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 don't know what to say about March. It was quite a month, that's for sure. I was able to finish 38 books with a whopping 5 getting the full five-star treatment. Three dealt with mental health issues, while the other two took on grief, and four were OwnVoices, which is a point of view I really appreciate.
This grabbed me and never let go. Not only was I so in love with Ellie, but I was so deeply invested in her redeeming the family name. It was such a journey of redemption, as she had to deal with her father's health issues, her own mental health issues, and a lack of money to procure care or even necessities. But, it was all done with care and humor, and there were so many bright spots, and love, lots of love.
I was amazed by this book. It's about something so very, very sad - a young person's death by suicide. It looked back on her road to that hopeless place, which was filled with abuse, but it was also filled with some beautiful moments, too. Callen did such a wonderful job reminding me to look for the light in the dark, and to take comfort from those small blessings.
West is a favorite of mine, so I expected to be pleased by this book, but I was more than pleased. I was in a skipping and smiling sort of mood, when I finished reading this. As expected, West featured wonderful characters and an adorable romance, but it was the idea of Heath Hall and the bit of family drama, which really hooked me. I appreciated the way West handled that part of the book, and it also delivered quite a few feels for me.
Another great mental health book to add to my growing list. Not only did Gornall share her own experiences with us, but she created an amazing character to accomplish that task. Norah was wonderful! She was witty and wry, and I loved getting to know her. I will admit, when her anxiety escalated or her OCD started to spiral out, it could be a bit intense, but I attribute that to excellent writing. Gornall illustrated what it's like to live with these disorders, and what it's like to love someone with these disorders as well. I adored the relationship between Norah and her mother, between Norah and her therapist, and especially between Norah and Luke. This book was really such a gem.
I now believe, that Acevedo is only capable of writing incredible stories. The one thing I love about Acevedo's books, in general, is that way she incorporates her culture and different issues into the stories. They never lack substance or impact. CLAP WHEN YOU LAND examines love, grief, complicated family ties, and forgiveness. I loved the way each topic was explored, and thought the two points of view meshed together beautifully.
Did you have any five-star reads last month?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
Sadly no 5 star reads last month but I didn't really read much so it's not really a surprise! Hoping for better things this month. Have a great booky April!
ReplyDeleteThat is sad to me. 😔 I think I get lucky due to the volume of books I read. You should hope, if you read over 30 books, that at least one would be 5-stars, right?
Deletethat's fabulous. i am wondering, if with volume, my ratings have gone down. do you find yourself needing more from books to stand out from the others?
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I think the more I read, the more likely I am to find something that dazzles me, but my mood plays a huge role in how a book lands for me.
DeleteSO many five-star reads!!! I love how you highlight them this way!!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I do a weekly update, and felt like a monthly would be obnoxious, if I highlighted all the books I read. I like spotlighting my best of the bunch.
DeleteI only had one five star read. The month of March proved to be challenging in every regard.
ReplyDeleteMy mood absolutely affects how I receive a book. That's why I started going for the super fluffy after the quarantine started.
DeleteYou've made me excited to read Moment of Truth!
ReplyDeleteI love the type of books West writes, and I was very into the backstory of this one. I really enjoyed it. I hope you like it too
DeleteI think out of all of these I'm most excited for Moment of Truth. :) Glad you loved them all!
ReplyDeleteIf you need a little lighter side right now, West's book should fill that slot. Light and fun, but with some substance. I feel like her books always have that magical balance, which work for me.
DeleteOh YAY I have Clap When You Land so this is great news! Ditto Under Rose Tainted Skies. And I have heard wonderful things about Two Breaths Too Late. SO much so that I supported its Kickstarter several years ago. Then the author kept stalling, said there were "issues", and it would take awhile longer and long story short I never got my book OR my money back OR a reason, and now it seems I found out what the "issues" were so I won't lie, I am hesitant to support it. Which is maybe unfair of me, but alas.
ReplyDeleteI think my only 5 star for March was Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling, but I also had quite a few 4 and 4.5 stars, so I'd still say it's a win! And I had a 5 star and at least a 4 or 4.5 already this month so, again, a win!
When I finished Clap, I was just, WOW! Acevedo's books are so good, and she handles those sticky things so well. I also liked that this one was written in verse, because Acevedo is a word magician.
DeleteWell, that is most unfortunate about A Breath Too Late. I am surprised the author left you all hanging like that. My understanding of a Kickstarter is, that if it doesn't happen money is returned, no? That's what my daughter told me, when she had me donating to her friend for a black box production of Lord of the Flies (which ended up being excellent, BTW). I think that situation would leave me a little salty.
Is this Cactus book related in any way to the one I remember you reading with Lena?
Oh YAY I am so glad! I haven't read one of hers yet but I have wanted to for so long, so I am extra excited! And YES that is the thing! I mean, it WAS funded! But then she kept saying there were delays with the publisher, etc. She had at one point send she'd send ebooks to those of us who paid for paperbacks (which I had) but I never got the ebook OR the paperback. Sad. STILL, I have heard PHENOMENAL things, which is why I wanted it in the first place. I just wish she'd addressed it or SOMETHING because it does leave a bad taste for sure!
DeleteAnd YEP it is a sequel and it was PERFECT. I may have even liked it more than the original (the MC was moving to high school, so it appealed to me even more hah), it was seriously one of the best books I have read this year!
I have had that cactus book on my radar since you first mentioned it. They have it at the eLibrary, and once I whittle down my June review books, I think I am going to pick it up on the "free reading" campaign I will be doing.
DeleteI agree, the kickstarter should have been address. I am a bit disappointed in the author for not doing something for you guys.
Wow, March was a great reading month for you! Kasie West is definitely a good author to be reading right now. I'm way behind on her books - maybe I should start catching up. The other books sound good, too, but maybe too heavy for me right now. I'm glad they were all such impactful reads for you.
ReplyDeleteI did end up with quite a few amazing books. West always delights me, and this felt more classic West, which can probably be attributed to it being written for over 6 years. Breath was the heaviest, but the others were well balanced. Humor and joy were liberally sprinkled throughout the other books.
DeleteKasie West is one of my favorite authors as well. I've always loved her books. I added A Breath To Live to MY TBR. Thanks for recommending a new read :)
ReplyDeleteBeena @ Beena Khan
West is on my go-to list. She knows the magic formula of fun, romance, and drama, which never fails to delight me. Glad Breath caught your eye. It's very sad at times, but also hopeful in a way.
Delete38 books! Yowza! That is incredible!! Great reads, too! :)
ReplyDeleteWell, you know, I had some extra time this month.
DeleteTechnically I gave Dark Matter 4.5 stars, but that's close enough to 5, right? :')
ReplyDeleteI am so hesitant to read Clap When You Land because it sounds so sad, but I do enjoy Elizabeth Acevedo's writing, so we'll see what I decide!
- Sabrina @ Wordy and Whimsical
I think 4.5 stars is a phenomenal rating (I have a bunch of those too), and in these times, close really is good enough. Clap When You Land obviously has sad parts. I mean, it starts with a plane crash, and there is the unraveling of family secrets, but it's also about love and connection and community and sisterhood. I always find Acevedo's books ultimately uplifting.
DeleteAhh yes I'm so happy to see Under Rose Tainted Skies here. I adore this book so so very much and I think it deserves way more hype :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a fantastic book! I am truly happy, that I picked it as my backlog book. I hope the author will write more books too.
DeleteI love that you've had so many five star reads already this year. I think amazing reads are so important, especially right now when the world feels upside down. I've only read Under Rose-Tainted Skies from your list so will definitely be looking into the others.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to be finding the right books for me. Oddly enough, these weren't all the fluffy goodness I usually adore. Many dealt with some heavy issues, but they were touching, and ultimately hopeful. I think that's why they worked so well for me. I hope you get a chance to check out a few.
DeleteWow, so many books! Glad that you had so many 5-star reads. I wasn't super in love with the Kasie West books I have read, so maybe I'll try Moment of Truth.
ReplyDeleteI like her books. The mix of romance, fun, and drama always works for me, even when it doesn't knock my socks off (Lucky in Love), I still enjoy it. The grief element in this one really touched me, and we all know I love a good grief and healing journey.
DeleteAll of these are on my TBR, but I haven't read them yet! I guess I need to see if Hoopla has any of them available. ;)
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
My Hoopla has the West book. Rose-Tainted Skies is the only other released book, but it's older. I got it from the eLibrary.
DeleteThe Lightness of Hands is one I want to read!!! You had a great month!
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Garvin's books. Both were so wonderful, and, well, Hands was pure magic for me.
DeleteI really wish my mind's free of thoughts about this crisis because you're making me excited to read Moment of Truth. I miss reading West's books and I've been wanting to read this one since.
ReplyDeleteI will say, the story was very upbeat, and I know that's what I am looking for right now
DeleteOkay, 38 books is amazing. AND 5 books that earned 5 stars is great!
ReplyDeleteYou know I read a lot, but I was very happy with the quality. Five 5-star reads is fantastic!
DeleteI didn't read anything last month lol. But I loved Under Rose Tainted Skies when I Read it a while ago so I'm glad you liked that!
ReplyDeleteI have been having a lot of luck with my throwback books. This was definitely a gem
DeleteA Breath too Late was one that I added to my TBR since I read your review. I also really need to read the next Jeff Garvin book and get around to my copy of Under Rose Painted Skies. AHHH I am so excited for Clap When You Land and I am so happy you loved it :D
ReplyDeleteHopefully you can get to a few (if not all) of these. They are really different from each other. Three look at mental health with Breath being the saddest, and Clap is just an absorbing story of family, secrets, and dreams too.
Delete