bookblogger – Dee’s Reading Tree

reviews

The Measure

February 7, 2023February 7, 2023 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out.

But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live.

From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?

As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

My Review:

I love books that dive into the human condition, and this one had such a unique thought provoking premise. I enjoyed the multiple POV’s, which worked so great because different people will always choose different paths, and as a reader I wanted to find out how their paths would end and how they interconnected. What if you looked? What if you didn’t? What if your partner had a short string? I was satisfied to learn the answers to all my questions by the end. I found myself turning page after page and finishing it in one day. Pick it up and you won’t regret it, just make sure you have time to read it all because you won’t want to put it back down.

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions on this blog are my own.

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reviews

Lessons in Chemistry

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.

Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.

My Review:

If you are a woman, I am warning you now that you will find this book difficult to read, but it’s definitely 100% worth it! I laughed, I cried, and I fumed over all the injustices. I had to put it down several times, on days when the words struck a bit too close to home, but then I would take some deep breaths and dive back in. I am a dog person, and if you are one of those you will also love this book for that reason alone. I hate that I waited so long to read it. Amazing job Bonnie Garmus! All the awards this book has received and will receive are well deserved!

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions on this blog are my own.

reviews

Love on the Brain

November 7, 2022November 6, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

If you like this bookmark you can buy it here

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project – a literal dream come true – Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school – archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas… devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.

But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

My Mini Review:

I enjoyed this one so much. Maybe a bit more than The Love Hypothesis. Except, there was a lot more of the “miscommunication” trope in this one for my liking. I loved the slow burn romance, the spice, and the side characters were amazing! Her assistant Rocio! I loved her. She was hilarious. I enjoyed the banter between the characters. I liked the plot twist at the end and the action. This book was just a perfect wholesome STEM Romance.

If you are interested in buying this book please visit my Pango Store!

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The Guest List

September 3, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

the guest list book by lucy foley — Visit my Bookstagram

Author: Lucy Foley

Published: June 2, 2020

Pages: 330

Goodreads Rating: 3.89/5

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The bride ‧ The plus one ‧ The best man ‧ The wedding planner ‧ The bridesmaid ‧ The body

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

My Mini Review:

This is a five star read mainly because I did not see that coming! I’ve read so many books that it’s hard for me to be surprised by a twist or an ending, and this one surprised me on both counts. This book had me hooked from the beginning and I just had to keep reading until I uncovered all its mysteries. It was very plot driven, and Foley did a good job flawlessly switching timelines. The characters had all the qualities that make for a good story. They were interesting, realistic, and had unique backgrounds and personalities. There were some surprising twists, and that “aha!” moment that keeps me coming back to this genre, you know that moment when you finally figure it out? I’m definitely going to have to read more from this author. I highly recommend this one to all Mystery/Thriller and who-done-it fans.

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September TBR

August 31, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

I have some anticipated reads coming up in September so I’m super excited about those. I also have a tentative list of other books to choose from. I tried to include different genres so that I always have something to choose no matter what mood I’m in. Tell me about your most anticipated September books in the comments!

Disclaimer: All opinions on this blog are my own. If you are interested in purchasing any of these books, please consider using my Amazon affiliate link by clicking on the pictures and/or links and I will receive a small fee, but your book will still cost the same.

the lost book of the white by cassandra clare eldest curses book 2 — Buy on Amazon

The Lost Book of the White (The Eldest Curses, #2) by Cassandra Clare

This one will hopefully arrive on my doorstep on its release day September 1, and I cannot wait!

blood and honey by shelby mahurin serpent and dove book two — Buy on Amazon

Blood and Honey (Serpent and Dove, #2) by Shelby Mahurin

This one should also be arriving on my doorstep on September 1, and I’m going to have trouble choosing which one to read first!

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

Paolini hasn’t written anything since the Eragon series, which I loved, so I’m really looking forward to this one. It will be released September 15, and I have already pre-ordered it, but it might take me the rest of the month to read since it’s a massive 880 pages!!

Other books I plan to pick from:

-Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices, #2) by Cassandra Clare

-From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

-Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

-The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

-The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

-What You Wish For by Katherine Center

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August Wrap-Up

August 31, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

I actually managed to read ten books in August. I imagine I will have to slow down a bit in September since I have started to homeschool my kid and will be devoting a lot of time to planning lessons and teaching. August was a great reading month with mostly five star reads. My favorite book was Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. My most disappointing one was These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I guess I only enjoy the books Amie writes with Jay Kristoff.

thunderhead book by neal shusterman arc of a scythe series — Buy on Amazon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman -you can read my review here

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren -you can read my review here.

midnight sun twilight book 5 by stephenie meyer — Buy on Amazon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4

Midnight Sun (Twilight, #5) by Stephenie Meyer -you can read my review here.

twilight book one by stephenie meyer — Buy on Amazon

Twilight (#1) by Stephenie Meyer

I decided to do a reread of this one before I read Midnight Sun, and it turned out to be a great decision, because Midnight Sun runs alongside Twilight. I was able to appreciate Edward’s point of view much more after reading Bella’s very limited take on the story.

Obsidio Illuminae book three by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff — Buy on Amazon

I was able to finish my reread of the Illuminae Files alongside by husband who was reading them for the first time, and he loved them. It’s always nice to share a book you love with a loved one. You can read my old review for this one here.

these broken stars book by amie kaufman and meagan spooner — Buy on Amazon

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

What a gorgeous cover right? But I think this book was just an okay read and I don’t believe I will continue on with this series. I found the characters in this book overly dramatic and childish. I guess I only like the books Amie writes alongside Jay Kristoff. I did not write a full review for this one.

throne of glass series by sarah j maas — Buy on Amazon

Throne of Glass (#1) by Sarah J. Maas

I’ve been slowly rereading this series in between audio books because I missed these characters so much. If you haven’t read these books. I highly recommend them. Maas writes amazing Fantasy worlds with characters you will love. I had never listened to the audio books, and I am loving them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

You can read my review for this one here.

the shadows book by alex north — Buy on Amazon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Shadows by Alex North

My review for this one will be coming soon!

wolfsong by tj klune book — Buy on Amazon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Wolfsong (Green Creek, #1) by T.J. Klune

My review for this one will be coming soon!

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The Vanishing Half

August 31, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

the vanishing half book by brit bennett — Buy on Amazon

Author: Brit Bennett

Published: June 2, 2020

Pages: 343

Goodreads Rating: 4.37/5

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions are my own. If you are interested in purchasing this book, please consider using my Amazon affiliate link (by clicking on the top or bottom pictures) and helping a fellow book blogger out 🙂 I will receive a small fee from Amazon, but your book will still cost the same.

This was one of my Book of the Month picks. If you would like to save on your subscription please consider using my link and I will get a free book credit.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?

My Review:

This was such an amazing coming of age story spanning multiple generations. I loved all the different points of views and going back and forth in time. The plot was very character driven, and the characters were all unique and interconnected. Bennett did such a great job portraying how one person’s decisions can cause a ripple effect into the lives of those around them. It was so interesting to learn about “passing,” a term I was not familiar with before this.

My own great grandma was “so black she was blue” just like they described Jude in this book, then she went on to marry the whitest man she could find, and their kids did the same after that. Which explains why I’m so pale. No I’m not from Mallard, I am from Cuba. I still have what I call my “black nose” and thick curly hair that gets out of control if I don’t do what I can to tame it. But I know exactly where these features come from, even if I never got to meet her. I can’t imagine living my whole life not knowing my heritage like Kennedy did in the story.

If there is anything I learned from this book is that you have to know where you come from in order to see where you’re going. The Vanishing Half is definitely worth a read, especially during current times. I would recommend it to all Historical and Contemporary Fiction fans. I haven’t read The Mothers by Bennett yet, but I enjoyed her poetic writing style so much that I definitely will soon!

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WWW Wednesday

August 26, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday post! This week has flown by, and I can only hope the rest of the year does the same. I’m super excited for Fall, but I hate that many of the Fall activities, like taking my kids trick or treating, will not be possible this year. We will still be decorating some pumpkins, which is another one of my favorite things. What are some Fall activities you are looking forward to?

This is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where you answer three questions: What are you reading now? What did you just read? What will you be reading next? Now on to the books!

the shadows by alex north book — Buy on Amazon

What I’m reading now

I’m currently finishing up The Shadows by Alex North and Wolfsong by T.J. Klune. Both are great books and I cannot wait to tell you all about them.

What I just read

I just read The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet, and it was an amazing book but I haven’t had a chance to write a review yet.

What I will be reading next

I’m super excited for all the September releases that I have been waiting for a while for. I have pre-ordered all of them and I cannot wait to get them in the mail 🙂

-Serpent and Honey (Serpent and Dove, #2) by Shelby Mahurin releases September 1.

-The Lost Book of the White (The Eldest Curses, #2) by Cassandra Clare releases September 1.

-To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini releases September 15.

Let me know what you’re currently reading in the comments!

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Thunderhead

August 24, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

thunderhead book by neal shusterman — Buy on Amazon

Author: Neal Shusterman

Published: January 9, 2018

Series: Arc of a Scythe, #2

Goodreads rating: 4.48/5

Genre: YA/ Sci-fi

Synopsis from Goodreads: *Don’t read if you haven’t read the first book in this series*

Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid, and has been striking out against corrupt scythes—not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.

Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order” scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?

My Mini Review:

I didn’t enjoy this second book in the Scythe series as much as I did the first one, but the plot was still interesting enough to keep me engaged. I liked when the Thunderhead was the narrator, its point of view was very enlightening (no pun intended), and it added a whole new dimension to the story. Grayson was also a nice new addition to the cast of characters, and he added a much needed perspective into the world of “unsavories.” The pacing was a bit too slow in the first half of the book, but it picked up on the second half. The ending was surprising to say the least, but I am not in a hurry to grab the next book in the series. Overall, I do recommend this series to all YA/Sci-fi fans, as it provides a fresh take on the human condition and what it means to be alive.

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Love and Other Words

August 17, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

love and other words book by christina lauren — Buy on Amazon

Author: Christina Lauren

Published: April 10, 2018

Goodreads rating: 4.22/5

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions are my own. If you are interested in purchasing this book or any other book on Amazon, please consider using my Amazon affiliate link (by clicking on the top or bottom pictures) and helping a fellow book blogger out 🙂 I will receive a small fee from Amazon, but your book will still cost the same.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The story of the heart can never be unwritten.

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

My Mini Review:

I knew as soon as I started to read this book that it would break me, but in a good way. The characters met at the same age my husband and I met, and I knew I would be getting flash backs to our own story the whole time. I was surprised to find so many similarities in our stories, but I was glad we didn’t struggle so much to reach our happy ending. I’m used to laughing out loud in all Christina Lauren books, and this one had its funny moments, but there was a more serious tone to the story. The main characters, Elliot and Macy, dealt with issues such as grief and post traumatic stress. Both their characters had amazing character arcs and they were beautifully developed. I highly recommend this book to all Romance and Women’s Fiction fans.