good books part 5

It has been over a year since I shared the books I've read! I chalk it up to wedding planning and buying a house - that year when the blog fell off my radar. I have easily read 30+ books since last August. Plus now that I'm pregnant and I've got a lot more down time, I'm flying through them! 

{I think this is the first time I've mentioned a house purchase and my pregnancy on the blog. Just two life altering moments I've casually decided to drop ;) Hopefully more on both those here soon, but in the meantime, Instagram has you covered!}

Girls Burn Brighter

Shoba Rao

I source some book recommendations from A Cup of Joe. (I just realized I've read 4 of the 7 on her spring 2018 list; which will in turn all make my list!) This book was the most surprising of recommendations I've taken. Here's what Joanna quotes “This is the best book I’ve read in a long time,” my best friend texted one night. (She edits books for a living, so when she likes something, I pay attention.) An hour later she texted again, “Maybe the best book I’ve read, ever.” Later that night, yet another text popped up. “I can’t stop reading, you have to borrow it as soon as I’m done.” 

Well that settles it! A must read...or is it? This novel was heavy and disturbing. I'm not sure it's for everyone. We enter the lives of two best friends growing up in rural India, Poornima and Savitha, who encounter unfathomable misogyny and prejudice in countless ways. An act of devastating cruelty splits them up, and the story remains a quest to find one another. "So what, I asked said friend, did she love so much about it? “Every page served as a reminder of what a gift our friends are, and all the ways a deep love between female friends can sustain us during the most difficult times.” Sounds good to me. Me too. Heavy as it was, it stuck with me. I'm glad I read it. 

The Light We Lost

Jill Santopolo

I flew through this novel depicting the love story of one woman, Lucy, and her two meaningful relationships. It involves a deep look at the choices she makes and the what ifs she lives with. The authors prose have a simplicity and a beauty to them. This book was emotional and it irritated me on so many levels! I mean this in a good way. I loved reading it, but throughout it I found myself just clawing with emotion and opinion towards Lucy, that I wanted to shout to anyone who would listen. It made me cry, it made me think, it frustrated me, it made me feel deeply.

Domina

Ultima

L.S.Hilton

I could not put down the second and third books in L.S Hilton's erotic psychological thriller series. Beginning with Maestra, this trilogy will hook you and shock you - these books are ruthless, extravagant, sharp and provocative ~ "like a ritzy 50 shades meets Da Vinci code." Femme fetale Judith Rashleigh returns in Domina and Ultima with enough murder, sex and European glamour to leave you riveted. 

The Dollhouse 

The Address

Fiona Davis

I've become a big fan of Fiona Davis's impeccably structured novels - both The Dollhouse and The Address take place in New York City - alternating between different periods in history at famous residences. The Dollhouse was her debut set in mid-century and present day NYC. The Address takes on different historical eras - The Gilded Age in 1884 and the Regan-Era in 1985. 

Both of these novels appeal with mystery, love, and beautiful tributes to a bygone era. There are captivating settings, historical descriptions and architectural details. The storytelling intricately overlays the past and the present, where ultimately the time periods and characters are tied together in suspenseful, unexpected ways. I'd recommend both but space them out. (Not sure if that's just me but I like to read a few books in between the same author to mix it up.)

Crazy Rich Asians

Kevin Kwan

Jumping on the bandwagon here! I want to see the movie so I figured I better read the book first. It started out slow for me, but it quickly picked up and I did really enjoy it. CRAZY RICH is like, mind blowing, unfathomably, obscenely wealthy. And snobby!! God so snobby. Brilliantly obnoxious and fun at the same time, I'm looking forward to the next two in the series. 

Have you read any of these seven books? What did you think?

I still have a stack of recommends with a lot of memoirs in the mix. Lots more books coming your way!