Review: Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

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There is something captivating about all of Liane Moriarty’s books. You can’t help but be drawn in by the first page and on the edge of your seat until the very last. This book is no different.

Truly Madly Guilty was a very enjoyable read; one that I couldn’t put down. It was entertaining. It was emotional. It was surprising. You didn’t know what was going to happen next.

I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened at this barbecue that caused so many problems. I will admit it took forever to find out and although what actually happened at the barbecue wasn’t what I had expected, it was still a satisfying read and something that I could see myself reading again.

Liane has a very unique writing style. It’s not too complicated or simple. It is third person, but it feels as if the characters are speaking directly to you. It feels relaxed and almost conversational.

This book covers so many subjects- friends, relationships, parenting, lust, and so much more. It didn’t really feel artificial. People talked like real people talk. Not everything was black or white. The characters had conflicting emotions and made mistakes.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but in the book a character is faced with a different decision. She doesn’t immediately say no or yes. Instead, she acts like most humans would. She avoids the topic. She spends weeks thinking about it, and eventually makes a decision based on guilt. Some of her actions might feel selfish to some, but sometimes that is how we act.

Characters

I loved that all of the characters are connected to each other. It might seem that they have no correlation at first, but because of certain actions their stories intertwine.

Throughout the book, all the characters are feeling some type of guilt. And it was interesting to see why they felt that guilt and how it was impacting their lives. No two characters reacted the same.

Like mentioned earlier, this was an emotional read. And I wasn’t expecting to feel strong emotions towards to particular characters. They are supporting roles, but their stories hit me the hardest. For one character, it was because of their guilt. For the other, it’s because of the way the character was perceived and the way that they actually ended up being. And unfortunately, you don’t find out what type of person this character is until the end.

Although, her characters are extremely real, they are not as memorable. Once the book is over it hard to recall their names and remember who belongs with who.

Final Analysis

Truly Madly Guilty is a great book. It is a little slow and features forgettable characters; however, Liane Moriarty is a talented writer and keeps the story intriguing and you on the edge of your seat.

Review: Atheist Who Kneel & Pray by Tarryn Fisher

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This book was almost a four star read for me. Almost. I whole heartily enjoyed reading it. I was immediately draw in with this captivating writing style and mysterious opening. I laughed. I felt something and a connection to the characters and their love story. I rooted for them, and wanted a happy ending.

My problem started within the second half of the book. In many forms of storytelling, there is always something to keep the main leads apart. You gotta keep it interesting. And this story was no different. Unfortunately, this story went in a direction that didn’t set well with me.

The jealousy aspect was completely overwhelming and the whole love triangle felt weak. It was annoying. It was unnecessary drama that felt eye roll worthy. Yara had a complicated life, I’m sure something else could have been used to keep her and David apart.

Characters

I liked Yara. She wasn’t a perfect human being and had questionable motives. She was a narcissist but all and all I liked her. She was well fleshed out, and it was interesting that she could never stay in a place long.

I liked David as well. He wasn’t your typical New Adult character. He was sweet, and not controlling at all. You could really tell he had a big heart. Like Yara, he made some questionable choices. But unlike her, when he made those choices he felt a little out of character.

David and Yara were great together, but at the same time they were not. I don’t think it was unintentional that the author sprinkled tiny moments where their relationship was unhealthy in the book. It definitely was not an abusive relationship but it felt obsessive at times. But it was great to see both of the characters overcome that and find this beautiful end.

Although there were many big moments between the two, the small moments were just as important. And the relationship between them is what makes this book so special. You want to read about how things turn out between them and how they end up.

It was a little unfortunate how the reunion between the two turned out. It was a weak transition, and readers deserved a little more after setting through endless amounts of drama and heartbreak for these two characters.

Final Analysis

Atheists Who Kneel & Pray started off captivating and strong but unnecessary drama and an unclear direction weakened it. It is still a good read with a great love story and strong characters.

Review: They Call Me Alexandra Gastone by T.A. Maclagan

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When you think of spy novels, you think they would have tons of action and secret missions. You expect to see a spy acting like a spy. Unfortunately, this book was lacking in those departments. There were tiny sprinkles of sky related things throughout, but not enough to consider this book a thriller.

The whole premise of the book is that years ago, Alexandra Gastone died. Milena was ordered to step in to take her place. Milena is an uncover sleeper, who will have to complete a mission for her home country.  

The concept of the book was captivating. However, the book was very slow. It took forever for something to actually happen. I found myself skimming because I wanted to get to something exciting.

The first half of the book was a lot of explaining, which in turn was not very helpful. I get that this is the first book in a series and there needs to be world building, but there is a limit. It was still very confusing. A second read through might clear up my confusion.

The book felt unrealistic at times. It also did a lot of showing, instead of telling. For example, Grant was a great guy, I liked him. However, I need to see the love connection between him and the main character to actually believe they love each other.

I didn’t hate this book, and I could see myself continuing the series. The ending was jaw dropping, and I do want to see what happens next.

Characters

Alexandra/Milena spent a lot of time in her head. She questioned everything, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It was interesting to see her inter struggles. She wasn’t sure if she was Alexandra or Milena. She was practically having an identity crisis, and I hope the next books explore that more. As I reader, I want to meet the real her and see her able to live her life without restraints.

I really enjoyed her and Albert’s relationship. It was my favorite thing about the book. That relationship stood out to me and something that I will remember when I think about this book. It felt real and you could sense the love between them. Also, the dynamic between the two. Albert is in the CIA and isn’t aware of Alexandra/Milena’s mission.

There are few YA novels that explore the relationship between a grandfather and a granddaughter.

Final Analysis

They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is great in theory but manages to start slow and throw in confusing explanations. Unfortunately, the real excitement happens at the end. Hopefully, the second book will be better.

Review: Privileged by Carrie Aarons

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Although, the plot was extremely farfetched and you had to suspend your disbelief for the majority of the book, it did have potential. Unfortunately, the potential was not reached.

Nora and her mother leave their small town in Pennsylvania, after her mother falls in love with British royalty. Nora has a hard time adjusting to the new public life, and eventually meets Asher, who is a typically YA bad boy. It’s definitely hate and attraction at first sight. Unknown to Nora, Asher has a hidden agenda for wanting to get close to her.

This book was trying to accomplish so much in a limited amount of pages. The pacing was incredibly fast, and I was not able to pause and digest things.

Asher’s hidden agenda was executed poorly; and his reasoning behind it was questionable. It didn’t really fit or make sense in the plot. And when it was time for him to complete the task, it was a little eye roll worthy.

Characters

I didn’t connect well with either Nora or Asher. There was a huge lack of depth and character development. Nora had a “gift”, however, any tracing of the gift were never shown in the narrative. It brought about so many more questions than answers. For example, her gift would have allowed for her to have so many opportunities and yet she didn’t take any?

Instead, it was used as a way to get Nora and Asher to have a moment and explain why Nora didn’t fit in back in the United States. It was more of a throwaway comment and did nothing for the character. It is unfortunately that Nora’s gift was poorly executed because it would really added another layer to her character. Her gift was extraordinary, and something that only 2% of the population are a part of.

Asher was a jerk, and that made it extremely hard to care about him and Nora’s blossoming relationship and attraction. Also, his hidden agenda lingered in the back and it made me question if he really even liked her.

It was realistic that when the big separation between Nora and Asher happened, Nora didn’t instantly take him back. She took some time to think. I also enjoyed that her and her mother had a great relationship. She didn’t hate her mother for uprooting their entire lives to move to another country. She was understanding.

Final Analysis

Privileged could have been at least decent with an unrealistic plot. However, distant characters and poor pacing drags it down.  

Review: Until it Fades by K.A. Tucker

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This book felt very Cinderella-like. Catherine Wright is a 24-year-old single mother, who after unfortunate events became the talk of her small town when she was a teen. Catherine is anything but wealthy. She works as a waitress to keep the lights on and food on the table for her and her daughter, Breanna. She has a complicated relationship with her mother.

After an awful blind date, Catherine witnesses a terrible car accident and manages to save someone’s life. Unknown to her, it was a famous hockey player named, Brett Madden. Because of her heroic save, she is thrusted into the limelight yet again.

Overall, this was a great book and definitely a must read. There were a few things that were a little questionable, but nothing that ruined my overall enjoyment of this book. This was a very sweet and slow book. There is very little angst.

I laughed. I smiled. I didn’t cry but I felt sad at certain points for the characters. All the supporting characters were extremely likable and I loved their relationship with both Catherine and Brett.

Catherine was an amazing character, and I enjoyed her character development. When the book starts she is a naïve teenager and is in a complicated situation. When she becomes an adult, we see her growth, and also see her start to see her situation for what it really was. I loved how determined and protective she was of her daughter. She’s been through a lot.

One issue I found with Catherine and her relationship with her parents, was that there was not really a reason for their behavior in the past, and they didn’t issue an apology. They sort of randomly started being there for her, which felt very suspicious, and I wasn’t sure I could trust them.

Brett was great. He was sweet, and I loved that he wasn’t the typically New Adult romantic lead. Him and Catherine’s relationship was extremely slow burn. I enjoyed that because we got to see a friendship develop first. Their romance was not exactly the center of attention throughout the book, but it didn’t lack in any department. They worked very well with each.

Final Analysis

Until it Fades has a great group of characters and an captivating plot. Although the romance isn’t front and center, it still shines and manages to be just as sweet as the book.