Review: Love the One You're With

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. I know this is not the highest rating, but it is actually quite a bit higher than I expected it to be. I really did not enjoy the last book I read by Emily Giffin, so I've left this one on my "to read" shelf for several years. It finally got to the point that I had to decide whether to just read it or to get rid of it, so I read it.

This is an extremely character-driven story, but I really like character-driven stories more than plot-driven ones most of the time. I liked the main character, Ellen, although she did make some very poor decisions that frustrated me. Still, she was relatable and believable and I liked her much better than the characters from Something Borrowed (link not working for some reason).

Ultimately I was glad that I finally just picked it up off my shelf, because it has been there long enough. Also, although it is not the greatest book I've ever read, I did genuinely enjoy it and I will consider reading more by Emily Giffin.

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Review: The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't read mysteries that often because I just can't handle them, but this was pretty approachable and not too intense for me. I loved the element of the unreliable narrator and it kept me guessing for most of the book. Although none of the characters were very likable, it didn't take away from the story. I felt sad for the main character and just wanted her to get help for her alcoholism. It really wasn't anything like Gone Girl, as I'd heard, except in that both are mysteries. I listened to the audiobook, and I kept having to come up with excuses to keep listening because I wanted to find out what happened! I did figure out who did it about 2/3 of the way through the novel, and I was just kind of waiting for everyone else to figure it out. It had a satisfying conclusion though and it made me want to read more mysteries. I think the author has another book coming out this month, so maybe I'll check it out too if it gets decent reviews. Definitely pick this one up if you like moderately-intense suspenseful mysteries!

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Review: Queen of Shadows

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This took me a long time to get through for some reason, but in the end I didn't want to stop reading. I don't think this was my favorite of the series so far, but it was another excellent addition. I'm debating between jumping right in to the next one or waiting a while because the next one doesn't come out until the fall (and I think it might just be about Chaol). It is a little hard for me to keep track of all of the characters and events when I wait a long time between reading books in a series, so we'll see.

I found the sections about Manon to be the most interesting. I always like reading about people (or witches, in this case) struggling with their light and dark sides. Aelin is powerful and strong, but not as interesting to me. The story as a whole was very engaging though. I can't believe how the story has developed and changed since the first book. It was definitely a very enjoyable experience. I wish the rest of the series was out right now!

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Review: Calling on Dragons

Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I read this when I was 12 or 13, this series was one of my favorites. While it is still fun, it is not as good as I remembered it being. I think it just works better for a younger audience. I'm rating it a "3" because I feel nostalgic about this series, but it was probably more of a "2" for a reread. I only have one more book in the series to reread, but I'm not sure I'm going to do it. We'll see if I get around to it. Still, the characters are likable and funny. Although the plot is silly, it is a fun, lighthearted read (which sometimes is much needed!). I would definitely recommend this series for younger readers but maybe not so much for adults (even adults that still love YA and middle grade).

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Review: Landline

Landline by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although this was not my favorite Rainbow Rowell book, I did enjoy it more than the reviews led me to believe I would. I love Rowell's writing style because her characters feel very authentic to me. I rarely read adult contemporary novels, so it was kind of nice to read about someone in sort of the same place in life as I am (married with kids). I think I am going to make it a goal to read everything Rowell writes because even when her books aren't rated as well (like this one), I still feel like I get a lot out of them. I'm now looking forward to reading Attachments!

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Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am trying to read more diverse books, and this seems to be at the top of everyone's list. It's for good reason. I've never read an LGTB+ contemporary*, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Simon was so relatable, and I appreciated that he was involved in school and had good parents who were present. So many YA books don't have caring, involved parents, well-developed friendships, or true participation in school events, but this one did. I'm looking forward to reading Becky Albertalli's next book,The Upside of Unrequited, coming out this month. She's a great writer and I can't wait to read more!

* Once I posted this, I realized that I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe earlier this year. I liked this better. Simon seemed much more like a a real teenage boy to me than Ari, although that was a good book also.

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Review: All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like all World War II literature, this is not a happy book. However, it was well-written and engaging. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was very good. I've actually also heard the author speak which made it even more interesting. I know everyone loves this book (and I did too), but I have read other WWII books that I've enjoyed more. Still, this one was excellent and I would probably read more by this author.

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