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one_to_fifty_two's Reviews (244)
Let me begin by saying this is my first Kristin Hannah book. I have heard of her, of course, and her books are on my TBR, but I never have gotten around to reading one of her books. My book club chose this book from @bookofthemonth this month and honestly it wasn’t my first choice. BUT I figured, okay, we will see what all this “Kristin Hannah” hype is about and this book is out of my normal comfort zone of cutesy romances and thrillers........
Well, needless to say, it did not disappoint. The Four Winds is my first five star book of 2021. When I finished it (as I was sobbing) all I could think was wow. WOW! First off the writing is beautiful. Kristin Hannah can make you feel like you are living in the Dust Bowl. I could swear I could taste the dust at times. The struggles that Elsa goes through made me ashamed of things that I thought were “hard” in my life. Granted we are from two very different times.
Overall though I found this story to be a love story. A love story between a mother and her children. What a mother sacrifice in order to make her children happy, keep them safe, and worse of all, alive. Elsa is a warrior, who clawed her way through life from the beginning.
I leave you with this: “A warrior believes in an end she can’t see and fights for it. A warrior never gives up. A warrior fight for those weaker than herself. It sounds like motherhood to me.”
I hope someday I can be a warrior like Elsa.
Well, needless to say, it did not disappoint. The Four Winds is my first five star book of 2021. When I finished it (as I was sobbing) all I could think was wow. WOW! First off the writing is beautiful. Kristin Hannah can make you feel like you are living in the Dust Bowl. I could swear I could taste the dust at times. The struggles that Elsa goes through made me ashamed of things that I thought were “hard” in my life. Granted we are from two very different times.
Overall though I found this story to be a love story. A love story between a mother and her children. What a mother sacrifice in order to make her children happy, keep them safe, and worse of all, alive. Elsa is a warrior, who clawed her way through life from the beginning.
I leave you with this: “A warrior believes in an end she can’t see and fights for it. A warrior never gives up. A warrior fight for those weaker than herself. It sounds like motherhood to me.”
I hope someday I can be a warrior like Elsa.
I actually started this book in 2020 and finished it in 2021, but that still counts as my first book of the year... right? What can I say about this book? First, who doesn’t love a modern day fairytale? American girl goes to London, meets Prince, falls for Prince, Prince falls for her, and they live Happily Ever After.... Well, this isn’t that story. It did allow me to live out my American Princess dreams through Bex, who in my opinion is extremely relatable to the “millennial” woman. She does not live out the perfect fantasy love affair with Prince Nick. They definitely have some major ups and downs, highs and lows. I truly enjoyed their non-perfect love story. Sometimes you truly have to fight for your “prince”, “princess”, or whoever you love.
The Heir Affair is the sequel to The Royal We. The story picks up right where The Royal We ends. We last saw our couple Bex and Nick as they got married and were being shunned by England when their “frenemy” Clive reported of a love triangle between Bex, Nick, and Nick’s brother, Prince Freddie. When the Royal Family is appalled by the news, Nick and Bex flee London and hide away to avoid backlash from the press and the public eye. This “vacation” does not last long, of course, before Nick and Bex are back in England and expected to perform their Royal Duties.
The story continue to follow Bex and Nick as the face real relationship problems their first year of marriage, balance their Royal duties, become homeowners, and more. We also get to continue to see some of our favorite characters from the first novel like Bex’s sister, Lacey, Lady Bollocks aka Bea, Prince Freddie, and her Royal Highness herself, the Queen.
The Heir Affair leave you wanting more and hoping for a third installment! At this time, there isn’t one of the works but.. miracles happen!! I highly recommend this if you enjoyed The Royal We, other Royal type books, or if you are looking for a cute romance series!
The story continue to follow Bex and Nick as the face real relationship problems their first year of marriage, balance their Royal duties, become homeowners, and more. We also get to continue to see some of our favorite characters from the first novel like Bex’s sister, Lacey, Lady Bollocks aka Bea, Prince Freddie, and her Royal Highness herself, the Queen.
The Heir Affair leave you wanting more and hoping for a third installment! At this time, there isn’t one of the works but.. miracles happen!! I highly recommend this if you enjoyed The Royal We, other Royal type books, or if you are looking for a cute romance series!
Then She Was Gone is a psychological thriller that left me gutted. This story is about fifteen year old, golden girl, Ellie Mack and about what happens after she suddenly goes missing one afternoon. The book is told in the perspective of her mother, Laurel, but also flashbacks to Ellie’s perspective. The family is lead to believe that Ellie ran away, but why would this perfect girl want to leave her perfect life? It just doesn’t make sense.
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As the story progresses, Laurel meets Floyd and his unique daughter, Poppy. Things seem to be too good to be true with Floyd; no one can be THAT perfect. Poppy reminds Laurel of someone too... could it be the daughter she lost 10 years ago!?
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I really enjoyed the changing perspectives in this book. There were a total of four. It really gets inside these characters heads, and fills in missing pieces of the puzzle that we would’ve missed otherwise. I felt the @lisajewelluk did a great job keeping us guessing. Even though we find out some details early on, we never know the full story until the very end! I never did have the whole thing figured out!
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Astra Jewel definitely recommends this Lisa Jewell thriller! ⭐️
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As the story progresses, Laurel meets Floyd and his unique daughter, Poppy. Things seem to be too good to be true with Floyd; no one can be THAT perfect. Poppy reminds Laurel of someone too... could it be the daughter she lost 10 years ago!?
⁂
I really enjoyed the changing perspectives in this book. There were a total of four. It really gets inside these characters heads, and fills in missing pieces of the puzzle that we would’ve missed otherwise. I felt the @lisajewelluk did a great job keeping us guessing. Even though we find out some details early on, we never know the full story until the very end! I never did have the whole thing figured out!
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Astra Jewel definitely recommends this Lisa Jewell thriller! ⭐️
What Beauty There Is is the beautiful, tragic debut novel by the very talented Cory Anderson. The cover of this novel is breathtaking; as are the chapter pages which depict the bird, wolf, butterfly, and knife. Each of these signify something important in the story. Anderson’s writing is lyrical on the page, capturing the attention of her audience by bringing them into the story. We are rooting for our protagonist and our heartbreaks for his struggles. This is true from the very first chapter until the end.
What Beauty There Is, is the story of Jack Dahl and his younger brother, Matty. We quickly find out that Jack and Matty live in poverty, their father is in jail, and mother has committed suicide. These boys face adversity that most adults would not be able to handle. Jack never gives up and fights tirelessly for his brother. The love they share is admirable and one of my favorite parts of this book.
Our other main protagonist is Ava Bardem. We don’t know this at first, but Ava is our narrator who speaks to us (sometimes passing that fourth wall) at the beginning of each chapter. Ava’s narrations are my absolute favorite part of this book. Ava’s voice is one of my favorite female voices in a novel to date. Her words are powerful, compassionate, and thought provoking. But who is Ava? Ava is the daughter of the antagonist of our story, which puts her in a very awkward situation: between Jack and her father.
After Jack’s and Marty’s mother has passed away, Jack knows that he must do whatever he can to provide for Matty. His father is in jail for robbery, however, no one has been able to locate the briefcase of money. Jack realizes this is the only way for him to protect him and Matty- money will fix everything. Unfortunately Jack isn’t the person looking for the briefcase. Men, who will stop at nothing to retrieve the money, have their eyes on Jack; the most evil being Bardem- the man who Jack’s father robbed the pawn shop with years before and Ava’s father. Ava knows that her father is a bad man. When she meets Jack, she feels an instant connection with him. There is something about him; she is drawn to him. Behind her father’s back, Ava begins to help Jack and Matty, but when Bardem realizes what Ava is up to will she risk her life for the brothers or walk away?
From the beginning, What Beauty There Is keeps you wanting to turn the page. Anderson writing allows you to connect with each character on an emotional level as she writes this story in third person and in several different view points. It leaves you wanting the best and fearing the worst. It is a book that you will not want to miss.
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Ava:
“This is one small story in an infinite number. But it is mine.”
What Beauty There Is, is the story of Jack Dahl and his younger brother, Matty. We quickly find out that Jack and Matty live in poverty, their father is in jail, and mother has committed suicide. These boys face adversity that most adults would not be able to handle. Jack never gives up and fights tirelessly for his brother. The love they share is admirable and one of my favorite parts of this book.
Our other main protagonist is Ava Bardem. We don’t know this at first, but Ava is our narrator who speaks to us (sometimes passing that fourth wall) at the beginning of each chapter. Ava’s narrations are my absolute favorite part of this book. Ava’s voice is one of my favorite female voices in a novel to date. Her words are powerful, compassionate, and thought provoking. But who is Ava? Ava is the daughter of the antagonist of our story, which puts her in a very awkward situation: between Jack and her father.
After Jack’s and Marty’s mother has passed away, Jack knows that he must do whatever he can to provide for Matty. His father is in jail for robbery, however, no one has been able to locate the briefcase of money. Jack realizes this is the only way for him to protect him and Matty- money will fix everything. Unfortunately Jack isn’t the person looking for the briefcase. Men, who will stop at nothing to retrieve the money, have their eyes on Jack; the most evil being Bardem- the man who Jack’s father robbed the pawn shop with years before and Ava’s father. Ava knows that her father is a bad man. When she meets Jack, she feels an instant connection with him. There is something about him; she is drawn to him. Behind her father’s back, Ava begins to help Jack and Matty, but when Bardem realizes what Ava is up to will she risk her life for the brothers or walk away?
From the beginning, What Beauty There Is keeps you wanting to turn the page. Anderson writing allows you to connect with each character on an emotional level as she writes this story in third person and in several different view points. It leaves you wanting the best and fearing the worst. It is a book that you will not want to miss.
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Ava:
“This is one small story in an infinite number. But it is mine.”
The Sanatorium was @reesesbookclub February Book of the Month. I finished it by March 7th.. close enough!
This was a smash, debut novel for @sarahpearseauthor. She introduces us to characters who I feel that she makes us question and distrust the entire novel. No one truly feels safe! Everyone could be the killer!
Elin was a character who grew on me as the novel went on. I found myself rooting for Elin, wanting more for her, wishing that she had the confidence in herself that I felt in her, etc. This is why I think Elin was relatable. She is a strong female who doesn’t realize just how strong she truly is.
The Sanatorium is a thrilling, mystery novel. @sarahpearseauthor takes you on a ride that will continue to having you guessing until the very end! Even when you find out the “who dunnit”, you’ll be asking yourself, “Are you sure it’s them?!” I know I was still questioning things until the very end! And then the Epilogue?!
If mystery books are your thing, than you will not want to miss this trip to the Alps!
This was a smash, debut novel for @sarahpearseauthor. She introduces us to characters who I feel that she makes us question and distrust the entire novel. No one truly feels safe! Everyone could be the killer!
Elin was a character who grew on me as the novel went on. I found myself rooting for Elin, wanting more for her, wishing that she had the confidence in herself that I felt in her, etc. This is why I think Elin was relatable. She is a strong female who doesn’t realize just how strong she truly is.
The Sanatorium is a thrilling, mystery novel. @sarahpearseauthor takes you on a ride that will continue to having you guessing until the very end! Even when you find out the “who dunnit”, you’ll be asking yourself, “Are you sure it’s them?!” I know I was still questioning things until the very end! And then the Epilogue?!
If mystery books are your thing, than you will not want to miss this trip to the Alps!
This book follows Hannah, who you truly cannot help but love, as she navigates life after receiving a note from her husband Owen that contained only two words: “Protect Her”. Who is this her? His 16 year old daughter, Bailey, who is not a #1 Hannah fan. Hannah soon finds out that her husband wasn’t the man she thought he was. Her life is falling apart around her, all awhile she’s trying to hold it together for the daughter that never really wanted her.
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I truly enjoyed both Hannah and Bailey. I loved watching their relationship grow and change throughout the story. I found it very organic and my favorite part of this story. It also shows how deep a mother’s love for their child truly goes, regardless of blood.
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This book gave me all the feels. I’m so glad our book club picked it. If you are looking for a quick, page turning mystery… look no further than The Last Thing He Told Me.
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I truly enjoyed both Hannah and Bailey. I loved watching their relationship grow and change throughout the story. I found it very organic and my favorite part of this story. It also shows how deep a mother’s love for their child truly goes, regardless of blood.
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This book gave me all the feels. I’m so glad our book club picked it. If you are looking for a quick, page turning mystery… look no further than The Last Thing He Told Me.
It is truly hard to put into words and express the magnitude of this book. In under 200 pages, Karla Cornejo Villavicencio gives her readers a look at the hidden lives of the everyday undocumented person. She shows every painful, heartbreaking, frustrating struggle these individuals go through. She also breaks it down by event and location. She shows how these individuals affect her as an individual on DACA and with parents, who are also undocumented. She also shares her mental health issues with her readers.
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This book is a must read for everyone. My eyes were opened to so many things that I wasn’t aware of until I read this book. As someone who is white and an American citizen, I was unaware of many struggles it takes to become a documented citizens. I feel that media and other outlets tend to poison us and blind us to see these individuals one way. Judgement is an evil thing and often something that is made based on lack of information. So learn before you cast judgement. Read this book.
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This book is a must read for everyone. My eyes were opened to so many things that I wasn’t aware of until I read this book. As someone who is white and an American citizen, I was unaware of many struggles it takes to become a documented citizens. I feel that media and other outlets tend to poison us and blind us to see these individuals one way. Judgement is an evil thing and often something that is made based on lack of information. So learn before you cast judgement. Read this book.