Kind of a Big Deal - Shannon Hale

Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a review copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Typically, I am a Shannon Hale fan. So when I saw she had a new book, I was excited to get my hands on it. I was disappointed.

This book was wonky. Really just...odd.

Josie Pie peaked in high school. She was the "It" girl - popular, star of all the shows, etc. But when she dropped out of high school to pursue a career on Broadway, reality sets in. It is not a reality she likes. Then she learns she can escape into (literally, INTO) books. Will this bring the success and adoration she craves?

I don't know that I can say anything about this book other than it was odd. Josie jumps in and out of different genres and story lines interspersed with flashbacks of high school and Broadway as well as current day interactions with the girl she nannies and others. There's this whole thing with the Muses. It was just weird.

I love books about books. This premise appealed to me. I think the book just failed in carrying it out. It was all over the place. Josie was whiny and depressed. Lots of making out and talk of making out. It was like so much of her character revolved around that. Family dynamics that were over the top. An extra weird conclusion.

I was not a fan.



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Short Thoughts on Recent Reads 8.25.2020

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I finished this a few days ago and am still trying to decide how I feel about it. It was interesting to see how Snow became who he was in the Hunger Games trilogy. However, so much of it was so dark. There were times I had to put the book down and walk away because it just left me yucky feeling.
I have waffled between 1 and 2 stars on this.

View all my reviews Christy by Catherine Marshall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I first read this book in middle school, and I remember loving it. I felt the same rereading it in high school and college. This time around, I did still like it. However, it didn't have the same spark and inspiration I recall. Probably has more to do with me as the reader than the book itself.

View all my reviews Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not anticipate enjoying this book as much as I did.
Lori Gottlieb sheds light into her therapy practice as well as her interactions with her own therapist. It was funny. It was heart warming. It was sad. It was challenging.
I read a copy from my library but plan to buy one for my shelf. It was good, even, for introspection; and I anticipate rereading it in the future.

View all my reviews Recursion by Blake Crouch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I will admit that I was super confused for the first half of this book. Then the science-y ideas all started coming together and making sense. I ended up enjoying this more than his book Black Matter.

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Short Thoughts on Recent Reads

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I spent the first half of the book thinking perhaps I was missing things that were important to the story overall. I think that hampered my desire to read it. However, once I realized I wasn't and pieces started coming together, I liked the story. Definitely stick with it if you feel it's going slower or more convoluted than you like.
I did like the "voice" of the characters. And I definitely want to learn more about female pilots in WWII.

View all my reviews Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed Meg as a character. Her interactions. Her development.
I liked learning more about the hand-lettering world. Not in my skill set, but I wish it was. So it was fun to read about, including the signs around New York.
This was an easy to read book that was engaging and with some depth.

Content: sexy stuff...I was skipping pages more than once; some language

View all my reviews The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When it comes to writing style and character development, this book was really just a 1.5 or 2 stars for me. The suspense element(s) that I couldn't predict earn it the bonus star, bumping it up to three.
It was a great book for book club discussions. And if you like thrillers or suspense, you might want to give it a try. It is getting all the buzz still and is slated to become a movie.

Content: violence

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Short Thoughts on Recent Reads

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Probably 3.5

This story in the vein of a Russian folktale really held my interest. Taking place in the cold Russian wilderness, young Vasilisa thrives despite her mother dying at her birth. Her older siblings dote on her, and she loves the woods and creatures surrounding and in her home. Things start to unravel when her father remarries and devolves further when another stranger comes to their village. Fairytale character like Frost and guardians are rampant throughout.

I enjoyed this book and will read the next one. I will say, for me, it was helpful to not know what the translation for some of the Russian creature names were as I tend to get a bit squeamish with some paranormal things. But since I didn't know until after, no harm.

As with much Russian literature, the many derivations of the name for the same person takes some getting used to.



View all my reviews King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Esme and Hunter have been friends pretty much since in utero. They have grown up alongside each other and share so much of their lives. So Hunter is thrown when Esme turns up engaged to a man no one has met yet.

This is the second book of this series I've read during this time of COVID19 quarantine. And they are perfect. Light. Clean. Fun. Engaging.

View all my reviews A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is probably one of the best retellings of Beauty and the Beast I've read. It is new and fresh.

Harper is magically transported from her home in DC to some other world and into the enchanted castle of Prince Rhen. Rhen is everything you would suppose a prince to be - arrogant, in charge, bossy - but harbors a secret. Harper is no damsel in distress though. She can take care of herself and doesn't mind going toe-to-toe with a prince when the situation calls for it. Add in a royal guard and an evil enchantress. Toss in some witty dialogue and some depth and character growth.

It's a great book. I can't wait to read the second in the series.

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The First Actress - CW Gortner

The First Actress by C.W. Gortner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Bernhardt is considered the world's first modern actress. This is the story of her tumultuous rise to fame.

I had never heard of Sarah Bernhardt before coming across this book on NetGalley. However, I have read other books by Gortner and enjoyed both the story and the historical knowledge. This book was no different.

Gortner writes in such a way that I really got a feel for who Sarah was and her complexities. She endured a lot, both in her childhood and her career aspirations. There were several characters/people I really didn't like at all as a result of his story telling. And I imagine they were that way in real life as well.

Anyone who likes historical fiction, even if they aren't necessarily theater fans, would probably like this book.

Heads-Up: There are some open door scenes.

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Pay Attention, Carter Jones - Gary D. Schmidt

Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Jones home is a bit crazy most days. That is, until The Butler shows up to take charge. But he has more lessons to teach than anyone expects.
I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining to read yet still tackled some pretty big issues. Definitely a great addition to any upper elementary or middle school bookshelf.
I, however, still have no understanding of cricket despite the information given at the start of each chapter. :)

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Short Thoughts on Recent Reads

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. More than I anticipated. Probably because I felt the time travel was more fantasy than hard core sci-fi.
My book club all really enjoyed it, and it lent itself to a lot of discussion and pondering.

View all my reviews The Conservative Heart: How To Build A Fairer, Happier, And More Prosperous America by Arthur C. Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I would consider myself more conservative than liberal in most cases until it comes to social justice issues. This author was recommended to me by a family member who mentioned he was the keynote speaker at this year's National Prayer Breakfast. This book was the only one by him that my library had, so I read it. I agree with much of what he says. I don't know that I agree with his stance on the Tea Party being the salvation of the Republican party - I could be wrong with my interpretation of his writing, but that's what I walked away with on his Tea Party mentions. However, I think there are good takeaways for both political parties on how to more effectively communicate and way to truly help the poor in our communities.

View all my reviews All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung


I waffle about the fairness of rating memoirs. I've found I don't love them as they tend to leave so many questions unanswered, they are generally not linear, and focus solely on what the author wants to share and not on what the reader may want answered. This one is no exception.
However, it did raise many questions and points to ponder regarding interracial adoption and let to some interesting discussion when my book club met.

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