Review: The Hypnotist's Love story

Title The Hypnotist's Love Story
By Liane Moriarty
Genre Adult Contemporary
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
When Ellen's boyfriend of a few weeks tells her he has a secret she imagines the worst. But she never would have guessed that he had a stalker. An ex that just can't quite give him up.

First Sentence
I had never been hypnotized before.







What can I say? Moriarty does it again! I've heard her best books are Big Little Lies and What Alice Forgot and, coincidentally, those are the two I've read. So I was worried her other books wouldn't be as good and that maybe I should have started with them. I needn't have worried. This one was uniquely its own. I've never quite read a story like this. You've got this hypnotherapist MC who's dating a guy who informs her he's being stalked by his ex and things just get weirder from there.

It was crazy and and fun and Moriarty has such a way with words she allows us into the ex's mind and guess what? You can empathize with her! I loved the setting in this one too. Ellen's house that her grandparent's left her on the beach is described so perfectly it's almost a character of it's own.

With so much going on in this one it could have started to feel like a cheesy soap opera but Moriarty handles everything perfectly and tells one crazy yet believable story. I loved it.

Should you read it? 
Yes! Any anything else Moriarty writes!

September Wrap Up

September was only crazy for half of the month but I still only managed to read 3 books again. I swear I'll do better this month. The colder weather makes me want to curl up and read and the Dewy's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon is this month so...here's hoping. Anyway, back to September.

Hinges of Broams Eld by Jennifer Cano, Still Alice by Lisa Genova, The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

I liked all of them this month. No least favorites. I always think that's a good thing.My numbers are small but at least I liked what I read, right?

Tag

I got tagged by Amy and I'm very excited. One: It gives me something to blog about and, Two: It's a fun tag. Check it out! 

1. Find a book for each of your initials

I decided to pick from books I read and, whew! I've only read two books that start with the letter J. So, while this wasn't a favorite book or anything, it was alright. Finding Audrey, however, is an awesome read!

2. Count your age along your bookshelf: What book is it? 

Um, my TBR shelf or my read shelf? I chose TBR.


3. Pick a book set in your city/country

Fun little book that takes place in my state.


4. Pick a book that represents a location that you would love to travel to

London! Again and again I could go there.



5. Pick a book that’s your favorite color

Um, I don't really have a favorite color. I like dark blue and purple.


6. Which book do you have the fondest memory of?

I read this wonderful book a few short months after getting married. It was winter and we were living in a tiny little apartment. I would curl up on the couch while my husband watched Breaking Bad and read so thoroughly entranced that I think my poor husband wondered just what he's gotten himself into marrying this crazy book loving lady.



7. Which book did you have the most difficulty reading?

This book and I did NOT get along. Saying I had to force my way through it just doesn't do the pain I had when reading it justice. I think at one point I hurled the book across the room and just started sobbing. *shudders* 

8. Which book in your TBR pile will give you the biggest accomplishment when you finish it?

Um...All of them Duh! No, I honestly just don' know.


I'm not going to tag anyone else by name. But feel free to tag yourself, I'd love to see what you come up with! Thanks, Amy! That was fun! 

Review: Still Alice

Title Still Alice
By Lisa Genova
Genre Adult contemporary
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Alice Howland is a professor at Harvard, a mother of three and living her perfect life in Boston. It seems nothing could go wrong. Until Alice starts forgetting things. When she's diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's her world is shattered.

First Sentence
Even then, there were neurons in her head, not far from her ears, that were being strangled to death, too quietly for her to hear them.

Another book club book. I actually voted to read this book even though I knew it would be sad. Most people in my book club weren't overly excited to read it but, in the end, they loved it. I loved it too.

It was heart wrenching to read. And while I didn't cry, the book certainly pulled on my heartstrings. I hate to use the train wreck cliche but there's just no better way describe reading this book. I just simply couldn't look away.

In the beginning, Alice reminded me of Joan Didion from The Year of Magical Thinking. She had this unreal life that just seemed too perfect and she came off as arrogant. Mind you, Alice is fictional and Joan isn't but I saw plenty of similarities and I was a bit worried I wouldn't be able to have any compassion for poor Alice. I did. It was so hard to read about her mind and memories slipping away. I can't even imagine.

The ending of the book was my absolute favorite part. Because here you are reading this dreadfully sad book and then that ending!!! It just made me feel good. Loved it!

The discussion came up in book club of what exactly the purpose of this book was. Some people thought it was just too sad and that it left them feeling depressed. Was that its purpose? I think it was just to educate us about Alzheimer's. And it did. And it gave me a lot more compassion for those suffering from it.

Should you read it?
I hate to sound like one of "those" people but I think everyone should read this book.

Review: Hinges of Broams Eld

Title  Hinges of Broams Eld
By Jennifer Cano
Genre Middle Grade Fantasy
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
When elfin warriors escort Livy to Broams Eld, she discovers a world where imagination is power, tadpole soup is what’s for dinner, and trees whisper secret enchantments. There she finds not only friends, a welcome home for her dare-devil antics, and magic, but an astounding destiny to inherit—if she can survive her first night. (From Goodreads)

First Sentence
Livy Hinge's aunt lay dying in the backyard, which Aunt Neala thought was darned inconvenient.



I love this cover but I don't think it says, middle grade, which this book is. Confession time! I don't get along with middle grade books. I just feel like they're over simplified and the characters, of course, are middle grade age and they act it...and I don't see the appeal. However, I wanted to read this book for Utah Book Month. The author lives just down the road from me and so I thought I'd give it a go.

For awhile, at the beginning, I was wondering if I should keep going. It definitely had that middle grade feel going and it kind of jumped right into things, introducing us to this whole new world with weird words and customs that I couldn't quite wrap my head around. While I don't like to be held by the hand through world introductions, I also don't like being slapped in the face with them either. But I stuck with it and am very glad I did.

By about 35% through (I read this on my kindle, not sure what page) I found myself immersed in the world. It had a very, 1st Harry Potter book, feel to it. I don't know if it was intended or if I was just looking for it but there were some similarities for sure.

My favorite thing about the book was the ending. I can't say much without being too spoil-y but I just loved the way all the kids worked together to save their world and the magical world Cano created.

I'm assuming there will be more books to come and I'm good with that. There were a few open ended questions that I'd be interested in knowing the answers to.

Should you read it?
If you can get past the slightly jarring beginning you won't regret reading this delightful little tale.