goodreads – Mindy Erxleben

Hey everyone!

I know I missed my November Good Reads, but I had such a busy holiday season and wasn’t able to read as much as I wanted. But I still wanted to go over the book I did manage to read in November and the books I read in December.

The Rules of Magic

In the beginning of this book I found it hard to really commit to it. I didn’t see a clear direction for the story and admittedly put it down in favor of another book. But, I tried again and pushed through. Once the story started getting more in-depth with the characters I could not put it down.

This is a story about love, sacrifice, and the bond between siblings who are each very different. I don’t think I have ever read a book this morose though. There’s death and heartache throughout the book, but there was something about the writing that kept me reading. I would totally recommend this book to a friend.

The Bromance Book Club

Oh wow! I loved reading this book. It was witty, and charming, and goofy, and sweet all throughout the pages of this story. It was a charming spin on a busy husband changing and trying winning back the affection of his wife. This book easily made me laugh and was a story that seemed real. The character development was great and it had a flow that made following the story simple. The friend and family dynamic was also very believable and I often read parts that made me think of certain people in my life saying the exact same thing.

When there is a refreshing story that actually evokes laughter as I read it I always recommend it to a friend or family member. I have already done so for this book and I’m waiting on their opinion of the story! Definitely a must read.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

I love a good bookstore romance and I ready enjoyed this story. It was cute and full of banter that kept me giggling throughout the book. When I was reading I actually found myself inspired to alphabetize my own library (which by the way, took all night)! There were adorable friendships and relatable rivalries that kept adding to this stories charm.

I would absolutely recommend this book to a friend! It definitely makes you thankful for that you have and eager to go out and accomplish more with yourself. I’m currently looking into new activities and groups to join to broaden my interests.

There we have it!

These were the books that I did manage to squeeze in last November and December. They were on my TBR and I’m so happy I was able to check them off of the list! As always, let me know if you have any recommendations or if you just have something to say about the books listed.

Until next time, happy reading!

Hello Everyone!

I thought it would be fun to start sharing the books that I’ve read each month and would actually recommend to friends and family. Reading has always been a huge part of my life and has continued to help me through troubled times. I am constantly reading whether it is an escape from reality, a feel-good read, or just learning about a new interest.

I read through a lot of genres, so there will be books ranging from Young Adult to Romance.

In the reviews I’ll give a summary of the plot (no spoilers), what I thought about it and why I’m recommending these books. So, let’s jump in!

The Wife Between Us

This is a truly wild ride co-written by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. This book is the best Psychological Thriller I have ever read! I thought I had it all figured out, a typical story about a psycho ex-wife who is stalking the ‘new woman’. Oh boy was I wrong.

We are first introduced to Vanessa who has been divorced for about a year and working at Saks while living with her aunt. Her ex-husband, Richard, is a successful hedge fund manager and is currently engaged to a woman named Nellie.

The book begins with Vanessa watching Nellie and that is where I automatically thought it was going to be a simple to follow jealousy plot. See, that’s where I messed up, I assumed I knew what was going to happen next. The best advice I can give to someone reading this masterpiece is to not assume you know what is happening.

This story has so many twists and turns that I was honestly mislead many times. The further I read, the more things made sense. By the time I had finished the story it had taken the understanding I thought I had and tossed it out the window. This books ending was much better than anything I could have anticipated.

While the story is amazing, I wasn’t able to connect with any of the characters. There was not much within the story that I have experienced in my own life. If a reader could find common ground with any of the characters, combined with the utter intensity I’ll bet this will make their top five reads. I recommend this book to anyone just looking for an exciting read with an even better ending.

Red, White & Royal Blue

Our author, Casey McQuiston, does a great job of combining things I do not have a passion for, like Politics and History, and somehow use them to highlight a great romance.

In this book we follow Alex Claremont-Diaz, the U.S. President’s son and aspiring politician himself. During a long-standing rivalry with Prince Henry of Wales and after an altercation at a royal event, they are forced to appear as friends and allies.

It’s quickly realized that they’ve gotten off on the wrong foot and begin to find common ground. The characters are admirable with their abilities to overcome problems with society throughout their clashes. Family is a huge factor in this story and really helps to mold the two young men. In spite of Alex’s pride and Henry’s royal maternal ‘apron strings’, we can’t help falling in love with our boys by the end.

I read this Young Adult romance novel earlier this month when I honestly just needed to smile about something. The story was able to make me smile, laugh, and cry throughout my read. I would really recommend this book to both adults and young adults for its wit and humor. This book was on an end-cap at my local Bookstore and I’m happy I decided to give it a try.

Behind Her Eyes

Behind Her Eyes is another Psychological Thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. Sarah Pinborough does an amazing job with this story and is able to keep you reading for hours on end.

This story seems like your typical romance plot when Louise, a single mom at a bar connects with a stranger. When she goes in to work Monday morning the ‘mystery man’ turns out to be her new boss, David. To make things worse, David has a picture-perfect wife named Adele who is everything that Louise isn’t.

Louise befriends Adele one day in town and they start to share secrets and hang-out often. The closer Louise gets to Adele, the more we find wrong with her marriage.

This is an emotional roller-coaster and I LOVED it. It was easy to get in to plus the story did a great job with character development. Adele’s backstory had me hooked and shocked once I got to the later chapters. So, if you’re looking for a quick read that isn’t predictable this will definitely throw you for a loop and have you wanting more!

There we have it!

These were great books that I read this month. I would love to keep this going and read some of your favorites as well. Comment down below if you have a book you would like me to read this November. Until then, Happy Reading!