What 'Cha Readin'?: Then She Was Gone

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January 3, 2019

Best Books of 2018

What 'Cha Readin'?'s Best of 2018

For me 2018 was full of ups and down both in my reading life and my personal life. My Goodreads Reading Challenge was to read 85 books. I didn't quite make it to my goal, I read 81 out of the 85. Even though I didn't reach my goal, I've set my goal for 2019 to 100 books. I think I can do it. For my reading this year I had 13 five star books, 38 four star, 28 three star, and 2 two star. I was able to finish all of the books I started this year, except for The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer, but I plan to come back and read that one, when my mind is ready for it. Below I will give you my top 10 for 2018. Click on the book covers to buy the book and the title for my full review. Share with me your favorites of 2018 and what you are looking forward to in 2019.

2018 Top Ten

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Roy and Celestial have been married for almost two years when their relationship takes a hit no one could ever anticipate. As they are in rural Louisiana visiting Roy's family, he is wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commit. Sentenced to twelve years in a Louisiana prison, the time they have spent married will be much shorter than the time they are about to spend apart. Will they both be able to survive the predicament they are in? With Celestial in Atlanta trying to continue to live her life and Roy in Louisiana, writing letters back and forth and having sporadic visits, will their marriage survive?

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Fifteen years ago, Emma Davis attended Camp Nightingale for the first time. She shared a cabin with three older girls, Vivian, Allison and Natalie and one night they snuck out of the cabin and never came back. This is something that has haunted Emma all this time. So much so that she has included these girls in all of her paintings since that time, hidden in the woods they disappeared into. Now, Emma has been invited back to camp which is reopening after fifteen years. She is determined to find out what happened to the girls so that she can move on with life. But will she be able to do that? Will the people who are responsible for the girls disappearance and maybe death, try to stop her?

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Ten years ago, Ellie Mack went missing. The police think she is just another teenage runaway, but her mother, Laurel, doesn't believe that for a second. Ellie's disappearance destroyed the family and now that her remains have been found, Laurel will finally have some closure. When she meets Floyd, it's like she's getting a second chance at life. But when she meets his daughter, Poppy, life comes to an alarming halt. Poppy looks so much like Ellie, but why? Of course people look like other people all the time, but there is just something about this child that keeps Ellie at the forefront. When Laurel discovers a connection between Floyd and her family, she embarks on a journey to find out exactly what happened to her daughter and who did it.

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris
Ten years ago, Finn's wife, Layla disappeared. They were on their way home from a holiday in France, when they stopped at a rest area for a bathroom break. When Finn returned from the restroom, Layla was gone. He tried to find her right away and contacted the police and told them everything that happened from the time they pulled in until he walked out of the bathroom and his wife was gone. But he left out one detail. Now Finn is dating Layla's sister, Ellen, and things keep popping up to bring Layla back to the forefront. Is Layla alive or is someone playing a twisted game to stop Finn and Ellen from being together?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Starr Carter lives in Garden Heights, which is the ghetto. She goes to the predominately white private school, Williamson, where she has to pretend to be someone she is not. When she witnesses the murder of one of her closest friends, Khalil, from the neighborhood, by the hand of a white police officer, she has to take a closer look at herself, her neighborhood, and the friends she chooses to hang with.

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
Dr. Anna Fox has been in her house for the past ten months. After an accident involving her husband, daughter and herself, she became agoraphobic. She now spends her days staring out of her windows, spying on her neighbors and keeping up with all the comings and goings of the neighborhood. When a new family moves in across the park from her, she is immediately drawn to the mother and the son, a single child family like her own. They come over to introduce themselves and she feels an instant connection. But then Anna thinks she sees a crime being committed at the neighbors house. Did she really see something or is the combination of medications and alcohol blurring the lines of reality and fantasy? Will the authorities believe her or will they believe the family and the rest of the neighborhood that Dr. Fox is just a crazy, drunk, cooped up lady.

Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh
It is the one year anniversary of the death of Anna Johnson's mother when she receives an anonymous note that makes her question everything about her parents deaths. The previous year both her parents had taken their lives within months of each other, but did they really? When Anna goes to the police with her note, more disturbing events take place and she doesn't know what to do. Full of twists and turns you won't see coming, this book is definitely one to read.

Dares, Lies & Geminis by Kat Alexander
Tristana and Peter live as roommates in a boarding house in Virginia. When they first meet, there is an instant connection between the two. Tristana, though, is too involved in her work and Peter is still working out issues of his own after the death of his brother. Seraphina is a club girl who likes going out and finding the bad boys. Men that are willing to cheat to have a piece of her. Nathan stand on the sideline and watches her, trying to figure out why she is doing this to herself. But he is always there to step in in case there is a problem. Will these couples ever get their lives together in order to be much happier as partners instead of singles? Will Tristana be able to break out of her shell around Peter? Will Nathan ever reveal himself to Seraphina and tell her his true feelings?

Never Be Alone by Paige Dearth
Joon is eight years old when her parents are killed and she is put into the foster care system. For 4 years, she is with the same family, but the way they treat her is worse than you would an enemy. When Joon has her chance, she runs away an tried to make a life for herself on the streets. She sees more in her short life than many people experience in an entire lifetime. Will Joon be able to survive on the streets or will she succumb to the pressures of drugs and prostitution?

The Bulletproof Proposal by Rebekah Louise
After five years of dating Lisa is anticipating that all-important question, will you marry me? Impatient, Lisa decides to take matters into her own hands and propose to Matt, after all it is the 21st Century. Only she takes it one step further and with the help of her best friend Mandy, she prepares the ultimate proposal. What she doesn’t know is whether this will be the beginning of her happily-ever- after or the beginning of the end.

These are my top 10 of 2018.

2019 READING PLANS

I'm really excited about the books on my reading list for this year. I'm starting the year off with An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Other books I'm looking forward to this year:

Kissing Princeton Charming by Frankie Love & C.M. Seabrook

The Birds, The Bees and You and Me by Olivia Hinebaugh

Girls Night Out by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Forget You Know Me by Jessica Strawser

The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib

Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

Swing by Kwame Alexander

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Under My Skin by Lisa Unger

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Well Read Black Girl by Glory Edim

I hope you will come with me on my reading journey this year. I would love to hear about yours as well. Tell me what you are reading and what you are looking forward to this year.

June 4, 2018

May Readin' Roundup

For me, May was filled with lots of really good books. I was able to finish seven books. Four of them I gave 5 stars, the other three were 4 stars. I was able to listen to two audio books, 3 of the books were released within the past couple of months, 1 is set to release in July and 1 was a highly acclaimed book from last year.

Unfortunately, my June isn't starting out as great, but hopefully it will get better.

FIVE STAR REVIEWS

Never Be Alone by Paige Dearth

Released in March 2018. This book is by an independent author, who was at times homeless herself.

Joon is eight years old when her parents are killed and she is put into the foster care system. For 4 years, she is with the same family, but the way they treat her is worse than you would an enemy. When Joon has her chance, she runs away an tried to make a life for herself on the streets. She sees more in her short life than many people experience in an entire lifetime. Will Joon be able to survive on the streets or will she succumb to the pressures of drugs and prostitution?

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Released in April 2018, this book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Ten years ago, Ellie Mack went missing. The police think she is just another teenage runaway, but her mother, Laurel, doesn't believe that for a second. Ellie's disappearance destroyed the family and now that her remains have been found, Laurel will finally have some closure. When she meets Floyd, it's like she's getting a second chance at life. But when she meets his daughter, Poppy, life comes to an alarming halt. Poppy looks so much like Ellie, but why? Of course people look like other people all the time, but there is just something about this child that keeps Ellie at the forefront. When Laurel discovers a connection between Floyd and her family, she embarks on a journey to find out exactly what happened to her daughter and who did it.

The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

Released at the end of last year, I had seen this book on Instagram, Goodreads, and Facebook and everyone I know enjoyed it, so I had to give it a try. It was a great story, with a twist I didn't see coming.

Dr. Anna Fox has been in her house for the past ten months. After an accident involving her husband, daughter and herself, she became agoraphobic. She now spends her days staring out of her windows, spying on her neighbors and keeping up with all the comings and goings of the neighborhood. When a new family moves in across the park from her, she is immediately drawn to the mother and the son, a single child family like her own. They come over to introduce themselves and she feels an instant connection. But then Anna thinks she sees a crime being committed at the neighbors house. Did she really see something or is the combination of medications and alcohol blurring the lines of reality and fantasy? Will the authorities believe her or will they believe the family and the rest of the neighborhood that Dr. Fox is just a crazy, drunk, cooped up lady.

Dares, Lies & Geminis by Kat Alexander

Released in May 2018, I received a request from this author to read this book about a week before it's release. I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish the book on time, but I was determined. I shouldn't have worried. This book was so hard to put down from the very beginning. The twist in this book, which you normally don't see in a romance novel will leave your jaw on the floor.

Tristana and Peter live as roommates in a boarding house in Virginia. When they first meet, there is an instant connection between the two. Tristana, though, is too involved in her work and Peter is still working out issues of his own after the death of his brother.

Seraphina is a club girl who likes going out and finding the bad boys. Men that are willing to cheat to have a piece of her. Nathan stand on the sideline and watches her, trying to figure out why she is doing this to herself. But he is always there to step in in case there is a problem.

Will these couples ever get their lives together in order to be much happier as partners instead of singles? Will Tristana be able to break out of her shell around Peter? Will Nathan ever reveal himself to Seraphina and tell her his true feelings?

FOUR STAR REVIEWS

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

This book doesn't come out until July. I was graced with an Advanced Reader's Copy and this book is very creepy. Makes you want to watch your back around your kids.

Hanna is seven years old and the apple of her father's eye. In his mind, she is his perfect little girl, his "lilla gumman". Suzette is Hanna's mother and she does all she can for Hanna, by home schooling her. But Hanna refuses to speak and has gotten kicked out of a few schools for her bad behavior. Is she not speaking because something is wrong or because she chooses not to? After countless doctor's visits, Suzette and Alex are at their wits end to find out what is wrong with their daughter. Hanna does not like her mother and will stop at nothing until it's just her and Daddy.

The Fix by David Baldacci

My mom first introduced me to David Baldacci's books. My son loves to listen to the Amos Decker books with me. This is book #3 in the series.

It's a typical day for Amos Decker. He is on his way to the Hoover Building in downtown Washington, DC when a man pulls out a gun and shoots a woman right in front of FBI Headquarters. Then he turns the gun on himself. What the hell just happened and most importantly for Decker to find out, why? This is Decker's second case working for the FBI and they've moved him and Jamison from Quantico up to the Washington Field Office. Why would someone choose to shoot another person in front of the FBI building? Why would a successful businessman with a family do such a thing? What did the woman he kill do? Will Decker and his team be able to answer these questions before it's too late?

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult's books always feel like stories ripped from the headlines. They make you think and ponder life and all that is going on in our world.

Sage is also in a grief group and has been since she lost her mother 3 years earlier. There is where she meets Joseph Weber. Joseph doesn't say much during the group, but when he shows up at the bakery just before Sage is about to start her shift, they strike up a friendship. Then Joseph asks Sage to do something that she can't imagine. When he tells her why, her feelings are mixed about what she should do. Joseph was an SS Officer for the Reich during WWII and Sage's family is Jewish. Joseph is a beloved member of the community so trying to match that person with someone who would have done so much evil in the world is hard for Sage to grasp.

Click on any of the book titles above to see my full review of the book. Dares, Lies & Geminis also includes an author interview.

Share with me the books you read in May.

To order any of these books for yourself or a friend, click on the book covers below:

May 25, 2018

Review: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: April 2018

Ten years ago, Ellie Mack went missing. The police think she is just another teenage runaway, but her mother, Laurel, doesn't believe that for a second. Ellie's disappearance destroyed the family and now that her remains have been found, Laurel will finally have some closure. When she meets Floyd, it's like she's getting a second chance at life. But when she meets his daughter, Poppy, life comes to an alarming halt. Poppy looks so much like Ellie, but why? Of course people look like other people all the time, but there is just something about this child that keeps Ellie at the forefront. When Laurel discovers a connection between Floyd and her family, she embarks on a journey to find out exactly what happened to her daughter and who did it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

After the first few chapters of this book, I figured out a few things about this story that I think most readers will discover as well. But the thing that made this book so hard to put down was how it was all going to come together, it's an incredible journey.

Losing a child is the most painful experience. When Laurel loses Ellis, her whole world is turned upside down and she can no longer function as she once did. She stops cooking for her family, her relationships become strained and eventually she and her husband divorce. Once they find the body of her daughter, the pain becomes a little less since she now has some closure. But why does this young girl look so much like her dead daughter. Did Floyd have something to do with Ellie's disappearance and death? Her family doesn't get a good vibe from this man, but Laurel feels as if she needs to stay with him until the whole truth is revealed.

I really enjoyed this story and I think that everyone who reads it will enjoy it. Very hard to put down.

View all my reviews

To Order a copy of this book for yourself, click on the book cover below: