
Hi friends! Coming to you from under a blanket on a dreary day! Spring is here though! It’s here! Even though it’s not sunny I can feel a hint of warmth (though damp) and I see the light at the end of this winter tunnel.
Figured I’d round up some of the books I’ve been reading lately — a lot of variety of what I’ve read when it comes to adult fiction in the first 3 months of this year! Hope you find some recommendations and let me know if you’ve read any of these because I would love to discuss them in the comments below!!
[Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I’ve talked about or recommended, I’ll receive a very small percentage of the sale. Please see my disclosure policy for more info.]
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
*A free copy of this book was provided for review consideration. As always, this doesn’t affect my opinion of the book!*
Wow! I really loved this one. It did give me a bit of Station Eleven vibes in terms of it being a quieter pandemic/apocalyptic type novel. It was just SO mesmerizing — the writing, the idea of this “sickness” that puts people into a deep sleep where they aren’t dead but they are just ASLEEP for days, by the storytelling. It was just FANTASTIC. I did wish to some answers but I was honestly cool with the ending and it being more about the breakdown. It’s a unique book for sure and really hit a chord with me — just very dreamy and poetic in a way. (FIND IT: Amazon // Barnes & Noble)
Rating: 4/5
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
*A free copy of this book was provided for review consideration. As always, this doesn’t affect my opinion of the book!*
If you’ve been reading this blog for a few years you know that Taylor Jenkins Reid is an all time fave author for me! This book is definitely a bit different than her older works and I LOVED IT — I’m just here for this evolution and seeing what a range TJR can write as much as I ADORE her older stuff.
I was so pleasantly surprised with it. The format is unusual (interviews…think a Behind the Music type expose) and it can keep you at a distance at times but I completely fell in love with these characters and this story of this faux band’s rise to fame. Music is my other obsession, a thing you know about me, and so this really hit all the right notes with me. I know that she had Fleetwood Mac and the Civil Wars in mind when she wrote this and I TOTALLY felt that (two of my fave bands incidentally) and I just so wished that this band was real and I could listen to their music and see the magic. CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS TO BE A TV SHOW!! Also, if you’ve read it, was Camilla not the best ever????? Camilla kind of reminded me of how I feel about Mrs. Weasley in Harry Potter — literally it all falls apart if they weren’t there strongly in the background being badass b’s in their own right. (FIND IT: Amazon // Barnes & Noble)
Rating: 4.5/5

The Au Pair by Emma Rous
This was one of my must read books for 2019 and I’m feeling a little bit conflicted I won’t lie. It was AMAZING and thrilling….until the end. Then it became this convoluted, overly dramatic (like: not even believable) hot mess for me which is a shame because I was INTO THIS. It was very soap opera-y (and I loved soaps back in the day) but I just felt like too much was going on at the end for me to rate it higher. I couldn’t put it down though but the ending was definitely not my favorite. I guessed some things (who might be behind some of the things in the NOW, baby daddies) and other things threw me for a loop! I feel like it was worth reading just because it was everything I wanted with the storyline and what I like with thrillers but the ending…..a bit of a letdown considering how amazing everything else was. BUT I know others loved the ending. (Amazon // Barnes & Noble)
Rating: 3.5/5
Where the Crawdads Sing
This one of the best books I have read in a long time!!! If you read my “library holds” posts you know the saga behind this one. It was one of my 2018 must reads but I had been on the holds list since AUGUST and then we picked it for my February book club and I was number 5 still at a week to go so I ended up buying it but IT WAS WORTH IT because it is a keeper for my shelf!! It was heartbreaking at times and as a momma I just wanted to take young Kya into my arms because she’s just a baby and goes through so much and nobody took care of her except herself! I loved watching her grow into a young woman and THAT ENDING THO. The setting of the marsh was like a familiar character as any in the book and I felt a kinship to that marsh for how it protected her and comforted her and was a constant. One of the most satisfying and memorable reads in a long time!! (Amazon // Barnes & Noble)
Rating: 5/5

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
This was my first Lisa Jewell and I definitely will check out more from her! It was VERY dark and I did really like it! Kiiiiinda hard to read as a mom now (kidnapping!! all the harrowing awful stuff that happened to the child) but definitely was on the edge of my seat. The suspense had me nauseous sometimes haha. I definitely guessed all the THINGS but it was still a read that I felt like paid off for me because the whole and I wanna see what else she’s got up her sleeve because she has quite the backlist and I’ve owned The Girls in the Garden for quite some time. Definitely an engrossing thriller if you find yourself in a dark thriller mood! (Amazon // Barnes & Noble)
Rating: 3.5/5
Have you read any of these books? If so, thoughts?! Putting any of the ones I talked about on your TBR? Tell me what you’ve been reading!
Need more reading inspiration? Check out this list of books for adults to read in 2019 or this list of book to movie adaptations in 2019!
Pin to remember these book recommendations for later!





Lauren @ Bookmark Lit says
I felt the same about The Au Pair – I guessed a lot of the twists but was pretty addicted to the story itself. I also enjoyed Daisy Jones but for some reason it didn’t click with me as much as everyone else 🙁 I gave it four stars (low for a TJR book for me haha) because it just felt too stereotypical rockstar. I loved the format and breezed through it in one sitting!
Jamie says
Hahha yes I know what you mean!! A rating that isn’t low for any other book but for a fave. And yeah I can understand why some struggled with the format but I was the same…loved it!!
Anne says
That’s such a great description of the style of Daisy Jones, that it keeps you at a distance. I agree about the style because at times I liked it, how you saw multiple perspectives and how people remembered things differently, but it did disconnect you a little. I almost wish it was the interview style interspersed with little glimpses/vignettes of being in the story. But I still loved it!
Jamie says
That would have been interesting that way!! I’m curious to see what they will do with the tv show…like I’m sure it will be more of the actual story but will they intersperse it with interviews of them and then show that bit of the story. I will be so curious!!
Heather Currie says
I have all of these on my TBR. You’re the first I’ve heard review The Au Pair. Glad it was enjoyable and it’s good to know the ending… faltered. At least knowing this going in may help.
Jamie says
And honestly I know so many who people who liked the ending!! Still worth I read, I think! Sometimes I read a book and the end will ruin the WHOLE book for me to the point I won’t recommend anymore but that’s def not the case with this one!
Linda says
There’s a library copy of The Dreamers in transit to me as we speak! Did you read Age of Miracles? I loved it, and it sounds like this one is great too. I’ve not jumped at Daisy Jones because I kind of hate the 70s (even though that’s when I was born) but I’m sure I’ll read it at some point and probably love it because her books are always good!
Jamie says
I didn’t read Age of Miracles but I’m going to get to it soon becase I’ve heard great things!! And I think you’ll still like Daisy, truly!!
Victoria says
I was super excited to read The Au Pair, but I’ve heard so many meh things about it including this that I probably won’t read it after all. I loved Daisy Jones and the Six, TJR is a phenomenal writer and I love reading everything she writes! Love this wrap up!
Jamie says
Ya know, I wouldn’t NOT recommend it….because I think if you end up being a person who likes the ending than it’s fantastic. I mean I loved 85-90% of it but the ending really knocked the wind outta my sails. Will be curious what you think. I don’t regret reading it at all!
And yes TJR forever!!1
Kyra Morris says
This couldn’t have come at a better time! I’ve been trying to get into adult fiction lately, and I have nooo idea where to start. XD
Erica Metcalf says
I’m hoping to read Then She Was Gone soon!
Josephine says
I loved Daisy Jones. LOVED it. It’s my first TJR book, and I’ll definitely be hunting down her backlist now! I’m also such a Daisy Jones and The Six fangirl now!
I’ve got The Dreamers on my TBR and can’t wait to get round to it; I loved The Age of Miracles – have you read that?
I pre-ordered the paperback of Where the Crawdads Sing on your instagram recommendation actually. I don’t think it’s published in the UK til summer though so I have quite the wait!
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out says
They are all either on my my TBR or wishlist. Generally I’m a fan of Lisa Jewel.
Have a great reading week
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out