October included a variety of books! Come see what I’ve been reading and tell me what I need to add to my never-ending TBR.
Seven Days in June: 5 Stars!
Gah, I wanted to cancel all of life’s plans and binge this book!
We first meet Genevieve and Shane in high school when it’s clear that they fall into an addictive and passionate relationship. Many years later they are both best-selling authors secretly writing to or about each other in their books. But why did Shane leave? And will their second chance at love be the same?
The back and forth between high school and present made this story extremely compelling. The chemistry was hot, the character development was great, and I loved the humor throughout. Timely race issues, a wonderful mother/daughter component, and a raw exploration of adolescence made this book so captivating.
This has definitely been one of my favorite books this year and I highly recommend you read it! I would classify this as heavy contemporary romance, it is not a light read. Trigger warnings for drug addiction, alcoholism, self harm, and sexual assault.
Check out these other books written by Black authors:
Such a Fun Age – 4 stars! A great choice for book club!
The Hate U Give – 4 stars!
Whiskey and Ribbons – 4 stars!
A few more from my TBR shelf:
The Vanishing Half
Behold the Dreamers
Transcendent Kingdom
Big Lies in a Small Town: 3 Stars!
Big Lies in a Small Town was our October book club pick!
Present day: Morgan is released from prison early (for a crime she didn’t commit) because she is needed to restore a mural from 1940. The mural is dirty and neglected, but Morgan quickly discovers that there are many secrets laying underneath the grime. 1940: Anna has just won a contest to paint a mural for the Edenton Post Office. As she relocates to the small town, it isn’t long before she realizes that she doesn’t quite belong.
I found the dual timelines intriguing, the chapters were short and easy to read, but kept you engaged. There wasn’t any real suspense in the storyline, but the characters kept me curious. I found that I wanted more from the present story line. The story was compelling enough to keep reading, but by the end I wasn’t that moved.
Our book club discussion brought light to how much was really going on in this book, and it was really too much. I am a huge Chamberlain fan, but this was definitely my least favorite. It’s being touted as a mysterious thriller and I would definitely argue that this was more historical fiction with a side of mystery.
If you want to try this author, my favorites are:
The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes
Necessary Lies
The Midwife’s Confession
The Dream Daughter
Practical Magic: 3.5 Stars!
For over 200 years the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their town. Raised by their eccentric aunts, Gillian and Sally are used to being pointed at, taunted, and outcast by everyone. But at night they watch the women from town arrive at their aunts home hoping for a curse, a potion, a spell that will aid them in their love life. Gillian, the wild child, can’t escape town fast enough and claims she’ll never come back. But when she shows up on Sally’s doorstep in the middle of the night seeking her older sister’s help, neither sister is aware of what magic has in store for them.
You’ve seen the movie, right? Well, it’s definitely better than the book in this case. Hoffman’s writing is very unique and descriptive – which I enjoyed, but she changes perspectives mid-page and there were NO chapters in the book – just four long sections.
Because I saw the movie when I was younger, I have vague but key memories that stand out to me that were not in the book – one blue eye and one green; midnight margarita dance; and more time with the aunts. I still enjoyed the book, but I was torn between that’s not how the movie goes and are we done yet?! If you loved the movie, I would say go ahead and skip the book.
Other books with Magical Realism:
Garden Spells – 5 stars!
The Night Circus – 4 stars!
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender – on my TBR
Looking for more book reviews? Check out what I read in August and September.
What was your favorite book from October? Do you have any that you would recommend I add to my list?
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