Monthly Wrap-Up: January & February 2019

Hey guys! I hoped to have so much more time to dedicate to reading and blogging the past couple of months, but between work and school, I’ve been incredibly busy. As a result, I didn’t get a chance to post a January wrap-up but I didn’t want to skip it altogether so I’m combining it with my February wrap-up. Better late than never I hope, haha. Although I’m disappointed I didn’t get to finish as many books as I would’ve liked, I am super glad that I really liked most of them! Here they are:

 

 

➳ Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman ★★★★★

Thunderhead was everything I loved about Scythe and more. Shusterman’s impeccable world-building, clever writing, and well-developed characters were all present, and there was the introduction of thought-provoking dialogue from the Thunderhead. And that plot!! It was so exciting and well-paced, and it kept me completely engaged. I can’t even begin to imagine what’s going to happen in the third book of this trilogy but I’m sure I’m going to love the journey and I just can’t wait for it to be released.

(This was a buddy read with Kelly 💜 She’s a wonderful blogger and an amazing friend, you should definitely check her blog out!)

➳ The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn ★★★★

This wasn’t the most shocking book I’ve ever read, but it was entertaining. My favorite aspect was the mental health representation. I’ve never read a book about someone with agoraphobia before and I can’t speak to the accuracy of Anna’s feeling and experiences, but I thought that the way Finn wrote about her life was very interesting. If you like mystery/thrillers with unreliable narrators, I’d definitely check this one out.

➳ 180 Seconds by Jessica Park ★★★½

This is a really cute, enjoyable novel that also deals with some tough issues such as growing up in the foster care system (and another topic I won’t mention in order to avoid spoilers). I really loved the characters in this story, especially Allison, Simon, and Esben. I thought their relationships were well-developed and the romance was so adorable. I’d recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a cute NA novel!

➳ Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young ★★★★★

THIS BOOK. I had a feeling I was going to enjoy it, but I didn’t anticipate how much I was going to love it. I learned so much about Viking culture and you can tell how much research Young did while writing this novel. In addition to the interesting setting, I loved the themes of this book. While there is a (very enjoyable) slow-burn romance, the book focuses on Eelyn’s relationships with her family and clan members, and there is a wonderful exploration of betrayal and loyalty. I’d highly recommend Sky in the Deep!!

 

 

➳ You by Caroline Kepnes ★★★★

The writing in this novel was amazing. I loved how this story was told in second person, so it’s as if the stalker is talking to you. Being inside of Joe’s mind was fascinating and it amazed me how Kepnes made me sympathize for the bad guy. Although I wish this thriller would have been a bit more eventful, I still really enjoyed it overall.

➳ The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict ★★★

I really enjoyed the idea of this book; I loved that it focuses on a strong woman who played a role in history and I enjoyed learning about Hedy Kiesler’s life. My main complaint is simply that I didn’t find this book to be very entertaining. It just didn’t excite me or hold my attention the way I’d hoped it would.

➳ Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi ★★★★

I almost never choose books based on their covers, but this is one time I did and boy did it pay off because this book is a hidden gem. This story is partially about an abusive relationship and I really enjoyed the way the author discussed such a serious topic. However, it is also about Betts’ relationships with her friends and family. I found the characters to be very well-written and their relationships to be very complex. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who likes YA contemporaries that focus on “heavy” topics.

➳ The Hating Game by Sally Thorne ★★★★½

This novel truly deserves all the attention it gets. Lucy and Josh are both such lovable main characters and I loved watching their relationship develop. This story was cute and complex all at once and I found myself swooning constantly while reading it. I suddenly feel very motivated to read more adult romance, haha.

 

Let’s chat!

How have the first few months of 2019 been going for you? Have you read any books you really enjoyed lately?