Best In Books | November 2018

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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I'm so excited to be back with a Best in Books post! Best in Books has long been one of my favorite features but it's shown up pretty infrequently this year - a sign of my inconsistent reading and some big life events that left little time for reading/blogging. In fact, the last Best In Books post was way back in May! But I'm happy to say that November was a return to the norm, in reading if nothing else. And there was enough read to actually put together a Best In Books post. *insert wild cheering* So let's jump right into it...

First the stats:

Books read in November: 8

Ebooks: 4

Audiobooks: 4

DNFs: 1 

Ratings:

1 @ 4.25 stars

5 @ 4 stars

2 @ 3 stars

Tie: Sophie from Steadfast and Lark from Keepsake

I usually have no problem picking one per category but I gave up this month and allowed a couple dual picks. Both Sophie and Lark were real stand-out characters and I couldn't pick one over the other. Sophie had lost so much (her brother, her boyfriend, a functional family) but she didn't spin out of control. She was strong and dependable, hard-working and loyal. And her love for Jude was unwavering. Lark was dealing with the aftermath of a horrific experience but was taking steps to move past it. I loved how she allowed herself to be vulnerable with Zach and was strong enough and brave enough to admit when she needed help.

Tie: Jude from Steadfast and Zach from Keepsake

Can you tell the characters from these two books made an impression on me? In Steadfast, my heart broke for Jude again and again. This was a guy who had so much stacked against him, had been treated so unfairly and was being kicked while he was down, and yet he just put his head down and kept moving forward. He didn't recognize the strength of his own character and determination and it was easy to cheer him on all the way. Zach was absolutely precious and it was impossible not to fall in love with this gentle man. Zach had a past few could understand and he struggled to find his place and believe in his own worth. I loved watching as he opened his heart to Lark and provided strength when she needed it most.

Quiet Girl in a Noisy World
To be honest, there were some rather cheesy covers happening in November and it made picking the best of the bunch fairly easy. The cover for Quiet Girl in a Noisy so perfectly summed up Tung's tale of being an introvert. 

What He Always Knew by Kandi Steiner 


“All I'm asking is that you try, that you let me in again. Just... give me this time with your heart before you decide to give it all to him."

The Truth About Lies by Aly Martinez

The whole plot of The Truth About Lies was over the top so a plot twist (or three) was to be expected. The last was a real kicker and provided the perfect set-up for the next book.   

The Truth About Us by Aly Martinez
The baddies in this duet were straight out of a B-movie. Organized crime bosses, crooked politicians... they were here and they were larger than life characters who used drugs, abused women, and killed without a thought. Their actions were so extreme (and unchecked) and their dialogue so crazy that it sometimes went into eye-rolling territory, but they definitely qualified as the "best" villains I read about all month. 

Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Debbie Tung

This graphic novel was filled with so many funny moments, mostly because they were so relatable.

it rode in on

Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

Sadly there were no 5 star reads in the month of November but that doesn't mean I didn't have plenty of enjoyable reads. And at the top of the list is Steadfast. I was so invested in this story of first love and second chances. Jude's struggle with addiction and guilt hurt my heart and I marveled at his strength and resiliency despite having very little in the way of support. Sophie had a generous spirit and often put others ahead of herself, when it was appreciated and even when it wasn't. This was a case of two people being so much better together than apart. 

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Now it's your turn: 
What is the best book you read in November? 

Best In Books | May 2018

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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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 May...

Sage from The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things
Sage was a character that I admired. This was a girl who fought hard to overcome her past. She wanted so much to be a better person and often subscribed to the "fake it until you make it" mentality. She didn't giver herself enough credit, though, because she was already strong and kind and loyal. As Shane said to her: "You really have no idea do you? How incredible you are?"

Mal from Play

For sheer enjoyment, this one has to go to Mal. This overgrown man-child drummer for Stage Dive was a force of nature. I adored Mal for both his humor and his heart. He went on these hilarious tangents, said outrageous things, drove Anne crazy, and yet at the same time he was sweet and lovable and had a huge heart. My favorite guy from the Stage Dive series and my favorite male character for May.

Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley
A book this adorable needs a cover to match and looking at this one I'd say mission accomplished! From the gorgeous color, to the fun font, to the director's chairs (a nod to the movie set setting), this cover is a big hit.

Before and Again by Barbara Delinksky


“People don't cry because they're weak. They cry because they've been strong for too long."

Jimmy: Lead by Kylie Scott

I'll admit that I was torn over lead singer Jimmy for much of the book. To be honest, he was a total ass to Lena much of the time. But despite the hard-partying reputation, the sometimes nasty attitude, and his general moodiness, there was something about Jimmy that got to me. He was giving his all to being clean and sober, he was grieving the loss of an important person in his life, and dealing with the fall-out that his previous actions had on the band. And despite what he said, it was obvious he cared for Lena and he showed it in so many ways - big and small. 

Here So Far Away by Hadley Dyer

Admittedly, Here So Far Away was my least favorite book of the month, but it did manage to throw in a plot twist that I didn't see coming. I had a couple guesses about a particular character but when what really happened was revealed... yeah, didn't see that coming. 

it rode in on

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

Sadly there were no 5 star reads in the month of May. And there wasn't a 4.5 star book, either. But I did have two 4 star reads: Love Scene, Take Two and The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things. While LSTT was ridiculously adorable, it was The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things that had the emotional impact. There was much to love. Both Sage and Shane were strong, well-developed characters who worked hard to overcome difficult pasts. Their connection felt genuine, starting with a friendship that grew into more. Sage's aunt, who she lived with, was an amazingly supportive force in Sage's life. This book covered so many topics seamlessly - grief, friendship, first love, family dynamics, bullying and more - and it all came together for a truly emotional journey.

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Now it's your turn: 
What is the best book you read in May? 

Best In Books | March 2018

Best in Books is a monthly feature created by BookTuber Hope Ortego. 

A playlist of her Best In Books videos can be found HERE.

_________________________________________________

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 March...

Macy from Love and Other Words
It's hard to come up with concrete, specific reasons why Macy was such a stand-out character for me. She wasn't fighting wars or saving kingdoms (but she was a pediatric doctor so she was saving kids). She was just a regular woman and I think it was the fact that she was so real, and felt so totally realistic, that I cared for her so much. I totally pulled for Macy and wanted a happy ending for her so much. Because goodness knows she deserved it.

Elliot from Love and Other Words

Could I love this guy any more?! I adored Elliot. Teenage Elliot was what every girl should have for her first love. Sweet and kind and patient, smart and funny and fun-loving. He was just So. Good. Yes he made mistakes but I loved his openness and his honesty. Adult Elliot was every bit as lovable. Laid back, incredibly patient, and heartbreakingly honest about his feelings. Elliot took my breath away.

Lake Silence by Anne Bishop
Something about this cover just conveys a kind of ominous feel to me and I love it. While there may be some confusion as to who is depicted on the cover - a blogger friend assumed it was the main character while I thought it was the Lady of the Lake (in human form) - I think the look and feel totally fit the story.

What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Clinton wrote these lines speaking about women in politics, but I felt it really spoke to all women.

“In my experience, the balancing act women in politics have to master is challenging at every level, but it gets worse the higher you rise. If we’re too tough, we’re unlikable. If we’re too soft, we’re not cut out for the big leagues. If we work too hard, we’re neglecting our families. If we put family first, we’re not serious about the work. If we have a career but no children, there’s something wrong with us, and vice versa. If we want to compete for a higher office, we’re too ambitious. Can’t we just be happy with what we have? Can’t we leave the higher rungs on the ladder for men? Think how often you’ve heard these words used about women who lead: angry, strident, feisty, difficult, irritable, bossy, brassy, emotional, abrasive, high-maintenance, ambitious (a word that I think of as neutral, even admirable, but clearly isn’t for a lot of people)."

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
Listening to this one on audio provided so many laugh out loud moments. I listened on my daily commute so I'm sure the drivers in the cars around me thought I was an absolute loon if they happened to look over while I was giggling or guffawing at something Anna said. Here are a couple of my favorites:

"Jessica became my first enemy. Like most enemies in my life, I hoped to punish her with passive-aggressive glances and silent-but passionate!-resentment. She retaliated by forgetting I existed. Ah, the moral victory.” 

"People who grew up in major cities may wonder why the hell I would act like it's a big deal to be unaccompanied in New York City at that age. It's populated with both adults and children, it's a functioning metropolis, Kevin McCallister was only ten in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and that kid saved Christmas. Conversely, people from suburban areas act like my parents sent me wandering around the site of the Baby Jessica well, blindfolded and holding a flaming baton. So pick a side and prepare to judge me either way!” 

Seth: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I don't know if Seth is actually supposed to be a bad-boy type but he's definitely edgier than the other male lead, Aiden. I suppose I'm supposed to be swooning over Aiden and considering he and Alex the total OTP, but Aiden is a little too perfect. Seth is far more interesting and entertaining.  

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

This mystery-thriller had so many surprising revelations that my head was spinning. Even some that I suspected were revealed in such a way that it was still shocking. There were characters who were shady, whose motivations weren't always clear, and whose actions sometimes took me by surprise. Each event kept me itching for more and the moments I never saw coming were twisted but satisfying. 

Royally Endowed by Emma Chase

Okay, typically I would not include a scene (or quote or anything else) that could not be explained or be put into context because of possible spoilers. But this particular scene just got to me and it was certainly a notable swoon-worthy moment. So, sorry I can't provide any context or explain what or why this is swoon-worthy, but just take my word for it. And if you've read Royally Endowed, then you know.

So here's my oh-so-cryptic moment: The scene near the very end when Logan tells Ellie to close her eyes. He does this so she won't have to see what's about to happen and that just killed me. It was so completely selfless, and so completely swoony, that it did me in.

it rode in on

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Simply put, I fell in love with Love and Other Words. I tumbled hard and fast into Macy and Elliot's story - hurting for them both in the present-day chapters and reveling in the past chapters, even though I knew something devastating had to be coming. These were two special people who found one another early in life... until circumstances bisected them. I hesitate to call this a second-chance romance because that reduces it to a simple trope when it's so much more than that. Macy and Elliot came alive for me and I loved their story.

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Now it's your turn: 
What is the best book you read in March?