Enjoyable, but not quite the page turner I was hoping for. I felt like it could have been 100 pages shorter. I will admit that I‘m pretty selective about romances!

Kristin Hannah is simply a great writer. I wouldn‘t rank it over The Nightingale or Firefly Lane (this one was a bit more soap-opera-y), but I could NOT put it down.

I really cannot decide how I feel about this, which is why I‘m going with “so-so”. To the book‘s credit, I couldn‘t put it down. But, it was a bit cliche and far-fetched. I didn‘t find the characters (especially Laurel and Poppy) believable. Overall, if you‘re looking for an easy-to-read thriller, the story definitely kept my attention!

My favorite summer activity: reading a whole YA book in one day. This one was in one sitting! I don‘t read poetry often, but I loved this one.

I was reading this at work and had to stop because I didn‘t want to weep. Then, 20 minutes later, I decided that weeping at work was fine and finished it. This book just had such a magical quality from beginning to end. I absolutely loved it! Just be ready for an emotional rollercoaster.

Just as good as the first! Here‘s to hoping for a third!

As you may have guessed, this book isn‘t an easy read. Obviously the subject matter is difficult to swallow, but it also had more of a textbook feel than I was anticipating. I‘d recommend it, but you might want to take breaks now and then!

I am NOT a fantasy person, but I LOVED this book! It‘s definitely got that YA feel, but it was unlike anything I‘ve ever read and I flew through it in two days.

This book lives up to the hype. It isn‘t for the faint of heart - it reads almost like a textbook at parts, with specific vocabulary that you really have to examine to understand. But, overall, I would encourage you to read it if you‘re open minded and ready to learn!

I was looking for something fun and lighthearted to read during the shitstorm that is the first two weeks of 2021 and this did the trick! It may not have been the best YA book I‘ve ever read, but it kept me interested the whole time. And WOW, it ended on a cliff hanger - I wonder how long it will take for me to get my hands on the second one 😭

Dang, this book really broke my heart. The ending got a little predictable about halfway through, but it was full of interesting twists and turns. Such a good YA thriller!

I thought I might be bored, since I watched the show first a few years ago, but I flew through this book in two days. It‘s such compelling storytelling!

“I‘ve never done acid, but I imagine it feels similar to reading this book.” - my text to a friend just now

But all jokes aside, what a fascinating book. I read it in less than 24 hours. It‘s a deeply sad, almost trippy perspective on trauma crossed with a ghost story. Anyone who loved We Were Liars would love this one, too.

This was a solid YA story! It dragged a bit in the beginning, but really picked up at the end. It would make an awesome movie. If you like books focused on sibling relationships, I would for sure recommend it! I‘m not sure I loved it enough to continue on with the entire series, but I may end up coming back to it later on.

I want to make this a “pick”, but it took me over two months to finish, so I don‘t think I can. It‘s pretty simple: this is a long ass book. There are interesting chapters in here, but there are definitely a lot of uninteresting chapters. I don‘t regret reading it, but I wouldn‘t recommend it to anyone who‘s not a die-hard true crime fan. Also, some of Ann‘s views on Bundy‘s execution didn‘t sit well with me at the end.

So, I have not written a review in a while (whoops) but I decided to get back on Litsy, considering a likely impending lockdown is going to give me extra time 🙃 I typically hate self-help books and I‘m not sure if this counts as one, but it really encouraged me to look inward at my own mental health and the ways it‘s shaped my life! I don‘t know much about band.o, but Gotch was a fun narrator, so I might have to do some shopping on her site now.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but I didn‘t love it. Her political humor is spot on, but I think with the current political climate, I just wasn‘t in the mood to joke about it 😂 I did learn some interesting things though, especially about women‘s healthcare. It was a funny book, it just didn‘t “hook” me as much as other books I‘ve read lately.

Honestly, I am almost in tears simply because I‘m sad this book is over! A YA masterpiece that portrays female friendship so accurately. And, hello, yes, let‘s NORMALIZE abortion in a positive light in YA! Those of you that follow me know I read a lot of YA and this is one of my favorite YA novels in a long time. I can‘t wait to see the movie - I hope it does this book justice.

I could not put this memoir down. Saeed has a unique story, but the emotions he portrayed were so universal. His stories made my heart hurt and sing. I plowed through it in two sittings. An important read during Pride and with the current political climate in the US.

This reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing, in that it got a little over-hyped for me. It was a solid book with interesting characters, but I found the plot to be a little bit forgettable and predictable. I still would recommend it to those who like family dramas, I just didn‘t LOVE it.

This was a pretty timely read! The dual perspectives were very interesting, and it was fast-paced. I read the whole thing in one sitting. I‘d definitely recommend it to YA loyalists, or to someone who‘s looking for a read that‘s relevant to the current political climate.

This book lives up to the hype. I thought the twist at the end was really interesting. Also, everyone said I would cry at the end, which I didn‘t buy... and then I did. If you find WW2 interesting, I would definitely recommend this sisterly story. Just grab some tissues 😭

#CoronaBreak Book 15. This was a great YA thriller. It read like historical fiction with almost a Hunger Games-y twist. I read the last 150 pages in one day!

#CoronaBreak Book 14. This was an easy read that I found enjoyable! The characters were a little flat and I wouldn‘t exactly call it “highbrow” writing-wise, but it was an interesting drama that kept my attention. Also, am I supposed to keep hash tagging corona break now that this thing‘s going on indefinitely? Unsure

#CoronaBreak Book 13. In a dream world, I would love to teach this book. I find the blurred lines between “good” and “evil” so fascinating (hence my love for true crime), and I think this book really clearly emphasizes how unclear that dichotomy can truly be (and in a way that young people can understand it). The ending was satisfying, and you really felt so many emotions for all of the people involved.

#CoronaBreak Book 12. I was between “Pick” and “So-So”. The first half was fascinating, and then, it sort of slowed down. The fact that Snow is obviously such a hated character made it difficult to stay invested in his story. I found it interesting how it was so easy for him to bounce back and forth between good and evil. Overall, I haven‘t been “sucked in” to a book in a bit and this one definitely had me hooked, hence the “Pick” rating!

#CoronaBreak Book 11. What a disappointing book. I have the whole series, but for now, I‘m not going to read the second and third books. I LOVED To All The Boys I‘ve Loved Before by the same author, and this book was the opposite: poorly written with flat characters and a dry plot that I had no emotional investment in. I love me some easy YA, but even this one was hard to get through.

#CoronaBreak Book 10. I wish I loved this book more than I did. I enjoyed it, but it took AGES for me to get hooked. That might be the pandemic getting to my brain, though. I‘m hoping that I‘ll have more motivation to read once e-learning is over. Overall, it was a fun and easy read!

#CoronaBreak Book 9. I‘ve had this book for years and I randomly decided to read it. Coincidentally, I started this on the anniversary of my grandma‘s death, and it felt relevant. I appreciated its portrayal of grief. I would have ranked it as a “pick”, but the first half didn‘t grip me and felt more like a chore to work through. Overall, the second half helped it redeem itself.

#CoronaBreak Book 8. I say that I hate romance, but then I weep during a book like this. Sigh. It was predictable, sure, but suspenseful enough that I wanted to keep reading. I have to give Silver credit in that she made me feel every single one of Lydia‘s emotions, good and bad.

#CoronaBreak Book 7. There were some parts that I loved and some parts that I felt like I was trudging through. It was well written, but not a story that required over 400 pages. Listen, I‘ve got the time, so I‘m not mad that I spent a while reading it!

#CoronaBreak Book 6. This one was HEAVY. A statement on trauma, for sure, and it definitely gets you thinking about the relationship between a woman‘s sense of worth and her awareness of the male gaze. Maggie‘s chapters literally made my heart hurt, and regardless of content, that‘s an indicator of a well-written piece of nonfiction. Once you start, you won‘t want to put it down.

#CoronaBreak Book 5. I can‘t say much except holy SHIT, this is the best true crime book I‘ve ever read. I couldn‘t put it down. It‘s definitely not for the faint of heart, especially Part I (child rapist/molester/murderer), but I just found it to be such an insightful perspective on the human condition. If you like true crime, get this in your hands ASAP.

#CoronaBreak Book 4! Reading YA has been really quick and satisfying these past couple of days. I loved, loved, LOVED this book. I appreciated the two unconventional main characters (brothers: one that‘s big, tough, and “bad”, and the other with Down Syndrome). I think it‘s impressive for a YA novel to cover the complex issue of cultural identity/belonging so well. Now, back to adult books for a few days!

#CoronaBreak Book 3! I‘m struggling with this one. On one hand, I couldn‘t put it down (I read it in two sittings, only pausing for dinner), but on the other hand... there was a major plot line that was really difficult for me to be okay with. I will say that it is artistically written, although you don‘t really get that until the end. All things considered, it made me think, and I never regret reading a book that makes me think!

#CoronaBreak Book 2! This was such a great memoir. It reminded me that you may never truly know what someone‘s going through behind the scenes (even if they star in two of your favorite TV shows). It covers lots of heavy topics, but is full of fun asides!

Here‘s my first read of #CoronaBreak! Wow, I loved this book. It was poignant and hopeful and tense and soothing all at the same time. The characters felt so real and dimensional. I‘d love to read it with my middle schoolers. Now, let‘s see how many more books I read by the time I (hopefully) return to teaching!

This book was a big yikes from start to finish. At first, it felt like a poorly written 50 Shades of Gray... then, it felt like a poorly written thriller... then, the ending was just straight-up poorly written. There was an exciting 100 pages in the middle, but the pros did not outweigh the cons. There are simply better thrillers out there.

Yes, this was a good book, but I think it got a little too over-hyped for me before I read it. The writing was beautiful. Just a warning... the first half is slow, but it picks up. I enjoyed it while I read it, but I can‘t say it‘s one of those books that I‘ll think about for months after finishing. I would still recommend it as a fun mystery-style read, though!

This book was delightful! I don‘t typically choose romance novels (this was for book club) so I was a bit nervous, especially with over 400 pages. But, it went by super fast once I got into it. Very cute with a political twist!

I wish I had read this book sooner - I‘ve never read anything like it. Almost like a modern, updated Catcher in the Rye. It was such a prime example of well-done storytelling.

Holy cow, this book is the definition of plot twists & turns. The descriptive writing was gorgeous; my one complaint is that many of the characters felt a little one-dimensional (except for Izzy). I think this quote from the author‘s note summarizes it well: “Where do we follow rules, and where do we justify breaking them? Do our pasts determine what we deserve in the future? And is it ever possible to leave your past behind?”

Read this with my 7th/8th grade book club and it was a fun choice! I definitely see why it appeals to teens - lots of relationship drama and plot twists. It was a page turner for sure and I didn‘t see the ending coming (surprisingly)!

I‘ve been feeling a little “blah” lately and this book was the perfect pick-me-up. It‘s completely focused on JVN before Queer Eye - he doesn‘t even discuss the show until the very end, so I learned a lot about him that I didn‘t know. It was the perfect balance of drama and comedy and I‘d recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, easy read.

Finally made it through this book! To be honest, it wasn‘t as difficult as I thought - even at 760+ pages, I found most of the story to be engaging and interesting. The writing was beautiful, describing a tragic yet also hopeful storyline. One downside is that I am feeling a little stuck at the end, wondering what “big picture” idea Tartt wanted me to get out of it. All in all, this is definitely a book that I will be thinking about for a while.

I am Roxane Gay‘s biggest fan, so I had this anthology on my to-read list for a while. If you enjoyed Bad Feminist or Hunger, you‘ll want to read this too. As anyone may have guessed by the subject material, it was hard to read, but necessary.

This is an instant YA classic! There were a few parts that were so profound and well-written that I had to pause and re-read them. The last page even brought me to tears! Some of the character‘s reactions to big events felt a little unnatural (perhaps overdramatized) to me, but such is YA. The good definitely outweighs the bad with this one!

This was a wonderful (but also difficult) read. It was a little tough to get through the first 100 pages (mostly crime scene descriptions - they got a little depressing/repetitive after a minute), but I read the last 200+ pages in two days. Michelle clearly had an unusual obsession, but the way she explains it makes it so relatable and understandable. I think this would be a good “intro” book to someone who is new to the true crime world!

This is a thoughtful, well-written YA novel. I *really* wish I had discovered it last year, when I was teaching reading remediation. Ally‘s story definitely could teach kids about the power of acceptance and the importance of asking for help. I loved it and would recommend it to kids and adults alike who are looking to read something a little outside the box.

There were some really strong chapters in this book, but also some very boring asides (which explains why it took me almost a week to read it). I think I might have enjoyed it a little more if I had listened to the audiobook. I really enjoyed the last 60 pages, when Guy finally gets his start in the TV industry. I tend to struggle staying engaged with memoirs anyway, so that might be a factor in my “so-so” rating.