Tag: bookreview

1 Awesome Book And It’s Not Nearly As Awesome Sequel

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These books have been loved by readers for years and will continue to be loved by readers for years to come. The messages and lessons within them will continue to be relevant, important, and meaningful for generations to come.

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all—beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.

From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness.

Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . .

For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship—jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you—and knows what has the power to hurt you . . . and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you’ll never forget . . . one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.

My Thoughts

5 Stars

Oh this is one beautifully written book.  Talk about being taken on a JOURNEY.  When I closed the cover once I finished, I was emotionally exhausted in the very best way possible.  You know those brilliantly written books where once you finish, you look around and realize that somehow you need to say good-bye to the characters but aren’t quite sure how to move on?  This book was such a perfect example of that for me.  Thank God there was a sequel!

I absolutely loved everything about this book.  It spans over the course of 30 years—30 years!—-and throughout so many settings.  Memorable characters, such interesting story lines, such meaningful lessons.

I can’t recommend this one highly enough.  I laughed, I sobbed, and I realized for the zillionith time just how lucky I am to have the best friends that I do.  If you haven’t read this one yet…it’s time 🙂

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My Thoughts

4 Stars

I don’t want to even include the synopsis of this sequel as it contains major spoilers from Firefly Lane.  I enjoyed this book because I was so invested in the characters and their stories before I even began reading…but…this book just doesn’t compare to Firefly Lane.  If you read Firefly Lane, you definitely should read this one, but I was a bit disappointed because I just loved the first one so, so much.

Bottom Line

Firefly Lane = amazing. Fly Away = very good.

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Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

Giveaway Winner, ANOTHER Giveaway, and a Book Review: Her Pretty Face {Robyn Harding}

Thank you to everyone who entered the I’m Going To Gramma’s In My Pajamas!  (affiliate) giveaway on my most recent post( ***GIVEAWAY*** I’m Going to Gramma’s In My Pajamas! {Barbara Berg Mies})

Congratulations to DEBBIE!  Please email me at bookcoffeehappy@gmail.com and I will see that your autographed copy gets mailed to you asap, 🙂

Didn’t win?  Still would like a chance?  I have ANOTHER signed copy of I’m Going To Gramma’s In My Pajamas! (affiliate) to give away exclusively on Facebook!  Head on over to my Facebook page (www.fb.com/bookcoffeehappy) for giveaway details.  Good luck!

And now…a book review!

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

Frances Metcalfe is struggling to stay afloat.

A stay-at-home mom whose troubled son is her full-time job, she thought that the day he got accepted into the elite Forrester Academy would be the day she started living her life. Overweight, insecure, and lonely, she is desperate to fit into Forrester’s world. But after a disturbing incident at the school leads the other children and their families to ostracize the Metcalfes, she feels more alone than ever before.

Until she meets Kate Randolph.

Kate is everything Frances is not: beautiful, wealthy, powerful, and confident. And for some reason, she’s not interested in being friends with any of the other Forrester moms—only Frances. As the two bond over their disdain of the Forrester snobs and the fierce love they have for their sons, a startling secret threatens to tear them apart…because one of these women is not who she seems. Her real name is Amber Kunick. And she’s a murderer.

In her masterful follow-up to The Party, Robyn Harding spins a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal, asking the question: Can people ever change? And even if they can, is it possible to forgive the past?

My Thoughts:

(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)

3 Stars

I love a good psychological thriller.  I love a good plot twist. I love when characters end up taking on a whole different persona than the reader is led to believe. Mostly, I love when an author is able to completely take me on such a wild ride of plot twists that I never even saw them coming.

Her Pretty Face delivers none of that.  

Without even trying, I was able to correctly predict every single plot twist and character identification from very early on in the novel. I HATE when that happens and I spent the rest of the story convinced that I couldn’t be right only to eventually learn that I had been spot on the entire time.

It is told through 3 characters….just enough. I do not enjoy when authors tell a story though too many points of view.  It gets confusing.  3 is perfect! I felt some of the story lines were very unbelievable (the relationship between Daisy and David, the infatuation that Frances felt towards Kate, etc.)

The overall story itself is very dark, yet very intriguing. It kept me interested the entire time, although part of that might have been driven by my desire to prove myself wrong with all of my predictions.

Bottom Line:

I liked this book, I just wish all of the twists weren’t so obvious.

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Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  I receive a tiny commission each time an order is placed through this link. Thank you for your support, Xo

Book Review: Wonder {R.J. Palacio}

It will be hard to find the words to describe just how much I loved this book but I’ll try…

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse. 

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

My Thoughts:

(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)

5 Stars (would give it a million stars if I could)

I am writing this review with actual tears in my eyes.  This book is perfection and the various messages that it sends are some of the strongest, most impactful, and most important messages one can learn.  I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it enough.

The story is written from the different perspectives of various people and each chapter is short and very quick.  This is one of those books that could so easily be read in one sitting!  I read it over 2 days but if I had the time (and the quiet!), I easily have devoured it all at once.

It’s technically “Young Adult Literature” (YA) but truly can (and should) be read by all ages.  The life lessons taught here are applicable and necessary to everyone.

This beautiful story will have you laughing, crying, and feeling every emotion in between.  If you haven’t read this one yet, you are in for such a wonderful treat!

Bottom Line:

Many people think this book should be required reading for all middle schoolers.  Those people are wrong.  This book should be required reading for all middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults.

On Wednesday I will have an adorable CHILDREN’S book review and GIVEAWAY of it for you!

Please enter your email address to receive notifications each time I post on my blog, please “like” my Facebook page (search Book Coffee Happy), and follow me on Twitter @bookcoffeehappy!  Please tell any other book lovers to do these 3 things as well!

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine {Gail Honeyman}

I couldn’t WAIT to read this book!  I had heard such wonderful things from so many different people!  When I finally got my hands on a copy, I was so excited…

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Synaposis from Goodreads:

No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine.

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

Soon to be a major motion picture produced by Reese Witherspoon, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the smart, warm, and uplifting story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. . .

The only way to survive is to open your heart.

My Thoughts:

(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)

2 Stars

I read this book months ago and when I came here to review it I realized…it has left zero impression on me.  The worst books are the ones where you close the cover after you finish reading and never think about the characters or story lines again and this book is a perfect example.  I was so excited to read it…there was (is) such a buzz about it!  What I was assuming (and hoping) would have been a fun and heartwarming story ended up being a boring, sad, and depressing one instead.  The biggest thing I remember about this book was just how bored I was while reading it…but there was such a buzz about it that I felt compelled to keep reading. Such a disappointment for me because I was SO excited to read it! I’m curious to hear what others thought because this is currently such a popular book…Have you read it?  Did you like it?

Bottom Line:

There were absolutely a few scenes where I remember smiling while reading…but mostly I just remember yawning.

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Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  Thank you for your support, Xo

****GIVEAWAY**** Maddie’s Miracles {Scott Kramer}

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Full disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book to read and review for my blog.  All opinions are my own. 

Giveaway details will be given at the bottom of this post!

It is with my sincerest honor to be able to review such a wonderfully written story.  Everything about this book is beautiful.  The writing is conveyed in such a way that truly reflects the love, bond, and strength that this family has for each other.  I laughed, I cried, I felt every emotion in between.  I am in awe of Maddie’s strength and the strength of her entire family.

I loved reading the book…and I discovered as an added bonus that the author is a wonderful person!  Him and I have been emailing back and forth about his book and he couldn’t be a nicer or more generous man.  He is just as nice in real life as he appears in his book which makes me appreciate the book even more 🙂

A conversation with Scott Kramer, in his own words…

Briefly give a description of your book:

A book of life. That is exactly what awaits inside the inspirational pages of this true story.

On April 26, 2017, a loving father opened his laptop with the intent of simply keeping his family and friends updated on the condition of his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Maddie. Just days prior, Maddie had undergone emergency surgery to remove a rare, cancerous tumor from her spinal cord. Her battle would continue with an aggressive treatment protocol that would have been taxing on even the strongest of adults.

With Maddie as the perpetual force of positivity, her father continued to document her miraculous journey. Factual updates quickly transformed into a series of inspiring and unforgettable vignettes. Anyone following Maddie’s story began to realize that the daily doses of joy she dropped upon her loved ones were not fleeting tales of a fighting toddler. Instead, there was something deeper about Maddie. Something more profound. Something you will discover as you delve into Maddie’s story.

That Maddie – with her boundless miracles and incomparable spirit – offers unique insight into tackling any challenge life may bring our way. That Maddie – from the very beginning – was giving us all the gift of this beautiful book of life.

How did you create the idea for your book?

Each chapter of this true story was written in real time.  Inspired by my daughter Maddie, the stories inside are real-life reflections on the rays of sunshine she dropped on a daily basis during her journey through darkness.

What audience would be most interested in your book?

Maddie’s Miracles is not just a book about cancer.  It’s a book for anyone who has experienced adversity or struggle of any kind.  And for anyone who appreciates the power of an inspirational life story.

Use 3 adjectives to describe your book:

  • Inspirational
  • Beautiful
  • Life-changing

Any additional information that you would like to provide about you or your book:


A portion of the proceeds of sale for Maddie’s Miracles are donated to Dancing While Cancering, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Maddie’s parents in her inspirational memory.  Dancing While Cancering is committed to bringing joy to the inpatient hospital experience for children with cancer.  To learn more about this special organization, please visit their website at http://dancingwhilecancering.org.

To order your copy of this beautiful book (paperback or Kindle), please click the image below (affiliate link):

**GIVEAWAY**

Would you like a chance to win an autographed copy of this beautiful story for you or to give to someone you love?

I have 1 autographed copy of Maddie’s Miracles to give away!  The paperback will be mailed directly to you from the author (US only for this giveaway).

To be entered, please complete these 2 simple steps:

Follow and/or subscribe with your email address to my blog

Leave a comment below telling me your favorite inspirational quote

**You must complete both of these steps to be eligible for the giveaway**

Giveaway will end Friday 6:00am CDT and winner will be randomly chosen and announced in Friday morning’s blog post.  If you already follow and/or subscribe to my blog, you are still eligible…just leave a comment below to be entered 🙂

Good luck!