Book Review: The Husband's Secret

The Husband's Secret is one of those novels that is perfect for a night spent in, cuddled up in a comfy armchair, book in hand. Or it's perfect for a whole day out on the beach, under the shade of a big umbrella. Point being, you're going to want to find a cozy place to dig into this book, because once you dive in you won't want to put it down.

I'd consider this novel a beach read- well-written and engaging, but nothing spectacular or life-changing. It's entertaining, will keep you hooked, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it, from beginning to end. In a nutshell (and in my usual style of not giving too much away), it's a book that tells a lot of different stories that all are connected in one way or another. Each chapter goes back and forth between the different characters' sub plots, and to be honest in the beginning I was a bit confused and almost considered taking notes. But stick with it, and by the time you get to the third or fourth chapter you won't be confused at all. On a side note I always marvel when books seamlessly do that. Do you know what I mean? There are a ton of characters, and you feel like you could be lost, but somehow the author manages to make it all work, and before you know it they all seem like old friends with no way you could ever confused one for the other. Or maybe that's just me, and I'm just a super nerd. ;)

Anyway, the book tells the story of Cecilia, a woman living in Australia, who finds a letter from her husband that is marked "only open in the event of my death." I'm sure you can guess what happens next (no spoiler- yes, she opens it!). What she finds, and what transpires between all of the characters, is fascinating.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is looking for an engaging read that will keep you on your toes and totally involved in all of the different types of stories woven throughout the novel. You'll find romance, suspense, sadness, disappointment, new love, old love, the list goes on.

Have you read The Husband's Secret? What did you think? And if you do decide to pick it up, please let me know if you enjoyed it too.

Happy reading!

image above via Amazon. I used Amazon Affiliate linking in this post. 

If you'd prefer to view the book without my affiliate link, feel free to click here instead! :) 

Book Review: The Silver Linings Playbook

Earlier this week I tweeted, "Ever finish a book and want to cry because it’s over and you’ll never get to read it for the first time ever again? Yeah, that." I was talking about The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Honestly, it's hands down one of the best books I've read in a long time, kind of on the same level as The Fault in Our Stars. It's hard to explain all of the emotions it brought out of me; at times I was crying, then laughing, then shaking my head at the sheer happiness it brought out of me. It's funny and touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming, all at once.

I first heard about this book because of the movie. In fact, I had no idea the book even existed. But while watching the Golden Globes it was impossible to miss- the movie was mentioned a million times, garnering many nominations and a win too, for Jennifer Lawrence. I didn't really know anything about the film though, from the 5-second clips I saw over and over, and I wasn't exactly interested outside of just wanting to know what the hype was all about.

So last week while on Amazon picking out samples for my Kindle (one of my favorite things to do), this book was in the middle of my recommendations. I actually thought it was the DVD at first, so I skimmed over it, but when I had a hard time finding books I was excited about, I went back through my recommendations and clicked through. And I'm SO happy I did.

I started the book that night, and immediately got lost in its unique perspective and story. It's beautiful. The story centers upon its protagonist, Pat Peoples, who is released from a mental hospital at the start of the book. I hate summarizing books for fear of giving anything away (I prefer to know nothing about a novel going into it), but just know the book deals with Pat's life; his "recovery," with love, with hope, with family...and with Kenny G.  There were so many times I found myself just smiling ear to ear as I read- and unable to put the book down. I read it in two days and was thoroughly depressed when it was over. To me it was part Catcher in the Rye (odd comparison, maybe), part The Fault in Our Stars, and part any wonderful, sweet novel I've ever read that inspires hope. And yes, even though it's a novel that deals with dark topics, in its own quirky way I was left feeling inspired, hopeful, and smiling.

Read it, and when you do, let me know how much you loved it! Hank's reading it now, and when he's done I can't wait to see the movie together, which I heard is wonderful too.


image above via Amazon
I used Amazon Affiliate linking in this post. If you'd prefer to view the book without my affiliate link, feel free to click here instead! :)  

Book Review: The Age of Miracles

I finished The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker this evening, after poring over every word, reading and rereading every line in it. I'm not really sure how to even begin talking about it besides telling all of you to read it- to just go get it, to go pick up this novel that is somehow more like a long poem, page after page.

The Age of Miracles is fiction, although I feel like it could be real, which is strange and scary all at once. Without giving too much away I will say that it is about our world right now gone wrong- how a "slowing" of the Earth's rotation suddenly happens, and it's about what happens next. The writing is beautiful, pages full of the sharpest imagery and words that just click together like they were meant to be written precisely in that way. There are many stories in one- the Earth's story, a family's story, a growing up story that reminds me a lot of my own sometimes awkward adolesence, and a love story...a beautiful, touching story that brought me back to being 11-years old myself, falling in love with the boy on the skateboard.

This is a special book, a book for adult fiction lovers, YA fiction lovers, Sci-Fi lovers....anyone who loves good read. It made me laugh and cry, and I found myself squeezing in 5 minutes, 10 minutes of reading whenever I could.

Just watch this trailer for the book, then get yourself a copy...and let me know what you think.

xoxo