THE BOOKS:
Elevation by Stephen King- 3.5 stars I liked this novella. The message was hopeful and philosophical. It shows a lighter side of Castle Rock (usually it's a town steeped in violence), but it's still rampant with cruelty. There is a large portion of the town that is very homophobic to some of the local owners of a vegan Mexican restaurant.
For All Who Wander: Why Knowing God is Better Than Knowing It All by Robin Dance- 3 stars
This wasn't for me when I thought it was exactly the novel for me. I'm disappointed it. I thought this was going to be novel that deconstructed what it means to be lost and wandering, but it was more about Dance's own wanderings and experiences, which isn't a bad thing, but it's not what I wanted.
Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes- 4.25 stars This is nowhere as good as You, but I think that is to be expected. The TV show season is also just better, but I did like the way this one decided to play out despite preferring the character arcs more and the overall ending of season 2. However, I am fascinated with the ending of Hidden Bodies and what this means for the next book.
For Every One by Jason Reynolds- 5 stars This poem is all about dreams and how dreams are important. It's a beautiful poem and I love listening to Reynolds narration. I can't recommend this one enough. Check out my review here.
The Return by Rachel Harrison- 4.5 stars This horror novel was so much fun. I loved it! My one problem was that it doesn't always hold strong in narration and the main character switches from present to past quickly. I am a sucker for a monster story and I loved this one. Plus the setting at the hotel was so perfect and creepy. The horror was campy, but so much fun.
In the Tall Grass by Stephen King & Joe Hill- 5 stars I LOVED this short story. It was horrifying and absolutely chilling. I felt uncomfortable and claustrophobic the whole time while reading. This was such a strong story and I can't wait for a novel collaboration between this father-son duo. Check out my review here.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab- 3 stars I am so disappointed by this one. I thought I was going to absolutely love this. I liked it. Enough to want to read the trilogy, so I will be continuing, but it felt pretty empty and like it wasn't sure how it wanted to convey the story. I also didn't care for the main characters. I am hoping that the trilogy will be good.
You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen- 4 stars I didn't love this as much as An Anonymous Girl, but DANG, was this fun to read. Compulsively readable and while it was super predictable in a lot of ways another ways were surprising. I can see why this one is both a hit and a miss for thriller/mystery readers.
The Other People by C.J. Tudor- 4.5 stars I apparently love supernatural thrillers. This one has such a good plot and the concept was fun to be submerged in. I just really loved this one and thought it as absolutely thrilling.
The Lion at the Gate by C.J. Tudor- 5 stars This short story was shocking. I was absolutely caught off guard by its tone and where it went. I really enjoyed this one and I think it's my favorite of the short stories I've read by Tudor in May. Check out my review here.
The Man in the Box by C.J. Tudor- 3.5 stars This short story was creepy and a little jarring. It felt like a Twilight Zone episode and I really liked that. Check out my review here.
The February House by C.J. Tudor- 2 stars This was super short, but I didn't mind reading it. There were a lot of things that I wanted more to happen and pan out with, but I think the length didn't really help the story take solid direction. Check out my review here.
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds- 5 stars I love a good children's book about words and this book was so lovely. I watched the Obamas instagram TV reading this and I loved it. This will definitely be a book I will read to my own children one day. Check out my review here.
Last Girls by Demetra Brodsky- 2 stars I wanted to love this one so much, but I was disappointed. I thought this was a scifi apocalyptic novel that followed doomsday prepper sisters, but it was a contemporary novel with a mystery thrown in that was not a mystery because it was so obvious.
The Last Book on the Left: Stories of Murder and Mayhem from History's Most Notorious Serial Killers by Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, and Henry Zebrowski- 4 stars I have never listened to The Last Podcast on the Left, so I'm not the target demographic, but I do have a fascination with true crime and I wanted to give this one a shot. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook because I learned a lot of valuable and informative information. It was crass and some of the jokes were offensive and degrading to the families of the killers. I remember when it came to the Night Stalker they made a lot of disgusting comments about the brothers and sisters of Ramirez who were disabled. It was unnecessary. There were a lot of instances when the humor went too far. Sometimes it was funny and other times it was just tasteless.
Bonhoeffer Abridged: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas- 5 stars Bonhoeffer's story will change your life. This biography was fantastic and heartbreaking. It covers the German life and the rise of Hitler's power while comparing it and shining a light on the decimation of the German Church. WOW. I learned so much and I walked away inspired by Bohnoeffer's grace and ability to walk into death with freedom.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid- 5 stars Y'all, I picked this up completely randomly and I was blown away. I read it in less than a day and was destroyed. This story wrecked me. It was something that fascinated me the whole time while reading, but went in a harrowing and absolutely devastating direction. This is not for the faint of heart and I think it may be incredibly triggering for some people, but I loved this wholeheartedly.
Something She's Not Telling Us by Darcey Bell- 2 stars This was not it. A whole mess and an absolute wreck. Her first thriller was digestible, but had a horrible ending. This one was a mess. I will probably lower my rating, but I haven't written my review for it yet, so it is unofficial.
The Langoliers by Stephen King- 4.5 stars I am rereading Four Past Midnight and it is a wild ride to return to. I have strong memories of this one because the plot is so horrifying and memorable. It probably contributed to my fear of problems growing up LOL. The middle really lagged and hindered my complete love for this one, but still a fantastic novella.
Unveiled: The Bible, The Qur'an, and Women by Esther Ahmad- 5 stars This book was amazing. Esther's story is heartbreaking and absolutely horrifying at times, but saturated in hope. I really loved it.
Itsby Bitsy by John Ajvide Lindqvist- 2.5 stars This wasn't a bad short story, but I was unimpressed by it's overall line. There was a lot going on and I wanted a lot more from it. Check out my review here.
Fire Road: The Napalm Gil's Journey Through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness, and Peace by Kim Phuc Phan Thi- 4.5 stars This memoir follows the story of a woman who became famous during the Vietnam War when she was attacked by Napalm bombs. The image of her running through the streets after the attack gripped hearts, but not many people know her story. It was harrowing and inspirational. I love her hope and faith. She is a true warrior.
Locke & Key Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez- 4 stars I love a good horror story, Joe Hill tells the best ones. I really like the opening setup for this graphic novel. I wasn't able to get into the TV show because it felt juvenile. This feels authentic to the tone of the house and the story being told.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld- 4.5 stars This was so much fun. It was intense and good old school YA. The stakes were surprisingly high and I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes- 4.25 stars This is nowhere as good as You, but I think that is to be expected. The TV show season is also just better, but I did like the way this one decided to play out despite preferring the character arcs more and the overall ending of season 2. However, I am fascinated with the ending of Hidden Bodies and what this means for the next book.
For Every One by Jason Reynolds- 5 stars This poem is all about dreams and how dreams are important. It's a beautiful poem and I love listening to Reynolds narration. I can't recommend this one enough. Check out my review here.
The Return by Rachel Harrison- 4.5 stars This horror novel was so much fun. I loved it! My one problem was that it doesn't always hold strong in narration and the main character switches from present to past quickly. I am a sucker for a monster story and I loved this one. Plus the setting at the hotel was so perfect and creepy. The horror was campy, but so much fun.
In the Tall Grass by Stephen King & Joe Hill- 5 stars I LOVED this short story. It was horrifying and absolutely chilling. I felt uncomfortable and claustrophobic the whole time while reading. This was such a strong story and I can't wait for a novel collaboration between this father-son duo. Check out my review here.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab- 3 stars I am so disappointed by this one. I thought I was going to absolutely love this. I liked it. Enough to want to read the trilogy, so I will be continuing, but it felt pretty empty and like it wasn't sure how it wanted to convey the story. I also didn't care for the main characters. I am hoping that the trilogy will be good.
You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen- 4 stars I didn't love this as much as An Anonymous Girl, but DANG, was this fun to read. Compulsively readable and while it was super predictable in a lot of ways another ways were surprising. I can see why this one is both a hit and a miss for thriller/mystery readers.
The Other People by C.J. Tudor- 4.5 stars I apparently love supernatural thrillers. This one has such a good plot and the concept was fun to be submerged in. I just really loved this one and thought it as absolutely thrilling.
The Lion at the Gate by C.J. Tudor- 5 stars This short story was shocking. I was absolutely caught off guard by its tone and where it went. I really enjoyed this one and I think it's my favorite of the short stories I've read by Tudor in May. Check out my review here.
The Man in the Box by C.J. Tudor- 3.5 stars This short story was creepy and a little jarring. It felt like a Twilight Zone episode and I really liked that. Check out my review here.
The February House by C.J. Tudor- 2 stars This was super short, but I didn't mind reading it. There were a lot of things that I wanted more to happen and pan out with, but I think the length didn't really help the story take solid direction. Check out my review here.
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds- 5 stars I love a good children's book about words and this book was so lovely. I watched the Obamas instagram TV reading this and I loved it. This will definitely be a book I will read to my own children one day. Check out my review here.
Last Girls by Demetra Brodsky- 2 stars I wanted to love this one so much, but I was disappointed. I thought this was a scifi apocalyptic novel that followed doomsday prepper sisters, but it was a contemporary novel with a mystery thrown in that was not a mystery because it was so obvious.
The Last Book on the Left: Stories of Murder and Mayhem from History's Most Notorious Serial Killers by Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, and Henry Zebrowski- 4 stars I have never listened to The Last Podcast on the Left, so I'm not the target demographic, but I do have a fascination with true crime and I wanted to give this one a shot. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook because I learned a lot of valuable and informative information. It was crass and some of the jokes were offensive and degrading to the families of the killers. I remember when it came to the Night Stalker they made a lot of disgusting comments about the brothers and sisters of Ramirez who were disabled. It was unnecessary. There were a lot of instances when the humor went too far. Sometimes it was funny and other times it was just tasteless.
Bonhoeffer Abridged: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas- 5 stars Bonhoeffer's story will change your life. This biography was fantastic and heartbreaking. It covers the German life and the rise of Hitler's power while comparing it and shining a light on the decimation of the German Church. WOW. I learned so much and I walked away inspired by Bohnoeffer's grace and ability to walk into death with freedom.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid- 5 stars Y'all, I picked this up completely randomly and I was blown away. I read it in less than a day and was destroyed. This story wrecked me. It was something that fascinated me the whole time while reading, but went in a harrowing and absolutely devastating direction. This is not for the faint of heart and I think it may be incredibly triggering for some people, but I loved this wholeheartedly.
Something She's Not Telling Us by Darcey Bell- 2 stars This was not it. A whole mess and an absolute wreck. Her first thriller was digestible, but had a horrible ending. This one was a mess. I will probably lower my rating, but I haven't written my review for it yet, so it is unofficial.
The Langoliers by Stephen King- 4.5 stars I am rereading Four Past Midnight and it is a wild ride to return to. I have strong memories of this one because the plot is so horrifying and memorable. It probably contributed to my fear of problems growing up LOL. The middle really lagged and hindered my complete love for this one, but still a fantastic novella.
Unveiled: The Bible, The Qur'an, and Women by Esther Ahmad- 5 stars This book was amazing. Esther's story is heartbreaking and absolutely horrifying at times, but saturated in hope. I really loved it.
Itsby Bitsy by John Ajvide Lindqvist- 2.5 stars This wasn't a bad short story, but I was unimpressed by it's overall line. There was a lot going on and I wanted a lot more from it. Check out my review here.
Fire Road: The Napalm Gil's Journey Through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness, and Peace by Kim Phuc Phan Thi- 4.5 stars This memoir follows the story of a woman who became famous during the Vietnam War when she was attacked by Napalm bombs. The image of her running through the streets after the attack gripped hearts, but not many people know her story. It was harrowing and inspirational. I love her hope and faith. She is a true warrior.
Locke & Key Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez- 4 stars I love a good horror story, Joe Hill tells the best ones. I really like the opening setup for this graphic novel. I wasn't able to get into the TV show because it felt juvenile. This feels authentic to the tone of the house and the story being told.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld- 4.5 stars This was so much fun. It was intense and good old school YA. The stakes were surprisingly high and I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Overall Thoughts: I read 24 books in May!! This is the most I've ever read in a month. It was so much fun to read so much and be immersed in story after story. I have a feeling that I won't get much time to dive in like the in the future, but I'm enjoying what is at my fingertips now. Here are my 5-star reads (not including short stories or picture books):
1. I'm Thinking of Ending Things
2. In the Tall Grass
3. Unveiled
4.Bonhoeffer Abridged
5. For Every One
1. I'm Thinking of Ending Things
2. In the Tall Grass
3. Unveiled
4.Bonhoeffer Abridged
5. For Every One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Challenge Tracker:
*2020 52 Owned Books TBR:
5/5 A Lineage of Grace books
Binti: Home
The Most Important Women of the Bible
Hidden Bodies
Bonhoeffer Abridged
Binti: Home
The Most Important Women of the Bible
Hidden Bodies
Bonhoeffer Abridged
5/52
*Audiobook TBR:
We Are All Good People Here
Uglies
2/20
Uglies
2/20
*5-star Predictions Tracking Progress:
Stop Calling Me Beautiful: 5 stars (reread)
The Wives: 1.5 stars
The Return: 4.5 stars
The Return: 4.5 stars
2/20
*Series I Want to Read:
Binti: Home
Beneath the Sugar Sky
Binti: The Night Masquerade
Hidden Bodies
4/10
Hidden Bodies
4/10
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Currently Reading/ Hoping to Finish in June:
Already Finished: Secret Window, Secret Garden, Heroes, Women of the Bible Speak Out, The Selection, Between the World and Me
Netgalley eARCs: Heroes, Women of the Bible Speak Out, The Anti-Virginity Pact, Shepherd, Until the Mountains Fall, Cilka's Journey, DEV1AT3, 7 Feasts, In Want + Plenty, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories, Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart, Colossians, God Sees Her, Kingdom Come
Sent by Publisher: The Art of Friendship, For All Who Wander Journey Guide, Warfare Prayers for Women
Audiobooks: The Selection, Between the World and Me, In an Absent Dream, Cilka's Journey, Imaginary Friend, Children of Vice & Virtue
Books I Bought / Was Gifted: Four Past Midnight, Parable of the Talents, The Stranger Beside Me, The Insanity of Sacrifice, Celebration of Discipline, The Harp of Kings, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, The Purple Book, East of Eden, Moments of Grace
On Hold: Celebration of Discipline, The Harp of Kings, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, The Good Nurse, Children of Vice & Virtue, The Purple Book, East of Eden, Moments of Grace
Already Finished: Secret Window, Secret Garden, Heroes, Women of the Bible Speak Out, The Selection, Between the World and Me
Netgalley eARCs: Heroes, Women of the Bible Speak Out, The Anti-Virginity Pact, Shepherd, Until the Mountains Fall, Cilka's Journey, DEV1AT3, 7 Feasts, In Want + Plenty, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories, Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart, Colossians, God Sees Her, Kingdom Come
Sent by Publisher: The Art of Friendship, For All Who Wander Journey Guide, Warfare Prayers for Women
Audiobooks: The Selection, Between the World and Me, In an Absent Dream, Cilka's Journey, Imaginary Friend, Children of Vice & Virtue
Books I Bought / Was Gifted: Four Past Midnight, Parable of the Talents, The Stranger Beside Me, The Insanity of Sacrifice, Celebration of Discipline, The Harp of Kings, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, The Purple Book, East of Eden, Moments of Grace
On Hold: Celebration of Discipline, The Harp of Kings, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, The Good Nurse, Children of Vice & Virtue, The Purple Book, East of Eden, Moments of Grace
ARCs That Come Out in June:
Mexican Gothic: YA Fantasy (I'm so excited for this!)
Those Who Hunger: Horror (vampire Amish thriller)
The Angel of the Crows: Fantasy (historical fiction with supernatural entities and Jack the Ripper)
TRUEL1F3: YA Scifi (last in the LIFEL1K3 trilogy)
Blue Ticket: Dystopian
What Unbreakable Looks Like: YA Contemporary (hard-hitting about a teenage prostitute)
Jesus of the East: Christian Nonfiction (looking at Christ through an Eastern lens)
Stand All the Way Up: Christian Living
You Can't Catch Me: Fiction (cults)
The Obsidian Tower: Fantasy (one woman can save or destroy the continent)
The Court of Miracles: YA Fantasy (Think Les Misérables)
Closer Than She Knows: Mystery/Thriller (serial killer who leaves detectives notes with her favorite mystery murderer)
Dream Big: Nonfiction
The Green Door: YA Fantasy (sirens and games)
Little Creeping Things: YA Thriller/Mystery (potential unreliable narrator)
A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians: Fantasy (magicians' rights)
Mexican Gothic: YA Fantasy (I'm so excited for this!)
Those Who Hunger: Horror (vampire Amish thriller)
The Angel of the Crows: Fantasy (historical fiction with supernatural entities and Jack the Ripper)
TRUEL1F3: YA Scifi (last in the LIFEL1K3 trilogy)
Blue Ticket: Dystopian
What Unbreakable Looks Like: YA Contemporary (hard-hitting about a teenage prostitute)
Jesus of the East: Christian Nonfiction (looking at Christ through an Eastern lens)
Stand All the Way Up: Christian Living
You Can't Catch Me: Fiction (cults)
The Obsidian Tower: Fantasy (one woman can save or destroy the continent)
The Court of Miracles: YA Fantasy (Think Les Misérables)
Closer Than She Knows: Mystery/Thriller (serial killer who leaves detectives notes with her favorite mystery murderer)
Dream Big: Nonfiction
The Green Door: YA Fantasy (sirens and games)
Little Creeping Things: YA Thriller/Mystery (potential unreliable narrator)
A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians: Fantasy (magicians' rights)
Audiobooks:
This is obvious a lot of books and I'm hold for a lot of them.
Library Ebook:
This is obvious a lot of books and I'm hold for a lot of them.
Library Ebook:
Books I Own:
Six of Crows: YA Fantasy
Moses: Servant of God: Christian Thoelogy
Becoming a Next-Level Prophet: Christian Prophecy
Acceptance: Horror Scifi (third book in Area X trilogy)
This is Not a Test: YA Zombie Horror (reread)
In the After: YA Post-Apocalyptic Horror
Moses: Servant of God: Christian Thoelogy
Becoming a Next-Level Prophet: Christian Prophecy
Acceptance: Horror Scifi (third book in Area X trilogy)
This is Not a Test: YA Zombie Horror (reread)
In the After: YA Post-Apocalyptic Horror
What books did you read in May? Did you have a favorite that you want to recommend? Have you read any of these books? Let me know down below in the comments!
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