Best in Books is a monthly feature created by BookTuber Hope Ortego.
A playlist of her Best In Books videos can be found HERE.
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Welcome to my Best in Books for October! Best In Books was created by my friend Hope and she was kind enough to let me join in on her feature (because she's awesome that way). Her BookTube channel is linked above and I hope you'll check her out. Now on to all the best bookishness in November...
Whether she believed it or not, Jillian was one tough cookie. She'd been through a lot and after several years of playing it safe and living as small a life as possible, she started to take risks and really came into her own. She didn't magically transform overnight and she was often unsure and questioned herself, but she really showed backbone and bravery and I loved that about her.
Jax from Stay With Me
When I was talking to my friend Brittany about the Wait for You series and waxing poetic about Cam Hamilton she said, "Just wait until you meet Jax." And I scoffed. But yeah, now I get it. Wow. Jax is sexy and sweet and the way he treated Calla had me in a melty little puddle of swoony goo (yes, that's totally a thing). While Cam is still tops when it comes to the book boyfriends in the series, Jax sure gave him a run for his money.
Despite the overriding serious themes, there was definitely some funny dialogue throughout Our Chemical Hearts. Tons of pop culture references and plenty of snappy banter.
"Plus, how can she be your soul mate? Didn't you tell me she'd never read Harry Potter? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with someone like that? I mean, for God's sake, think of your children. What kind of environment would they be growing up in with such a mother?”
While I ended up giving this one a measly 2 stars and the characters were a miserable, unlikable lot, I will say that it had the biggest OMG moment of anything I read in November. It totally took me by surprise and I actually spent the next several chapters waiting for it to be a big mistake. Nope, it really happened. And I never saw it coming.
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Rule
I've had a physical copy of Rule on my shelf for at least two years and since it didn't seem like I'd be picking it up any time soon I finally decided to download the audio version. And Rule is 100% bad boy. A moody, tattooed, pierced, sexy manwhore who lives by his own rules with no apologies. He doesn't do the relationship thing but naturally that changes with Shaw. It's not smooth sailing from there, though. Rule struggles to make peace with his family and the past. And just because he falls in love with Shaw doesn't mean he changes who he is - he's still a bad boy, just slightly reformed. :) |
I don't usually get taken in by cutesy/sweet but there was a passage in Your Inescapable Love that was just precious and stood out for me. This took place during a flashback nineteen years previous when Max and Emilia first met at 9 years old.
“It's raining. Let's go inside my house. Momma says it's bad to be out when it rains.”
She looks at the house behind me and then back at me. "Are you sure your parents won't be upset?"
"No, they let me and my brothers and sisters bring friends all the time."
She looks down at her boots again. "But I'm not your friend."
A loud sound cracks above and she jumps. She looks at the sky with wide eyes. Boy, she really is afraid of thunder.
"You are now. I want to be your friend, Emilia Campbell. And I will protect you from the thunder."
it rode in on
I am not a re-reader. It almost *never* happens because there are waaaay too many books I want to read to spend time on re-reading. But I made an exception last month for Simon. I listened to the audio book in October and instantly fell in love. So much that I downloaded the audio version again in November and listened to it all over again. I am totally smitten by this book and it's sure to be one of my favorites of the year.
I didn't have a 5 star read in November so it was a good-not-great reading month. But even so, it was easy to pick my best book of the month. I was so invested in Jax and Calla's story. Calla stayed strong throughout situations that would have had me rocking in a corner. And Jax was an absolute dreamboat - there by her side through it all. Jennifer L. Armentrout just *does not disappoint.*
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Now it's your turn: What was the best book you read in November?
Glad to hear there are laughs in Our Chemical Hearts. I just got it and am excited for it. I love Simon too. I listened and it was such a great book!
ReplyDeletePlenty of laughs in Our Chemical Hearts. Can't wait to see what you think of it!
DeleteOooh the humor in Our Chemical Hearts makes me want to read it even more! And I MUST read Simon Vs. I don't know why I haven't yet, I own it and everything! I feel you, I had a not-the-best reading month in November too- no 5 stars for me either. Crooked Kingdom was probably the best for me. Maybe around a 4.5? Hopefully December will treat us a bit kinder ;)
ReplyDeleteOMG you must read Simon Vs., Shannon. I think you will love it. I'm just in love with Simon (character *and* book). Hope we both have a kick-ass December with plenty of 5 star reads! :)
DeleteOh Rule *heart eyes hard*
ReplyDeleteDidn't know you'd read that one, Kei! Have you read the whole series?
DeleteWhat a fun list! Rule is definitely a great bad boy! And I also really enjoyed Jax and Jillian!! - Obsessive Book Nerd
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, Rule was taking bad boy to a new level. LOL
DeleteThe HP quote from Our Chemical Hearts is great! hah I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan, so that sounds like something I'd say.
ReplyDeleteYay for re-reading/listening to Simon Vs. I just love that book.
-Lauren
There were so many great pop culture references like that in Our Chemical Hearts. It's not what exactly a light and fluffy book but there were definitely some funny lines.
DeleteAnd Simon... I just can't get enough. :)
YOU ARE SO RIGHT, WHICH I'D DHY YOU WILL FOREVA BE MY SOUL/BOOK SISTER. JLA, never disappoints when it comes to romance so I'm glad we can agree on that fact!♡♡ now, I'm going to write down all of these books and read them ALL because I have been really slumpy lately... :(
ReplyDeleteI swear, everyone I talk to has been slumpy lately. What up with that? Some JLA would be perfect for that, though. And Simon Vs, would be , too. I'm so in love with Simon! :)
DeleteI like this post, Tanya! Apparently I need to get to JLA's series ASAP! ;) (It does weird me out a bit to read a book with a hero named Jax though since my son's name is Jax ;) ) I'm going to have to meet Simon as well. I rarely re-read for the same reasons but I *will* listen as a way to revisit a favorite story. :) I absolutely agree with you about Rule. *swoon* I need to get to reading the rest of that series. And that excerpt you shared from Hagen's book...omigosh! Soo sweet! I think the best book I read in November was Trust by Jana Aston and the best listen was Stormswept by Sabrina Jeffries.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brandee! I really love JLA's Wait For You series - definitely a favorite of mine. That's funny about Jax... I can see where that would be weird. A while back I read a hero named Jackson which is my nephew's name - again, kind of weird. LOL I've read Rule and Jet now and I'm waiting for Rome to come available on audio on Overdrive. It's a fun series. I've never read anything by Sabrina Jeffries. I think she writes historicals (?) and that's a genre I haven't read in quite a long while.
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