On to February! I always try to vary my genre selections each month, and I think this month almost each book was a different one haha! I also think I read one of my top five books for the year!
I enjoyed “The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris,” a great historical fiction novel where part of the story is in the 1940s, and part of it is present day, with a link between of course. Jacques has lost everything to the Nazis, but is able to hold onto his bookshop, and even use it to help smuggle people through Paris away from the Nazis. Juliette visits France, and upon learning about her husband’s affair, decides to remain and open her own bookshop. Just really enjoyed following both of these story lines and seeing how they worked out!
I listened to “We Solve Murders” this month and enjoyed it. Steve is enjoying his retirement, slow paced, hobbies here and there…when murder pairs him up with his daughter in law, who works in private security. When she encounters a dead body and a pile of money, Amy contacts her father in law for help. Together, they solve the murder, hitting different cities around the world to track him down. I enjoyed the pace and comedy this story had to offer!
I read “Heartless Hunter” this month, checking off that fantasy with a side of romance genre. 🙂 Rune is a witch, hunted mercilessly by Gideon, a witch hunter. In a city where powerful rulers are destroying a whole society of people, Rune spends her days and nights as the Crimson Moth, rescuing witches before they are killed, any way she can. Gideon and Rune are thrown together over and over, the perfect enemies to lovers story.
I have always been obsessed with Gilmore Girls, watched every season more than once, so of course I had to check out “The Third Gilmore Girl” from my library and listen to it! I really enjoyed listening to Kelly Bishop’s memoir of her life, I really had no idea about everything she was involved in! Some of her life choices made me a little sad listening to, but overall I enjoyed listening to the family like atmosphere of the Gilmore Girls and her role in it.
“Not Quite by the Book” was cute. Emma has been running her family’s bookstore for a while now, and has not had a day off in what seems like forever. She decides she needs a break, and finds a run down house to rent, reminding her of the good ol’ days of her favorite author, Emily Dickinson. The manor comes with its very own handyman/architect who is renovating the home, so you can imagine how things go along between them.
I loved “Funny Story.” Emily Henry is kind of hit or miss for me, but I liked this one. The book opens with Daphne’s fiance telling the story of how they met, only for him to realize that he is in love with his childhood sweetheart, Petra. Daphne proceeds to be kicked out of their home, and with no where to go, ends up moving in with Petra’s ex-boyfriend, Miles. Miles and Daphne are complete opposites, but sometimes opposites can attract, right? 😉
“The Anxious Generation.” Yes, please. Every parent raising kids right now needs to read this…there was so much to consider, and so many choices we are making with our kids that hopefully will set them up for a better mental state in the long run. Personally, I enjoyed hearing the stats supporting the information, where kids are “going” these days and what we can do as parents to help get them back on track. Great read.
“Things You Save in a Fire” was on of my favorite reads so far this year. Cassie is a tough female firefighter in Texas, but when her sick mother asks her to move to help her, she has a pretty big life choice to make. She decides to move to a small town, old school fire house in Boston, and takes on the challenge of being the only girl in a firehouse full of men who don’t think she should be there. The Rookie is the only one who seems to be pulling for her, and over and over they get pushed together. It’s a great story about love, firefighting life and more, I just really loved so much of this story for a million reasons.
