It's time to round up some recent reads friends! I was terrible at reading in September which is no surprise, with the crazy-ness that that month brings. But I more than made up for it in October with lots of good reading time as the days shortened and we all got back into the school rhythm. Here is a look a what I read for September and October! It's a lot... so get a cup of tea or coffee and let's dig in!
Book blurb: It’s 1875, and Alva Webster has perfected her stiff upper lip after three years of being pilloried in the presses of two continents over fleeing her abusive husband. Now his sudden death allows her to return to New York to make a fresh start, restoring Liefdehuis, a dilapidated Hyde Park mansion, and hopefully her reputation at the same time. However, fresh starts aren’t as easy as they seem, as Alva discovers when stories of a haunting at Liefdehuis begin to reach her. But Alva doesn’t believe in ghosts. So when the eccentric and brilliant professor Samuel Moore appears and informs her that he can get to the bottom of the mystery that surrounds Liefdehuis, she turns him down flat. She doesn’t need any more complications in her life―especially not a handsome, convention-flouting, scandal-raising one like Sam. Unfortunately, though Alva is loath to admit it, Sam, a pioneer in electric lighting and a member of the nationally-adored Moore family of scientists, is the only one who can help. Together, the two delve into the tragic secrets wreathing Alva’s new home while Sam attempts to unlock Alva’s history―and her heart.
My review: This book is listed as a "romance" and the description calls it a "romantic comedy" - I wouldn't put it in either of those categories, although there is a romantic connection in the book. To be honest, this book is a ghost story! And I have realized that I really love a good ghost story... which sounds crazy, but it's true. It's also a story about an old house - which I've mentioned about a million times is one of my favorite niches to read. Either way I loved the slow build in this story and it's a good read for fall. I rate this book a 6/10 for the slow build, I could've used the storyline to move a little quicker. If you love stories about old homes I recommend Lacewood (reviewed here) or The Clockmakers Daughter. If you love stories with ghosts as minor characters in an intriguing way, I recommend The Thirteenth Tale or The Winter Sea (both of which are some of my all time favorite reads and great for fall!). (please note: an advanced review copy of this book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion)
Book blurb: In The Diana Chronicles, you will meet a formidable female cast and understand as never before the society that shaped them: Diana's sexually charged mother, her scheming grandmother, the stepmother she hated but finally came to terms with, and bad-girl Fergie, her sister-in-law, who concealed wounds of her own. Most formidable of them all was her mother-in-law, the Queen, whose admiration Diana sought till the day she died. Add Camilla Parker-Bowles, the ultimate "other woman" into this combustible mix, and it's no wonder that Diana broke out of her royal cage into celebrity culture, where she found her own power and used it to devastating effect.
My review: As an avid Royal watcher I've been trying to read more books about the Royals to get more of a backstory on their relationship with the press and the general arc of their histories. This book was a little slow and annoying at times. I felt like the author very rarely gave Diana the benefit of the doubt instead posing her as highly calculating. But if you could get past some of the gossipy nature of the book it was an insightful look back at Diana's rise to fame and how she became a part of the Royal family. It gave a lot of pretext for the issues you now see with Harry and even the relationship with Charles and Camilla. If you are a Royal fan I highly suggest this one. I rate this book a 7/10. Another great fact-based book on the Royals (albeit still quite gossipy) is The Royals by Kitty Kelley. It reads like one long USWeekly article and I really enjoyed that one.
Book blurb: When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. A future monarch and a backup battery. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren't just any royals. They're American.
As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.
My review: If you love following the British Royal family, could you even imagine if the United States had their own Royal Family? The premise of this book is that we do and it's a DELIGHTFUL read. This book was so fun and charming and a perfect book to get lost in. I believe this book is scheduled to be part of a trilogy so I'm already anxious to read the next three but I will have to be patient! I rate this a 9/10. The characters are great in this book and if you like this lighthearted and imagined world that the author has created I highly recommend her Thousandth Floor trilogy (I've only read two of the books, but they were great!).
Book blurb: In the early days of Prohibition, long before Al Capone became a household name, a German immigrant named George Remus quits practicing law and starts trafficking whiskey. Within two years he's a multi-millionaire. The press calls him "King of the Bootleggers," writing breathless stories about the Gatsby-esque events he and his glamorous second wife, Imogene, host at their Cincinnati mansion, with party favors ranging from diamond jewelry for the men to brand-new cars for the women. By the summer of 1921, Remus owns 35 percent of all the liquor in the United States.
Pioneering prosecutor Mabel Walker Willebrandt is determined to bring him down. Willebrandt's bosses at the Justice Department hired her right out of law school, assuming she'd pose no real threat to the cozy relationship they maintain with Remus. Eager to prove them wrong, she dispatches her best investigator, Franklin Dodge, to look into his empire. It's a decision with deadly consequences. With the fledgling FBI on the case, Remus is quickly imprisoned for violating the Volstead Act. Her husband behind bars, Imogene begins an affair with Dodge. Together, they plot to ruin Remus, sparking a bitter feud that soon reaches the highest levels of government--and that can only end in murder.
My review: This book kept popping up on suggested reading lists and the premise sounded super interesting so I couldn't resist checking it out! I will admit it reads a little dry at times - which is kind of to be expected of non-fiction - but overall this is a fascinating look at the Prohibition Era and the business of bootlegging. I learned a ton and found myself constantly googling the names and places referenced in this book. It's not a book you will fly through in a few days, but it was very interesting! I rate this book a 7/10. Do you have any other suggestions on books about bootlegging? I don't think I have read any before and would love to read more!
Book blurb: At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.
The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakeable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.
Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.
My review: This is a fantastic book! I tried to read it as slowly as I could because I knew I would be sad when it was over. And I was. I still am. The family and characters in this book are so well written you can just SEE them and HEAR them and know them. At times it was sad and difficult to read but again, I was so involved with these characters. I definitely recommend this book and it would be a fantastic book club selection if you are in a book club - there is so much to unpack about loyalty and family and love. I rate this book a 9/10 - which is pretty much my highest rating! If you love family dramas another that comes to mind along this same vein is The Immortalists (which can also be tough to read, but is so amazing).
Book blurb: At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school football team, while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers—one they are determined to conceal.
A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.
My review: This is another book that popped up on so many reading lists, plus I loved the book blurb, it sounded so interesting. This book was a huge pass for me. I did not care for it in the least. I kept reading and thinking "this has got to get better" and it really didn't. I can't recommend this book at all, it's just not my style of book or storytelling. It was so depressing with little to no story development. I rate this a 1/10.
Book blurb: Ignorance is bliss―except in self-awareness. What you don't know about yourself can hurt you and your relationships―and even keep you in the shallows with God. Do you want help figuring out who you are and why you're stuck in the same ruts? The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system with an uncanny accuracy in describing how human beings are wired, both positively and negatively. In The Road Back to You Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile forge a unique approach―a practical, comprehensive way of accessing Enneagram wisdom and exploring its connections with Christian spirituality for a deeper knowledge of ourselves, compassion for others, and love for God. Witty and filled with stories, this book allows you to peek inside each of the nine Enneagram types, keeping you turning the pages long after you have read the chapter about your own number. Not only will you learn more about yourself, but you will also start to see the world through other people's eyes, understanding how and why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Beginning with changes you can start making today, the wisdom of the Enneagram can help take you further along into who you really are―leading you into places of spiritual discovery you would never have found on your own, and paving the way to the wiser, more compassionate person you want to become.
My review: This is a re-read for me and I think I enjoyed it better the second time. I first browsed through it a year or so ago and revisiting it was like adding another building block of understanding myself through the Enneagram. If you haven't read up on the Enneagram personality types I highly recommend it. My Enneagram (I'm a #1) is a shockingly accurate look into my psyche and knowing it has helped me see some of my emotional intelligence blind spots. I think this book is a great intro to Enneagram - it's simple and straight forward - and also a great re-read from time to time. Even if you don't 100% relate to your number (my husband doesn't for instance) I still think it can be helpful to see our personality through an objective lens. I rate this a 9/10. I would love to read more on the Enneagram - if you've read any good ones, please let me know!
Book blurb: Tiffy and Leon share an apartment. Tiffy and Leon have never met.
After a bad breakup, Tiffy Moore needs a place to live. Fast. And cheap. But the apartments in her budget have her wondering if astonishingly colored mold on the walls counts as art.
Desperation makes her open minded, so she answers an ad for a flatshare. Leon, a night shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll only ever be there when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet.
Tiffy and Leon start writing each other notes – first about what day is garbage day, and politely establishing what leftovers are up for grabs, and the evergreen question of whether the toilet seat should stay up or down. Even though they are opposites, they soon become friends. And then maybe more.
But falling in love with your roommate is probably a terrible idea…especially if you've never met.
My review: Although quite predictable at times this is a classic rom-com read and I enjoyed it! There is definitely a need to suspend disbelief with the storyline at (many) times, but what's a good rom-com without some antics, you know? If you want a quick weekend or vacation read this is a cute one! I rate is 7/10.
The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better
Book blurb: During her multibook investigation into understanding human nature, Gretchen Rubin realized that by asking the seemingly dry question "How do I respond to expectations?" we gain explosive self-knowledge. She discovered that based on their answer, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and engage more effectively.
My review: This was another re-read for me this fall! I read it about a year ago and immediately labeled myself as a "Rebel" but then I recently heard the author on a podcast and rethought my initial "label." My husband calls me an "Upholder" but I think I still have some "Rebel" tendencies. Either way this is a fascinating way to look at how you deal with inner and outer expectations. You may not fit into one neat category (I know I don't) but it didn't discourage me from really exploring these ideas. Much like the Enneagram, I think this is a fascinating and HELPFUL way of seeing yourself objectively. I rate this book 8/10.
Book blurb: Falling in love is easy. Staying in love—that’s the challenge. How can you keep your relationship fresh and growing amid the demands, conflicts, and just plain boredom of everyday life?
In the #1 New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages, you’ll discover the secret that has transformed millions of relationships worldwide. Whether your relationship is flourishing or failing, Dr. Gary Chapman’s proven approach to showing and receiving love will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner—starting today.
The 5 Love Languages is as practical as it is insightful. Updated to reflect the complexities of relationships today, this new edition reveals intrinsic truths and applies relevant, actionable wisdom in ways that work.
My review: I initially was looking at the TEEN version of this book and thought I might as well pick this one up as well. I really enjoyed it! So did my husband. It's a really quick read and I quickly identified my love languages and my husband did as well. So it's really easy and quick. I will say the book is full of quite cheesy antidotes. So try not to get annoyed by those and stick to the meat here and it's good! I rate this a 8/10 (for content, minus the cheesy stories).
Book blurb: Socially, mentally, and spiritually, teenagers face a variety of pressures and stresses each day. Despite these pressures, it is still parents who can influence teens the most, and The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers equips parents to make the most of that opportunity.
In this adaptation of the #1 New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages(more than 10 million copies sold), Dr. Gary Chapman explores the world in which teenagers live, explains their developmental changes, and gives tools to help you identify and appropriately communicate in your teen's love language.
My review: I am NOT usually a fan of parenting books in general. I have found them to be so generalized and cheesy in all my years of parenting. But man, having teens in the house is NO JOKE. It can be very fun, but it also seems like a dark, dark forest where nothing makes sense too. Watching your sweet littles turn into very independent teens is exciting. And scary. I think this book is so valuable because it can really help you speak your own teens language without them feeling like you are "applying a parenting book" to them. There is a quiz involved if you are feeling lost with answers. I know it was very simple to figure out my daughters love languages right away, my son is trickier though. In general this book is all about connecting with teens in a meaningful way to carry the relationship we had with them as young ones, through their teen and older years. I, like most moms, often crave those sweet little personalities they had when they were younger. I think the principles in this book help to tap into those feelings again. I rate this a 8/10.
Book blurb: Midsummer’s Eve, 1648, England is in the grip of a civil war between renegade king and rebellious parliament. The struggle reaches every corner of the kingdom, even the remote tidelands —the marshy landscape of the south coast.
Alinor, a descendant of wisewomen, trapped in poverty and superstition, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead, she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life.
Suspected of possessing dark secrets in superstitious times, Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her out from her neighbors. This is the time of witch mania, and Alinor, a woman without a husband, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take lethal action into their own hands.
It is dangerous for a woman to be different.
My review: This books moves a little slow but the characters were so compelling I couldn't stop reading. This book is slated to be a multi book series so I will definitely be snagging the next book to see where the story goes, since it did have quite the cliff hanger at the end. I enjoyed learning about location and time in history that I haven't read much of lately. And I also love that this story focuses on strong women characters. I rate this a 7/10.
What good books have you read lately? I would love to know!
