Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Last night I stayed up until 3am reading the conclusion of Something Blue.  Something Blue is a sequel to Something Borrowed so if you haven't read Something Borrowed, don't read my synapses!  I loved this novel!  It was such an easy, fun read! 

Something Blue is all about the character, Darcy, who was Rachel's best friend in Something Borrowed.  Something Borrowed left off where Darcy was pregnant and Something Blue picked up right there!  Darcy has a really rough time in this novel.  She is pregnant, her boyfriend (and father of her child) dumps her, her best friend Rachel stole her fiance, and her mom isn't speaking to her.  But don't feel too bad for her, she is very conceited and only cares about herself, making it hard for even the reader to like her.

Darcy then decides that she needs a change.  So she moves to London to live with her childhood friend, Ethan.  Ethan and Darcy do not get along at first and Darcy has to get used to living in a tiny flat with no bed (which is quite an adjustment for her)!  Ethan and Darcy get in a big argument one night after dinner and Ethan is brutally honest with Darcy, telling her how her attitude needs to change.  So Darcy decides to change and from then on she is a much better person. 

The book then goes on to tell about her pregnancy and how she finds new friends and a new boyfriend and even tries to find a job.  I love the ending of this novel, it updates you on all the characters in the first novel and Darcy has her happy ending!

RESULTS: 1 vote, 100% for Liked it

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin was such a breath of fresh air after the more boring books I have been reading lately.  Something Borrowed is going to be a major motion picture in 2011!  Some stars in the movie include Kate Hudson, John Krasinski (from The Office), and Ginnifer Goodwin.  I am so excited to go see this movie and to top it all off, Something Borrowed has a sequel,  Something Blue!  This will be the next book I read!

Something Borrowed begins at the main character Rachel's, 30th birthday party (my sister in law also named Rachel just had her 30th birthday a few days ago but in no way celebrated like the Rachel in the novel).  At Rachel's party she and her best friend's fiance, Dex get a little too tipsy and end up sleeping together.  Throughout the rest of the novel Rachel realizes just how much Dex means to her and how she wants to be in a relationship with him but is confused because she doesn't want to hurt her best friend, Darcy. 

It gets complicated because as you read it, you really have a hard time deciding whether or not you want Dex and Rachel to be together or if you think they should stop their relationship.  You want Rachel to be loyal to her best friend but you also want Rachel to be with her true love. 

The more you read it, the more juicy it gets.  It has a surprise ending that you would never see coming!  I recommend this book to everyone.  I loved reading it and can't wait to start reading the sequel!  I rated it as I loved it!  Tell me what you thought about it! 

RESULTS: 3 votes, 66% for Liked it, 33% for Haven't read it

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

I just finished reading the Nanny Diaries.  It took me FOREVER to read this novel.  I think it was partly because I have just been really busy lately and haven't had a lot of time to read and partly because I just didn't really like this novel that much.  I would rate it as I liked it but that's pushing it.

The main character of this novel is Nan or Nanny who is working as a nanny for a very wealthy family with one son, Grayer.  Nan is working as a Nanny to try to make some extra money to help her pay for college.  I would describe Nan's employers as being wealthy snobs.  They take advantage of Nan and are constantly ignoring their son and making Nan doing everything for him.  I feel incredibly bad for their son because his parents want nothing to do with him.  Nan is in charge of doing EVERYTHING for him, including taking him to school, bringing him to play dates, and putting him to bed. 

This novel was interesting because it opened my eyes to how some families actually live.  It is hard to believe that some parents are not involved in the raising of their children at all and it really makes me feel sad for those kids.  This novel did drag on to me because it was constantly talking about Nan doing this for Grayer and Nan getting upset with the parents for that.  It seemed to be the same problem only a different scenario each time and it just got boring to me. 

Let me know what you thought of this novel or if you haven't read it!  I just started reading Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin so look out for that post next! 

RESULTS:  2 votes, 100% for Liked it

Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich

I would classify this novel as a suspenseful drama.  I liked this novel, it kept me wanting to read more to find out what was going to happen because it was very action packed.  Almost too action packed.  There wasn't very much downtime which I like because it allows you to learn more about the characters.  I'm glad I read it, but it definitely was not one of my favorites.

This novel is about a young woman, Barnaby who travels to Florida to find her missing brother, Bill.  In the course of looking for him she runs into a race car driver, Hooker who is also looking for Bill because he supposedly stole his yacht.  So Barnaby and Hooker team up to go on this scavenger hunt to find Bill.  Along the way they discover that her brother is with a girl who is looking for her father's long lost treasure.  In the meantime, a few different 'bad guys' are also looking for this treasure and for Bill. 

This novel is filled with action as they try to run from the bad guys and also hide the treasure.  Barnaby and Hooker's relationship turns into a more sexual one by the end of the novel.  It is very thrilling and has a lot going on the entire time.  If you like drama and suspense, you will like this novel.

The Results:  1 Vote, 100% for Liked it

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson

Aw, what can I say except I absolutely LOVED this book!!!  It was so so so so so so good.  If you haven't read it, you need to!  I smiled and cried through it, stayed up until 2am to finish it, and was hooked the entire time!  I am rating this as Loved it, which I haven't done in quite some time.  Let me know what you thought of it in the upper right hand corner!

This novel begins telling the story of a woman (Katie) who just had her heart broken by the man of her dreams.  He breaks up with her as soon as she thinks he is going to propose.  She is absolutely dumbfounded by what has happened and is grieving until she comes home to find a diary he left her written by his wife (kinda-sorta), Suzanne.

The Diary is written by Suzanne for her child, Nicholas.  She writes in it how she met his father and how she got pregnant with him and really talks about how important her family is to her.  It seems as though she has the most perfect life and is so happy with her husband and her son.  Suzanne recently recovered from a heart attack which completely changes her life.  The diary talks about how her heart is not in the best of shape and how it causes complications in her life down the road.  

The end left me crying and crying because it totally shocked me!  It was such a great twist, that I never saw coming!  I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it.  After I got done reading it, I ran to Cole and hugged and kissed him all over (even though he was sleeping) and jumped into bed with Marshall and wrapped my arms and legs around him!  This novel will really make you appreciate what you have.

Go read it if you haven't already!  It is a wonderful novel!  I hope you like it!

RESULTS: 1 Vote, 100% for Loved it

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

I just got finished reading the novel, The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.  I really had my hopes high for this novel because I heard from so many different people that it was really good.  It was basically a continuation of the novel, The Notebook.  It briefly talks about Noah and how he is dealing with the loss of his wife, Allie.  But it is mainly about Noah and Allie's daughter, Jane and her husband Wilson.

Wilson is the narrator and describes how he has not be the best husband over the years.  He regrets not being more attentive to Jane's needs and not being around to spend more time with his family.  He decides that he needs to change now that his children are grown and out of the house.  He becomes a much better man and husband as the story goes along, often getting advice from Noah. 

Wilson really pitches in and helps his daughter put together a wedding at the last minute which shows Jane that he is ready to change his ways.  Jane is so shocked with how much he does for the wedding.  And in so little time.

The biggest thing he does for Jane is seen at the end of the novel.  As soon as you think he made up for lost time, he does something even better.  There is a surprise, twist ending at the end which is really cool. 

I really liked the concept of the novel.  It was fun to read about an older couple that is still being romantic and still so in love with one another.  It seems like lately all the books I have read have been about young, new love.  It's nice to see two people still happy after 30 years and it gives me hope for my own marriage.

I liked the book, but it was a little slow moving for me.  I think that I like more action, suspense in the books I read.  It took me a little longer to read this one just because I wasn't as in to it as I was the others.  I'm glad I got through it because the ending was really cool.   I would rate this novel as Liked it.   Let me know what you thought about it in the top right hand corner!

RESULTS: 1 vote, 100% for Liked it

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Like me, you have probably watched the movie.  The movie is on my all time favorite list as far as movies go.  I figured that I wouldn't read the novel because I have already seen the movie and know how the story goes.  But when I went to my sister in law's house to borrow some books she insisted that I still read the book.  And I'm glad I did because it was a little different from the movie.

This novel is about an older man named Noah who lives in a nursing home and reads from a notebook to his wife Allie who has Alzheimer's.  He reads to her in order to help her remember her past.  The notebook was written by Noah and talks about how they met and how they ended up together.

The arrangement is a little confusing in the book.  I think that it would have been hard to understand if I hadn't watched the movie.  I actually liked the movie a lot better which is never the case with me.  I did, however like that the ending was not exactly the same and neither was the arrangement of the scenes. 

This is such a unique novel because it starts out being about an older couple but as he reads the notebook and reminisces about the past it is suddenly about a couple in their twenties.  It is definitely a romance and gives you hope that even as you get older your love for your spouse does not fade.  I hope Marshall and I continue to love each other as much today as we do 50, 60 years from now. 

I also have to tell everyone if they have not seen the movie, to go and see it.  It is the only movie I have seen Marshall cry to (let's keep that between us).  It is soooo good!  And if you have read the novel, let me know what you thought of it in the upper right hand corner!

RESULTS: 2 Votes, 50% for Liked it, 50% for Loved it

Ever After by Karen Kingsbury

Ever After, which I learned after I finished reading it is a sequel to the novel Even Now.  That didn't matter though because Ever After did a good job of filling me in on all the characters lives so I wouldn't miss a beat!  I really enjoyed this novel not because it was a love story but because of how it made me feel after reading it each night.  It gave me a better connection with God and helped me to realize that God is always there to talk to and although your path in life may be rough sometimes, God does everything for a reason. 

I actually cried through about a 1/3 of this book!  It is a really emotional story but has a good ending!  I would describe this novel as having two main stories.  The first is about a couple named Lauren and Shane, who reconnect after many years apart and who never stopped loving each other.  They first met in high school but were forced apart after Lauren became pregnant.  After Lauren delivered the baby she was told that their daughter did not survive.  They find out later that the baby did in fact survive and her name is Emily.  

The novel describes how after being seperated from each other, Shane joined the Navy and Lauren is a writer for the magazine, Time.  Since they have lived apart for so long their lives are not the same as they were when they were in high school.  Therefore, they both formed different opinions about the war in the Middle East.  Lauren reports the war as being irresponsible, totally avoidable, and a waste.  Shane supports the war and believes that our troops should be over there in order to protect our country from another event like 9/11 and to restore peace to their nations.  This one difference causes them to seperate and really ask God to help each other see the other person's views.  The novel shows how God answers their questions and helps them to sort through their opinions. 

The second story in the novel is about their daughter, Emily.  Emily is now in college and decides to do an internship for school.  During her internship she meets Justin and they fall madly in love.  Just a few months after they meet Justin is told he has to go to Iraq.  The novel then describes how their faith in God gives them strength to get through being apart and the tragedies that happen along the way. 

Now looking back on this novel, I am so glad that I read it.  It opened my eyes on just how awesome our Lord is.  He is always there for you to talk to and he loves us all so much.  Even through heartache and tradegy the Lord is always there to pick you up.  I recommend everyone read this book.  But if you do, you should probably read Even Now first and Ever After second!!  Not like what I did! 

Tell me what you thought about this book to the right!

Results of Poll: 1 vote, 100% for Liked it

Love Overboard

Love Overboard written by Janet Evanovich was a very, very quick and easy read.  I think that I finished this book quicker than any other book I have read for my reading blog.  I would classify this book as a romance, without a doubt. 

It is about a man and woman who meet on a boat and eventually fall in love.  It is not long into the book before you realize that the story is going to revolve around these two characters and the lust they have for one another.  The book briefly talks about their pasts but it mainly focuses on their relationship and it starts out as lust and forms into love. 

It is a sweet romance novel but really didn't do that much for me.  It wasn't really thought provoking, it was just sweet.  That's all I can really say about it.  If you are into romance, this book is for you.  If not, I don't recommend this one!

Results: 2 votes, 50% for liked it, 50% for loved it

Remember Me?

Remember Me?  is written by Sophie Kinsella (the same author as the shopaholic series).  I really really liked this book.  It was an easy read and was really funny.  I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book. 

The main character, Lexi gets in a car accident, bumps her head and wakes up with amnesia.  Before the accident she basically had nothing going for her.  She was nicknamed Snaggletooth because her teeth were not straight, she was a little overweight, and was just passed up on getting a bonus at her job.  She was even dating a guy they all called Loser Dave.  So you can just imagine what kind of life she was living. 

When she woke up with amnesia, she learned that she was  no longer 'snaggletooth', with pretty veneers, thin tummy and waist, married, and was now the boss at her old job!  She found out that her personality and life had completed changed during the last 4 years. 

Lexi leaves the hospital and goes back to her new home with her new husband and tries to piece together the last 4 years.  She learns a lot about who she has become and doesn't like it.  Eventually she finds out why she changed so drastically. 

I recommend that everyone read this book.  It was a nice change to read something funny and carefree! 

RESULTS: 1 vote, 100% for Liked it

The Guardian

I Just finished reading The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks. If I could describe this novel in one word, I would say Creepy.  This novel was very suspenseful and gave me goosebumps because although it is fictional, the events could definitely happen in real life.  It is based on a woman, Julie, in her twenties whose husband dies.  After a few years of grieving she decides to begin dating again.  One of the men that she dates, Richard, turns out to be a stalker and becomes obsessed with her.  After she breaks up with him you learn more about his past and the awful things he has done.

Julie instead falls in love with a close friend, Mike, who tries to protect Julie from Richard throughout the novel.  Mike and Julie have to put up with a whole bunch of crap from Richard.  He basically makes them scared to death to leave the house or be alone. 

I liked the book, but can honestly say that it was just not my thing.  After reading it every night I would be scared that someone is stalking me and going to break in!  I am definitely more into the romance novels.  But if you like thrillers, I recommend you read this book!

Oh, and if you are a dog lover, it will make you cry!  That's all I am going to say about that.  You have to read it to find out what I am talking about!  Hope you like it! 

RESULTS: 4 votes, 100% for Liked it.

The Host

The Host by Stephenie Meyer is a book that I read about 2 months ago but I just had to write about it because it is one of my all time favorite books! 

I actually started reading it because it was written by Stephenie Meyer.  She is same person who wrote the Twilight Saga and I figured that anything else she has written must be worth reading.  I was right.  I have to admit that at first I was not liking the book at all!  I kept reading hoping that it would get better and I kept reading at it didn't get better.  After about 200 pages, it finally got better.  Much better!

I couldn't put the book down, I was addicted!  This book is a science fiction thriller.  It is about the future.  In the future all humans start getting out of control; stealing, murdering, cheating, etc.  In order to fix this problem, they begin inserting a microchip into humans.  This way they use the human body but their mind is controlled by someone else. 

In the main character's case (Melanie's), she is caught and a microchip is placed in her brain but it doesn't end up completely controlling her.  She is still able to talk to the "host"  and convinces her to go and find her family.  The story then begins to follow Melanie's pursuit to find her family and the conflict between herself and her own host. 

I really really enjoyed this book.  I never thought I was one to like science fiction but this book is so good.  If you can just hang in there through the first few chapters you will be very happy.  It has a little bit of romance in it and a very happy ending!  It is confusing, but it gets better, I promise!  So go read it!  And if you have read this one, let me know what you thought about it in the upper right hand corner!

RESULTS: 1 Vote, 100% for Liked it

Movie Review

Marshall took me to see the movie Dear John last night.  After reading the book, I really wanted to see the movie so we asked my mom to babysit and went and saw it.  I really liked the movie and although I cried the entire time, I turned out happier than the book was!  Weird, huh? 

I think that they did a really good job with the movie.  There were a lot of differences in the movie from the book though so it was a little confusing for me who was comparing the whole thing to the book.  I can say that I liked the ending in the movie better than the book's ending. 

Everyone should go see it so that they continue making movie's based on Nicholas Spark's novels.  It is so much fun to read a book and then go see the movie! 

If you go to my older post, you can read about my Dear John book review!

Dear John

I just finished reading Dear John by Nicholas Sparks.  I went out and got the book after I saw the previews for it in the movie theater.   I figured it would be fun to read it and then go see it when the movie came out.  Now after reading it, I am debating whether to go see it or not. 

The main character in this novel is John who decides to join the army after going through many meaningless jobs and feeling as though he has gotten nowhere in life.  During one of his visits home to see his father he meets and falls in love with Savannah.  They spend as much time together as they can while he is home but he inevitably has to go back to Germany where he is stationed.  After many phone calls and letters they ultimately begin to drift apart.  They have their share of fights and moments making up throughout the book.  After John reenlists due to September 11th events, they both drift further and further apart and their lives begin to go down different paths. 

I won't ruin the ending, but the book comes to a close in a very surprising way.  Nothing that I would have ever expected and this is the only part of the book that I am disappointed in.  The book really could have only ended in one of two ways and I have to say I don't think that I would have liked either way.  I would have been much happier if Sparks went in an entirely different direction completely. 

I am only rating this as a like due to the ending.  If you have read it before, please vote in the upper right hand corner and let me know what you thought.  Did you love it, like it, or hate it?  Also, I am trying to find more books to read so if you have any suggestions for me, please let me know!!

RESULTS: 3 VOTES, 100% for LIKED IT