On the first Friday of each month, I will share my five-star reads from the previous month. Fingers crossed, I have lots of books to tell you about.
I read 38 books in January, and though many did not earn the full 5-stars, I had quite a few that came close. I did DNF 4 or 5 books, but I still have an overall great reading month.
I was having such a dry spell, when this book came up on my TBR. I hadn't had any 5-star reads, and then BAM! This one charmed the pants off of me. My heart ached for Ivy and her family, and though I wasn't happy with her quest to hide her family's circumstances, I sort of understood it. I grew to adore Ivy's family, but I also loved watching her world view grow, and there was a cute romance to keep my interest as well. Lots of fun and feels from this one.
The Legend series is one of my all-time favorites, but I never felt like I got enough closure from Champion. So, thank you, Marie Lu, for this gift many, many, MANY years later. But, hey, better late than never right? She not only gave me another fantastic adventure with June and Day, she let me see how they have grown and changed over the past decade, and wrote a stupendous ending for this series.
Did you have any five-star reads last month?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
I didn't get Rebel because I'm scared that it will ruin the series for me. But seeing so many people I follow actually love it, I might just pick it up this year :)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad Lu gave us another book in this series. It was the closure I needed after the ending to Champion left me in tears. Not only did she help us understand what happened with Day and June, she gave us some insight into what it was like after all that stuff went down in the republic and how the system they thought was better may have been flawed as well
DeleteWow, Sam! 38 books??!! How do you do it? Between the Notes does sound like a wonderful story. Books that have a family theme are ones that I seem to love as well. I hope that February proves to be just as wonderful for you.
ReplyDeleteI listen to audiobooks and have a long commute - lots of reading time. I like seeing families, which are not necessarily perfect, but functional, and Between the Notes features a great one
DeleteI haven't read the Legend series, but it's good to know it has a good ending!
ReplyDeleteWe got the good ending 7 years later, but better late than never
DeleteAs always, I am in awe of the sheer number of books you read in a month. If only I could read as fast maybe my TBR wouldn’t be as scary. (Oh, who am I kidding? It would totally be just as scary.) I remember your review of Between the Notes and the great family focus in that one.
ReplyDeleteMy TBR is so massive, it will never be read, but I like that audiobooks let me whittle away at it a bit more each month. I really loved that book. It was a combination of things that were done right.
DeleteThat's a lot of books! I'm finally able to get my reading mojo back and reading some good ones too:)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you have recovered your mojo. I hope you have some stellar books next Five Star Friday
Deletethis is a great feature and i love learning about books that have knocked the socks off a blogger friend. both are new to me, so thanks for the introduction
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I thought a monthly wrap up was unnecessary, since I do a weekly, but I wanted a way to feature the books I really, really loved. I am all about hitting the high points, and once a month, it's all fangirling
DeleteI never did finish the Legend series, but I'm always a fan of a wonderful epilogue/bonus novella type of thing that shows beloved characters in the future enjoying their HEA. I'll have to mark my calendar so I can participate in your Friday Five next month! :)
ReplyDeleteThis was a whole book, and it gave me the closure I was looking for, and never got, from Champion. I finished that book in tears, whereas I was jumping for joy at the end of this book
DeleteI never read the Legend series. I have had it on my radar for a long time. I am kind of in a reading slump. I need a five star read, maybe I will try Between the Notes.
ReplyDeleteLegend is one of my favorite series. My daughter was/is big into dystopians, and this was one she pushed on me. No regrets. Between the Notes was lovely, and it had a lot of food for thought, without making me feel like I was being lectured.
DeleteI'm glad to see that Rebel worked so well for you. I want to read more Marie Lu. I liked Warcross but just remembered I never read the sequel. Ack! I need to get on that, and try some of her other stuff as well.
ReplyDeleteI have read the Legend, Young Elites, and Warcross series. Loved them all. I feel like if you enjoy her style, all her books are good bets
Delete38 books?! Oh how I wish I could read/listen to half as many! My TBR would get wiped out in no time! All the pretty books...
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of Between the Notes and the cover. I added it to my wishlist after you mentioned it earlier in the month (or was it Jan? I can't remember). :)
I have a four hour commute and I can listen to audiobooks as I work. That's why I read so much. If you read Between the Notes, I hope you love Ivy's story as much as I did
DeleteI am so looking forward to both of these! And is it bad that I still haven't reviewed all of my January books?
ReplyDeleteNo, however, I rate them right away, even if I don't review them. I have yet to review any of the books I read this week, and now have to bust out five reviews. --sigh-- I don't know why I do this to myself.
DeleteHa! I'm with you! The crazy thing is, I'm not even procrastinating. I just have soooo much to do!!
DeleteNever a shortage of things to do; always a shortage of time. I feel you pain
DeleteSo you'll be doing your next Five Star Friday March 6th? Trying to get my calendar in order. :)
ReplyDeleteYes. Yeah! I am so excited you'll be doing it. Now, let's hope you have lots of books for the post. I already have two!!
DeleteWow! 38 books in January?! You must be a speed reader. I never read the Legend Series, but I remember all of the rave reviews that came out surrounding each of these books. I'm glad you got the closure you wanted and such a fantastic ending. I remember your review on Between the Notes and thinking it sounded like such a phenomenal read! I'll be looking forward to these 5 star lists, so I can add some amazing books to my TBR!
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
I wasn't sure how I felt about Lu putting out a book so many years after the ending, and it was announced right around the same time Mafi announced she was doing more Shatter Me books, but I am not glad she did it. The book gave me closure, but also added a little something to the series.
DeleteOne five star book and that was it. I think I'm a bit pickier about what I give as five star books now compared to a few years back. Still, I'm ok with a few four star reads too!
ReplyDeleteI definitely have something that makes me give all the stars, but I wasn't as good at finding those books last month. This month is already off to a better start.
DeleteAdding Between the Notes Sam thanks! And the cover is just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI like that it's the house her family is forced to move into, and you can see Ivy and Lennie outside.
DeleteWow, 38 books? That is amazing! I haven't started the Legend series yet but I've enjoyed everything I've read from Lu so it's definitely on my list.
ReplyDeleteI am training the new hire, so that means I will get through less audiobooks this month. Expect lower numbers next month. GAH! The Legend series is my favorite of the three I read (Legend, Young Elites, Warcross)
DeleteOoh! I really want to read both of these!! Glad they were 5-star reads!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Yeah! I hope they rate high by you as well
DeleteOh it makes me so happy to see that both of these were five stars because I own both of these books! I am hoping to have the time to read Rebel very soon, and then Between the Notes will be harder to get to as it is on my kindle, but hopefully soon.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a fan of the Legend series, I think you will be really happy with Rebel. It brings something new, but also gives us fans closure.
DeleteOkay, I wrote a comment but it was eaten. It was about how happy I am to see that both of these were your five stars because I own them both! I am hoping to read Rebel fairly soon, and Between the Notes will take me longer as I have it on kindle but I am hopeful ^.^
ReplyDeleteNot eaten. When you need a sweet book about family, you should pick up your kindle and read Between the Notes
Delete