Review: If Only It Were True

Title If Only It Were True
By Marc Levy
Genre Adult Contemporary
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
When Lauren's car's breaks fail and she's in a horrible accident it leaves her body in a deep coma. But her soul is wandering around San Francisco. Arthur has just sublet a new apartment but is surprised to discover the previous occupants is still there...and only he can see her. Together Arthur and Lauren will have to learn to trust each other enough to believe the impossible and maybe fall in love.

First Sentence
The novelty clock sitting on the unpainted wooden nightstand sounded at five-thirty.



Does this one sound familiar? If you've seen Just Like Heaven with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo then it should. This is the book that the movie is based on. I picked up this book at a used bookstore on sale because I liked the movie and had heard the book was quite different. And it was. It was much more serious than the movie. This ones much more a romance than a rom-com.

The author is French, and while I couldn't find if this one was originally in French and had been translated or not, I wondered. It had a strange feel to it and I couldn't decide if that was due to the author's style, ethnicity, or if it had been translated. Either way, it felt different. Not in a bad way just...different.

I felt like I was being held at arms length from all the characters and couldn't quite connect to any of them. When it started getting more into Arthur's past, I felt like I understood him more but he's the only one I connected with on any level.

I'm not sure why this one is a bestseller (or was). It wasn't awful, just not that great. I did love the ending though. It made me smile and sigh a little. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to those who liked the movie and are curious about the book.

Should you read it?
If you HAVE to connect to characters to enjoy a book I'd say skip this one. If not, then enjoy!

August Wrap Up

Oi! I think I survived August. Now if I can just make it through these next few weeks, I think things will finally slow down. Maybe I'll have more time to read. Maybe I'll blog more. Maybe I'll try a K-drama. Who knows. But one thing is for sure. I won't be remodeling for as long as I can possible help it! I only managed three books in August. I also had two books I put down because they just weren't doing it for me. Look at me getting all better at setting aside books! Alright, here you have it.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Where We Belong by Emily Giffin and If Only It Were True by Marc Levy

Favorite of the month was Where We Belong. No least favorite. So, that's good. Here's hoping for a much calmer September and lots of reading and blogging!

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!