Spring is in the air which means more daylight hours to read by. Win-win ๐
Here is what I have read since the last book link-up…
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
If you have read Quinn’s previous book The Alice Network, then you know just how good of a writer she is and her penchant for storytelling is all kinds of awesome. Her latest book, The Huntress, did not disappoint.
This book takes place right after World War II, where a group of Nazi hunters are looking for the elusive German murderess known as The Huntress. It goes back and forth between the current time (late 1940’s) to what happened during the war, and it is sooooooo good. Seriously. Do they end up catching her? Read it and find out!
Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
Y’all, I raved about this book on Instagram and I meant every word. I LOVE when I can’t figure out who did it and am totally surprised by “whodunnit”.
A murderer leaving clues in another person’s personal diary??? Yes. Weird and creepy atmosphere? Yes. And it takes place in England? Yup! Another must-read for the win!
The Banker’s Wife by Cristina Alger
This book was just okay for me. It does pull you in, I will give it that, but there were too many anomalies for me to really recommend it to an overwhelming degree. I found editing mistakes for example, where one character is talking and then they refer to that same character with another person’s name, who is definitely not that person. Also, the title is a misnomer for anyone who gets bugged by these things: she is not technically a banker’s wife, she is a lawyer’s wife who happens to work for a major bank. He is not actually a banker. Yes, it may sound nitpicky, but the predictable storylines mixed with the bad editing and too much detail given to parts of the story that are really not pertainable, just made this “meh” for me.
Make Something Good Today by Erin and Ben Napier
This married couple have a series on HGTV called Hometown and I absolutely love it! They are trying to fix up Erin’s hometown of Laurel, Mississippi one house at a time. They have even helped revitalize the downtown area which had become dilapidated since businesses had left in previous years. When I heard they had written a book, I knew I had to scoop it up. This book isn’t really about the show until maybe the last chapter or two, but the main thrust of the book is all about their lives; separately before they met, them coming together, and getting married and starting their businesses, and just everyday stuff. It is also told from both points of view of Erin and Ben, which gives it a conversational feel, like they are right in front of you sharing their story.
Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
I really was looking forward to this book about how to trade busy for simple, how to be present in the everyday stuff and focus on what is right in front of you, but alas…
This book is basically the author saying her life had just become sooooo busy with all of her speaking engagements and all her book writing, and jet-setting and time in hotels and away from her family and she finally started saying no to events more, so she could spend more time with her family at their lake house in the summers and when she is at home, cook lots of dinners for all of her friends and family who she sees all the time, all told haphazardly through the lens of “finding grace”.
*sigh*
This woman who is by all accounts a “Christian-based” author, left much to be desired in this book.ย She had to know that her audience does not relate to her life in any way shape or form, and for this book to be marketed as a self-help of sorts, I don’t see how this helps anyone, to be honest with you. I felt she missed a great opportunity to really connect with her audience and offer more concrete examples of being “present over perfect” and really being in the moment.
Any good books that you can recommend? ๐
good to know about the kate quinn novel! i haven’t read her other one but i’ve heard good things so they are both on my list!
She is such a great author!!
I’m reading The Stranger Diaries now, I can rarely remember who shared a book but this one I must have seen it on your IG!
I’m waiting for The Huntress from the library.
Yup, it was me ๐ Hope you love it as much as I did!
I love the Hometown couple and didn’t realise they had a book. Sounds good!
I think they are the cutest couple ๐ I really thought their book gave so much background on their story, told in a really sweet way!
Your first two books are at the top of my TBR. And your review of Present over Perfect had me laughing and agreeing. I haven’t read that one, but many self-help and Christian books seem to have a similar approach. Thanks for the recommendations. Tanya – The Other Side of the Road
Yay, The Huntress and Stranger Diaries are sooooo good! ๐
Ugh, it is so annoying when self-help books don’t help at all.
I LOLed over your nit-pickiness with The Banker’s Wife because I’m exactly the same, especially if I’m not loving the book. Then every little thing bothers me that I’d likely give a pass to if I enjoyed the book. Stranger Diaries sounds awesome and I’m adding it to my TBR. I love the idea of Present over Perfect because it’s something so many, particularly women, deal with but ugh. It sounds like a true missed opportunity. And I wonder if they get it, you know? That their average reader doesn’t live their life, so it’s not only unhelpful but also winds up feeling condescending or deeply out of touch.
You will love The Stranger Diaries!!!
The Banker’s Wife could have been really great….if they had a different editor, lol ๐ Present Over Perfect was such a missed opportunity. I know writing books is not an easy feat, and by no means am I an expert, but it was glaringly obvious that this book was a big misstep with her audience. I read other reviews wondering if it was just me who felt this way, and I found that many women did not care for the book because of reasons I mentioned.
Ugh. I wish I liked books set in WWII because that one sounds great but I can’t do it.
I can’t read books that go into detail with atrocities. This one doesn’t thank goodness.
I also read Present Over Perfect and wasn’t a fan of it. I added Stranger Diaries and because I love suspense/thrillers I may give The Banker’s Wife a try.
I really felt there was such a missed opportunity with Present over Perfect ๐ The Stranger Diaries is awesome!!
Make Something Good Today sounds right up my alley. I’m not familiar with that couple but I think I’m going to read the book anyway! I think I’d love it!
I so enjoyed their book! ๐
Good to know about the bankers wife, which is on my list!
It isn’t a terrible read, but the storyline is definitely predictable.
I can’t wait to get The Huntress from the library at some point hopefully soon because I loved The Alice Network!
Wasn’t The Alice Network so good?? ๐
Been looking at POP…but completely get your review. Everyone raved over Girl Wash Your Face, but I felt similarly…just no connection ๐
Yup. That’s precisely why I haven’t read Girl Wash Your Face because of what I have heard about it ๐