“One of the benefits of summer was that each day we had more light to read by”

-Jeanette Walls, The Glass Castle

• For the people who like their minds meddled with, HBO style: Sharp Objects  by Gillian Flynn OR Before The Fall by Noah Hawley
• For a quick and easy thriller that you can’t ignore: The Girl Before by JP Delaney
• For the Grey’s Anatomy Fans: The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin
• For Historical Fiction Lovers:We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
• For Fiction about Unique Family Ties: The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste NG.
• For the Friday Night Lights fans: Beartown by Fredrik Backman
• For the Romantics: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover OR The Light We Lost by Jill Stanhope
• For the Gangsters: The Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille.
• For YA Fans:  Turtles All The Way Down by John Green
• For those of you who want to get completely lost in another person’s life:  The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah OR Educated by Tara Westover

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Page Count: 254

Read if you like: Gone Girl, mystery documentaries like “Mommy Dead and Dearest” on HBO, and movies like “Dolores Claiborne”.

B’s Thoughts:

This is my second Gillian Flynn book and boy she does not disappoint. I am a huge fan of thrillers and after reading Gone Girl I was hooked on Gillain Flynn. The characters in the novel are very intriguing, especially the protagonist Camille Preaker as she works her way through her ominous home town to uncover the mystery that seems to be haunting the inhabitants. I had many moment throughout this book where I felt myself cringing at the twisted and dark honesty that the nasty characters reveal about themselves. Flynn does an excellent side of showing the darkest parts of human nature. Sharp Objects was a dark and suspenseful mystery with a touch of eroticism. I found myself picking my jaw up off the ground at the book’s ending. Overall, this was a solid thriller/mystery.

Before The Fall by Noah Hawley

“Everyone has their path. The choices they’ve made. How any two people end up in the same place at the same time is a mystery. You get on an elevator with a dozen strangers. You ride a bus, wait in line for the bathroom. It happens every day. To try to predict the places we’ll go and the people we’ll meet would be pointless.”

Genre: Suspense/Mystery Fiction

Page Count: 341

Read if you like: To play the game CLUE, murder mystery parties, or Still Life by Louise Penny.

• Noah Hawley is the writer of “Fargo” on FX. Click here to watch the trailer of his popular TV show.

B’s Thoughts:

Right from the beginning, I was totally locked in to this book. I flipped page after page to discover more and more mysteries about the accident and the relationship between the characters. Personally, I love how the novel is broken up into chapters from the different perspectives of the plane riders. This element allowed me to keep track of each character and their motives. The way Hawley unfolds this novel is movie like through his use of depth with characters and not simply a surface level mystery that recounts events. You, as the reader, are there on that plane and you are there later to work through the contrivance of the crash. The only issue I had with this novel was the build up to the conclusion. The ending is long and drawn out, yet maybe Hawley did this to make a statement that such tragic events cannot simply happen quickly. Maybe we, as the readers, have to endure the same dragging feelings the characters did.

The Queen Of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

Genre: Adult Fiction

Page Count: 354

Read if you like: Grey’s Anatomy on abc.

B’s Thoughts:

I picked up this book in my Cozy Reader’s Club box (shout out to my friend,Katie, for the amazing gift). Without knowing anything about this book, I cracked it open and found myself falling in love with Emma and Zadie, two best friends who had a falling out for a reason that is unknown to the reader in the start of the novel. Everyone can relate to that, right? So, I kept reading because I was curious about their relationship and if it ever was mended to what it once was. With all of that being said, I am personally not someone who is totally enthralled by medical dramas and the details of the inner workings of a hospital. I am not of interest because, to put it bluntly, in terms of medical dramas when I’ve seen one I feel as though I’ve seen them all and have yet to be truly invested in the drama of a hospital. I did not abandon this book because of the enjoyment I found in reading about the personal lives of Emma and Zadie, yet I was not pleased with the bland ending and the mundane happenings of another medical drama.

The Girl Before by JP Delaney

Genre: Thriller and Suspense

Page Count: 322

Read if you like: The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena, Behind Closed Doors by B.A Paris, or The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

B’s Thoughts:

Okay not to totally gush about this book, BUT I absolutely loved it. I was previously in a book rut for a while. I simply couldn’t find anything that struck my interest until this incredible novel. I say incredible in terms of how the writing and story line simply grabbed my attention immediately. The way JP Delaney uses short and choppy chapters with thought provoking openings and last sentences that make you furiously turn the page to discover more. This book is one that I would love to go back and read over and over to pick out small details that might reveal the ending. Not only this, but this book made me think about my life and the different elements in my life that mean the most to me. I did not see the ending coming at all which was an absolutely blissful way to pull me out of my book rut. With all of that being said, I must warn you that I did have nightmares from this book! But isn’t that what makes a book so memorable? By the way you simply cannot stop thinking about it. The Girl Before is a must read.

We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

Genre: Historical Fiction

Page Count: 418

Read if you like: The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman

B’s Thoughts:

Diving into a fistorical fiction novel is something that keeps me locked in my room for days not wanting to put the novel down until I find out the fate of the characters. This is exactly what happened with We Were The Lucky Ones. This novel is different from some of my favorite WWII novels because the author took the time to explore the effects of WWII over not just one country, but over a whole handful of countries. The different experiences and places were paired with a different member of the Kurc family which helped me keep all of them organized in my mind while reading. I loved the ending of this novel and often found myself in tears as I read about the hope, strength, and ingenuity of the family through the times of war. On a final note, I feel as though this book was so very personal to the author because one of the characters is based off of her grandfather. This bit of genuine info always plays my heart strings a bit stronger when diving into a novel.

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

Genre: Fiction, Coming of age fiction for an adult audience

Page Count: 354

Read if you like: The Hollywood Medium on E! or if you enjoy getting your fortune read

B’s Thoughts:

When I first picked up this book, I was struck by the beautiful cover. I know everyone says not to “judge a book by it’s cover”, but at times I am definitely that girl. Luckily, this book turned out to be just as awesome as it’s cover. The Immortalists is filled with fabulous writing and captivating characters to accompany the one of a kind story line. This book really got me thinking about the different fates of the characters as well as my own fate. The book can be a bit of a downer if you are not in an upbeat stage in your life. I say this because, at times, the story’s premise can be a bit depressing with the lingering fact that each character is eventually going to die somehow (naturally or accidentally). However, the question is will their fate be matched by what a fortune teller said? That question is what kept me turning page after page. I wonder, should we believe in fortune tellers or not? Overall I loved this read and was very satisfied by Chloe Benjamin’s writing and creation of vibrant characters.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste NG

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Page Count: 354

Read if you like: Truly, Madly, Guilty  by Liane Moriarty

B’s Thoughts:

Little Fires Everywhere is a title that is one of those titles that really describes the book as a whole when you finish the last sentence. There are little fires literally and figuratively throughout the small town of Shaker Heights. The setting was very vivid and I felt as though I myself was walking around Shaker Heights and viewing the imperfections of family relations, motherhood, and friendship. The relationships and life journeys blew up at times, causing fires to be set emotionally through characters that the reader was easily able to understand through the fluid writing style of Celeste Ng. After finishing this book, I did not immediately love it. I kind of had that “ehh, it was good attitude”. However as a few days passed I found myself wondering what I would have done in the position of several characters. So, with that being said this book provoked many thoughts for myself as a female.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

“Never trust people who don’t have something in their lives that they love beyond all reason.”

Genre: Small Town Fiction

Page Count: 432

Read if you like: Friday Night Lights on NBC, One Tree Hill on CW

B’s Thoughts:

I was so excited to read this much anticipated novel. I picked it up and dove right in. The small town called Beartown has a lot of things going on, but mainly the book focuses on the connection between the town and the sport of hockey that keeps it alive. I loved that I could understand and relate to the love of a sport being an athlete myself. With that being said, I often found myself rolling my eyes at the dramatic statements that accompanied the “love of the game” attitudes that many of the characters had. Towards the end of the book I have to say I was a bit out off by the events of the main climax. I felt that this novel really highlights the stigma many people have about athletes. To be more specific, the stigma around male athletes was only heightened by this novel and because of that I had a bad taste about the book in the end. Not to say that the book is terrible, because I was very lured in by Backman’s description of characters and the variety of characters in the town. In the end, mainly because of the predictable negative attitude towards male athletes I will not be reading the sequel.

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Genre: Romance

Page Count: 336

Read if you like: 50 Shades of Grey by EL James, The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

B’s Thoughts:

Be ready to dive in and be so nosy about someone else’s relationship other than your own! With very relatable and normal characters, Colleen Hoover does an amazing job of creating a TV Show like read where you want to know what the heck happened to make a seemingly normal so unable to love. My favorite part about this book was the fact that the chapters switched perspectives and went back in time to the youth of Miles. Although this book was a tad predictable and unrealistic in ways once I got into the the thick of it, I was unable to stop reading until the end. I was very satisfied by the ending. Although there was definitely tragedy in the novel I found myself with an ounce of hope towards the end that I think kept me from weeping. I finished this book and needed a day of emotional recovery before jumping into another read. I will for sure keep Colleen Hoover in mind when I am in need of a mindless romance.

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

“some relationships feel like a wildfire-they’re powerful and compelling and majestic and dangerous and have the capability to burn you before you even realize you’ve been consumed…..some relationships feel like a hearth fire-they’re solid and stable and cozy and nourishing.”

Genre: Romance, Coming Of Age Adult Fiction

Page Count: 338

Read if you like: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

B’s Thoughts:

I give this book all of the stars. I devoured this love story within 24 hours and simply have been blown away by it ever since. I think about this book almost every single day as it has truly spoken to me at a time in my life where the experiences Lucy has learned can be applied to any twenty somethings life. My favorite part about this book is that it the characters are so realistically imperfect that it makes you rethink your whole idea of the perfect marriage, relationship, and love. We all have that image in our minds of who we will end up with and who we will be in the world. Together, Lucy and I (the reader) went through college and post college relationships and how time and people can influence what feeling perfect is like. I highly recommend this to all twenty something’s.

The Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille

Genre: Fiction, Thriller

Page Count: 500

Read if you like: The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort and Goodfellas (1990)

B’s Thoughts:

The Goldcoast was a great read to pick up and put down at any time. This memorable and unique set of characters and setting combines into a great glimpse into the life of Mafia Don Frank Bellarosa and the normal guy who lives just next door. DeMille does a lovely job of describing setting and character traits in a brutally honest way. Because of this, you feel as though you are sitting at the table right next to the characters enjoying some homemade Italian specialities. The author’s honesty made ma chuckle aloud a few times as John Sutter is ruthless at times. I read this novel over a period of time and was able to read it while I was undergoing other books without getting confused or disinterested. This book traveled with me wherever I went because of the writer’s ability to suck you into the life on the Gold Coast immediately. The ending is not completely satisfying, as I did not see it coming in the sense that I felt as though what happens was an excuse to finish the book. Thus, I wish I had a few more hints or details leading up to the events that happened in the end. With that being said, I still was left wondering at the end which can sometimes be the most admirable characteristic of a book. This is an entertaining book that can lead to great discussions amongst other readers.

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

“Your now is not your forever.”

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Page Count: 196

Read if you like: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

• Check out some behind the scenes info on this novel here from the author himself!

B’s Thoughts:

Don’t you just love his YouTube page?? John Green never disappoints me. Turtles All The Way Down dives into the mind of a teenage girl who is dealing with all of the pressures of being a good student, friend, girlfriend, and a good investigator. John Green does an amazing job looking into the mind of a teenage girl that suffers from severe anxiety. This book is relatable and also eye opening to the mental disease that many people around the world face while also relaying a compelling story line via a bit of mystery. During this read, I experienced intense sympathy for the main character and a lot of the time sadness for her inability to shut off intrusive thoughts. This book will stay with you and become a great reference and one of your best friends. The book consists of little action, but more so lots of thinking which exquisitely mimics the mind of the main character. John Green has stunned me again with this personal and unique story. I gulped it down in two days.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Page Count: 449

Read if you like: Night Road by Kristin Hannah, Educated by Tara Westover, or The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

B’s Thoughts:

I have always been a huge fan of Kristin Hannah since I read Nightingale. I’m a huge fan because her language choice is easy and captivating. This power, as an author, pulls a reader in to the life of her characters quickly and effectively. This is exactly what happened with The Great Alone. I was immediately obsessed with Lenny and feared for her life in Alaska with a raging father and timid mother. Family struggle is only one element in this novel, though. The beauty and harshness of nature is a beautiful element to this novel that makes the connections between human relationships stand out. Romance, hope, comfort, and a sense of home is tied together between beautiful characters and setting to create a story that makes you feel as though you want to go and conquer the wilderness yourself and hopefully find a love along the way. I felt many emotions along the way as I read that often mimicked the characters. The only disappointment I had with this story was it’s ending. Either it was too unbelievable or the characters just are very lucky people. All in all, though, I would recommend grabbing this book and reading it outside with the nature.

Educated by Tara Westover

“This is a magical place,” I said. “Everything shines here.”

“You must stop yourself from thinking like that,” Dr. Kerry said, his voice raised. “You are not fool’s gold, shining only under a particular light. Whomever you become, whatever you make yourself into, that is who you always were. It was always in you. Not in Cambridge. In you. You are gold. And returning to BYU, or even to that mountain you came from, will not change who you are. It may change how others see you, it may even change how you see yourself—even gold appears dull in some lighting—but that is the illusion. And it always was.”

Genre: Memoir

Page Count: 412

Read if you like: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

B’s Thoughts:

To begin, I am someone who believes deeply in education and the power that results through education. Thus this book was completely outstanding to me. Tara Westover writes a brutally honest memoir about how she becomes, well, educated! Through harsh family ways to attending formal education for the first time at the age of 17 Tara Westover’s life is truly one of a kind. The book took me a little while to get into as the first half is a tad slow. However, I found my palms sweating and my hope rising for Tara as I plowed through the second half. There are many cringe worthy moments in this novel that can be disturbing. The author’s honesty, though, is what makes this book pure gold. Through Tara’s eyes, the reader gets to know about a girl who decided to educate herself and the teachers who helped her along the way. Through it all, the importance of feeling at home is something that the author couldn’t let go, no matter how harmful it was to her. If you want to be inspired and see how one women’s quest for knowledge transforms her while taking her all around the world, then crack this book open ASAP!

Thanks for reading!

-B