It’s the last month of 2018 and somehow during all the craziness of the holidays, I managed to read 10 books! It was a really good reading month, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts and feelings with y’all. Let’s jump right in!
I started off the month reading a book that has sat on my shelf for the longest time. You know how you see a book over and over and eventually you get it because everyone is raving about it? That was this book for me. I bought it because I kept seeing it all over Instagram and Goodreads. It sat on my shelf for probably 4 months until I decided to try it this month. And guess what? I LOVED this book. I loved it so much that it made my top 10 of 2018 list. It’s sooooo good y’all! It’s about a woman who is arrested for the murder of her best friend 20 years ago. The book jumps back and forth with the timeline so you get to hear about her life after she serves jail time for her role in the murder and what really happened all those years ago. This one is full of twists and shockers, and I loved every second of it. If you love thrillers, pick this one up! It’s darker and intense, but so good!
If you’ve followed my book account/reviews for a long time. you’ve heard me rave about R.S. Grey. She’s an author that you can’t find in stores. Her books are available with Kindle Unlimited and you can also order her paperbacks on Amazon. She’s the reason I got Kindle Unlimited. Two years ago my mother had an overnight procedure at the hospital and I spent the night with her. I needed a quick read and I discovered R.S. Grey. I LOVE her books. They are quick little romance stories that you can devour in no time. Her newest book, Hotshot Doc was sooo good! It’s about a brilliant but rude young doctor who falls in love with his surgical assistant. *Swoon*
One Day in December is another book that has been EVERYWHERE here lately. It was also chosen as our #lalalifebookclub book for December (as well as Reese Witherspoon’s book club) Sadly I did not love this book. I thought it was boring and I didn’t get the romance between the two main characters. I especially couldn’t stand Jack, the male lead. It was just not the book for me. But I am obviously in the minority on this one because everyone is loving it!
Is there any way I wasn’t going to read a new Colleen Hoover?? I haven’t been the biggest fan of her last three books, so I was nervous about this one, but y’all it was phenomenal. Oh my goodness the ending of this book will blow your mind. It’s very different from her usual books, but sooooo good!!
Random House sent me a copy of The Adults by Caroline Hulse, which I was so excited about because it’s been on my list for the longest! It’s about a man and woman who have a daughter together, but they are divorced. In order to make the holidays enjoyable for the little girl, they decide to go on a vacation together, along with their new spouses. I really liked this one. Yes, it’s a little boring at times and there definitely could have been more of a conflict, but I thought it was a good read. If you like Liane Moraity’s earlier work like The Husband’s Secret, Big Little Lies, What Alice Forgot, you’ll like this one!
I originally heard about Gillian French’s book, The Lies They Tell back in the summer. As soon as I read the synopsis, I immediately went to Amazon and ordered it. I apparently mixed up the title name when I was ordering it because I accidentally ordered Lies You Never Told Me. LOL It took me forever to find the book I was actually interested in, but when I finally did, I ordered it and read it. Sadly I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped I would. It’s about a girl who works for a country club in a summer town. Six months ago, a fire destroyed a mansion in the town and killed three of the four family members. The main character befriends the remaining family member and his two friends and discovers what really happened. It had a lot going on and I didn’t really get into any of it. or connect with any of the characters. I will say it was gorgeously written and the mood/atmosphere was done really well. I think I would have enjoyed it more in the summer, too.
Y’all know my obsession with romance stories. I’m forever in pursuit of a good love story that features the same set of characters in multiple books. I discovered Jenny Holiday recently, so I decided to try out her Bridesmaid series. I really liked this one, and I’ve currently moved onto book 2. It’s not my favorite romance series, but it’s good. It does get cheesy at times, but not too bad. It’s nowhere as good as Lauren Layne’s books, but I would recommend!
I read an ARC of Jewel E. Ann’s newest book, A Place Without You. This one comes out January 1st. If you’ve never read a Jewel E. Ann book, you don’t know what you’re missing. Oh y’all, these books are the most unpredictable books I’ve ever read. While I’m not a fan of everything she writes, I fly though them all. Transcend/Epoch is my absolute favorite. This new one was in the middle for me. I really liked it, but there were some parts that I didn’t care for. It’s about a girl who meets this guy at Cochella and falls in love with him. Once they leave the festival and go back home, she realizes he’s her new guidance counselor at her school (she’s a senior in high school. but she’s 19) The book spans over the next 3 years. It’s good!
I also read an ARC of Marybeth Mayhew Whalen’s upcoming book, Only Ever Her. I read When We Were Worthy by the same author last year and I loved it. I was super excited to get an ARC of this book that comes out in the spring. Y’all, this book was SO good! It’s now my favorite MMW book (although I still haven’t read The Things We Wish Were True) It’s about a girl who is getting married in 4 days. At the beginning of the book, we learn that the man that was sent to prison for murdering her mother when the main character was 3 years old is being released. The bride later goes missing and everyone is searching for her. I loved this one!
So that’s what I read this month. I’d love to hear what you read or if you read any of these!
My favorite of the month:
I’m going to start giving away my favorite book from each month and this month it’s Jar of Hearts! This giveaway is only for my blog and Facebook page. To enter, comment below! I’ll randomly pick a winner on Sunday night (12/30) Good Luck!
Check out my other book reviews this year:
I’m ordering Only Ever Her right now! So excited!
I have recently added Jar of Hearts to my reading list!!
Jar of Hearts looks so good! Can’t wait to read it soon!
Can’t wait to read Jar of Hearts! Currently reading Love and Other Words, thanks to you!
That looks so good! How do you find time to read so much?
Would love this! The story line sounds chilling ever since you described it in your stories! I like the back and forth aspect too, reminds me of The Good Girl.
Love your book picks. I get so many great titles from your blog!
I am glad to hear your review for Verity. I kept hearing mixed reviews for it. I am glad I found your blog this year.
Would love to win this book. Looking for something new to read.
Would love to read Jar of Hearts!
Would love to read Jar of Hearts!
I would love to read Jar of Hearts. If the cover is any indication, this book looks amazing. Thank you so much for having this blog. I have been able to find so many awesome books through it!
I love reading your reviews and following you. You are AMAZING!!
Would love to win
Would love to read this book!!
Just read Love and Other Words, and loved it!! Also just read Verity. Very good!! Starting Accidental Beauty Queen today. Love your recommendations and would love to read this book too. ��
Would love to read this book! On my list now!
I'm in for winning Jar of Hearts!
I’d love to win this one! I really want to read it, and my library doesn’t have it.
I’ve been a follower for a while, but I’m really jumping back into reading in 2019! Thank you for your blog and commitment to reading fun! I’d love to try Jar of Hearts
I’d love to read A Jar of Hearts! I always enjoy your book recommendations!
Jar of Hearts sounds like such a great book! I can’t wait to read it!