So in this post, I will be summarizing my thoughts, favorite characters and quotes from all the books I have read since then. It may be a lot, but this post will have so many good recommendations you book worms are gonna scream!!! So let us get started! There may be spoilers, I'll try my best, but just know I warned you.
1. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (finished September 2019)
This book is an adorable love story. I loved reading it and it was a super quick, easy one too. This story had a little twist to it because it only takes place within one day. You also read the book from both of the characters perspectives, which I always enjoy. I would describe the relationship as a meet-cute turned whirling romance. Natasha and Daniel are two people with very different cultural backgrounds who fit the odds and fall in love. Except the ending is not exactly what you think, so read the book to find out!
Rating: ★★★★
Favorite character: It is hard to choose between Daniel and Natasha, I like them both for different reasons. Daniel for his going for his dreams no matter what and Natasha for her tenacity and strength.
Favorite quotes: "maybe part of falling in love with someone else is also falling in love with yourself."
"It's not up to you to help other people fit you into a box."
2. One of us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (finished October 2019)
This book is great, ask my sister. She read this book in just a few days, it was THAT good. It is about 5 unlikely strangers go into detention and only 4 come out, one is dead. Everyone in that room is a suspect and people have secrets. This book is mostly a thriller/mystery with only a hint of romance. The character dynamics are quite interesting, very reminiscent of the breakfast club. The characters each have their own personality and quirk about them; smart, popular, outcast, bad boy, and athlete. I really did not expect the ending, so another good one.
Rating: ★★★★★
Favorite Character: Bronwyn is the smart one in the group who reminded me a lot of myself. She cared about school and felt like she had to be someone. I also liked the relationship between her and resident bad boy, Nate. Their relationship development was great to read and added to the story.
Favorite Quotes: N/A
3. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (finished November 2019)
This book made me SOB. I have not cried this much reading since The Fault in Our Stars, I think I cried more to this book too. It was just so heart wrenching at the end and I will not give anything away, but bring tissues. This story is about a boy named Finch and a girl named Violet. Both struggle with mental health and through the story they find a connection with each other. The rest is history and the story is beautiful. Towards the end, there is one specific where all I did was cry while I read it. Totally and utterly heartbreaking. HOWEVER, even though it is a sadder story, I still recommend it. It is extremely well written and a story I think everyone should have the opportunity to read. It touches on important subjects, so please read it.
Rating: ★★★★★
Favorite Character: YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN VIOLET AND FINCH.
Favorite Quotes: "Never bullshit a bullshitter."
"Before I die: Count for something. Be the person I'm meant to be and have that be enough. Know what it's like to have a best friend. Matter."
"I know life well enough to know you can't count on things staying around or standing still, no matter how much you want them to."
4. Unplugged by Donna Freitas (finished december 2019)
This book was a roller coaster and semi confusing, so I will try my best to explain it. There is a place called the App world where all these people live and are 'plugged in.' They eat virtually, they can do makeovers with model apps, and many other things we do on our phones. However, there is the real world where they are allowed to visit at a certain age. But, when the border to the real world closes Skye is mad. She had planned to go back and meet her sister and mom, people she loves. When she cuts corners to get the real world, her life is flipped upside down when family secrets and city secrets come to light. Also, I had about 2 chapters left of the book and as I was reading I realized there was gonna absolutely be no closure to the story, aka a big cliffhanger. But then I realized that there is a sequel and I got less mad haha. I'm just glad there is more to a very exciting story. Haven't read the second yet, but very eager to.
Rating:
Favorite character: Skye because she is badass and tenacious as hell. She is brave enough to face life and find out truths.
Favorite Quotes: N/A
5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (finished December 2019)
This book is an oldie that I had never read before and I thought as an avid reader it was about time I sat down and did. It is also very short and fast, as when I was reading it, I was trying to finish another reading book challenge. This book is about a girl named Melinda who is an outcast and feels very lonely. Throughout the whole story we read flashbacks of her getting sexually assaulted by someone she goes to school with. The story brings light a very important topic and follows Melinda's growth as a survivor. This book was good, but not something I would pick off the shelf.
Rating: : ★★★½
Favorite Character: Melinda because of her strength and growth throughout the novel
Favorite Quote: "The truth is not meant to harm us. It is meant to set us free."
6. Our Husband by Stephanie Bond (finished January 2020)
This book came out in the early 2000s and has a very interesting story line. Three separate women get called into the hospital because of a man. This man happened to be married to each woman and they didn't know until they all arrived. The man dies and now they are suspects and trying to figure how to split everything up with lawyers. It is a complicated story with very unique characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was different than most stories I read and the writing was really good. Plus the best part of this book was the relationship development between all three of the women. I recommend if you are in for some drama or soap opera type of story.
Rating:: ★★★★
Favorite character: Beatrix, the socialite of the three. She was the first wife of Raymond and her attitude was everything. I liked her cause she was confident and cocky, she also had spunk and tenacity as well. But she also had a softer side, which was great for her character.
Favorite Quote: N/A
7. All in Pieces by Suzanne Young (finished January 2020)
I love the character relationships in this book holy moly. Savannah, the main character, is at Brooks academy, an alternative high school that is used a temporary detention center. She ended up there by defending her disabled brother in a violent way. Her relationship with dad is garbage and he does not take very good care of either of them, she mostly takes care of her little brother. At Brooks, a new student named Cameron with his own issues catches her attention. He has the perfect family with loving parents and a big house. However, Cameron is determ½ined to open Savannah's heart to his. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the relationship between these two and it is what makes the story so great. It is why I recommend this over and over again.
Rating: : ★★★★★
Favorite Character: Cameron has my entire heart. He is like the ideal, high expectation boyfriend that I always end up falling in love with that never exist in real life. So because of his personality, the way he cares for Savannah and her little brother, and how he never lets her go melts my heart. I love him.
Favorite Quotes: N/A
8. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (finished in April 2020)
This story is a memoir based on Paul, who is a neurosurgeon who gets diagnosed with lung cancer. He actually ends of dying and his wife finishes the book for him. I actually had to read this book for school and write a paper on it, but I am so happy I got to read this. I would have never picked it off the shelf myself, but I am so happy I got the chance to learn about Paul. I wish I could have known him or talked to him, he seems wise and passionate. I loved the way he wrote about his life, it shows how much passion and love he had for the things he did. I didn't know Paul, but I could relate to him and his story. Thank you Paul for sharing. I recommend, but it does hurt your heart at the end.
Rating: ★★★★½
Favorite Character: I love Paul
Favorite Quote: Too many to remember, please go read this
9. Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (finished May 2020)
This was the last and most recent book I finished. I found this book through listening to the Broadway music on spotify. I loved the songs and decided it was time to read the story and understand what it all was about. This a true coming of age of age story about the main character Evan Hansen. He feels like an outcast, lonely, and very separated from his peers. He has many mental health problems including anxiety and depression. It was the perfect book to read for mental health awareness month because this story deals with topics such as suicide. I won't go to into detail the story, but please take the time to read the story and listen to the soundtrack, it is a special thing to have music with a story. It is one of the reasons I loved it so much, read it in 3 sittings. Fantastic.
Rating: ★★★★★
Favorite Character: I feel cliche saying Evan but he is such a well written and relatable character you just love him. His growth and personality is something I loved to read. I felt for him throughout the whole story and I just wanted to hug him so badly!
Favorite Quotes: "I wish that everything was different. I wish that I was a part of something. I wish that anything I said mattered, to anyone...."
"...but they don't want my actual feelings. They just want me to be okay, or least say that I am."
Well, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did writing it. These are all the books I have read since September of 2019. I also read a trilogy series called "I Hunt Killers" by Barry Lyga. I wanted to talk about that series in a separate post because I have a lot of thoughts, so I'll post that soon.
I hope you guys read some of these books or just continue to read during these times. I know life is weird right now, but one of my favorite things about books is their power of escape. It is a perfect thing to do when the real world feels too big. Stay safe, healthy, and read a book!!
