I feel like I’m almost back to my regular reading pace, having read 7 books since last month. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I read better books or I’m finding more time or what but it feels good to be back to normal.
For this month, I tried to do a thing where I kept track of where I got my books from. Not so much the physical location but where I got the recommendation: this linkup, my TBR, Instagram, the brainwashing NetGalley emails. Things like that. I think I kept track for like 2 books and then forgot. But I’ll indicate where when I do remember. For those who are curious.
As always, reviews are copied and/or embellished from Litsy. Don’t forget when you’re done here to visit my cohost, Steph, and some other bloggers who joined us. And happy National Library Week! I could go on and on about why I love the library but you all know why. You’re readers, too.
Now, the books:
Providence by Caroline Kepnes. A book without Joe does not make for a very good book, tbh. I was THRILLED when I found out she wrote a new book and even more thrilled when it became available on NetGalley. I scooped that shit up faster than black licorice jelly beans on clearance. However. While I still love her writing, this book didn’t connect for me. I don’t generally care for the supernatural and I’ve never read Lovecraft (I only know who it is from listening to Welcome to Night Vale) and the book felt flat because of it. I didn’t particularly like the characters or the plot, either. Did like the epilogue, though. I can see why some might flip over this book but not me. ARC from NetGalley. Learned about it from Caroline Kepnes’s IG or Twitter.
The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez. This is a beautiful book about family, love, community, and friendships and it’s set in the Latinx community of Delaware (which is awesome since that’s where I live and the references are ON POINT). I love how she wove the stories of the families with the stories of the supporting characters, humanizing people we tend to ignore or forget. There were some plot holes and underdeveloped parts but nothing to detract from the rest of the story. On my TBR, reminded of it from someone who reviewed it last month for SUYB
Still Me by Jojo Moyes. Much better and less busy than After You but I am done with Louisa. She’s quirky and interesting but for me, her story is complete. I don’t need any more books about this woman trying to find herself both in and out of relationships. I like the way she struggles; it’s real and honest but it’s turned into rom-com at this point and it’s frustrating and annoying. Me Before You was excellent and it’s not fair to hold the other books to that standard but here we are. Moyes is a great writer but I can’t do this series anymore. I think I got this one from Goodreads.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. The only thing I have to say about this book is that it is magnificent. All other words will not do it justice. Was on my TBR, reminded of it by many SUYB friends including Steph whose rave reviews were dead on balls accurate.
Flat Broke with Two Goats by Jennifer McGaha. This book started off strong and then became terrible, tedious, and tiresome. I thought it was going to be a quirky personal finance memoir but instead it was an annoying, self-involved, self-important bougie snobfest filled with WAY TOO MUCH detail on goat mating and chicken raising. The author comes across as pretentious and overbearing and while she is a good writer, she mentions that she teaches composition writing so often the book felt like a job application. I actually have nothing nice to say about this book at all and I’m kind of angry at myself for finishing it. Found it on Libby when I was putting some books on hold. It’s the Great Library Read. Don’t be fooled by the advertising because it is a great title.
Crimes in Southern Indiana by Frank Bill. A mediocre collection of graphically violent short stories. Not like horror graphic. More like thriller/real life graphic with shooting (LOTS of shootings) and drugs and fights and that kind of stuff. Some of the stories were good. A lot were just okay. But what I like about short story collections is that if one isn’t connecting, you don’t finish it and move on to the next. Some of the characters were connected in several stories but nothing so intense you had to keep track. I don’t know where I got this one from. Maybe IG.
The Walls by Hollie Overton. I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it’s a pretty intense thriller, reminiscent of Sleeping With the Enemy. On the other, it’s an insane revenge fantasy book. It also needs to have a big fat trigger warning for domestic violence because that, and the justice system and death penalty, are the main focus of the plot. I did like it and read it fairly quickly but if you choose to, proceed with caution. ARC from NetGalley. And sorry for the Amazon link. I typed this review from my phone since I finished the book 10 minutes ago and Goodreads wouldn’t cooperate.
TL; DR: Homegoing and The Book of Unknown Americans are must-reads. If you want goats, do goat yoga instead of reading the piece of shit book I read. Still Me was a solid conclusion to Louisa Clark’s story. The Walls was a tough read but good. The others are okay.
Currently reading: Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao (NetGalley ARC) with a Paul Cleave book and another backlogged ARC on deck.
Now it’s your turn! Link up and show us your books!
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I read Girls Burn Brighter last month and overall enjoyed it, although the ending was bit more abrupt than I would have liked. Homegoing has been on my TBR forever but I haven’t been able to pull the trigger and read it yet. I have to work myself up to those kind of books. I might be the only person who has not read Me Before You. Someday! But I’m not sure if I’ll read the follow-up books. Sometimes one great book is enough. Let it be. I almost read Flat Broke with Two Goats (because it is an awesome title) but once I read the description, I lost interest and it appears I made the right decision. Well, The Walls intrigues me so I’m adding it to my TBR.
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…Sunshine Blogger Award: It’s Tanya, Tanya, Tanya
I really need to read Homegoing. So many people from SUYB have loved it!
Olya @ The Siberian American recently posted…Three Books I Read in March
I read Me Before You in March and I’m not sure I’ll even bother moving on to the next book. I liked the story but without Will I’m not sure I care enough about Louisa. Three books seems like overkill!
Confuzzled Bev recently posted…What I read in March 2018
The Book of Unknown Americans has me really interested! I’m going to look into that:) Happy Reading!!!!!
Erin | Chasing Sweet and Simple recently posted…Books (March 2018)
Just added The Book of Unkown Americans to my TBR. I’m glad you didn’t a review of the goat book, I was almost hooked in by the title, but am definitely going to pass.
Adding The Book of Unknown Americans to my Goodreads list, sounds great and I love that you can vouch for its references being legit.
Heather recently posted…All About the Books April 2018
So glad you read and loved Unknown Americans! (I think you might’ve gotten the reco from me, since I reviewed it last month.) As always, thanks for hosting 🙂
I’m reading Still Me right now. I admit I didn’t love Me Before You, yet I kept up with the series for some reason. I like the rom-com aspect of it so (so far) it’s fine. The movie was okay though, so I’d be interested in the sequels.
I loved Still Me and I agree that I think that’s a pretty fitting conclusion to the series. I hope she writes something in a different direction (with new characters) next because I do really enjoy her writing. I was interested in the goat book after seeing it on overdrive but not in the mood for that at the moment and your review solidifies that choice, so thank you. Bummer about the Kepnes book!
Heather recently posted…What I’ve Been Reading Lately (Show us your books April!)
I love when books are placed locally and are dead on. I will check that one out.
I like the idea of putting down where you got the recommendation from. I can rarely remember. LOL
SMD recently posted…Show Us Your Books – April 2018
Oh, The Unknown Americans sounds like something I would enjoy–adding to my TBR now, thank you! I’m 100% with you on Homegoing as well. I haven’t read Still Me yet but I think I will feel similarly… I think Louisa has had her time… And now let’s move on. In fact, I was ready to move on after After You, but I keep hearing that this new one is worth the read…
Shea recently posted…In My Library Tote: March Book Reviews and Recommendations
7 books is awesome! I think I read six, but one was a “did not finish”. I hate that!
Mackenzie recently posted…As The Page Turns: March Edition
lol @ the brainwashing NetGalley emails. i am horrible at remembering how i heard of a book. bummer about the new Caroline Kepnes book. I am glad you liked Still Me, I still haven’t read it but please tell me it’s the last one? Surely this ‘series’ should be done by now. I just want it to wrap up things After You left open, not leave even more unanswered. I have another Hollie Overton book on my TBR, thank you for the trigger warning re: domestic violence, I try to avoid books with that as the focus so I’ll be skipping that.
So I watched the movie Me Before You and was heartbroken!! I don’t know if I can even read the book!
I read Me before You, but haven’t read the sequels. I am intrigued, but I can imagine that there can only be so many sequels just talking about Louisa 😉
Thanks for sharing your reviews!
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After I read Me Before You and discovered that there was a sequel, I opted not to continue. I really like the way Me Before You ended, leaving me the freedom to believe that Louisa goes out and lives her life well. I’m glad that the third book wrapped up her story well for you.
I am curious about The Walls, as I liked another book by the author, but thanks for your honest thoughts. I need to read the second and third Louisa Clark books.
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Show Us Your Books: April 2018
What I wouldn’t give to find a place with goat yoga… lol. It’s a shame that book was a bust.
Even the cover is appealing.
I like your amazon link apology. I won’t lie… I get a tiny bit annoyed when books link to amazon instead of goodreads 😉 but it’s on a minor annoyance and I’d never lash out at someone for it. Lol
Audrey recently posted…What I Read…
I totally agree about Still Me – didn’t like #2 in the series at all but found #3 to be a very enjoyable read – but it really should be the last of this series. And ah, Homegoing – so excellent. One of the best books I read last year, I think.
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I’ve never read much Lovecraft, either, so not sure Providence would be for me. I’ll skip it unless everyone goes wild for it. I actually wasn’t a huge fan of You, but I’d give the author another try. Homegoing is on my list. I keep hearing about it and sounds like I need to read it sometime. I feel like I want to see Sleeping With the Enemy, now.
I’m so glad that you loved Homegoing! It’s still one of my favorite books that I’ve ever read! And The Walls sounds like a good book, but I’ll make sure to proceed with caution because of the domestic violence in it.
Ashley The Wandering Weekenders recently posted…Show Us Your Books- What I Read In March
I read Still Me this month too but I really enjoyed it. Homegoing has been on my to-read list and I just added The Walls.
Nancy @ NY Foodie Family recently posted…March 2018 Reads
It’s awesome that you’re getting your reading groove back. I’m hoping mine comes back sooner rather than later because I feel like it’s taking way too long to read a book these days.
I need to get to Homegoing. It’s been on my “To Read” list for a long time, and it keeps getting pushed aside because I’m never really in the mood to read it. Reading (and enjoying) books that span many years/decades/centuries requires me to be in a very specific state of mind. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.
I added The Book of Unknown Americans and The Walls. I also love when a book is set in a familiar place and references things that make you go, “YES! I KNOW this!” It’s also amazing when an author spends time on supporting characters — it makes the book feel more real for me.
It sucks that the new Caroline Kepnes book wasn’t great. I doubt I’d like it either if it has a major focus on the supernatural — that’s very rarely something I enjoy.
I love when books are set in an area that you live. Unfortunately for me that seems to be an abundance of murder mysteries which…? Steph’s previous review on Homegoing made me really curious, especially hearing many other people say they agree.
Flat Broke With Two Goats keeps showing up on my list of things to request and I am glad to know it wasn’t all that so I can just skip it. The name intrigued me. I am on the wait list for Still Me, are there supposed to be more after it??? How long can she drag that story out for? (Asks the girl who has read all 24 Stephanie Plum books and continues to wait for me.) I am going to add The Book of Unknown Americans to my TBR.
Nadine recently posted…Books
Homegoing and The Book of Unknown Americans are going on my TBR list 🙂
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Although I didn’t love Homegoing, I truly respect and appreciate the work that went into it. It was absolutely well written and well done. Though I wish some of the characters had their own books so we could get their WHOLE story!
I’m intrigued by Kepnes’s books, but I just can’t get myself to read Thrillers… someday… LOL. Glad you loved Homegoing. I am excited to read it eventually. XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Alexandra Consolver recently posted…March Reads // Ravens & The Dust Bowl
I’ll definitely be looking for The Book of Unknown Americans. It sounds like something I’d really enjoy.
You have me intrigued by Homegoing. Also I’m pretty sure I laughed out loud at the comment if you want goats, do goat yoga.
Alison Puppies and Pretties recently posted…Athleisure at Work
(laughing at goat yoga) I have almost checked out that book numerous times because of the title. I’m glad I kept turning it away.
Ok all, I’ll add Homegoing too.
Kimberly recently posted…Show us your books: April 2018
I’ve had The Book of Unknown Americans on my reading list for awhile. It hasn’t pushed to the top but it hasn’t dropped off yet either, as many do when I add something that I then pass over and over again. This might make me actually check it out from the library on an upcoming trip!
Money Beagle recently posted…Musings On Smoke Alarm Batteries
Crimes in Southern Indiana and The Walls sound very interesting! Adding them to my list!
Megan recently posted…Books Lately Vol. 10
I feel EXACTLY the same about Still Me. After You was also unnecessary to me as well. I wished (after reading the 2nd and 3rd books) that I could unread them and just be happy with Me Before You.
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