Tag Archive for: Utah Author

,

The Paradise Problem

The Paradise ProblemTitle: The Paradise Problem
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Romance
Spice: 3.5 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 340
Length: 11h 43m
Narrator: Patti Murin, Jon Root
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:

My Thoughts

I enjoyed THE PARADISE PROBLEM a lot. I loved the banter and chemistry between Anna and Liam. I loved seeing their marriage of convenience turn into a real marriage.

I found myself laughing out loud and sniggering quite a bit while I listened to the audio. I loved the setting and wished I could be on the same island with them, minus the family drama of course. I loved the ending, especially the epilogue, and I loved that a certain narcissistic bastard got what he deserved.

The Unwedding

The UnweddingTitle: The Unwedding
Author: Ally Condie
Genre: Thriller
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 337
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

I was really excited to read THE UNWEDDING because I know Ally Condie personally. When I found out Ally was writing a murder mystery, I was hoping the story would be more of a thriller. To my disappointment, it wasn’t. While the story’s suspenseful at times, I never had that edge-of-my-seat feeling I crave when reading thrillers.

Despite my disappointment with the mystery, I still found Ally’s writing a joy to read. As always, her writing has a poetic and lyrical feel and paints a clear picture of love, loss, and healing. The emotionality was my favorite part of this story. I especially loved reading the aspects of the story that were inspired in part by her life.

,

The Only Girl In Town

The Only Girl In TownTitle: The Only Girl in Town
Author: Ally Condie
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 322
Length: 6h 36m
Narrator: Elena Rey
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

My Thoughts

As always, Ally’s writing is a joy to read. She has such a poetic and lyrical way of expressing what she wants to write. I was very surprised by the actual story. I had trouble choosing a genre because of that. THE ONLY GIRL IN TOWN wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Despite my surprise, I soon found myself all in as I experienced July’s story and her effort to figure out what was going on around her. I found the story to be immersive and a beautiful take on how depression, loneliness, disappointment, and the inevitable changes in our relationships can affect our thinking and choices.

, ,

In A Holidaze

In A HolidazeTitle: In a Holidaze
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Holiday, Magical Realism, Romance
Spice: 2.5 / 5
Format: Kindle
Pages: 336
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

I was a little bit hesitant read IN A HOLIDAZE because I’m not much of a Christmas or holiday book reader. I really glad I read it because I adored practically everything about it. I zipped right through it and it helped remind me why I love to read romance. Friends-to-lovers is hands down my favorite romantic trope and the execution was excellently written, producing a bit of a steamy fast-paced romance.

I thought the Groundhog Day-esque “magic” was a lot of fun. I loved Maelyn Jones and her family, blood and found. I loved reading about their Christmas traditions in their cabin near Park City. It was especially fun to picture the mountains, snow, Christmas decorations, and the touristy beauty of my home state.

,

Resistance

ResistanceTitle: Resistance
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade
Format: Kindle
Pages: 322
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

RESISTANCE is a powerful story of courage and bravery of the Jewish people during World War II. I loved learning about the true events that took place through this fictional story. I never knew about the couriers and what they risked for their people. I also didn’t really know much about the resistance fighters within the ghettos.

I thought Nielsen did a great job at showing the Jews’ courage as they suffered at the hands of the Germans and their own countrymen, yet risked their lives to help each other. Many of the Jews knew that their resistance movements wouldn’t “win.” The goal was resistance and standing up to the Nazis and showing the world that they wouldn’t be silenced. Because of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the Allies finally decided to stop turning a blind eye to what was happening to the Jews in Europe.