Sunday Post (3)/It's Monday What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. In Sheila's absence you can participate by sharing your post on Twitter #IMWAYR.

I am just getting over a bad head cold that was making its rounds at work. It is nice to finally feel better though I still need to keep tissues nearby. The timing worked out well since I am taking a trip this coming weekend to Williamsburg, Virginia. I've always wanted to see Colonial Williamsburg. I'd hoped to pick up a travel guide at Barnes and Noble but their U.S. travel book section kind of sucked. Nothing on Virginia at all. I will have to do some research online this week.

This past weekend I visited my sister and also got to see my parents when they drove over to her house on Sunday. The weather was beautiful and we spent a lot of time outdoors. Unfortunately I neglected to apply sunscreen to my face and though I didn't burn (one of the perks of my skin tone) I do have a very red nose at the moment. I think I learned a valuable lesson :)

Last two weeks on my blog:

All the Rage by Courtney Summers (review)
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (review)

Books read:

Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

I liked this book but I preferred Emery Lord's The Start of Me and You. Both books look at how a teenage girl moves on after the death of her boyfriend. I think what bothered me about Things We Know By Heart was Quinn's continuous lying though I did like her close relationship with her family. The book reminded me a lot of the film Return to Me but in the film the heart transplant patient falls in love with the grieving widower who doesn't know she has his wife's heart.

All the Rage by Courtney Summers

This was definitely a powerful and emotional story. I already posted my review while my thoughts were fresh.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

This is a charming book about a grumpy man whose life is changed when new neighbors move in. There is humor as well as some touching moments. My entire book group loved it. Perfect for fans of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.

First Time in Forever by Sarah Morgan

Not my favorite of her books but I liked the setting and I plan to try the rest of the series.

Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

Almost as good as Still Alice and there are some really emotional moments. The story is set up very similarly to that book but the author does a good job with the setting and nailing the voice of the male narrator (in my opinion anyway). I learned a lot about Huntington's Disease which is incurable and genetically transferred. Keep tissues on hand!

Currently reading:

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

I am hopefully going to finish this in the next few days. I really like this retelling of Beauty and the Beast with fairies. Not quite a teen novel as it is a little steamier (though not as steamy as some of the "bodice rippers" I read as a teen).

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas (reread)

I am listening to this one on audio and I like the narrator. I think he does a great job portraying both Iolanthe and Titus. It is interesting to me that I absolutely loved the book when I first read it but now as I reread it I feel frustrated with the main characters. It is still an excellent book though!

What I plan to read next:

Nowhere but Here by Katie McGarry

New books received:

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me by Meredith Zeitlin

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry (review)