Books I read in 2021
Brief blurb: English teacher Anna is offered a summer job tutoring teenage boy, TJ, at his family holiday home in the Maldives. Whilst in remission from cancer, TJ faces spending the summer catching up on the school he missed. En route to the Maldives, Anna and TJ's plane crash lands in the Indian Ocean. They have only one another and an uninhabited Island.
This isn't the first time I've raved about this book. It's brilliant and I've talked extensively as to why in a previous post: here.
I love TJ and Anna and felt like I was right there with them.
It hits differently after experiencing a pandemic. As if disasters like this have more realness to them. So I felt some anxiety when reading, but it remains to be a top-shelf book and I'll recommend it forever.
Emotionally gripping. Highly reccomended.
Book links: Bookshop.org Amazon
Uncharted by Tracey Garvis Graves
The sequel to On the Island. Again, very good and fulfilling follow-up. It's also quite short so I managed to read it in a day, straight after finishing On the Island.
I've talked extensively about this one too: Here.
Book links: Amazon
The Love Square by Laura Jane Williams
Brief Blurb: Penny Bridge has always been unlucky in love. That is until an unexpected life change, finding herself stepping into a new life in a new town where she meets a possible love interest. And another. And another. Penny has to choose between three of them. But will any of them be the one?
>Fiction, romance, modern relationships/characters.
Firstly, I like that the main character Penny has red hair and she's seen as attractive- a rarity in the world of books and films.
It's an interesting story and there were moments I wanted to keep reading. But overall, the story felt too good to be true with a few clichés. Personally, not my style.
Not my favourite but a good story with modern themes, is light-hearted and an easy read. I loved seeing open communication.
I’d recommend to people that like characters that represent modern day, doting love interests, strong female leads and light hearted romance.
Favourite quotes:
It's not a failure to forgive somebody. It's actually quite gracious.
Falling in friendship; friendship as a basis and constant in a relationship.
Book links: Bookshop.org / Amazon
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
Brief blurb: Kristen Peterson has her life exactly how she wants it. That's fact until she starts planning her best friends wedding and meets the best man, Josh Copeland. She meets her match in funny, sexy Josh but knows she can't give him everything he wants in life. She tries to keep him at arm's length but as their attraction grows it's become harder and harder to resist falling for the man who seems to be everything she's not allowed to have.
>Fiction. Romantic, steamy, lustful, moving.
I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Kristen and Josh. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't a fan of Kristen, the main character, which would've had an impact on how I viewed the rest of the story.
Although I did like Josh and there were some really lovely, moving, moments that had me invested.
At times, the story and characters were clichés. Not for me, but if you're a fan of a 21st-century strong female lead and a doting love interest, you'll love it.
Book links: Bookshop.org / Amazon
Mum life by Louise Pentland
>Non-fiction. An honest account of businesswoman, Louise Pentland's, journey to motherhood, the experiences that shaped her, the story of her business and stories of being a mum.
- Anger is a hot stone and by holding it in your hand, you only burn yourself.
- There's nothing noble in struggling when you can see a better path and are able to take it.
Book links: Bookshop.org / Amazon
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Along with the nation, I watched Bridgerton on Netflix. And then again, and again. So I was hyped about reading the book but disappointed to find that I didn't enjoy the written version as much.
Book links: Bookshop.org / Amazon
You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry
Brief Blurb: Longtime friends Poppy and Alex have taken holidays together almost every year since they met. But when it all goes wrong two summers ago they lose touch. Poppy asks Alex to join her for one last trip. Could this trip make them realise they're not just friends at all?
> Fiction. Travel, romance.
I’d recommend this book to uni students and anyone that’s been to uni. The story starts off at university and so the overall vibe will connect to students. That being said, it's a story for anyone. A particularly special books for anyone that's loved a best friend.
At first when I read these beautiful people with quirks I thought ugh...another story about devastingly beautiful people with perfect lives. Now I am guilty of coming to this conclusion with books as its so easy to write perfect characters. However, now I look back and see that that's how they viewed one another; beautiful, imperfections and all.
I liked the journey. How the reader was told in drips of their relationship past and present. It made for an interesting story.
Book links: Bookshop.org / Amazon
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
Brief Blurb: Addie and her sister are about to embark on an epic road trip to a friends wedding. But not long after setting off, a car slams into the back of theirs. Driven by none other than Addie's ex, Dylan. It's been two years since their traumatic break up and now Addie is forced to give them a lift to the wedding; four hundred miles away.
Book links: Bookshop.org / Amazon
-----------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for reading! If you purchase through the links provided, I get a tiny profit. This does not effect the price for you, the consumer. I also haven't been asked to review any of these books and have bought, borrowed of been given them myself.
Big love and keep safe,
Bud xxx
Previous post: Friends-Fest(I've) 2021!
Comments
Post a Comment