Feeling a Little Bookish

WoW: The Two-Family House

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Summary from Goodreads:

Brooklyn, 1947: in the midst of a blizzard, in a two-family brownstone, two babies are born minutes apart to two women. They are sisters by marriage with an impenetrable bond forged before and during that dramatic night; but as the years progress, small cracks start to appear and their once deep friendship begins to unravel. No one knows why, and no one can stop it. One misguided choice; one moment of tragedy. Heartbreak wars with happiness and almost but not quite wins.

From debut novelist Lynda Cohen Loigman comes The Two-Family House, a moving family saga filled with heart, emotion, longing, love, and mystery.

I'm looking forward to reading this debut novel. I love a little family saga. It comes out March 8th, 2016.

What is your pick this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: If you're in the Mood for a Good Cry

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's edition is ten books to read if you are in the mood for X. I decided to pick some books that you should read if you need a good ugly cry. We are talking about books that will rip your heart out and stomp on it. These are books you read alone for fear of looking like this:

So without further ado here are my picks for top ten tearjerkers.

1. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson- This book. Oh dear. I could not stop crying once it was done. Matson has a way with words.

2. Hidden by Catherine McKenzie- McKenzie is a master storyteller and this book about the death of spouse with the question of infidelity is amazing.

3. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid- Another book with a deceased spouse. Amazing but please pass the Kleenex.

4. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover- Have you ever read a Hoover book that doesn't make you cry? Let's be honest.

5. Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares- This is the last book in the Travelling Pants series and it starts out with a bit of a bang.

6. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs- This book. I will not tell you what happens but imagine me sitting on a bus trying to keep it together.

7. How to Say I Love you Out Loud by Karole Cozzo- This is a happy cry kind of book. It's touching not heartbreaking. That being said, the ugly cry will happen.

8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes- With the movie coming out you need to read this.

9. Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes- Another fave author and this book is one that you will remember for a long time.

10. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah- This author is known to crush a few hearts and this book is no exception.

Happy Reading or should I say- crying?

Book Review: November 9 by Colleen Hoover

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Atria Books
Publishing Date: November 10th, 2015
Genre: Adult Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 310 pgs
ISBN: 9781501110344
Source: purchased at Chapters

Summary from Goodreads:

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

My Review:

Colleen Hoover is quickly making her way up my list of favourite authors. This is my third Hoover book and this one was just as great as the other two that I read. This just may be my favourite Hoover story. It is a story about Fallon and Ben. Fallon is slightly self conscious about the scarring she got during a house fire. She also has a tumultuous relationship with her father and one fateful day while sitting down to a particularly condescending tête à tête with said father, Ben just so happens to be in the same café. As he eavesdrops on the conversation, Ben decides to take matters into his own hands and inserts himself into conversation by pretending to be Fallon's boyfriend. As the day progresses it becomes clear that Fallon and Ben have some sort of chemistry. They decide to meet every day on November 9th at the same café for the next 5 years. The story takes place each year of November 9th. I've read One Day which has the same kind of idea and I wasn't completely sold on the idea but I loved it for this book. I loved seeing the changes in each character as the years pass. Sometimes they were frustrating to read, other times heartbreaking but at the same time they were always adorable. I devoured this book in a single day and I suspect that most of you will too. If you haven't read Colleen Hoover this is a good place to start and if you have but you haven't picked this one up yet, I ask you- Why not? Be warned, you will likely shed a tear or if you are more like I am you will ugly cry and your significant other may look at you like you have two heads. It's definitely worth it though.

Book Review: The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:30:00 +0000

Publisher: Crown
Publishing Date: November 3rd, 2015
Genre: Adult, Suspense
Pages: 64 pgs
ISBN: 9780804188975

Source: bought at Chapters

Summary from Goodreads:

A canny young woman is struggling to survive by perpetrating various levels of mostly harmless fraud. On a rainy April morning, she is reading auras at Spiritual Palms when Susan Burke walks in. A keen observer of human behavior, our unnamed narrator immediately diagnoses beautiful, rich Susan as an unhappy woman eager to give her lovely life a drama injection. However, when the "psychic" visits the eerie Victorian home that has been the source of Susan's terror and grief, she realizes she may not have to pretend to believe in ghosts anymore. Miles, Susan's teenage stepson, doesn't help matters with his disturbing manner and grisly imagination. The three are soon locked in a chilling battle to discover where the evil truly lurks and what, if anything, can be done to escape it.

My Review:

I don't typically read short stories and I also don't usually spend this much money on a book that is only 60-some pages but we are talking about Gillian Flynn. I have read everything written by this author and I will continue to do so. She is sick and twisted but only in the best of ways.

Since this is a short story I don't want to extrapolate too much on plot points but I will say that most of the people in this story are not people you would want to hang out with. They aren't exactly lovable and the narrator is slightly unreliable. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly is going on for most of the story. This is what makes it so good. Even though it's only 60 pages it packs a good punch and it keeps you thinking and questioning.

This book may not be everyone's cup of tea because it does discuss sex work and pretty creepy. If you like Gillian Flynn though then you will enjoy this book. I can't wait to see what else she will come up with.

ARC Review: How To Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 21:12:00 +0000

Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publishing Date: August 4th, 2015
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 240 pgs
ISBN: 9781250063595

Source: received at blogger meetup in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

When Jordyn Michaelson’s autistic brother joins her at her elite school, she’s determined not to let anyone know they're related. Even if that means closing herself off to all her closest friends, including charming football stud Alex Colby. But despite her best intentions, she just can't shake the memory of kissing Alex last summer, and the desire to do it again. Can Jordyn find the courage to tell Alex how she really feels—and the truth about her family—before he slips away forever?

My Review:

I had not heard much about this book before receiving it in a goody bag at the Ottawa blogger meet up last year. Swoon Reads is an imprint of MacMillan which takes submissions from people and then the general public can read these novels and pick which ones get published. It is an interactive way to get books into the hands of readers and into bookstores. When I read the premise of this book I knew I had to read it. The book is about Jordyn who is your typical teenage girl trying to muddle her way through high school. What no one really knows though is that she has a brother who is on the autism spectrum. Her brother goes to a special needs school and when his school is closed he must attend the same school as his sister for a short period of time. This is terrifying for Jordyn because she worries about what this means for her and the way people perceive her.

Any book that has any character with a disability is a book that I will likely read. I spent many years working with children and adults with a variety of different disabilities. I have worked with people who exclusively have a physical disability and I have worked with people who have cognitive disabilities as well. I have spent countless hours working with children and teens who are on the autism spectrum as well. That being said, I was curious to see how they would portray this in this novel. It's not often that disability is portrayed in stories and when it is I often find myself shaking my head and thinking that this is not the reality of those living with disability. I think Cozzo does an amazing job of realistically writing about disability. Cozzo doesn't try to sugarcoat things and she writes in such a raw and real way.

Some people had a hard time understanding Jordyn's motives behind ignoring her brother at school and pretending like she didn't know him. She also doesn't allow any of her friends at her house and doesn't tell them that she has a brother. I have seen first hand what it's like for siblings in families where there is a child with special needs. Oftentimes depending on the severity of the disability, the child with a disability takes up so much of the family's energy that siblings can get lost in the shuffle. It seems to me like Jordyn wanted something for herself and didn't want her brother to overshadow her. While I can understand this it doesn't mean that I didn't find myself yelling at her. I wanted her to just tell the truth so that she didn't lose everything.

This book is so heartwarming. The journey that Jordyn has to take to get to a point where she is comfortable with the idea of love and expressing that love. The love she has for her brother may not ever be the same as other people experience but at the same time it has taught her so much more about love. At the end of the book, I found myself bawling. My husband had to come in and ask me what was wrong with me. I just kept uttering "That was so beautiful". Non-bookish people just don't get it. :) Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who likes YA and books about family dynamics.

Depression and Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 03:43:00 +0000

Well, I'm sure you have noticed a long hiatus on the blog. It's not the first time it has happened and it probably won't be the last time. I have to admit that while I've spoken about my fertility problems on the blog I haven't much discussed the fact that I have depression.

I was diagnosed in first year of university and I can remember not being motivated to go to class at all for an entire 2 months. I was given some medication without much discussion of alternative options and being naive I took the pills. They were horrible. I became an insomniac and I just didn't feel like myself. They helped me to get out of a funk but as soon as my refills were done I quit them cold turkey. I would not recommend this to anyone. I had side effects and withdrawal symptoms for at least a month. Since then I have tried to manage my depression with exercise, walking, and not staying cooped up in the house for too long. This summer I did a very good job of staving it off. I took the summer to do what I wanted to do or to do the things that I kept saying I would do during the summer while I was off. I hiked, went canoeing along the canal, went camping, did yoga and bootcamp at Parliament Hill and I took up running. Things were going incredibly well and my reading was on point. I was reading everything I could during the summer and I was listening to audiobooks as I walked.

Then September hit and well my motivation became a little bit less little by little. My class this year is a bit more challenging than previous years and this made it difficult to manage stress. D and I also began our IVF (invitro fertilization) journey. We started a cycle and unfortunately it was cancelled before we even got to the egg retrieval process. Apparently my body is just as stubborn as I am and the drugs were not doing what they were supposed to be doing. I should say that IVF is our last chance at having children. We have been in limbo for far too long so we always said that we would try once and then move on with our life and try to be happy regardless of the outcome. It felt like we got cheated out of our attempt. We have since decided that we will try one more time. With all of this going on, I have been finding myself very unmotivated to do anything. This includes reading and blogging. I have contemplated quitting blogging altogether but every time I do I cringe because that would mean leaving something I ultimately enjoy doing and also leaving the community. I love being a part of the community. I love sharing what I love and talking about books and adding to my never ending TBR.

I did have to sit down and make some decisions though. My TBR is slightly out of control. Yes, yes I know that we all have insane TBRs but when I say out of control I'd approximate I have no less than 800 books here on my shelves sitting unread. I have made the choice to read what I want to read. I will no longer be accepting ARCs unless it's something that I have wanted for a long time and that I can guarantee that I will read before the release date. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to all publishers who still do not have reviews for the books they sent me. I just haven't been able to find the energy or motivation to read. I have been walking around like a zombie trying to pretend to be my normal self. I do promise that they will get read but they will get read and reviewed as I am able to do so. My focus for the next six months at least is to not bring many books into my home. I will not promise never to go to the bookstore and buy books because we all know this is slightly ridiculous for me but I will promise not to buy multiple books just because they look kind of interesting. I will be reading from my shelves and I want to see how many books I can cull this way.

I also want to read what I feel like reading at the time. If it's a YA contemporary great. If it's an adult literary fiction novel, great. I will be reviewing what I read as much as possible.

I am hoping that you my fellow readers will bare with me while I try to keep my depression at bay. It's frustrating for me but I must fight ahead and do what I can. Thank you for your continued support over Twitter and via comments. They mean more to me than you can know.

Happy Reading!

ARC Review: Smoke by Catherine McKenzie

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 03:16:00 +0000

Publisher: Lake Union
Publishing Date: October 20th, 2015
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Pages: 370 pgs
ISBN: 9781503945654
Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

From the internationally bestselling author Catherine McKenzie comes an evocative tale of two women navigating the secrets and lies at the heart of a wildfire threatening their town.

After a decade-long career combating wildfires, Elizabeth has traded in for a quieter life with her husband. Now she works as the local arson investigator in a beautiful, quaint town in the Rockies. But that tranquil life vanishes when she and her husband agree to divorce, and when a fire started in nearby Cooper Basin begins to spread rapidly. For Elizabeth, containing a raging wildfire is easier than accepting that her marriage has failed.

For Elizabeth’s ex-friend Mindy, who feels disconnected from her husband and teenage children, the fire represents a chance to find a new purpose: helping a man who lost his home to the blaze. But her faith is shattered by a shocking accusation.

As the encroaching inferno threatens the town’s residents, Elizabeth and Mindy must discover what will be lost in the fire, and what will be saved.

My Review:

I have loved every Catherine McKenzie book that I have read. She definitely doesn't follow a formula when it comes to her writing and each book is distinct in premise and cast of characters. When I was contacted to review this book I couldn't resist and I was not disappointed. Smoke takes place in a mountain community after a long dry summer. Unfortunately a huge forest fire takes hold and Elizabeth, a resident of the community, is called in to investigate the origin of the fire. The novel flips back and forth between two different perspectives. One being Elizabeth and the other being Mindy, Elizabeth's ex-best friend, who is dealing with her disconnected teenage son.
This story is part mystery and part family drama. We are trying to figure out who set the fire and how it came about but we are also drawn into Elizabeth's relationship with her husband. The two are trying to navigate through some tough times and essentially they are trying to determine whether they should get divorced or not. Some of this is due to fertility issues. I will admit that this is part of the reason I really liked this book. As someone going through fertility issues I can tell you that it puts a tremendous strain on your personal relationships. It also causes you to question many things about yourself and where you see yourself in the future. It is a case of expectations not matching reality and this can be emotionally exhausting. I think that McKenzie was able to fully convey this through her protagonist's thoughts and actions in this novel. I tip my hat off to the author because it's not a topic that is often tackled. In fact, I recently went through my bookstore trying to find novels that deal with this very topic and I find it extremely difficult to find anything. I went as far as searching on Goodreads for lists of novels about fertility issues. This did not bring back many options. It is treated like a dirty little secret and I applaud McKenzie for bringing light to this.
I enjoyed the characters in the book but at times I found myself less interested in what Mindy was doing. I wish that I had seen a little more of her relationship with her son. I wanted to get into his head more than I wanted to get into Mindy's head. Elizabeth was my favorite because I could relate to her and I understood her motives. I understood her trying to push her husband away by asking for a divorce (not a spoiler- this literally happens in the first few pages). I could understand trying to find a balance between her passion for fire fighting and her love of her family.
Overall, I thought this was a well written novel that was hard for me to read at times. It's definitely worth a read.

Madly Blog Tour- Amy Alward's Dream Cast

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 02:21:00 +0000

I am thrilled to be participating in Amy Alward's Madly blog tour with Simon & Schuster. Madly is a YA novel about a young princess who is under a very dangerous love potion spell. A cast of potion makers and magically inclined people are put together to try to find a cure for the princess. The first one to cure her will not only win recognition from the royal family but also magic and fortune. It is fun and fast paced. It incorporates modern conveniences with older ideas like alchemy to make the novel accessible to lovers of both fantasy and contemporary stories. I quite enjoyed this story and loved the suspense of the hunt. The characters are well rounded and I can not wait to read more from this series. I have also had the pleasure of meeting Amy Alward on more than one occasion including as recently as last week at her book launch here in Ottawa for Madly. I am so happy to share her picks for the dream cast of this novel.

Without further ado, here are Amy's picks for actors she'd like to star in a movie adaptation of this book. This is what she has to say:

There you have it! Who did you have in mind while reading Madly? Let me know @amy_alward!

A big thank you to Amy and Simon and Schuster for having me host this blog tour. It has been a pleasure and if you haven't picked up Madly yet, make sure you do! It is definitely worth the read.

If you are interested in other blog tour dates please go check out the other blogs participating in this event.

Happy Reading!

ARC Review: Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Poppy
Publishing Date: September 1st, 2015
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 256 pgs
ISBN: 978031633426
Source: Received at blogger meetup from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?

This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.

My Review:

This is a book about two high school seniors about to take off for their first year of university. They also happen to be high school sweethearts and their universities are thousands of miles away. The book takes place over the course of an evening and the two visit places that were special to their relationship in hopes that reliving these moments will help them decide if they should stay together or break up.
I do like a good contemporary romance and I have really enjoyed Jennifer E. Smith's other books. This book was good and had some very sweet parts to it. While the book begins at what could be the end of their relationship you get to see little snapshots of their progression together. I liked both Clare and Aidan and you could definitely see why there was some hesitation and uncertainty of what to do. They want to follow their own dreams and make their own lives but they aren't ready to say goodbye. They'd like to be able to share their lives but know it can't be for the time being which makes the story bittersweet.
I liked the cast of secondary characters here too. Aidan's family is loving and generous but you can see that there is a lot of pressure from his father. Their best friends are also multifaceted in the sense that while they are trying to be there for their friends, they have their own hangups to deal with. They are worried that they will move Clare and Aidan and they are dealing with insecurities as well.
Overall, I would say this is novel with a cute story of first love and first heartbreak. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't say that it is a book that will stick with me for a long time. It doesn't get under the skin like some other books. This is perfect for someone at a transition stage in their life or if you are heading to the beach. A solid 3 stars.

ARC Review: Dime by E. R. Frank

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Atheneum for Young Readers
Publishing Date: May 26th, 2015
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 336 pgs
ISBN: 9781481431606
Source: Received from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

The realities of teen prostitution are revealed in this eye-opening, heartbreaking story from the author of America, which Booklist called "a piercing, unforgettable novel" and Kirkus Reviews deemed "a work of sublime humanity."

As a teen girl in Newark, New Jersey, lost in the foster care system, Dime just wants someone to care about her, to love her. A family. And that is exactly what she gets-a daddy and two "wifeys." So what if she has to go out and earn some coins to keep her place? It seems a fair enough exchange for love.

Dime never meant to become a prostitute. It happened so gradually, she pretty much didn't realize it was happening until it was too late.

But when a new "wifey" joins the family and Dime finds out that Daddy doesn't love her the way she thought he did, will Dime have the strength to leave? And will Daddy let her?

My Review:

I think this YA book may just be the definition of disturbing. It is a book about a young girl who gets sucked into prostitution. She is a teen girl, growing up in the foster family, and just looking for someone to show her love. This need for love in her life makes her an ideal target for a pimp. He is able to prey on her and pretends to love her. When she starts feeling comfortable then he asks her for a favour. No big deal- please go make me some money by selling your body.
This book is gritty and raw and will shake you up. This book will bother you but it is an important story to tell. These things happen everyday in every city. What makes the book so hard to read is the way it is narrated. This is the only life this teen girl has known and so it is written in a way that is normal. She has normalized the events in her life and it isn't until she sees the same thing happening to someone else that she realizes how horrid her life condition is.
While it's hard to read, this book is really good. I couldn't put it down and it stuck with me for quite some time. It got me thinking about foster care and poverty and how it lends itself to a cycle of abuse, drug use, gangs and prostitution. That's not to say everyone in this situation will fall into one of these categories but it makes it easier.
If you are looking for something thought provoking then this is the book for you. It is well worth the time and you should go out and pick it up.

ARC Review: Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publishing Date: June 9th, 2015
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 320 pgs
ISBN: 9781481432238
Source: Received from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

Before:

Kelsey and David became best friends the summer before freshman year and were inseparable ever after. Until the night a misunderstanding turned Kelsey into the school joke, and everything around her crumbled—including her friendship with David. So when Kelsey's parents decided to move away, she couldn't wait to start over and leave the past behind. Except, David wasn't ready to let her go...

After:

Now it's senior year and Kelsey has a new group of friends, genuine popularity, and a hot boyfriend. Her life is perfect. That is, until David's family moves to town and he shakes up everything. Soon old feelings bubble to the surface and threaten to destroy Kelsey's second chance at happiness. The more time she spends with David, the more she realizes she never truly let him go. And maybe she never wants to.

Told in alternating sections, LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE is a charming and romantic debut about loving, leaving, and letting go.

My Review:

This book alternates between present day where Kelsey is in a new school with a new group of friends and a new boyfriend and the past when Kelsey is best friends with David. Something happened between Kelsey and David and they stop speaking for quite some time. Now David is back in Kelsey's life for senior year and things get a little messy.
This book is a fun YA contemporary and it is ripe with sexual tension. You know from the beginning there is something between Kelsey and David and throughout most of the book they are both too stubborn to do anything about it. It is a fun summer read that is quick to get through but I can't say that I loved it too much. For me this book is okay but not stellar. I think that it's a story that has been done before with the love triangle and teen miscommunication and this why it didn't wow me. That is not to say that I didn't enjoy it while I was reading it. Like I said it's a fun book and it keeps your attention while you're reading it but I just don't think this is a story that will stick with me for a long time. This may be one of those times as an adult reading YA that the book/story isn't as complicated as I would like. I think that teen readers will be able to connect to the story a little more than I was able to. Overall I'd say it's a fun beach read that is enjoyable while reading.

ARC Review: Damage Done by Amanada Panitch

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Random House Books of Young Readers
Publishing Date: July 21st, 2015
Genre: YA Suspense
Pages: 336 pgs
ISBN: 9780553507492
Source: Received at a blogger even from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

22 minutes separate Julia Vann’s before and after.

Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.

After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police.

Now that she’s Lucy Black, she's able to begin again. She's even getting used to the empty bedroom where her brother should be. And her fresh start has attracted the attention of one of the hottest guys in school, a boy who will do anything to protect her. But when someone much more dangerous also takes notice, Lucy's forced to confront the dark secrets she thought were safely left behind.

One thing is clear: The damage done can never be erased. It’s only just beginning. . . .

My Review:

***This review will contain some spoilers but I will warn you beforehand***

This book has been penned the YA Gone Girl and with a sell like that how could I not want to read it. It follows Julia who is the survivor of a school shooting. In this shooting she lost her best friend, her boyfriend and her brother, who just so happened to be the killer. Julia and her family are forced to move to another town because of the fallout and Julia now goes by the name Lucy. Just as she begins getting comfortable in her new school, things begin to unravel and this when things get interesting.

This book is gripping and you will not want to put it down. I read this book in one sitting because I wanted to know what what going on. That being said, I had a few problems with the storyline. Some of it was too predictable and at the same time unbelievable.

**Spoiler***

At first you can't help but feel badly for Julia but as the story progresses you can't help but wonder why in the world people listen to her. Her new boyfriend Michael, a cop's son, keeps going along with her hairbrained schemes without much questioning. I would imagine someone like this would have a few more qualms about doing some of the things Lucy/Julia asks him to do. This relationship also felt a little rushed. They had barely been dating and Michael is hopelessly in love with her? I didn't really buy into that. Also, she so clearly doesn't feel the same way. I can't understand what he sees in her.

Also the parents in this book are barely present. If I was the parent and my child (seen through flashbacks) was disemboweling small animals, I would fight like hell to make sure they got the correct therapy to help change this. I would also want to make sure that my other child was safe. Then after the shootings, they hide vital information about their son and they allow their daughter to run around all willy nilly without any kind of parental control. This is so wildly unlikely that it is hard to ignore.

I admit that I did figure out the ending but not the full extent of it. I will not reveal what it is but I will say that I didn't see that part coming.

***Spoiler done***

In the grand scheme of things, this book is good for entertainment value. It will draw you in and keep you wondering what in the world is going on. It's much like a horror movie. Going in you know that you are not going to see an Oscar winning film but you still love it just the same. I'd say I enjoyed reading this book but you have to be able to overlook a few things if you really want to love it.

ARC Review: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Dial Books
Publishing Date: June 9th, 2015
Genre: YA
Pages: 400 pgs
ISBN: 9780803740709
Source: Received from Penguin Canada in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

With a harrowing poetic voice, this contemporary page-turner is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, Julie Berry's All The Truth That's in Me, and the works of Ellen Hopkins.

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.

And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.

Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself.

My Review:

This is everything I was looking for in a book. It was completely different from anything I have read before. Minnow Bly is a young woman who is in juvie for assault. What makes her particularly different is that she has just escaped a cult and both her hands have been cut off. If this doesn't sound like an intriguing premise I don't know what is.
I could not put this book down. The writing is compelling and the story sucks you in. It has a bit of an Orange is the New Black vibe when reading about juvie but then it flashes back to the cult and it is so mind boggling. I couldn't imagine submitting all my faith in someone who weds underage girls and who is violent if you don't abide by the rules. I have always been fascinated by this and while on an intellectual level I can see how it happens but I still find it incredible that with all the technology we have people still fall for this brand of crazy.
My feelings on Minnow were mixed for a long time. She is a bit of an unreliable narrator. She is trying to conceal the truth about what happened on the night she left the cult and in the process she tells people lies and to an extent is lying to herself. It's hard to determine what has actually happened and what is in her head. I also found that she was very standoffish in the novel and at times it makes it hard to like her. Personally, I don't have to like the main character of a novel to like the story but I know that this can be a deal breaker for some people. For me it just made it more difficult to empathize and understand.
This story is refreshing but also haunting. It's one that you will not want to miss out on. Go out and pick this one up.

Top Ten Books I've Received Lately

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 02:47:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

This week the topic is the last ten book that came into your home. Well I have quite a few! This week I decided to make a video. Enjoy!

If you don't feel like watching the whole thing I posted a picture at the end.

Thanks for watching and if you didn't watch until the end here are the books that have come into my home lately.

Can't wait to see your picks this week. Happy Reading!

ARC Review: Ruthless by Carolyn Lee Adams

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: SimonPulse
Publishing Date: July 14th, 2015
Genre: YA Suspense
Pages: 256 pgs
ISBN: 9781481422628
Source: Received from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

A spine-tingling debut about the ultimate game of cat-and-mouse in reverse as a teen struggles to retain hope—and her sanity—while on the run from a cunning and determined killer.

Ruth Carver has always competed like her life depends on it. Ambitious. Tough. Maybe even mean. It’s no wonder people call her Ruthless.

When she wakes up with a concussion in the bed of a moving pickup trick, she realizes she has been entered into a contest she can’t afford to lose.

At a remote, rotting cabin deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ruth’s blindfold comes off and she comes face-to-face with her captor. A man who believes his mission is to punish bad girls like Ruth. A man who has done this six times before.

The other girls were never heard from again, but Ruth won’t go down easy. She escapes into the wilderness, but her hunter is close at her heels. That’s when the real battle begins. That’s when Ruth must decides just how far she’ll go in order to survive.

Back home, they called her Ruthless. They had no idea just how right they were.

My Review:

It's been a long time since a book kept me up all night long and this one did it. I am very happy to be off for the summer because I think I went to bed at 4am after finishing this story. This book is about a young girl who is kidnapped by a sexual predator. She escapes and is hunted through the woods by the killer. It's not often that you can find a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I found myself at times with an elevated heart rate and actually worried for the protagonist Ruth. She's not a particularly likable character at times but this girl is kickass. She is determined not to be raped and to escape from this madmen.
While this book had some moments where I had to raise an eyebrow, I still really liked it. Ruth goes through so much in this book and it was quite amazing that she was still able to keep her drive to survive throughout it all. There were sections in the book with flashbacks to Ruth's life with I liked because you got a little more insight into her personality outside of an emergency situation. There were also flashbacks in the point of view of the killer. In one set of flashbacks it goes all the way back to when he was young. I could do without these flashbacks. For some reason, they weren't working for me. I know they were meant to show how he became the way he was but they were put in spots when all I wanted to know is what was happening with Ruth. Another set of flashbacks were the lead up to the abduction of Ruth. I liked these ones better because I got to see another glimpse of Ruth's home life.
If you like thrillers and you like being in suspense then this is the book for you. I promise you it will not take you long to get through this one.

ARC Review: 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 13:30:00 +0000

Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publishing Date: April 21st, 2015
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 384 pgs
ISBN: 9780062216380
Source: Received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.

My Review:

This book begins after something major has happened in Molly's life. She was dating Patrick and she cheated on him with his brother Gabe. This has made her a social pariah and Molly, returning to her hometown, is trying to get by until she leaves for college. She only has to make it through 99 days before she can reinvent herself somewhere new.

The cheating storyline can be quite polarizing. Many people have a difficult time relating to a cheater and if you have ever been cheated on then it could make you really dislike the main character of this story. I will admit something that I am not proud of. I have been on both sides of cheating. It is not something I'm happy to admit and it's not something I admit to many people. That being said, I woudln't consider myself an immoral person. I care deeply about the people in my life but I am also human and I make mistakes. I think for this reason I could relate to Molly in a way but I could also relate to Patrick and Gabe at the same time. I really liked watching Molly come to terms with what she did and the aftermath of it. She seemed somewhat stoic about that whole thing. She knew what she did wasn't great and in the beginning she wasn't trying to push it.

**** SPOILER ALERT*****

I have to admit that the back and forth between Patrick and Gabe later on became slightly frustrating. She was making the same mistakes over again. You can tell that she was trying to figure out which brother was meant for her but I think that she needed to be upfront with both of them. At times I felt like she was leading them on.

*****END SPOILER*****

Overall, I really liked this book. I think that it shows us that cheating is not just black or white. If you are one those people who can't read a book because there is cheating in it then I encourage you to try this book and read it with an open mind. The writing is good and the story is thought provoking. I will be reading the next Cotugno book for sure.

ARC Review: None of the Above by I. W. Gregorio

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publishing Date: April 7th, 2015
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 352 pgs
ISBN: 9780062335319
Source: Received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex... and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

My Review:

I LOVED THIS BOOK! This is a story about Kristin who has been brought up as a girl and identifies as a girl. The night she loses her virginity she realizes something is not quite right and visits the doctor. It is there that she finds out that she is intersex. Essentially what this means is that physically she presents as a girl but she also has male chromosomes and testes.
I love how this book explores a topic that is not often discussed. While this condition is not a super common one, there are people out there living as intersex. I think Gregorio does an excellent job of raising questions of gender norms. How would you define what a girl is and what a boy is? Is it defined by how someone looks or how they dress? Who determines what you identify as? In many cases the parents or doctors make these decisions while the child is very young. It makes you wonder if this is the right thing.
This book was well written and you can't help but feel invested in what happens to Kristin. I found myself getting upset with some of the characters. I think it's horrendous the way people treat others that don't fit into the "norm" especially in high school. The author does a great job of depicting the struggle to fit in but at the same time trying to understand yourself.
I think this novel was wonderfully written and tackles a subject that can be sensitive in a respectful and realistic way. I can't recommend this book enough. Please go out and buy it as soon as you can.

ARC Review: Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publishing Date: April 1st, 2015
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Pages: 406 pgs
ISBN: 9780062278845
Source: Received from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

The girl known as Gretchen Whitestone has a secret: She used to be part of Adolf Hitler’s inner circle. More than a year after she made an enemy of her old family friend and fled Munich, she lives with a kindly English family, posing as an ordinary German immigrant, and is preparing to graduate from high school. Her love, Daniel Cohen, is a reporter in town. For the first time in her life, Gretchen is content.

But then, Daniel gets a telegram that sends him back to Germany, and Gretchen’s world turns upside-down. And when she receives word that Daniel is wanted for murder, she has to face the danger she thought she’d escaped-and return to her homeland.

Gretchen must do everything she can to avoid capture and recognition, even though saving Daniel will mean consorting with her former friends, the Nazi elite. And as they work to clear Daniel’s name, Gretchen and Daniel discover a deadly conspiracy stretching from the slums of Berlin to the Reichstag itself. Can they dig up the explosive truth and get out in time-or will Hitler discover them first?

My Review:

This is the second in a series and I was excited to get this book on Edelweiss. I really enjoyed the idea of the first one and I found that I really wanted to know more about Gretchen and Daniel. This book picks up soon after the first and Gretchen and Daniel have fled Germany. They are getting settled into their new lives when Daniel gets news that his cousin has been very badly injured. Daniel decides to head back to tension filled Germany. As you can suspect Daniel doesn't come back and Gretchen goes back into Germany to save him. This is during the lead up to WWII and the the fact that Daniel is Jewish does not bode well for him nor for his girlfriend Gretchen.

I have to admit that while I was really looking forward to reading this book, it didn't live up to it's expectations for me. The story wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing. I really like the concept of focusing on someone who used to be so close to Adolph Hitler. We don't ever think of Hitler with a human element. I think that adding this element makes what he did so much worse. It baffles me how atrocities like the Holocaust occur. I think while the concept was strong, I wasn't invested in the characters as much. I had to wonder if what they were doing was brave or slightly stupid. I suppose that knowing the outcome of the war, it makes it easy for me to say they were being naive. The two were idealistic in believing they could change everything.

This is not to say that I didn't like the book. It was entertaining and I read it quickly. I wanted to know what happens next but didn't find myself loving it. Overall I would say it was a solid 3 stars. Those who like a historical fiction will enjoy this story.

WoW: The Sunrise

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Here is my pick for the week:

Summary from Goodreads

In the summer of 1972, Famagusta in Cyprus is the most desirable resort in the Mediterranean, a city bathed in the glow of good fortune. An ambitious couple are about to open the island's most spectacular hotel, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots work in harmony. Two neighbouring families, the Georgious and the Özkans, are among many who moved to Famagusta to escape the years of unrest and ethnic violence elsewhere on the island. But beneath the city's façade of glamour and success, tension is building.
When a Greek coup plunges the island into chaos, Cyprus faces a disastrous conflict. Turkey invades to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority, and Famagusta is shelled. Forty thousand people seize their most precious possessions and flee from the advancing soldiers. In the deserted city, just two families remain. This is their story.

I read Hislop's book The Island and it was very well written. I haven't read anything else by this author but when I saw that she had a new book coming out I got a little excited about it. This one comes out on July 7th from Headline Review. What are you waiting on? Happy Reading!

WoW: Karin Slaughter's newest

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Here is my pick for the week:

Summary from Goodreads:

#1 internationally bestselling author Karin Slaughter returns with a sophisticated and chilling psychological thriller of dangerous secrets, cold vengeance, and unexpected absolution, in which two estranged sisters must come together to find truth about two harrowing tragedies, twenty years apart, that devastate their lives. Sisters. Strangers. Survivors. More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia's teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that's cruelly ripped open when Claire's husband is killed. The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it. Powerful, poignant, and utterly gripping, packed with indelible characters and unforgettable twists, Pretty Girls is a masterful thriller from one of the finest suspense writers working today.

I love a good mystery and I really enjoy Karin Slaughter's writing. Can't wait to read this one. It's out on June 30th from William Morrow. Happy Reading!

ARC Review: Skyscraping by Cordelia Jensen

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Publisher: Philomel Books
Publishing Date: June 2nd, 2015
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 352 pgs
ISBN: 9780399167713

Source: Received from the publisher for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

A heartrending, bold novel in verse about family, identity, and forgiveness Mira is just beginning her senior year of high school when she discovers her father with his male lover. Her world–and everything she thought she knew about her family–is shattered instantly. Unable to comprehend the lies, betrayal, and secrets that–unbeknownst to Mira–have come to define and keep intact her family’s existence, Mira distances herself from her sister and closest friends as a means of coping. But her father’s sexual orientation isn’t all he's kept hidden. A shocking health scare brings to light his battle with HIV. As Mira struggles to make sense of the many fractures in her family's fabric and redefine her wavering sense of self, she must find a way to reconnect with her dad–while there is still time.
Told in raw, exposed free verse, Skyscraping reminds us that there is no one way to be a family.

My Review:

This is a book told in verse about a girl who walks in on her father having an affair with another man. She is very upset about this but she is more upset about the fact that her mother has known for a long time and has also known that he is HIV positive.
I will start by saying that anything that has LGBTQ characters or "issues" is something that I will always want to read. I think it's mostly because I can't fathom why people would be treated as subpar based on their sexual orientation. When Vikki sent out her e-mail with ARCs and saw the synopsis for this book I knew I had to have it. Then I realized it was a book in verse. I know people are divided on verse books but I for one love them. I think that I lot can be put into minimal amounts of words. I think they are often powerful because every single word matters.
This book was what I expected and more. I expected to be pulled into family turmoil and teenage angst. I also expected to be touched and to watch relationships develop. I didn't expect to be sobbing on my couch. I just felt for the main character and I wanted the best for her. I zoomed through this book and finished it the same day I started it. I wanted to know more and couldn't put it down. The writing is tremendous and I was in awe of how Jensen was able to convey what she needed to in the way that she did.
I would say if you like contemporaries you should definitely read this. Even if you're unsure of verse books you should give this one a try. I also think this is an important book because you don't often get to read novels about HIV and it's epidemic in the 1990s. I am pretty sure at this point I am rambling away but writing reviews for books you really enjoyed are the most difficult things to do. I will sign off by saying go buy this one!

ARC Review: Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Sat, 30 May 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Gallery Books
Publishing Date: February 3rd, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age
Pages: 368 pgs
ISBN: 9781476780016
Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

Praised as a tender exploration of friendship, families, and first love (Liane Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author of The Husband’s Secret), this coming-of-age novel from bestselling author Frances Whiting is equal parts heartwarming, accessible, and thought provoking.

Tallulah de Longland she said slowly, letting all the Ls in my name loll about lazily in her mouth before passing judgment. That, she announced, is a serious glamorgeous name.

From the day Annabelle Andrews sashays into her classroom, Tallulah (Lulu) de Longland is bewitched: by Annabelle, by her family, and by their sprawling, crumbling house tumbling down to the river.

Their unlikely friendship intensifies through a secret language where they share confidences about their unusual mothers, first loves, and growing up in the small coastal town of Juniper Bay. But the euphoria of youth rarely lasts, and the implosion that destroys their friendship leaves lasting scars and a legacy of self-doubt that haunts Lulu into adulthood.

Years later, Lulu is presented with a choice: remain the perpetual good girl who misses out, or finally step out from the shadows and do something extraordinary. And possibly unforgivable not how far you fall, but how high you bounce.

My Review:

This book came out in February and I got it for review a few months before that and shamefully I am only now posting a review. This is horrible. To my credit, life has been ridiculous lately. Alright, onto the book review.

This is a book that I hadn't heard much about. I knew that it was about two girls, Tallulah and Annabelle who met in middle school and grew up into young women. The book begins in such a crazy way. It is the morning after Annabelle's wedding and the groom is waking up in his nice cozy hotel room bed. The woman next to him however is not his wife but Tallulah. This set the tone for the book and it made me think that it would be much more scandalous than it actually was. The book is so much more than the story of a childhood friendship gone awry. I thought there'd be a whole lot more than of Annabelle in the book. There is a decent amount of them growing up but after the climax of the book she kind of drops off and the focus of the book is on Tallulah and her supporting cast of characters.
I think that I loved the secondary characters even more than Tallulah at times. Throughout the book Tallulah is trying to get over something that was heartbreaking to her and sometimes it got to be a little more. I wanted to shake her and say please, please, please just take some steps to move on. That being said, if I sat down and actually thought about it, I'd have a hard time moving on too. In fact I do struggle with this from time to time when I think of past friendships. When I thought about it, I felt a little more sympathy for Lulu.

The secondary characters are eccelectic and so fun. The begin, there are Lulu's parents. Her father owns his own plumbing company and her mother struggles with depression. She names her dresses and wears them according to her mood. Her parents are everything I wish my parents were. Even though her mother is dealing with some serious mental health problems, she tries her very best and when she is on her A-game she is so sweet and caring. Her father is supportive and able to give Lulu a swift kick in the behind when she needs it.

Annabelle's parents also make several appearances. They are both well known artists and with that comes a bit of quirkiness. They are self centered at times but I did feel for the father a bit. The mom I could do without that's for sure.

Along with the parents Lulu becomes good friends with her boss Duncan. He is a cocky, arrogant celebrity who tends to treat people horribly. Lulu is feisty and puts him in his place and their friendship develops. He is several years older than Lulu and acts as a surrogate father at times. I think he was my favourite of the cast.

This book has been out for a while yet it hasn't gotten much love/buzz. I have been recommending it to everyone I can. It is so well written and the story is engaging. It will make you smile but it will also give you all the feels. I will admit to shedding a couple of tears at times. I will definitely read whatever this author puts out. Please go out and pick it up.

Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Fri, 29 May 2015 01:27:00 +0000

So I feel like most of my posts start with "I know I haven't been around much lately" but that's exactly what I'm about to say again. The past couple of years has legit been one crisis after another after another. Today I am here to bring awareness to an issue to something that doesn't get enough attention. Addiction and mental illness affect 1 in 5 people in this county. There have been many people in my family and in my life that deal with addiction issues.

My grandparents, Gavin and a cute younger Meaghan

On April 26th my cousin Gavin, passed away from complications due to alcoholism. He was 3 months younger than I am and so he was 32 years old. Being 3 months younger than me, we pretty much grew up together. I will say that he had a rocky upbringing as his mother was an alcoholic and his father wasn't around. He lived at my grandparents' house and had no siblings.
As I have an overabundance of siblings (five, yes five) we always used to say that Gavin was the 7th Smith kid. I used to look forward to going up to my grandmother's house and hanging out with my cousin. Our main game was trouble and we used to get into a lot of it. About 5 years ago, he began falling down a dangerous path. He was lonely and depressed and drinking a bottle of vodka a day became a habit. When he drank he was angry and violent and so in order to protect myself and my family I had to take a step away. I didn't want to enable his drinking and I told him when he was ready to get help I'd be there in an instant.
To my surprise a month before he passed away I was told he was in a medically induced coma and he was suffering from failed kidneys and liver. I got a chance to spend a lot of time with him in the hospital and so did the rest of my family. When he passed he was surrounded by so many people that loved him.
I've been struggling with guilt, sadness and anger. I feel guilty because I keep wondering if I should have helped him more when I had the chance. That I didn't tell him I loved him when I could have. Intellectually I know that this guilt is not helpful and that I did what I could do at the time. Emotionally it has been a lot to process. I keep wondering if he knew that I cared or if he thought I abandoned him easily.

My cousins and I with my grams. Gavin in back on right.

The anger comes from wishing that he could have stopped a horrible cycle. Alcoholism is a disease that I truly believe is genetic. There are too many alcoholics in my family for it not to be. I can't believe that someone would watch his mother go through this addiction and then proceed to follow suit. I am angry that he wasted his life and pushed away everyone who could have helped him. I am angry that his parents didn't really give him a chance in life. They left him on his own to raise himself from the time he was an infant.
I am sad that I will never see him again. I am sad for the time that I missed with him. I am sad that he was a recluse with not many friends. I am sad that he never felt like anyone loved him or that he didn't deserve love.
Overall it has been a shitty month of grieving and dealing with quite a few emotions. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I know it's not your typical post but I thought that to incorporate the books I'd post a few books that deal with addiction. It's like a shameful secret that people don't often talk about and I would love to change the stigma and maybe then we can make some changes.

These two are memoires. The first one is about drugs and alcohol while the second focuses on alcohol. I have't had a chance to read them yet but they are now on my TBR (which may or may not be about the size of Mount Everest).

I haven't read The Basketball Diaries but I have seen the movie so if that's any indication it should be good. Rachel's Holiday is one of my favourite Marian Keyes books. It is serious but it also has some humour in it.

I loved Spin. It is about a woman who goes to rehab to spy on a celebrity but she is also is need of some recovery. The Spectacular Now is another seen the movie before reading the book. I know the shame!

I remember Where it Began being on my list of books I wanted to read but for some reason I never got to it. I think it'll have to be added to the list again. Crank was intense but so so so good. It's about meth addiction and very eye opening.

The Glass Castle is written like a fiction book but it is a memoir of growing up poor and with parents who had some alcohol issues. Parched is another memoir which I haven't read but plan on reading soon.

Well, there is my post. This started as a way to get it all out and I have found it to be cathartic. I hope that the next few years are not as chaotic as the past few have been. This year alone I've been to 5 funerals, lost my niece because it turns she was never actually my niece, dealt with some martial things and dealing with the fertility stuff. The next time I write a personal post I am hoping it's a happy one :)

Happy Reading, thanks for listening.

Waiting on Wednesday: A new Keplinger novel

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Here is my pick for the week:

Here is a summary from Goodreads:

Kody Keplinger returns to the world of The DUFF in this brand-new companion novel!

Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend's house every night because she has nowhere else to go.

Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with -- secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross.

Ryder's the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can't stand -- a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed.

But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually like him. Only there's one small catch: he thinks he's been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she's the girl he's really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?

A companion novel? Yes, please! This book comes out April 28th. Can't wait to read it! What's on your reading list this week?

Happy Reading!

Top Ten Tuesday: Inspirational Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (alittlebookish) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

This week the topic is inspirational quotes. Here are a couple of my favourites.

I'm looking forward to reading your faves. Happy Reading!