I totally agree with you about Wedding Night! It's a cute and light Sophie Kinsella book and I perfect for the summer!
I've only read one Colleen Hoover book. I fldefinitely need to check out more.
I haven't heard of The Futures, but I'm always a sucker for a setting in New York, though it's always so hard when there's a character that you really don't like! I haven't read anything by Kinsella yet this year, and Wedding Night sounds like the perfect fun summer read!