Hattie Big Sky

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What a fun little read! I quickly fell in love with the Hattie, how could you not? I loved her innocence and her outlook on life. I was definitely rooting for her throughout the book.



This is set in Montana during WWI. Hattie is a sixteen year old who has been passed around between distant family members for most of her childhood after her parents died. Unexpectedly, Hattie became the proud owner of land out in Montana after an uncle she never knew passed and left it to her. So in December she moves to Montana by herself to care for the land, cow and horse that now belong to her. She definitely was ill prepared for the harsh winter and hard work that awaited her. But man, did she work! I was exhausted just reading what she would have to do daily.



Anyways, what made this book special was the relationships that were formed. I absolutely loved how everyone helped each other and were all so generous. Although there are some teary moments and glimpses into how evil war can make some of us, this was a very cute and feel good read. I came away craving relationships like the ones Hattie unexpectedly found.

Next up on my list is Vanish by Sophie Jordan (the second book in the Firelight series).

Happy Reading!



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Firelight

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a good, quick read. Typical young adult fantasy book, but really good. I actually found it really refreshing that the female character is the paranormal and not the male. It seems like the main male character is always the "special" one. Whether he is a vampire, a Indian tiger prince, a shadowhunter, etc., and the girl is the helpless one who always needs saving and protection. I guess Jacinda needs to be protected too, but at least she is the "special" one in this book.



Jacinda is a draki (a descendant from dragons who can change to look human). Not only that, but she is a very rare kind of draki, a fire breather. The leader draki wants to use her to make more fire breathers. For obvious reasons her mother does not particularly like this idea. Jacinda, her mother and her twin sister flee to the desert. Jacinda hates it there, but then unexpectedly finds Will. A handsome teenager whom she is drawn to. The problem is, Will and his families business is to hunt and kill draki.



This is really a good book and is a series. I also just saw that it might be made into a movie, but not till next year.

Happy Reading!



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Delicacy

La délicatesse by David Foenkinos

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a cute book. A very quick read about loss and eventually finding love again. I really enjoyed the writing style. The author included small, short chapters with recipes, soccer stats, humorous quotes, etc.. I also loved the footnotes throughout the book. I do have to say thought that some of the character's were a tad odd. Also, this is a pretty short book which was nice but I found that the character development was a bit lacking. I guess I just never felt like I really new the character's and I would have liked to know more. Natalie seems like a delightful and complicated character. I just never understood what was so special about her. All that was said was that every man that came into contact with her was enamored. They basically fell in love with her instantly. Which was nice, and she does sound like a likeable character but I don't know what made all those men instantly intrigued by her. Also since the book moved so quickly, the loss of Natalie's husband didn't really phase me. (which is really weird because I am a very emotional reader). Anyways, it is a cute book with the take home that life does go on.



P.S. - although I wish I spoke (and read) French I am not going to pretend I do. I read the translated version but I couldn't find that version on goodreads.

Happy Reading!



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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow, what a great and sad book! My heart just breaks for Oskar! I definitely shed some tears during this book. Other than being an incredible sad and touching book, the writing style was very enjoyable. I really liked how the author made it very believable that a nine year-old was talking. The sentences all kind of jumbled together. He went from one thought to another quickly and then effortlessly ended back with the beginning thought. This made it very enjoyable to read. And don't get me wrong, even though this book is somewhat depressing, there are also some lighthearted and funny parts. Oskar is so loveable and adorable!



We follow Oskar who tragically lost his father on 9/11. Oskar is utterly heartbroken and three years later he is still trying to figure out how to handle and understand all that happened. In an effort to remember his dad, Oskar embarks on an adventure to find the lock to a key he happened to find in his fathers closet. During this adventure, Oskar runs into all kinds of different people and creates interesting relationships with some of them. During all of this we are also introduced to Oskar's estranged grandfather who never met Oskar's dad, let alone Oskar. Oskar's grandfather's story is also extremely sad and I found myself loving him despite the fact that he abandoned his pregnant wife.



Definitely check this book out, but it is a tear-jerker so be prepared!

Happy Reading!



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The Last Summer (of You and Me)

The Last Summer by Ann Brashares

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I have to say that I am a little disappointed. I absolutely loved Ann Brashares My Name Is Memory and even though I didn't read all of her Traveling Pants Series, I did enjoy them, but this book was a big let down. It was a really quick read but I think I breezed through it so fast because I just wanted to be done with it. The characters were really annoying and I just could not relate to them at all. Why did they say they were best friends yet would not dare ask eachother any personal questions? Why did they go back and forth from loving and hating each other? Why were they so scared to hate each other? Ugh, they just did not make sense to me.



The book follows Riley and Alice (sister's) and Paul (the best friend/next door neighbor). It is set one Fire Island which is a hot summer spot with a bunch of summer homes. Riley, Alice and Paul's family summer homes are right next to each other so basically they have grown up together. They come back summer after summer and just pick up where they left off. Now they are in their mid-twenties and trying to set up their lives. But during this last summer on Fire Island they deal with a life-threatening illness, and a secret budding romance.



Again, I was just so disappointed with this book. However I am still hoping that Ann Brashares will eventually write a sequel to My Name Is Memory! It was so good!

Happy Reading!



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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Oh how I loved this book! It is such a refreshing read. Right from the beginning you are absorbed into these characters lives. I thought that the letter format would be a little annoying but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the history, the friendships, the heartbreaking stories of war and the fact that life does go on.



The book is set right after WWII in London and Guernsey. It is centered around Juliet, a writer who is looking to write her next book. Juliet happens to receive a letter from a man from Guernsy who found her name in the book jacket of a secondhand book he bought. They start corresponding and she becomes obsessed with life in Guernsy. She starts hearing from others who live there and they all tell her about life during the German occupation. The characters that Juliet meet are enduring, sweet, fun and real. I had a hard time putting this book down and highly recommend this to anyone who wants a good, clean and refreshing read.

Happy Reading!



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Then Came You

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have to say I really enjoyed this book. I have read Jennifer Weiner's books before (she is the author of In Her Shoes) and really like her books. It is refreshing to read a adult book, and by adult I mean not young adult. I do think that some of the sexual references were a little unnecessary and overdone and that is shy I rated it a 3 instead of a 4. Otherwise I found Then Came You a very enjoyable read that I had a hard time putting down and counting down the minutes to pick it back up.



We meet 4 young woman whose lives eventually collide and everyone is forever changed. There is Jules, a single college senior who needs money to help her father. Annie, a young stay at home mother of 2 who is looking for a way to contribute to her families financial instability. India, a thirty something (but really forty something) woman who is having infertility issues. And Bettina, India's step-daughter who is just waiting to find a way to break her father and India up. As the book unfolds you get to understand each woman's life and see first hand how by chance their lives entangle and are forever changed.

Happy Reading!



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