I’m linking up with Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy’s Quick Lit series where the goal is to share some quick book reviews for the things you’ve been reading lately. I’ve read four books in the last month or so – two kind of quick YA / kids books and two meatier novels. 

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

I had a love hate relationship with this book. It was fascinating and kept me compulsively reading it but the content is preeeettttty heavy and I mostly read in bed at night before going to sleep – I often thought, “Why am I reading this? I’m going to have horrible nightmares after this.”

But like any good mystery, I had to know “whodunnit” – and I’ll admit, the ending surprised me. I think I must have suspected everybody in the book at some point, so I’d say that’s a sign that the author did a good job! This gives a fascinating look into the life of someone battling substance abuse and also really explores the idea that maybe the grass isn’t actually greener on the other side after all.

– full review – LIKED 

May B by Caroline Starr Rose

I was captivated by this book. Written in verse, it manages to not be at all annoying the way books written in verse sometimes are. I actually often forgot it was in verse at all, as I got more wrapped into the story which is kind of similar in feel to the Little House in the Prairie books as far as genre and time frame.

You will definitely find yourself rooting for May as you read her story. This would be a great story for kids struggling with schoolwork, especially if they happen to have dyslexia or anything similar, but I think most kids (and adults) will be able to relate to May.

I’m reading this out loud to my kids right now – the 9 year old is pretty into it, the 5 year old may or may not actually be listening.

LOVED

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

I guess it’s fitting that I read this book obsessively in basically one sitting. As the main character, Bianca, finds herself obsessed with “the wrong guy”, I found myself obsessed with the story. This is the kind of story I think a lot of girls can relate to – we’ve all felt like the DUFF (designated ugly fat friend) before, as Bianca eventually learns.

Now the caveats: This book contains a lot of mature content – namely, sex. Far more than one would expect to find in a “young adult” novel – maybe I need to get with the times and acknowledge that this is realistic but I’d caution you not to recommend it to younger readers because I’m not sure the book sends an entirely healthy message in the long run. Everything works out well for the characters of the story, but even our main character will acknowledge that this is not always the case.

REALLY LIKED 

Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer

This book was hard to get into at times but it was also fascinating and told a really interesting story. I think the author (or perhaps just her main character) bordered on repetitive often but then I think that might have just been her written way of expressing Sunny’s obsession with maintaining normalcy or perfection. Overall, I did like it. 

It’s always fascinating to read from the point of view of people on the Asperger’s spectrum and this book gave a lot of food for thought as far as how society views people with autism and how parents should go about raising someone with autism (or anyone really). Another book that shows the grittier side of what those seemingly “perfect” neighbors might really be struggling with.

LIKED 

What have you been reading lately?