February 2021 Reads

February may be the shortest month of the year, and smack dab in the middle of the depressing winter months, but it’s also my birthday month, so I’m a fan. 

I was on the struggle bus with reading in February - found myself in a bit of a “reading funk,” if you will - so, I didn’t read as many books as I had hoped. 

But, nonetheless, let’s get into the short stack of books I read last month!

*Summaries are paraphrased and/or taken from Goodreads.

I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST by Mason Deaver

Rating: 3.7/5 stars

Summary: When Ben DeBacker comes out to their parents as non-binary, they’re thrown out of their house and finds refuge with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder worsened by their parents’ rejection, Ben come out to only a couple of people including a therapist. 

Ben’s attempts to survive the last half of senior year at a new school by keeping a low profile are hindered when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic guy, takes Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan’s friendship grows, their feelings for each other evolve, and what started as a disastrous situation turns into the chance to start a happier life.

My Thoughts: This was an incredibly powerful book that touches on identity, acceptance, complex family issues, mental illness, and more. It dove into areas that, as a cis woman, I would’ve never thought about in terms of sexuality as it relates to gender identity. For example, Ben’s sister, Hannah, asks them what gender they’re into, and they explain that they don’t know because although they gravitate towards more masculine-looking people, they don’t want to say they’re bisexual because that would discount nonbinary people, and who is Ben to determine someone’s gender is more attractive than another? Besides David Rose’s wine metaphor in Schitt’s Creek, I haven’t encountered any explanations on this topic that were as eye-opening as the ones in this book. My main critique is although it was dripping with emotion during the pivotal parts, everything in between was kind of dry. I found myself really pushing to get through the lulls to get to the next high where the story picked up pace again. I also think the supporting characters deserved a little more page time because the author gave them really distinct personalities that added texture to the story, but they weren’t utilized enough. Overall, I think this was a really impactful book that I believe a lot of people would benefit from reading. 

The House of Deep Water by Jeni McFarland

THE HOUSE OF DEEP WATER by Jeni McFarland

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: River Bend, Michigan is a small town that while most can’t imagine leaving, three women couldn’t wait to escape. When Linda Williams, her mother Paula and Beth DeWitt return and their paths collide, the town struggles to contain all of their love affairs and secrets. Filled with the voices of mothers, daughters, lovers, and fathers, The House of Deep Water explores motherhood, trauma, love, loss and new beginnings.

My Thoughts: This was a very heavy, emotional read for me. Not that it caused me to physically cry or anything, but as someone who experiences seasonal depression, the dark emotional undertones that accompanied some of the characters in this novel made it really hard to pick up every night. If you’re someone who isn’t easily affected vicariously through books, then you’d probably be fine. I just found it a little emotionally exhausting, but that’s also due to the author’s ability to immerse you in each character. This novel touches on the dynamics of dysfunctional families, social and racial issues, sexual abuse (trigger warning), and small town isolation. I appreciated that even though the three main characters were so different, their lives were still intertwined through experiences, history, and family members. Overall, I thought it was an all right book, but I won’t read it again.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

THE FIFTH SEASON by N.K. Jemisin

Rating: 3.9/5 stars

Summary: Three terrible things happen in the same day - which is how the world ends. Again. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, the Sanze empire - which has been the foundation for civilization for thousands of years - collapses, killing most of its citizens. Worst of all, a great red rift has torn into the heart of the earth, causing ash to darken the sky for years - if not, centuries. Now, to save her daughter, Essun must travel through a deadly, dying land without sunlight, clean water, and limited supplies. A war is coming across the Stillness continent for the basic resources necessary to get through the long, dark night.

My Thoughts: Going into The Fifth Season, I had high expectations because of all the positive reviews I saw on Bookstagram, Goodreads, etc., but this book may have been a victim of its own hype. The way this story is structured is really unique as it follows three women’s journeys - Damaya, Essun and Syenite. At one point, the author actually puts you in Essun’s shoes and starts writing in second-person for her chapters, which was cool because it made it easier to really get into the mindset of the character and envision her experience firsthand. Since this book is the first in the Broken Earth trilogy, I know its purpose is to set the scene and background for what’s to come in the next two books, but that made a large portion of this book a very slooooow burn. There is a glossary and historical overview in the back to help you understand some historical, caste, societal, and setting references, but I didn’t find those tools until after I finished lol. There is also so much detail that you really have to pay attention to each woman’s journey to understand how they’re all connected and the significance of each one’s experience. In all honesty, I didn’t truly get into it until maybe halfway through and after finishing it, I think it probably could have been about 50 pages shorter. This was a good book overall, but I didn’t feel like it lived up to its hype. It ended on an interesting cliffhanger though, so I may read the next book, but probably not anytime soon. 

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born in different villages during 18th century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman which leaves her living in comfort in the Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, Esi is imprisoned beneath her in the castle’s dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast’s booming slave trade, and shipped off to America where her children and grandchildren are raised in slavery. Homegoing follows the descendents of these sisters through everything from centuries of warfare and British colonization in Ghana to the Civil War, Great Migration and twentieth-century Harlem in America, right up to the present day. This novel makes history visceral and captures how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.

My Thoughts: I loved this book and not just because it ended my lukewarm reading streak for February. The story follows the families of two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, who started in two very different places in life and is uniquely formatted to read as though you’re climbing a family tree. Starting from the roots, the author takes you on a journey across 250 years from 18th-century Ghana to 20th-century Harlem. Each chapter is a vignette that focuses on a different family member in subsequent generations to show how each of the sister’s family ends up in the present day. I liked that although you don’t spend a ton of time with each character, you still get to know each one intimately. Which, personally, helped me build a deeper connection not only with the character, but also the families.The author’s writing is absolutely incredible, and the way she illustrates the horrifics of slavery and slavery’s aftermath was incredibly impactful yet still digestable. I also want to give mad props to the author for the amount of research that had to have gone into writing this book to truly bring each character’s time period and setting to life. This was a marvellous book for only being 300 pages and I highly recommend it!

2021 Book Count: 12 down, 43 to go!

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t yet!

YOUR TURN! Let me know in the comments below what books you have on this year’s TBR (To Be Read) list.

January 2021 Reads

Last year, I truly discovered my love of reading. Maybe it was more discovering a different type of “escape” that isn’t via a screen because, yanno, sometimes it’s nice to jump into another world for a few hours. Either way, I ended up reading 48 books when my original goal was only 20. Which means, from now on, I won’t feel like a phony by putting “reading” as one of my hobbies lol. 

This year, I decided to Emeril LeGasse my Goodreads goal and kick it up a notch! 

2021 Goodreads Reading Goal: 55 books.

Of those 55 books, I’m aiming for at least 30% (or ~17) to be books written by BIPOC and/or LGBTQ authors and two need to be classics. Apparently my mom is a big fan of the classics and she was pushing me to read more of them this year. So, Daphne du Maurier, I’m coming for ya.

Anyway, without further adieu, let’s recap the books I read in January, shall we?

(Actually, lol, quick preface to my ratings: I feel like I gave out a lot of 5 stars last year whereas some people rarely give them out. So, I figured I’m either not being judicious enough with my fivers or I’m just only reading books I know I’ll love lol.) 

NOW, without further adieu…

*All summaries are paraphrased from Goodreads.

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

THE ASSASSIN’S BLADE by Sarah J. Maas

Rating: 4.8 /5 stars

Summary: Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin, and her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel - King of the Assassin’s Guild. Truly though, Celaena only trusts her herself and her fellow assassin, soft-eyed Sammy boy. In this collection of action-packed novellas, Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from Pirate islands to hot af deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. All Celaena wants is to be free, but acting against Arobynn’s orders could cause her to suffer the unimaginable punishment for such treachery.

My Thoughts: Okay, so I could literally write a standalone blog post about the entire Throne of Glass series because I’m that obsessed with it. There are seven books total and in December, I DEVOURED them like Thanksgiving leftovers. I just cannot express how lost in the sauce this series made me feel. So, to kick off my year with finishing up the emotional journey I’ve been on in this fantasy world by reading the prequel…*chef’s kiss*. This book was about Celaena Sardothien’s various assassin missions and life in Adarlan leading up to the salt mines of Endovier (a.k.a. where the first book starts). Each of the short novellas in Assassin’s Blade were mentioned throughout the actual series, so to finally get the whole story - especially about Sam - was incredibly fulfilling. Highly recommend Assassin’s Blade, but I will cut you if you don’t read the ToG series first (lol at the violent pun). :)

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

BIG MAGIC: CREATIVE LIVING BEYOND FEAR by Elizabeth Gilbert

Rating: 4.3/5 stars

Summary: This book uncovers the enigma that is the nature of inspiration and clever ideas by encouraging readers to embrace their curiosity and let go of personal skepticism. Gilbert walks us through how to tackle what we love most and face down our biggest obstacle - fear. By explaining the attitudes, approaches and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the creative potential hidden within each of us. 

My Thoughts: Though I was v lucky because a lot of the personal examples she gives is about writing, anyone with a creative interest would benefit from this book. Gilbert explains through a variety of examples and anecdotes that creative geniuses don’t exist; rather, everyone has the potential to find their own creative genius. So, whether you crochet, play an instrument, widdle soap, literally anything - you will walk away inspired to try this concept of creative living.

My key takeaways: 

• Ideas and creativity will only find you if you’re putting in the energy for them to reach you

• Only do your creative practice if it’s because you genuinely enjoy it, not because you think other people will

• Never start a creative project with monetization in-mind or else it will always disappoint you

• Don’t allow the fear of not being the best at your creative practice prevent you from doing it

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’ Farrell

THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX by Maggie O’Farrell

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Between running her vintage clothing store and avoiding her current guy-of-the-moment’s clinginess, Iris Lockhart receives surprising news: her great-aunt Esme, whom she has never heard of before, is being released from an asylum - where she has been locked away more than 60 years. Esme’s records prove she is Iris’s grandmother’s sister, and there’s no doubt Iris can see a glimpse of her dead father in Esme’s features. Though Esme has been deemed harmless, she is still essentially a stranger to Iris, and carries with her some very dark family secrets.

My Thoughts: Funny back story to this book - and I promise I’m trying to make it short. Earlier this month, I was staying at my parents’ house for a few days and was looking for a quick, easy read. My mom said she had a book downstairs that I bought her for Christmas when I was about 10. Apparently, when I gave it to her, I told her that after buying gifts for my brother and dad, I only had about $6 left. So, I went to Barnes & Noble, found the clearance table, saw a book with a ballerina on it that was only $5, and thought this was the gift for mom. For obvious reasons, she was expecting the book to suck eggs, but to her surprise, it was actually a banger. So, she’s held onto it all these years lol. I really enjoyed this book and it was a pretty quick read. The format of it is a little different, but once you get an idea of which character is talking/thinking, it’s hard to put down. The ending was very poetic and left you with just a nugget of completion while still wanting more.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Henry DeTamble, an adventuresome librarian, frequently finds himself misplaced in time. As one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement disorder, Henry’s disappearances are spontaneous, the period of time he’s sent to frequently changes, and his experiences are unpredictable. Clare, Henry’s wife, has known him since she was a child and he was in his thirties. Through both Henry’s and Clare’s points of view, The Time Traveler’s Wife dives into the effects of time travel on their relationship and lives. 

My Thoughts: It took me longer to read this book than I expected it to. That’s definitely not because I didn’t enjoy it, but I wasn’t so enthralled that I “couldn’t put it down.” (I guess another way to say that is, when I had the option of continuing to binge watch Gilmore Girls or to read TTTW, I more often chose Gilmore Girls lol.) The author does a great job of tying together all of the different experiences from both Clare’s and Henry’s perspectives as it relates to his time traveling. What kept me hooked though was the feeling that I was putting together a puzzle, but had to figure out who had the right pieces - Clare or Henry. I will say that I wasn’t in love with either character, and it truly surprised me that Clare never questioned whether or not she had a choice in all of this. She just blindly trusted some guy who kept showing up randomly in the woods near her family’s property and took whatever he said at face value. I would have been a liiiiittle more skeptical than that. (Like, hello, Clare? Stranger Danger? Have you never heard of it?) Overall, I enjoyed this book, but probably won’t read it again. 

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

THE BLACK FLAMINGO by Dean Atta

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: A boy, Michael Angeli, comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen by falling in love with the art of drag and transforming into The Black Flamingo. 

My Thoughts: The easiest five stars ever. This was a powerful story about owning who you are on your terms and not allowing others to define you or put you in a box that makes them feel more comfortable. I absolutely loved Michael. Even through the rough patches when he wasn’t sure of himself, I could feel it in my gut that he was going to thrive. The poetry throughout this book was an amazing component and I appreciated how it reflected his growth. Towards the start, the poems felt a little naive and scrappy, but as the story continued and Michael began to be more confident in his identity, the poems he was writing became more polished and profound as well. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read that will leave you feeling v satisfied.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

A SONG OF WRAITHS AND RUIN by Roseanne A. Brown

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Summary: The Solstasia Festival only happens once every 50 years when the Bahia’s Comet passes over Ziran. For Malik, Solstasia is an opportunity to escape his war-stricken home with his sisters and start a new life in the prosperous capital. That is, until his younger sister, Nadia is taken by a vengeful spirit as payment for entering the city. The only way to get her back is to kill Karina, the Crown Princess of Ziran. However, Karina has concocted some deadly plans herself after her mother, the sultana, is assassinated. In order to resurrect her mother, Karina requires the heart of a king, and by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition, she will get one. However, seeing their tasks to kill each other through may be tough after Malik rigs his way into the contest and love starts to flicker between them.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book and not just because it has to do with a comet that is a rare sighting (like Halley’s Comet (lol)). I’ve been on a YA fantasy kick for a while, and the imagery in this book was very refreshing. The author did a wonderful job of creating a world painted with a variety of magical characters, mystic beings, and more - all inspired by West African folklore. It took a little longer than I anticipated to get into it, and at first, I found it kind of hard to like the main characters. Although that improved as the characters developed, I can’t say I closed the book feeling super connected to them. One of my favorite things about this book is that she portrayed Malik’s struggle with anxiety as a debilitating illness with both mental and physical effects. As someone who wrassles with anxiety on a daily basis, it was really validating to see it illustrated so accurately. There is a sequel to this book, but I wouldn’t say this first book ended on an incredibly suspenseful cliffhanger, so I’m still undecided about whether I’ll continue onto the second in this series. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Aging Hollywood movie icon and recluse Evelyn Hugo is ready to spill the tea on her glamorous and scandalous life. When she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more surprised than Monique herself  - she’s not exactly at the top of her game, her husband recently left her, and her career has plateaued. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write the biography, Monique is determined to us this opportunity to breathe life back into her career. As Evelyn’s story unfolds, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways. 

My Thoughts: I think we all need a little more of Evelyn Hugo’s energy in our lives - especially when it comes to not giving two fucks. This woman is a savage, but she’s so unapologetic about it, that you can’t help but admire her. When Monique first met Evelyn’s character, I couldn’t tell if I was going to like her or not. Like obvi the tea she was about to spill was going to be piping hot, but her personality was kind of cold and off-putting. However, as the book explores each marriage, you quickly learn she’s that way for a reason. It was also really powerful how, through her life story, this book touched on the topics of sexuality, race, and the expectation to conform to society’s norms. Especially as it relates to Evelyn’s relationship with her sexuality, and how it goes from being something she uses to advance her career to something she cherishes greatly. Evelyn’s anecdotes weren’t the only thing that kept me sucked into this book, it was also the plot twist of trying to figure out why she specifically chose Monique for this project. Overall, this was an awesome book and shows you just how far someone will go for the people they love. 

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: It’s 1878 and Tessa Gray, a young, soft-spoken gal from New York, is on her way across the pond to start a new life with her brother, Nathan. However, as her ship docks, she quickly learns her brother is missing and finds herself caught up in London’s dark supernatural underworld where her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters. Soon, they are up against a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans known as the Pandemonium Club which has a plan to overthrow the British Empire using a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures - and only Tessa and her allies can stop them. 

My Thoughts: We love a good YA fantasy set in 1800s London, do we not? I surely do, and this book was no exception. I had a hard time putting it down. I love that the pace of this book was quick and easy to get into right from the start. It’s not that the entire thing was a string of action-packed events, though it has its fair share of that, but the development of the story and characters throughout was an enjoyable experience in itself. Tessa goes from being a shy, naive girl who just wants to find her brother to a powerful woman who is DUN with people treating her like she’s weak. She has a unique power that is extremely desirable to the “underworlders”, but this leaves Tessa questioning whether or not she’s human and what being human truly means. As for the other characters, Ima try to keep it short:

• Will: ugh. This brooding, witty young Shadowhunter is such a fuck boy, but it’s clear that’s just a front and he’s got some demons of his own to battle. So, basically, I love him lol.

• Jem: Jem is the sweetest guy ever, and Will’s “battle brother” for lack of remembering the exact term used in the book. Anyway, Jem is empathetic, understanding, and overall just a lovable character that is impossible to dislike. He’s the guy-friend you’d take to a wedding because he can get along with anyone and everybody likes him. 

• Charlotte: The badass boss of the Institute where they all live. She’s everyone’s “mom” and mentor, and acts as the neutralizer of every situation.

• Henry: Charlotte’s husband who likes to tinker with gadgets and demon slaying devices. He’s super aloof which was mildly annoying, but he also comes in clutch when it counts. 

• Jessamine: A Shadowhunter who cannot be bothered with Shadowhunting. She’s pretty superficial and very focused on appearances - however, there’s definitely more to her that I hope we get to see in the next book, so I’m not writing her off as a petty bitch just yet. :)

• Sophie: a queen. I really like this character. She isn’t a Shadowhunter, just the housekeeper of the Institute, but she’s scrappy, resilient, and gives us those good good vibes.

Anyway, I am very excited that I found another YA fantasy series that sucks me in almost as much as Throne of Glass and cannot wait to read the second book!

2021 Book Count: 8 down, 47 to go!

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already!

YOUR TURN! Leave a comment below if you’ve read any of these books! I’d love to hear your thoughts or any solid recommendations you may have for books I should add to my reading list for this year!

Quarantine Reads

It’s officially week 8 (or maybe 9?) of the Rona wreaking havoc on us, and it would be rude of me not to start this post by saying I hope you’re all staying safe, healthy and AT HOME. Please for the love of all that is good, stay home.

Around mid-March, I temporarily moved home with my parents to avoid being cooped up in a small apartment talking to no one but myself and my houseplants. Not to mention, our golden retriever resides at my parents’ house and that’s the kind of energy I’m trying to surround myself with right now.

When I’m not on that WFH grind, meeting an unspoken quota for baking banana bread, or watching Schitt’s Creeks, I’ve been reading like I’ve never read before.

In the last eight (or nine?) weeks, I’ve read TWELVE books. TWELVE. I know that doesn’t seem that impressive for those of you who are already avid readers, but I just caught the reading bug last fall, so this is a big deal for me.

Seeing as I haven’t blogged since January, I figured I’d review my quarantine reads in case you’re looking for some recommendations.

Two shameless plugs before I get started on this book-inspired blog:

-ADD ME ON GOODREADS. :)

-Go find my friend, Caili, who created the thumbnail image for this post at Dilly Dalian on Etsy!

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

RATING: 3/5 stars

SUMMARY*: Where’d You Go Bernadette is about a woman named Bernadette Fox who disappeared after a school fundraiser turns into a shit show on account of Bernadette’s doings. Her daughter, Bee, is left piecing together clues as to what happened by means of emails, letters, invoices, etc. to figure out where her mother went right before the family was supposed to go on a trip to Antarctica in celebration of Bee’s good grades.

MY THOUGHTS: Bernadette is a burned out architect who just mf snapped at some point after this giant sustainability project (Greta woulda loved it) she was working on for years went awry, and fell into some hella anxiety and depression. The author kind of wants you to have your cake and eat it too when it comes to this character, so I was stuck trying to decide if I liked her or just found her to be low-key savage and high-key flaky. This book also pokes fun at the “Seattle Freeze” and people trying to climb the social ladder - which was equally entertaining as it was annoying. I did NOT like the husband, Elgie. He was a mansplainer and womanizer and he never wears shoes….?? Overall, this was a quirky little book. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it to someone? Not organically. If you asked me if I recommend it specifically, I’d say it was all right and I wasn’t disappointed that I read it, but it also didn’t make the top of my list by any means.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

RATING: 5/5 stars

SUMMARY*: At first, Jude and her twin brother, Noah are inseparable. Noah is always lost in his art, drawing anything and everything while falling in love with the charming baseball boy who moves in next door. Jude is a rebellious young teen who enjoys cliff diving, talking to older boys, and wearing outfits that would make any midwest dad say “and where do you think you’re going dressed like that?” Fast forward three years and these twins are barely interacting - cordial at best. The early years are told from Noah’s perspective and the later years are through Jude’s eyes. Each one only has half of the story, and once they start growing closer again, they realize what they were missing.

MY THOUGHTS: This book is technically classified as YA and I’m convinced it’s because if anyone asks if they should read it, the only response should be “HELL YA.” This is the type of book that gives you an instant book hangover once you’re finished because you just wanted it to continue. The style of writing used to tell Noah’s perspective truly reflects how immersed he is in his art all the while he experiences what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. The author then catapults you to a different reality as the story fast forwards three years to Jude’s perspective when she falls in love with an intriguing British boy (YASS, sis) who she meets through an unexpected mentor. Though Noah and Jude are completely different, both characters add such complexity and depth to the story line that you can’t help but love them both and hope they find their way. I absolutely loved this book and feel like I completely tanked on this review, so just walk away knowing that you should add this to your reading list.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

RATING: 5/5 stars

SUMMARY *: “Le Cirque des Reves” only shows up at night without warning. Within the black and white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. Behind the scenes though, a fierce competition between two young magicians - Celia and Marco - is underway. The circus is the stage for this remarkable battle, and despite them falling in love, only one can be left standing.

MY THOUGHTS: This wasn’t just a book, this was an experience. There’s something extremely magical about how this book makes you feel, and as I finished the last page, I knew it had already made it into my top 5 favorite books of all time. The story of Celia and Marco starts thirty years before they are even born with a challenge between their mentors — two arrogant illusionists who have spent a lifetime trying to one-up the other (no shock that they’re men lol). Celia and Marco pretty much spend most of their childhood into adolescence preparing for this competition, but they don’t know who they’re competing against or when it actually begins (I’d be flipping tables). Their preparation for the battle nodded to the ole “book smarts vs. street smarts” debate. Celia’s mentor, who is also her dad, pulls some real suspect shit to train her. For example, when she’s just a CHILD, one exercise he had was slicing her fingertips open one by one with a knife until she could heal her skin from within. In contrast, Marco’s mentor plucks him from an orphanage and tells him to study books, ancient magic, etc. for preparation. I was an absolute sap for the undeniable connection between Marco and Celia as their battle quickly becomes years of “love letters” to each other in the form of new circus attractions. My haven’t-been-in-a-relationship-in-two-years heart could NOT handle the sentiment. The author also managed to include multiple characters that added depth to the storyline without muddying it up which I feel is hard to do. So, in conclusion, please read this so I have someone else to talk to about it. :)

The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff

The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff

RATING: 3.5/5 stars

SUMMARY*: Set in a traveling circus during World War II, two extraordinary women endure sacrifice and survival while developing an unexpected friendship. After being kicked out of her home for disgracing her family by getting pregnant, 16-year-old Noa has to give up her baby and ends up working at a railway station. Noa discovers a boxcar full of Jewish infants, snags one on impulse and flees. She finds refuge with a German circus, but to blend in undetected and receive protection, she must learn the flying trapeze act from lead aerialist, Astrid. As the facade protects them, Noa and Astrid must decide if their friendship can save one another.

MY THOUGHTS: All right. So quick preface, the only reason I read this is because my mom and I agreed to do a book swap (I had her read Night Circus.) Welp, after all was said and done, it turned out this isn’t even the book she wanted me to read! I was Susan-ed. Regardless, I liked this book overall. Noa is an okay character. She’s immature as you would expect and falls in love with some privileged blonde boy. The real queen in this story is Astrid. You can just tell she would be an A-plus wingwoman, but also try to fight any guy at the bar that makes an unwanted pass at you. My friend crush aside, this book was an easy read and would be good if you’re in-between books, just looking for something to pass the time until you can decide what the next book is that you want to read.

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

RATING: 3/5 stars

SUMMARY*: Murder, magic and madness at the fair that changed America as it rushed towards the 20th century. The author gives a rich narrative of the Chicago World Fair and how a master builder and murder were both obsessed with it. You follow the roller coaster ride of architect Daniel Hudson Burnham as he pulls off the country’s most important structures for this event. While the murderer, Henry H. Holmes, builds a “World’s Fair Hotel” just walking distance from the fairgrounds - a torture hotel complete with a dissection table and kiln for bodies in the basement.

MY THOUGHTS: In my unpopular opinion, this book was just all right. It was really hyped up to me by a few people and a podcast I listen to, so the bar was set high. Due to Rona, I even BOUGHT this book which I think contributes to the level of petty I’m including in my review of it. Don’t get me wrong, this book was INCREDIBLY researched - seriously, hats off the to author who you can tell worked his ass off to gather sources for accuracy. HOWEVER, this shit took me TWO weeks to read because it was such a slow burn. The whole serial killer part was intriguing, yes. All of the name-drops in relation to the Chicago World Fair were impressive as well (even Walt Disney’s dad had a little sum sum to do with it). At the end of the day though, I’m not rushing to recommend this book to anyone. I think it’d be a lot more interesting if you're from Chicago and/or have lived there for at least a year. Other than that, it was a super lukewarm read for me.

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

RATING: 5/5 stars

SUMMARY*: J. Simpson tells of growing up in 1980s Texas and dishes everything from experiencing a traumatic sexual abuse to unsuccessfully auditioning for the Mickey Mouse Club before going on to sign a record deal with Columbia and marrying Nick Lachey. Along the way she details the struggles in her life including her divorce, enduring an emotionally abusive relationship, being body-shamed, and going through rough patches of heavy drinking.

MY THOUGHTS: By no means was I a Jessica Simpson fan before reading this book. I remember watching the Newlyweds on MTV when I was younger, but it’s not like she ever really made it into the regular CD rotation of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Backstreet Boys that graced my boombox. However, after reading this book, I have so much respect for this woman. Sis, left no tea unspilt. Reading this book felt like I was grabbing drinks with an old friend on a sunny patio outside of a bar that somehow successfully incorporated square-dancing into their Thursday night specials. I read a lot of celebrity memoirs and this was by far one of my top three favorites. Highly recommend. Also, John Mayer is a piece of shit for how he treated her - do not @ me.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

RATING: 4.8/5 stars

SUMMARY*: This powerful novel tells a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman, Vivian, with a hidden past as an orphan train rider, and an 18-year-old girl, Molly, whose own troublesome adolescence leaves her with one last chance before aging out of the child welfare system and getting kicked out of her foster home. As Molly picks up a community service position to help an elderly woman clean out her attic, she quickly discovers while sorting through Vivan’s old trunks and boxes that they aren’t as different as they seem.

MY THOUGHTS: So, circling back around on the orphan-themed books, this was the book my mom intended for our book swap when she accidentally gave me “The Orphan’s Tale” - which has a train on the cover lol. I cried twice while reading this and I pride myself on not being an easy crier. What i found most interesting about this novel was that orphan trains actually existed back in the early 1900s. The urban orphanages would round up all of the homeless children in the big cities, clean them up, and put them on a train out to the rural communities where people would pick kids out of a line up to adopt. It was the luck of the draw whether the people they went with were going to be good people or just use the kids for labor- which was more common than not. I have to agree with my mom that it’s a really great book and kept me hooked throughout the whole story.

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated by Tara Westover

RATING: 5/5 stars

SUMMARY*: In her memoir, Tara Westover describes what it was like to be born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho where she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills” bag. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that they believed in holistic, herbal remedies over western medicine (even for the most traumatic injuries) and there was no one to ensure the kids received an education. This memoir is an account of the struggle for self-invention and the battle of staying loyal to family or severing those ties for your own good.

MY THOUGHTS: Shit. Was. CRAZY. I swear after finishing every chapter, my jaw was another inch closer to the floor. The trauma this woman endured FROM HER OWN FAMILY was absolutely insane, and the fact that she was able to persevere as much as she did to escape the only life she knew was nothing short of incredible. I don’t want to spoil too much by sharing what one of my biggest takeaways was for this book, so if you read it, hit me up so we can talk! :)

Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson

Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson

RATING: 4/5 stars

SUMMARY*: Marnie McGraw wants an ordinary life - a husband, kids and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she’s marrying the man of her dreams, she’s sure this is the life she’ll get. Until everything changes when Marnie meets Blix Holliday, her fiancé’s matchmaking great-aunt who’s dying. When Marnie’s marriage ends after two miserable weeks, she is shocked. She’s even more shook when she learns she has inherited Blix’s building in Brooklyn along with all of Blix’s unfinished projects, oddball friends and neighbors running from happiness.

MY THOUGHTS: This book was recommended by one of my favorite book-focused podcasts: Bad on Paper and it did not disappoint. Marnie is in her mid-20s and is just a shit-show for much of the first part of the book which is a vibe I can relate to lol. Her whole situation was just a really great reminder that no matter how planned-out you may have your life at the moment, it could literally change tomorrow and you’re going to have to get your shit together and figure it out. As someone who doesn’t do well when I don’t feel in control of things, the lesson here was definitely something I absorbed. I absolutely loved Blix’s character! I kept picturing her as an overly eccentric Jamie Lee Curtis and her lifestyle is something I think more of us need to embrace — just calm the fuck down, enjoy the moment you’re in and let life play out as it’s meant to. Highly recommend this book! It was light, breezy and just made me really happy while reading it. :)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

RATING: 3.5/5 stars

SUMMARY*: When Jacob Jankowski learns his parents have died suddenly in a car crash, he finds himself adrift and jumping onto a passing train which he quickly learns is that of a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression. As a veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. While he learns how to connect with an elephant, Rosie, who appears to be untrainable, he falls in love with Marlena - the young star of the equestrian act and married to the twisted animal trainer.

MY THOUGHTS: Jacob and Marlena’s forbidden love story was cute, but I also wanted to punch Jacob in his face a few times. He had this habit of doing dumb shit that would OBVIOUSLY get him in trouble if he wasn’t careful and yet he’d go ahead and do it anyway. Obviously I have read my fair share of circus-related books over the last two months and though this book wasn’t my favorite of that litter, it was an easy read. If you’ve been wanting to read it, then I say go for it, but I don’t see myself reading this again anytime soon.

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

RATING: 4.3/5 stars

SUMMARY*: After a tragic and questionable accident, Morgan Grant and her 16-year-old daughter, Clara are left to rebuild everything that crashed down around them. They would like nothing more than to be nothing alike. Morgan is determined to prevent Clara from making the same mistakes she did - including a teen pregnancy that made Morgan put her dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps and risk being predictable or un-spontaneous. Resentment and misunderstandings make them fall further apart every day to the point that it may be impossible to fall back together.

MY THOUGHTS: Colleen Hoover has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her books are always captivating and I can usually fly through them in about a day or two. Regretting You was another testament to her amazing writing. The fact that I could physically feel every emotion the characters were going through as I was reading made the experience of this book even more entrancing. Though it begins with an absolute tragedy that progresses with heartbreak after heartbreak, you can’t help but to cling to the moments of hope, warmth and peace that are sprinkled throughout for each of the characters. Highly recommend this book and any other novels by Colleen Hoover.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

RATING: 2/5 stars

SUMMARY*: Agreeing to be the last-minute wedding date of a guy she gets stuck in an elevator with is something Alexa Monroe would not normally do. After Alexa and Drew have more fun than ever thought possible at his ex’s wedding, they cannot stop thinking about each other. These two high-powered professionals are on a collision course toward a long distance dating disaster or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they actually want.

MY THOUGHTS: This wasn’t as bad as a one-star rating (hence 2 stars) but dear lort, I do not recommend this book. I heard about it from a few of my friends which is why I decided to give it a whirl, but the best way I can describe how it felt reading it was like watching a B-Rated/straight-to-DVD movie. The concept of Alexa and Drew falling in love with people they didn’t expect and found by happenstance was cute. However, only the first quarter of the book is about the actual wedding date, and then a solid 30-40% of it is literally just descriptions of what they’re eating for their next meal or snack (tacos, In N Out, cheese and crackers, doughnuts or pizza). Then two pages later, they’re having sex or vis versa. Rinse and repeat. The supporting story around the “romance” of this novel was subpar, jumpy and mildly annoying. They also have communication skills comparable to that of some kids in high school who don’t know how or when to DTR (define the relationship). I will say, I have a friend who really enjoys this author’s books, so if you’ve read/enjoyed other books by her, you might like this one, but I’m personally not recommending it to anyone.

Well, folks. That concludes my Quarantine Reads rundown. If you’ve made it this far, thank you (seriously thank you for making it through all of that) and I hope you’ve found some books to add to your reading list (or maybe remove lol).

If you’ve read any books recently that you think I’d enjoy, please let me know in the comments! :D

*Summary was paraphrased from the Book Description on Goodreads.

Summer Book Club with Hales

It’s been a while since I’ve written a post on here, but what else is new? Luckily, I just went on a trip to Colorado, so stay tuned for that post lol.

When I travel I tend to pick up reading again. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Hales, what do you mean by “pick up reading?”

Well, I’m what you can call a picky reader. There’s the picky eaters of the world who have a very specific palate meaning their go-to at restaurants is usually something of the American “you can make this at home” cuisine choices such as chicken fingers/french fry basket. No sauce except maybe ranch, if they’re not too picky. (You know who you are.)

Though I am by no means picky when it comes to food, I tend to have a specific taste in books. It took me a while to get here, but at some point in time I realized that if I’m not interested in the book I’m reading, then why continue it? There’s literally MILLIONS of books out there available for me to read - about 145 million if you ask Google - so why waste energy and time on a book that isn’t keeping me hooked?

I’ve even developed a cool trick to help me identify books that aren’t worth my time: I fall asleep… lol (surprise!). Some of you may be thinking, “Well, duh, Hales. You have narcolepsy. Of course you’re going to fall asleep reading.” To that, my dear friends, I will reciprocate your “DUH” because if I don’t fall asleep reading, then clearly the book is holding my attention and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. :)

Over the years, I’ve done my fair share of reading, but like I said before, it tends to come in waves. I’ll go from being really into reading to not picking up a book for months. Honestly, I kind of blame our culture of constant stimulation. Whether it’s the newest binge-watchable series recently released on Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc., or it’s New Music Friday/ the latest episode of a podcast (of every topic) is finally up on whatever audio streaming service, or it’s the latest movie coming out in theaters — there’s just so many options to spill my attention and time into that books don’t always make the cut. (I’m sorry to all of my book nerd friends for hurting your hearts with that truth.)

I wish I could read non-stop like my brother. Steve read 27 books in 2018 a.k.a. 13,308 pages (source: his profile on the Goodreads app.) If you do that math, he read a little more than one book every two weeks last year or a little more than 36 pages per day - which is insane to me!

Anyway, over the last year or so, every time I get back onto the reading wagon, I find myself enjoying the same genre of book — autobiographies/memoirs written by comedians/actors.

Below, in no specific order (but kind of definitely specific), are some books you may want to pick up this summer on your way to the beach, park, bathtub, that cool new hipster coffee shop/microbrewery on the corner, the floor of Barnes & Noble if you don’t like to buy the book and just want to read it, or if you’re one of those people who listens to audio books in the car which isn’t technically reading, just listening (actually that’s probably really great practice for most men out there) and you need to download books - just wherever you do your “reading.”

(SIDE NOTE: DOWNLOAD THE GOOD READS APP AND FIND ME ON THERE.) :)))))

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood.

1. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

   Stars: FIVE FO-SHO

   I put this book first on the list because it has by far been one of the best books I’ve read in the last few years. This book is not only hilarious, but Trevor Noah also gives insight as to what it was like as a biracial kid growing up in South Africa during the Apartheid. It was really eye opening to me to tell you the truth because I obviously had an awareness of the Apartheid, but never really learned about it in school. After reading this book, I walked away with a much better understanding of the institutionalized racism and segregation that happened during those years in South Africa. Trevor Noah does a glorious job of painting a picture for you during countless comedic anecdotes starting from when he was a five-year-old kid shitting on some newspaper in his grandma’s house becasuse he didn’t want to use the outhouse, to post-high school when he and his friends started a deejaying business, all the way to landing The Daily Show. Not to mention there is also a real twist throughout the book about his mom that makes it a real page-turner. (That was a mild spoiler alert and I do not apologize).

Scrappy Little Nobody.

2. Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

STARS: FIVE

Now if you’re assuming one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book was to get Anna Kendrick’s tea on what it was actually like to be on the set of Twilight, then you aren’t wrong. However, this book is SO MUCH more than that. It is a collection of effortlessly funny, mildly self-deprecating short stories from Anna’s life that are actually incredibly relatable to even someone like me whose only theater experience was playing one of the three wisemen in a Catholic elementary school Christmas play where I had no lines lol. One of my favorite parts of this book is when she explains how the n00bs are styled for red carpet events (I think we owe some teen stars from the early 2000s an apology). Overall, it’s an extremely entertaining read with humor that kept a smile on my face throughout its entirety (which was probably either weird or a refreshing change from my RBF to people at work eating lunch around me in the cafeteria). So, if you appreciate my humor, you will definitely appreciate Anna’s (we’re on a first name basis now, obvi.)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)

3. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

STARS: FOUR

If you enjoy watching The Office (so literally anyone), then you will probably like this book. (Also, you can’t say you don’t like Mindy Kaling, but you do like The Office because she wrote a bunch of those episodes/jokes - fun fact.) Anyway, Mindy Kaling writes the same way she talks which helps you feel her authenticity through every story — like I literally read it in her voice. This book is a collection of reflections and lessons from her life starting from when she was in high school (her tip: don’t peak in high school lol we all know those people) all the way up to being a writer on The Office. Disclaimer: some of her humor is pretty inappropriate, so if you’re a prude, maybe just don’t…?

Why Not Me?

4. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

DEEEJAYYY KAAAALING — ANOTHA ONE.

STARS: 4 for Kelly Kapoor

This is the lovely book I mentioned at the beginning of this post that got be back into reading. I read this book in a mere THREE DAYS - that’s really fast for me, you guise. Most of the stories Mindy tells in this book are set post her days as Kelly Kapoor and a writer at The Office. She still gives B.J. Novak a big ole shout out because that’s her bestie, but I appreciated that this book was enough of its own entity that I didn’t feel like I was just rereading the one above. A few things that stuck with me from this book: she was describing a hypothetical situation/future and said “Elizabeth Warren is president” which I thought was oddly timely and wonder if she looks back on it now and says “HA! I TOLD YOU ALL!”, she dabbled in a relationship with one of Obama’s secret service agents which is just cool af to be able to say and in a culture where body dysmorphia is quite prevalent (even for men), Mindy dives into her take on her body and the media. It was an easy read with, again, some humor that some might find inappropriate, but I quite enjoyed.

Bossypants.

5. Bossypants by Tina Fey

STARS: 3.96 — It’s my blog, I can rate how I want to.

Tina Fey’s Bossypants is the O.G. book for me. It was the book that introduced me to this comedian/actor memoir genre. It was the very first one I read and made me realize how much I enjoy reading stories from people’s lives as told by those people. I read it in 2013, so it’s been a few years but even as a college student who didn’t have a lot of time to “read for fun,” I flew through this book in about a week. Tina touches on a little bit of everything starting with when she was five and got attacked by a stranger in an alleyway that gave her the scar on her left cheek (Google it.), her journey to becoming a comedian on Saturday Night Live including her time as part of the Chicago-based improv group The Second City where she met her BFF Amy Poehler, and of course, what it’s like being a working mom eating food off of the floor. All in all, I think this book offers something everyone can appreciate.

Yes Please.

6. Yes Please by Amy Poehler

STARS: Three. Just three.

So to be fair to Amy on my rating, after thoroughly enjoying Tina Fey’s book, my expectations were pretty high for Amy Poehler’s book. I mean she is Tina Fey’s BFF, u kno? I also LOVE Parks & Rec (highly recommend anyone watch it if you enjoy The Office (so anyone reading this)) and this was the second book of this genre that I read. Although it didn’t live up to my expectations, it wasn’t a bad book by any means. Similar theme to all of the other books mentioned in this blog, Amy offers up a plethora of personal stories about sex, love, friendship, parenthood, etc. with a little bit of advice intertwined (take some, leave the rest). I love Amy Poehler’s humor and learning about all of the improv groups she was in when she was just starting out as a comedian. It wasn’t my favorite book, but I liked it enough to include it on this list. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Welp, that’s it for now! Let me know if you end up reading any of them, so that I can start something that resembles an actual Summer Book Club lol.

To end this blog post, here’s a gif of Leslie Knope giving a shoutout to one of my favorite books/series. :)