May and June Book Reviews
Well, May was a crazy month at work, and I just didn’t get to my book reviews, but that’s okay! I’ve been reading away, and I have some great books to introduce to you. So, without further ado, my May and June book reviews!
Trust Me When I Lie - Benjamin Stevenson
This one was just a random Target impulse buy, but I’m so glad I grabbed it! I love a good mystery, and this one is just that. It gives off some major Making a Murder vibes, and it really dives deep into how public perception impacts how we feel about accused criminals, regardless of if they have been proven innocent or guilty. There’s also some really deep character development that I’ve been missing lately, and you learn to fall in love with Jack Quick, and you just want him to figure it out and live with whatever the consequences will be. Plus, I love a good Aussie novel, and I really got to practice using my Australian accent while reading in my head!
The Museum of Whales You Will Never See - A. Kendra Green
This one was an impulse Instagram purchase. Penguin books put an excerpt of this book in their stories and I was kind of hooked. The title and cover also sucked me in a bit, but I’m just that type of person.
This non-fiction book follows Green on her journey throughout Iceland to visit some of its most interesting museums. For only being home to 330,000 people, Iceland also lays claim to 265 museums, some of which are more interesting than others. From the basic to the more outlandish, Green tries to capture the beauty of the people and their love and respect for the collections they have created. It was so interesting, and it read more like a novel and less like a non-fiction account. Definitely worth a read.
Bottled Goods - Sophie Van Llewyn
This was sent to me by Harper Perennial, and it sounded like an interesting look into the world of the Socialist Republic of Romania, and some old school Romanian superstitions and even a little magic.
Honestly, I wasn’t disappointed, I was just sad a lot of the time. The main characters just go through so much trying to survive this Communist regime, and it was really upsetting to realize how far dictators will go to stay in power. At the end of the day, it’s worth a read to get a peak into that way of life, but read it knowing there won’t be a lot of laughs or smiles.
Have You Seen Me? - Kate White
Girl walks into her office to get to work after a night she can’t remember, only to realize she hasn’t worked there in three years, she has no idea she’s married, and she doesn’t know why she can’t remember anything. Ally Linden is on a mission to find out what happened to her on a night she can’t remember, and she’s searching for answers, only to question whether anyone is actually telling her the truth.
Such a great read, and really puts into perspective the importance of handling stress and putting mental health at the top of the priority list.
Courtney Carver is the creator of Project 333 and a huge name in the minimalist community. This book breaks down the what and why of the project, and really gives some good tools for anyone interested in minimalism for their wardrobe.
Basically, Courtney says you should pick 33 items including shoes and accessories, and that’s all you wear for 3 months. It sounds daunting, but it’s a great way to jump in head first, which is honestly what I think you have to do when wanting to embrace a minimal wardrobe. I started by capsule wardrobe journey almost 2 years ago, and I’ve never been happier. If you’re even a bit interested just grab it and give the 333 Challenge a try, what’s the worst that can happen!?
The Book of Longings - Sue Monk Kidd
This book was one of the options for my first Book of the Month box, and I read like 2 sentences of the description and I knew I needed to read it.
Imagine if Jesus had a wife. Imagine the woman that she would have been, and imagine how she would have helped to shape the Son of God. At no time did I feel that this book was sacrilegious, but instead, I fell in love with Ana, the wife of Jesus, and her journey and love for her husband. Ana is a woman any of us would love to be, and her strength is that of many other amazing women I have studied in the Bible. I cannot recommend this enough. I touched my soul.
A Good Marriage- Kimberly McCreight
Ever wonder what would happen if you got a call from guy you haven’t spoken to in years? Well, that’s exactly what Lizzie finds out when she takes a call from Zach Grayson, a man she hasn’t seen or spoken to in years. Out of the blue Zach calls Lizzie to assist him in proving he is not the killer of his wife. (What a request!?) As much as she tries to avoid it, she’s forced to solve the question of, “If you didn’t, then who did?” before one of the partners of her law firm decides she’s not the attorney he thought she was. Everyone’s got secrets, but some are less deadly than others.
Snag this book from the Book of the Month Club in your first box for only $9.99!
The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
Okay, so I know I’m like the last one to hop on this train, but man it was good. I noticed WWII has kind of been a reoccurring theme for my books lately, and I’m here for it.
Two sisters, two different journeys, and two heroes. Both women are trying to do what they feel is right in a time of war and devastation, and both women struggle to do what is right by those around them. France was not a great place for a woman during this time, but this book gave me just a glimpse into the strength of women at a time when the world was in devastation around them, and it was worth every single second of reading. Highly, highly, recommend!
Home Before Dark - Riley Sager
This was another BOTM purchase, and it was so good I read it in just a few hours. Oh, and it scared the living crap out of me. I had to leave a light on to sleep, but it was so good! Just the right amount of mystery, horror, and intrigue.
Maggie’s father wrote a book 20 years ago about the house they lived in for only 20 days before being forced to leave by the “ghosts” that haunted the home. This book has defined her life, and became one of the most famous American horror novels ever. Now, Maggie’s father is dead, and she’s back to figure out what really happened all those years ago. She doesn’t believe the house is haunted, but she does believe the ghosts of her past reside somewhere within its walls.
Read it with a light on!
Daisy Jones and the Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Surprise, it’s another BOTM novel! Seriously, it’s a hardcover book for only $10, I can’t pass that up! But really, I’ve seen this book everywhere, I just never got around to picking it up. After watching Almost Famous for the first time a few weeks ago I’m a little too interested in 60’s and 70’s rock, and this book was was perfect for that!
Daisy is a stunning 70’s rock and roll groupie who finds herself with a record deal, and eventually attached to an up and coming band, The Six. Told through interviews with the band and those that knew them best, you follow Daisy on her journey to fame, self-destruction, and eventually self-love. Sex. Drugs. Rock and roll. The 70’s rock scene had all of that and more, and so does this book.
The Paris Model - Alexandra Joel
I received an advanced copy of this book from Harper Perennial and it looked like an interesting read. Grace is the daughter of an Australian sheep farmer who finds herself in Paris working as a mannequin for none other than Christian Dior in the 1950’s. Soon she is making friend with the who’s who of Parisian society like Jackie Bouvier and Julia child, just to name a few. While she spends most of her time modeling couture clothing to entice the upper echelon of society to purchase the designs of Monsieur Dior, she also finds herself falling in love, and in a position to prevent another war.
It wasn’t my favorite, but supposedly it’s based off of true events, so it was fairly interesting. Just seemed a bit too much at times.
The Wright Sister - Patty Dann
Honestly, didn’t have a clue the Wright brother’s had a sister, but not sure why I would.
Katherine Wright is the sister of the famous men who gave the world the gift of flight, but through her marriage diary and letters to Orville, we learn that maybe their life wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. Katherine waits until she is much much older to marry, and when she does her bother, Orville, disowns her and refuses to speak to her again. Through her letters to him we see her pain, but also her hope for reconciliation. Another quick, fun read that offers a different take on a story that traditionally focuses around men.
This was a really great stack of books, and I’m hoping you find something fun for yourself in here! Feel free to leave a comment if you’ve read any of these too!
Love,
Lilly
