Book Review 2016

For all you ladies out there knocking out 20+ books a year, I am so envious!  I read 12 books in 2016 and that was a BIG year for me. I have found it is much easier to knock out a great fiction book compared to these deeper self help books I feel I need to absorb.  I’m a little late to the game reviewing my tops for 2016 but since I’ve had the graphic sitting in my drafts since late December it seemed too sad to wasted it!  

12

Because I’m all about saving the best for last, let’s start with my least favorite read.  Nantucket Nightsdid not wow me like other Elin books have.  Maybe it’s the fact that being the mom of sons I was a little creeped out by the story line but this one was just meh.  

11

The Choice was just a typical love story.  It was an easy read and I liked the characters but there was no urgency to finish this book.  I really felt like the ending was some what predictable.  Not my favorite from Sparks but The Notebook is hard to beat! 

10

This book, Chasing Sunsets, was a freebie I downloaded from Amazon and I was pleasantly surprised.  It was an easy read, somewhat predictable but I definitely was able to relate a little.  

9

I loved reading Bare Bones!  If you do not listen to the Bobby Bones show you will not have any interest at all in this book but if you do it was a great read.  I love to read stories of someone making something of themselves even when they were not provided the best start in life.  Plus I love the Pimpin Joy series they do on the radio and the book gives some insight on how that came about.

8

So I was really excited about reading The Royal We because “everyone” I knew was reading it and not being able to put it down.  Well, I was sucked in but at some point the book just started feeling really, really long and I kind of got bored.  It took me forever to finally finish and I was glad I did because I was happy with the ending but it was not the easiest to read for me.  

After You, well, let’s just say it was a book that sucked me in and I did love reading it but found myself a little mad about how things ended in Me Before You more than I was when I read that book.  I did love this book but definitely not as much as number 1.  

6

Can not even tell you why I would have downloaded this book other than it was on special for $2.99 one day and was a top seller but I am glad (I think) that I did.  Pretty Girls is a one time read but I could not put it down.  It is demented and twisted but it sucked me in; like reading at stop lights sucked in.  I could not put it down until I was done and I think it only took me 24 hours tops.   

5

If you want an inspiring read that will really make you want to go out and change the world, Daring Greatly is it.  There is so much inspiration and goodness in this book but, y’all, it took me probably six months or so to finally finish it.  I loved it but I had to highlight and take notes and really soak it up.  

4

Keep It Shut, oh how I needed this book! One of my favorite pieces of advice was Karen sharing “don’t say something permanently painful just because you are temporarily ticked off”.  Whew, so many of her words had me nodding my head in shame for sure. I shared a few more of the quotes from the book in a Thirsty Thursday review.   

3

Lysa never, ever disappoints and I found so much goodness in this book, Uninvited.  For me, there have been so many instances in life when I have projected past hurt and rejection on a current circumstance and this book helped me see some things more clearly.  Lysa just has a way of making me feel less ashamed of my brokenness. 

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the book, Still Alice, because Alzheimers is definitely a disease that seems to strip all dignity.  This book is so beautifully written and really gives some insight into what a person might be going through as well as what her family may endure.  Yes, lots and lots of tears but I think this was one of my to reads of all time.  

1

Tears obviously get the highest marks from me in 2016!  Grab the tissues and set aside enough time to read this one all the way through! Me Before You was one of the most emotional books I’ve read in a long time.  I have not even been able to bring myself to watch the movie because I feel I need to be completely alone to ugly cry that much.  Definitely my number one for 2016!  
Now, it’s 2017 and I feel like I’m already off to a great start!  It always helps to begin the first week on vacation right?  I’ve read three books and it’s only January 19th!  Hoping to make book reviews more of a monthly occurrence around here.  
Would love to hear what you are reading!  
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