Book Review -- "Jane Anonymous"

Wow -- 2019 is seriously winding down at lightning speed, and the days are flying by faster than I can keep up with.

This is officially the latest I have ever put my Christmas tree up, and I haven't even begun to get started on my Christmas cards.  But, as my girl Scarlett O'Hara would say, "I can't think about that right now.  If I do, I'll go crazy."  

As for now, I'll leave you with a good book recommendation to kick the new year off with.  This one releases January 7th, and I'd go ahead and pre-order this one right now.  If you like young adult fiction at all, I think this one will be a real hit for you!

Jane Anonymous
 by Laurie Faria Stolarz

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Special thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jane's story takes place in an average, unnamed, New England suburb.  Much like her community, "Jane" is just an average girl living an average teenage life.  She has a job she enjoys, friends she can count on, and a crush on a cute boy.  Due to a chain of events one morning the summer before her senior year, Jane's whole life is turned upside down and will never be the same.

What started out as a normal morning quickly turned into something from a horror story.  When Jane visits Norma's Closet, the boutique where she works, to retrieve a birthday gift for her best friend Shelley, a strange man peeks through the door at her and convinces her to let him in.  Pretending to be shopping for an anniversary gift for his girlfriend, the man chats Jane up for a bit before eventually kidnapping Jane, stowing her away in his trunk, and whisking her away to an unknown location where she's held captive for the next seven months.

Told in alternating chapters of "THEN" and "NOW," readers embark on an emotional journey with Jane as she grapples with life held captive, as well as life as a free woman again.  Jane is smart, resourceful, and strong -- the best kind of character to root for -- and her story is one that every reader will feel invested in.

Jane Anonymous is hands-down one of the best YA books I've read in quite a while.  It has a vibe much like Sadie did, and I foresee this one being a book I'll find hard to keep on the shelf.  Kudos to Laurie Faria Stolarz for a job well done on this one!

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Want to read along with me?  Here are the next few books I'm looking forward to reading!

1.  "Followers" by Megan Angelo -- I recently received an advance copy of this from the publisher, and it sounds like such an intriguing storyline.  Science-fiction is not my favorite genre, but this one sounds like a concept I might like.  I can't wait to dive into this one over Christmas break!

2.  "You May Now Kill the Bride" by R. L. Stine -- Oh my goodness, if this doesn't bring back some 90s memories, nothing will!  And the cover....how gorgeous is this?!

3.  "A Short History of the Girl Next Door" by Jared Reck -- I am currently listening to this one, since it is on my book club's list for this year.  So far, so good!
4.  "Ann Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation"  -- I have been trying to read a few graphic novels here and there, since my students really love them, and this one is so, so good.  The photos are stunning and are so powerful.  Highly recommend this one! 

I'd love for you to comment below with any book recommendations you might like to throw my way!  While my TBR (To Be Read) pile is mile-high, there is ALWAYS room for more!  HAPPY READING!

Book Review -- "Hope and Other Punch Lines" by Julie Buxbaum

When I reflect back upon the day of the September 11th attacks, my first memory is always of how disappointingly uneducated I was when it came to matters of the world around me. 

September 11, 2001, was the first day of my Block 3 student teaching, which was a fact that had nearly paralyzed me with panic just the evening before.  I had always known I wanted to be a teacher, but when it came down to standing before a class of middle school students and attempting to be the adult in the room -- I just didn't feel qualified yet.  And let's be honest, I most certainly was not.

So when I woke up the morning of 9/11 and was gearing up for this next step in my quest to be a teacher, it never occurred to me that what was going on in the world news was anything I should concern myself with.  Even when I arrived at my assigned middle school, only to find everyone in a bit of a tizz and turning on every television in sight, I still didn't fully comprehend what was happening.

When I look back on that day, and in the days that followed, I'm still not even sure I understood the gravity of what was unfolding in that beautiful city, and in our nation as a whole.  Sure I blared the Toby Keith and Alan Jackson songs, and sang along to them like a true patriot, but I think it was only years later, and with much maturity later, that I could finally wrap my mind around the events of that day.

It's so interesting to me now that the subject of 9/11 has been a trending backdrop for many YA novels recently.  While most have been books that just did not pique my interest, I found myself picking Hope and Other Punch Lines up multiple times.  For one, I was so drawn to this beautiful cover.  And for another, I found the plot to be a unique perspective on an event that most of us can only envision through photographs.  In the end, I read this book in just a few short days, and found it to be a charming and captivating story about the effects of 9/11 on two teenagers' lives, as well as the lives of those around them.

Readers who like realistic young adult fiction will certainly love this one.  It is the perfect mix of friendship, humor, and a little bit of romance.  💕

Hope and Other Punch Lines
 by Julie Buxbaum

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

"There's no way that in less than twenty-four hours you could make out with a cool girl, find out your dad, who you thought was alive all these years, is definitely, a hundred percent dead and like this major hero, and then have your almost-first girlfriend die, who also happens to be, like, this national icon.  That would be too ridiculous, even for you, Noah." 

"You know what I think? I think the reason high school sucks is because it feels too small.  Like a too-tight turtleneck.  And even if you are brave enough to molt, there's all these people around you still, like, holding up and showing you your old skin."

Abbi Hope Goldstein is just a typical sixteen-year-old girl.  Except not at all.  She is also known as "Baby Hope," a fact she tries desperately to hide from those few who don't already know.  While Abbi craves anonymity, the world around her can't seem to let go of what her past, and what Baby Hope in particular, symbolize to them.

On that fateful day of September 11, a photographer managed to capture an image of Baby Hope and others who were fleeing the mayhem behind them.  To many, the photo came to embody hope, particularly because of the sweet baby girl wearing a birthday crown and holding a red balloon, completely unfazed by the horror raging around her.  To others, the photo, and thus Abbi herself, represent unfathomable loss and heartache.

When Abbi decides to spend her summer at Knight's Day Camp, presumably with people who are clueless as to her identity as "Baby Hope," she finds friendship in unexpected ways.  Her relationship with aspiring comedian Noah Stern, in particular, is one she never saw coming.

While much of the story has to do with the tragedy of 9/11, of course, this is not a dark and depressing read.  Just looking at the beautiful cover alone should tell any reader that much.  There is a lot of humor woven into the story, and the characters are absolutely delightful.  I would recommend this to any reader who enjoys realistic fiction.

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Want to read along with me?  Here are the next few books I'm looking forward to reading!

1.  "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple -- I think I'm a little late in jumping on the Bernadette bandwagon, but after seeing this book in our book fair this past week, I knew it was time I gave it a whirl.  It has been dubbed an "aspiring comedy," which there just isn't enough of in life.

2.  "Dear Evan Hansen" by Val Emmich -- I heard a review of this book at my librarian's conference this Spring, and was very intrigued.  It is a Broadway musical that has been adapted into novel form.  Not only that, but Universal Pictures has purchased the rights to make a film version of this, which is always promising!

3.  "Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose" by Rebekah Lyons -- I saw Rebekah speak at a Lifeway women's conference in Nashville years ago, and she made a lasting impression on me, to say the least.  I began listening to her podcast in August, and she just has the most soothing voice and the most special message for women who live busy lives.  I can't wait to dive into this one.  Bonus -- the book is absolutely beautiful!
4.  "Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster" by Adam Higginbotham -- Okay, so I may be way in over my head on this one.  For whatever reason, I have picked this book up several times in the last six months, but have never dove into it.  When I saw that it was likely going to be the November Book Club for Introverts book, I threw it onto my November TBR pile as quickly as I could!

I'd love for you to comment below with any book recommendations you might like to throw my way!  While my TBR (To Be Read) pile is mile-high, there is ALWAYS room for more!  HAPPY READING!

Book Review -- "Finding Chika" by Mitch Albom

This past year I have managed to hit an all-time high for the number of books I've read (YAY FOR ME!), but for some reason I have let this little blog slip my mind and have failed to post many of my book reviews here for those two or three of you who check in to read them (YAY FOR YOU!).  

Writing book reviews is an important process for me, even though most reviews I write are fairly concise and certainly nothing too earth-shattering.  My main reason for taking the time to write them is simply so that I will better remember the books I read.  My brain is crammed full of bookish info, so writing short book reviews is a way for me to file away little tidbits of information for future reference, conversations, etc.

As I mentioned, this year I have already far surpassed my reading goal, and there are still two months left in the year!  There are a number of reasons for this, but mostly it all boils down to just having a more peace-filled year I think.  When there is a sense of peace in my everyday life, there you will find me a happy and content reader.

Another reason I try to find time to write short book reviews is that I often read ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) that publishers have sent me, so I feel a responsibility to rate and review these books I've been gifted with.  So far this year, I have been mailed 30+ ARCs, which is super exciting stuff to a nerdy girl like me!  Not all have been books I would have chosen to read on my own, so I've often stretched out of my reading comfort zone and have, for the most part, been pleasantly surprised.

The book below is a perfect example of this.  Although I have read Mitch Albom's works before, I wouldn't necessarily say he is an author I gravitate toward.  He dabbles a little too closely in the heartache and finality of life for me, but I did find his latest book to be one I would recommend.

Below you'll find my review for Albom's new memoir, set to release in early November.

Finding Chika:  A Little Girl, An Earthquake, and the Making of a Family
 by Mitch Albom

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Special thank you to Harper Collins for gifting me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.  
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Mitch Albom is no stranger to the best-sellers lists, and certainly takes the literary world by storm with each book he releases.  Finding Chika will be no different with its release in November.

Finding Chika is the heart-warming story of Chika Jeune, a Haitian orphan born just a few short days before the devastating earthquake of 2010.  Following the death of her mother, Chika was brought to the orphanage that Albom operates.  This chance encounter between Albom and Chika set off a chain of events that forever change the course of both of their lives.  Once Chika is diagnosed with a disease that can not be treated in her homeland, Mitch and his wife Janine make the decision to bring Chika to America, and thus into their hearts and into their home.

The book is told in an interesting point of view -- told in hindsight, with Chika often leading the conversations herself.  This added a very personal element to the memoir, I thought, with the reader really feeling the heartache and emotions that the Albom family must have experienced.

While this is not necessarily an uplifting, feel-good tale, it is a celebration of life story.  Like all of Albom's works, it is a very quick, read-in-one-sitting kind of book.

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Want to read along with me?  Here are the next few books I'm looking forward to reading!

1.  "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple -- I think I'm a little late in jumping on the Bernadette bandwagon, but after seeing this book in our book fair this past week, I knew it was time I gave it a whirl.  It has been dubbed an "aspiring comedy," which there just isn't enough of in life.

2.  "Dear Evan Hansen" by Val Emmich -- I heard a review of this book at my librarian's conference this Spring, and was very intrigued.  It is a Broadway musical that has been adapted into novel form.  Not only that, but Universal Pictures has purchased the rights to make a film version of this, which is always promising!

3.  "Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose" by Rebekah Lyons -- I saw Rebekah speak at a Lifeway women's conference in Nashville years ago, and she made a lasting impression on me, to say the least.  I began listening to her podcast in August, and she just has the most soothing voice and the most special message for women who live busy lives.  I can't wait to dive into this one.  Bonus -- the book is absolutely beautiful!

I'd love for you to comment below with any book recommendations you might like to throw my way!  While my TBR (To Be Read) pile is mile-high, there is ALWAYS room for more!  HAPPY READING!

Book Review -- "It's a Love Story"

In my last post, I made reference to a few different podcasts that I adore, and one of my big favorites from the past few months has been the I Hate Green Beans podcast by Lincee Ray.  I heard through the grapevine she had hilarious Bachelor recaps, and that was all I needed to know about her.

Here are a few things you need to know about me, though, and if some of these character traits are similar to your own, you need to look up my girl Lincee, too.

1.  I love me some Bachelor franchise.  All of it.  Since the very start of the television train wreck we now know and love, I've been in it 1000%.  It is terrible and awful and scripted beyond belief, but it is my greatest guilty pleasure.  Also -- we need to band together to hook Chris Harrison and Lincee up.  Match made in heaven!

2.  I love humor.  I love people who do not take themselves too seriously, and I especially love people who snort when they laugh.  Funny is fantastic, and is what makes the world go 'round.

3.  I love my people.  My people in my cozy little home, my crazy close-knit family, my wacky family tree, my work friends, my church friends, and all other people in between.  I just love people.  

4.  I love Jesus.  Period.  End of story.

So, all that being said -- please do yourself a favor and look up Lincee Ray.  Buy her books (they're hilarious, by the way).  Follow her on Insta, and the Facepage, and all other means of stalking that you wish.  She's the bomb.

As if all my gushing about her weren't enough -- I was actually chosen to be a part of the launch team for her new book.  AND if that isn't cool enough, that means that I've been privy to a special little group of people who have been able to communicate with her over the last few weeks on social media as far as how special we think her book is.  It has been delightful, to say the least.  

I'm not sure I would survive on this earth without good books to read like Lincee's, and I'm certain this world is a much better place for having her in it.

Kudos, Lincee, for being a fabulous human and a superb storyteller!    

You can read my full review of her latest book, hitting shelves April 30th, below.

It's a Love Story:  From Happily to Ever After by Lincee Ray

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

“Don't hesitate. Rise up. Serve. Make a difference.”

"Until we reunite with our Maker face-to-face, we'll settle for substitutes to satiate our longing.  Romantic movies and poetic story lines will fill us with faith.  Gorgeous lyrics will fill our ears with hope.  And intentional relationships with our families and friends will fill our hearts with love."

I so adore Lincee Ray for so many reasons that I could never list them all here -- same as I do Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson.  I really and truly want to be BFFs with them.  That being said, Lincee's writing style is my absolute favorite kind of writing to read.  She's very witty, but there is substance to each memory she reflects upon and each story she tells.  Just as with her first book, I devoured this book in a few short days -- and if my people would have left me alone, I would have devoured it in one sitting.  That's how much I love this book and how much I love Lincee Ray.  

I recommend this book to those gals who love love.  The silly love.  The TV and movie love.  The passionate love.  The scary love.  The embarrassing love.  The fake love.  The real love.  And the love that surpasses all others -- the love of Jesus Christ.

If reading is not for you, and I get that some people are just not readers, please check out Lincee on iTunes.  Her podcast will liven up your drive to work.  Promise.

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Want to read along with me?  Here are the books I'm currently enjoying (or not):

1.  "Every Breath" by Nicholas Sparks -- For years I swore I would never read another Nicholas Sparks novel, but inevitably I would find myself plunging down that dark and teary path each time he released a new one.  The last few have been MUCH BETTER and much less soul-stealing than some of his previous works.  I do NOT like sad books.  I like happy.  I like funny.  I like dark and twisted.  Sad?  NO THANK YOU.  I'm anxious to see how this one turns out.  So far, so good.

2.  "The Library Book" by Susan Orlean -- This book has been featured everywhere recently, so when we got it in our library at school, I knew I had to read it.  For one thing, it's just a gorgeous book.  For another -- DUH....it's "The Library Book"!  I'm very nearly finished with it, and I'll be honest -- some parts have me captivated, while other parts seem to get a bit bogged down with names and mundane history.  Stay tuned for my review when I finally finish it!

3.  "Making God Smile: Living the Fruit of the Spirit One Day at a Time" by Kim Henry -- I won this devotional in an Instagram giveaway a few months ago, and it seemed like the perfect one to read this year.  I love to start each day with something inspiring, and what's more inspiring than the idea of the fruits of the spirit?

I'd love for you to comment below with any book recommendations you might like to throw my way!  While my TBR (To Be Read) pile is mile-high, there is ALWAYS room for more!  HAPPY READING!

Book Review -- "A Very Large Expanse of Sea"

Well, it's official.  I am breaking up with Audible.

I gave it a whirl.  I tried really hard.  But, ultimately, audio books are just not for me.

I first tried Audible this past summer when we were embarking on our ninety-hour Beta roadtrip to Savannah.  Each time I plugged my earbuds in and tried to get comfy and listen to the supposedly hilarious book, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I would immediately enter the Twilight Zone and would not catch a single thing going on in the story.  This book had been getting rave reviews for quite some time, so I knew it wasn't the book -- it was me.

It took me months to get through Eleanor...., and I tried a few shorter audio books after that one.  They were just -- ok.  Again, books that were getting awesome reviews.  I recently tried listening to Next Year in Havana, endorsed by none other than Reese Witherspoon herself, but halfway through it I hung it up and declared that I CAN NOT DO IT ANY MORE. 

I came to the conclusion that it is the monotony of the single voice reading to me that causes me to enter that Twilight Zone each time I hit PLAY.  This is not especially helpful to someone who is already easily distracted while driving.  Yikes.

On the other hand, I have discovered that podcasts might be a better suit for me.  They're short and sweet, usually, and typically have multiple people speaking in conversational tones.  I'M HOOKED.  The podcasts I'm loving right now are:

-- I Hate Green Beans -- A hilarious look at pop culture and The Bachelor franchise by author Lincee Ray.  I loved Lincee's book by the same name and can't wait until her next book comes out in April!  
-- Big Boo Cast -- This podcast features two of my spirit animals, Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson (AKA Big Mama and Boo Mama) as they discuss everything from religion to Netflix to fashion.  I first saw these ladies speak at an engagement in Nashville years ago, and have since read everything they've published.  I want to be besties with them, basically.
-- The Bible Binge -- Using pop culture literacy to enhance biblical literacy?  Yes, please!  With equal parts humor and insight, Knox and Jamie are currently reviewing the "Shady Ladies" of the Bible, and I love it.
-- Pardon the Mess -- This is a Christian parenting podcast that features honest discussions from real people about the messy life that is parenting in today's culture.  Sign.  Me.  Up.  

I look forward to each of these every week, and they all offer something different to me in terms of entertainment, which is ultimately what I'm looking for after all!

All that being said, I have read a few good books here lately, but have failed miserably at formally reviewing them.  Just this past week I finished the one below, and although I do not typically recommend YA fiction to adults, too, this one was a bit hit for me.  

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

“The pain became a drumbeat; a rhythm I could write a song to. It was always there, stark and steady, rarely abating. I learned to drown out the sound during the day, but at night it screamed through the hole in my chest.”

In this new work of YA (Young Adult) fiction, readers follow Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim student, as she navigates life in yet another new town.  The year is 2002, a tumultuous time in our country, to say the least, and for Shirin -- life couldn't get much harder.  While Shirin is accustomed to being somewhat of a loner, what she is not accustomed to is the sincere attention of a boy.  And not just any boy, but the school's star athlete and golden boy, Ocean James.

As an adult reading YA fiction, it is often difficult to relate to the characters in novels, and is especially difficult sometimes to become emotionally invested in their stories.  As for this novel, though, I could not possibly root for these characters any more than I did.  I wanted so badly for things to work out for them and for them to find peace and comfort in their respective worlds. 

It is so rare that I find a YA book that I absolutely can not put down, but this book honestly was that engrossing.  I found myself looking forward to any spare moment I could steal away to get through a few pages.  I will say, though, that I did rate it 4 stars, as opposed to 5, due to the language and the ending being a little less than I had hoped for.  While I fully realize that teenagers often speak with a flair for profanity, I find it quite distracting in a lot of YA lit.  Otherwise -- this would have been FIVE STARS alllllllll the way.

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Want to read along with me?  Here are the books I'm currently enjoying (or not):

1.  "Little Darlings" by Melanie Golding -- This book will be published at the end of April, and I'm thrilled to have the honor of reading a pre-publication copy of it.  I've seen quite a bit of buzz about it, and I'm always a sucker for psychological thrillers.  This one appears to have a unique storyline, so I can't wait to dive in!

2.  "The Library Book" by Susan Orlean -- This book has been featured everywhere recently, so when we got it in our library at school, I knew I had to read it.  For one thing, it's just a gorgeous book.  For another -- DUH....it's "The Library Book"!  I'm about halfway finished with it, and I'll be honest -- some parts have me captivated, while other parts seem to get a bit bogged down with names and mundane history.  Stay tuned for my review when I finally finish it!

3.  "Making God Smile: Living the Fruit of the Spirit One Day at a Time" by Kim Henry -- I won this devotional in an Instagram giveaway a few months ago, and it seemed like the perfect one to read this year.  I love to start each day with something inspiring, and what's more inspiring than the idea of the fruits of the spirit?

I'd love for you to comment below with any book recommendations you might like to throw my way!  While my TBR (To Be Read) pile is mile-high, there is ALWAYS room for more!  HAPPY READING!

Book Review -- "The Suspect"

Do you ever have one of those days where everything is just a little off?  

Come on, I know you do!

Well, today is one of those days, proven by the fact that I just managed to type OVER my last blog post this evening, thus deleting it forever.  

Buh-bye.

In my previous post, which sadly just made its way into cyberspace, I laid out my 2019 reading plan, which I will not try to recreate.  The important thing to note is that I plan to focus on five books each month.  One "advance reader copy," one audio book, one book from my DHS library, a devotional, and a Bible study book.  

Somehow, I am ahead of the game already this year, and have completed one ARC and a DHS library book this month.  Bring on the snow days, Mother Nature, so I can keep this up!

At any rate, here is my latest book review for a superb work of fiction, just released today.  Get your hands on it HERE, HERE, or wherever books are sold.  It has been featured on allllll the book lists for 2019, and for good reason.  Psychological thrillers are my jam, and this one is worthy of all the praise. 

The Suspect by Fiona Barton

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

“Ah, but we are all stars of our own reality shows now, sir. Didn't you know?”

In this latest dark and twisting psychological thriller, two families experience their worst nightmare when their teenage daughters embark on a journey to Thailand that goes horribly awry.  After the girls fail to phone home to learn the results of their A-level exams, their parents realize something is terribly wrong and that the girls are in danger.

Alex O'Connor has planned this trip down to the moment in her meticulous itinerary.  With the intention of taking a "gap year," for which she has been scrimping and saving for, Alex can not wait to visit all the sights and scenery that Thailand has to offer.  After her best friend backs out of the trip, Rosie Shaw appears on the scene, begging Alex to take her along as a replacement.  It is not long into the journey when Alex realizes she and Rosie have very different plans for this trip, as Rosie has no intentions of following Alex's schedule.

Told in alternating points of view from "The Reporter" Kate Waters, "The Mother" Lesley O'Connor, and "The Detective" Bob Sparks, as well as posts and emails from Alex herself, readers go on an unforgettable journey into the sinister underbelly of Thailand as these three unravel the mystery of the missing girls.  Kate Waters has a secret of her own, though, which involves her son's own journey to Thailand more than two years prior.  Could he be connected to this story, and will that damage Kate's professional reputation if he is?

I absolutely devoured this book, finishing the good majority of it in just two days.  Each twist and turn in the story was as unexpected as the last, down to the final page.  Kudos to Fiona Barton for a job well done!

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Want to read along with me?  Here are the five I'm currently enjoying (or not):

1.  "The Couple Next Door" by Shari Lapena -- Since I have already finished one ARC for this month, I decided to read this one.  It is fairly short, has great reviews, and came recommended by a trusted book-lovin' friend.

2.  "Next Year in Havana" by Chanel Cleeton -- I'm a few hours into this one, and I can't decide how I feel about it just yet.  For one, I bet I would love it more if it was a book in my pretty little hands.  Maybe I'm just not made for audio fiction.

3.  "Once Upon a River" by Diane Setterfield -- I recently signed on to participate in the Goodreads online book club, Book Club for Introverts, and I am loving it!  I have never been a part of a book club, and I have found it so nice to chat with others about the chapters in this beautifully told story.  I would never have picked this book myself, and I have been so pleasantly surprised!

4.  "Everyday Holy: Finding a Big God in the Little Moments" by Melanie Shankle -- Melanie is my spirit animal, and her devotions get each of my days off to a bright start!

5.  "Understanding Your Blessings in Christ: Ephesians" by Elizabeth George -- I'm down to my final lesson in this awesome, awesome book.  Bummer!

Book Review -- "The Red Address Book"

Well, it's the first day of a brand-new year.  Hip, hip, horray!

2018 was a very weird year.  Much like 2017.  And, well, 2016.

If our method of ringing in the new year is any indication of what 2019 will be like, well it is sure to be a weird one, too.  

Our little family's NYE tradition is to devour crab legs and shrimp like it's our job.  We started this a few years back, and it seemed like a tradition that perfectly suited our crew, and it has stuck.  Every NYE, I boil a huge mess of crab legs, shrimp, sausage, corn on the cobb, and potatoes, and we feast like kings all night long.

That part of our NYE celebration was on-point.  It was the next bit that followed that makes me question where we are in life.  For the next few hours following our delicious meal, we opted to lounge in the living room watching a marathon of Dr. Pimple Popper, until we finally retired to bed at about 11PM.  

If I'm lying, I'm dying.  I don't even know what else I can say about it, except to say we've definitely set the bar pretty high for future Hobgood family NYE celebrations.

All that NYE madness aside, I did manage to squeeze one last book in for 2018, and it was AMAZING.  

As I've previously mentioned, I am a Goodreads geek.  I love to set an annual reading goal for myself, which is typically 30 books per year.  This year I was able to surpass my goal just a bit by reading 31.

My top five favorites this year were:

1.  "The Au Pair" by Emma Rous
2.  "The Red Address Book" by Sofia Lundberg
3.  "Educated" by Tara Westover
4.  "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult
5.  "All We Ever Wanted" by Emily Giffin

I've read some pretty great ones this year, but I think if I had to choose -- those would be my faves for the year.  A great mix of mystery and suspense, historical and realistic fiction, feel-good chic-lit, and a memoir.

My TBR ("To Be Read" for all you non-geeks) pile for 2019 is growing by the day, and I can't wait to dive right in this week to get this year's nerdy party started.

Read below for a review of my recently finished book.  It is FANTASTIC, and you're going to want to get your hands on this one when it is released this week!

The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Special thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for gifting me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.  

"I wish you enough.  Enough sun to light up your days, enough rain that you appreciate the sun.  Enough joy to strengthen your soul, enough pain that you can appreciate life's small moments of happiness.  And enough friends that you can manage a farewell now and then."

Doris, 96 years young, has come to grips with the fact that she is finally at the end of her years.  While she has lived a life filled-to-the-brim with experience and excitement, there are so many details of her life that she has yet to share with those closest to her, namely her great-niece Jenny.

Through a series of entries in her decades-old red address book, a gift from her father, Doris relives the past of those who have come and gone in her long life -- both those whose memories cause her great sadness, and those who cause her immense joy.  Doris decides to put pen to paper, and preserves her past in a series of stories that she leaves behind for Jenny to read.

From her Stockholm apartment where Doris now lives, to glimpses of her past in both Paris and America, this novel paints the portrait of a life lived to the fullest -- through both good times and bad.

While this book has been published in 28 countries around the world, it will be making its American debut this week.  I can't recommend this book enough, and it is the perfect one to curl up with this winter.  Readers will not be able to put it down until the last page is turned.  It's THAT enchanting!

Pre-order today on Amazon or Barnes & Noble before its January 8th release!

✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴

Next on my list for review in January -- "An Improbable Pairing" by Gary Dickson, as well as "The Memory Book" by Lara Avery!