Tag: reading wrap up

March Reading Wrap Up | Rereading My Mary-Kate and Ashley Collection

March started out as a great reading month for me, but as things changed rapidly in the world, my reading routine got off track as well. If you’ve followed my reading updates for a while, you’ll know that I usually read pretty heavy books. My favorite genre, for example, is dystopian, and I certainly don’t feel like reading a dystopian book right now when the current state of life feels much like one. Thus, I decided to start a fun and light-hearted project. Like many people my age, I grew up a huge Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen fan. I watched the movies and the television shows, I sang the songs, I had the dolls and merchandise, and, of course, I read the books. My Mary-Kate and Ashley book collection brings me so much joy that it always survived rounds of KonMari decluttering. I knew one day I would finally reread them, and now is the perfect time. Today I’ll be sharing with you my March reading wrap up, and the start of rereading my Mary-Kate and Ashley collection.

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I began the month really excited to finally begin reading the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. I’ve wanted to read this series for years, and March was going to be the month for it! I picked up The Knife of Never Letting Go, and really enjoyed it. This is a science fiction and dystopian novel that follows a boy named Todd. He lives in a society where only men have survived, and they can hear each other’s thoughts. It took me about 50 pages to become accustomed to the writing style, but I soon got sucked into the story. This book is very adventurous, and quite violent for a young adult novel. I also read the majority of the second book in this trilogy, The Ask and the Answer, but I put it down when everything got serious. I look forward to finishing this trilogy at some point, but I’m not sure when that will be.

I then spent the rest of the month working through all of the books I own in The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley series. There are ten books in this series, but I own four of them: The Case of the Mystery Cruise, The Case of the U.S. Space Camp Mission, The Case of the U.S. Navy Adventure, and The Case of Thorn Mansion. I’ve written more thoughts on each of these books on Goodreads, but overall I think these mysteries are a little ridiculous, but a lot of fun. I am constantly amazed at how nine-year-old kids are allowed to wander around by themselves to solve crimes. I am also bewildered that the Trenchcoat Twins are able to get involved with governmental investigations!

Overall, March was not the reading month I hoped it would be, but I’m taking advantage of this time to reread childhood books that I’ve always wanted to revisit. Now that I’m working from home, I’ve found it very difficult to find reading time. I’ve become accustomed to reading only during my long commutes to and from work, and now my commute is nonexistent. With at least another month of work-from-home life ahead of me, I hope to make more time for reading. Next up on my agenda, The New Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley!

What are you currently reading?

November Reading Wrap Up | Books I Read Last Month

Happy Friday! December is here, and that means it is time to share with you the books I read last month. In this November Reading Wrap Up I will share a mini review of each book I completed. I began this series on the blog last month (see that post HERE), and I really enjoy sharing my reading with you in this format. My reading has definitely slowed down during this part of the year, but I still managed to read three books in November.

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They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★

My Thoughts: They Both Die at the End is a young adult science fiction novel that takes place in our world, but with the twist that you receive a phone call letting you know when it is your death day. Main characters Rufus and Mateo received the fateful call, and decide to spend their last day of life together after meeting on the Last Friend App. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet and emotional, and I think the relationship between Rufus and Mateo developed in a natural way. While Silvera’s first book, More Happy Than Not, is still my favorite of his, this one is very well done and I’m glad I gave it a read.

 

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism by Melanie Joy, PhD [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★★

My Thoughts: This nonfiction book is one I think everyone should read. As the title suggests, this book introduces the reader to the concept of carnism, the invisible belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals. Joy does an incredible job of writing a book that is easy to read, but extremely informational. I learned a lot about the psychology of eating meat, especially in the United States. This book is well-researched, and provides the reader with the hard facts that are hidden by the factory farm industry. Plus, it is great that the author is not preachy – she simply wants the truth to be known and gives realistic tips on how to overcome what we’ve been taught to believe about meat.

 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

My Thoughts: After hearing great things about this book, I finally picked up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in November. This novel tells the story of famous Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo. Now at the end of her life, she is ready to tell the truth of her seven marriages in a biography she is mysteriously giving to low-ranking journalist, Monique Grant. I completed this book in a few days, as Evelyn’s story is very captivating. She is one of those characters that I despise because of all the horrible things she has done, but still care for because of all she’s been through. If you are looking for a complex and entertaining novel that explores love in a new way, I highly recommend this book. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo also contains many diverse elements, such as biracial and bisexual representation.

What did you read in November? Let me know in the comments!

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October Reading Wrap Up | Books I Read Last Month

Happy Wednesday! It’s been a while since I shared any book reviews with you on the blog. I thought I would jump back in by doing a quick wrap-up of the three books I read last month in October. My reading has definitely slowed down a bit in the latter half of the year as I’ve focused on other things during my spare time. That being said, I did manage to read three books in October, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on them with you. Make sure to let me know in the comments if you enjoy these reading wrap-up posts, or if you prefer full length book reviews.

Help support my blog when you shop using the included Amazon affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★ 1/2

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, and had high hopes for Genuine Fraud. This young adult mystery novel follows Jule, a teenager on the run. I really liked how the story is told backwards in this novel. That was a unique take on a mystery, and I found the writing to be very well done. However, I was a bit disappointed with this book. While I can appreciate an open ending, Genuine Fraud lacked a true conclusion. The book also ended without much character development for Jule. I’m glad I read this book, as it was truly a creepy mystery for Halloween season, but I would only recommend it if the synopsis really calls to you.

We’ll Always Have Summer (Summer #3) by Jenny Han [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

My Thoughts: I absolutely fell in love with the Summer series by Jenny Han. I finished up the third book this month, and I’m really happy with how the story came to a close. This series follows a girl named Isabel (Belly, for short), and her time spent at Cousins Beach with her family and family friends each summer. Readers get to grow up with Belly as she learns to navigate love, loss, and life. I felt a strong connection to these books, and know I will return to them again in the future. This series is often criticized for reading too juvenile, but I disagree with that and find the stories show great depth. If you’ve considered reading this series in the past, I highly recommend it!

Warcross (Warcross #1) by Marie Lu [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★

My Thoughts: I picked up Warcross this month after hearing so many good things about it from other readers online. This young adult science fiction book takes place in a not-so-distant future where a virtual reality game called Warcross has taken over the world. Our protagonist is Emika Chen, a bounty hunter who accidentally hacks into the game during the championship’s opening ceremony. Emika is then hired by the creator of Warcross to help find a mysterious figure who is altering the game. I thought this book was imaginative and a lot of fun. I was a bit disappointed with the ending, but I’m still very much looking forward to the sequel. If you like science fiction with a hint of romance, Warcross is a great choice!

What did you read in October? Let me know in the comments!

Follow my reading on Instagram! You can find my #Bookstagram HERE.