josiethompson's reviews
93 reviews

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

4.0

I put 4 stars, but it's more like 4.5 for me.

I liked the simplicity of this novel while it was still captivating and a mystery that kept you wondering.
I liked that I had closure at the end even though it had a realistic ending instead of a feel good cushy ending.
It was just well done. Not too much, not too little, and a quick read all at the same time.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

5.0

This one took me a fat minute thanks to tax season. But WOW. The whole time I was unsure of how I wanted it to end but how it ended was NOT what I pictured and broke my heart and gave me closure all the same. Haven't cried at the end of a book like this in a while so if that also tells you anything. This book was so well done, I just loved it. Totally recommend it.

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

5.0

This book captivated me from start to finish. I loved it. It brought me to tears and that's always a sign of a really good book. It broke my heart and made me smile and a book that can do both is amazing.

I read a lot of war novels, but never from the soldiers POV. So this one was a really new and fresh view for me, especially knowing people who have been there, who are willing to give their life for their country.

10/10 recommend. Can't really find a reason why this book wouldn't earn 5 full stars.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

5.0

Kristin Hannah's books always get to me. But as much as I loved this book, I was sad with the direction it took. It was so feel good and warm and fuzzy in the beginning and then decisions were made that I just wished weren't made and the rest of the book made me sad. But I still loved it. It was well done as always and really was an easy book to get into. So here's another novel I totally recommend.

The Wish by Nicholas Sparks

4.0

I give this 4 stars because it was a very intriguing story, however I did predict the ending at the beginning of the book. I also did not like the endings given to the characters and believed that they all deserved better. I fell in love with the characters and wished more for them. Sometimes we need another feel good novel and not just a heart-wrencher. Anyway. Good story, but not 5 star level for me.

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

3.0

I'm giving this 3, but I'd really like to give it 3.5 if that were an option.

The first half (really over half) of this book was fluff. It was so hard to read and remain interested. I usually finish books in about a week, but this one took me a month because I couldn't read more than a chapter at a time without getting bored.

The second half of the book gradually gets more interesting, but you don't really understand what the plot is until about 2/3 of the way through the book. I genuinely had no idea where the book was going until wayyyyyy further than I should've.

BUT all that to say, the fluff does allow you to get to know the characters better. Granted, the description of the book makes it look like it's going to focus on a woman and her career more than the story that it does end up focusing on in the end, but I did shed a tear or 2, signifying that I did enjoy the novel at least a little bit.

Anyway. All that to say, the fluff was annoying but the story overall in the second half was good.

Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein

5.0

This was a perspective that I hadn't read about yet in the WWII genre. Through the eyes of a German girl who was taught that her life was to be dedicated to Germany and that Hitler was God coming to save them all and fix the world.

I loved the perspective and the storyline and the emotion that I felt reading this one. It was unique, well written, and (hopefully) realistic and true to the times and events that actually took place.

My only beef is with the ending. I'm not going to spoil it, but like most WWII novels, their lives don't ever work out the way you want them to, but I always dare to hope they will for the characters sake. But still a 10/10 read for me regardless.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

5.0

This book was very well written. It's a true story and boy oh boy does her upbringing make you feel so blessed in your own. She had a wild childhood and really knew nothing different than what she had.

There were moments that truly baffled me and had to stop and reread it to make sure I understood it correctly. And it was told in such a way that felt real and not overdramatized which i really came to appreciate. Not to mention half of it takes place in my hometown :). So I definitely recommend this one. 10/10.

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

5.0

This book jumps right in and gets ya hooked in chapter 1, hence why I started and finished it within 24 hours.

This book, asmiliar perspective to some other WWII novels that I've read, but it had one of the kinds of endings that you don't see too often in these books. Because of the horror of the time, lots of stories end realistically instead of how everyone hopes and yearns for it to end. This one kind of mixes both possibilities.

I do recommend this one for sure, but I shed a few tears at the ending so be prepared if you're an emotional reader like me :)

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

4.0

I'd give it 3.5 stars if it would let me. But I rounded up to 4 because I did enjoy the read.

I wish I'd known this book was gay. I do think it added something to the story being that she had 7 husbands.

I'm not really sure what I think or how I feel about this book otherwise though. I liked it, but I didn't. The gay added a layer, but I didn't need the details and an entire story centered around it and the support/discrimination behind it. Those are my thoughts.

It's a love/hate relationship I have with this book I think. I just don't know what to think.