What I've Been Reading Lately (Show us your Books!)

Today is the day that WINTER IS HERE!!

(The book, not the season - thank goodness :)). I am about 10 chapters in (Thank you Lucy for waking up at 4:30 am!) & loving it so far. I can't wait to chat about this final book in the Lunar Chronicles series. I have been gearing up for it by reading the fanfiction winners' entries on The Lunar Chronicles blog (lots of fun stuff going on over there!) Marissa Meyer is also periscoping at the book launch event today...I'm not really into Periscope, but it might be fun to check out. I really feel like I haven't anticipated a book this much since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (or all of the HP's, really), so it is a fun feeling.

My November edition of Show Us Your Books will feature Winter (if I can wait that long to talk about it! - Doubtful!) but here's what I read in October up until this week.

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson (4 stars)

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Edenbrooke, but I still really liked it. I love a good "friends become something more" storyline, so I was happy with how that all played out. Definitely worth the read if you're into books from that timeframe.

A Thousand Nights by E. K. Johnston (2 stars)

I almost didn't finish this book, but I did eventually and I have to say I wasn't the hugest fan. The way it was written just wasn't captivating enough for me. I wrote a bit more about this here.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (4 stars)

Many people have heard of this book, and I will admit that it motivated me to purge some things that I've been holding on to for years and will never use again, but I haven't worked through the whole method (nor do I agree 100% with all of it) yet. There are tons and tons of blog posts and suggestions on implementing this method!!

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (3 stars)

This wasn't the best YA I've read this year, but it wasn't the worst either. I couldn't stand the mother in this story, and I found parts of it very unbelieveable, but it was still a cute story overall with some more mature subject matter than some YA novels.

The Prophet by Khalil Gibran (4 stars)

I listened to this on audiobook on a whim, and realized I recognized passages of it, so I think I read it before. It was nice to listen to and I found myself finding some of the quotes online that I especially enjoyed. It's not for everyone, but if you are philosophical or religious, or you like books like The Alchemist, this might be a good one for you.

Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows (5 stars)

I loved this story SO much and the characters were amazing. I couldn't believe how much I felt drawn into the world of Guernsey. I also especially loved the ending and I rooted for it throughout the book. I was surprised at how much I liked the letter-writing style of this book, but it really worked for it. Go and check this book out immediately if you haven't already!

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (4.5/5 stars)

After reading Big Little Lies this summer, I knew I would feel similarly about this Liane Moriarty book. Her writing just grabs me right in and I can't stop thinking about her book until I am done it. I love the way she toys with moral dilemmas and partway through this novel, I couldn't think of a single way for her to end it that would feel justified, but she did (in my opinion). The epilogue especially wraps it all up in an interesting way. Her books definitely make you think.

The Matchmaker's Match by Jessica Nelson (3 stars)

I signed this out on a whim from the e-library and I liked it overall. I found the story to be a bit predictable, but I was OK with that. The characters were cute and I like reading books from this time period, so it worked for me. The premise of a woman matchmaker in those days was interesting too, and I liked the independence of her character.

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman (3.5 stars)

I got some great tips from this book that I will be putting into practice with our girls. Having studied emotional intelligence from a career standpoint during my Master's, I think it is n important skill to develop in children.I skimmed a few chapters (typical for me and non fiction) but I was intrigued by many aspects of this book.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (CHILDREN'S book) (5 stars)
A cute children's book that I had never read...and a great story of friendship and charity. On that note, I also read TONS of other children's books this month (we average at least 5 a day per kid before bed), including some great Robert Munsch and some Halloween favourites. :)

What have you been reading lately? I'm working through The Silkworm, Little Women, and of course I am starting Winter today after work. Making my way through the Semi-Charmed Winter Reading Challenge one book at a time! I am also getting closer to my 100 books in 2015 goal on Goodreads!!

Check out the Show us your Books Link-Up HERE at Steph's blog or HERE at Jana's blog today!!! There are always lots of great recommendations, regardless of your taste in books.