Book Of The Month – Current Book Stack

November 30, 2021

Not A Happy Family

Thoughts: If you’re looking for a suspenseful mystery this was great. The three Merton children attend Easter at their parents estate and all leave after an argument. That Tuesday they all receive the news that their parents were killed in their home, and that they’ll all be getting their large inheritances earlier than expected. With millions to be divided the police naturally look at them all as suspects and you are kept on the edge of your seat until the very last page figuring out who did it. This was one of the few books I’ve finished in a day recently but I couldn’t put it down! You change your mind and question yourself the entire time and the dynamics of the family themselves are great. They remind me of the family from succession and it made me want to do a rewatch before season three.

Summary: Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You have to be rich to have a house there, and Fred and Sheila Merton certainly are rich. But even all their money can’t protect them when a killer comes to call. The Mertons are brutally murdered after a fraught Easter dinner with their three adult kids. Who, of course, are devastated.

Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their vindictive father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of the siblings is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did someone snap after that dreadful evening? Or did another person appear later that night with the worst of intentions? That must be what happened. After all, if one of the family were capable of something as gruesome as this, you’d know.

November 30, 2021

56 Days

Thoughts: If you’re not ready to read a book about COVID, skip this one. BUT if you’re open to it, this was an interesting thriller! The story takes place in March of 2020, we follow two people who met right before everything happens so they decide to move in together for the ‘two week’ shutdown. We soon learn that both have their secrets, and shocking I know, but moving in with someone you just meet wasn’t the best decision. The narration style showed multiple POV’s which I prefer and as you start to learn more they fill in knowledge gaps well. I thought I figured out the end at one point and was disappointed but I actually was surprised by the final few twists. It was a quick read but it was a little weird thinking about how confused and optimistic we all were last March.

Summary:

56 DAYS AGO

Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores.

35 DAYS AGO

When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who — and what — he really is.

TODAY

Detectives arrive at Oliver’s apartment to discover a decomposing body inside.

Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?

November 30, 2021

Malibu Rising

Thoughts: I went into this blindly, I saw the author was Taylor Jenkins Reid and picked it as my book of the month. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was my favorite book of 2020 so I was excited to dig in and I was not disappointed. The two books live in the same universe and there is some overlap which was exciting as a fan. The story follows four siblings living in Malibu throwing a big party, as well as the history of their family and how they got to where they are. I would say it’s a mix of Seven Husbands meets a west coast Outerbanks. I loved it, it hit every emotion for me and as soon as it ended I wanted more.

Summary: Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.

November 30, 2021

The Last Thing He Told Me

Thoughts: I read this book in one sitting, besides turning pages, I really don’t think I moved until I finished. Hannah receives a note written by her husband saying ‘Protect Her’ and then discovers he has disappeared. Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey not satisfied with the responses they’re getting from the FBI start their own search but find out much more about his past than expected. This was a great page turner without being too close to a thriller. If you’re looking for a good MDW beach read this would be ideal!

Summary: Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.

November 30, 2021

The Lost Apothecary

Thoughts: This was my BOTM pick for March and I really enjoyed it. Nella runs an apothecary in the 1700s with two rules, the poisons must be used on men and the names will be recorded so it’s part of someone’s history. In current day London Caroline is on her anniversary trip, alone, and starts to unravel the history of the hidden apothecary.

Summary: Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.

Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

February 1, 2021

January Book Stack

Breaking down what I read in January and how I’d rate everything. Looking back I realized I didn’t fall into my normal routine of reading all one genre which I was happy about. I feel like I usually end up reading 3 of the same books in a row and then mix up plots and characters so I’m going to try to stick to mixing it up this year. I’m currently 6 books into my 75 book goal for the year so we’re moving at a good pace!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Do I even need to elaborate? Two more left in my reread and I already don’t want it to end.

Black Buck

Loved this book, it was a great balance between entertainment and life advice. The story telling was captivating and I walked away with a lot of great lessons on sales and how to interact with others.

Leave the World Behind

I really didn’t enjoy this book. It was hard to follow at times and there were parts included that seemed like big events that we just never heard about again. The ending was abrupt and had no real resolution or explanation to what was happening so I was left really unsatisfied.

The Dating Plan

I loved this one. A sweet romcom with characters you’re really rooting for. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a quick light hearted story. I got this as my Book of the Month for January.

The Only Child

Randomly picked this up in the used section of the bookstore. It was essentially Mind Hunter meets bad horror movie but I enjoyed it.

Moonflower Murders

This was great, if you love mysteries just start diving head first into Anthony Horowitz. This is a follow up to Magpie Murders so I’d suggest reading that first.

January 9, 2021November 30, 2021

This Time Next Year

Pairs well with: NYE champagne

I tend to go through periods where I read too many thrillers and need to mix in a lighter romance book and this one was perfect for that. It was a really sweet book with relatable characters, and a fun concept. It also was a nice way to escape what 2020 actually looked like and pretend it could’ve been like this sweet story.

30 years ago in London there was a contest to be the first baby born in the new decade. Two roommates helped each other through labor and had their kids minutes a part, one taking home the prize. Quinn not only won the prize, but he won the name Minnies’ mother was going to give her, and as she sees it he stole her luck in life. Quinn and Minnie end up at the same 2019 NYE party and realize their connection. The story goes between watching Minnie and Quinn get to know each other in 2020 and past New Years Eve’s where they were at the same places and just missed meeting each other.

October 14, 2020November 30, 2021

Anxious People

Pairs well with: Coffee to stay alert and keep up

I chose Anxious People as my Book of the Month for September after seeing a lot of book accounts post about it. It was a fun, chaotic story about a group of people who go to an apartment viewing and end up the center of a hostage situation. Despite that it’s a very light hearted story, and the narration is very much of the thought process of everyone involved instead of your typical story telling.

It’s a fast paced story and a quick read, perfect for a flight or a vacation read. I enjoy getting books like this from Book of the Month because it’s a story that I likely wouldn’t have picked up on my own but when I saw it as an option was excited. If you get overwhelmed trying to pick new stories it’s a great way to limit the options and have books presented to you. If you’re interested in signing up you can use this link!

August 16, 2020November 30, 2021

The Night Swim

Pairs well with: Coffee pretending you’re listening to a podcast on your commute

The Night Swim was my August selection from Book of the Month and I think my favorite I’ve gotten so far. I LOVE a true crime podcast, so when I read the description I was immediately sold.

The story follows Rachel, a true crime podcaster who gained a huge following in her first two seasons. She decides for season three she’ll follow an ongoing case during the trial right from the courtroom. As she gets to the town to begin coverage she starts getting letters from a fan asking her to also look into her sisters murder. It’s a really interesting concept, you see both investigations, the court room as well as transcriptions of what the podcast episodes sound like and I really enjoyed it.

This is now my fifth month of Book of the Month and I really do love it. It gives me the opportunity to mix up what I’ve been reading and for $14.99 it’s worth it to try out new books. Most of them are also new releases so it’s fun getting to find out about them early. You can sign up through this link if you’re interested!

July 11, 2020November 30, 2021

Head Over Heels

Pairs well with: Gatorade as you pretend you can still throw your back handspring & Doritos for when you realize you’re washed up

For my July Book of the Month I chose Head Over Heels. I wanted a cute romcom story to break up all the thrillers I’ve been reading, and after watching Athlete A I’m fully back into my USA gymnastics obsession so it fit perfectly. The book came out so recently that the forward talks about COVID and the Olympics being postponed which honestly was very weird to see. I feel bad for the author as she wrote this on a timeline of releasing it during the Olympics where interest in gymnastics would be at a peak, but despite that it was a great book.

The book hits all the essential parts of a feel-good story while still discussing some of the larger issues in the gymnastics world like mental health and sexual assault. The story starts with Avery, a retired elite gymnast, moving back home from LA after a break up. While at home and trying to figure out her next steps she gets a call from a gymnast she knew growing up and had a crush on (naturally) to help train an Olympic hopeful. It was a great summer read while still bringing light to serious issues and I loved it.

This is my fourth month doing Book of the Month and I really like it so far. It’s nice just having options sent to your email without having to search and an opportunity to pick books that break up what I’ve been reading lately like Head Over Heels did. Here is a link to sign up if you’re interested! The first month is $9.99 and after that its $14.99 monthly.