Since my last book review, my reading hasn’t improved, unfortunately. I’ve been trudging through books between being extremely busy and not loving any of my recent reads. I need to be okay with abandoning books that aren’t working for me rather than trying to finish them. Today I’m sharing book review volume X, and then hopefully, you’ll share some great beach reads with me in the comments to get me out of my current reading slump.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Three years late to the party, but I finally read The Silent Patient. I usually rush to get my hands on popular new releases, but while the blurb intrigued me, I never felt compelled to pick this one up. Given all the praise this book has received, coupled with the fact that I read a lot of thrillers, I’d give it a 3/5. Alicia has a seemingly perfect life until she shoots her husband multiple times in the face and never speaks again. Alicia’s refusal to talk captures the public’s interest and propels her into notoriety. Meanwhile, Theo Faber is a psychotherapist dying to work with Alicia. He’s determined to get her to talk about why she shot her husband, but the search for answers may consume Theo.
Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
Angela, Geo, and Kai were inseparable best friends in high school until Geo met her first love, Calvin James. Then one night, Angela disappears, and her remains are found fourteen years later in the woods near Geo’s childhood home. Geo receives five years in prison for being an accomplice in Angela’s murder, and Kai, now a police officer, is the one to put her behind bars. What follows is an unraveling of what really happened that fateful night all those years ago and what’s still to come. While there are some surprising twists, I didn’t care for or connect with any of the characters. So many people love this one, but it wasn’t a compulsive read for me. Also, content warnings include murder, dismemberment, and rape. I’d recommend the author’s other book, Little Secrets (read my book review here).
I Found You by Lisa Jewell
I mentioned this book a few months ago in my Friday Favorites. Initially, it was a little slow, but before long, I was trying to piece the stories together before the reveal. Alice is a single mom who spots a man sitting on the beach outside her house. She offers him a place to stay after she realizes he doesn’t know his name or what he is doing there. Meanwhile, Lily is newlywed when her husband fails to come home to work, leaving her stranded in a country where she doesn’t know anyone. Then the police tell Lily that her husband never existed. Sounds intriguing, right? I thought I knew the link between the characters, but there were some surprising twists. I Found You was my first Lisa Jewell book, but I’m looking forward to checking out some of her other novels.
Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Doyle Melton
In March, I started listening to Glennon’s podcast (We Can Do Hard Things) and decided to pick up one of her books. In this book, she shares stories from her blog, honestly recounting her mistakes and successes. Glennon can simultaneously be courageous and vulnerable, encouraging us to accept ourselves exactly as we are. I know she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed her writing style and sense of humor. However, the mash-up of blog posts into a book wasn’t my favorite concept because the stories aren’t chronological, so they can sometimes be confusing to follow. I’m keen to pick up one of her actual novels, though.
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
So many people are Colleen Hoover fans, but I’m starting to think her books aren’t for me. I read this in 2016 and loved it, but after rereading it, I realized I overlooked so many problematic things Miles did. When Tate moves in with her brother, she meets Miles, and there’s an instant mutual attraction. They become friends with benefits, but Tate quickly falls for him and wants more, but Miles has two rules: never ask about his past, and don’t expect a future. Miles’s POV chapters bugged me because 1.) he seemed way more into Rachel than he ever did Tate, who’s the book’s heroine, and 2.) the writing style. While I could look past those things, there’s a scene between Tate and Miles towards the end that was the final straw (I won’t spoil it, but it killed the whole relationship for me).
What have you recently read that I should add to my to-read list? I binged The Summer I Turned Pretty (I read the books over a decade ago, and oh, the nostalgia), and now I need all the summer romance recs. Please leave your suggestions in the comments! xo
Wow, the first book sounds intense yet interesting. Love to see where that story goes.
I have the silent patient!!!!!!! I have to read it this year! I heard that it’s a toss up between this and the maidens (not sure if you read that one yet). Anyway great post
Just read 5 rom-coms in the past month! Book Lovers and Beach Read has been my favorite “beach reads” so far. Thanks for the suggestions, i’m craving a thriller for my next read
Oooo. These all sound so good! Will have to check these out
Jar of Hearts sounds like a great book that I would like. Love your reviews, thank you!!
I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been loving your recent reads, but I hope you’ll be able to get out of your reading slump soon.
Out of these books, I Found You sounds the most interesting
I’ve not heard of any of those titles but that Warrior one sounds good.
The Silent Patient is on my tbr!
I finally read The Silent Patient this month; I really loved it. I’m almost finished with The Whisper Man which is a mystery/thriller and it’s sooo good. I’m a big fan of that genre. LOL
-lauren
Ooh, I might have to pick up I Found You. Sounds right up my alley. I’m going to send this post to my mother too since she’s always looking for book recs. Thanks!
I have done the same when I have re read a book sometimes we over look the problematic things that a character is doing. I remember when I re read a book I read in high school and I read the book so different. Great reviews.
These are all great books! I haven’t read most of them (haven’t found time to do so) but would love to pick up the Jar of Hearts soon. Thanks for sharing!
I hate it when life gets in the way of reading! It happens more often than I’d like, but I think that’s why I love to read so darn much now.
I haven’t heard of most of these books, so I can’t wait to check them out. Thanks for sharing!
I Found You sounds look a pretty promising book! I’m always looking for new books to read, thank you for sharing 🙂
Ugly Love was the book that kind of killed Colleen Hoover for me. I just felt like there was way too much ugly and not enough love, and I really couldn’t root for them as a couple. I started to realize that the caustic relationships in Hoover’s books aren’t my favorite, though I still have really fond memories of Maybe Someday and her YA books!
I like Colleen Hoover books (usually, but not all of them) and I did find Ugly Love to be heartbreaking but mostly because I felt bad for them both. I didn’t necessarily agree that they had a good relationship though. I’ve never felt the need to read The Silent Patient (maybe because for some reason I always picture the English Patient when I see it and I didn’t like that movie??)… I know my brain works a bit weird.