FRIDAY FAVORITES #79 | OCTOBER BOOK REVIEW

Hello weekend!!

Today, I'm linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci for Friday Favorites and this week, I'm switching it up a little with my October Book Review!  I figured since it was November 9th, it was probably time to get to it.  haha

So let's dive right in!

I got back on track this month with my reading and listened to 4 really good audiobooks and read another one on my Kindle.  I recommend all of them, although some more than others, so go ahead and get your list ready!  

AN ANONYMOUS GIRL

I have to start with An Anonymous Girl because I have been telling y'all about this book for months now!  I was lucky enough to score an advanced copy of this one and I was pumped! 

The only reason it took me months to read this book was because the advanced copy was only available in digital format on my Kindle.  And I am an audiobook-er.  I don't have time/find time to sit down and read.  There is just always too much other stuff I have to be doing.  So yes, it took me several months to finish this one!  #theshame

Let me start by saying that the authors' previous book, The Wife Between Us, is my favorite thriller EVER. I still remember where I was sitting when my mouth literally fell open for a full 30 seconds when the big twist was revealed in that book. So when I got an advanced copy of this new book from the same authors I was so excited!! 

However.

I was definitely a little disappointed. It didn't quite live up to the first book at all and there were no SHOCKING plot twists. I NEED SHOCKING PLOT TWISTS, Y'ALL.  Yes, there were plenty of average twists and turns but nothing that had me picking my jaw up off the floor.  I need to pick my jaw up off the floor too with my thrillers too.

I'll skip the big summary because you can read that here but basically, this book is about a young woman who finds herself involved in an anonymous group case study and is then handpicked to continue on as the solo subject.  She becomes friendly with Dr. Shields, the woman running the study, and what starts out as an innocent and intriguing patient/client relationship, quickly turns into something much more sinister.

 I don't want to spoil anything so I can't say much else but MY summary of the book would best be described with the Friends quote, "They don't know that we know they know we know." 

My biggest problem with the book was that all the big secrets are revealed to us as the reader. It's the characters who are all keeping secrets from each other and it just got confusing trying to remember what I knew as opposed to what the character I was reading about knew.  

It made my head spin and it was distracting having to stop reading so that I could process all the information I knew as a reader compared to what each character may or may not know about each other. 

But, I did give it 4 stars (rounded up from 3.5) because I don't hate that I read it or feel like I wasted my time at all. It was interesting for sure and the story is very original. I was eager to see how it all played out mainly because I kept thinking that surely there must be something bigger at stake here than what there actually was.  (No spoilers so it's hard to describe.)

Overall, I enjoyed the book, it just wasn't one I'll call a favorite.  It would make a great Lifetime movie though!!

This book will be released on January 8th.

WINTER IN PARADISE

Elin Hilderbrand is back with a new winter series and this time it's set in St. John instead of Nantucket.

It's also supposedly set in winter thus, the Winter in Paradise title.  But I got absolutely no winter vibes anywhere in this book so my biggest criticism is that the title makes no sense to me.

But it's up from there!  This is the first book in a trilogy which I didn't realize when I finished the book.  Had it not been a series, I would have been super irritated at the ending because it definitely leaves you wanting more.  But knowing that I'm only left hanging for a little while made it much better.

This book is about a woman who receives a phone call in the middle of the night to let her know that her husband has died in a small plane crash in St. John.  She thought he was away on business in a boring city in the U.S. so she is shocked to hear all of this.  She decides to fly down to St. John with her 2 grown sons to see if she can figure out what happened to her husband.  Soon enough, she discovers that her husband was leading a double life..complete with a mansion on the beach and a second family.

I really liked this book.  I loved picturing this new island, found myself rooting for Irene (the widow) and the two sons get themselves into a love triangle with a gorgeous local girl.

This first book focuses on the family finding out about their husband and father's secret life.  I think the second book will dive into the circumstances surrounding the crash.  This wasn't a 5 star book for me but it WAS a solid 4.  If you love Elin Hilderbrand books, this one is worth the read!

PS:  If you haven't read the older Winter Street series though, NOW is the time!!  You will love them!  So perfect for this time of year.

ON SECOND THOUGHT

I know there are a ton of people who never re-read books but I am not one of them.  I think it's because I read so many books that it's easy to forget the details of them.  So re-reading them is almost like the first time all over again.

On Second Thought is one of my favorite "chick lit" novels ever and now I remember why.

This book brings all the drama.  Two sisters.  Ainsley has been dating her boyfriend for years, been by his side through cancer, and is more than ready to make things official.  She's found the ring he's hidden...now she's just waiting for her boyfriend to pop the question.

Kate is newly married to the love her life until a freak accident makes her a young widow.  She is lost, lonely and depressed until her sister's relationship goes up in flames (and goes viral) and the two find themselves living together and holding each other up as they go through the most difficult times in their lives.

This book is GOOD, y'all.  When people ask for book recs, I always have this one on the list.

I FOUND YOU

Ahhhhhh this little thriller/mystery was also good!

This is my second Lisa Jewell book and it did not disappoint!  The plot was very original and it definitely took me a while before I caught on to the fact that what I THOUGHT I had all figured out was not what it seemed at all!  (Love when that happens.)

Since I'm scared to give anything away with my own summary, here's the official one: 

In the windswept British seaside town of Ridinghouse Bay, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on a beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside.

Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, newlywed Lily Monrose grows anxious when her husband fails to return home from work one night. Soon, she receives even worse news: according to the police, the man she married never even existed.

Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty Ross are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. The annual trip to Ridinghouse Bay is uneventful, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just because he’s a protective older brother.

Who is the man on the beach? Where is Lily’s missing husband? And what ever happened to the man who made such a lasting and disturbing impression on Gray?

I gave this book a solid 4.5 stars.  Great setting, great story, nice twists and an ending that wrapped it all up nicely for me.  Add it to your list!

HOW TO WALK AWAY

I feel like this next one has been all over the place lately and everyone has been raving about it!  I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and now I get it!  This book has now been added to my "favorite books ever" list.

I think there is a slight difference between chick lit and "women's fiction" and I would definitely put this in the "women's fiction" category. Here's the summary because if I summarize it myself, I'll give away the good stuff.

Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she’s worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in a brief, tumultuous moment.

In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First, there is her fiancé, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there's her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there's Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won't let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect.

You've got near-death experiences, breakups, make-ups, sisters, challenges, and new love.  This is also an excellent audiobook if you want to go that route!  You will love this book, friends!  Oh my heart.  Read it!

So that was October!  As for what I'm currently reading...

A Stranger in the House

This one is really good so far!  I'm 90% sure I've got this thing figured out but we shall see!

So that's it for books this month!  I wanted to throw in a few other Favorites though before I leave you today.

These were all on my Deals blog yesterday (and in the FB group) along with about a hundred others!  If y'all aren't checking my new Daily Deals blog every day you totally should be!  

If you missed my post about the launch of the new blog last week you can find it HERE but basically, I find and post awesome deals, fun finds and great gift ideas frequently throughout the day in both the FB group and on the blog for those who aren't on FB or prefer to check them there.

You can also subscribe to the blog so that each day you'll get the entire blog post all in one email.  This is such an easy way to scroll through all the deals from that day and see what you may want to snag for yourself!  Just remember that I post lots of Lightning Deals which come and go within hours so if you think about it, check the FB page or blog throughout the day as well. 

If you're on the mobile site, scroll all the way down to the bottom and click over to "view web version" and you'll be able to see the subscribe button.

And one more random favorite for the week is this face wash I grabbed on impulse the other day at CVS.  I am loving this!  It's leaving my skin soft and fresh but I also feel a little tingle which makes me feel like it's working.

So that's it for my official favorites for today but y'all know you can join me HERE for new fun finds all day, (almost) every day!!  It will be your new guilty pleasure, girls.  ;) 

In the words of Jennifer Hudson in Sex and the City 2--Girl, stick with me.  I'll hook you up. ;)

Have a happy weekend, y'all!