Well hellooo there. Haven’t talked about what I’ve been reading lately as I’ve been a little MIA considering September was quite the doozy of a month. I don’t even know if I remember how to write posts these days lol.
Here’s some of what I’ve been reading lately (and I really want to hear what you guys have been reading lately because I’m SOOOO out of the loop):
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
About In A Sentence or Two: After Cheryl’s mother dies and a lot of other things in her life fall apart, she gets the idea (with little hiking experience) to hike the Pacific Coast Trail from the Mojave Desert to Washington State by herself.
Thoughts: I had been wanting to read this one for a while and finally just got around to it. I wish I would have read it sooner because I had a lot of high expectations for it. I had heard how moving and profound and empowering it was and, while it had its moments, I don’t think I was as wowed as I hoped I would be based on how it seemed to affect everyone else. I definitely personally connected with a lot of her thoughts about losing a mother and I think those were the moments I really enjoyed. I enjoyed her journey but at some points I was just skimming because it was a lot of walking and describing trees and things (which is to be expected considering she is hiking). I fell in love with all the people she met along the way and really enjoyed watching her grown and learn. I would have never ever taken on such an adventure with no experience but I thought it was hella brave and I was impressed with her for doing it.
Rating:
Then I read:
Right of First Refusal by Dahlia Adler
About In A Sentence Or Two: Cait hasn’t seen Mase since he broke up with her at sports camp years ago….and then he shows up at her university and is her new roommate’s boyfriend. They decide to keep their history a secret and suddenly Cait finds herself juggling quite a few secrets about her love life…in addition to drama with her family and leading her lacrosse team to victory.
Thoughts: I looooved book 1 in this romance series set in college and when I was in a bit of a reading funk I knew it would be what I needed to get me out of it. It totally worked and I read it in one night. I really enjoy “old flames” storylines and I loved learning about the past relationship between Cait and Mase and what has happened since he broke her heart years ago. The sexual tension leaped off the page and I was definitely smitten with them. One of the things I still really love about this series is the trio of bffs it features and I love how we still get to see our faves from book 1 but learn more about the others. I really enjoyed some of the side characters/new characters in this book, too! Definitely was what I needed to reset my reading funk and actually read a book with glee! Also, total nostalgia throwback to my days of playing lacrosse in high school. If you are looking for an athletic MC where it does play a big part of their life, check this one out!
Rating
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
About In A Sentence Or Two: Book 5 in the Throne of Glass series (don’t want to spoil)
Thoughts: Such an anticipated book for me! A LOT happened and I was glued to the pages like I had hoped to be because there was so much action and so many things all coming together that it was like fireworks and explosions in my brain. So many tense situations and OH MAN I am not emotionally prepared for how this is all going to end. I think I did struggle a little bit with some of the new and spotlighted romances (I LOVE ROMANCE so this isn’t a dig on romance bc it’s important to me and I lurve it and do have some ships in this series) and I found this book really was at its best when it came to the other stuff that wasn’t romance in this particular installment….which I haven’t felt in the past books. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next for these characters I’ve fallen in love with so deeply….literally cannot believe this series is going to be over. Also, MANON 5ever as always.
Rating
Have you read any of these? What did you think?! Any of these going on your TBR? Tell me what you’ve been reading!
P.S. Don’t miss these 24 Upcoming Book-To-Movie Adaptions or check out what I’ve recently added to my various lists of books to read/movies/shows to watch & things to listen to.
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Emmah says
I’m not read for the ToG series concludion either 😭
I’m currently reading “Daughter of the Forest” by: Juliet Marillier and I’m loving it 😊
Jamie says
I’m scared for which of our darlings might not make it out alive!!!
I REALLY need to read some Juliet Marillier!!!
Emmah says
Me too!! I’m so attached to most of the characters lol. ONLY THE EVIL ONES CAN DIE.
Yes!! I think you’d really love her writing 🙂
Rachana says
I haven’t read any of these but I finally got EoS on my Kindle so I’m just looking forward to digging into that…as soon as I finish my current reads! I’m reading The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury right now and I’m enjoying it a lot! I kind of didn’t expect to enjoy it this much because I thought it would be very similar to Aladdin (which it’s sort of based on I think). Anyway, it’s really original and unique and the author’s writing style is perfect. I think this is probably my latest five star read!
Jamie says
Hope you enjoy EoS!!
I’m glad to hear you are enjoying the Forbidden Wish! I have it on my shelf because it sounded so intriguing but I hadn’t heard many people talking about it!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews says
I haven’t read any of these, but the hiking one has been on my radar, too. I sometimes feel the need to read introspective narratives where the trip is both an actual trip, and a way to deal with things that have to be dealt with.
I love your rating chart thing! So nice, and now I kind of want one myself 😀
I hope you’ll get back into posting and blogging again, I had a very slow September myself, I didn’t even read all that much, but I seem to have put that slump behind me for now 🙂
Have a wonderful week and happy reading!
Jamie says
I think you would like Wild then! Definitely part travelogue with that very introspective dealing with stuff!
And thank you! I’ve definitely enjoyed creating a system for rating that worked for me years ago! It makes such a difference!
I’m hoping I’ll get back into it too! It feels weird to never blog anymore haha Hopefully all of our weird reading and blogging funks will be behind us!!
Lizzy says
I’m just starting the ToG series! I’m so nervous, I want to love it as much as I love the ACOTAR series buuuuuut….lol
Glad you are somewhat out of your reading funk! I definitely go through spurts so I try not to be too worried when I don’t feel like reading…but I get worried all the same. 😉
Jamie says
I hope you enjoy!!
Yeah, I think I go in and out of reading funks but nothing quite like lately. I def am on team TRY NOT TO WORRY because I figure why stress myself or put pressure on something I like to do? I mean, sure, blogging makes me feel like I need to but I just post other things when I’m in a slump. But sometimes it’s like UGHHH SELF I WANT TO READ WHY AM I NOT???
Rachel ¦¦ A Nesting Nomad says
I read Wild maybe 18 months ago and I actually didn’t like it much. I didn’t think the author came to any particularly helpful realisations or life lessons that I could learn from (her basic end point seemed to be ah well, even though I was a jerk to some people I was doing the right thing all along). Also I found her attitude to the hike a bit irresponsible, given if she’d have gotten into difficulty (very likely given her inexperience) someone would have had to go and rescue her and potentially endanger themselves. I sound like a massive killjoy here, but I just couldn’t get past the self-centredness. All that said, since reading it I’ve lost a parent and thinking back on some of the passages about loss did resonate with my experience. So perhaps I ought to just look at it through that lens and try and ignore all the other stuff!
Maeghan Trail says
I just finished reding The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis. It’s super dark but I absolutely adored it! Very good start to get in the Halloween spirit.
I’m reading Trust Me by Romily Bernard (last in the trilogy!), What the Dead Want by Norah Olson, and Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake for the #spookathon challenge this year. I’m super excited!
I’m also reading Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight with my mom as a buddy read along. She LOVED Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight so she wanted to read her next one.
Mel says
I’m so behind on the Throne of Glass series it’s sad XD I should really catch up because a lot of people have been raving about the latest book
Mel ★ http://www.meleaglestone.co.uk
Christina Franke says
You should get to OUT ON GOOD BEHAVIOR ASAP. It’s my fave of the series, I think, because it’s the fluffiest and the sexiest. Such banter. Also, brilliant Lizzie/Connor moments. 😀
Fida says
I’m currently reading EoS and rooting for all the ladies. I like that the romance isn’t the main focus. There were a few cute moments.
Fiona says
I just finally read Where She Went by Gayle Forman after seeing her speak in my area. I’m currently reading Sorcerer to the Crown and loving it! I need to catch up on the Throne of Glass series but I haven’t been in the mood to read it, even though I want to!
Morgan @ Gone with the Words says
I felt the same way about EoS. I love romance and ships but I didn’t enjoy that part of the book as much as in the past. I was more into the history and quests and all. It was still an exciting book though! That’s too bad you didn’t connect as much with Wild; it’s always a bummer when an anticipate book lets you down. I’ve been in a reading slump myself, only 3 books in the past 3 weeks. But I just finished This Adventure Ends and I really loved it!
Leslie @ Leslie's Bookcase says
Did you see the movie Wild? I thought they did a really nice job with it!
kristen says
i still haven’t read empire of storms – hopefully this weekend. i skimmed your review, but glad to hear you loved it!
Holly J says
I’m glad to see that you loved Right of First Refusal. I couldn’t get into LWAT, and I liked OOGB but didn’t love it. But I still definitely want to read this one, and I really hope to love it! It sounds SO good, and I loved Cait’s character so I think I’ll definitely enjoy her story. And second chance romances are one of my favorite tropes! And ah, one day I will continue the Throne of Glass series. I’ll probably just wait to binge-read the books when the last one comes out, tbh. That’s how I do most series these days. 😀
I’m currently reading Glitter, Outrun the Moon, and Ripple. I haven’t been able to concentrate on just one of them so I’ve been switching back and forth. I’m super in love with OTM already, and Glitter is really interesting. I hope to get all of them finished this weekend. I’m also in a historical romance mood after finishing the Castle Ever After series by Tessa Dare and have been asking for recommendations so I’ll probably start a new HR book soon. Tessa’s books were so fun, I feel like I’ve been missing out with this genre!