May 10, 2022May 10, 2022 Audrey Books

What I Read…

Happy Book Day! Also, it’s now May. WTF. We’re practically to Christmas.

Linking up with our fabulous hosts, Steph & Jana, for Show Us Your Books!

Title sends you to GoodReads & “buy it” goes to an affiliated link on on BookShop or Amazon!

The Wedding Game by Meghan Quinn | Romance | ★★★★★/5
The cover is terrible, but the inside is hilarious. I was crying-laughing more than once. Luna was flawed but lovely, Alec was v steamy, and all the side characters were fantastic- esp. Farrah, Declan, and Naomi. I laughed a lot, but the book had a lot of heart, too.
Buy it! BookShop | Buy it! Amazon | Buy it! Kindle

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig | Magical Realism | ★★★/5
I am clearly in the minority, as I did not love the book. It was interesting, and I’ve never read a story like it, but it was predictable. And I felt like it had a naivety to it. I did not connect with it. I believe it’s a soft spot to land for those in the thick of depression, and that’s absolutely lovely.
Buy it! BookShop | Buy it! Amazon | Buy it! Kindle

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes | YA Mystery | ★★★★★/5
Inhaled. I literally inhaled this book. I couldn’t put it down. It was so enjoyable and I immediate put a hold on the second book in the trilogy once I’d finished this one. The brothers were so unique. Avery is a badass. Every chapter had me turning pages. My only complaint is that everyone is so young so I feel weird having literary crushes on them. LOL
Buy it! BookShop | Buy it! Amazon | Buy it! Kindle

It was a pretty dang good month for books. What have you read lately?

-Audrey

April 12, 2022April 11, 2022 Audrey Books

What I Read…

This wasn’t an awesome reading month for me. I tried to tackle a book for bookclub that just wasn’t my cup of tea… So I have my first DNF of the year. Then another one that I was reading on my Kindle came due at the library and I forgot to turn on airplane mode so I lost it and had to re-borrow it… so I haven’t finished it yet. Sigh. Like I said- not my month.

Enough chit-chat. On to the books. Linking up with Steph & Jana for Show Us Your Books.

The title sends you to GoodReads, the “buy it” goes to an affiliated link on on BookShop or Amazon!

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré | Espionage Mystery | DNF
I said countless times, “I’m not smart enough for this book.” I know that’s not true, but I’m definitely not in the right brain space to read this one. And I almost watched the film (because the bookclub assignment was book + film), but it seemed too violent for me. So I just skipped everything.
Buy it! BookShop | Buy it! Amazon | Buy it! Kindle

Royal Valentine by Jenn McKinlay | Romance | ★★★★/5
This was very cute and very quick. I could pick it apart, but it was a Hallmark-y novella that passed the time just fine. (I’d call it a 3.5 star story but I round up.) Al was adorable, Molly was likable, and who doesn’t love a fairytale ending?
Buy it! Kindle

Moo Reads

I promised some books from M’s shelf this time around, so here they are!

Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa by Anna Dewdney
We change the grandparents’ titles to the names M uses.
goodreads | amazon

Disney Baby Animals by Walt Disney Co.
M loves this book- so much so she bawled when I returned it to the library so I ended up purchasing it. And we read it several nights a week. It’s very simple- possibly too simple for her- but it does help her identify animals. And she’s obsessed with it so whatever *shrug*
goodreads | amazon

Lovevery books
Some of our favorite books right now are the books we get in our quarterly Lovevery box. (My mom gifted them to M just after her first bday.) Our favorites are:
– Making Muffins
– Graham Turns Two
– Bedtime for Zoe
– Max and Nana Go to the Park
– Bea Gets a Check Up

I didn’t check anything off my challenge book list, but I’ll have some checked off next month. Which is good… since the challenge ends April 30th. LOL

What did you read this month?

-Aud

March 8, 2022March 7, 2022 Audrey Books

What I Read…

Happy Show Us Your Books Day! I don’t want to make a cliche comment about how it’s already March… but also, it’s already MARCH. Damn.

Linking up with Steph & Jana today!

I read three books this month 🎉 All only 3 stars, though.

Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First by Laura Tremaine | Memoir | ★★★/5
I don’t remember why or how this book came across my radar. I didn’t know her name and I’d never listened to her podcast (10 Things to Tell You). This book was a “meh” for me. I wanted to have my mind blown as far as friendship goes and it wasn’t. That said, it was an interesting enough read. It’d have been more interesting if I knew who the hell she was. Lol

One by One by Ruth Ware | Mystery | ★★★/5
I wanted to like this one. I hated Ware’s Cabin 10, but I was giving her another shot. This wasn’t terrible, but it reminded me of The Hunting Party and The Sanatorium… so I felt like I’d been there, done that. (In Ware’s defense, One by One came out before The Sanatorium.) It was fine, but I figured out the killer immediately after the first death and I just kept reading to essentially know why 🤷🏼‍♀️

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw | Mystery? | ★★★/5
This book was also fine. (Maybe I’m the problem this month? lol) I picked it from the BOTM selection and then avoided reading it because it didn’t sound like “my thing.” Then I joined a bookclub that happened to be reading this one next. Fate, maybe. Maybe it’s because of where I live, but I couldn’t help but see everyone as Amish or Amish-lite. It was kind of M. Night Shyamalan meets Amish Mafia. Lol

ERIN’S BOOK CHALLENGE 16.0

A whole 40 points right now. Lol

So there we have it. I’m currently reading three books right now and I have a bunch on hold at the library which will probably all be available at the same time. Next time I’ll share some Moo recs, too.

What did you read last month?

-Aud

February 8, 2022February 8, 2022 Audrey Books

What I Read…

Linking up with Jana & Steph for Show Us Your Books!

Happy Tuesday. I hope you read something wonderful lately.

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer | Christian | ★★★★★/5
I don’t usually read self-help books OR Christian books, but I think this fell on my radar thanks to Lauren Akins’ Live in Love podcast. Either way, I had it on my Amazon wishlist and my m.i.l. bought it for me.
The book’s focuses are a) slowing down so you can b) be a better apprentice to Jesus. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but for a Christian gal who tries to resist the hustle culture, it was a fantastic read. I thought I was doing a decent job of living slowly. I intentionally never say the words “hurry up” to M and I try to plan ahead so I don’t feel rushed. Turns out, there are many habits I could add, change, or eliminate to foster a little more joy and a little more room for Jesus.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins | Thriller | ★★★★/5
This was a bookclub pick. My favorite mysteries/thrillers are the ones where the people are trapped and cut off from civilization. This one checked that box. It was… interesting, though. The beginning felt forced, the characters hid their crazy a little too well, and the were some plot-holes. But it kept me reading and gave us something to talk about in the zoom call. More likely a 3.5 star rating, but I’m glad I read it.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood | Romance | ★★★★★/5
I’d call this one a slow burn, but I never got bored. SO many people raved about this book & I see why. Olive was cute, Adam was sultry, and their chemistry was 🔥 (pun intended). I prefer my female protagonists a little more confident than Olive, but I know she was a product of a life that kept dealing her blows. Some people complained that Adam was bOrInG, but I like the strong & silent type. And women in STEM are always welcomed.

ERIN’S BOOK CHALLENGE 16.0

25 points right now.

What did you read this month?

-Aud

January 11, 2022January 10, 2022 Audrey Books

What I Read…

It’s the first Show Us Your Books link-up in the new year! (Lots of love & appreciation to our hosts, Jana and Steph!) I’m currently in the middle of four books right now, but I have two ready to go for today.

I started/finished one last year, then finished the second one in 2022.

The title sends you to GoodReads, the “buy it” goes to an affiliated link on on BookShop!

Off Season by Jennifer Weiner | Horror/Suspense | ★★★/5
This was a strange one… It’s a short story and one that almost reminds you of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. It was quick and definitely creepy, but it felt like it was missing something. I’m not sure what I was wanting, but it didn’t fully deliver.
highlight for trigger warning: animal violence

A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss | Romance | ★★★★★/5
What a way to kick off the year, right?? There wasn’t anything mind-blowing in this cute little novel, but I didn’t have a single complaint. It was slow and cozy, not too much spicy in the bedroom department (which never bothers me but I know some people dislike that), and the characters were lovely. Honestly, it’s a perfect fall-to-winter read. Apparently I’m a Jenny Bayliss fan!
Buy it!

Moo Reads

The child is o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. with reading. And no one is mad about it 😊
*titles go to an affiliated link on BookShop!

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle
M has the first page memorized. We love the lights on the last page the most, though!

Little Excavator by Anna Dewdney
Again, M has certain parts memorized. We love all the construction sounds in this one.

Home for the Holidays by Sesame Workshop
I wasn’t going to give M this one until next Christmas, but she saw Elmo on it and we’ve read it every single night since. It’s a beautiful book with a bunch of different winter celebrations in it!

I didn’t tackle any books for Erin’s Challenge so I’m not including that this month. I created an account on The Story Graph, though. You can follow me or be my friend here.

What did you read?

-Aud