Tag: 5 Star Review

Book Review – Us Against You

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman / Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis

After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown’s new hockey coach.

Soon a new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.

As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through, the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent.

Thoughts

I have yet to read a book by Fredrik Backman that I don’t love.

Book 2 in the Beartown series did not disappoint at all. Another emotionally charged read and I am patiently waiting for the third book to come out.

I gave this book 5 stars.

Book Review – Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens / Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She’s barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark.

But Kya is not what they say. Abandoned at age ten, she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life lessons from the land, learning from the false signals of fireflies the real way of this world. But while she could have lived in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world–until the unthinkable happens.

A novel about a young woman determined to make her way in the wilds of North Carolina, and the two men that will break her isolation open.

Thoughts

I have not read a book that has made me this emotional since The Nightingale, and just like The Nightingale, I will talk about Where the Crawdads sing for the rest of my days.

If you are one of the few who haven’t read Where the Crawdads Sing, I implore you to do it!!

This book received 5 stars from me.

Book Review – The Four Winds

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah / Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

Thoughts

To me, a great story teller is someone who transports the reader and makes them feel as if they are in the story watching it unfold within the pages and that is exactly what Kristin Hannah did to me with her latest book. I couldn’t help thinking as I read this story that even though it took place in the thirties it was so relatable as to what is taking place in our country today. I knew nothing of the dust storms that ravaged the Great Plains during this time in history. It broke my heart to learn that people who had lost so much went to a place they thought could provide them a new beginning but they were instead met with such hatred and made to feel less than. If this book isn’t on your radar, add it NOW, and in case you couldn’t tell, this one earned all the stars from me (5/5)!

Book Review – The Chestnut Man

The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup
Genre: Thriller

** spoiler alert ** This story follows the investigation into a serial killer who leaves a chestnut doll at the scene of each of his gruesome murders. The victims have all been accused of abusing their children but beyond that law enforcement can’t seem to figure out who the killer could be. The other problem is that the fingerprints found on the first chestnut doll found belongs to the daughter of a government official, who went missing a year ago and someone already confessed to murdering her.

I loved this debut novel from Soren Sveistrup! It kept me on the edge of my seat up to the very end. This has definitely become my top read in the thriller genre for this year!! Don’t be afraid of the 500+ pages. It really is a fast read and the majority of the chapters are short. I’m not a fast reader. I started this book on a Tuesday and I finished it in just over 5 days which is really fast for me.

I HIGHLY recommend this book and ended up giving it a 5/5 star rating.

Book Review – The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Genre: Chick Lit

Nina Hill lives by herself with her cat and works in a local bookshop. She loves order and routine and is not spontaneous at all and she likes that. One day, she is notified that her father, who she never knew existed, has passed away and she’s been named in his will. She also finds out that she has brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. Not everyone is happy to have her as the newest member of their family, however. On top of discovering her new found family she’s finding that she’s falling for someone she didn’t plan on. Did I mention that she also suffers from anxiety when things get to be too much for her?

This was such a great read and there are definitely aspects to Nina’s life that I could relate to. Highly recommend this book! I rated this book 5/5 Stars.

Book Review – I’ll Give You The Sun

I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
Genre: Young Adult

We follow fraternal twins, Noah and Jude in I’ll Give You The Sun. They each have their own side of a story to tell throughout, and we get to see how their mistakes and choices shape each of them.

When I continue to think about a book days after finishing it, that book will most always get a 5 star rating from me. I’ll Give You The Sun did just that! This book is beautifully written and has definitely made it one of the top books I’ve read this year. It’s absolutely the best YA I believe I’ve ever read!

Highly recommend reading this book if you haven’t yet!!

Book Review – Things You Save In A Fire

Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center
Genre: Romance

This year I’m reading a lot of books by authors who are new to me. I’ve never read a book by Katherine Center before, so Things You Save In A Fire fits into that list. It’s a romance, which I typically don’t gravitate towards, but to me, this book was so much more than just a romance.

We follow Cassie Hanwell, a female firefighter/paramedic in Texas. She relocates to Massachusetts to assist her estranged mother who is ill. She fits in great with her fellow firefighters in Texas, but quickly learns that the station she ends up going to in Massachusetts isn’t so keen on embracing her.

Cassie has to learn if she can mend ways with her mom and prove herself as being capable of doing her job with the crew at the new station. On top of that, she is falling for the new rookie. There’s just one problem. Her old Captain gave her the following advice . . . Never Date Firefighters.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s fast paced and kept me engaged from start to finish. HIGHLY recommend!!

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating.

Book Review – Daisy Jones & The Six

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Historical Fiction

This was the first book I’ve read by Taylor Jenkins Reid and it will not be my last. If you haven’t read this book yet, do it NOW! I loved this book.

The book is about a rock band from the 70’s and it reads as an interview. I felt as if I were present watching the interview take place. All of the characters were relatable and there is a revelation towards the end of the book that truly surprised me. Fantastic summer read!

Definitely a 5 star read for me!!!