Happy Book Day, beautiful friends!
We had our gender reveal on Sunday but I’m not sharing about the party until Thursday because- duh- it’s book day!
But I won’t make you wait (assuming you haven’t seen IG) 😊 We’re having a girl! More about everything on Thursday! On to the books!
Linking up with the book lovers Jana and Steph for Show Us Your Books!
The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews
★★★★★/5; Proper Romance 
Alexandra and I buddy-read this in June! This was the steamiest proper romance I’ve ever read and I did not mind one little bit. Phyllida, a uniquely beautiful and kind orphan, is shipped off to her Uncle in London to be groomed for her coming out season. She soon learns that those closest to her have alterer motives and interests. Captain Heywood, though gruff and bitter, immediately sees the compassion in Philly and offers her the quick solution of a convince marriage. But will that truly save her from her former fate? I loved Philly. Her love for dogs and her patience for all creatures was a beautiful trait. And Heywood was a tortured soul (perhaps a little *too* tortured at times), but I loved his devotion to Philly and her beloved pets. This story also had a little twist- almost a proper thriller in its own rights. It was sweet and a little suspenseful and very enjoyable!
Read it? If you like history and romance and a little mystery, yes!
*ARC provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Releasing July 23rd, 2019
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
★★/5; Contemporary Romance 
When she’s forced to attend a boy band concert with her young daughter, Solène had no idea she’d become Hayes Campbell’s biggest fan. I thought the age difference would bother me, but it didn’t. (She is 19 years his senior.) The secretiveness bothered me a bit and the end of the book/outcome of the relationship irritated me more than a bit. But the major reason I gave it 2 stars? I was just kind of bored the whole time. There were some beautiful locations and swoony scenes between Hayes and Sol, but it was just the same over and over until the end. I know some people loved this book, so I’d never call it “bad.” I was just kind of bored and over it by the end.
Read it? Mm… I would say no but others have loved it.
Erin’s 11.0 Book Challenge has kicked off and here’s my mid-July update!
| 5 points| Freebie: Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
| 10 points | Starts with “F”: Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
| 10 points | With rain(s), thunder, lightning, or monsoon in the title: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
| 15 points | With a picture of a building: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
| 20 points | The author uses an initial in her name: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
| 20 points | A book with an article of clothing/accessory in the title: The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
| 25 points | A book set in India: The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling
| 30 points | A book that has won or been short-listed for the Booker Prize: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
| 30 points | About a human with superpowers/supernatural powers: Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
| 35 points | A book that has the same title as a book of a different genre: Soulless by Gail Carriger
Kicking it off with 0 points 🤗 But I’ll change that soon.
Your turn! What did you read recently? Come back Thursday for party details!
Life as Louise 
i reread handmaids tale (so good now that i’m reading it as an adult) and currently reading children of time. it’s super science-y and warms my geeky heart
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I read The Handmaids Tale for the first time a year or two ago. SO good & timely. (Yikes.) Children of Time sounds super interesting! I really like science-y novels that don’t overwhelm you like Jurassic Park and stuff.
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I probably never would have picked up A Work of Art-but you make it sound so good!
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Proper romances are pretty easy to overlook. I’m a big fan of the author Mimi Matthews 🙂
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I love you did a ‘buddy read’ – super fun!
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It was fun! We didn’t set any page restrictions or anything, we just checked in and discussed characters or parts of the book in general without giving away spoilers 🙂
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I didn’t love The Idea of You as much as I wanted!
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I have no problem with people in real life making their own decisions but when literary people make choices that I wouldn’t make I just can. not. get over it. Hahaha.
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I wanted to read The Idea of You because of the podcast book club, but I just didn’t feel like the synopsis would be a book I wanted to read. I will be looking into The Work of Art though! I love a good historical fiction.
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The Idea of You was more up my alley than Columbine will be, but I’m trying to push myself to read out of my little bubble 😉 We’ll see if I can get through that one. Lol
The Work of Art was more romance than h.f., but obviously still set in the past 🙂
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The Work of Art sounds like something I would like! Ill have to add it to my list for when it is out!
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It was a light, quick read. Definitely engrossing and romantic 🙂
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I can’t decide if I like the sound of The Idea of You or not. LOL.
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Hahaha. Well… I don’t know. I don’t want to keep putting it down on here, but it was just a lot of sex and banter in different places. Haha.
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Uh, I don’t think I’d really care for The Idea of You. Sorry it was kind of boring, but I’m glad you enjoyed your buddy-read. 🙂 Congrats on having a little girl too, by the way!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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Yeah……. I think I knew going into it that The Idea of You wouldn’t be my cup of tea. Oh well, can’t love them all. Ha.
Thank you!
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I’m doing the Book Challenge by Erin too!
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I love her challenges! 😀
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I haven’t heard of either of these books…yikes. I’m out of practice! I have one book on my TBR just waiting to be read…someday (hopefully soon)…Cress by Marissa Meyer 🙂
http://www.lovinglifemoore.com
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Neither are very popular, I don’t think…
Have you read Cinder & Scarlet?? I LOVE The Lunar Chronicles! Such awesome books!
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YAY, a baby girl! Woot! Woot! So happy for you and K and looking forward to reading highlights from your big party. I actually had The Idea of You checked out but returned it unread. Like, the idea of it (HAHAHA) appealed more than actually reading it. I felt like this was the kind of book that might irritate me, especially after I saw the ending had a lot of mixed reviews and I won’t lie – I read the ending and didn’t like it. Not so much because of the choice she made (I frankly didn’t have enough insight either way to know if it was good or bad) but that it was so abrupt. Decision. End. Ummmm … okay? I can handle ambiguous endings (except in mysteries – I will grudgingly accept that justice isn’t always served but must know who “did” it) but dislike abrupt endings that make you wonder if the printer forgot to print the last chapter. Yes, I’m being crazy weird about a book I didn’t even read but now seeing your review, I feel okay about my decision, because even though romance may not be my favorite genre, I full-on admit that I want a damn happy ending and to close the book smiling. The Work of Art sounds quite good and I like a character who loves animals. Adding it to my TBR.
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I feel like the book did SO MUCH WORK for the ending to just… essentially… give up. Ha. I don’t always need a HEA but damn. Give me something to take away. Ha.
The Work of Art makes you work for that happy ending, but (spoiler alert) you do eventually get it. Haha. I just loved the m.c.!
Thank you so much! I won’t lie- from the start I’ve been convinced she was a boy. I’m guessing this is the first of many curveballs she’ll throw me. Hahahahahaha.
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Part of me wanted to read The Idea of You but the more I read what the story is about the less interested I am. I have 0 points for Erin’s challenge too. I was feeling disappointed in myself about it until a friend and fellow participant pointed out I have 4 months… no need to rush 🙂
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Yeah. There was nothing there to hook me. And I’ve read enough romance now that the sexy scenes were even kind of meh to me. Hahaha. Oh well.
Plenty of time! 4 months is a long time for 10 books! No worries 🙂
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aw bummer about the idea of you, i have it from the library and keep hearing good things.i keep hearing about Mimi Matthews so obviously i need to read that one!
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You might like it!! It just (definitely) wasn’t my kind of story.
I think you’d really like Mimi Matthews! And The Work of Art was certainly steamier than her other proper romances 😉 Haha!
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I love the idea of buddy reading, kind of like a two-person book club and someone to share the experience with… but I also have commitment issues with books in that they change based on my mood. I loved Little Fires Everywhere, and Fix Her Up and The Lightning Thief are on my TBR!
Yayyy, a baby girl! Can’t wait to see party details!
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It was fun! We both got approved for the ARC the week before and we set the two days we’d read it. (My husband was out of town so I knew I’d have lots of time!) We didn’t read at the same time or the same pace, but it was kind of cool to know we could check in and discuss major scenes when we both got there!
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I won’t read these books because I generally don’t read romance and I actually don’t understand the difference between proper romance and contemporary romance because I lump them all together. I realize that’s wrong.
I am SO HAPPY for you that you’re having a girl! I’d be equally happy if she were a boy but I am firmly on team girl mom (obviously)
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Hahahahahaha. Makes sense. We tend to have different book preferences 🙂 I *think* a proper romance is much much less steamier with maybe some kissing or hand brushing- usually set in the past. This one had a few too many fade-to-black sex scenes and cuddling to really be proper. At least in my opinion. Ha.
Yay team girl mom! Haha!
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I usually don’t read romance novels, but The Work of Art sounds really good! Can’t wait to hear about your party and have I mentioned that I am so excited you’re having a girl!!!
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It was super cute and light and perfect for a stormy weekend 🙂
Me too! I had really been convinced she was a boy from the start. I’d have been great with a boy but I’m so pumped for this fiery little feminist to enter our lives 😉
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Congrats on the baby girl!! 🙂
My students used to LOVE Rick Riordan books but I’ve never read one.
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Thank you!
I can’t believe I’ve never read the Lightning Thief series. It seems right up my alley.
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I was super smitten with Captain Heywood! Oh darn, i meant to put that in my post that we buddy read and I forgot… maybe I will update it now! Anyhow, it was fun to sort of read it together despite my busy weekend. LOL I just want Mimi Matthews to write all of the books. LOL Bummer about the other one, I will not add it to my TBR. LOL XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
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I really love the gruff softies, haha. He was a *little* too protective for me, but I get why. It was fun to buddy read!
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I don’t think I’ll check out either of these! I will totally check out your gender reveal post. So excited for you all!
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Hahaha- I know we sometimes tend to have different book preferences 😉 This month was a little heavy on the romance for me. I need a little more action and fantasy in my mix for next month.
Thank you!
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Yay im doing the book challenge as well! Congrats again on your sweet pregnancy and i loved your reveal!
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Good luck on the challenge!! And thank you! ❤
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