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bringmybooks's reviews
1157 reviews
Monkey Hunting by Cristina García
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This is a tough one to review - I learned a lot and I really liked certain passages and characters, but overall I'm not entirely sure I'm glad I read it?
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
To me this read like historical fiction though a literary fiction lens, and that might be some of my problem (I tend to like strong character driven literary fiction less than that mixed with a plot). Following the descendants of Chen Pan through their lives following his arrival in Cuba as a slavehand in the 1800s was absolutely informative, as there was a lot that I did not know about many aspects of what Cristina Garcia shared in the novel.
I heavily preferred Chen Pan's storyline over all the others - I loved when we would go back to his life, and that of his life with Lucrecia. The other storylines did not grab me as much and felt a bit more forced.
There were also a lot of details that, while they painted a very strong picture, felt unnecessarily graphic (i.e. the different violent ways a prostitute in Vietnam was violated by the men she had interacted with). I know these things have happened, but I (personally) didn't like the graphic nature of the way they were described.
If you're looking for a historical fiction book about times that are not often covered, this one could be a good choice for you - especially if you're looking for strong characterization with less of a driving plot.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
To me this read like historical fiction though a literary fiction lens, and that might be some of my problem (I tend to like strong character driven literary fiction less than that mixed with a plot). Following the descendants of Chen Pan through their lives following his arrival in Cuba as a slavehand in the 1800s was absolutely informative, as there was a lot that I did not know about many aspects of what Cristina Garcia shared in the novel.
I heavily preferred Chen Pan's storyline over all the others - I loved when we would go back to his life, and that of his life with Lucrecia. The other storylines did not grab me as much and felt a bit more forced.
There were also a lot of details that, while they painted a very strong picture, felt unnecessarily graphic (i.e. the different violent ways a prostitute in Vietnam was violated by the men she had interacted with). I know these things have happened, but I (personally) didn't like the graphic nature of the way they were described.
If you're looking for a historical fiction book about times that are not often covered, this one could be a good choice for you - especially if you're looking for strong characterization with less of a driving plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and War
The Lost English Girl by Julia Kelly
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to Edelweiss, Gallery Books, and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I have now read all of Julia Kelly's historical fiction novels, and they will always be solid hist fic recommendations from me! One of my favorite things about her writing is how, for lack of a better term, "readable" it is. Once you start reading, they are all very immersive and hard to put down - guaranteed quick and enjoyable reads!
One of the main reasons I ended up liking this one so much (this is going to sound weird, but it's true) is how unlikable so many characters were. There was a lot to unpack - this would be a good novel for book club! - and I really enjoyed thinking about the book for days after finishing.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I have now read all of Julia Kelly's historical fiction novels, and they will always be solid hist fic recommendations from me! One of my favorite things about her writing is how, for lack of a better term, "readable" it is. Once you start reading, they are all very immersive and hard to put down - guaranteed quick and enjoyable reads!
One of the main reasons I ended up liking this one so much (this is going to sound weird, but it's true) is how unlikable so many characters were. There was a lot to unpack - this would be a good novel for book club! - and I really enjoyed thinking about the book for days after finishing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
GAH THESE JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!
I just went through and read all of my reviews for the previous 4 in this interconnected series (The Friend Zone, The Happy Every After Playlist, Life's Too Short, and Part of Your World) and a lot of the same things come up in each review:
These are romance books that I will continuously recommend if someone asks me for a recommendation, and I sincerely hope we get more out of this series because I'm excited for the (hopeful) next book to be my new favorite!
Renal Failure, Kidney Dialysis, Unexpected Pregnancy, Social Anxiety
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, & Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
GAH THESE JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!
I just went through and read all of my reviews for the previous 4 in this interconnected series (The Friend Zone, The Happy Every After Playlist, Life's Too Short, and Part of Your World) and a lot of the same things come up in each review:
- I didn't like The Friend Zone as much as a lot of people did.
- Each successive book is my new favorite of the series.
- I cannot put these books down once I start reading them.
- I truly BELIEVE in these characters - they all feel so real!
- I really do not like the miscommunication trope, and somehow each of her books have that in some form or another, but also somehow it doesn't bother me when she does it? I don't know what to tell you.
These are romance books that I will continuously recommend if someone asks me for a recommendation, and I sincerely hope we get more out of this series because I'm excited for the (hopeful) next book to be my new favorite!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Perfect example of "intended audience" being so important, and I'll tell you why ->
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I liked this book well enough, but it wasn't a favorite and isn't going to stick with me. HOWEVER, I am 35yo - aka almost 20 years outside of the intended middle grade audience for this book.
(Which is why, if you follow me on social media, you'll see I gave this book 3 stars - but on Goodreads/StoryGraph I've given it 4 stars)
There are two things that I think would have really helped me when it comes to enjoying this book more fully. One would be a time machine, so I could have been somewhere around the age of 8-14 when I read it, and the other would have been if I had read Anne of Green Gables. I could tell there were a lot of references to the source material, but not knowing the source material meant that I didn't get any fuzzy feelings of nostalgia when they came up (and I'm sure there are tons that I didn't even realize *were* references).
As far as the story itself, it was enjoyable. It had a strong plot that would carry a reader's interest forward (which is good, because it maybe seemed a little long for a middle grade novel?). It had fast friends, enemies that became friends, life lessons, and a strong sense of acceptance and love (which was really lovely).
I don't think it will be one I add to my home library, but it's one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to those with middle grade readers (that can handle a bit of spookiness)!
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I liked this book well enough, but it wasn't a favorite and isn't going to stick with me. HOWEVER, I am 35yo - aka almost 20 years outside of the intended middle grade audience for this book.
(Which is why, if you follow me on social media, you'll see I gave this book 3 stars - but on Goodreads/StoryGraph I've given it 4 stars)
There are two things that I think would have really helped me when it comes to enjoying this book more fully. One would be a time machine, so I could have been somewhere around the age of 8-14 when I read it, and the other would have been if I had read Anne of Green Gables. I could tell there were a lot of references to the source material, but not knowing the source material meant that I didn't get any fuzzy feelings of nostalgia when they came up (and I'm sure there are tons that I didn't even realize *were* references).
As far as the story itself, it was enjoyable. It had a strong plot that would carry a reader's interest forward (which is good, because it maybe seemed a little long for a middle grade novel?). It had fast friends, enemies that became friends, life lessons, and a strong sense of acceptance and love (which was really lovely).
I don't think it will be one I add to my home library, but it's one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to those with middle grade readers (that can handle a bit of spookiness)!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, and Death
The Hidden Letters by Lorna Cook
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, & Avon for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I've now read 4 of Lorna Cook's books and Hidden Letters, similar to the others that I have read, was a quick & enjoyable read. There's a bit more of the mundane in the story than I was expecting, but not necessarily in a bad way - over 50% of the book is dedicated to the years prior to WWI and the beginning of the relationship between Cordelia & Isaac, and I ended up liking that bit a lot.
You really get to see them fall for one another, both of them having to reevaluate how they see themselves and those around them, and I thought the strongest parts of the book lay in this section. (I also loved all of the gardening bits!)
For me, the pacing was the big thing that I wanted more from - as the first half of the book covers about 3 months, and the second half about 5 years, it felt a bit like I was SUPER shown the first half, and mostly told the second half (although there were some very lovely parts throughout the second half of the book that I enjoyed quite a bit.)
There's also a thing that I didn't want to have happen, because it's a particular plot device in WWI / WWII books that I don't particularly like, and I didn't think it was going to happen, and then I realized it was going to happen ... and although it bothered me just as much as I thought it was going to, I also didn't mind it as much as I could have. If that doesn't make sense, you're right. But I'm trying to keep this spoiler free and my feelings are still muddled, so this is what I've got.
Overall, if you're looking for a quick WWI historical fiction that's easy to read and keeps you invested throughout, I would definitely recommend this one. (And out of the 4 of hers that I've now read, I would recommend The Forbidden Promise highest, and then this one!)
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I've now read 4 of Lorna Cook's books and Hidden Letters, similar to the others that I have read, was a quick & enjoyable read. There's a bit more of the mundane in the story than I was expecting, but not necessarily in a bad way - over 50% of the book is dedicated to the years prior to WWI and the beginning of the relationship between Cordelia & Isaac, and I ended up liking that bit a lot.
You really get to see them fall for one another, both of them having to reevaluate how they see themselves and those around them, and I thought the strongest parts of the book lay in this section. (I also loved all of the gardening bits!)
For me, the pacing was the big thing that I wanted more from - as the first half of the book covers about 3 months, and the second half about 5 years, it felt a bit like I was SUPER shown the first half, and mostly told the second half (although there were some very lovely parts throughout the second half of the book that I enjoyed quite a bit.)
There's also a thing that I didn't want to have happen, because it's a particular plot device in WWI / WWII books that I don't particularly like, and I didn't think it was going to happen, and then I realized it was going to happen ... and although it bothered me just as much as I thought it was going to, I also didn't mind it as much as I could have. If that doesn't make sense, you're right. But I'm trying to keep this spoiler free and my feelings are still muddled, so this is what I've got.
Overall, if you're looking for a quick WWI historical fiction that's easy to read and keeps you invested throughout, I would definitely recommend this one. (And out of the 4 of hers that I've now read, I would recommend The Forbidden Promise highest, and then this one!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and War
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Grief, and Classism
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
WELP I LOVED THIS
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
First things first - this isn't (imho) a sharply plotted thriller. It's not a locked room mystery. And it's kind of a bummer it's being marketed this way, because I think there's absolutely an audience for this book but it's not going to be people looking for their latest tautly paced thriller or dark mystery. On the other hand, it doesn't meet the criteria (again, imo) for a cozy mystery either.
I actually thought it did something fairly difficult rather well - straddled the line between between the two. (And, if anything, kind of gave me Murder She Wrote vibes? Which, OBVIOUSLY, I'm here for??)
Anywho, I didn't really read a lot of the publisher hype before reading it and I'm glad I didn't, because there was no unmet expectations when I finished. Just a genuine giddy feeling because I had picked up a book on a whim that, for 24 hours, I thought about constantly and kept wanting to read!
(Also, I've heard that this is being developed for Hulu and I am HERE for this - I think it would translate to the screen fantastically & I cannot wait to see who they cast!)
tl;dr This book was stupid fun and I loved the ride. Were the GBBO references a little too on the nose? Maybe. Did I care? *shrugs sheepishly* Not really.
(ALSO ILY LOTTIE)
Ingredients
▢ ½ cup Great British Bake Off as inspo
▢ ½ cup (slight) Agatha Christie vibes
▢ 1 ½ cup secrets & lies
▢ 7 large personalities, multiple POV preferred
▢ 1 Tablespoon Gothic mansion
▢ 3 cups not-what-they-seem
▢ ½ teaspoon rushed (but satisfying?) ending
▢ 1 ¼ cup deeper storylines
▢ 1 batch DELICIOUS descriptions of food
Recommended Equipment
▢ SNACKS to eat while reading*
▢ Two fingers whiskey**
*Trust me.
**If you hate whiskey, like me, try vodka***
***If you don't want to drink, try Lyre's, who I hear make a mean canned mocktail!
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
First things first - this isn't (imho) a sharply plotted thriller. It's not a locked room mystery. And it's kind of a bummer it's being marketed this way, because I think there's absolutely an audience for this book but it's not going to be people looking for their latest tautly paced thriller or dark mystery. On the other hand, it doesn't meet the criteria (again, imo) for a cozy mystery either.
I actually thought it did something fairly difficult rather well - straddled the line between between the two. (And, if anything, kind of gave me Murder She Wrote vibes? Which, OBVIOUSLY, I'm here for??)
Anywho, I didn't really read a lot of the publisher hype before reading it and I'm glad I didn't, because there was no unmet expectations when I finished. Just a genuine giddy feeling because I had picked up a book on a whim that, for 24 hours, I thought about constantly and kept wanting to read!
(Also, I've heard that this is being developed for Hulu and I am HERE for this - I think it would translate to the screen fantastically & I cannot wait to see who they cast!)
tl;dr This book was stupid fun and I loved the ride. Were the GBBO references a little too on the nose? Maybe. Did I care? *shrugs sheepishly* Not really.
(ALSO ILY LOTTIE)
Ingredients
▢ ½ cup Great British Bake Off as inspo
▢ ½ cup (slight) Agatha Christie vibes
▢ 1 ½ cup secrets & lies
▢ 7 large personalities, multiple POV preferred
▢ 1 Tablespoon Gothic mansion
▢ 3 cups not-what-they-seem
▢ ½ teaspoon rushed (but satisfying?) ending
▢ 1 ¼ cup deeper storylines
▢ 1 batch DELICIOUS descriptions of food
Recommended Equipment
▢ SNACKS to eat while reading*
▢ Two fingers whiskey**
*Trust me.
**If you hate whiskey, like me, try vodka***
***If you don't want to drink, try Lyre's, who I hear make a mean canned mocktail!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Alcohol
Adjacent But Only Just by Nichole Van
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Pregnancy
Do I Know You? by Austin Siegemund-Broka, Emily Wibberley
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I thought the premise of this book sounded really interesting (marriage in trouble romance, where a stranger on a wellness retreat accidentally introduces a married couple to one another as strangers and they just ... go with it), and I was happy that the authors really delivered on that premise.
It's super angsty, similar to their previous novel (The Roughest Draft) but where it was a bit annoying in that one, I actually liked it here. It's also a trope you see a lot less in romance (in my opinion) - the idea of a married couple in crisis and trying to find their way back to the beginning, back to what they loved about one another from the start. Sort of like second chance, but a bit of extra oomph (?) if that makes sense.
Unfortunately (for me), I read this one months ago and didn't review it promptly, which means a lot of the more eloquent things I could say about it have left me. But fortunately (for all of us) it was a memorable book / story and I can genuinely say that I enjoyed it a lot, and loved watching it all come together at the end.
The characters themselves go through a lot of introspection, but I think the dual narrative worked really for that. You get to truly watch them be vulnerable, not only with their spouse, but with themselves as well. Both of them have things that they could do better, and I genuinely enjoyed the journey they took as individuals to become better as a couple.
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I thought the premise of this book sounded really interesting (marriage in trouble romance, where a stranger on a wellness retreat accidentally introduces a married couple to one another as strangers and they just ... go with it), and I was happy that the authors really delivered on that premise.
It's super angsty, similar to their previous novel (The Roughest Draft) but where it was a bit annoying in that one, I actually liked it here. It's also a trope you see a lot less in romance (in my opinion) - the idea of a married couple in crisis and trying to find their way back to the beginning, back to what they loved about one another from the start. Sort of like second chance, but a bit of extra oomph (?) if that makes sense.
Unfortunately (for me), I read this one months ago and didn't review it promptly, which means a lot of the more eloquent things I could say about it have left me. But fortunately (for all of us) it was a memorable book / story and I can genuinely say that I enjoyed it a lot, and loved watching it all come together at the end.
The characters themselves go through a lot of introspection, but I think the dual narrative worked really for that. You get to truly watch them be vulnerable, not only with their spouse, but with themselves as well. Both of them have things that they could do better, and I genuinely enjoyed the journey they took as individuals to become better as a couple.
Love Practically by Nichole Van
Death in Childbirth & Stillborn Child
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, and Pregnancy
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
And this? This is my Reading List.
... Just in case you ever need it.
My Reading List:
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
Katherine by Anya Seton
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
My Real Name is Hanna by Tara Lynn Masih
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald
My Series:
Beartown (3 Books) by Fredrik Backman
Dublin Murder Squard (6 Books) by Tana French
Elements of Cadence (2 Books) by Rebecca Ross
The Lost Years of Merlin (5 Books) by TA Barron
The War That Saved My Life (2 Books) by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
Some notes:
* Yes, I know that TWTSML by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is on there as an individual book and as a series. It's so good I had to put it on there twice. If I could only get you to read one book off this entire list, it would be TWTSML. I would hope that you would want to continue to The War I Finally Won, but reading TWTSML alone is a beautiful experience that I would want to share with everyone.
* I know my list is longer than the one in the book. I don't know what to tell you.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Please try to remember that books aren't always an escape; sometimes books teach us things. They show us the world, they don't hide it."
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I really, really, really, really loved this story. It wasn't perfect (few books are), and if I wanted to I could find faults with it. But I don't want to. Because I loved this.
It's a book about books, and reading, and finding solace in the world of literature when we can't make sense of the world around us. It's a book about how books can't fix things, but they can help us nonetheless. It's a book about how doing everything that you possibly think you can do isn't always enough, but that your story does not end there.
It's a book about culture, and family, and love, and loyalty, and grief. It's a book about community, and home, and food, and friendships. It's a book about all of us, and none of us, and how that's basically the same thing.
It's a beautiful book, and it comes highly recommended by me.
-> Speaking of which - the story revolves around a list of books written by a mysterious character, books that she describes using the quote below.
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I really, really, really, really loved this story. It wasn't perfect (few books are), and if I wanted to I could find faults with it. But I don't want to. Because I loved this.
It's a book about books, and reading, and finding solace in the world of literature when we can't make sense of the world around us. It's a book about how books can't fix things, but they can help us nonetheless. It's a book about how doing everything that you possibly think you can do isn't always enough, but that your story does not end there.
It's a book about culture, and family, and love, and loyalty, and grief. It's a book about community, and home, and food, and friendships. It's a book about all of us, and none of us, and how that's basically the same thing.
It's a beautiful book, and it comes highly recommended by me.
-> Speaking of which - the story revolves around a list of books written by a mysterious character, books that she describes using the quote below.
"They were all her favorite books, the books they she grown up with, the books that had found her at the right time, that had given her comfort when she needed it, had given her an escape, an opportunity to live beyond her life, an opportunity to love more powerfully, a chance to open up and let people in."
And this? This is my Reading List.
... Just in case you ever need it.
My Reading List:
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
Katherine by Anya Seton
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
My Real Name is Hanna by Tara Lynn Masih
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald
My Series:
Beartown (3 Books) by Fredrik Backman
Dublin Murder Squard (6 Books) by Tana French
Elements of Cadence (2 Books) by Rebecca Ross
The Lost Years of Merlin (5 Books) by TA Barron
The War That Saved My Life (2 Books) by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
Some notes:
* Yes, I know that TWTSML by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is on there as an individual book and as a series. It's so good I had to put it on there twice. If I could only get you to read one book off this entire list, it would be TWTSML. I would hope that you would want to continue to The War I Finally Won, but reading TWTSML alone is a beautiful experience that I would want to share with everyone.
* I know my list is longer than the one in the book. I don't know what to tell you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship