What I'm Reading: 2018 Favorite Book + GIVEAWAY

While I haven't been keeping up on blogging these books, I did read quite a few these past couple of months.  I set a goal back in January of last year (whoa) that I wanted to read 100 books and unfortunately I fell short.  I started off strong but the end of the year was so crazy and I couldn't keep up.  With that being said, I did end up reading 73 books and I feel like that is still pretty good but I'm hoping for a few more this year.  I'm terrible at talking about books and have come up with a new system for the ones I read in 2019, so I'm just going to list the books I've read since September and then list my very favorite book(s) of 2018 at the bottom.  There also might be a giveaway down there so make sure you read to the very end!  Enjoy!

What I'm Reading (August 2018)

Where are my readers at?  Although this month lasted .02 seconds, I still managed to squeeze 4 books into the back-to-school craziness.  Although, if you ask Tommy, I just managed to hold my iPad long enough most nights to fall asleep with it in my hand.  You know what they say...

via GIPHY

What I'm Reading (July 2018)

I know it feels like I just did one of these reviews (probably because I did), but I'm back to tell you about the 8 books I read in July.  Honestly, these were some of the best books that I've read all year and there is not a single one that doesn't need added to your list.  Go check them out now!

What I'm Reading (April 2018 - June 2018)

Soooo while I've been absent from the blogging world, I haven't taken a break from reading.  Since I did my last review at the end of March, I've read 24 more books.  Check out what I've been reading below and stock up on some books for the summer!  Enjoy!

What I'm Reading (March 2018)

It's book review day + we are still on spring break (insert happy dance here)!

This month I read 7 books and started my 8th!  I have spring break to thank for the extra time that allowed me to read a few more books than normal.  If I'm being honest, I was super disappointed in the books I read this month.  More than once, I found myself skimming through the words on the pages trying to get finished because I just wasn't engaged in them.  I hate when I feel like I can't find a book I enjoy and this was definitely one of those months.  Luckily, I ended March with a few good books and I'm hoping I find some great ones in April!  See below for the books I read this month!  Enjoy!

What I'm Reading: February 2018

So when I sat down to write this post, I realized I’ve basically fallen off the face of the blogger planet. January felt like it dragged on but I’m pretty sure I blinked and February is already over. That being said, I know I failed miserably at keeping up on this blog, and I’m really going to try my best to change that in March!

While I might have slacked on writing, I was definitely on top of reading! I finished 5 books and they were some good ones! I’ll list them in order from my least favorites to the ones I’d recommend you go and pick up today! Enjoy!

What Was Mine

This one was hard for me to read as a mom because it is about a little girl who is kidnapped as a baby and this is seriously one of my biggest fears. I sometimes had trouble getting into this because it flipped back and forth too much and so I never felt like I got enough of one persons story. It was good but not my favorite of the month.

How to Change a Life

This was an easy read that had some twists that I didn’t quite expect. I’d recommend taking this to the beach for spring break because you don’t have to be completely focused to understand what is going on!

The Beach Club

I love me some Elin Hilderbrand and this was the first book she wrote. I enjoyed the story line but I felt like the characters were all over the place and I didn’t think the story flowed along as well as some of her other books!

Little Fires Everywhere

This book received a lot of buzz and I was excited to check it out. The ending was a little bizarre and I felt like they just kind of ended it but I enjoyed it overall and would definitely recommend!

Behind Closed Doors

I think I’m starting to become addicted to thriller/suspenseful novels because this was my favorite of the month! I was fully engrossed in it the entire time I was reading and truly never knew what was going to happen next! If you are going to pick any book from the list to check out, this was my favorite!

I’m currently in the middle of a Colleen Hoover book and I love it but it is definitely different than the others I’ve read by her! Please send me any good books you think I need to check out!

Happy reading!

xo,

Kylie

What I'm Reading: January 2018

This might possibly be my favorite post yet!  I LOVE reading!  It is something I have always enjoyed and I definitely made it a priority this past year!  I recently discovered Goodreads (I have no idea how I didn't know about their existence earlier) and I've been tracking my January books there.  I'm kinda bummed I didn't start logging my books from the beginning of 2017 because I read over 70 books last year!

Before I talk about the books I read this month, I want to share my two very favorite books from 2017: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover and Night Road by Kristin Hannah.

I think I was in mourning when It Ends With Us actually ended.  I love when I get so into a book that it actually makes it hard to move on and find a new one to read.  This was definitely that kind of a book.  If you haven't read it, go now and check it out from the library!  I'm also positive that I have now read all of Colleen Hoover's books and I don't think I've found one that I didn't enjoy.  

Night Road by Kristin Hannah had me in tears the majority of the book.  This one got my mama heart hard.  Definitely be prepared with lots of tissues and warn your children in advance that they will be getting a lot of hugs as you're reading.  I remember I used to go into my girls' room after I got done reading for the night and I would just sob as I rocked them.  It is that kind of book.  I read quite a few others by Kristin Hannah and they all elicit lots of tears.

Alright now that we've taken that little trip down memory lane, it's time to move onto 2018!  I read 8 books this past month and actually started the 9th but didn't finish so it'll have to wait until February!  I'm not very good about writing summaries without giving anything away so I am going to rank the books I read in order from boring ------> you have to get this book immediately!  

Secrets in Summer was not the first book I read this year but it was after a Diane Chamberlain book and I always like to balance out heavy, intense books with something a little lighter.  I have never been to Nantucket but Nancy Thayer usually makes me want to plan a trip with her easy reads.  In my opinion, Secrets in Summer, was a little slow to go anywhere and I felt like the same scenario kept repeating itself.  Definitely not my favorite from her.

Breakwater Bay was just ok, as well.  I don't think I've ever read anything by this author and I was just eh after I finished reading.  I was able to get through it fine but I was hoping it would end quickly and I could move onto a new one.  

Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer was a cute, easy book to read.  It had some twists that I definitely did not expect.  Again, this book was based on Nantucket and the main character was very likable.  I would check out this one over Secrets in Summer, for sure!

I also read two Elin Hilderbrand books this month.  I first got hooked on her books when I read Winter Street a few years back.  The Quinn Family won me over and Elin has released a new book in the series every year.  She surprised readers with writing the fourth and final in the series: Winter Solstice.  I felt like it was shorter than her other books but it did a nice job of tying everything up and you walked away feeling like all questions had been answered.  You definitely need to read the Winter Series in order though because they each build on the one before.  

I also made it through one of her newest releases, The Identicals, which I spent quite a few months on the wait list at the library for.  It was a typical Elin Hilderbrand book (which are very similar to Nancy Thayer) and I would recommend. 

I like all kinds of books and I've heard great things about The Breakdown so I decided to give it a try.  This book kept me guessing the entire time and I never saw the ending coming.  I actually struggled to fall asleep one night after reading a few chapters because it had me kind of spooked.  I would probably recommend reading it in the sunlight and not when you are home alone, but I really enjoyed it!

Last but not least, my very favorite books this month though were by Diane Chamberlain.  I read one of her books last year and then kind of forgot about her.  If you haven't noticed, once I find an author I like, I tend to stick to their books until I work my way through them.  I just hate reading books that I don't enjoy or can't wait to end, so I like to stick with what I know will be good.  I read a lot of different books but you will definitely see repeated authors probably every month. The Silent Sister and Pretending to Dance were excellent and I'm still thinking about how good they were and how I wish the story went on longer.  I'm on the wait list for another one of hers and I can't wait to get it!

Those were the eight books I read this month (plus two from last year) so 10 books in total to go check out!  PLEASE send me any book suggestions for next month!  I love hearing what other people are enjoying!

Also, if you want to see what I'm reading before I do my monthly reviews, check me out on Goodreads -----> here.

xo,

Kylie