There is nothing better than getting cozy on the couch with the tree lit & a good book to settle in with this time of year!! I’ve been squeezing in extra reading anywhere I can and I imagine with the upcoming holiday a lot of you will be doing the same! Here are a few of my recent reads and a couple that are next on the list!
Falling 3/5 || Oh man, I haven’t read a Jane Green book in years and I remember really liking her writing style, but for some reason I just didn’t like the writing in this book at all. I also couldn’t really connect with the main character, which to me sort of makes or breaks a book! It was almost as if she was trying to make the main character so British that it became off-putting. I felt like the love story was really rushed and the last 20 pages or so came on so fast and unexpected – I wasn’t ready for it and it left me in tears, which rarely happens. It wasn’t a terrible read, but not her best book.
First Comes Love 4/5 || Each chapter of the book alternates between Josie – the fun-loving, doesn’t have it all together, mildly obsessive sister & Meredith – the sister who seemingly has it all together, but isn’t really living the life she wants and you begin to understand how differently each sister handled the tragedy that struck their family 15 years ago. Their relationship has always been somewhat strained and when I was reading, it was hard for me to understand how that could be. While I realize that all sisters aren’t close, having a very different relationship with my own sister made it a little foreign for me to grasp. I’m a huge fan of Emily Griffin – her writing style and characters are some of my favorites, so while I didn’t completely understand their relationship, she did an amazing job of weaving it all together in the end and leaving you hopeful for their stories to continue.
The Assistants 2.5-3/5 || I really really wanted to love this book. There aren’t many people that can’t relate to being an assistant at some point in there career, but the basis of the book was more so that these assistants are working for the ultra wealthy, so would they really miss a couple hundred thousand dollars if it went missing? I kept waiting for something, anything to draw me into the book, but unfortunately it fell sort of flat for me. It also felt really short & I wish the author would have worked in the romance with the main character’s boyfriend a little more – but that’s just me really liking a good love story!
The Rumor 4.5/5|| This was my first Elin Hilderbrand book and I’ve already downloaded 2 more to start reading!! I found her writing to be so easy to follow & of course I’m a bit biased since a lot of what she mentions is local to the New England area, specifically Boston and Nantucket! Each chapter alternates between the character’s in the book & it was really fascinating to me how I was just as focused on the story line of the teenagers as I was the mom’s – it had something for everyone! I was a little surprised with the ending, but she did hook me in!
Next Up ||
Next Up ||
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand another local read
Anything by Lauren Layne – I’ve recently started reading her books and find them to be so light and entertaining!! I started with the “To love and to cherish” trilogy!
The couple next doorby Shari Lapena because I need something a little more in the thriller department with all of these love stories I’m reading!
See my other reading guides 1 || 2 || 3 ||
What are you reading lately?
The Rumor is on my list for 2017. I thought I'd read more this month but it's been crazy busy getting ready for Christmas….next weekend I am dedicating a whole weekend day to read and I bet I actually get the Rumor as a Christmas gift from Mr. Nine; it's one of the books I told him I wanted. Happy Wednesday doll!!
I am the same, if i cannot connect with a main character it's kind of a busy for me. Rumor sounds so good! Great list, thanks for sharing it. XO – Kim
It's definitely time for me to pick another book for the holiday break! This is a great list to choose from. I always enjoy your book reviews so much.
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
Great post and I loved these book review…xoxo, Neha
theinstylejournal.com/
Elin is my absolute favourite author!! So excited you found her.Great review… now I know what not to read as well!
Emily Griffin is one of my favorites too so I need to check out this latest book! The Rumor sounds so good too–definitely adding it to my list! Happy Wednesday girl!
rosyoutlookblog.com
The Rumor sounds like an awesome book. I hardly ever read novels and I should!
Amanda Kids and Cabernet
I always love book reviews, although I never seem to have time to actually read! I'm a huge fan of Emily Griffin too, so I'm sure I would love First Comes Love. I will have to add it to my list of books to read…the list keeps getting longer and longer!
xo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
That was by far my least favorite Emily Giffin book. I love her but that one was hard to follow. Definitely going to have to check out The Rumor though! I need a good read for Christmas weekend. <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
The Rumor sounds like a book that I need to pick up! I never get any reading done around the holidays but come January? Bring on allll the books!
ok that makes me sad about the jane green book – i loved her writing in the past. will add the rumor to my list!
xoxo cheshire kat
This is a great list! I've been wanting to read First Comes Love and The Rumor. Thanks for sharing your reviews!
Jill
Doused In Pink
Man you read a lot! lol One of my new years goals is to read one book a month. If I read more, great, if not, I at least want to read 12 books in the year of 2017. I think it's more than doable if I actively think about it. (;
I just finished Girl on the Train. I thought it was excellent, and actually a great read! The movie was a little "meh," but I wanted to see it after I read the book because I love Emily Blunt. Perhaps the movie would have been better had I not been so happy with the book?
If you liked Girl on the Train, you should also read Gone Girl – the writing is so much better! Also, the same situation: even though the movie has famous actors the book is still better than the movie
I always love this post because I always tell myself to go and get one of these books and start reading! This is one of my fav posts! I have heard so many good things about The Rumor! Its on my list for sure! Happy Wednesday gorgeous girl!
xoxo,Victoria
coffeeandablonde.blogspot.com
I love the rating scale you do. I have The Rumor on my list – you will love the Winter trilogy series!!
I really wish I could find a way to work in more time to read again. I love it but haven't had a chance to get into a good book since over the summer 🙁 Beautifully Candid
I just finished reading The Woman in Cabin 10 and it's a thriller. Have you read it? I would recommend it over The Couple Next Door–that one was kind of disappointing!
Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
Girl, I haven't managed to read a book in what feels like forever! It's bothered me so much because I was once such an avid reader, so I'm adding reading more to my resolutions because I truly miss it! I appreciate you sharing your honest thoughts on each book, I'm most intrigued by First Comes Love! Thanks so much for sharing, beauty, and I hope you're having a great week so far!
XO,
Jalisa
thestylecontour.com
I really loved "First Comes Love"- Emily Giffin can do no wrong! I've heard so much about Elin Hilderbrand- she is next on my list to get into 🙂
On my 2017 to do list is definitely read more and I've now just added First Comes Love onto my list!
Ugh – I can barely get through one book let alone all of these!! Although your books always look more exciting/interesting than the books I choose. XOXO
Great list, lady! I think Falling is on my reading list, but I added it so long ago that I don't even remember what the premise is. Ha! I'm currently reading All The Missing Girls if you're looking for a thriller – I'm definitely hooked!
It's been too long since I've curled up with a good book, definitely perfect for this time of year! Always a fan of Emily Giffin, I need to add First Comes Love to my list. Love books with more than one point of view <3
Green Fashionista
Reading more is def one of my NY Resolutions for 2017! I'll def have to check some of these out!
Annessa
seekingsunshine.com
I really love Emily Giffin too, so I really need to get on First Comes Love! I have a pretty close relationship with my sister, so I don't think that I'd understand why the main characters relationship would be so flawed either. I've also heard so many great things about Elin Hilderbrand! I always love reading books that are set in the Northeast part of the country!
I just requested The Rumor at the library – thanks for recommending 🙂
I've hinted to the hubs to get me First Comes Love for Christmas – I love that author
I have read First Comes Love and I really liked it, read it at Costco while I waited on a tire! I will have to check out these other ones. Thanks for sharing!
The Rumor is on my list to read in the new year, too! I've heard nothing but great things about Elin Hilderbrand so I'm excited!
I loved The Rumor! It was my first one of hers, too!
I don't have a sister, but I think I had similar feelings about First Comes Love, and having a hard time connecting to it. Other than the (second) Winter book I read, I don't think I've read anything by Elin Hilderbrand, but I think The Rumor might be on my TBR list, so I might bump it up now!
The Rumor was my first Elin read and I loved it! I'm hoping to finish Winter Street in the next two days so I can start the next one!
I loved Jane Green in the past but I haven't read any of her recent items. I keep hearing great things about Elin and I need to put one on my list. I'm currently reading A Sudden Light by Garth Stein. Jess at Just Jess
My goal for 2017 is to finally read some Elin Hilderbrand. 😉 lol! I hope you like The Couple Next Door! I recently read it and thought it was pretty good!
I haven't read any of these. Thanks for sharing!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
I didn't know that Emily Giffin had a new book! Thanks for the heads up, I'll definitely pick this one up over the holidays!
Heidi || Wishes & Reality
Ugh I wish I had more time to read! I really want to read Rumor! Sounds amazing!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
I am so glad you liked The Rumor – it is one of my favorites of hers. The first book in the winter series was my favorite, although it got me hooked and I flew through them so I could find out the end!
I thought I was the only one that hadn't read an Elin Hilderbrand book yet! Glad to hear they are totally worth the hype – I think I need to start with this one!
I am glad I read this. I really like Emily Giffin books but I keep hearing this is a solid skip. I have enough on my table to get me through the holidays though. Love curling up with a book by the tree!
The holidays are when I get caught up on reading, so thanks for the recommendations! And what to skip!
I haven't read any of these yet. Last night, I read Steve Harvey's Jump because I am trying to finish up my 2016 book list before the end of the year and I'm coming up a little short on my Non Fiction reads. I have lots of great novels lined up for my reading challenge in 2017
runwright.net
i have never read anything by Elin Hilderbrand – i might have to add that one to my list. the assistants sounds horrible, lol. i have read a couple of jane green books, but they were mostly all 3-4 years ago and i tried reading one last year or earlier this year and it wasn't very good so i stay away now lol. The couple next door is next on my list as well.