Quick Lit: November 2017 (Part 2)

Quick Lit: November 2017 (Part 2)

• Jan 23, 2018

I'm two months behind on my Quick Lit posts, so I'm finally catching up this week. Because I had 17 books to review for November, I split the post into two parts. If you missed it, here is Part 1 with the three series I binged that month. Today's post features 8 standalones! I read two other books that aren't included in this post: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory, which I'll be reviewing that separately, and another book that I just skimmed (so I don't feel right reviewing and rating it). If you're looking for more book recommendations, check out the linkup at Modern Mrs. Darcy. 

THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY BY KATJA MILLAY | I read this book for the first time a few years ago (click the book title for my original review!) and fell head over heels in love with it. I was swept away by Millay's writing, the heartbreaking pain, the amazing characters -- all of it. I'd been meaning to re-read for ages and finally listened to the audio. While I didn't love the male narrator (my one criticism), everything else about this story was just an amazing the second time around. It was still an emotional rollercoaster, and I'm So Obsessed With It. And that last line? I DIE.

ALL IN PIECES BY SUZANNE YOUNG | I saw Andi talking about this book, and she piqued my interest. When I spotted a copy at the library a few days later, I couldn't resist! I loved that Savannah wasn't the traditional YA heroine. She's at an alternative high school due to "anger management issues" after she stuck a pencil in her ex-boyfriend's hand. School is miserable, but her home life is even worse. I was so invested in Savannah's story -- and in her blossoming romance with a new student. It was an emotional read about heavy issues, but I read it in one sitting and So Enjoyed It.

UNTIL THERE WAS YOU BY KRISTAN HIGGINS | I was nervous about this book because Kelly read it before me, and she wasn't a huge fan. I don't know if it's because I went in with low expectations, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the humor, the plot, and the heroine (though I wanted her to stand up for herself). But I will agree with Kelly that the romance was my least favorite aspect. I didn't get what made the hero so special -- and didn't fully believe the couple belonged together. I So Liked It for everything else but probably wouldn't re-read this in the future.

MY ONE AND ONLY BY KRISTAN HIGGINS | I really enjoy second-chance romances, so I was looking forward to this book before I even started it. The addition of a a cross-country road trip got my hopes up even higher, and, thankfully, I wasn't disappointed in the least! There's a lot of background info in this one since the couple has a history together, so it took a while for the story to move forward. But I was so invested in the couple, even when they did things that annoyed me, and I have a feeling that the snarky humor helped. I'm happy to say that I So Enjoyed It. 

IF YOU ONLY KNEW BY KRISTAN HIGGINS | This is one of my favorite books from Higgins! It focuses on two sisters, Jenny and Rachel, which is always a draw for me. I was a little nervous beforehand because one storyline involves cheating, but I thought it was handled it really well. I loved that the book felt more like women's fiction than contemporary romance, and I think that contributed to the fact that the book felt a little more serious and sad than what I'd expect from Higgins. But there was still a nice amount of humor and the bond between the sisters meant I So Loved It.

FOOLS RUSH IN BY KRISTAN HIGGINS | After loving If You Only Knew, I was so excited to pick up this one. Unfortunately, it's my least favorite Higgins so far. But with an extensive backlist, there are bound to be a few misses! I think this was her first book, so I can see some of her trademarks -- and how she's grown. My biggest issue with this one was the heroine. She was so annoying and a little too clueless. Plus, the stalking her crush thing was creepy and not funny to me. The romance didn't redeem it either because I hated that it involved a sibling's ex. I was So Okay With It. 

YOUNG JANE YOUNG BY GABRIELLE ZEVIN | I own but haven't read another book by Zevin, but I had to grab this from the library after seeing several trusted readers raving about it. And when I first started, I could see why they recommended it. I immediately loved the writing and the voice! But as the story went on and shifted perspectives, I started to lose interest. The last section was my least favorite, and I was bummed to end on a lackluster note. The story and message are very timely in today's world, but I was just So Okay With It because it felt unfinished.

ALL I EVER WANTED BY KRISTAN HIGGINS | This was a sweet story from Higgins with a heroine that I was rooting for. I loved the secondary characters, especially the grandfather, which is often the case when I pick up a book from this author. I disliked a few things about it (the ridiculous devil/angel on her shoulder long-running joke) and was meh on a few others (namely the romance, which felt like it took forever to develop). But there were enough good things about it, including a sweet ending, that I felt like I So Liked It overall. Not a favorite, but still fun for a pick-me-up.

What have you been reading lately?