I finished more than one book this time, guys. I actually read two this month. Can you feel my pride? Hahaha.

Also, Happy Birthday to my favorite literary brothers, Fred & George Weasley!

Per usual, here’s the reviewing system:

★- terrible | ★★- I finished it but it was a struggle | ★★★- not bad, not my favorite | ★★★★- a good read that kept my interest | ★★★★★- I’ve already bought the book for my collection & I’m recommending it to everyone

I’ll also tell you why I read it, what it’s about, and whether or not you should read it. The book images link you back to their GoodReads pages.

So let’s do this!

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell|| ★★/5
I saw this on the self at Books-A-Million and it was recommended by an employee. Quite frankly, the book annoyed me. A LOT. I almost didn’t finish it because it was repetitive and slow and anti-climactic. It’s set during 1920s and prohibition. Rose Baker is a straight-laced typist who works in a police precinct, but finds herself drawn further and further into the scandalous speakeasy society by the “new girl” at work. It had so much potential… but it fell flat. I love historical fiction and I thought I’d love the twists and surprises, but it was predictable and slow. After reading other GR reviews I guess there’s a point where I’m supposed to question Rose’s sanity…? But I never did. She was just annoying. Sorry, but I don’t recommend this one for anyone!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer || ★★★★/5
This book was awesome. I haven’t seen one bad review in the Lunar Chronicles and I picked up this book based on many blogger recommendations. (I actually bought it because I was so sure I’d love it!) This book is a play on Cinderella, but with so many new elements and plot twists. I loved Cinder and I loved the flow of her story from cyborg mechanic to… well, I won’t spoil it! I don’t usually like futuristic/robot-y stories, but I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one in the series. If you like fantasy or fairy tales (or just a good story), I recommend Cinder!

**Apparently there are mini-stories that go hand-in-hand with the Lunar Chronicles. They’re short, easy reads and the author herself, Marissa Meyer, recommends a reading order here. Glitches is meant to follow Cinder.

Glitches by Marissa Meyer || ★★★/5
I didn’t know these short stories existed until I was snooping through Goodreads! (I followed the trail from there to here where you can read them for free!) I feel like I’m getting the whole experience as it was intended by going off Meyer’s suggested order. This little novella is a wonderful look at Cinder’s “beginnings” and it makes me love the characters even more. Some people on GR think it should proceed Cinder, but I’m glad to have read it second. If you liked Cinder or were on the fence about it, you should definitely read this! (It took me 15 minutes!)

April goals include finishing P&P and starting/finishing The Help and The Winter Queen. (…and of course the next Lunar story, Scarlet!)

Here’s how I’m doing with Erin’s reading challenge…

5 points | Any book that is at least 200 pages long: Cinder (Marissa Meyer)
10 points | Begins with the letter “D”: Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald
10 points | Four word title: Murder at the Brightwell (Ashley Weaver)
15 points | One of the following words in the title: mother/father/son/daughter/children: Daughter of Fortune (Isabel Allende)
20 points | One of Amazon’s top 100 authors (new to you): The Lightning Thief (Rick Riordan)
20 points | Set in any country in Asia: The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy)
25 points | A “Season” in the title: The Winter Queen (Boris Akunin)
30 points | Read a book that will make you laugh from this list: How to Be A Woman (Caitlin Moran)
30 points | A friend or family member’s favorite book: The Help (Kathryn Stockett)
35 points | Published the year you were born: Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton) -originally publish 1990-

I have completed 15 out of 200 points! I’m awesome at this challenge thing…. *eye roll*

Only one month left!

So tell me what you read this month! Have you picked up the Lunar Chronicles?