This month was pretty good. I read 7 books. A total of 2,493 pages. So an average of 8 pages a day. Not too shabby!
The Last Letter from Juliet by Melanie Hudson (415 pages). This was my first Once Upon a Book Club book. And I was sooooo excited about it! A new book AND gifts?! Yes please! Juliet Caron was literally born to fly. She was her father’s copilot almost as soon as she could walk! But when the War came, she wanted to do her part. While women weren’t allowed in the RAF, they were allowed in the ATA (Britain’s version of Fly Girls). Juliet met the love of her life, Edward Nancarrow, the week she married another man. While her husband was one of her best friends, both he and Juliet realized they were not in love with each other. While their country was torn apart by war, Juliet and Edward vowed to love each other all of their days. Fast forward to Juliet’s 100th birthday. Katherine Henderson, young and widowed, has come to stay at Juliet’s cottage for Christmas. She reads Juliet’s memoirs. And has the pleasure of meeting Juliet. She soon remembers that life is for the living. I loved this book! We had a family friend who had been a Fly Girl during the War. So I love anything that reminds me of her. But this book made me laugh and cry. I finished in 1 day.
You by Caroline Kepnes (422 pages). Yes, I was obsessed with the Netflix series. So I kind of already knew what was going to happen. Didn’t make the book any less enjoyable! The book was actually much raunchier than the series (which I didn’t like). And some of the details were slightly different. But other than that, Joe’s obsession with Beck was just as creepy. Maybe even creepier. I finished in 8 days.
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory (337 pages). This book made me wish it was summertime. It was a perfect pool book! I’m not going to say this was the third of a trilogy (The Proposal and The Wedding Date) but it was more of the story. Maddie and Theo are Alexa’s (The Wedding Date) best friends. And they hate each other! Until one night, when the sparks fly. And they begin a clandestine affair that they promise will end once Alexa is married. But in true chick lit fashion, they end up falling for each other, despite their protestations to the contrary. I finished in 3 days.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan (396 pages). Back to my first love, historical fiction. Joy Davidman Gresham was a married mother of two in upstate New York when she started a correspondence with CS (Jack) Lewis. Joy, just like Jack himself, came to God later in life (she was actually a Jewish atheist first). Joy finally found the strength to leave her abusive, alcoholic, cheating husband and take her two sons to England. She and Jack initially get married in a civil ceremony so that she can stay in England. But when Joy learns she has cancer and not much longer to live, Jack realizes how much he loves her and moves heaven and earth to get them married in the eyes of the Church of England. They had 3 beautiful years together (a total miracle). And Jack even adopted her sons (one of whom is very involved with the estate of CS Lewis). I loved every second of this novel. It was one that I both wanted to finish immediately and to drag out and savor for as long as possible. I finished in 8 days.
You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott (340 pages). Fifteen year old Devon Knox is an elite gymnast, ready to qualify to be a Senior Elite and eventually make it to the Olympics. And her parents are willing to make whatever sacrifices they have to for her. But when a member of their close knit gym family is killed in a hit and run accident, things start changing at their gym. As the criminal investigation goes on, the Knoxes learn truths about their daughter. And their willingness to do whatever it takes for her to succeed is truly put to the test. I finished in 3 days.
The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty (388 pages). I do love some Liane Moriarty! Sophie is nearly 40, unmarried and childless. But she receives the shock of her life. Her exboyfriend’s aunt has left Sophie her house in her will. Aunt Connie, who Sophie only met a handful of times. But Sophie is ecstatic to be moving to a lovely house on Scribbly Gum Island, home of the famously unsolved Munro Baby Mystery. Everyone on the island (all of whom are family members) seem to have their own secrets. And eventually all of the secrets come out. I really enjoyed this. In fact, I think there’s only been one Moriarty novel I haven’t loved! I finished in 3 days.
Duplex by Kathryn Davis (195 pages). I’m not really sure WHAT I just read. It was kind of a scintilla, adult fairy tale word salad. I even tried to find a summary of it to figure it out. To no avail. Nothing really could describe it. But I’ll try. There’s a sorcerer. And families (human and robot) living on an idyllic street. There’s love and loss. There’s references to one of my favorite musicals, Brigadoon. It was weirder than weird. It was word salad in a story version. I finished in 4 days.
This month’s favorite was...Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
