The Castaways: A Novel by Lucy Clarke

 

I'm a fan of Lucy Clarke's novels - they are always such a treat to read. Mystery thrillers that will leave you gobsmacked at every twist and turn - absolutely LOVE it every time! So, of course I was super excited to get my hands on an early copy of Clarke's latest book, The Castaways.  I dove right in and would not stop reading for anything - this story had me hooked right from the start. There was family drama, unexpected romance, betrayal, a plane crash, and an island - it was riveting and chock full of unpredictable moments. This book was fantastic!

So, what is the story about? Two sisters heading to their vacation destination. One misses their flight. The other one becomes a missing person when disaster strikes and the plane crashes. No one knows what happened or where it happened. We find out what happened from both sisters - the one who stayed behind and the one went missing. It's crazy, scary, and unbelievable all at once. And, that is all I will share about this riveting read. You have to check it out and find out what happened - it's a must-read! 

I would happily recommend any book written by Lucy Clarke - they are fun and exciting reads. So, I would definitely recommend The Castaways - you are going to LOVE it! 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

1st book for 20 Books Of Summer...

 

I meant to read this one as soon as it arrived in my mailbox, but my mind was not up for it.  Anxiety and depression are too busy interrupting my life, so reading has been a bit haphazard. I'm feeling a bit better, so I was able to pick up the new King and start reading. I'm already hooked and excited to keep reading. What about you? Did you pick up the new King? Let me know if you've read the book or plan to. 

Wishing you a groovy weekend. Happy reading!

20 Books Of Summer...

 

My dear friend, Meredith, posted about 20 Books Of Summer over on her blog, Dolce Bellezza and just reading about it, I knew I had to join in. So, I headed over to Cathy's blog, 746 Books, to read all about it - she's the creator of 20 Books Of Summer reading challenge.  Basically, pick 20, 15, or 10 books you already own that you want to read over the summer (June 1st - September 1st) and start reading. 

Here's my tentative list (I'm not going to lie, I might change it around at some point, because I am a mood reader):

What do you think? Not a bad list, eh? I've had som of those on my TBR for ages, so I figured it was about time to dive in. Let me know if you've read any of these and what you thought of them. Also, let me know if you are going to join in on 20 Books Of Summer. 

Wishing you a great rest of the week! Happy reading!

Summer is here!

Yep, summer reading has begun.  The first day of the season was on Wednesday.  Although, if I'm honest, I'd already begun my summer reading over the past weekend. I was on a non-fiction kick and followed up Keven Hart's memoir (I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons) with:

Talk about two amazing writers. I absolutely LOVED both books to bits.  Sidibe's book was definitely interesting and provided insight into how she came about acting - let's just say she was destined for it.  Her life was filled with ups and downs; she struggled with depression; and she just couldn't figure out what she wanted to do.  She was a mess and she admits it - her honesty was heartfelt and I loved it.  Sidibe is a smart and funny gal with loads of talent and I can't wait to read more of her writing.  As for Gay's book - wow! She lays it all out and it is simply beautiful.  Her writing mesmerizes and her truth grabs you.  I enjoyed every minute I spent with Hunger.  Gay shares her story of being gang-raped at 12 by her boyfriend and his friends.  She writes about how she never told anyone what happened and kept that secret locked up for years.  She writes about how she continued to let her boyfriend use her body after he had violated her and told the kids at school she was a slut.  She writes about the nightmares, the smell of beer, and the loss of her body.  Gay tells us how she decided to eat away her pain - she wanted a body so big that no one would hurt her ever again.  Her story is about the experience of being a fat woman in today's world and it is honest, raw, and real.  Reading this book has made me a fan of Gay's writing for life.  Hunger is a MUST-READ!!

As for what I'm reading now:

Strout was calling out to me, so I picked up Amy and Isabelle. A story about a mother and daughter in a small town. Isabelle works in the office at the mill - she's the secretary to the boss.  Her daughter, Amy, is a teen-aged girl struggling to get through high school.  A new teacher replaces the old math teacher.  All the students seems to LOVE Mr. Robertson.  Except, maybe Amy LOVES him too much.  Yep, she's caught with him in his car and soon the whole town knows.  Isabelle is shocked and feels betrayed by the daughter she has sacrificed so much for.  Amy is hurt and confused by all of the anger, drama, and scandal that her romance has caused her family and the town.  She begins to hate her mother and realizes that she resents her.  Isabelle, also begins to feel the same feelings of hate and resentment toward her own daughter.  Their relationship becomes beyond strained and tests their boundaries and love for one another.  I'm part way through the book and loving it. Strout's writing is always so rich and deep with emotion, that you can't help but get easily caught up in the narratives she weaves.  I definitely can't wait to read the rest of her works this summer.

And now, I'm off to continue Amy and Isabelle.  Hope you're kicking off summer reading with something great.  Happy reading!!

My Summer Reading List...

Summer is nigh and that means books, books, books.  Everywhere I turn people are posting their summer reading lists and its making me want to write my own list. So, here goes:

1.  Elizabeth Strout. I love her writing and have already read (Olive Kitteridge, My Name Is Lucy Barton, Anything Is Possible), so I want to read the rest of her works this summer.

 2.  Nonfiction.  I want to read more nonfiction this summer, so I'm thinking these books will be perfect to dive into.

 3.  This new-to-me series by Genevieve Cogman. There are going to be five books and I own the first three.  I think this summer is the perfect time to get lost in Cogman's fantastical world.

4.  Plus, these other awesome sounding books that have recently caught my fancy.

What do you think? Not a bad list, eh? I think its a pretty good mix and I can't wait to start reading them all.  Of course, I'm always up for suggestions - so, let me know if you have any recommendations.  And, let me know what you plan on reading this summer.  I love finding out which books are on people's radars in the summer time - its always seems to be a fun and eclectic mix of the classics and contemporary fiction. 

Happy reading!!