Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Show Us Your Books: February 2019



I've spent a lot of time reading recently, and I'm not planning on stopping. If you're in reading mode, join us for a readathon next weekend: read as much or as little as  you want, start whenever on Friday and end whenever Sunday. Check in whenever you want by taking reading pics and tagging us in them on IG or Twitter. We have random prizes. Why not? Everyone is welcome.

Here's what I've been reading since the last linkup.

Engrossing Reads
*Buy links are affiliate links, cost you nothing to buy through, and benefit the running of this linkup*

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas - I wonder what it was like for Angie Thomas to have a complete smash debut novel sit over 100 weeks at the top of the best seller list with The Hate U Give, to let go of her second book out into the world of people with impossible expectations? Whatever it took, I'm glad she did, because Angie Thomas has done it again. The story is good, the writing is good, the point of view just as on point as in The Hate U Give, but the main character in this book, Bri...I adore her. You should read it. Hard cover, owned, pre-ordered from Amazon buy hard cover (only $11.39), buy kindle

Recursion by Blake Crouch - Hot damn. I jumped on this advanced copy as soon as I saw it on Netgalley and I'm glad I did. I loved the story. I love how Blake Crouch can write books based in science and make me feel like I understand them well. Free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book comes out June 11. pre-order kindle / pre-order hard cover

The Night Stalker (Detective Erika Foster #2) by Robert Bryndza - I dig Erika. I do not dig some of the men around her. Philly library paperback buy kindle / buy paperback

Sugar (Sugar Lacey #1) by Bernice L. McFadden - McFadden is a wonderful story teller. I loved the writing. The story was hard and redeeming all in one. Philly library paperback buy kindle / buy paperback

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena - This reminded me a lot of Clue and I couldn't put it down. I love a simple whodunit. Philly library hardback buy kindle/buy hardcover

Crimson Lake (Crimson Lake #1) by Candice Fox - I had a hard time getting into this, but once I was in I was in. I will try another. Philly library hardback buy kindle/buy paperback

Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman - I thoroughly enjoyed the frankness of Frances. I loved all the characters and the glimpse into their worlds. BOTMC, own, mailed on buy kindle/buy paperback

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Wake Up by Catherine Ryan Hyde - I loved the writing, as I did in Take Me With You. The story didn't hit me quite as hard, but it was interesting and a quick read. Philly library paperback

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin - There was a wait for this at the library, meaning this old novel is experiencing a resurgence in popularity likely thanks to the movie. This was good in the way a punch in the gut is good for making you appreciate that you can breathe. Baldwin is a master. Philly library paperback

A Killer's Mind (Zoe Bentley Mystery #1) by Mike Omer - The story was pretty good and I liked both Zoe Bentley and Tatum Gray. I'll check out a second in the series. This was a Kindle first read, I never remember that but I know this one was. Amazon kindle e-book, free

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land - Lots and lots of people suck moments in this one. Anyone who doesn't have a grasp of what it's like to live on minimum wage or gig work should read this. We need to understand how people are living. Free e-copy from Netgalley

Dark Water (Detective Erika Foster #3) by Robert Bryndza - A little bit slower than the previous too, but it kicked up a bit. I'll go on with the series even though it means buying the rest on kindle - my library doesn't have them and can't get the e-copies (did you know some publishers don't allow libraries access to their ebooks? I got a load of info from my librarian LOL). Amazon kindle ebook, purchased

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal - A nice story and little peek into Punjabi culture. I loved Nikki. I know it was in the title but I wasn't expecting actual erotic stories in there, I was like oh they're actually doing the erotic stories thing LOL. I'm not great at stories within stories. I loved how this group of women blossomed as the book went on and found support in each other. Philly library hardback

The Perfect Liar by Thomas Christopher Greene - I felt anxious through quite a few parts, but the good reading anxious not bad real life anxious, the what's going to happen type of anxious. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt by Andrea Bobotis - A little slow moving but it sped up in the middle. Mounds of secrets. I loved Olva and Rosemarie, I wish more of them were in the story. Judith was a shit, by design. Free e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book comes out July 19

Grafitti Moon by Cath Crowley - Poetic writing, not a bad story for YA. Heavy, as YA can be. Philly library hardback

Queenie by Candice Carty Williams - Queenie the book was good, Queenie the character I loved, even when she didn’t love herself. I also loved the Corgis minus Cassandra and the grandparents. 
Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was hoping hard to get this one and it didn’t disappoint.

The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent - This was compulsively readable with a huge HUH in there. Can't say more without giving it all away but it was totally not what I was expecting in any way and I can't decide if I think it was a plot cop out or not. Regardless it didn't stop me from devouring the book. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Homecoming by Andrew Pyper - I should not have read this book at night. Parts of it are frankly terrifying. If you like horror thriller, you might like this. It was too much for me. I closed my kindle at one point and was rigid with fear. An interesting premise that sort of blew up at the end. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Not Worth It

The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton - The main character is 400 kinds of crazy. The author pounded that home throughout and it felt repetitive at times, making a portion of it feel like a slog. The link between the past and present felt really tenuous. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

At Briarwood School for Girls by Michael Knight - Barely okay, lots of potential but a lot of disconnect. Likely a case of too much going on. Cut the unnecessary side stories and characters out and this is a much better book. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

No Exit by Taylor Adams - Meh. BOTMC, own, sold

Did Not Finish
n/a

What have you been reading? 
Linkup Guidelines:
This link up is the second Tuesday of every month. The next linkup is March 12, 2019 
1. Visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & me
2. Display the button and/or link back to us on your blog post
3. Visit other blogs & talk books

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