I don't know why it takes me so long to get these book reviews up! It's a real problem when I read a book 3 months ago and can barely remember the details I wanted to share about them. For quicker, more 'real time' reviews you have to follow over on Instagram!
Bring Me Back
Basically: Finn and Layla pull off into a rest stop, and when Finn gets back to the car Layla is gone and no where to be found. Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla's sister, Ellen, and they are about to get married when someone from the past calls to say they've seen Layla.
My Thoughts: This is just not good. It's repetitive and ridiculous. Stinks because it starts off pretty strong, pulls you in, and you think you're reading the next Gone Girl...but nope. It's just not good. If I hear the words "Russian doll" again, I will lose my mind. 😂
Rating: 2 Stars ⭐⭐
It Ends With Us
Basically: Lily is caught completely off guard when Atlas, her first love, pops back up into her life years later. This is super vague, because I'm trying not to give away the entire book.
My Thoughts: If you enjoy a little (and I mean a lot of) drama, this book is for you. It's got every kind of drama there is! It's an easy quick read, but not that memorable in my opinion.
Rating: ⭐⭐
People We Meet On Vacation
Basically: Poppy and Alex have nothing in common, yet somehow they are best friends. Every year they take a week long vacation together. Well, until 2 years ago and now they don't even talk anymore. Poppy talks Alex into one more trip to make things right again.
My Thoughts: This was great. Poppy and Alex are great characters and I felt like I knew them. I was rooting for them the whole time! I especially liked the back and forth between past vacations and the present, building up to why their friendship fell apart. This is the perfect PG13 summer read that's not too cheesy.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Malibu Rising
Basically: It's 1983 in Malibu. Every year Nina and her 3 siblings host a huge end of the summer party. This book follows all 4 siblings through that day and flashes back to their parent's love story and their childhoods. Let's just say it ends with Malibu being on fire.
My thoughts: Taylor Jenkins Reid is a writer like no other. You will be completely transported to the 80s in California! I love the sibling relationships in this book- and you will too if you are interested in birth order. (I'm an oldest! Totally can relate to Nina)
That being said, I do feel like this was maybe a bit anti climatic and the ending was a little all over the place for me. I also did not care for the other party goers points of view sprinkled in. This is a very slow character driven story. You will want to go surfing after reading it! Definitely some PG13 subject matter.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Her Dark Lies
Basically: Claire and Jack are getting married on his family's amazing private island off the coast of Italy. From the minute they arrive for their wedding weekend one bad thing after another happens, and the mystery surrounding Jack's first wife grows.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this thriller! The setting is fabulous, and the story has very strong Rebecca vibes, which is a personal favorite. The only reason it's not a 5 star book for me is because I felt like the ending was messy and could have been tied up nicer.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
The Lies That Bind
Basically: It's Spring 2001 in NYC when Grant stops Cecily from calling her ex after too many drinks. They end up connecting despite this random way they've met and have a whirlwind romance. But a few months later, it's September and Grant has disappeared in the chaos of 9/11. Cecily finds a missing poster for Grant and realizes she isn't the only one looking for him.
My Thoughts: This was the perfect easy book to read by the pool. Almost too easy...I felt like I could skip a couple pages at a time and wouldn't miss anything. It's what I call a 'junk food' kind of book. Couldn't put it down, but wasn't really anything substantial.
I loved the 2001 references and accompanying playlist! The setting was also great, even though you hold your breath when it gets close to September.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
How To Stop Time
Basically: Tom has a very rare condition that causes him to age at an extremely low rate. He even belongs to a secret society of other people like himself that live these long lives. They've just got one rule: don't fall in love.
My Thoughts: Loved this one! In fact I think it's going to be in my top 5 for the year. I really enjoy Matt Haig's writing style and it was so easy to get in to! You follow Tom through the ages, past and present, and get lots of cameos from historical figures that were great. I actually wish there were more of those!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Anxious People
Basically: A Bank Robber tries to rob a cashless bank, and ends up holding hostages in an nearby apartment open house. All of the hostages and the bank robber have reasons to be anxious because they are all keeping secrets and aren't exactly who you think they are.
My Thoughts: I was a little skeptical going in, because this book has a lot of hype! Overall, it's great. There are so many quotable lines and the story telling is unique. There were some characters I wasn't interested in, but some of them I was very invested in... and some parts of the story I didn't want to end and others I wanted to skim. The story is confusing at times, but as you go you realize that's on purpose. It's the kind of book you need to read twice because the small details come back around later.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lock Every Door
Basically: Jules is unemployed and totally alone. The perfect job opportunity opens up as an apartment sitter in an upscale, exclusive building in Manhattan, and she can't say no. As she gets to know the residents, employees, and other apartment sitters. something definitely feels wrong. This building has one dark past.
My Thoughts: Super slow, this doesn't get going until 60% through. But if you can hang in there, it's great writing and the descriptions really set the scene. Of course, nothing is as it seems, but I feel dumb as all the clues were right there the whole time. I listened to the audio book and loved the narration!
Other than some language, this is mainly just suspenseful. At one point I almost stopped reading because I didn't like where it was going, but ended up in a completely different direction.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
-Kristen
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