SOCIAL MEDIA

Monday, September 28, 2020

Show Me Your Books - September

 *This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

Last month I read three books and this month I read 4 1/2 books. One of them I did not finish, but I made it half way through. I almost finished another book before I published this post, but I didn't quite make it through to give you a full review.

The One - John Marrs

The One - John Marrs

When I heard this book was being made into a Netflix show, I had to read it. I love reading the books before the film/tv series comes out. This book hooked me right away. It goes back and forth between several characters - five to be exact. Each one of their stories unfolds and when you think you know what happens to each, you don't.

The One is about finding your one true soulmate. Even if you are married and think you have the right one, your body chemistry could tell you different. Would you dump your husband/wife to go meet your chemically chosen soulmate? 

I went back and forth on loving the main characters and hating them for the choices they make. But in the end, this book gripped me in and had me wanting to figure out what happened. I would give this book 4 1/2 stars.

Here is Amazon's synopsis:

A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner—the one you’re genetically made for.

That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love.

Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…

You Are Not Alone - Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

You Are Not Alone - Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

I loved the Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks, so I have added any books I can find of hers to my to be read list.

The book is centered around Shay Miller. She leads an ordinary life, but wants all the things life has to offer. She wants a family, a nice house, nice things and more friends. But at what cost will she get those friends? Shay witnesses a horrible accident and soon two sisters, Cassandra and Jane enter Shay's life. They befriend her quickly and Shay couldn't be more ecstatic. She would do anything for them. But why are these two rich, beautiful and kind woman befriending Shay? What does Shay know that could get them in trouble?

I thought this book was really good. I wanted to know what really happened, but I just kept wondering why Shay was so gullible and couldn't get over things? I enjoyed this book and would give it 4 stars.

Here is Amazon's synopsis:

Shay Miller wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is increasingly lonely.

Until Shay meets the Moore sisters. Cassandra and Jane live a life of glamorous perfection, and always get what they desire. When they invite Shay into their circle, everything seems to get better.

Shay would die for them to like her.
She may have to.

The Hunting Party - Lucy Foley

The Hunting Party - Lisa Foley

After reading The Guest List last month, I added the Hunting Party to my list. I received it quickly and got to reading it. I made it about half way through the book and I just couldn't read anymore. The first half of the book just builds the characters, but I felt that I was reading the same thing over and over again. You get a glimpse into what happened, but not enough to keep me reading. I got bored with the book and just couldn't stick it out.

 A group of friends celebrates NYE with each other every year. Most of them are former classmates, but some bring their spouses each year. This year Emma organizes everything. She brings them to a remote estate in the Scotland Highlands. The only people who work there are a woman who is hiding from something that happened in her former life and a former marine who also seems to be hiding from his past. 

The gatekeeper finds a body one day while the Oxford group is staying with them. But I never got to find out who died and what happened as the book just wasn't going anywhere. If you read this book or get through it, let me know if it is worth it. I may try to read it again if it gets better.

Here is Amazon's synopsis:

During the languid days of the Christmas break, a group of thirtysomething friends from Oxford meet to welcome in the New Year together, a tradition they began as students ten years ago. For this vacation, they’ve chosen an idyllic and isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands—the perfect place to get away and unwind by themselves.

The trip begins innocently enough: admiring the stunning if foreboding scenery, champagne in front of a crackling fire, and reminiscences about the past. But after a decade, the weight of secret resentments has grown too heavy for the group’s tenuous nostalgia to bear. Amid the boisterous revelry of New Year’s Eve, the cord holding them together snaps, just as a historic blizzard seals the lodge off from the outside world.

Two days later, on New Year’s Day, one of them is dead. . . and another of them did it.

Keep your friends close, the old adage says. But how close is too close?

DON'T BE LEFT OUT. JOIN THE PARTY NOW.

The Wives - Tarryn Fisher

The Wives - Tarryn Fisher

The Wives was definitely not what I had expected out of the book. Maybe I forgot what it was about when I put a hold on it, but I was surprised when I started reading it. Thursday (this is the main characters name) has a husband named Seth. Seth has two other wives. He splits his time with each wife. Thursday doesn't like this arrangement anymore, so she starts to look into the lives of his other wives. She also befriends them since they don't know who each other is. Thursday slowly unravels who her husband is, what secrets he holds and more about the other wives.

I read this and just kept wanting to slap Thursday. Why get yourself into this situation willingly? Then the story unfolds and you realize what is really going on. I liked this book, but the ending was flat for me. I would give this book 3 to 3 1/2 stars.

Here is Amazon's synopsis:

Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him.

But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different—and horrifying—story about the man she married.

The Night Swim - Megan Goldin

The Night Swim - Megan Goldin

When my app said this book was available, I didn't even remember putting it in my que, but after reading the synopsis, I thought it was right up my alley. No wonder I added it. I read this book in a day. I just had to know what happened.

Rachel has a successful podcast. She talks about previous murders in seasons 1 and 2 of her podcast. But with season 3 approaching, she wanted to do something in real time. She wanted to cover a trial as it happens. This means going to court everyday and writing about it on a blog and then recording episodes every few nights.

The podcast is about a rape trial. The star Olympic swimmer is accused of raping a teenage girl. But as Rachel is exploring the trial, she gets letters from Hannah asking her to help find out what happened to her sister, Jenny, about 25 years ago. 

The book goes back and forth between the trial and the crime 25 years ago.

I thought this was well written, captivated me and had me guessing what happened to Jenny and could it all be related? I would give this book 4 1/2 stars. If you love podcasts, you will love this book.

Here is Amazon's synopsis:

Ever since her true-crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall has become a household name—and the last hope for people seeking justice. But she’s used to being recognized for her voice, not her face. Which makes it all the more unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, addressed to her, begging for help.

The new season of Rachel's podcast has brought her to a small town being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. A local golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season 3 a success, Rachel throws herself into her investigation—but the mysterious letters keep coming. Someone is following her, and she won’t stop until Rachel finds out what happened to her sister twenty-five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills tragically drowned, but the letters insist she was murdered—and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody in town wants to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases—and a revelation that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved.

What did you read this month?




21 comments :

  1. Wow. You’ve been a reading machine. I only get one a month but this Fall I’ll be reading more. I’m with you, love reading before they become movies or series. I definitely want to read that first one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Enjoy! They were all pretty good except the Hunting Party which I didn't finish.

      Delete
  2. That's too bad that The Hunting Party wasn't any good... it's crazy because it sounds like it would be really exciting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe it does get better as it goes on, but after reading half and just nothing happens really, I couldn't finish it. But I hope someone says it is worth it and then I will pick it up again.

      Delete
  3. I've had the Wives on my list for the longest time! I only finished two books in September - I swear it takes me forever to read now! xo, Biana BlovedBoston

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes it takes me forever too. Or I have read too much and then I have no desire to read. What did you read in September?

      Delete
  4. Way to go on your reading. I have been so bad and have read nothing! I will be checking out that first one and the Netflix show!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait for it to be made into the Netflix show. I think I need a reading break now. Ha.

      Delete
  5. Get it girl! I've been in a reading rut after rifling through my last book and just overall exhaustion from how busy work has been. I'm intrigued by You Are Not Alone!

    Green Fashionista

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is a good book. I would definitely recommend it. I have a bit burnt out on reading since I read so many last month.

      Delete
  6. You love thrillers! I wish I could. My husband would love many of these books in movie form and he gets so bummed that he can't watch any like these with me. I read a few books this month and one half way like you. It is due at the library tomorrow and I already renewed it once, so I am debating just returning it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really do. I do read other books and Lisa Jewell really intrigues me because hers are more mystery. And Colleen Hoover are amazing because they are usually romantic/just life books. What book are you stuck half way on?

      Delete
  7. Some great reads. Many of these are already on my TBR list. So good to read your honest reviews of each of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I try to be honest and let readers know if I did like it or what I didn't like.

      Delete
  8. I just finished The Night Swim last night! I read it in just a few sittings too. It was SO GOOD! I sort of had it figured out a little bit, but there were a few surprises there too. The One sounds really interesting. Going to add it to my list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw that you were reading it too. I am glad you thought the same thing as me. I loved the podcast mix in with just the book. I had some of it figured out, but not all of it. I thought it was good though! The One is very interesting and definitely worth the read.

      Delete
  9. I just finished CONFESS by Colleen Hoover, and I have to admit that it's the first book of hers that I haven't really enjoyed! It had a lot of promise, but it felt so rushed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really? I did like that one, but I did read it at two different times. I had it on hold and couldn't finish it before my time was up and then had to wait two weeks for it again. I did like the confessions part of it, but it took me longer to read it. I love Colleen Hoover books!

      Delete
  10. I've read a bunch of these. I have The Wives from the library now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are who I get a lot of my recommendations from!!! The Wives is good, but so weird.

      Delete