What I’ve Been Reading

I’m a big reader. I love having a story I can get lost in. I often find myself too worried and too self-absorbed when I’m not reading a good book. They’re my way of relaxing and really taking a break from life. So, here’s a quick breakdown of the books I read since February. If you follow my Instagram you’ll probably get a peek into each new book I start, because I love reading during my downtime during the day or while I’m on the treadmill at the gym.

You’ll probably get a good idea of the types of books I love from this list too, so let me know if you have anything else you think I’ll love.

 

Eleanor and Park – this one will transport you back to that time you had your first boyfriend or girlfriend when you read it. You’ll remember those intense feelings before, during, and after you realized you liked them and finally got to awkwardly tangle your fingers in theirs. Its wonderful and heart breaking and the back story will tug at your heart. Eleanor’s story of abuse in her home and Park’s incredible awkwardness in discovering what he wants in his life will keep you flipping pages hungrily. Read it, you’ll love it.

 

Fangirl – for all of you who were such big Harry Potter fans when it came out that you thought your life was deeply dependent on the storylines of the characters, you’ll die for this one. Even if you didn’t love HP but you’ve gotten so entranced and enchanted by a book that you didn’t think your life would be the same without the story playing in your mind, this one is for you. Although it takes place in early college and you feel those wonderful feelings of when you first crushed on a boy, it’s relatable to adults (because we’ve all been there). Cath’s voice isn’t a childish one, like some teen stories, and if you’re like me, you feel like you’ve finally found a character that shares the same social anxieties as you. I love her distinct and powerful voice while being so quiet. The story spoke to me, and you’ll love it too.

 

The Fault in Our Stars – so I realize that everyone has probably read this by now, but if you haven’t, you really should. I heard it’s required reading in some high schools now. Although I heard that I will cry when I read it, I remember reading the first half of the book, and almost defiantly thinking “I’m not going to cry in this one, it’s almost cheesy…” and then, it hits you. Like a ton of bricks. And it’s not the ending, it’s not the places you think it will be, but it hits you. It only took me 2 days to read (in short bursts), but the story felt like it consumed me. Towards the end (lets get personal), it brought up connections to happenings in my own family and I completely lost it [uncontrollable crying while locked in the bathroom].

You should read it. It’ll be good for you, good for your soul. And then you can decide whether or not you’ll go see the movie this summer.

 

Where’d You Go Bernadette? (not pictured) – This was such a FUN and unique story. I’ll admit, I started reading it and thought “how am I going to get sucked into a story that is told through letters and emails?!” But then…sucked in. The characters are so unique, spunky, snarky (my favorite), and hilarious. Yes, they’re crazy and will make you think you’re probably crazy too, which only makes it more fun. And not too many stories involve a fantasy trip to Antarctica. Too funny.

I read this one after The Fault In Our Stars and was thankful for the comedic relief.

 

The Divergent trilogy – (disclaimer – after reading The Hunger Games trilogy, I vowed to never read another teen series because of how irrational teenage girls with raging hormones are…but here I go again…) I have very very very strongly mixed emotions about this series. I’m no literary genius, but I know my stuff, and I don’t like to criticize because I don’t have the bravery to write a book, but I had my qualms with the writing in these books.

The first two books were fun. I liked the story, a lot. I loved the characters to a point. I do have a problem with every teen novel portraying the heroin as a woman who has to choose between being strong or fully having a relationship. I know we should tell our teens that they are wonderful, beautiful, and that they can rule the world; but I feel its also important to tell young women that it’s totally ok to find the right man, be able to trust him and lean on him, and take his advise and opinions as his partner, and that will never make you a lesser woman.

Moving on from that, I loved the storyline. You get absorbed into the fantasy world the author has written, because when an author tells you what is “truth” in their written world, then you believe in it. HERE’S WHERE MY PROBLEM DEVELOPED THOUGH – she should have rewritten them to end at the end of the second novel. Let the fantasy be the fantasy because she wrote it to be true.

She stumbled and fell with the third book. She experimented with trying to switch Point of View and tried telling the story from our main character, Tris, but now also from the other character, Tobias. Her problem was that she didn’t have a strong, unique inner voice for Tobias, so I often forgot who I was reading. And his thoughts were so flat. And then the author completely tries to undo the fantasy she spun for you (I’m trying not to give anything away, but if you are perceptive during the first two, it was obvious where she was going with the story). So then you feel like everything you were so taken by, was just not there anymore. It was painful to finish reading simply because you wish you hadn’t had to finish the story. So unfortunate.

 

I hope I helped you pick a new read! And I hope to do this again after I read a few more books (if you liked it).

Happy reading! 

This is not a sponsored post and those are not affiliate links. They’re just links so you can see the exact details of the books I’m talking about.