Fiction – ablondebookishgirl

Such A Fun Age

adahkayconsulting — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:39:35 +0000

I read this book like a week ago (maybe 2? What is time??) and I just still am in awe with how much I loved this book and trying to figure out what I wanted to say.⠀
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SUCH A FUN AGE is about Emira a young black female babysitter for a wealthy white family. She is a little lost like most young people but loves her nanny kid Briar. After a night out with friends her boss Alix calls her in a panic, someone attacked their house and she needs Emira to come take the toddler Briar to the store just to get her out of the house. She does because she is getting paid a lot extra and at the store after a dance off with the lil one, she is approached by security and accused of kidnapping the kid. She gets frustrated (understandably so!!) and yells at security and it starts to escalate. A guy there sees what is happening and begins filming it even though Emira said she doesn’t want to be filmed and make a big deal about it. Despite her wishes, it becomes a big deal and changes everything about where she works, who she falls in love with, and her entire life course.⠀
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This was such a multifaceted story and everyone has taken something different from it. I really related to how much Emira struggled thinking about leaving her job and Briar. I know that heartbreaking feeling of knowing you have to leave for your mental health and life but leaving the kids feeling like they won’t have anyone looking out for them is difficult.⠀
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I enjoyed that this book felt lighter than most stories about race but still tackled some really complex issues and I didn’t need a mental health break after reading it. I want a bookclub on this book to better discern how I feel about this book.⠀

THE LITTLE TEA SHOP ON MAIN

adahkayconsulting — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:14:59 +0000

I can’t believe I almost forgot to review this mass market I picked up at the pharmacy the other week! It was a book that truly took me by surprise and made me smile and cry.⠀
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THE LITTLE TEA SHOP ON MAIN is a coming of age story about some young girls who are best friends in a small town. They started their friendship over a tea party in Kindergarten and continue their tea parties as adolescents and young adults to help get them through life. As they leave high school and head their own ways into adulthood they rely on their friendship to help them make tough decisions and come together to help the others.⠀
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It was so beautiful and sweet and totally unexpected. Highly recommend!⠀
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My six word review:⠀
Best friends face life’s challenges together

Eleanor Oliphant

adahkayconsulting — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:14:31 +0000

I’m here trying to write my review for Eleanor Oliphant but I can’t because this book was so good and all I can tell you to do is go read it. Nothing I say will do it justice!⠀
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My six word review:⠀
Stop everything and read this book!⠀
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It really impacted me and kinda left me knocked back on my heels for a few days. Eleanor is quirky and honestly a bit relatable but she also clearly is struggling with mental illness. This book isn’t really a lighthearted read, but it leaves you feeling hopeful and happy for Eleanor. She begins to truly live and it wasn’t an easy journey for her at all!⠀
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There’s so much in this I could talk about for #letsgetbookstamental but it was a bit triggering for me and I don’t really know how to talk about it in a proper manner here so it’s better to not say much! TW: alcohol abuse, suicide, loss of a parent, domestic violence, child abuse⠀

Normal People

adahkayconsulting — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:12:10 +0000

Unpopular opinion alert ⠀
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I did not like this book. Or the TV series.⠀
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Oops I said it. ⠀
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My mom raved about the series so I figured I’ll read the book and then watch the show. I barely made it through the book y’all. It was so painfully angsty and boring! It was hard to follow without the quotation marks and I felt like the characters were just so unlikeable I couldn’t stand it. And where was the plot?!⠀
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I hoped maybe the show would be better but it turned into a lot of moody lighting, odd camera angles, and iffy acting. I made it 3 episodes before I gave up.⠀
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This book has great reviews on goodreads so I’ll admit I’m rather confused.. if you loved it tell me why below.. maybe I’ll see it in a different light. If you didn’t like it tell me below so I don’t feel so alone!!⠀
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My six word review:⠀
A bit painful with unlikeable characters⠀
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Razorblade Tears:

adahkayconsulting — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:03:42 +0000

general fiction/mystery
Honestly a sad story of two homophobic fathers coming together after their sons were murdered to figure out what happened. It was sad more than it was mysterious or thrilling. But it was a good read, it just wasn’t my favorite. It felt like there were lots of missed opportunities in the book, like every plot point and character was just a tiny bit less than what they could’ve been so everything felt disappointing. Overall I felt it was overhyped.
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My six word review:
Sad story of two grieving fathers

WHAT YOU WISH FOR

adahkayconsulting — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:51:38 +0000

Two posts in one day and two reviews in a row who is she?!⠀
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THANK YOU @netgalley for the advanced copy of WHAT YOU WISH FOR I loved this book so much. It’s for sale July 14!⠀
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Wow, what a book. I was completely hooked on the first few pages and devoured this completely.⠀
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This is such a beautiful, difficult story of recovering from trauma. I just can’t say enough good things. I loved how the author portrayed recovering from trauma through community and therapy, and this small town setting was so perfect.⠀
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The beloved town principal has passed away shaking the community and those closest to him to the core. How small town is it? Well his wife is the art teacher, and the girl who lives in his guest house is the librarian at the school. Oh and his son in law is the head of the school board and he just hired a new principal from California. The new principal has some secrets and trauma of his own and as he begins to heal, so does this community. The strength, love, and community is beautiful.⠀
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My six word review:⠀
Small towns, education, and mental health⠀
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Trigger warnings: gun violence, school shootings, death of a loved one, car accident, seizures⠀

IN A HOLIDAZE

adahkayconsulting — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:19:23 +0000

Happy Pub Day to IN A HOLIDAZE, the newest book by the fabulous duo Christina Lauren! Thank you @netgalley @gallerybooks for the advanced copy!
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If you haven’t read a CL book yet stop what you are doing and go get one now!! You won’t regret it, their romances are the perfect balance of funny, heart wrenching, and heart warming truly.
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IN A HOLIDAZE is a Christmas romance about Maelyn who finds herself repeating the same week around Christmas with her family and family friends at the cabin they have gone to every year since their parents were in college. Every time she makes a choice that isn’t really true to what she wants and who she is, she gets sent back to day 1.
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Drama ensues as everyone thinks Maelyn has lost her mind and is acting strange, the holiday traditions continue, and Maelyn gets really sick of the same breakfast over and over.
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My six word review:
A sweet and unique festive read!
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I enjoyed this book, I read it in one sitting. It was unique for a CL book, but I feel like I’ve read this plot before where someone repeats the same day over and over around the holidays. It had unique elements but typically I feel like CL writes books from the usual tropes in an unpredictable and unique way and this fell a little flat. It’s hard to top The Unhoneymooners or Love and Other Words!!

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What is your favorite CL book?

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe

adahkayconsulting — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:08:46 +0000

I fell in love with this book because of the cover and the story didn’t disappoint!⠀
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Do you judge books by their cover? I totally do!!⠀
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Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe was so good and whimsical! It was a story about family, love, loss, and moving on with a sprinkle of magic pie! The cafe sounds like my kind of place ran by family with homemade baked goods and a community atmosphere! The whole book just made me miss my small town and that sense of comfort!⠀
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Anna Kate has returned to a small, charming town you can’t help but stay in after her beloved grandmother has passed. She needs to put her grandmas estate in order but despite trying to stay detached she begins to make friendships and connections in this town of her parents who have both passed. As she learns more about her father and his family and make some magical pies, she begins to put down roots making her decision to leave more difficult.⠀
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My six word review:⠀
A heartwarming, delicious, and magical read!⠀

Wish You Were Here

adahkayconsulting — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:49:08 +0000

I’m starting my week off with a book review!
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I’ll be honest, I was so hesitant to pick up this book. It’s about the rona and I was worried it was going to be too much too soon.
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However after I saw @thereadroversbookclub read it and then my mom handed the book to me after her anniversary trip and said “read this and text me when you get to the WTF part” I knew I had to prioritize it!
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And y’all… THE TWIST I NEVER SAW COMING! I literally screamed!
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I was hooked from page one with the descriptions of the Galapagos, handsome men, lonely and confused teenagers, and flashbacks to those first few months of rona when nobody knew what the heck was going on. I was honestly rooting for her to leave the doctor (yes I know he’s a doctor though!) for the farmer on the Galapagos and his daughter. I also loved hearing about Diana’s job working for Sothebys and all the history with different art pieces and such. It’s such an interesting industry I want a whole book about that now!
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And then the twist hit with some major brain scrambling and I couldn’t put it down because I NEEDED TO KNOW what came next!
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Y’all, 10/10 would recommend!
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My six word review:
page turning romance with a TWIST!
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What was the last book that had you shook at a major twist?

The wife upstairs

adahkayconsulting — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:49:01 +0000

Y’all know I hate the pressure of writing reviews because my reviews are never good enough in my opinion. Every book I finish I want to recommend as a good book soooo…
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Here’s another #notyourtypicalreview
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If you like thrillers but hate being too scared or anything gory this ones for you!
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If you read Jane Eyre this ones for you!
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If you like endings where you get to decide what happens this ones for you!
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If you want to try and solve a murder mystery this ones for you!
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If you like to read about a dog walker falling in love with a rich guy and becoming his fiancé but the rich guy has secrets this ones for you!
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If you don’t like modern retellings I’d skip it!

I’m excited to see what the rest of @thereadroversbookclub thought!
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My six word review:
Thriller whodunnit with twisted, confusing ending