Review: Where We Belong

Title Where We Belong
By Emily Giffin
Genre Adult contemporary
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Marian is living her dream life in New York City. A successful television producer dating the boss and expecting a marriage proposal any day. Life couldn't get any better. But a secret she buried years ago is about to come knocking on her door in the shape of Kirby an 18 year old girl with questions.

First Sentence
I know what they say about secrets.





Guy's, I don't know what it is but when life is this stressful and busy Emily Giffin is my go to author. Her books suck me right in fill my poor stressed out brain with an engrossing story capable of shooing away all my anxiety and to do lists. This one was no exception. I was pulled in from page one and couldn't wait to dive back into it every time I put it down. The story wasn't my favorite of Giffin's but I liked it and it did exactly what I needed it to do. Distract me.

So, if you can't tell from the synopsis this book is about a woman who put her child up for adoption when she was very young. During the time I was reading this, my husband (who's adopted, if you didn't know) actually came back into contact with his birth mother. I found it very serendipitous that I should be reading this book at the time. Not that it had any great insights perse but it was interesting and this book will always stick out in my mind because of it.

Engrossing and charming, this book was a great read albeit a little convenient. But, hey, I like happy endings!

Should you read it?
As always, I will recommend all of Emily Giffin's books.

Review: Everything, Everything

Title Everything, Everything
By Nicola Yoon
Genre YA Contemporary
Rating  ⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Madeline is allergic to everything. She can't leave her home and her whole world includes her mother, her nurse and her books. Still, she's fairly content, that is until a moving truck pulls up next door and a handsome young boy moves in. Suddenly Madeline feels like she's missing out on life. But when you're allergic to everything what can you do?

 First Sentence
I've read many more books than you.




With all the talk about this book I finally had to read it. It sounded great. Best laid plans and all that, right?  No, no, don't get me wrong. I didn't hate the book. I gave it 2 stars, after all.  I like how the characters actually felt like teenagers....until they didn't. I liked that Madeline wasn't a whiny, depressed grouch who complained about her crappy life....until she did. And I liked that I was wondering how it could possibly end happy...until I wasn't. I suspected what was coming from a mile away and tried to have faith that the author wouldn't take the easy way out...but she did. Sigh! So yeah, I was glued to this little story and it definitely held my attention but, well, I was hoping for more.

Should you read it?
Not everyone is as bitter as me and most people like this one.  So, yeah, give it a chance.

Digging Holes

You know when you have a ton of stuff to do and it depresses you? So you put it off and keep putting it off until you find yourself in a hole with no way out? No? Well, we're not all as perfect as you! No, I tease. See, I've been in this blogging slump. Once again I'm in the middle of a remodel of one of our duplexes (The worst remodel yet) and life is crazy busy. So, I'm still slowly reading books here and there but haven't blogged about them...and now I have several reviews to write and the more posts I have to write the more I don't want to blog.  I thought about just doing a multiple review post but I feel like the books don't get quite enough attention that way. Sigh! So bear with me while I litter your feed with posts, trying to catch up!

Utah Book Week!

And just in the nick of time! Guess what?! My life is crazy again! I swear it'll never end sometimes. So, yeah. Ill be participating by reading these books. Both by Utah author's that I actually know. And yes, both are self published but hey, so was whats his name who wrote The Martian so....
Anyway. Here's what I'll be reading.

I'll also be participating in the Instagram photo challenge.

If you want to join up too and read books by amazing Utah authors this week check out the blog page and link up! Wish me luck!

Mini Movie Review #7

I seriously should do better with movie reviews around here. I go see a movie practically every week with my husband on our date night so I see a lot of them! Anyway, here's a few we've seen recently.

The Legend of Tarzan 
Oh boy. Truthfully I wasn't dying to see this one. But, as I mentioned, my husband and I go out once a week to see a movie (mostly for the popcorn) and sometimes we don't have much to choose from. This one was as ridiculous as I thought it would be. Shirtless hero, helpless female, mustached villain. Slow motion swinging from vines scenes. While entertaining, I wouldn't see it again.

Star Trek Beyond
Let's face it, I see the Star Trek movies  to be entertained and for the characters. I never could get into the series but I do enjoy these movies. This one was great. Adventurous and comedic. I'd say it's worth the watch.

 Jason Bourne
The whole reason I decided to write a movie review post. I love the Bourne movies. I've seen them a dozen times each at least. So, you can imagine how happy I was that they were making another one. Sigh! I even re-watched all the other movies this weekend in preparation! I was so disappointed, guys!  It was entertaining enough but it didn't feel like a Bourne movie. Something was just off. Jason wasn't as cool as in the other movies and I was actually bored. I figured out what was wrong the morning after seeing it. They uses a different screenwriter. Stupid, stupid, Hollywood! Makes me furious. Movie stars and directors do NOT make the movie. You need a decent screenplay! Even The Bourne Legacy (you know, the one without Matt Damon) was better than this and why??? Because they had the same screenwriter that wrote the other Bourne movies! So, yeah, don't waste your time. The others are better. This one just couldn't live up to Tony Gilroy's writing.

July Wrap Up

Can I just say, thank goodness July is over! My book blogging buddy Suey mentioned on Twitter that while most people get the drolls in January through March she gets them during July. I totally agree. It's so damned hot that I can't bear going outside. Not even to lay in my pool. Yard work needs done every five seconds but the heat makes it pure misery. So, anywho, good riddance July is over!

You'd think with being cooped up in the house all day I'd be reading like crazy. And while I did read a few more books than usual this month, I still only managed to read six books this month and DNF another.

 The Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella, Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase, I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

One Dead Spy, a graphic novel by Nathan Hale, was August's book club pick. I tried to read it and only got half way through. It's just to immature and boring for me. I chose to DNF it.



Sadly, like all other sucky things in July, Blue Lily, Lily Blue and Black Rabbit Hall were 3 star books but the rest only got 2 stars from me. It wasn't a great reading month. Sigh! Like I said, thank goodness July is over. I really hate it.

Here's to a much better August!