Book Lists

Do | Don’t Read: Reading Recommendations in Quarantine

Wow, we have been in quarantine for several weeks now. This has in no way been easy, but give yourself a pat on the back. We’re all using different methods to endure these long days that all resemble each other, but what I’ve loved doing is reading! Not out of the ordinary for me. But I’ve especially loved escaping reality through different stories. And for the most part, I’ve read some great books.

Since I’ve enjoyed reading so much, I wanted to share what I’ve read, a short paragraph of my thoughts (no spoilers) and my suggestion as to whether you DO or DON’Tadd these books to your to-read lists. So, here we go!

DO | DON’T

Don’t Wake Up by Liz Lawler | 1 star

I’m a fan of suspense and psychological thrillers, but this book just did not do it for me. The narrative was extremely awkward and did not intrigue me; this may be due to the b-o-r-i-n-g voice that the audiobook reader had. Sorry if that sounds overly critical, but this woman was just so robotic. This book just couldn’t be over soon enough. I was intrigued enough to stick around to find out who the mystery-killer was, but even the reveal was lazy. Due to all of this, I recommend you do not add this book to your lists. 

DO | DON’T

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng | 3.5 stars

Celeste Ng is a beautiful writer. This story drew me in and I was intrigued by the mystery. If you’re a fan of suspense, but don’t appreciate the fear of thrillers, I think you will appreciate this book. The ending was wrapped up and concluded, but I felt unsatisfied, which is why I reduced stars. Still an intriguing story that I appreciated. I’m eager to read and watch Little Fires Everywhere, which I’ve heard lots of positive things about.

DO | DON’T

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman | 5 stars

Fredrik Backman is the author of the beloved book, A Man Called Ove, which I have not read. This is only about 76 pages and I read it in an hour. Though it is a bit confusing, this is a beautiful and saddening story about losing a loved one to alzhemers. It perfectly captures love and connection through generations. Quick read, but definitely worth your time.

DO | DON’T

Little Bee by Chris Cleave | 2 stars

Little Bee was an interesting story, but so horrendously told. As a fan of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a review said if I liked that book, I’d love Little Bee. And what a lie that turned out to be. Chris Cleave is an older white man from London writing about a young black girl from Nigeria. Ignorance destroys any good points in this story and I was extremely disappointed. I did choose to give it 2 stars because there is no denying that his writing style is beautiful.

DO | DON’T

Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood | 5 stars

I did write a full review for a Book Club post, so be sure to check that out. But for so many reasons, I loved this book. Not only was it a beautiful story, but it was intriguing as well. The story will capture you and putting it down will be a challenge.

DO | DON’T

Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh | 5 stars

What a sweet story! I fell in love with both Ahmed and Max; I was attached to each of their stories and I deeply appreciated the way Marsh brought them together. There are a few unrealistic elements, however with this being a young-adult novel, they are forgivable. This was an enjoyable story with a delightful ending.

DO | DON’T

The Woman In The Window by A.J. Finn | 5 stars

This book has been on my shelf for months and I cannot believe I didn’t read it sooner. The Woman in the Window is a wild ride. This psychological thriller has one of the most unpredictable and interesting twists of any book I’ve ever read. (As someone who reads lots of mystery/suspense/thrillers, that is a huge compliment to this author.) It was a bit slow-going, but somewhere between 50 to 100 pages in, I could not put it down!

DO | DON’T

A Very Long Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi | 3.5 stars

I went back and forth about my thoughts regarding this book. Ultimately, I do recommend it. There are several learning opportunities as a reader, and I think that is worthwhile. Representation is so important! My biggest complaint is that there was so much “fluff” in the middle and the ending was so rushed. I wish the unnecessary details were left out of the middle and the ending was more developed. The bonus chapters didn’t really help either. Truly did enjoy this story, but I wish it had a more satisfying ending.

DO | DON’T

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica | 4.5 stars

I’ve read a few other books by Mary Kubica, and there was only one I really did not like. This is one of hers I really enjoyed. Similar to The Woman in the Window, this is another thriller with a crazy twist. I stayed up super late just to finish this book because the last 70ish pages are c-r-a-z-y! And, I’ve just recently found out that Netflix purchased the rights to make a movie… so if I were you, I’d read this now!

That’s all I’ve got now. My hopes are that social distancing rules are relaxed soon, but I have no plans to slow down my reading. I’ve actually just signed up for “Book of the Month” where, monthly, you are given a choice between 5 books, and your selection will be mailed to you! It’s typically $14.99/month but right now, with the promo code, TAKECARE, your first month is $9.99. If you’re considering it, now is the time to get started! Here is a link to join: https://www.mybotm.com/52vf9jnxpca?show_box=true

Let me know which book you choose!!

Happy Reading!