Out of the nine books listed below, six were library books (have you tried the Libby app???) and three were books I bought on Kindle for less than $3 each. Read my earlier post, 13 ways to increase the quantity and quality of your reading, for more info on how I read quality books without spending all my money!
Books I read in May
- Educated by Tara Westover (Memoir/Kindle) - 5/5 stars
I devoured this book and couldn't stop talking about it afterward. It is an incredible memoir and reads like fiction. Similar to The Sound of Gravel, which I also loved. - Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman (Nonfiction/Kindle) - 2/5 stars
I'm not a huge Bachelor fan but I did start watching a couple of seasons ago because my favorite podcast does hilarious recaps of the show. I think if you're a big fan of the show, this book would be really interesting. Since I didn't know a lot of the people it referenced (nor did I really care), it was just okay for me. - Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (Fiction/Kindle) - 4/5 stars
This was such a funny and lighthearted book (even though it tackles a Monica Lewinsky-like story!). I really enjoyed this one! - The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (Fiction/Kindle) - 3/5 stars
Story of a string quartet over the course of many years. I really enjoyed the writing and that the characters were flawed (and therefore more realistic), but I couldn't get attached to anyone enough to really be invested in their story.
Books I read in June
- Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (Nonfiction/Audiobook) - 4/5 stars
I kept seeing bloggers rave about this one so I put it on my library hold list. Having known nothing about it in advance, it was a nice surprise! This one is Christian self-help, but it's really funny and surprisingly motivating and encouraging. - The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy (Fiction/Kindle) - 3/5 stars
Thus began my trio of thrillers, none of which lived up to what I hoped. This one was a May Book of the Month pick (although I just got it from the library). It was enjoyable but nothing special. - The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine (Fiction/Kindle) - 2/5 stars
I read this because it was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick, but I really hated the plot. - Good As Gone by Amy Gentry (Fiction/Kindle) - 3/5 stars
I liked the concept: a girl is kidnapped and then shows back up at her parents' house many years later. It was a fun read but not something I'd enthusiastically recommend. - Tables in the Wilderness by Preston Yancey (Memoir/Kindle) - 4/5 stars
Preston's memoir describes how he went from hearing God and feeling confident in all aspects of his faith, to no longer "hearing" God but learning to trust him in a different way. I love Preston's writing and honesty.
