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Hi, I'm Chelsea! I’m on a mission to help you find joy and goodness in every day.
On this blog we talk about the big things (like chasing dreams) and the small things (like what books we're reading) because happiness comes in all sizes.
This month is shaping up to be pretty full of books, so I thought I’d go ahead and write about what I’ve read so far!
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Plot: Lara Jean copes with breakups (and non-breakups) by writing her heart into a love letter, addressing the envelope, and then hiding it under her bed to never be seen by anyone else. Until one day, all of her letters get mailed. She’s left to deal with the fact that all those boys have seen all those letters full of things she never said. (read the full plot here)
Favorite quote: “This is our life; there’s no use in asking what if. No one could ever give you the answers. I try, I really do, but it’s hard for me to accept this way of thinking. I’m always wondering about the what ifs, about the road not taken.”
My thoughts: This one was full of quirky characters, which I loved. I read this book in one afternoon, curled up with a blanket and some tea and getting lost in the world of a seventeen year girl who knows absolutely nothing and absolutely everything about love. It was adorable.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Plot: “Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers are about to cross paths. From that moment on, their world will collide and lives intertwine.” (read full plot here)
Favorite quote: “When things break, it’s not the actual breaking that prevents them from getting back together again. It’s because a little piece gets lost – the two remaining ends couldn’t fit together even if they wanted to. The whole shape has changed.”
My thoughts: This one is weird because I went into it 1) Not knowing anything at all about the plot, and 2) expecting to love it, because John Green, duh. And while I didn’t love it at all, and think I actually kind of disliked it, I’ve found myself thinking about it and almost missing it since finishing it. But I think that’s due to the fact that the characters were so well-created. I just wasn’t a huge fan of the storyline.
Should you read it?: Nah, not if there are other books on your list.
The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells
Plot: Mia is headed to the Hamptons to spend the summer with her cousins, but she quickly realizes she doesn’t fit in with them anymore. She’s getting ready to settle into a lonely summer when Simon comes along, who also doesn’t fit in anywhere. They join up in their loneliness and help each other experience new things over the course of a memorable summer. (read full plot here)
Favorite quote: “If you stay on the sidelines of the here and now then your future will only ever be a pale version of a dream you never had the courage to experience.”
My thoughts: I went from pretty disinterested, to vaguely interested, to no just no. Not a fan. It had some good elements; I just wasn’t a fan.
Should you read it?: No.
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty:
Plot: “Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.” -via Goodreads
Favorite quote: “None of us ever know all the possible courses our lives could have and maybe should have taken. It’s probably just as well. Some secrets are meant to stay secret forever. Just ask Pandora.”
My thoughts: Since this book follows three story lines, at first I felt like I was reading three different books. It did take me a couple of chapters to get into it, mostly because it was very different from what I normally read. But then little things started weaving the stories together, and it got so good. It was a love story and a regret story and a mystery and it was fascinating.
Should you read it?: Yes!
What have you been reading?
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I loved The Husband's Secret! I agree with you it took some time to get into it and start to put all the different story lines together, but I really enjoyed reading that one!
The Husband's Secret is one of my favorites!
I really, really disliked To All The Boys I've Loved Before because there was so much dishonesty throughout the book! It made me uncomfortable. But I actually really liked Will Grayson, Will Grayson! That could be because I read it in a YA Lit class, and I got involved in a very healthy debate afterward 😛
The Husband's Secret is on my list, as is Will Grayson, Will Grayson because it's John Green. Well, sort of. It's definitely last on my list of his books ( just borrowed An Abundance of Katherines. I've read all the others) and I'll probably give it a try over the summer. Too many others before that.
I loved the husband's secret! I also really really liked her book What Alice Forgot. Have you read that?
ooh the Husband's Secret just made my list of books to read!
I was the EXACT same way with Will Grayson, Will Grayson. I was so mixed, but the characters were awesome!
I've been meaning to read The Husband's Secret. You have convinced me it should be next!
I always appreciate when people are honest. Good to know about will grayson will grayson. I'm going to skip it!
The Husband's Secret is on my "soon to read" list. I really loved "What Alice Forgot' by Moriarty as well.
To all the Boys I've Loved sounds interesting.
I was kind of eh about The husbands secret. I definitely suggest What Alice Forgot, too.
I really liked Will Greyson, Will Greyson! David Levithan and John Green have equally unique voices and each side of the story was different. And I loved the ending – that was my favorite part!
Oh to read!!!! I will soon make that my "free time" hobby again! I am SO intrigued by that first book (to the boys…). I secretly wrote out the "story" of my "love life" from the time I was divorced until married now and would love to share it someday. It would have to be a later someday in respect to my husband's feelings, you know. Wait, maybe never b/c he would die! ha! Very interesting!!!
I'm not a huge John Green fan, so I'll probably skip that one too. But I loved The Husband's Secret!! In fact, I just got her Big Little Lies from the library today, and I can't wait to read it!
I have been reading the silk house and fourth of july creek- these look great though! love this post! thank you for sharing 🙂
The first one is on my to read list!
OH, 'The Husband's Secret" is our book club book this month and I can't wait to read it, I've heard such good things!
I had a similar reaction to Will Grayson, Will Grayson…I thought about it a lot, but it definitely wasn't the most enjoyable journey!
The Husband's Secret was really good! It took me a little bit to get into it but once I did I was hooked. I did think it could have done without the 2 cousins story line, I don't think it added anything nor did it take away anything. Just was not necessary. Overall though I really enjoyed it and have been recommending it to everyone. I want to read her newer one Big Little Secrets. I've heard that one is VERY good.
I am adding that first one to my to read list! I already have The Husband's Secret on it 🙂
My friend was in here telling me how much she liked The Husbands Secret!
I'm always so interested in your book reviews! The husband's secret sounds so interesting!!!
I LOVED the Husband's Secret and just read her newest book Big, Little Lies. Another good one that keeps you wondering the whole book!!
The only one I've read of these is To All the Boys I've Loved Before. I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one, but there was one aspect that I couldn't get over – the fact that Lara went after her sister's ex! I guess it's just because I know that my sister and I would never do that to each other, so I went in and out of wanting Lara to get the guy.
so many books about letters that are unread being revealed later. 🙂 i'd love to check out the first one. i'm so behind on my book goal. bah!
Okay you sold me, I'm definitely requesting The Husbands Secret next at the library. Finishing that Jenny Han book is on my list for this weekend. Have a great weekend!
I will certainly be checking out The Husband's Secret and To All the Boys I've Loved Before the next time I'm at the library! 🙂
Yay for winter reading!!! I'm getting excited about posting about what I've been reading over the last few months.
I saw "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" and wondered about it! Thanks for the review! And I love it when reviews are totally honest, it saves me from diving into books that I don't need to waste my time on (like the middle two books). 🙂
I've been hearing a lot about To All the Boys I've Loved Before and have been thinking of picking up a copy. It sounds like a really cute and fun read. I'm pretty busy with the books I have to read for school, but if I can read it in an afternoon I might just have to go for it!
I love The Husband's Secret! And I have To All the Boys I've Loved Before. I think I'm going to try to read it this month, because I'm working on getting through some of the books that I have and haven't read in March.
I also just finished The Husband's Secret, and I was really glad it had three storylines! Otherwise I think it would have been too boring, but with all the overlapping stories, I was really intrigued. 🙂 Also, I've read great things about the Jenny Han book; looking forward to reading that one sometime this year!