Book of the Month- April 2018

Lately I have found myself super into different mythologies and folklore thanks to the unexpected tone of Wonder Woman: Warbringer, so (one of) my choice for this month’s BOTM was not all that surprising. The other choice is also, not that surprising considering my bookish preferences at the moment, so I guess you could say that this month was no surprise what-so-ever! BOTM also asked me to take a survey about their services (or future services) which I thought was interesting. I am hoping that some of the things they asked about are very viable options for the future; that would make me a very happy subscriber.

Circe by Mademine Miller

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child–not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power–the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man’s world.

(via Goodreads)

I have been on quite a mythological/fantastical kick lately, especially after finishing Wonder Woman: Warbringer. It was a pleasant surprise to see this as an option for this month’s pick. Granted, I have NOT read her other book, which is also highly praised from what I can tell, but this seems interesting in the very least, and I have heard some REALLY great reviews about it from fellow bloggers already. A side note though, when google searching an image of the cover, I saw a picture of someone with a GORGEOUS holographic (?) cover, and I am here for it. I kinda wish that was the cover we were getting with BOTM, but I am guessing the holographic one is a special edition…

 

For those who are curious, here yah go: 

 

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

THEN
She was fifteen, her mother’s 
golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. 
And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone. 

NOW 
It’s been ten years since Ellie 
disappeared, but Laurel has never given up 
hope of finding her daughter.
And then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a café and sweeps Laurel off her feet. 
Before too long she’s staying the night at this house and being introduced to his nine year old daughter. 
Poppy is precocious and pretty – and meeting her completely takes Laurel’s breath away. 

Because Poppy is the spitting image of Ellie when she was that age.
And now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back. 

What happened to Ellie? Where did she go? 
Who still has secrets to hide?

(via Goodreads)

Ah, will I ever tire of thrillers? Not right now, that’s for sure! What was interesting about this book was that when I was adding it to my TBR on Goodreads, I noticed that it has several different covers (shocking I know, me, pick up on covers?). I like this one the most, and am glad that this was what was sent through BOTM. As for the book itself, it sounds like your average family fueled thriller/suspense that are oh so popular at the moment. I look forward to picking this up as a filler for when I am feeling a slump coming on.

And for those of you who are curious,  here is another cover: 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheesh! Sorry for the delay everyone! I was having some serious photo-taking block (if that’s a thing) and didn’t like any of the pictures I took of these books-which truthfully is unfair given how pretty these covers are. I am just not a photographer guys, sorry. That being said, are any of these titles on your TBR? Have you read them already? Let’s chat in the comments!

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Book of the Month- March 2018

This was such an easy choice for me this month,especially after all the internal conflict I faced when choosing last time. I decided to go straight for pleasure in the month of March; I picked things I knew I would most likely enjoy. Included in these picks are a contemporary and a mystery.

 

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal.

By Monday morning, one of them is gone.

Everyone knows something about everyone else in the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, but no one can make sense of the disappearance. Kristin was a sociable twin mom, college administrator, and doctor’s wife who didn’t seem all that bothered by her impending divorce—and the investigation turns up more questions than answers, with her husband, Paul, at the center. For her closest neighbor, Clara, the incident triggers memories she thought she’d put behind her—and when she’s unable to extract herself from the widening circle of scrutiny, her own suspicions quickly grow. But the neighborhood’s newest addition, Izzy, is determined not to jump to any conclusions—especially since she’s dealing with a crisis of her own.

As the police investigation goes from a media circus to a cold case, the neighbors are forced to reexamine what’s going on behind their own closed doors—and to ask how well anyone really knows anyone else.

(via Goodreads)

I mean come on, this just sounds good. The synopsis actually reminds me a bit about Truly Madly Guilty, but the “quick take” on the BOTM site compares it more to Big Little Lies, which is what drew me in. Actually, if I really sit back and think about it a little, it sounds like a good mix of the two. I loved Big Little Lies, but didn’t like Truly Madly Guilty all that much, so who knows what will happen with this one. It just sounded like an easy read, and I like to have those at the ready, just in case I am having a hard time getting through other stuff. The cover is pretty awesome though, if you ask me, and at the mention of female friendships and wine, it was an easy choice for me.

 

 Other People’s Houses by Abbi Waxman

At any given moment in other people’s houses, you can find…repressed hopes and dreams…moments of unexpected joy…someone making love on the floor to a man who is most definitely not her husband…

*record scratch*

As the longtime local carpool mom, Frances Bloom is sometimes an unwilling witness to her neighbors’ private lives. She knows her cousin is hiding her desire for another baby from her spouse, Bill Horton’s wife is mysteriously missing, and now this…

After the shock of seeing Anne Porter in all her extramarital glory, Frances vows to stay in her own lane. But that’s a notion easier said than done when Anne’s husband throws her out a couple of days later. The repercussions of the affair reverberate through the four carpool families–and Frances finds herself navigating a moral minefield that could make or break a marriage.

(via Goodreads)

One word drew me in to choosing this book. On both the Goodreads synopsis and the BOTM “quick take,” it describes this book as funny, which I know I could use a bit more of at the moment. It actually has come to my attention recently (thanks to my boyfriend) that I read a lot of books with sad/scary premises. He noticed, while choosing a book for me to read next, that the majority of the books I was interested in did not sound like light, “enjoyable” reads at all, which got me thinking. Why don’t I read more silly/entertaining books (not that sadder stories aren’t entertaining, just in a different way)? I did just realize that this was an exclusive for BOTM as it does not release until April 3rd. I highly doubt I will get to it before it’s release date, mostly because I haven’t read ANY of my exclusive books before their release date (oops, sorry!) but again, it seems like a good thing to have in the wings for when I need a little pick me up.

 

 

Ironically, in my last BOTM post, I talked about how I was going to change up my choosing style, and fill up my shelf with “worthy” and “timeless” reads. Both these books meet the stipulations “books that I, a) wouldn’t mind passing over for more demanding titles at the moment, and  b) would potentially want on my shelf, later in life. ” but fail in that they feel more “contemporary,” which I was trying to avoid. Regardless, I am actually really looking forward to reading these at some point, though I highly doubt it will happen this month.

 

What do you guys things? Have you heard of either of these books? Are they on your TBR? Let’s chat :]

Book of the Month- February 2018

I was completely surprised by my picks this month. Luckily (or unluckily) for me, the majority of the choices were books I already had on my TBR. At first glance, I was confident I would go one way, and ended up with two books I didn’t think I would! I am kind of wishing I had picked my original choice, but to be honest, the more I think about it, the more interested I am in these books in front of me.

I do also want to mention that it seems that BOTM revamped their site, or at least, how they display the choices for the month. I LOVE the new style. It was easy to understand, and had more information than before. I adore the “Good to know” points, and really liked the extra touch from members on exclusive titles. They also changed their plans. I am interested to see how this goes in the future, but for now, I am still happy with my subscription.

 

 

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined.

Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.

This stirring love story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate look deep into the souls of people who must reckon with the past while moving forward—with hope and pain—into the future.

(via Book of the Month)

Truthfully, I saw this book a while back and had no interest in it. In fact, when I first glanced the choices for this month, my only interest in this title was that I recognized it from the blogosphere. However, after reading this specific synopsis on the BOTM website, and really analyzing my personal feelings and circumstances, it was as if this book were calling to me. I am slightly intimidated by the “literary fiction” tagged to it, and the fact that it has been characterized as a slow read, but I figured that down the line, even if I don’t get to it right away, it might be something I would want on my shelf “for a rainy day.”

 

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Alaska, 1974.

Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.

For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: He will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.

Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown.

At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: They are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves. In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska—a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.

(via Book of the Month)

This is another one I know I have seen around on the internet. It was however, more of an initial interest than An American Marriage was at first. Lately, I have really been enjoying historical fiction. And while my last attempt at a long, adult HF was not as successful as I had hoped, I wanted to give it another try. I have heard some good things about it, and like An American Marriage, even if I don’t get to it right away, I think it will  be nice to have for that rainy day.

 

If you haven’t noticed, my choices for BOTM have changed a bit since I first started utilizing this service. It is so easy to choose the big titles that I am already excited for, and end up depressed, looking at them on my desk for months until I can finally get to them. This time, I decided to play it a little differently. Instead of picking my first choices, I decided to get books that I, a) wouldn’t mind passing over for more demanding titles at the moment, and  b) would potentially want on my shelf, later in life. While I love a good contemporary, I don’t want my future library to exclusively feature just that genre. I want to look at my shelf, and find something for every mood, at any time. In the upcoming years where I could (possibly) finally move into my first home, I am going to have to do a serious UN haul. I have a lot of middle grade and YA books that I haven’t even looked at since that point in my life (everyone got me books for birthdays and holidays), and I would like to make room on my shelves for my adult reading preferences. Anyway, sorry for my ramble, I just wanted to put that out there.

 

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Are any of them on your TBR? Let’s chat in the comments :]

Book of the Month- January 2018

Wow this took such a long time to get here (at least it feels that way)! This month was a weird one for me. Initially, I actually thought about skipping this month because I didn’t recognize any of the titles. However, after looking further into the selection I ended up adding TWO of the choices to my box. The box finally made it to my door, and now I am extremely excited to get to them (though I am a little sad because they sit behind an ever growing pile already on my desk).

 

Red Clocks By Leni Zumas

Five women. One question. What is a woman for?

In this ferociously imaginative novel, abortion is once again illegal in America, in-vitro fertilization is banned, and the Personhood Amendment grants rights of life, liberty, and property to every embryo. In a small Oregon fishing town, five very different women navigate these new barriers alongside age-old questions surrounding motherhood, identity, and freedom.

Ro, a single high-school teacher, is trying to have a baby on her own, while also writing a biography of Eivør, a little-known 19th-century female polar explorer. Susan is a frustrated mother of two, trapped in a crumbling marriage. Mattie is the adopted daughter of doting parents and one of Ro’s best students, who finds herself pregnant with nowhere to turn. And Gin is the gifted, forest-dwelling homeopath, or “mender,” who brings all their fates together when she’s arrested and put on trial in a frenzied modern-day witch hunt.

(via Goodreads)

This sounds fierce. At first I had a hard time deciding which book to choose. The last few months, BOTM has featured books that I was already aware of, making my choices easy. This month however provided me with five unknown choices that had me a little discouraged. But after reading the description to this one, I am PUMPED to work this into my TBR. So topical, and so close to being a reality that this will feel just as delicious as most people felt rereading 1984 in the wake of a Trump presidency. I look forward to some strong female perspectives.

 

As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner

In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to fight in the Great War, there were opportunities for a fresh start on its cobblestone streets. Into this bustling town, came Pauline Bright and her husband, filled with hope that they could now give their three daughters—Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa—a chance at a better life.

But just months after they arrive, the Spanish Flu reaches the shores of America. As the pandemic claims more than twelve thousand victims in their adopted city, they find their lives left with a world that looks nothing like the one they knew. But even as they lose loved ones, they take in a baby orphaned by the disease who becomes their single source of hope. Amidst the tragedy and challenges, they learn what they cannot live without—and what they are willing to do about it.

(via Goodreads)

I don’t know guys, I am a sucker for a war story I guess. The whole family dynamic in the midst of a war, it just sounded like something I might enjoy. Throw in an epic illness sweeping the area, well, now it sounds like I can’t quite leave it behind. And can we just admire the cover for a moment? It is even more beautiful in person, but my goodness, SO PRETTY!

This book was actually offered as an exclusive through Book of the Month, which made it even more desirable. It is not due to be published until February of this year, so to have my hands on it a bit early is always thrilling. I doubt I will get to it before it comes out to the general public, but I am looking forward to reading it in the near future.

So what do you guys think? Do any of these sound like books you’d be interested in reading this year? Have you read any of them? Let’s chat in the comments!

Book of the Month- December 2017

Wow, I cannot believe that another month has passed by so quickly! It feels like I was just posting about my November choices last week. As you may recall, I had said in my November BOTM post that I was kicking myself for not adding a specific book to my box. Well it was still haunting me as December 1st rolled around so I added it to my December box! Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to read my November choice (Rules of Magic), so it is a little daunting to pile an additional two books onto my physical TBR. I have however put in some work on my library haul, so that is at least saying something.

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanan

A novel of suspense that explores the complexities of marriage and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love. 

When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are reading about a jealous wife and her obsession with her replacement.
You will assume you are reading about a woman about to enter a new marriage with the man she loves.
You will assume the first wife was a disaster and that the husband was well rid of her.
You will assume you know the motives, the history, the anatomy of the relationships.
Assume nothing.

Discover the next blockbuster novel of suspense, and get ready for the read of your life.

(via Goodreads)

This book was one of my most anticipated books as of late. I have heard nothing but amazing things about it, and it’s twists and turns. Considering that I am on such a Mystery/Thriller/Suspense kick right now, this is the perfect fit.

Has anyone else noticed that a lot of the current suspense/thriller novels have a story about husband and wife as a main focal point? I don’t know about you, but I find that super interesting. It feels like all the suspense novels I have read this year had that as a theme, except maybe Into the Water by Paula Hawkins…

Artemis by Andy Weir

Jazz Bashara is a criminal.

Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you’re not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you’ve got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.

Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she’s stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first.

(via Goodreads)

From the author of the book (turned movie) The Martian, Andy Weir strikes again with another interstellar novel. This time taking place at a civilization on the moon, Artemis packs a punch with Han Solo-like drama. I have seen MANY mixed reviews about this book. They range from OMG this was fabulous, one of my favs of the year, to don’t bother, it wasn’t worth it. I have not read the Martian so I am not too sure what to expect, though I heard it was wonderful. I rarely give Sci-Fi a chance so this will certainly be interesting in the very least. It just won a Goodreads Best of 2017 award, so who knows, it may surprise me. Artemis was also the book that I regret not adding to my November BOTM, so I was kind of excited to me able to add it this month instead.

As I mentioned earlier, I am still working my way through my library haul, although I only have a few left (including Artemis!). My hope is to start my leftover BOTM choices from this year in early 2018. We shall see what happens though!

What about you guys? Have you read either of these? What did you think? Are you a BOTM subscriber? What did you choice this month? Let’s chat in the comments :]

Book of the Month- November 2017

It is that time again! New month, NEW BOOK! But before we get into my Book of the Month choice, I do want to take a few minutes to say thanks to those lovely people who have followed this book blog. It really means a lot to me. I know that I don’t post super often (I am a slow reader) so I really appreciate you sticking with me and being so very patient.

Thanks to

Des’ Random Thoughts

This Is My Truth Now

Adventures in Bookworld

Never Not Reading

and Touch My Spine Book Reviews (MY FIRST FOLLOWER!)

Ya’ll the real MVPS today

 

Now, to get down to business. I am already kicking myself for not adding a specific book to this month’s choices because everyone is raving about how great it is already… So I guess I’ll have to pick it up on my own some time this month instead.

However, I am ECSTATIC for this month’s choice. I have heard nothing but rave reviews for it, which only makes me anticipate reading it even more. It has been sitting on my TBR shelf for a while already, and now I own it, in my hands… and well, let’s just say it will take a lot for me to patiently wait for the right time to devour it.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Find your magic

For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.

The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy. (via Goodreads)

I have not read any other books by Alice Hoffman as of yet, but speaking with some book reviewers, it doesn’t seem to matter for this prequel. I am just soo anxious to read this witch-y story. I love the historical fiction feel of it (based on the description), and I am just dying for another good magical story. Granted, I am not huge into Fantasy stories, but something magical just surrounds this book, and makes me want to dive right in.

 

I am still working my way through Manhattan Beach at the moment. It has been a crazy couple days so I haven’t had much time to read. Once that is completed, I will get started on a Children’s novel, and then after that YA. And then FINALLY I will get around to Rules of Magic. I know a lot of you have read this already so I very much look forward to chatting about it once I’ve finished it.

Are any of you BOTM members? What were your choices this month? Have you read Rules of Magic yet? what do you think?

Until next time my friends!

Book of the Month- October 2017

I am currently a member of the Book of the Month club, which is actually a really wonderful subscription service. It gives you a choice of five brand new, fairly popular titles to choose from, with the option to add an addition 2 books per box at $9.99 a piece. For some, the housing brand new hardcover books may seem daunting but to be honest, it is so nice to have these popular titles on my shelf, ready for when I want to read them (then you can lend them out, and your friends will be so thankful they didn’t have to wait on the super long library holds list).

Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

 Manhattan Beach opens in Brooklyn during the Great Depression. Anna Kerrigan, nearly twelve years old, accompanies her father to the house of a man who, she gleans, is crucial to the survival of her father and her family. Anna observes the uniformed servants, the lavishing of toys on the children, and some secret pact between her father and Dexter Styles.

Mesmerizing, hauntingly beautiful, with the pace and atmosphere of a noir thriller and a wealth of detail about organized crime, the merchant marine and the clash of classes in New York, Egan’s first historical novel is a masterpiece, a deft, startling, intimate exploration of a trans-formative moment in the lives of women and men, America, and the world.  (courtesy of Goodreads)

This book takes place in Brooklyn during the Great Depression. Nostalgia for my home (New York) and interest in the Great Depression and American history certainly makes this choice a no-brainer. I actually had this on my To Read shelf before the October books were revealed for BOTM, so it was a pleasant surprise to see it on the list.

 

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship. (Courtesy of Goodreads)

John Green is a modern legend for YA fiction. Two of his books have been translated onto the big screen ( Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns) so naturally, his absence has been noticed. This is his first book since the Fault in Our Stars, which was a major hit, and the Goodreads Choice Winner for 2012. This books comes with high anticipation, so I am sure that it will find its way to the top of my YA list. It was (luckily) an option for an add on this month, to which I jumped on the opportunity. Expect a post about this in the near future- as I mentioned, it is high on my list for YA novels, so I am sure it will appear quickly.

 

So those were my BOTM choices for the month of October. While I may not have started either of them right away, I am extremely excited to have them on my shelf, waiting to be held.