In an effort to not make every single post travel related I wanted to share a few recent reads. It’s actually been a pretty slow month of reading for me, but I’m ending this post with one of my favorite reads of the year so far!! I’m wait listed for 9 books at the library and all of them are ones that I have been itching to read – so here’s hoping people are quick readers because I need some new books!! I thought I would start this post with the one I was least excited reading & the other 4 were all great books. I also didn’t keep track of how many books I read last year, but so far this year I’m up to 20 – hoping to read at least 75. Not really part of any challenges, but sort of doing it for myself.
All The Missing Girls || After reading books like The Woman in Cabin 10 & The Couple Next Door I didn’t think that All the Missing Girls lived up to the “thriller” genre as much. The book is told backwards from Day 15 back to Day 1 & the main character Nicollete is going back to her hometown to see her dad who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. She turned her back on everyone from her past life when her best friend disappeared 10 years ago – the question remains is what happened to Corrine, the best friend, the same thing that just happened to her neighbor. Hence, why the book is called All The Missing Girls. I found the chapters a bit hard to follow and there were a lot of characters making appearances – not exactly the kind of book I was used to reading. It wasn’t terrible, but of all the recent books it’s not at the top of my list.
The Hypnotist’s Love Story || The kind of book that makes you go “huh, that’s interesting” What do I mean by that? Well I’m not really sure whose side I was on while reading the book – it sort of went back and forth. Ellen is a hypnotist that falls in love with Patrick who has a rather interesting moment of truth with her and tells her that he has a stalker. The story that unfolds is interesting – you have the point of view of Ellen & the point of view of the stalker, Saiska (which I could not for the life of me pronounce in my head so I basically renamed her Sarah). This is not a thriller at all, it’s a love story through and through – a quirky one, but I’ve learned that I either really like Liane Moriarty books or completely dislike it – this was in the like category. Not as good as Big Little Lies, but definitely up there! Also, I have a strong desire to go get hypnotized now!
A Window Opens || After Alice’s husband announces that he’s up and quit his job to set out on his own and start his own law firm, she’s pretty much forced into finding a job in the literary world that she loves so much. What she knows will be a balancing act – her kids, husband, job, babysitter, and parents all still need her and even though she feels like she is really doing it all – the question is at what cost. There were definitely sad moments in this book & while I don’t have kids yet, I can certainly relate to Alice’s plight to have it all and making everyone around her happy – she’s a character that we can all relate to. I LOVED that this book had an epilogue – books that have epilogues make me feel like I’ve completed it – doesn’t leave me hanging & I feel like I can move on from it! I thought it was an enjoyably read, but I did shed a few tears!
My Not So Perfect Life || This book is perfect for the social media driven world we now live in. All Instagram feeds do is show us the part of people’s lives that they want to show – pretty, filtered & styled. What it doesn’t show is that some people don’t shop at the stores that they simply “window shop” – they don’t eat at the fancy restaurants, they just read the reviews & more than anything, that “perfect life” might not be so perfect. Katie Brenner finally has the job that she’s always dreamed of & a boss that she idolizes, but is abruptly fired. Still keeping her “filtered” life positive she heads back home & helps her dad create an Instagram haven for Londoner’s to visit on holiday – one of those vacationers happens to be her old boss. Only thing is Katie’s parents have no idea that she’s not on sabbatical and all of her “filtering” comes to ahead. As per usual, Sophia Kinsella does a fantastic job of keeping people’s attention, keeping the book relevant & of course throwing in a little love story for good measure!
Maybe Someday || I think I found my new favorite author, Colleen Hoover. She also wrote It Ends With Us, which I absolutely loved as well. Sydney & Ridge are neighbors – they have an interesting start to their friendship over music without so much as uttering one word to another. He’s looking for inspiration and she happens to be a great lyricist. There is a dramatic twist in the 2nd or 3rd chapter and you are absolutely captivated by the story. What I love about the author’s writing is how she develops the characters. You get to know them & feel for them. I devoured this book in two days – on a Friday night I found myself reading faster than ever to finish the last 100 pages because I needed to know how the book was going to turn out. If you liked / loved This Is Us – I think you’ll like this book as well.
What have you recently read and loved?
I didn't love All The Missing Girls either!! Maybe Some Day is up next for me and I can't wait!!
I am adding the last two books to my list! I just read Behind Closed Doors and loved it. It's really messed up but it just makes you want to know what happens – I had a hard time putting it down!
I'm gonna add Maybe Someday to my list! I love when I find a new author who I love! I felt the same as you about Hypnotist's Love Story. I liked it but I didn't LOVE it like I've loved some of her other books.
I could not get into The Hypnotists Love Story, I tried and tried! I LOVE Sophie KInsella but told myself I have to read some of the books I already have waiting on my bookshelf before I can buy this one!!
Im going to add these to my list! I've been searching for a good new read – thanks for sharing!
Xo, Elizabeth
stripesandsolitaires.com/
I have to read some more Colleen Hoover books too. You're inspiring me. The hypnotist love story is the only moriarty I haven't read yet.
Love these posts! I am definitely picking up Maybe Someday for our trip to the beach next week. It sounds awesome!
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
I was just looking for some new books to read– thank you for these! They all sound so good!
I have heard from so many people that My Not So Perfect Life is a must-read. I will definitely be adding it to my list for our trip in May. It's the only time of the year I know I will have time to read haha! Thanks for sharing these, Biana!
xo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
Thank you for your honest reviews! I had Missing Girls on my list, but it may not be worth the time considering how many books I have ahead of it as must reads. But I'll have to replace it with My Not So Perfect Life <3
Green Fashionista
Maybe Someday and My Not So Perfect Life sound SO good! Sad to hear All the Missing Girls wasn't that great but it saves me a trip to Barnes & Noble! Your book review posts are my FAVE!
Rosy Outlook
I loved A Window Opens too! I keep forgetting I have My Not So Perfect Life on my iPad, I'm glad so many people have loved it so far!
I literally am at the very end of Maybe Someday and I started it on Sunday night haha! So good! I need to download A Window Opens next! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
Good for you girl that you've already read 20 books, that's awesome! I've been slacking so much because when I'm not working, I'm napping these days, haha. But, I love to read and I have to find ways to squeeze in more time. A couple of these books sound really appealing to me, A Window Opens and My Not So Perfect Life, both sound quite relatable, which makes them all the more interesting! Thanks for sharing, beauty, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
XO,
Jalisa
thestylecontour.com
I'm dying to read some new books! These days if I get a free second I'm napping haha
Wrote down some of these to check out for my next plane books!
I was about to read All the missing girls this spring! Now I have second thoughts! I doubt! I will read it any way, let me find out if I like it or not!
Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors- so My Not So Perfect Life has been on my list to read! Sounds like it's a big winner π Can't wait!
Picking up It Ends With Us today — can't wait to read it!! I'll have to check out Maybe Someday too!!
I have Mortiary's book on my Kindle – need to get to that. I seem to like all her stuff.
Totally agreed on All The Missing Girls. Also, Ruth Ware has a new book coming out May-ish – HOLLA! π
I think I will read the one involving Instagram. You might like "Future of Us" by Jay Asher…it's about two teens in 1996, who stumble onto Facebook profiles from the future.
ok some of these sound awesome! my not so perfect life and maybe someday – yes! i need to get back on the reading train. i'm so slow ha
xoxo cheshire kat
SO many great book titles! I don't have time to read these days, but maybe for my next vacation π
~Samantha
goldcoastgirlblog.com
Wasn't All the Missing Girls such a let down? I didn't enjoy My Not So Perfect Life as much as other Sophie Kinsella books, but you're right that it totally fits with today's culture. I LOVED Maybe Someday. Have you read Confess by Colleen Hoover? That's the book that got me into her, so maybe you'd like it!
I love when people share their reading lists – I feel like I never have to browse on my own anymore. I'm going to add Maybe Someday to my list.
Wow Biana – I always liked you but now even more super impressed. I too am a voracious reader and my goal for this year is 74 books (I fell short last year so got a little gun shy on my numbers.) Love learning about new books. As I mentioned in a recent post, if I wasn't writing about appreciation I'd be writing about books. π
Plus I LOVE that you utilize the local library. No shade thrown to bookstores – love them, but the library is so under utilized! So props to you.
I also added My Not so Perfect Life (70 holds!!) and It Ends with Us to my list (only 2 – whew) Can't wait to share. Thanks for the recos!
K of TAF
So excited! Just got the books in from the library! Have 3 of 4 of the books you reco'd! Can't wait til tonight to crack those spines and get to it!:)
Adding these to my list. I cannot wait for my non vacation trip soon just to get some reading in! I feel like A Window Opens is first on the list after typing that sentence!
These sound so awesome!xx, Neha
theinstylejournal.com/
I just downloaded a sample of the Hypnotist's Love Story. I'll have to check out your other suggestions!
Jamie
Treats and Trends
I haven't read a Colleen Hoover book yet, but I'll add Maybe Someday to my list, especially since you compared it to This Is Us. I love that show! A Window Opens also sounds like a really interesting book as well. I'm so glad that you liked My Not So Perfect Life, the social media part was really interesting to me as well!
You always have the best book recommendations! It's taking me FOREVER to get through a book lately so I'm limiting myself to getting one at a time at the library from now on.
Kelsey
thepeacockroost.com
Now I want to read The Hypnotist's Love Story, it sounds interesting! I'm with you, I either like her books or hate them.
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lilyο»Ώ
I never get tired of your travel posts, so fire away!! And girl, I'm so embarrassed… I'm still reading the same book that I started back at Christmas. I just have not been making enough time to read lately!
Yay!! I always love your book recommendations π Adding a few of these to my list!
I'm traveling a lot these next couple of months, I need to pick up some of these books!
XoXo,
Tamara – LoveofMode.com
I want to check out All The Missing Girls. You're a reading maniac like me, I love it!!!!
The last two sound so good! I definitely need to check those out.
I really need to get back to reading. Blogging has taken over which isn't good!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
It Ends With Us was also my first Colleen Hoover book, but I've been wanting to read more! I'll have to pick up Maybe Someday. π
I just started reading Colleen Hoover a few months ago! I really like her. I need to read more!
I am glad you loved Hypnotist's Love Story because I did too! Some people gave bad reviews on it but I take those with a grain of salt.
I am obsessed with Liane Moriarty! Love The Hypnotists Love Story. π
Brooke
Pumps and Push-Ups
All of these look so good! I've got The Hypnotist's Love story on my reading list!!
Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
I really want to read My Not So Perfect Life. I also have the Hypnotist's Love Story on my list!
Great lineup! I'm intrigued by My Not So Perfect Life…actually haven't heard of it before (clearly I'm living underneath a rock or something) but I like that it's a soundboard to put life and social media into perspective since that's such a huge influence on people's emotions and such these days.
So many amazing books! I need to start listening to audio books while I drive to make time for reading!
<3 ShannonΒ
Upbeat Soles
I really want to read the Sophie Kinsella book My Not So Perfect Life! It sounds so good!
xx Sofia | SOFIAADOT
Maybe Someday sounds good! I need good reading rec's for upcoming travel- I cannot sleep on a plane to save my life, so a good book to the rescue. π
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Adding several of these to my list! I needed some new reads!
Heidi || Wishes & Reality
great post
thestyleride.com/
I want to read some Colleen Hoover books – I've heard such great things about her.
i really enjoyed the hypnotist's love story, much more than another of hers i read, but it definitely wasn't in the same league as big little lies. oh, and i listened to the audiobook, and it's pronounced like sas-kia. if i had read it, i would have called her sasha or sarah hahaha.
My Not So Perfect Life is on my list!
I haven't read either of the two Colleen Hoover books you mentioned but I have read a couple of hers, and I either love them or hate them haha. They are both on my list!