The Siberian American: Eight Books I Read in June

Monday, July 11, 2016

Eight Books I Read in June

I thought I hadn’t read much since my last book post with our move and everything else going on, but I just looked it up, and I still read nine books. I also did Erin and Dani’s Read My Books Challenge. I couldn’t read books off my bookshelf since we moved in the middle of the month, so instead, I alternated between NetGalley books that have been on my shelf forever and Kindle books I bought months (sometimes years) ago and hadn’t gotten to read yet.

I had a hard time narrowing down which books to share with y’all this month because although I’ve read several good books, I haven’t read many lately that have blown me away. I’m not sure if this has more to do with my mindset lately than the books themselves, so I’m including some of my three-star books in the mix again this month.


The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
I don't know what's with me and popular reads lately, but I keep feeling like they don't live up to the hype. My problem with The Good Girl is it felt super slow and lacked suspense. When the questions were finally answered, it felt rushed. As far as the big "twist" at the end, for some reason I had started suspecting that in the middle of the book, so I wasn't surprised. It was a decent read, but I really wanted it to be more fast-paced.


One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
(c/o NetGalley)
Taylor Jenkins Reid is an incredible writer. In One True Loves, she tells a raw, heart-wrenching story of Emma, a woman who became a widow at a young age and was finally able to move on three years later, only to find out her husband hadn't died. The author took me on a rollercoaster of emotions as she told the story from the beginning of Emma's love story when she first met Jesse to finding out his helicopter had crashed and the healing process afterwards. It's a beautiful story of growth and courage and was masterfully done. I will definitely be reading more Taylor Jenkins Reid books in the future.


The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress: A Novel by Ariel Lawhon
I had never heard of Judge Joseph Crater before I read this book, so it was interesting to read a fictional account of how he went missing. I really liked Stella, the wife, Ritzi, the mistress, and Maria, the maid, but the story really seemed to drag in parts. The facts of what everyone knew did slowly come together, and the author's guess of what happened to Crater was interesting, but I had a hard time getting to the end of the book. Overall, it is a decent read about a historical topic, but it's not a book I will go out of my way to recommend.


While You Were Mine by Ann Howard Creel
(c/o NetGalley)
I really liked While You Were Mine at the beginning, but it lost me a bit in the middle. The romance was seriously lacking and so was the historical component (it's set just after World War II). At the end of the book, I felt like I didn't know much about Gwen and John. Even so, I don't regret reading it, but it's not a book I would recommend.


The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan 
This book was such a guilty pleasure! I like the royal family, though I didn't know much about Kate and William's love story (I knew they met at St. Andrews, and it took him a while to propose). Of course, I had to look up more of their story while I read The Royal We, and this novel does loosely follow the same timeline. I really thought this book was fun. As much as I liked Bex and Prince Nick, I thought the supporting characters really made this story. It was longer than I expected, but I didn't really mind. I was in the mood for this kind of novel, and I'm glad I read it.


Miller’s Valley by Anne Quindlen
(c/o NetGalley)
This book surprised me. It started off slow, and I wasn't sure I was going to like it. It didn't really pick up its pace, but I grew to like Mimi and her life in the tiny town of Miller's Valley. That said, it took me quite a while to get through less than 300 pages. I'm not sure I would go out of my way to recommend it to people, unless they are in the mood for a slow, reflective novel.


Rosalia’s Bittersweet Pastry Shop by Rosanna Chiofalo
(c/o NetGalley)
From the description, I thought this was a lighter read than it was (I do recognize that the word “bittersweet” is in the title), but I did enjoy Rosalia's story and all the different pastries mentioned. I did think it was a bit repetitive, and I didn't enjoy the author's writing style. Like I mentioned, I was in the mood for a light read, so I thought most of this book was really depressing, but if you go in realizing it is sad, it is a decent read.


All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
(c/o NetGalley)
In this thriller, Nicolette Farrell returns to Cooley Ridge ten years after her best friend goes missing to sell her father's house. Within days of her arrival, her ex-boyfriend's current girlfriend, Annaleise Carter, disappears. This book is told in reverse, from Day 15 to Day 1, and it actually works. My biggest concern with this book is I didn't actually feel the suspense, and one of the big reveals was super obvious (the other one wasn't). Still, I thought it was a clever way to tell the story and worth reading just for that!


Favorite reads in June: One True Loves and The Royal We

Linking up with Steph & Jana.

I love book suggestions. What have you read lately?

31 comments:

  1. I'm gonna need a library card lol, and to finish the book I've been reading for a month now. I really wish I had started with any of my other books because the one I'm reading now, Just Kids, has killed my reading mojo. I added One True Loves, The Royal We, & All the Missing Girls to my list though!

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  2. One True Loves sounds like such a great read, and one that I would love to check out! That sucks that you didn't really enjoy The Good Girl, especially since so many people really enjoyed it. I think that I might have to check it out still. And I've been dying to read The Royal We for so long! I think that I actually need to get on it sooner rather than later!

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  3. I loved The Royal We as well; it was a total guilty pleasure for me too! One True Loves sounds really good.

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  4. These all look like good reads. Thank you for pointing out which ones are light hearted I don't think I could read anything repetitive or sad at this moment. I just want those sappy books.

    liz @ j for joiner

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  5. The way "All the Missing Girls" is set up sounds really interesting! I'd like to read it just for that. "The Royal We" sounds fun!

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  6. I love The Royal We! Did you know Lauren Graham is helping turn it into a movie?

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  7. It always annoys me when I can guess the end of a suspensful book. I like trying to figure it out, coming SO close, and then experiencing a little twist from the author. Ashley Weaver did that for me in her first book. I'm about to start The Royal We for my book challenge (I'm glad you liked it!) and I think that maid/wife/mistress one sounds good! I'm going to go add it on GoodReads!

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  8. Wow, I could barely finish 1 book a month - which I am trying to start back reading. I've missed it.

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  9. So many books to add to my list - while you were mine looks good!! xo, biana -BlovedBoston

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  10. Girl you're killin' it with your reading! The Royal We was my favorite book I've read this past year, hoping they turn it into a movie :-D
    Green Fashionista

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  11. Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of those authors that I intend to read, but I haven't picked up any of her stuff yet. So many books, so little time. Sigh. The Royal We! Yes!

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  12. Ooh, thanks for the recommendation on Taylor Jenkins Reid. Always looking for good authors! Will need some books for when I head down to the beach!!

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  13. I liked The Royal We okay, but I think I had really high expectations for it because SO many of my friends LOVED it. I kept hearing all these wonderful things about it so by the time I got around to reading it, it just didn't seem to live up to the hype to me. Part of it was that the story really dragged in some parts, but I guess with a book that big - that happens. I did like the secondary characters, though. And if they made it into a movie I think it'd be really good! It wasn't that the book was bad by any means. Just not as awesome as I had expected going into it. I'm so glad you really enjoyed it, though! That seems to be the general consensus!

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  14. All the Missing Girls was already on my to read list. I just added One True Loves. The Good Girl was one of my favorite books by Kubica....haven't really been impressed with her other books. I thought the Royal We was a good read.

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  15. I liked All The Missing Girls.

    No desire to read The Royal We even though I like the Fug Girls and I love the Royals.

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  16. all the missing girls sounds interesting. i am glad you liked the royal we and one true loves!

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  17. The Royal We is on my list for Erin's Book Challenge and I'm seem so many good reviews for it. All the Missing Girls is on my TBR too.

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  18. Several of these are already on my list. I didn't love The Good Girl like I thought I would, but I did not suspect the twist so that was a bonus for me. I have GOT to read Taylor Jenkins Reid - I keep seeing her on so many blogs!

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  19. all the missing girls sounds really good, I'll check it out! I don't think I could do one true loves, that is like my worst nightmare, although it does sound really good!

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  20. LOVE The Royal We. I really want to go back and read it again! Just put One True Loves on my Goodreads list. Thanks for your awesome reviews!

    Ashley
    acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  21. Yeah, The Good Girl was just okay for me. I think it was trying to be Gone Girl.
    I quit All The Missing Girls, but might pick it back up again.

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  22. All the Missing Girls is on my list. I don't think I realized it was told in reverse! That actually makes me more excited to read it! :-)

    I need to read Taylor Jenkins Reid. Everyone seems to love her books, and I know I have at least a couple of them on my list.

    I am one of the few people who absolutely hated The Good Girl. Well, I think I gave it 2 stars, but that was generous. Like you, I think certain books fail to live up to the hype for me and this was definitely one of them. I really didn't like Kubica's writing style at all. I even gave her another chance with Pretty Baby, and nope ... Still didn't do it for me.

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  23. Ooh, The Royal We sounds right up my alley! Adding it my TBR list :)

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  24. I felt the same way about The Good Girl! Adding One True Loves and All The Missing Girls to my list!

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  25. I have been wanting to read The Royal We and One True Loves. Glad to know that you liked both. I have added Miller's Valley too. I just read The Tumbling Turner Sisters at the beginning of July and LOVED it. :) XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

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  26. I really, really, really need to read a TJR book! I haven't read any of hers yet but I keep hearing so many good things! The Royal We was a great read for me too. :)

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  27. All the Missing has been on my list but One True Loves was on everyone's posts this month so I'm really interested in checking out this author!

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  28. All the Missing Girls seems like a book I'd like. And I feel like I've said this a billion times this month but I love TJR. Every book of hers.

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  29. I have the royal we on hold at the library and i can't wait to read this.

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  30. Everyone is raving about One True Loves and now I NEED to read it, like RIGHT now, haha. And I adored The Royal We! It was my online boo club last month and such a fun read! It was long, I agree, but I didn't mind. And now I hear the newest edition of the paperback has a bonus chapter at the end! (I must sneakily go find a copy at the book store and read it, haha!)

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  31. I loved reading your thoughts on The Good Girl. I noticed that it moved a bit slowly too, but I absolutely loved it and I think part of the reason is that I listened to it on audiobook so I didn't notice the slowness quite as much as I would have if I had read the book. I read her second book (Pretty Baby, I think) instead of listening to the audiobook. It was also on the slower side and it was a bit harder to get through. I enjoy her stories, though. :)

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