Tag: What I’m Reading

BOOK GIVEAWAY (5 Copies) Open to US and International Readers! The Seven Day Switch {Kelly Harms}

I am so happy to welcome guest blogger Melissa Amster from Chick Lit Central back to Book Coffee Happy today! I always love working with Melissa. If you haven’t checked out her lovely book blog, you absolutely must! Hers was the very first book blog I ever read and she definitely was one of the inspirations for me to start blogging myself. We have a GREAT book (and giveaway!) for you today! Thank you so much, Melissa, for sharing an Advance Reader’s Copy of The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms with me this past spring.

Goodreads Synopsis of The Seven Day Switch {Kelly Harms}:

Celeste Mason is the Pinterest stay-at-home supermom of other mothers’ nightmares. Despite her all-organic, SunButter-loving, free-range kids, her immaculate home, and her volunteering awards, she still has time to relax with a nice glass of pinot at the end of the day. The only thing that ruins it all is her workaholic, career-obsessed neighbor, who makes no secret of what she thinks of Celeste’s life choices every chance she gets.

Wendy Charles is a celebrated productivity consultant, columnist, and speaker. On a minute-by-minute schedule, she makes the working-mom hustle look easy. She even spends at least one waking hour a day with her kids. She’s not apologizing for a thing. Especially to Celeste, who plays her superior parenting against Wendy whenever she can.

Who do Celeste and Wendy think they are? They’re about to find out thanks to one freaky week. After a neighborhood potluck and too much sangria, they wake up—um, what?—in each other’s bodies. Everything Celeste and Wendy thought they knew about the “other kind of mom” is flipped upside down—along with their messy, complicated, maybe not so different lives.

Jenny Share’s Review:

I read (and loved!) The Bright Side of Going Dark by Kelly Harms a few months back (you can the synopsis and my review HERE) and was so excited to read her newest book The Seven Day Switch. She has such an easy to read, easy to love style of writing and I am a BIG fan. I had a pretty good feeling about this book before I even opened to the first page and I’m so happy that my first thoughts turned out to be correct.

I absolutely loved this wonderful book.

This book should be required reading for every parent out there! You truly don’t ever know what somebody else is going through and what that person chooses to reveal to the world does not in fact always tell the entire story.

This book has made me look at so many people in my life in a whole different light and has made me wonder about what is going on in their lives that I am not privy to.

“Mommy Wars” are a very real thing and moms are constantly comparing themselves to each other. STOP THAT! The decisions that you make for your own family should never be compared to decisions that somebody else is making for her own family.

I recently came upon this quote and it really spoke to me:

“Your kids don’t care what other moms are doing.”

How incredibly true is that? Your kids really don’t care what other moms are doing as long as you are doing the right thing for them. Parenting doesn’t come with an instruction manual and what is right for one family may not be right for the next.

This book really spoke directly to my heart and if you are a mother, it will speak to yours too! Every mother will be able to identify with at least something within these pages. The characters, the storylines, the messages…I truly loved this beautiful book so very much.

***I would be absolutely remiss if I didn’t say the following. Those who know me in real life know that I am a HUGE advocate of breastfeeding. Extended breastfeeding (breastfeeding toddlers) is normal, beautiful, and something that I did with both of my children. As much as I love this book, I did not love the negative connotation that came with this particular storyline. For a book about breaking judgmental parenting barriers, this storyline was clearly negative against parents who choose to feed and nurture their children in this way. I really wish that this particular storyline and all that went along with it could have been written with a bit more objectivity.***

Melissa Amster’s Review:

I’m always a fan of surreal stories, where you have to suspend disbelief. So the premise of The Seven Day Switch was definitely up my alley before I even opened it! And what was inside was even better than what I was expecting. Even though the topic of switching minds has been done before, such as in Freaky Friday, Kelly Harms puts a fun and refreshing spin on it, while also emphasizing the importance of balance in one’s life. As soon as I read just one chapter, I knew I had to tell my friend who runs Balanced Working Moms on Facebook about it. And, of course, I knew this book would be perfect for Jenny and I was not only excited for her to read it, but also to review it together at her blog.

 
I really liked and identified with both Wendy and Celeste in different ways. I enjoyed seeing them navigate each others’ lives and the things they did to try to help each other out, even if it wasn’t always with the best of intentions. There was one part I didn’t agree with at first, but I’m glad it was recognized and hashed out between the two women. Wendy’s son reminded me so much of my younger son. (Even Celeste’s son was similar to him in some ways.) I think, personally, I am more of a Wendy. However, I am thankful to have a relationship with my husband and kids that is more on par with Celeste. There were a lot of great moments, as well as some humorous ones. It’s always tricky to write about one character living another character’s life, but Kelly did this flawlessly throughout the novel.

 This was a sweet and touching story that I definitely recommend!

Movie casting suggestions:

Wendy: Piper Perabo

Celeste: Ginnifer Goodwin

Seth: Alexander Skarsgård

Davis: Sam Page

Hugh: James Roday Rodriguez

Ruthie: Mary Elizabeth Ellis

***GIVEAWAY DETAILS***

Would you like to win a copy of The Seven Day Switch? We have 5 copies to give away (open to our US and International readers!)

To be entered, just leave a comment below (on this blog post)!  Your comment can be about anything!

**You must comment below to be eligible for the giveaway and you must comment here on this blog post (not on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)**

Giveaway will close tomorrow (7/8/21) at 6:00 pm CDT and the winners will be randomly chosen and announced here on my blog on Friday (7/9/21).

Make sure you check the blog on Friday to see if you’ve won (you will have 48 hours from the time I post the winner to email me the mailing address where you would like your book sent.  If I don’t hear from you within 48 hours, I will pick a new winner).

Good luck!  We can’t wait to read your comments!

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The 12 best books that I read in 2020 can be found HERE

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

READ THIS BOOK STAT!

READ THIS BOOK STAT.

Yesterday’s Mystery Drive Thru Coffee. I paid and pulled away. I took the first sip and quickly realized that this was most definitely not 3 cream/3 Splenda. However, it was DELICIOUS so I just kept on driving, lol. Thanks for the mystery, Dunkin! Xo!

I rarely buy books. The minimalist in me LOVES borrowing (and then returning) books to the library. It’s such a win win…I read so many books and if I don’t love them…eh…I just bring them back.

Do I have big, colorful bookshelves proudly displayed in my home artistically filled with all of my reading adventures? I do not. Do I sometimes get Bookstagram Envy on Instagram? Oh I sure do. Do I love having a clean, clutter free home? YES YES YES.

Sometimes, I cave.

Barnes and Noble gift card? I bought THIS BOOK. Global pandemic? Ordered THIS BOOK on Amazon.

Needless to say, I hated both of those books and gave both away as soon as I finished reading. Ugh.

And then I bought THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK while on vacation a few months ago and I loved every word. A smart purchase indeed. I also bought THIS BOOK on that same trip and it ended up being the very best book I’ve ever read!

And I DID just buy 2 books last weekend when I just so happened to be a few miles away from the MECCA of bookstores…

A few weeks ago I put my name on the library waitlist for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s newest book, Malibu Rising. I was so excited to read it! In the meantime I read THIS BOOK. And hated it. And when I finished reading that awfully boring book, I KNEW I needed something AWESOME to read next.

Approximately 5 clicks later and Amazon Prime promised me that I would have Malibu Rising in my hands the very next day. And I did 🙂

Goodreads Synopsis of Malibu Rising {Taylor Jenkins Reid}:

Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over–especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud–because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own–including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind. 

My Review of Malibu Rising {Taylor Jenkins Reid}:

EVEEEEERYONE is reading this book right now. And there’s a reason.

I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVED. IT. I finished the last page, heard myself breathe a huge breath I didn’t even know I had been holding , and out loud (to absolutely nobody but myself) said “WOW”.

This book was amazing and I was completely all in from the very first sentence. It was interesting, it was fascinating, it was AWESOME.

PLEASE SOMEONE MAKE THIS BOOK INTO A MOVIE. OR A TELEVISION SERIES. OR A MINISERIES. ANYTHING ON A SCREEN!!! This would be an amazing story to be able to actually see unfold on a screen.

I do have 2 complaints…

1. There were so many characters and so many backstories that I’m STILL not even sure I know who everyone was. I think there were definitely wasted pages talking so much about these unnecessary characters but I suppose it did give an overall feel to the depth of the partygoers?

2. A few of the big twists were highly predictable (although a few were NOT).

However, these complaints are SMALL in comparison to how many things I absolutely loved about this book. It’s a wonderfully written story, so complex and so amazing.. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished reading. An absolutely perfect summer read.

Bottom Line:

Buying this book was such a SMART decision, so happy that I did!

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

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

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

1 Book I’m Currently Reading, 1 Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Currently Making Me HAPPY!

Book Coffee Happy’s newest series where I share the book I’m currently reading, the coffee I’m currently drinking, and 1 thing that is currently making me happy!

Book I’m Currently Reading:

Goodreads Synopsis of Are we There Yet {Kathleen West}:

Alice Sullivan feels like she’s finally found her groove in middle age, but it only takes one moment for her perfectly curated life to unravel. On the same day she learns her daughter is struggling in second grade, a call from her son’s school accusing him of bullying throws Alice into a tailspin.

When it comes to light that the incident is part of a new behavior pattern for her son, one complete with fake social media profiles with a lot of questionable content, Alice’s social standing is quickly eroded to one of “those moms” who can’t control her kids. Soon she’s facing the very judgement she was all too happy to dole out when she thought no one was looking (or when she thought her house wasn’t made of glass).

Then her mother unloads a family secret she’s kept for more than thirty years, and Alice’s entire perception of herself is shattered.

As her son’s new reputation polarizes her friendships and her family buzzes with the ramification of her mother’s choices, Alice realizes that she’s been too focused on measuring her success and happiness by everyone else’s standards. Now, with all her shortcomings laid bare, she’ll have to figure out to whom to turn for help and decide who she really wants to be.

I’ll post my review as soon as I finish reading!

Coffee I’m Currently Drinking:

I’ve read online that people swear this is the very best coffee creamer on Earth. Apparently it’s incredibly hard to find so when I randomly walked right by it at my local Target last week, of course I knew I had to try it for myself!

I’ve been pretty obsessed with oatmilk in my coffee lately so I had high hopes for this creamer!

Eh. I liked the “oaty” (that’s definitely not a word) flavor but the oatmeal cookie flavor just tasted fake and chemically to me. I’ll take plain old Half and Half any day! I’m always on the hunt for ways to take my coffee to the next level so I’m glad I tried this but…I would say this was a fail. Have any of you tried it? Does anyone have other coffee creamer recommendations?

Currently Making Me Happy:

READING OUTSIDE!

I finished reading Malibu Rising 2 days ago! I’ll have my review posted next week!

Oh how I love to read outside and the time is HERE! I try to read outside whenever I can find the chance to do so. On my hammock, on our front porch rocking chair, on a chair in our backyard, etc. I LOVE reading outside, especially when the sun in shining! The weather here has been beautiful and I’ve definitely been taking advantage by spending as much time outdoors as possible…with a book!

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

What are you currently reading?

What coffee are you currently enjoying?

What is 1 thing currently making you HAPPY?

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

{Unpopular Opinion} Book Review: Beach Read {Emily Henry}

I’ve been staring at Emily Henry’s Beach Read sitting on my bookshelf for months but refused to read it until the summer because I cannot read a seasonal book during a non corresponding season, lol. Summer in Chicagoland is officially HERE and so is the time to read and review this book! I was so excited to start reading, I couldn’t wait to see what the hype is all about.

Goodreads Synopsis of Beach Read {Emily Henry}:

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They’re polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really. 

My Review of Beach Read {Emily Henry}:

I REALLY didn’t like this book.

So with a title such as Beach Read, one would assume this would be a light hearted story, correct?

Wrong.

This is most definitely not a lighthearted story. It’s deep, it’s sad, It’s so boring, it’s NOT what I would call a “beach read”. Not at all. There were definitely some parts where I smiled but mostly I was just bored.

And the words. THE WORDS. There were just so many words, so many descriptions, so many thoughts, so many WORDS. Like…it’s a book, of course there are words. But this book just had SO MANY DESCRIPTIVE WORDS. And thoughts. SO MANY THOUGHTS. Every character just did SO MUCH THINKING.

Aaaaaand one would assume with all of those descriptions that the sex scenes would be steamy and amazing, right? Nope. They were CRINGEWORTHY. Ugh.

I really didn’t like this book and it absolutely dragged for me the entire time. The one and only reason that I even finished it was because so many people love it so much!

There were definately some good life lessons and the last 50ish pages were definitely the best parts BUT…I still really was not a fan of the overall book.

This is just one of the amazing things about books…each reader can view them so differently. Years ago I wrote an entire post about this after I reviewed another book that everyone else loved and I hated! You can read that post HERE.

If anyone local would like my copy of Beach Read, I’ll leave it on my front porch for you. Free to a good home! Clearly, I don’t recommend it but you might love it (everyone else seems to)! If nobody wants it, I will put it in a Little Free Library.

Bottom Line:

I have no idea why there is so much hype surrounding this boring book.

Have you read Beach Read? Do any of you agree with me? Or…did you love it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

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

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

Book I’m Currently Reading (I Bought It!), Book I Recently Read (Review Coming Soon), Book I Plan On Reading Next (Looks Awesome)

I love when Book Coffee Happy can participate in WWW! The Three Ws: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

Thanks so much to Sam from Taking on a World of Words for hosting this fun weekly post!

I looooooove reading outside! Happy Summer!

What Are You Currently Reading?

Goodreads Synopsis of Malibu Rising {Taylor Jenkins Reid}:

Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over–especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud–because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own–including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.

From Facebook:

If you don’t follow Book Coffee Happy on Facebook, please do! Lots of awesome book discussions are always happening over there!

I’ll let you know my thoughts when I finish reading this book!

What Did You Recently Finish Reading?

Goodreads Synopsis of Beach Read {Emily Henry}:

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They’re polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really. 

I finished reading this one yesterday morning! I’ll have my review posted on here soon!

What Do You Think You’ll Read Next?

Goodreads Synopsis of Are We There Yet {Kathleen West}:

Alice Sullivan feels like she’s finally found her groove in middle age, but it only takes one moment for her perfectly curated life to unravel. On the same day she learns her daughter is struggling in second grade, a call from her son’s school accusing him of bullying throws Alice into a tailspin.

When it comes to light that the incident is part of a new behavior pattern for her son, one complete with fake social media profiles with a lot of questionable content, Alice’s social standing is quickly eroded to one of “those moms” who can’t control her kids. Soon she’s facing the very judgement she was all too happy to dole out when she thought no one was looking (or when she thought her house wasn’t made of glass).

Then her mother unloads a family secret she’s kept for more than thirty years, and Alice’s entire perception of herself is shattered.

As her son’s new reputation polarizes her friendships and her family buzzes with the ramification of her mother’s choices, Alice realizes that she’s been too focused on measuring her success and happiness by everyone else’s standards. Now, with all her shortcomings laid bare, she’ll have to figure out to whom to turn for help and decide who she really wants to be.

Sounds so good, right??? I’m excited to start reading!

Have you read any of these 3 books? What did you think (no spoilers)? What are you currently reading? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Happy Friday! I hope you weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

Xo,

Jenny

Click on the images below to order through my Amazon link. When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

Psychological Thriller Book Review: The Wrong Family {Tarryn Fisher}

I hated the story of Tarryn Fisher’s The Wives but I didn’t actually hate the writing so I thought that maybe I would like The Wrong Family??? When I saw it on the shelf at my library, I decided it was time to read and review another one of Tarryn Fisher’s books. Maybe I would like this one better?

Goodreads Synopsis of The Wrong Family {Tarryn Fisher}:

Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.

Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.

Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…

She shouldn’t get involved.

She really shouldn’t.

But this could be her chance to make a few things right.

Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too. 

My Review of The Wrong Family {Tarryn Fisher}:

This book was a bit of a mess.

So many storylines, SO many insignificant characters, not nearly enough character or storyline development. The “twists” weren’t nearly as twisty as they could have been and my prediction for the ending would have been a million times better than the ending which I got.

I will say that there was one FASCINATING storyline in this book but…the rest of the storylines just fell so flat. I can’t elaborate on this as it would give away a huge spoiler and you know how I feel about spoilers 😉

It’s like 5 separate books with a million characters and storylines…and although they were supposed to all fit together at the end, they did not.

Bottom Line:

1 FASCINATING storyline. The rest of the book? Not nearly as fascinating.

Psychological Thrillers:

If you love psychological thrillers like I do, HERE are a few of my recommendations!

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

I wasn’t a fan of this book…but you might love it!  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

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

1 Book I’m Currently Reading, 1 Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Currently Making Me Happy!

Book Coffee Happy’s newest series where I share the book I’m currently reading, the coffee I’m currently drinking, and 1 thing that is currently making me happy!

Book I’m Currently Reading:

I’m starting this book tonight and I’m so excited! I think it sounds awesome. I’ll let you know!

Synopsis of The Mothers {Genevieve Gannon}:

Coffee I’m Currently Drinking:

I’ve never been a big Starbucks fan (#dunkinforlife) but I recently discovered a DELICIOUS way to order my iced coffee from Starbucks! I go back and forth on liking iced coffee ever since I discovered it during our trip to Disney World back in 2019.

If you like iced coffee, this is delicious (I’m always a fan of anything that contains oats in any form) :

Let me know if you try it!

Currently Making Me Happy:

This lovely comment that someone made on Facebook! Writing this blog is such a fun hobby for me and I always love when people say nice things. I don’t personally know this person but she definitely made me smile 🙂

What are you currently reading?

What coffee are you currently enjoying?

What is 1 thing currently making you HAPPY?

Xo,

Jenny

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

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

This Has NEVER Happened to Me While Reading A Book! Review: The End of Her {Shari Lapena}

This Has NEVER Happened to Me While Reading A Book! Review: The End of Her {Shari Lapena}

Goodreads Synopsis of The End of Her {Shari Lapena}:

It starts with a shocking accusation…

Stephanie and Patrick are recently married, with new-born twins. While Stephanie struggles with the disorienting effects of sleep deprivation, there’s one thing she knows for certain – she has everything she ever wanted.

Then a woman from his past arrives and makes a shocking accusation about his first wife. He always claimed her death was an accident – but she says it was murder.

He insists he’s innocent, that this is nothing but a blackmail attempt. But is Patrick telling the truth? Or has Stephanie made a terrible mistake?

How will it end?

My Review of The End of Her {Shari Lapena}:

I was not a fan of this book.

It was…fine. The writing was…fine.

Overall, it was just so BORING. 334 pages of nothing happening! And when things DID happen (even big things) they were still just so boring.

I’m not a true crime/courtroom/detective fan and a large portion of this book was focused on just that.

Parts of this book were so predictable and the characters all kept blending into each other.

Something Happened to Me While Reading That Has NEVER Happened to Me Before:

Now here’s the CRAZIEST part of my review. Something happened to me while reading that has never happened to me before. A big twist was on the horizon and I had NO CLUE it was coming…until…THE AUTHOR spoiled it for me. Ummm WHAT?! I would never have put it together until she very clearly laid it all out just pages before it was supposed to shock me. Again…HUH?! Like, how does THAT happen??? I would have been absolutely floored by this twist and it would’ve made the whole book so much better for me but the fact that she told me it was coming just made me dislike this book even more. How did an editor not catch that and maybe advise against it? Mind blown…but clearly not by the “shocking” twist.

My thoughts on Shari Lapena’s books are a bit all over the place. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED The Couple Next Door (how I have not reviewed that amazing book on my blog? Read it, it’s awesome.) I didn’t love A Stranger in the House (read my review HERE). I really enjoyed An Unwanted Guest (read my review HERE). I’m interested in reading Someone We Know but am a bit nervous due to my less than stellar track record with Shari Lapena’s books. Have any of you read it? I’d be curious to hear your thoughts? While it’s on my list to read, it’s clearly not very high on there, lol.

Bottom Line:

Eh.

Have you read The End of Her? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

Clearly this book wasn’t for me…but you might love it!  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

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

READ THIS BOOK READ THIS BOOK READ THIS BOOK!

Hi 💗

Oh do I have an AWESOME book suggestion for you today! My dear friend Jana texted me as soon as she finished reading the last page and told me that I NEEDED to read it. I always take Jana’s book suggestions VERY seriously…her and I have such similar tastes in books and call each other “Book Twin”…and I immediately put this one on hold at the library. I couldn’t WAIT to read it.

Jana, you could NOT have been more correct…OH HOW I LOVED THIS BOOK. Book Twin for the WIN.

Goodreads Synopsis of The One {John Marrs}:

How far would you go to find The One?

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 are 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…

A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences.

My Review of The One {John Marrs}:

What the HELL did I just read?!

Omg.

It. Was. AWESOME. My heart is still pounding.

Like…it had EVERYTHING. Detailed and awesome story lines, extremely short chapters, in depth characters, etc.

But hands down the best part…THE TWISTS.

Most books have one, two, maaaaybe three “big” twists…this book literally had a twist at the end of just about every chapter. Howwwww??? This entire book made me feel like I was riding a twisty roller coaster in every direction possible. Amazing!

Some twists I saw coming, some I did NOT, some I figured out riiiiiight before they happened…and I loved every single one.

This book took me on a RIDE and I LOVED IT. It kept me up reading way too late each night and had me reaching for it first thing each morning!

I loved, loved, LOVED it. It was fascinating, thought provoking, disturbing, awesome, and brilliant.

Netflix has turned it into a series but…just from the trailer…it looks to be SO different from the book. Like, VERY different. Have any of you watched? I would be so curious to hear how it compares to the book!

I haven’t seen any of the series so I can only speak to the book when I say:

Read it. Trust me.

Bottom Line

READ THIS. READ THIS. READ THIS.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link (the hardcover that I read has a different cover than the paperback linked below). When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg

A Book I Started Reading and Couldn’t Finish.

I HATE to start reading a book and end up not finishing it. Hate. However, I REALLY hate reading a book and not being 100 percent into it…what’s the point? If I’m reading a book and not feeling it, I put it down and move on. My thoughts on this have changed so much since I wrote THIS POST. I no longer give myself a page limit to read to…now, it doesn’t matter how far into it I am! If I’m not feeling it, I’m out.

And I definitely wasn’t feeling this book.

A Book I Started Reading and Couldn’t Finish:

Goodreads Synopsis of Followers {Raziel Reid}:

After a disastrous date results in her arrest, sixteen-year-old Lily Rhode is horrified to discover her mugshot is leaked on a gossip website. Lily is the niece of Whitney Paley, a Hollywood housewife and star of reality show Platinum Triangle, a soap-opera-style docu-series in the vein of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Hills, revolving around several glamorous families living in the Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Holmby Hills neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

When Lily’s mom kicks her out of their trailer home in the Valley, Whitney (Lily’s mom’s estranged sister) invites her to live with her, her movie-star husband, Patrick, and their daughter, Hailey. Lily is set up in the pool house and thrust into the company of reality-star offspring — kids who are born with silver spoon emojis on their feed. Lily’s cousin Hailey and the other teens have lived their entire lives on camera and are masters of deception, with Hailey leading the pack.

As Lily learns from the Paleys how to navigate her newfound fame, she finds herself ensnared in the unfolding storylines. What Lily doesn’t know is that she’s just a pawn being used on the show to make the Paleys look sympathetic to viewers while distracting from on-set sexual misconduct rumors surrounding super hero dad Patrick Paley . . .

Is Lily safe under Patrick’s roof? Or will Lily be Patrick’s downfall? If she isn’t destroyed by Hailey first. When Lily catches the eye of Hailey’s designated leading man Joel Strom — it’s war! 

My Review of Followers {Raziel Reid}:

Eh.

I read about 50 pages before I called it quits. It was actually pretty good and had some interesting story lines…I think maybe I’m just too old for this book, lol.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the Real Housewives and I can’t get enough of Kardashian anything…but… I do think there is a really big difference between WATCHING reality TV and READING about reality TV.

Combine that theory with the fact that this book is about a bunch of teenagers and I just couldn’t get into it. The writing was good…the story just wasn’t for me although the synopsis sounds SO GREAT. I found myself not excited to pick it up to read which is always my #1 clue that it’s time to put it down for good.

Ironically, the other book that I also just couldn’t get into with a similar feel was titled the same thing: Followers {Megan Angelo}. I started that book and couldn’t finish it…just like this one! I searched my blog to link my post about it but couldn’t find it. Eh…that’s fine. Clearly I don’t recommend it, lol.

I am absolutely reality tv obsessed but for some reason there has only been one book that I have read about this topic which I absolutely LOVED! If you were a fan of the bachelor, you must read THIS BOOK!

Bottom Line:

Eh.

Have any of you read Followers by Raziel Reid? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

Xo,

Jenny

This book wasn’t for me…but you might love it! 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

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support!  Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_5573-1.jpg