Well, I hope you need a bunch of book recommendations because I have been seriously behind on sharing my reads (just blame it on baby snuggles ;) Here we go!
August
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
Goodread Synopsis:
"Goodbye, Vitamin is the wry, beautifully observed story of a woman at a crossroads, as Ruth and her friends attempt to shore up her father's career; she and her mother obsess over the ambiguous health benefits - in the absence of a cure - of dried jellyfish supplements and vitamin pills; and they all try to forge a new relationship with the brilliant, childlike, irascible man her father has become."
Thoughts:
This novel hits close to home as my papa has Alzheimer's but instead of being filled with dread and sadness, this filled me with hope and happiness. I shared this with my gramma and she enjoyed it too. Khong writes beautifully! I will definitely keep my eyes open for more of her work.
Stars:
5 out of 5
Buy the book here
A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads Synopsis:
"Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...
Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever."
Thoughts:
My good friend insisted I read these two series by Maas and even though Im a big Disney fan, I usually dont read Fantasy. Well, I couldnt believe how much I enjoyed these!! Its filled with conflict, drama, romance and humor. This first book reminded me of Beauty and the Beast.
Stars:
4 out of 5
Buy the book here
A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads Synopsis:
"Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two."
Thoughts-
So, I thought I liked the first book, well I loved the second one! I guess I’m a sucker for love.
Stars-
5 out of 5
Buy the book here
A Court of Wings & Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
GoodReads Synopsis:
"Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.
As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places."
Thoughts:
I need more!! I want to find out what happens to all my beloved characters!
Stars:
5 out of 5
Buy the book here
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads Synopsis:
"After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her ... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead ... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined."
Thoughts:
Not as good as The Court Series but filled with adventure.
Stars:
3 out of 5
Buy the book here
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads Synopsis:
"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.
It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."
"From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.
Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.
Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for."
Thoughts:
This one was a bit darker (and continues with each subsequent novel in the series)
Stars:
3 out of 5
Buy the book here
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads Synopsis:
"Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak―but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life―and her future―forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?"
Thoughts:
I'm not drawing any inspiration here so I guess this one was only so-so.
Stars:
3 out of 5
Buy the book here
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads Synopsis:
"The queen has returned.
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…
She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return."
Thoughts:
The introduction of her cousin and new ally-friends makes this book more exciting.
Stars:
4 out of 5
Buy the book here
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads Synopsis:
"KINGDOMS WILL COLLIDE.
The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.
With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear."
Thoughts:
I actually finished this book in the hospital after giving birth to Clark and this was my exact expression when I realized this was not the last book in the series 
Yes, the story is getting better but I still have some trouble believing an uneducated teenager is the answer to everyone's problems here...
Stars:
4 out of 5
Buy the book here
Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
Goodreads Synopsis:
"The darkest and most disturbing case report from the files of Kinsey Millhone, Y is for Yesterday begins in 1979, when four teenage boys from an elite private school sexually assault a fourteen-year-old classmate—and film the attack. Not long after, the tape goes missing and the suspected thief, a fellow classmate, is murdered. In the investigation that follows, one boy turns state’s evidence and two of his peers are convicted. But the ringleader escapes without a trace.
Now, it’s 1989 and one of the perpetrators, Fritz McCabe, has been released from prison. Moody, unrepentant, and angry, he is a virtual prisoner of his ever-watchful parents—until a copy of the missing tape arrives with a ransom demand. That’s when the McCabes call Kinsey Millhone for help. As she is drawn into their family drama, she keeps a watchful eye on Fritz. But he’s not the only one being haunted by the past. A vicious sociopath with a grudge against Millhone may be leaving traces of himself for her to find…"
Thoughts:
Grafton can do no wrong, I love Kinsey Milhone. That is all.
Stars:
5 out of 5
Buy the book here
A Million Junes by Emily Henry
Goodreads Synopsis:
"For as long as Jack “June” O’Donnell has been alive, her parents have had only one rule: stay away from the Angert family. But when June collides—quite literally—with Saul Angert, sparks fly, and everything June has known is thrown into chaos.
Who exactly is this gruff, sarcastic, but seemingly harmless boy who has returned to their hometown of Five Fingers, Michigan, after three mysterious years away? And why has June—an O’Donnell to her core—never questioned her late father’s deep hatred of the Angert family? After all, the O’Donnells and the Angerts may have mythic legacies, but for all the tall tales they weave, both founding families are tight-lipped about what caused the century-old rift between them.
As Saul and June’s connection grows deeper, they find that the magic, ghosts, and coywolves of Five Fingers seem to be conspiring to reveal the truth about the harrowing curse that has plagued their bloodlines for generations. Now June must question everything she knows about her family and the father she adored, and she must decide whether it’s finally time for her—and all the O’Donnells before her—to let go."
Thoughts:
Soooo good! Reminded me of Alice Hoffman's whimsical writing and we all know how I adore me some Hoffman.
Stars:
5 out of 5
Buy the book here
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