A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman | Book Review

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Reading Group: High School+

Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: Read the New York Times bestseller that has taken the world by storm!

Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.

A feel-good story in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, Fredrik Backman’s novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist, starred review).

Cover: The cover of this book is drawn, given a slightly cartoon look.  It displays Ove looking out at something we can't see and the cat looking at it with him.  I think the cover does a nice job of showing Ove looking forward towards the future.

My Review:  I thought this book was so cute.  It's the type of book were you just smile and shake your head because everyone knows an Ove.  Someone who is just stubborn and stuck in their ways and believes the world is full of morons.  The use of metaphors and similes in this story were fantastic and added such a funny level to a scene were maybe things were tense or awkward.  The main part of the story takes place over three weeks, and yet that's all it takes for Ove's life to completely change.  A new family moves into his neighborhood and suddenly people need him for things like ladders and driving lessons and keeping their husbands in their home and buying gifts that parents refuse too.  In the process of trying to kill himself, Ove finds so may reasons to live.  Ove suffered his fair share of unfortunate events, but he was always to do what he thought was the right thing, but when he lost his wife he didn't see the reason to continue on.  So he tried to kill himself.  Numerous times.  And he was never able to do it because something always interrupted him and eventually he stopped trying and died years later when it was his time to die.  Ove turned into a seemingly bitter old man to someone who was considered a grandfather to the neighborhood kids.  His wife always said that when she lost her own child she was able to gain thousands through teaching and so did Ove and he was able to learn a lot along the way.  This book was a great read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who knows someone too stubborn for their own good.

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In The Blood by Lisa Unger | Book Review

In The Blood by Lisa Unger

Reading Group: 17 years+

Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR! Silver Falchion Award Winner, Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee, Suspense Magazine Best Books, Sun Sentinel Best Mystery Novels, Indie Next Pick and Amazon Best Book of the Month!

Liar, liar, pants on fire . . . College senior Lana Granger has told so many lies about her past that the truth seems like a distant, cloudy nightmare.  But she meets her match when she begins babysitting for a volatile, manipulative eleven-year-old boy.  Soon after Lana takes the job, her close friend Beck mysteriously disappears.  Lana instantly begins fabricating stories - to friends, to police, to herself.  Why doesn't her account jibe with those of eye-witnesses?  Lana will do anything to bury the truth about that night ... and about her life.  But someone else knows her secrets.  And he's dying to tell.

Cover: The cover of this books has someone, presumably Lane, on the cover.  It's dark and mysterious which is pretty much how you can sum up this whole book.

My Review:  A friend of mine gave me this book to read and I really enjoyed it.  It was a mystery so I was trying to figure everything out before I got to the end.  I was able to figure out quite a few things, but there was still something on the last page I wasn't expecting.  I don't want to give anything away because it is a book that tries to see how much of a detective you are, but I will say that this book dealt with some big issues that not many people can relate to, but everyone can learn more about.  Everyone has family issues, but not everyone you meet has two killers in their family.  And plenty of people have mental issues or confusion about sexuality, but this book brings it to another level that keeps you captivated throughout.  Like the title says, some things about us are there from the day we're born; it's in the blood.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries or crime shows.  It's a great read that keeps you guessing until the very end.

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Before by Anna Todd | Book Review

Before by Anna Todd

Reading Group: Anyone who read After

Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: BEFORE Hardin met Tessa he was a raging storm. DURING those first moments they met, he realized he needed to keep her for himself—his life depended on it. AFTER they got together, the world would never be the same.

Hardin and Tessa’s dramatic love affair became a vortex pulling in everyone around them. For the first time these others are given voice as they appear before, during, and after the events in original After novels. Alongside them, Hardin’s account of his first encounters with Tessa—which will change what you thought you knew about the brooding boy and the angel who loved him.

Cover: The cover of this book is yellow and very bright.  It looks almost as if someone tried to take a picture of the sun.

My Review: I bought this book when it was released and I only just now finished reading it.  It took me so long to reread the first four books, but I finally did it.  I loved Before because I love Hardin and his point of view.  As many of you know, I got annoyed with Tessa pretty easily, but I have such a soft spot for Hardin.  I love how half the time he doesn't even know how he offends Tessa and when she gets mad, he gets so confused.  I also liked that the book incorporated more than just Hardin.  It gave insight on Molly and Steph and so many others and it was nice to see where all of the characters came from.  The 'After' section was also something I really enjoyed.  I love Smith, I think he's a funny kid and I love the future Hessa stuff because that's when they're always happy and it's great.  One thing I do wish was in Hardin's section was the "I love you" scene, even if it started when Tessa went to find him at the soccer field.  I loved that part of After, so it would have been nice to get it from Hardin's point of view.  I think this book really ties up Hessa's story nicely and hints at Landon's books enough to get everyone excited for them.  If you loved After and were able to make it through the entire series, this book is definitely a great way to finish it off.     

I also really wish Anna would write something about the two years when Hardin lived in Chicago, even if it's just something short and on Wattpad.

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Fighting to be Free by Kirsty Moseley | Book Review

Fighting to be Free by Kirsty Moseley 

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Reading Group: High School+

Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: All his life, people have told Jamie Cole that he was born bad. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. But that doesn't matter now. Because after a lifetime of demons, Jamie has finally found an angel.

Ellie Pearce learned the hard way that boys can't be trusted. But the night she meets Jamie, something shifts. He's different: brooding, a bit dark, determined to change. The connection they share is intense, compelling. Ellie tries to resist, but with each breathtaking kiss, she can't help falling deeper.

Things between Ellie and Jamie are perfect-and perfection can't last. When fate goes horribly wrong, Jamie's only hope of saving his family is to strike a deal with the devil. Most of all, Jamie wants to prove he's the person Ellie believes him to be. But if she learns just how much he's been hiding, Ellie won't be able to believe anything Jamie has ever told her . 

Cover: The cover of this book shows Jamie looking down and a little bit like he's questioning whatever it is he's about to do.  There is also a warehouse in the background which makes sense once you read the story!!  

My Review:  I know my reviews are more like ramblings about what I liked and didn't like about the book, but today's is different because I got this book as an Advanced Readers Copy and it came out today so I won't be saying anything that will give away spoilers.  I will tell you that I absolutely loved this book!  This is the third book by Kirsty Moseley that I've read and it is my favorite.  It's about love and loss and decisions and it's told in the point of view of both Ellie and Jamie.  I noticed in some other reviews that some people didn't really like Ellie's character, but I did.  Some people think she is too naive, but I think she was trusting.  She put a lot of trust in Jamie and expected him to have the same trust in her.  She also very rarely jumped to conclusions and if she did she was able to apologize for her mistakes and she trusted her gut to know when things weren't right.  Jamie was such a lovable boy, but he was also tough.  His character reminds us that our past doesn't dictate our futures, but it's hard to run away from the past, sometimes impossible.  He wants to be a man Ellie deserves and it comes with a huge sacrifice on his part that absolutely tore me apart, but made me wicked excited for the sequel that comes out in December.  If you read Always You or Free Falling by Kirsty Moseley than you will enjoy this story, maybe even more like me.  I highly recommend you check it out and let me know what you think!


Other blogposts I've written regarding Kirtsy Moseley:
Free Falling Book Review
Kirsty Moseley New Cover Reveal
Cover Reveal Reaction
     

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne | Book Review

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne 

Reading Group: Potterheads

Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: "The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016. 
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

Cover: The cover of this book shows Albus in a nest with bird wings.  I'm not really sure what the nest has to do with everything, but the wings were the same as the one Delphi has tattooed on her back as a sign to Dark Magic.  The nest may be symbolic of a child who is born into something he maybe doesn't want, but can't control.

My Review:  I would like to start out by saying that I was a little skeptical about this book because it is written like a play and typically when I read plays I don't pay attention as to who's speaking and I get confused and lost very quickly.  It didn't take me long into this play that I realized my reason for being lost was probably because most of the plays I've read have been written by Shakespeare and I had no idea what he was trying to say anyway.  This play was amazing, I mean obviously because it's Harry Potter.  It made me want to jump on a plane and see it in person.  And if it wasn't sold out for months and months I might have.  It was just such an interesting story of Harry's son, who at the end of Deathly Hallows I kind of assumed he'd be just like Harry, but he's not.  The two of them can't seem to find anything to talk about and Albus seems to think that Harry is a fraud for not wanting to help Mr. Diggory.  However, changing the past changes more than Albus and Scorpius ever wanted and they have to figure out a way to fix it before it's too late.  It's a little funny that Voldemort is what brings Harry and his son closer.  It's weird to think that Voldemort was a dad, but I'm not surprised it was Bellatrix's kid.  She was creepily in love with Voldemort and that was evident very early on in the series.  This play is about kids trying to prove something to their parents, which is something most kids want to do, but it's also Harry Potter which makes it absolutely amazing and something everyone should read.

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A Beautiful Funeral by Jamie McGuire | Book Review

A Beautiful Funeral by Jamie McGuire

Reading Group: Anyone whose read the rest of the series

Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: Losing has never been easy for a Maddox, but death always wins.

Eleven years to the day after eloping in Vegas with Abby, Special Agent Travis Maddox delivers his own brand of vigilante justice to mob boss Benny Carlisi. Vegas's oldest and most violent crime family is now preparing for vengeance, and the entire Maddox family is a target.

The secret Thomas and Travis have kept for a decade will be revealed to the rest of the family, and for the first time the Maddoxes will be at odds. While none of them are strangers to loss, the family has grown, and the risk is higher than ever. With brothers against brothers and wives taking sides, each member will make a choice—let the fear tear them apart, or make them stronger.

Cover: The cover of this book has a tree on it with bare branches and falling leaves.  That means that it must be towards the end of fall, which in a literary sense means the end of a life.  Also, Jim gives a speech to his sons about how life goes on the way branches grow off of other branches.  

My Review:  (Just a reminder now that I tend to ramble and give away spoilers)  Oh my gosh you guys this book did me in!  I read it all in one go and didn't go to bed until 4 in the morning last week.  My Predictions from last week was right, but wrong in some ways.  I was right that Jim was the one who died, but he didn't die in a way I imagined.  I also didn't originally think they were going to fake a death, but within about 10 pages of the book I was able to see that that's where it was headed.  Also, I am so upset that Olive died.  I wasn't even thinking of her as an option!  And she was only 18 and about to start college.  Plus, she had already held her brother while he died and now her parents had no kids, and Fayln lost her too.  I wish that she was seriously hurt and maybe it didn't look good, but she pulled through.  Her death hurt so bad.  her death also just seemed so unnecessary to me.  Everyone else I could understand for the most part, I did understand and wrote a blog post about it, but Olive was never on my radar.  She was a Maddox, because she was Falyn's biological daughter, but she was the one no one would know about, so I guess that added an element to the story.
Also, so much has changed!  Fayln and Taylor being in a weird place was a curveball I was not expecting.  And I know they decided to live together again, but I need to know how they work things out.  I also need to know how they handle the fact that the Mayor's son keeps texting her or how he even got her number.  Trenton and Cami not being able to get pregnant was also a surprise, but not as shocking as Falyn and Taylor.  However, I do need to know is Cami ever does get pregnant.  I felt bad to Trenton in this book too because even though he did have lied, his didn't seem as big as his family's and it was clear that he was hurt the most by finding out all of the different truths.  I think this is also what made Olive's death so hard, other than the fact that readers knew her as a little girl and then as an 18-year-old.  Olive was Trent's best friend so for him to be hurting so bad throughout the book and then have to go through that when it looked like it was over was hard.
That Jamie McGuire really knows how to simultaneously ruin and make my day.  Her books are some of my favorites, but then she does stuff like this and it makes me so sad.  However, I think that fact that this book made me feel so much proves how good it is.  If you were to read a book like this and just like "Eh, well it's over now," than the book didn't didn't do a very good job.  A novel should cause a reaction and this one definitely does. 
*Note: Did anyone else notice that at the beginning of the book (Chapter 5) Abby and Travis are at their house talking about baby names before Travis leaves to go t the airport for Liis, but when she does actually land (Chapter 18) Abby is at the hospital having just given birth to Carter?  And there's no way these things happened on the same day because Abby was at Jim's house with Travis when her water broke.  

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After Ever Happy by Anna Todd | Book Review

After Ever Happy by Anna Todd

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Reading Group Rating: M for Mature

Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: Tessa and Hardin have had enough surprises.  Their bond is stronger than ever, but ever new challenge they face shakes their foundation-and Hardin's impenetrable facade-to the core.  As the shocking truth about each of their families emerges, it's clear that the two lovers are not so different from each other.  Tessa is no longer the sweet, simple, good girl she was when she met Hardin-any more than he is the cruel, moody boy she fell so hard for.  Tessa understands all the troubling emotions brewing within Hardin, and she knows she's the only one who can calm when he erupts.  He needs her.  But the more layers of his past that come to light, the darker he grows, and the harder he pushes Tessa-and everyone else in his life-away.  After all this time, Tessa's not sure if she really can save him-not without sacrificing herself.  Is love worth losing identity?  She refuses to go down without a fight.  But who is she really fighting for-Hardin or herself?   

Cover: I think the cover of this novel is so cute, with it's pretty colors and sunshine.  It's just so happy, which makes sense given the title and the fact that this story does have a lot of happy moments to it.

My Review: This is definitely my favorite of the After books because this is the one where everything falls into place.  Tessa brakes, but then finally realizes that she needs to be more independent and figure out what she wants out of life.  (Plus, she's less annoying and whiney in this book which makes me very happy)  Hardin reverts back to who he was before Tessa when he finds out about his family, but then he is able to bring himself out of it and finally change to be the man he kept saying he wanted to be.  It was kind of sad that it took Richard killing himself for Tessa and Hardin to figure all this out, but at the same time it had to be something dramatic because the two of them had already gone through things where they said things would be different.  Tessa needed to go through the emotions, or lack thereof, of what she went through when her dad died, as sad as it was.  It brought so many things to light and allowed her to realize that she didn't need Zed (finally, am I right?) and that as much as she loved Hardin, she needed space.  And the space was a good thing because obviously they were going to end up together it was just a matter of when they would be 100% together.  Can you imagine if after 4 books they ended up breaking up?  I would have been so mad.  Also, the epilogue is the greatest thing.  I loved everything about it.  Except I am very confused as to whether they actually ended up getting married or not, but I feel like I read somewhere that Anna Todd explains it better in Landon's books, I don't know though.

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