Not for Review!
This week I am talking about non-review books, or rather, books I read, and loved, but were not provided by a publisher. Rather, these are books I either bought or borrowed. I read every book on this list at some point this year and each earned between 4.5 - 5 stars from me. All were big winners for me.
- Girl Made of Stars by Ashely Herring Blake (library)
- Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus (library)
- Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith (library)
- The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand (library)
- If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka (library)
- Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross (shelf)
- The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen (library)
- The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock (library)
- Wanderlost by Jen Malone (shelf)
- Night Music by Jenn Marie Thorne (library)
Any favorite shelf books to share?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
Oooh this is a really good topic! I've had The Last Time We Say Goodbye on my Kindle since it came out but have yet to read it. I keep forgetting its there. Wanderlost is one I've been wanting to read!
ReplyDeleteGenesis @ Whispering Chapters
I don't tend to buy a lot of books, so I had to twist the topic. I think my daughter bought Goodbye years ago, but I actually listened to the audiobook. It was so good. I am glad I finally gave it a go. Wanderlost was as fun and cute and adorable as I wanted it to be. If you need something like that, read it.
DeleteI've only read one Sarah Dessen book, I need to check out more of her stuff!
ReplyDeleteI love Dessen and have read all her books. Her latest finds her in fine form too.
DeleteLove Wanderlost! It's one of my favorite books of all-time! <3 I also loved The Smell of Other People's Houses - the audiobook was AMAZING - and Whatever Life Throws At You!
ReplyDeleteWanderlost was adorable with substance, which is my favorite kind of book. I also listened to Houses, and I cannot understand how more people weren't talking about that book, when it came out. I like Cross' books. They work for me and Life was SOOOO good.
DeleteI also loved The Smell of Other People’s Houses. I want to reread it eventually, but I never seem to have time for rereading!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I don't remember seeing too many people talking about Houses, and it's a shame, because the book is fantastic.
DeleteI looooove If I'm Being Honest!! The authors did well with the "she's a so-called btch but is actually a softie on the inside" and they really had me rooting for Cameron until the end of the book. Also with Two Can Keep a Secret! This book ensured me that Karen M. McManus' future books are worth the read. This one got my interest in YA thriller/mystery back.
ReplyDeleteI am so in love with that writing duo. I mean, after reading Honest, I ran out and bought their first book. I think McManus really finds a nice balance in her stories, so that they can appeal to a wide variety of readers. I am not a mystery reader, but the book was so much more than that. Loved both her books, can't wait for more.
Deletelove the topic. the smell of other people's house...what a title
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
The book is so good. It's a historical, set in Alaska in the 70s, and Hitchcock did such an incredible job weaving the lives of these people together.
DeleteI'm glad you included borrowed because I rarely buy books these days but I have auto-borrow authors now :-)
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
I buy few books. I don't have space to keep physical books, and I am lucky enough to have good library sources, so I often borrow.
DeleteEvery once in a while we have to read books just for us, right? :-)
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Definitely. Sometimes, I am enjoying the "new releases" much later than other bloggers, but I am glad I read each and every one of these. I have been known to feature some throwback books on my blog too.
DeleteNice! I'd say the majority of my books are from myself! Maybe 10-15% are publisher given. Perhaps a tad more...but not by much. I'm terrible at math! Lol. And since my reading habits have had to change this year, I am not entirely sure of the accuracy.
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I am definitely ARC heavy, but I am trying to change that ratio.
DeleteMine! Haha love that. That made me smile on a Monday. :)
ReplyDeleteI really liked Two Can Keep A Secret. One of my recent faves.
Er, Tuesday. I seem to have my days mixed up *sigh*
ReplyDeleteNobody needs two Mondays in their week. *laughing* MaManus won me over with both her books. I cannot wait for more.
DeleteTwo Can Keep a Secret was a trip! Gosh darn it. I want to read The Smell of Other People’s Houses. Thanks for the reminder to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteHouses was so good. I had it on my TBR for a long while, and finally downloaded the audiobook from the library. Zero regrets. It really impressed me.
DeleteGirl Made of Stars is such a great book. That one made Ashley Herring Blake an auto-buy/borrow author for me.
ReplyDeleteBlake is definitely an auto-read for me at this point, too. I only have her debut to read, and then, I will have to wait for a new release.
DeleteI'm listening to Two Can Keep a Secret now! I really enjoyed her other book and this one is really good so far too!
ReplyDeleteYeah! I hope you like. I enjoy McManus' style, and she combines all those elements I love and wraps them in a mystery.
DeleteTwo Can Keep a Secret was a lot of fun! It was a library audio for me too. :)
ReplyDeleteSame. I listened to quite a few of the books up there. That is mostly how I ingest my non-review books (though, I am trying to change that)
DeleteI haven't read any of these, but most of them are on my TBR list somewhere. I'm glad you loved them all!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to a few of them, because they were all phenomenal.
DeleteI really do need to try those Karen M McManus books. I see them everywhere and I like the sound of the plots.
ReplyDeleteMcManus' books just work for me. I am a fan. They hit all the things I love about YA PLUS, I get a mystery.
DeleteSo do you typically *only* review your arcs/books for review, Sam? And you don't review the books your read on your own? Just curious. :) I really want to pick up Whatever Life Throws At You soon(ish). I just love Julie Cross.
ReplyDeleteI used to really only do ARCs, but I am trying to mix in backlist, and if I read a newer release that blows me away, and I have the time and space for the review, I will put it up there. I do write reviews for all the books I read on Goodreads, and I link to them all on my Sunday Post. I LOVED WLTSAY. It just had all that feel good stuff that sports stories have, and I was a fan of the romance too.
DeleteI might try Two Can Keep a Secret this October. Feels like a great read for that time of year.
ReplyDeleteI love McManus' books. I like that she can combine a bunch of different elements in her mysteries. I really enjoyed both her books.
DeleteBut did you review them or not? I mean do you only review the books that you get from publishers Sam?
ReplyDeleteI review all the books I read or listen to on Goodreads. I like to post blog reviews for newer books, which are usually ARCs, but I have been working in more backlist.
DeleteNight Music, If I'm Being Honest and Girl Made of Stars are all ones on my wishlist. I haven't read any of these yet, but there are a few I am very much looking forward to on this list!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to read them, because they are phenomenal
DeleteYes! Girl Made of Stars definitely deserves more attention!
ReplyDeleteYou don't think Blake's books get a lot of attention? I always feel like I see them around a lot, and I agree with all her books getting lots of love.
DeleteLol, I love the gif. I love the mine mine mine from Finding Nemo. It always makes me giggle!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these but I'm proud to say I recognise quite a few! Bookish osmosis is a thing. :)
That gulls are the best! I always feel a sense of accomplishment, if I have at least heard of all the books people talk about.
Delete