bookreview – 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

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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 Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

January 29, 2021February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

Author: V. E. Schwab

Published: October 6, 2020

Pages: 442

For fans of: Fantasy, The Priory of the Orange Tree, The Time Traveler’s Wife

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

My Review:

Schwab’s writing is as poetic and entrancing as ever. I loved the unique premise of the story and how it delved into the human condition. We are all trying to leave our imprint on this world, and we always wish we had more time. Schwab explores what happens when a woman has all the time in the world but cannot leave any mark on it. Addie cannot die, but is she really alive? The plot switches back and forth between the past and the present, which I thought was the perfect way to tell a story like Addie’s. The book also includes a lot of descriptions of artistic works such as plays, musicals, books, paintings, and sculptures; which serve to highlight all the ways people try to leave a piece of themselves for others to enjoy when they are gone.

I adored Addie, but Henry absolutely broke my heart. He is the most accurate reflection of myself I’ve ever read, and his character will stay with me forever. Also, a little warning that the descriptions of all the food Addie gets to sample throughout her very long life will make you extremely hungry. I enjoyed listening to the audio while reading the physical copy of the book. The narrator had the perfect voice and accent for it. I highly recommend this one to all Fantasy lovers, and fans of Schwab’s writing definitely won’t be disappointed.

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

reviews

From Blood and Ash

January 28, 2021February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published: March 30, 2020

Pages: 634

For fans of: Fantasy, The Shadows Between Us, Kingdom of the Wicked, and Serpent and Dove

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A Maiden…

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty…

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom…

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.

My Mini Review:

I confess that I haven’t been so utterly consumed by a story in a while. I loved Poppy and Hawke and their slow-burn romance. I always enjoy fierce and strong female leads along with dark and sexy love interests, and this book did not disappoint. The plot was fast-paced and intriguing. There were some plot twists that I easily guessed, but many shocking moments that took me by surprise. The premise of the story was unique with some familiar fantasy elements sprinkled in. I enjoyed the humorous dialogue and playful banter between the characters. I can certainly see why so many recommended I read this. I absolutely cannot wait to read the sequel to this, and I will proudly call myself a member of the Blood and Ash fan club.

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

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The Shadows

September 4, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

the shadows book by alex north — Buy on Amazon

Author: Alex North

Published: July 7, 2020

Pages: 336

Goodreads rating: 3.79/5

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:

You knew a teenager like Charlie Crabtree. A dark imagination, a sinister smile–always on the outside of the group. Some part of you suspected he might be capable of doing something awful. Twenty-five years ago, Crabtree did just that, committing a murder so shocking that it’s attracted that strange kind of infamy that only exists on the darkest corners of the internet–and inspired more than one copycat.

Paul Adams remembers the case all too well: Crabtree–and his victim–were Paul’s friends. Paul has slowly put his life back together. But now his mother, old and senile, has taken a turn for the worse. Though every inch of him resists, it is time to come home.

It’s not long before things start to go wrong. Reading the news, Paul learns another copycat has struck. His mother is distressed, insistent that there’s something in the house. And someone is following him. Which reminds him of the most unsettling thing about that awful day twenty-five years ago.

It wasn’t just the murder.

It was the fact that afterward, Charlie Crabtree was never seen again…

My Mini Review:

This book left me craving more of this genre. Also, I figured my usual bright aesthetic could never do it justice, so I present to you my backyard (pictured above), where I’m frequently visited by bears (mainly they like to eat from my trash), and all sorts of forest animals. Maybe that’s why the creep factor in this book was so bad for me? It was not a very long leap from Alex North’s Shadows to my own world. Plus, we all knew a kid like Charlie…

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I did a bit of the audio and a bit of the hardback. The plot was engaging, and the small twists had me hooked. I liked this one and The Whisper Man equally, though I’ve heard people say they liked Whisper Man better. Apart from the suspense, I always enjoy North’s take on the different sides of parenthood. I usually find myself comparing my own parenting style to the ones of the parents presented in his books. I admired Paul’s mom and the way she defended her son so passionately when he was interrogated for a terrible crime. She never doubted him for a second. I highly recommend this one to all Mystery/Thriller fans, and if you can do the audio book even better!

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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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WWW Wednesday

September 2, 2020February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

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!

Disclaimer: All opinions on this blog are my own.

What I’m reading now

I’m currently reading three books in different formats:

-Splintered (#1) by A.G. Howard (audio book is free if you have an audible membership right now, and this one has been on my TBR forever)

-Rules of Engagement by J.T. Geissinger (e-book is free on kindle unlimited and I needed something funny and light to read)

-Blood and Honey (Serpent and Dove, #2) by Shelby Mahurin (the hardback just arrived yesterday and I’m super excited to start it!)

the vanishing half book by brit bennett — Visit my Bookstagram

What I just read

-The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett -you can read my review here.

-The Shadows by Alex North -review coming soon

-The Guest List by Lucy Foley -review coming soon

These are the books I plan to read next, all subject to change of course

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

-Fable (#1) by Adrienne Young

-Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Let me know what your WWW’s are in the comments!

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The Vanishing Half

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Author: Brit Bennett

Published: June 2, 2020

Pages: 343

Goodreads Rating: 4.37/5

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!

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 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!