Review: After the Rain

After the Rain by Nnedi Okorafor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Truly Interesting

Another read out of my genre this year. This is an extremely interesting graphic novel that follows Chioma, a cop from Chicago, who is visiting her grandmother and great aunt in Nigeria, and one day her world changes after a strange encounter with a weird little boy with half of his brain exposed. This experience leaves her with the sense of being watched, paranoia, and it grows with the turn of every page. The graphics are amazing and fit perfectly with the story.

I did enjoy this book, even though it was a bit odd and not my typical read.

I received this eARC in a Goodreads Giveaway.

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Review: Back to You

Back to You by Kristen Granata
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Second Chances

This is a sweet, sexy, heart warming second chance story that is very well written and will have you laughing, crying, and filled with all sorts of emotions throughout the book.

Imagine Michelle's surprise when she literally runs into the ex who walked out of her life five years earlier, without a word or ever hearing from him again, on her first day of her new teaching job. She is engaged to be married and has put her ex and all of that behind her, or has she?

The characters are fun and relatable, the dialogue is smooth and quirky, making this a light, fun, easy read.

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

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Review: As You Were: A Noir Thriller

As You Were: A Noir Thriller by D.M. Cox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kill them. Kill all of them.

When I asked my husband if he thought the government had the capability to place computer chips in peoples' brains to erase memories and provide them with "missions" he asked me why I was asking. I told him that it was part of the book I was reading, that the main character was an ex marine and would get called to do these super secret assassin missions. My husband said immediately, "You don't read books like that!" I replied with, the book drew me in because the guy, David, falls in love and doesn't want to live this life this anymore, and wants this contract to be his last one so that he can be normal and live a normal life. Although I am not usually a fan of any sort of government, ex government, military type of books, this is told in such a way that it is entertaining and makes you want to see what happens next. It is not a light fluffy read by any means and is pretty dark and gruesome, honestly, but definitely is an interesting read for sure.

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

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Review: When the Fireworks End

When the Fireworks End by Alex Lund
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The first half of this book was really hard to get through, the writing was flat, it was very surface, and I contemplated not finishing. And then all of a sudden something happens in the story and I just could not put it down.

This is a story about childhood friends in a small town in Japan. I enjoyed the culture of the book and learning about the different traditions that they have. I also enjoyed the dynamic of the friendship between Ken and Tomoya, who are entering their last year of "high school," Ken being outgoing and a bit wild, Tomoya being a bit more sensible, and the closeness and history of their families . The bond between the the boys, their adventures, and then a turn of events that happens shows how much people truly mean to you and can touch your lives, even when they are gone. This book had me in tears many times.

(3 stars only because the first half was so slow)

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

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Review: Trouble '99

Trouble '99 by Katya Mills
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Huh?

The year is 1999 and you have four 20-somethings who have decided to drop out of college. They get job applications but never fill them out opting instead for living in the tunnels under the college, that that they used to attend, and singing in subways for money for their essentials - drugs and alcohol. So not only is the storyline frustrating but the way the dialogue is written between the characters, you can't even tell who is speaking because it is all jumbled in one big paragraph with no quotation marks, which you know is a huge pet peeve of
mine!

Unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy this one at all, the story, characters, or writing.

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

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Review: I Keep My Worries in My Teeth

I Keep My Worries in My Teeth by Anna Cox
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Strange

I am not exactly sure what I just read. This has got to be one of the strangest books I have ever read. In the town of Lead, Ohio, a pencil factory exploded and has a pretty big impact on the entire community. The book follows three women, all with quite interesting issues. Ruth has lost her husband some time ago and still mourns his death. Frankie is the daughter of the owner of the pencil factory and takes a pencil to the throat during the explosion, is a member of a boy scout troop, and is obsessed with her boyfriend. And then there is Esther, oh, Esther. She is quite the quirky one. She likes to bite or chew on things and is the quality assurance tester for the pencil factory. She is not content unless she has something in her mouth, preferably made of wood.

The chapters rotate back and forth between characters with not much intertwining of the characters themselves. I think that the book has a good concept but it just really didn't go anywhere. Again, I'm really at a loss for words about this book.

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

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Review: In Five Years

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It all started with a simple question - “Where do you see yourself in five years?” - in an interview for Dannie’s dream job. Then her boyfriend, David, proposes to her that same night, and after much celebrating she has a dream, premonition, look into the future, or whatever you wanna call it five years into her future and it doesn’t include David but some other man, in another apartment, with a different ring!

However, you think that’s going to be what the book is about, right? Well, I am not going to give anything away, you’re going to have to read it and find out for yourself, but I have to say, it definitely was not what I was expecting at all. And maybe it is the social distancing and everything going in the world today, and how I am weepy all the time anyway, but I would highly recommend having tissues ready while reading this one for sure!

This is my book club’s pick this month and I am anxious to see what everyone thinks about it.

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Review: The Five Days of Christmas

The Five Days of Christmas by Maria Cassano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Christmas Spirit

This is a sweet little book to get you into the holiday spirit. I absolutely loved the five days of traditions leading up to Christmas. That is just so much fun! Although it is a short book, the characters were well developed and relatable. I didn't like the boyfriend, Jonathon all that much, but I think that's the point. This book read like a Christmas Hallmark movie, it was a quick, easy read, perfect for the holiday season!

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

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