Northern Spy is billed as a thriller, but that wasn’t the book I read. I went in expecting a spy thriller set in Northern Ireland. What I got was a story about a woman experiencing motherhood for the first time, and maybe a little about being a spy.
The setting was also suspect. I had to actually Google the IRA and whether it was still active today, it isn’t. All around the book was a bit of a disappointment, even though it was well written.
3 Stars
Project Hail Mary was one of my most anticipated releases of this year, and it really didn’t disappoint, it actually exceeded my expectations. Science Fiction, emphasis on the science, Hail Mary tells the story of Grace, a scientist sent to the edges of our universe to try and solve the problem of our dying sun.
Full of twists and turns and edge of your seat action, this book diverges from Weir’s The Martian by bringing in a surprising ally to Grace, and turning the story into one of not only survival but to one of unlikely friendship and hope.
This book is easily my favorite book I’ve read so far this year. (BOTM)
5 Stars
Well Met was such a fun romance set in a small New England town and their annual Renaissance festival. Simon and Emily’s enemies to lovers story was absolutely fantastic, and I loved every second of their banter.
I enjoyed this book so much that I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. And I also really want to go to Faire. (BOTM)
4 Stars
The Lost Apothecary is probably the book I was most disappointed with this month. Billed as Historical Fantasy, I just didn’t see any sort of fantasy elements, at least not until the very end, and even that was a stretch. The inside flap also implied time travel, but again, there was none of that.
The dual storylines were okay, but they were so loosely tied together I often wondered what the point was.
Overall, the book left a lot to be desired and was nothing what I expected it to be. (BOTM)
3 stars
This. Book. The timeline through Alex and Poppy’s relationship was an absolutely stunning way to tell their story. Their friendship was beautifully told, and the slow realization of Poppy’s feelings for Alex was so realistic.
This is a book that I will definitely be keeping on my shelf in order to re-read. (BOTM)
5 Stars
Sometimes when you go into a book with low expectations, you’re pleasantly surprised. I loved Daniel. He was hilarious and very relatable as a person. The story flowed perfectly from beginning to end. And it even got suspenseful near the end, which was something I really wasn’t expecting! Overall if you want a fun Rear Window type book, this is the book for your. (BOTM)
4 Stars
I highly recommend listening to Born a Crime on audiobook. Listening to Trevor Noah tell his own story is compelling and powerful. And I think it helps inject humor into the story, with his voices and inflections. I learned more about Apartheid from this book than I ever did in school.
5 Stars
I think I went into One Last Stop with high expectations since Red, White, and Royal Blue was one of my favorite books I read last year, so I was let down just a little. I still really enjoyed the book, but I didn’t immediately go to Pinterest and start pinning fan art of it either.
I really enjoyed the concept of the book, and I LOVED August and Jane, their chemistry was undeniable, and they were so cute together. I also loved the theme of found family.
I can’t put my finger on what fell short with me preventing me from giving this book five stars, but I really loved this book, just not as much as I had hoped I would. (BOTM)
4 Stars
I chose this book because I needed a debut to finish off my Book of the Month challenge and earn my free socks. We Are the Brennans was a huge surprise. I LOVED this book. It reminded me of Parenthood, one of my favorite tv shows.
The characters were all flawed, but that just made them more endearing. I loved this book so much I’m really hoping Lange will write more books about this family. (BOTM)
5 Stars
Brave New World was my book club’s pick for July. This was my third time reading it, and I have to say I still loved it the third time around. The commentary about consumerism and society is still spot on nearly ninety years after its publication. While the characters are not super strong and just a means for pushing the plot forward, Mustapha Mond and John still have one of the most iconic pieces of literature I’ve ever read. If you haven’t read this classic, you should.
4 Stars
I think I was expecting a little more thriller in The Maidens so I was a little let down, but the book still pushed me through and I couldn’t put it down. Starting out a bit slow, once Marianna really started investigating the mystery, the action picked up and I really didn’t want to stop reading. The ending really made up for the slow beginning. (BOTM)
4 Stars
A fun summer Rom Com set in a beautiful setting, Shipped was the light reading I needed after a month of heavy books. Graeme and Henley were a match made in Rom Com heaven, and their enemies to lovers relationship was to die for. Not only did this book have a wonderful love story, I really enjoyed the focus it had on ecotourism and the plight of women working in a male dominated industry.
4 stars
Stephanie Caffrey, Author 