The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz by Sara Leibovits

 

Sara Leibovits was only 16 years old when she was sent to Auschwitz.  The ride if you can call it that was harrowing and within moments of arriving at Auschwitz she was separated from her family. Her mother and siblings were murdered. Sara faced horrors upon horrors under the Nazi's as did others. 

Sara unlike many others survived.  This is her story of life at Auschwitz. The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz is told in dual point of views from Sara's and that of her daughter Eti. Readers also learn about Sara's life after Auschwitz and that of her loved ones. 

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

 

You Like It Darker is a collection of new short stories from Stephen King.  They are masterpieces!  They are creepy, memorable and have some easter eggs in them! I just love how Stephen King revisits characters from previous novels and weaves them into his stories. It's like shared secrets and stories amongst good friends. 

King is amongst a few authors who's books I picked up without reading the synopsis and I recommend you do the same and walk into each of these short stories blind. It simply makes for better reading and frights. 

Grab your book today!

Shades of Earth (Across the Universe, #3) by Beth Revis

Shades of Earth is the final installment in the Across the Universe trilogy. It is one of the best finales to a trilogy I've read in ages. This is my second time reading this series (I read it back in 2013) and I can say that I enjoy it more than the first time and I LOVED it the first time around. 

Amy, Elder and the others are building a life on Centauri-Earth. It's proving to be more difficult than they all imagined. There is danger lurking in every corner and oddly enough abandoned living quarters that is eerily perfect for it's new residents.

The residents of Godspeed must work together to survive and put their differences aside but sometimes big egos make this difficult. 

Revis has a knack for being descriptive. Her vivid imagery jumps off the pages and her story writing makes you a part of her story.  

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances Novel by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson

Let It Snow is a collection of three stories that take place around and on Christmas day. The setting is the same small town being buried in snow. It feels like your peering into a beautiful snow globe and learning about the lives of those who reside inside it.

Romance is in the air and as the stories unfold you find out they all share a connection beyond living in the same town. The stories are entertaining and flow together beautiful. The writing is done in such a manner that it seems as though it's one author and not three separate ones. 

This is a heart warming book and it would be a perfect read for the winter season or a way to mentally escape the heat of the summer. 

Now - I am off to watch the movie. 

Flawless Girls by Anna-Marie McLemore

Published May 28, 2024

Isla and Renata Soler's grandmother got them into the much coveted Alarie House. The Alaire House is the prominent finishing school. It's known for turning young women into first ladies, princesses and socialites. 

Isla and Renata have completely different experiences at the school. Isla leaves after one day and Renata stays behind.  Isla refuses to explain her hasty departure which becomes more mysterious when Renata returns months later and then vanishes on her own accord.

Isla is determined to find her sister and the only way she can do that is to return to The Alarie house. Then things get really peculiar and I was left questioning what I read.  I'm still not sure what I read. I usually DNF books like this but I pushed through because I had so much hope for this book with a gorgeous cover. 

I've come to the conclusion that this book just isn't for me. I don't understand it fully but the parts that I did - I liked it,

** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

The Women by Kristin Hannah

 

Books about war are usually something I avoid. They just make me too angry, emotional and sad. They are too real but TheWomen was recommended to me over and over again. I decided to give it a try and it did make me angry, emotional and sad but it also took me on a reading journey that was worthy of my time. 

The Women takes places during the Vietnam ear. It follows Frances "Frankie" McGrath. She is a very young and sheltered 20 year woman. Frankie's much loved brother heads off to Vietnam and Frankie decides to follow him by joining the Army Nurse Corps. 

Frankie quickly learns that she is ill prepared to be a nurse in Vietnam and that life in Vietnam isn't being reported back truthfully to the American people. Frankie quickly forges close friendships that happen in time of chaos and need.  She holds the hands of dying soldiers and learns to do extensive medical techniques that might save lives. Everyday is a battle and some days they are full of blood and death. 

Frankie forms deep and loving relationships with those she works side by side. People who understand what she is going through. Some of them will help Frankie navigate life after Vietnam. Returning back to CA if difficult to say the least. Frankie struggles to find her place among her family, friends and society.  

The Women spans over 20 years of friendship and love. It's an incredibly emotional read. Frankie is a believable character and someone you'll want to both protect an shout at! The pacing is quick when it needs to be and slows down as needed.  Frankie is an unforgettable character and her story will move you. 

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

 

Publication Date June 11, 2024

If you had told me a few years ago that I would be devouring Rom-Coms and loving them I would not have believed you. It's quite interesting to me that I am finding myself not only enjoying this genre but seeking it out.  

The Rom-Commers has been my favorite Rom-Com to date! The characters are well developed and the story moves smoothly. The enemies to lovers troupe is becoming a fav and Katherine Center knows how to tell a story that will not only entertain you but you keep invested in the characters lives.  

Emma Wheeler want to be a screenwriter. She dreams of it but she spends her days as the sole caretaker of her father. Her father is kind, loving and his caretaking regime is complex and Emma doesn't trust anyone to do it. So when an opportunity of a lifetime knocks at her door she is hesitant to take it. It's in L.A. and it's a chance to re-write a script with Charlie Yates a dream that is about to come true!  

With plans in place Emma heads off to L.A. but she quickly finds out that Charlie doesn't really care about the script and he doesn't want her help! Charlie isn't a fan of rom-coms. Emma weasels her way but will the saying, "Never meet your heroes. They'll surely disappoint."  be a lesson Emma learns.

The Rom-Commers is a fast read. You'll zip thought it in no time. The characters are lovable and cute! Charlie is a bit of a grouch but a delightful one!  The banter is fun and entertaining. This book surpassed my expectations.  

** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2) by Beth Revis

A Million Suns is the second installment in the Across the Universe trilogy. Amy and Elder have discovered secrets about Godspeed and Orion has left behind clues to another mystery about the ship.

Elder has stoped phydus on the ship and this has resulted in free will amongst passengers leading to chaos.  Passengers aboard the ship are feeling emotions they were unable to process while on phydus such as depression and anxiety. A few passengers are rebelling complicating life for Elder and others aboard the ship.

The character growth of both Amy and Elder increases as they develop into more complex and likable characters. Readers get additional yet important information about other characters. The mystery unfolds beautifully resulting in a fury of emotions. When it's revealed expect to be shocked and angry. 

This book is quite a page turner and addictive especially because it ends on a cliffhanger. 

Here One Moment |By Liane Moriarty

Expected Publication Date September 10th, 2024

Here One Moment is an extraordinary novel full of brilliant characters and a story line that is beyond entertaining. It's a hefty read coming in at over 500 pages but each page is worth the time and energy you'll put into reading this fantastic book.  In fact time will fly as you go on this mind bending journey.  

Imagine for a second you are on a flight and a woman starts walking around giving predictions on each person's death day and cause of death. A few people take what the woman says to heart and a few others like yourself blow it off or at least try to. Then one prediction after another starts to come to fruition.  This causes you to pause and consider your own prediction, your own mortality and that of others.  Do you continue to live you life as normal or take precautions in an attempt to change future outcomes.  Do you try to beat the odds or is the reaper nipping at your feet?

This book left me contemplating my own life and that of my loved ones. The chapters are short and flow right into each other. I found that myself genuinely caring about the characters and full of emotions. This is one book you won't want to miss. 

** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis

Godspeed is a spaceship that is leaving earth and heading to another planet. The travel time is 300 years. Amy, her parents and many others are on the ship as frozen cargo. They will be awaken once they land on the new planet and start a new colony however Amy is awaken early.

Amy is angry and confused as to why she has been woken up and she finds navigating life on Godspeed difficult and very confusing. She befriends, Elder who is set to be the next leader of Godspeed. Amy discovers rather quickly that life aboard the spaceship is a lot more complex than it appears. Amy makes it a mission to find out why she was awoken and who woke her up. 

Revis keeps you guessing and despite having read this many years ago I found myself glued to the pages and turning pages and this dual point of view story unravels. 

Broken Prince (The Royals, #2) | by Erin Watt

Broken Prince picks up right where Paper Princess left off. Ella took off and the Royals have found her. Everything is murky and messy. Secrets are a plenty and it's time for them to be revealed but can everyone handle them? 

I don't want to give anything away but I will say that we finally get Reed's point of view which adds an entirely new dynamic to the story.  It's insightful and fuels the addition for this series. 

All the characters play larger roles allowing us to get to know them all better. It's one huge soap opera and I love it! 

Broken Prince ends on a cliffhanger which I believe will lead into more craziness