Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen

If you haven't seen the little comic strips by Sarah Andersen yet, then you might be living under a rock. I think we've all see the one about the money conscious girl who only goes crazy spending at the bookstore. That little gem was created by this woman.

I adore this book. I was given it for my birthday by my fiancée because when I was looking at it at the bookstore, I kept remarking how every panel was exactly like me. I could relate so hard with so much of what she draws that it kind of surprises me a little.

I've read this through cover to cover probably about 5 times now. Every time I end up running over to my guy and showing him bits and pieces exclaiming how "me" and how "us" it is. 

He got it for me because he thought I could look at it every time I get sad and feel a little less alone and a little bit better about things. (Yes, he's the best. Totally taken though, sorry girls!)

If you're a twenty-something trying to figure out this thing called life then you need to pick this up. It will make you laugh and you will feel better, I assure you!

Oh, and she has another book coming out soon!! Can't wait!

Recommendation: For the ones who need a little uplifting funny to go with life. You won't regret it! 

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen

I was in a bit of a hurry the other day while searching for goodies at Chapters. They had a whole deal going on that you needed to buy so many books and get some percentage off or something (like I need a reason to buy books) and I had a gift card, so I grabbed this book. 

I had seen this series before at the bookstore and it had always piqued my interest. It's about a girl whose cousins with the Royal family in England. It's set back in the 1930's and it involves murder, intrigue, spying, and a woman doing things for herself. In this particular story, Lady Georgiana Rannoch is tasked with being a companion to a Princess from Greece who is to wed the King's son George. Prince George has always been a bit of a play boy so keeping the Princess unaware of his past is a big task. When one of the prince's former flings is found murdered, Lady Georgiana searches for the killer while helping out the highest powers that be from having things turn into a scandal. 

This one is the 9th in the series, and I didn't know too much more about it till I grabbed this one. This was the kind of book that catches your eye and you read the back a couple times before taking the plunge one day and reading it. 

Honestly, I confused this one with another series I was planning on reading but it turned out totally okay as I enjoyed this book! The other series had a female protagonist and dealt with spying too but that's okay. I'll get to that one eventually. 

This book felt a little slow going at the beginning. For a cozy mystery, this one was little bit more complicated that I had thought it would have been. It did get into a groove around the half way mark, so I'm happy I kept with it. 

 There were lots of hints at past exploits without giving too much away which I liked because that gives me a reason to go back and read more. I wouldn't say that this is a series that I need to collect and put on my shelves but I do think that if I come across more of them at the library then I would definitely read them.  

Recommendation: For the lover of a good mystery, especially one about England back in the day. Detailed and interesting. Give it a go!

Saturday, May 6, 2017

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

This book had a lot of hype for about 15 minutes when it came out. It's one of those books that are for the lovers of thrillers, like Gone Girl and the like. Way back I had a long love affair with thrillers and it's only been the last couple years that I've felt differently about them. I think I find them too repetitive and almost too predictable sometimes. This one had a story line that was a little reminicent of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express in that the mystery happens in an enclosed space where no one apart from those on board could have done it. Anyway, back to this book.

This book takes place on a boat trip with a small group of people. The main character is convinced she saw someone who supposedly doesn't exist, and then she heard someone get killed. There are twists and turns, and a whole lot of mystery surrounding the story. 

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. There was a lot of back and forth that wasn't really necessary with forshadowing coming events that I could have really done without. It kind of drove me nuts. I didn't feel like it added anything. It distracted me more than anything because I felt like we didn't know enough yet to really believe them. It's hard to explain without actually giving away spoilers which I refuse to do. 

The story was told from the point of view of the main character but so much of her story was about feelings which weighed down on me. I couldn't really connect to her, I felt her to be so focused on emotions rather then really buckling down and figuring out what was going on. There wasn't enough I could get behind as a character. 

This story was a fairly quick read. I don't think it had quite enough meat for me. I wanted more. I did make me think though, and I am curious about what will happen next for these characters. I felt like the book ended almost without me noticing which I guess is a good thing. 

I didn't hate this book. I read it all the way through and I didn't give up on it. I just wanted more I think. It wasn't mind blowing like all the reviews said it was going to be (then again, I didn't like Gone, Girl at all so that should have told me something right there) 

Recommendation: If you liked Gone, Girl and other thrillers of that nature, you will really like this.