I started off the year a little slow (for me). I only read 7 books. A total of 2,468 pages. An average of 80 pages a day. But I read some pretty good books this month. Actually, I really enjoyed all of them.
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (417 pages). Alex Claremont-Diaz is the son of the first female US President. Prince Henry is the youngest grandchild of the Queen of England. And they are archenemies. Their animosity comes to a head at Henry’s brother’s royal wedding. And both the President and the royal family act quickly to stop an international debacle. Alex and Henry must pretend to be friends. But what isn’t expected is that they actually do become friends. Until a New Years kiss changes everything. And now two of the most powerful and recognizable young men in the world have to figure out how to navigate falling in love while hiding their relationship. After all, Henry’s gran is the Queen. And Alex’s mom is running for reelection. It was a sweet story about love and family. I finished in 4 days.
The Selection by Kiera Cass (326 pages). In the country of Illea, the caste system reigns supreme. America Singer and her family are Fives, only three away from the bottom of the system. But now that Prince Maxon is of age, it’s time for The Selection. Where 35 girls from every section of the country compete to marry the Prince, regardless of their caste. For America, it’s a chance to give her family a better life. She would automatically become a Three. But it would also tear her away from Aspen, the boy she loves who’s a Six and therefore not an option for her. As America spends more time with Maxon, their friendship begins to turn into something more. But can she truly give him her heart when it has so firmly belonged to someone else? Think Hunger Games meets the Bachelor. Hunger Games in that it is a dystopian North America, completely united and provinces redrawn. And Bachelor because, well, duh. The first book in a series. And now I might need to look into the rest of the series! I finished in 4 days.
Holes by Louis Sachar (233 pages). I’ve seen this movie more times than I can count. And I’ve heard that it is one of the more faithful adaptations of a book. So I was excited to read it! If you don’t know the story, Stanley Yelnats IV is innocent of the crime that sends him to Camp Green Lake. Where the boys dig holes. There’s a lot of backstory about Stanley’s family curse and about the town of Green Lake (which is all very interesting, just like the movie). Honestly, the biggest differences are that Stanley is overweight when he first arrives at Green Lake. And that Stanley’s dad is trying to invent a use for old tennis shoes (not a foot odor eliminator). Everything else is just very, very minor changes. I liked the book, but I loved the movie. I finished in 2 days.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (386 pages). It’s 1961. Elizabeth Zott has a successful tv show called Supper at Six. But Elizabeth is a chemist. In fact, that’s what makes her cooking show so successful. She’s actually so much more than a chemist- she’s a single mother, a forward thinker, an inspiration. After a series of events lead her from being a researcher at Hastings Institute and madly in love with fellow scientist Calvin Evans to being a single mother of a brilliant child, Mad, and an equally brilliant dog, Six-Thirty, she finds herself on television. But she refuses to pander to the executives. Women need to know they are more than just housewives and Mrs. insert husband’s name. They can do anything. And Elizabeth gives them that confidence, all while teaching them that cooking is a science. With help from her neighbor Harriet, her tv producer Walter, local preacher Wakely and her ob/rowing coach Dr Mason, Elizabeth creates a life that is truly wonderful. She learns that family (both biological and created) and science are all she needs. I found Elizabeth inspiring. And then promptly started watching the Appletv show as soon as I finished the book. Sadly, I was very, VERY disappointed in the show. I do not understand when major changes are made to amazing stories. Never have, never will. I finished in 4 days.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab (442 pages). In 1714, Adeline LaRue made a Faustian deal with a stranger- she would never grow old, she would never die, she would never be remembered. Literally, people forget her as soon as she is out of their presence. And no one from her small village has any memory of her. She can’t even tell people her name. For the next 300 years, she travels the world- meeting people, stealing things, never making concrete connections to anything but inspiring wherever she goes. Then, she meets a boy in a bookstore. A boy who remembers her name. This book, y’all. I absolutely loved it. LOVED it!! It was beautiful. It was intriguing. I finished in 4 days.
The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary (381 pages). Four years ago, Addie and Dylan met in France. She was the caretaker at a chateau for the summer, he was on a family vacation (without most of his family). The next two years were intense. But a misunderstanding and a lie led to a breakup. Now, two years later, they find themselves road tripping to a friend’s wedding in Scotland with her stepsister, his best friend and another wedding guest. Subsequent misadventures occur on the road trip. Honestly, while I knew there were some factors working against Addie and Dylan, I didn’t really like them as a couple. I’ve never found myself rooting for a couple NOT to work out in a rom-com. But I did in this one. This misadventures on the road trip were fantastic, however. I finished in 4 days.
Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart (283 pages). I love this movie. Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey were perfection. And I had no idea that it was based on a book! They kept remarkably close to the story. A few changes. Cee Cee Bloom is 10 and Roberta “Bertie” White is 7 when they first meet on the boardwalk of Atlantic City in 1951. There is a theatre owner they both love and Cee Cee marries. Bertie gets married while in college rather than becoming a lawyer (and her husband is a perfect douche). She does find out she’s pregnant after he walks out on her. I really liked this one. It was such a sweet story of friendship. And yes, I cried. Just like I did during the movie. I finished in 3 days.
This month’s favorite is…….The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Hands down. It was probably be the favorite of the year. The bar is set HIGH, y’all. Like the cashier at Book-A-Million said, I find myself thinking about this book at random moments, all the time. I wish I could read it again for the first time
