I guess that’s sort of the point of love between two people—you can’t re-create it. Every time you love, everyone you love, the love is diffe
I guess that’s sort of the point of love between two people—you can’t re-create it. Every time you love, everyone you love, the love is different. You’re different in it.”
Emma Blair falls in love in high school as soon as she sees Jesse. They end up getting married and they travel the world and set out to accomplish their goals. Leaving behind their hometown and both of their parents expectations of being a swimmer and taking over the family bookstore. On their first wedding anniversary Jesse takes a helicopter over the Pacific to go to Alaska while Emma stays home. Along the way the helicopter goes missing and Jesse is gone. Emma moves back home to the comfort of her family during her grief, where she slowly starts to rebuild her life. Years later, she is running the family bookstore and has become a new woman when she runs into an old high school friend Sam. Emma thinks it's time to move on and so she does but what happens when your high school sweetheart and husband is found alive?
“I think that perhaps everyone has a moment that splits their life in two. When you look back on your own time line there's a sharp spike somewhere along the way, some event that changed you, changed your life more than the others. A moment that creates a before and an after.
I loved the way TJR set this book up, where the moment that split their life in two was actually in the beginning of the book. The first half of the book was flashbacks before that moment and the second half was events afterwards. I could personally kick myself for allowing this book to sit on my bookshelves for so long and just now picking it up. This story was so devastatingly beautiful I could not put it down once I started it. I fell in love with all the characters and my heart broke for every single one of them. Reid made this "love triangle" trope so effortlessly beautiful, making my heart tear in two when I tried to decide who I wanted her to choose. Usually when it comes to this trope, I love one character more than the other and it's usually so easy for me to pick who I want to win in the end. However, this one was heartbreaking either way. I would absolutely recommend this book and now I can't wait to read more by this author.
"Don’t think that true love means your only love. I think true love means loving truly. Loving purely. Loving wholly. Maybe, if you’re the kind of person who’s willing to give all of yourself, the kind of person who is willing to love with all of your heart even though you’ve experienced just how much it can hurt . . . maybe you get lots of true loves, then. Maybe that’s the gift you get for being brave.”
Pre-Read Review: Crazy enough I own most of Reid's books but this will be the very first one I have read. Really hoping her writing lives up to the hype and she becomes one of my new fave authors❤️...more
"In many years' time we may not know what to call this story. We will say it was a story about violence. About hate. About conflict and differ
"In many years' time we may not know what to call this story. We will say it was a story about violence. About hate. About conflict and difference and communities that tore themselves apart. But that won't be true, at least not entirely. It's also a different sort of story....."
This series has me in an emotional chokehold. Since the minute I started the first book, Beartown, I have not been able to put this series down. This book starts right where the first one left off. The community of Beartown is still trying to pick themselves back up from the actions and decisions that were made. In this book, we see how everything further divides Beartown from it's neighbors. The character development and the issues that come up in this book make the characters so relatable and loveable. I love how Backman's writing is so realistic and we see both the beauty and the flaws of humankind. Ana frustrated me in this book but watching her make a human mistake and owning up to it made me love this book even more.
“The complicated thing about good and bad people alike is that most of us can be both at the same time.”
I want nothing more to wrap Benji in the biggest hug and never let him go. He is lost and damaged and fights with doing whats right and doing whats wrong. He constantly holds the responsibility and weight of many on his shoulders and fights endlessly not to buckle under the pressure. We didn't get as much of Amat in this book but we did get a lot more of Leo. I love how Maya continues to find her way and holds her head high, overcoming the trauma she went through. The friendship that begins to form between Maya and Benji is wholesome and they need each other through this journey.
I can not wait to read the last book of this series. I know its going to be full of heartbreak and love, sorrow and joy, grief and hope. It's going to completely shatter me and put me back together all in one story, and I am here for it all.
"Have you ever seen a town fall? Ours did. Have you ever seen a town rise? Ours did that, too."
*:･ﾟ✧Favorite Quotes*:･ﾟ✧
“Sometimes people have to be allowed to have something to live for in order to survive everything else.”
“Anxiety. It owns us but leaves no trace.”
“The best friends of our childhoods are the loves of our lives, and they break our hearts in worse ways.”
“It's so easy to get people to hate one another. That's what makes love so impossible to understand. Hate is so simple that it always ought to win. It's an uneven fight.”
“Life is a weird thing. We spend all our time trying to manage different aspects of it, yet we are still largely shaped by things that happen beyond our control.”
“Sometimes good people do terrible things in the belief that they’re trying to protect what they love.”
“It’s impossible to measure love, but that doesn’t stop us coming up with new ways to try."
“Do you think it’s possible to become a different person?" She shakes her head, biting her bottom lip, and blinks so hard she can’t see the road in front of her. "No. But it’s possible to become a better person."
Pre-Read: Beartown was such an amazing, emotional, and thought-provoking book. Going straight into book 2 and hoping it is just as good as the first one! I hope all the characters get what they deserve in this book, especially Amat and Maya✨✨...more
"Well, I don’t want easy. I want you,” he cut me off by saying. “Just the way you are.” “Every part and every piece.” I grim
**spoiler alert**
"Well, I don’t want easy. I want you,” he cut me off by saying. “Just the way you are.” “Every part and every piece.” I grimaced. “Even the broken parts?” He winked. “Especially the broken parts.”
I had to process what I went through emotionally before I could write this review; so here we go. The books that hold special places in my heart are the ones that make me 'feel' and go through all the emotions in one story and that is exactly what Keeping 13 did. From screaming to laughing out loud, from feeling warm and giddy to hot with anger, and lastly even sobbing with tears as I felt my heart break....more
"What did you learn? He asked neutrally. That I could study you for a lifetime, carrying all of your peculiar
∞ Infinity ⭐'s BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL
"What did you learn? He asked neutrally. That I could study you for a lifetime, carrying all of your peculiarities and discretions in the webs of my spidery palms, and still feel empty-handed."
“You are brilliant. Tell your mind to be kind to you today.”
Olivie Blake, you have written your way into my heart and soul, written like a song and my soul felt every word and every note. I have never experienced or read something so stunning and captivating. So devastatingly beautiful that it is hard to put into words what you have done with this piece of work. After reading it, I feel so full yet so empty because all I want is more. I could never forget this book and the way it made me feel reading it. I don't know if I will ever find another book like this. This is not a book that you "read" this is a book that you take your time with and "feel". A book that you feel so strongly it’s engraved into your being.I'll still be thinking about this book months and years from now!...more
“Never trust people who don't have something in their lives that they love beyond all reason.”
I went into this book sort of blind; thinkin
“Never trust people who don't have something in their lives that they love beyond all reason.”
I went into this book sort of blind; thinking it was about a small town hockey team that helps a struggling town get on the map. Where I got that, I have no idea because this book was absolutely not what I expected. Matter of fact, it was so much more.
How can a book be both heartbreaking yet beautiful? There is so much to unpack in this story that my emotions and feelings are honestly a complete mess as I write this. If my thoughts in this review are a little bit of everywhere, I am sorry in advance. Backman is a master at placing the perfect wording or quote, where it needs to go, to give the most impact. Wording that is both meaningful and thought-provoking. This story started off a little slow at first, simply because the author was introducing you to the sport of hockey, the town and its past, and the members it was made up of. However, once you got past that, I honestly could not put this book down. It had me in a complete trance going through a rollercoaster of emotions. One moment, your heart is filled with friendship, love, strength, family, and hope. The next moment, you will be completely enraged, forcing readers to evaluate their own values. You leave this book wondering how often situations such as these occur in communities near us, especially small towns. Where the stability and strength of the community lies within the sports played, and how far they will go to protect the players.
Beartown is a small town known for their hockey team. The whole community thrives and lives for the sport of hockey. Their junior team is on their way to the finals, which will mean a lot not only to the boys playing, but the community as a whole. When one event threatens to take their star hockey player away and potentially bring disgrace to the hockey team in their town, the whole team and community stick together. However, what happens when your community fights for the very thing that goes against what is right and wrong? Betrayals sting, lines are crossed, and to what extent will loyalty be tested?
"There are few words that are harder to explain than "loyalty". It's always regarded as a positive characteristic, because a lot of people would say that many of the best things people do for each other occur precisely because of loyalty. The only problem is that many of the very worst things we do to each other occur because of the same thing.
*:･ﾟ✧Favorite Quotes*:･ﾟ✧
"The easiest way to unite a group isn't through love, because love is hard, It makes demands. Hate is simple."
“If you are honest, people may deceive you. Be honest anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfishness. Be kind anyway. All the good you do today will be forgotten by others tomorrow. Do good anyway.”
"Culture is as much about what we encourage as what we permit."
"You might be playing with bears, but that doesn't mean you have to forget that you're a lion."
"Humanity has many shortcomings, but none is stronger than pride."
"Sometimes life doesn't let you choose your battles. Just the company you keep."
"Time always moves at the same rate, only feelings have different speeds. Every day can mark a whole lifetime or a single heartbeat depending on who you spend it with."
“All adults have days when we feel completely drained. When we no longer know quite what we spend so much time fighting for, when reality and everyday worries overwhelm us and we wonder how much longer we’re going to be able to carry on. The wonderful thing is that we can all live through far more days like that without breaking than we think. The terrible thing is that we never know exactly how many.”
“What an uncomfortable, terrible source of shame it is for the world that the victim is so often the one left with the most empathy for others.”
Pre-Read✨Book Club Pick for the Month of July✨ Heard this story is amazing, can't wait to dive in and see if it's worth all the praise. ...more
Based on a true story, we follow Helen as she tries to break a cycle of addiction and trauma. However, Helen wakes up in a mental hospital and her minBased on a true story, we follow Helen as she tries to break a cycle of addiction and trauma. However, Helen wakes up in a mental hospital and her mind is shattered. She cannot remember why she is there, who her family is, and her memories are gone. Through the process of trying to remember, Helen must unearth painful memories and face a past of heartache and turmoil.
We follow Helen through dual timelines, before she lost her memory and the present. We embark on a journey with Helen from the time she was a little girl until she grows into a woman. We visit topics such as heartache and grief, addiction and abuse, compassion and hope. The writing was so beautiful that it made you go through the emotions while reading it. I got so mad at parts I wanted to rip through the pages to help, and yet so sad at parts that I wanted to curl up and cry. There are a lot of heavy topics so please check trigger warnings, but to read this through the eyes of someone who went through it is nothing short of heartbreaking yet remarkably full of hope. Beautifully written and I am glad the author included an epilogue from her daughter.
I know reading is subjective and our experiences help shape that so for me this is a 5⭐️ book in every way. I applaud the strength and perseverance of the person “Helen” was based off of. It is truly beautiful and empowering to read about someone who holds on to the tiniest spark of light in the overpowering darkness and still find their way out.
The author hit it on the head when she said, “It is a novel for those who revel in the lived experiences of others and want to know that even the saddest stories have a happy ending.”...more
"For all those caught in the flames, remember that the hottest fires forge the strongest swords."
Penn Cole has done it again with the 3rd book of
"For all those caught in the flames, remember that the hottest fires forge the strongest swords."
Penn Cole has done it again with the 3rd book of this series. First off, let me say this book was a 1,000 page rollercoaster ride through all of my emotions. Did I giggle and laugh....ABSOLUTELY. Did my heart warm and feel passion....FULLY Did I tear up or cry....UTTERLY. Lastly, did I get mad and want to scream....ENTIRELY, and I went through this up and down rollercoaster more than once. I will not be okay until I get the next book in my hands.
This book picks right back up where the last one ended. In this book we get to explore and visit other realms and we get to meet new characters. The way the authors worldbuilding and characters continue to develop over this series is nothing short of BEAUTIFUL Penn Cole has weaved an elaborate and intricate story that has you at the end of your seat with angst needing more. This series is so beautifully written that you can see it playing out right in front of you. You get completely lost in the world and the characters and almost feel like you are in the story yourself. If I was to give this book any type of critique it would be the fact I lost a lot of the characters in the last half of the story but that might only affect me because I LOVE TARAN!❤
DIEM & LUTHER First off, we all know that LUTHER is the perfect book boyfriend. The passion and tension the author is able to develop between these two with the slow-burn romance is CHEF'S KISS...more
After seeing a few of my GR girlies rave about this series, I knew it was time to give it a try. I can sit here and say I was NOT disappointed at all.After seeing a few of my GR girlies rave about this series, I knew it was time to give it a try. I can sit here and say I was NOT disappointed at all. I honestly feel like over the past few weeks I have been in a slump and this got me out of that. Not only did I sit down and binge read this but I DEVOURED it! The author's writing was so easy to read. I will say the only reason I gave it 4⭐s was because about 40%-80% the pace did slow down signficantly. However, I feel that was the author setting up for the next books. I can not wait to continue the next one as soon as I am done with this review!
Plot: AHHHH I LOVE OUR FMC DIEM!!! Diem lives in a mortal world that was colonized by the gods and ruled over by their offspring, the Descended. One night Diem overhears her mother speaking to a man, where she learns a secret about her mother's past, and then her mother disappears. The King is dying, and Diem keeps crossing paths with the brooding/grumpy prince Luther. Diem soon realizes prince Luther is the same man that was with her mother the last night she was seen and might have some answers she has been searching for. Diem battles with honoring her mother's wishes, being a healer and taking care of her brother, and helping her best friend while fighting the call to "fight" inside of her. Diem will have to learn the rules of politics, power, and love to save her family and potentially all of mankind.
Favorite Quotes:
"For anyone who has ever been told their spark shouldn’t burn so bright and for all the people who loved them precisely because it did."
"It was a creature of its own, this thing inside of me. It was a lit match that eternally wavered above the pile of kindling that was my shredded soul, a drumbeat that called my temper to arms at every provocation.
"I’d always been a spitfire, and proud of it. An unbreakable spirit in a world that wanted me to be quiet, small, subservient. But no longer was that spark manifesting in courage or innocent mischief. Now, it had become something destructive. Something deadly.
“I am not afraid, Devourer of Crowns. Ravager of Realms. Herald of Vengeance.”
“Every day I draw breath is as much a curse as a gift. I’ve been living on borrowed time for longer than you can imagine. If you’re the way my fate finally catches up to me, I can’t fathom a more beautiful end.”
I am so happy that my GR girlies convinced me to read this with their wonderful and stunning reviews. Book two here i come!!!...more
Books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.
All this time, I've been lost without you, and you were the
4.5 rounded up to 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.
All this time, I've been lost without you, and you were the only one who could ever find me.
Two best friends, Ralph and Jeremy vanish in a forest in West Virginia. Only to magically reappear six months later with no explanation about where they were. This however was only the beginning of their story. Fifteen years later, a girl named Emilie seek their help in finding her missing sister. Along their search we embark on a magical and magnificient journey full of wonder, laughter, hope, and love.
Meg Shaffer is a whimsical wizard. Her writing is what dreams are made of, and you can not help but to get lost in her writing. A magical storyteller whose writing keeps you hooked and gives you the cozy and comfy feeling that I look for when reading. Writing that helps you escape reality and force you to imagine and dream. Readers should definitely give this one a go, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and Random House Publishing for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review....more
There is Honestly not a rating for this book! 5 ⭐️s does not even do it justice! I have never “ugly cried” so much on a book. I even knew it was cominThere is Honestly not a rating for this book! 5 ⭐️s does not even do it justice! I have never “ugly cried” so much on a book. I even knew it was coming and couldn’t stop it. Heartwarming and Heartbreaking at the same time...more
The Women: Oh my I was so nervous going into this because historical fiction is not my usual genre. However, I could not imagine a better way to beginThe Women: Oh my I was so nervous going into this because historical fiction is not my usual genre. However, I could not imagine a better way to begin my journey into this genre and as my first Kristin Hannah book I am absolutely in love!
I enjoyed this book and was glad that not only did it show a side of war during the Vietnam but also focused on what came after coming home and the lasting affects it had on veterans and their families. A lot of the times people don’t think about the hurt and trauma that comes along with serving the county years after the fact. I was glad that Hannah dedicated part of this book to seeing that part of the trauma.
5⭐️s and I will most likely read every Kristin Hannah book now!!...more
“I’m the girl who has always loved too hard and offered too much, sometimes to those who didn’t deserve it.”
Kennedy Ryan does it again! Her writing i“I’m the girl who has always loved too hard and offered too much, sometimes to those who didn’t deserve it.”
Kennedy Ryan does it again! Her writing is so relatable and real! I know some times we read to escape reality but it’s always hits different when you read something you have experienced or gone through! I cherish and devour every word of her writing and the lasting impact it has!
“I now realize you can risk loving completely when you completely love yourself”...more
Wow! Speechless! Before I Let Go Is Such A Real and Raw Story of lust, love, hope, and second chances but also a story of heartbreak, pain, anger, andWow! Speechless! Before I Let Go Is Such A Real and Raw Story of lust, love, hope, and second chances but also a story of heartbreak, pain, anger, and depression. A story that follows the reality and authenticity behind relationships and the rollercoaster ride we go through. This story is so relatable for people in one way or another which makes it even more emotional to read! Giving us the warm and cozy moments but also the hard choices and tears behind our decisions as well! LOVED! Loved! LOVED! 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️...more
Really enjoyed this thriller! The plot was interesting and every time I thought I had it figured out …something else would come out of nowhere. It wasReally enjoyed this thriller! The plot was interesting and every time I thought I had it figured out …something else would come out of nowhere. It was a lengthy thriller but I was always entertained! ...more
4.5 ⭐️’s ….“I rather fight with you than make love with anyone else” ohhh my heart loves and adores Liz and Wes. Even though the story is set right ou4.5 ⭐️’s ….“I rather fight with you than make love with anyone else” ohhh my heart loves and adores Liz and Wes. Even though the story is set right out of a rom com movie and you know exactly what is going to happen, I still could not put it down. This book is so sweet and heartwarming, it just gives you really cute vibes! I cannot wait for the next one to come out in October!...more
"For those who feel small and quiet. Spread those wings and roar."
“Any lost opportunity to worship you is a tragedy.”
Unique, Magical, Beautifu
"For those who feel small and quiet. Spread those wings and roar."
“Any lost opportunity to worship you is a tragedy.”
Unique, Magical, Beautifully Written I put this book off for awhile because I was a little intimitated by how long it was. I finally picked this book up after seeing so many 5⭐ and ∞ ...more
This book was truly addicting! It has a vibe all its own! The mystery of the island and the characters kept you wanting more! This is my first AdriennThis book was truly addicting! It has a vibe all its own! The mystery of the island and the characters kept you wanting more! This is my first Adrienne Young novel but I can’t wait to read more from her! ...more
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