Five Star Friday - I Can Be A Better You

This week's Five Star Friday read was read by Jay!

Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads: When Fig Coxbury buys a house on West Barrett Street, it's not because she likes the neighborhood, or even because she likes the house. It's because everything she desires is next door: The husband, the child, and the life that belongs to someone else.

Genre? Thriller

Backlist? Yes. Publication date was December 24, 2016 under the title "Bad Mommy".

New to me Author? Nope. I love me some Tarryn Fisher.

Why I rated it 5 stars? 

Tarryn just has a way of making you think "What the heck did I just read?" over and over in the same book. I was pulled into the story of Fig. Why is she so obsessed with her neighbors? What lengths will she go to? I seriously could not put it down.

It will also come as no surprise that I love thrillers, especially psychological thrillers. Seeing inside the minds of Fig and the neighbors was so intriguing. I thought I had it all figured out until the next perspective came then BOOM maybe I was wrong. Throw in another point of view? Yep, I still don't know what's going on.

Seriously, I love this woman and will read absolutely anything she writes. I would highly recommend this book!

Five Star Friday 1

We love sharing books that we absolutely loved with you guys, so we came up with the idea for Five Star Friday(can you tell we also love alliteration?) 

I (Meg) had the first non-buddy read five star book for 2020, so I’ll kick this new feature off for us.  

Amazon

No Exit by Taylor Adams

Synopsis from Goodreads: On her way to Utah to see her dying mother, college student Darby Thorne gets caught in a fierce blizzard in the mountains of Colorado. With the roads impassable, she’s forced to wait out the storm at a remote highway rest stop. Inside, are some vending machines, a coffee maker, and four complete strangers.

Desperate to find a signal to call home, Darby goes back out into the storm . . . and makes a horrifying discovery. In the back of the van parked next to her car, a little girl is locked in an animal crate.

Who is the child? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her?

Genre? Thriller

Backlist? This is the newest book this author has published, Goodreads shows a couple older books as well.  

New to me Author? Yes, and I was actually surprised when I was reading the about me and realized the author was male and not female. 

Why I rated it 5 stars? 

"Wow. This book was just wow. I often have the same thought Darby did throughout much of the book, how much would be different if I had or hadn't made even just one decision differently. It's not lost on me that my only two 5 star books so far this year have been thrillers. My best friend may just be rubbing off on me after all. "

This was what I posted on my Goodreads review and I stand by it.  I read this book in one setting and I just kept wanting more and more.  Darby was a great main character and I loved her point of view.  

Meg's "Book Challenge by Erin 12.0" List

Jay explained the premise of this challenge in her post last week, here if you missed it, so this week it's my turn to share my list!

Freebie, Read any book that's at least 200 pages- 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Starts with an 'I'- If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2 or More Authors- My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren- Done

Picture of a Tree on the Cover- Salem Falls by Jodi Piccoult(Just started Sunday)

One of 5W's in Title- Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer

Set in Africa- The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith- Done

Female Role in Title- The Wives by Tarryn Fisher- Done

Edgar Award Winner- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth E. Wein- Done

"Locked Room Mystery"- No Exit by Taylor Adams(3% finished, just started Sunday as well)

SUYB Favorite- An American Marriage by Tayari Jones


              

              

                                             

If you would like to join in, it's not too late, the challenge runs through April 30th!

Jay's "Book Challenge by Erin 12.0" List

Twice a year, I like to take part of a fun reading challenge called Book Challenge by Erin. There are ten categories and you get to choose your own book. The only rules are: you have to start and finish the book within the timeframe of the challenge, books must be over 200 pages, only one re-read allowed.

I've only successfully completed this challenge once, but I'm determined to make 12.0 another success. Here are a look at the categories and the books I've chosen. (As of this posting, 1/13/2020, I've completed two of the books).


Freebie - Read any book that's at least 200 pages: Well Met by Jen DeLuca (Currently at 50%)

Starts with an "I": I Can Be A Better You by Tarryn Fisher

Two or more authors: Jackal by Tarryn Fisher and Willow Aster

Picture of a tree on the cover: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (Currently about 30%)

Who, what, when, where, or why in the title: What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand -Done

Book set in Africa: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamandah Ngozi Adichie

Mother/Sister/Wife in the title: The Wives by Tarryn Fisher (Done - See previous review)

Edgar award winner: Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (Currently about 30%)

"Locked room mystery book": And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Show Us Your Books 2018: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (Even though I saw a HUGE spoiler yesterday....)



             

             

                                              


It's not too late to join! The challenge runs through April 30th. If anything, it's fun to read through other people's lists to find more for my TBR!

The Wives

If you stick around the blog long enough, which we totally hope you do, you’ll soon find out that both of us have a major love for anything that Tarryn Fisher or Colleen Hoover among others writes.  We both started our 2020 reading journey with The Wives by Tarryn and we both rated it 5 out of 5 stars.  

Jay says…

I am SO glad I started my decade off with The Wives by Tarryn Fisher. What I’m NOT glad  I did was wait so long to read this (Seriously, I won an ARC off Goodreads, but didn’t get to it until after publication day. What’s wrong with me?) The Wives is a story about Thursday, a girl who shares her husband with two other women. Although this is definitely not a topic I know much about apart from binge watching Big Love on HBO back in the day, I still found myself rooting for Thursday and hoping she really could win her man. Then, halfway through there was a twist I did not see coming which made me think the book was going in a whole different direction. THEN, the final twist was completely out of left field. But, unlike a lot of other recent thrillers, it was still 100% believable, which I think really made a difference. The Wives is my second stand-alone book written by Tarryn Fisher (the other being F*ck Marriage), but honestly it made me want to read her entire backlist. I already have the Love Me With Lies trilogy under my belt, as well as her Never Never with Colleen Hoover and Folsom (Jackal will be coming soon!), but I plan on spending some time in her backlist this year before she hits us with The Wrong Family in December!

Meg says….Jay makes a good point that I didn’t even realize, not only was The Wives the first book of my year, but of my decade.  What a great start! We read this together, although Jay finished a little bit ahead of me so there were a lot of what did we just read texts back and forth between us.  I haven’t read a book that had me so twisted up and questioning what I thought was happening since CoHo’s Verity back in 2018. I’m not sure if I was rooting more for Thursday before or after the twist I totally did not see coming.  I 100% recommend this book and will be reading as much of Tarryn’s backlist as I can this year. Even before reading a single one of her books, I was a part of her Passionate Little Nutcases group on Facebook. I not only love her books, but I strive to be more like the person she is each and every day.  She truly is a woman’s woman and someone a woman of any age can look up to.  

Tell us in the comments...have you had a five star read in 2020? Let us know what it was.  

Starting next Wednesday, we have a cool new feature over on Instagram that we hope you’ll come check out.

Until then,

Drink good coffee. Read good books. And charge your Kindle because we KNOW your battery is almost dead.

Our 20 Most Anticipated 2020 Releases

Ever since joining the ranks of Bookstagram a couple years ago, subscribing to some bookish podcasts, and overall just immersing ourselves into reading more again, we've started paying more attention to some upcoming releases.

Here's our list of 20 of our most anticipated 2020 releases (listed in order of release date).
All titles are linked to Goodreads if available.

One of Us is Next - Karen M. McManus 

Releases: January 7th 

Listed by: Jay & Meg

While I don’t remember much about the first book, I do remember that I flew through it! The Goodreads blurb for this book sounds so good! - Jay
I still have One of Us is Lying to read, but this sounds intriguing and I’ve been meaning to pick up Two Can Keep a Secret as well to add to my never-ending TBR.  - Meg

The Dead Girls Club - Damien Angelica Walters

Releases January 10th

Listed by: Jay

You’ll quickly learn one thing about me - I love thrillers. The whole concept behind his book is so creepy and interesting. I’ve heard so many great things from ARC readers about this book. I can’t wait to read it and find out the truth about what happened that night. 

American Dirt - Jeanine Cummins 

Releases January 21st 

Listed by: Jay

Honestly, I’ve just heard so much about this novel. It already has such hype that it’s hard not to get drawn in. I don’t know much about what it’s about, but what I do know is that it sounds like a modern treasure.

The Confetti Pact - Lilly Bartlett 

Releases February 12th

Listed by: Jay

I was approached by a fellow bookstagrammer (and later the author) to ask if I would be interested in reading an ARC of The Confetti Pact. Um, duh! It sounds super cute and fun. Plus, Sophie Kinsella calls it “Engaging and witty” so really, it’s a no brainer. (Updated: I've recently started this ARC and it's super great already!)

Let It All Burn - Denise Grover Swank

Releases February 18th

Listed by: Jay & Meg

Denise Grover Swank hasn’t exactly told us a release date for this book yet, but if you know anything about Denise you know how many books she puts out every year so we can only assume it’s a 2020 release. Plus, she’s letting people on Facebook name all the characters so there’s no way we could pass it up.

Wild at Heart - K.A.Tucker

Releases March 3rd

Listed by: Meg

One of our favorite authors, Colleen Hoover recommended the first book to us when we were at her book signing for All Your Perfects in KC a couple summers ago. We are looking forward to reading not only that one, but this one as well. 

Her Scream in the Silence - Denise Grover Swank

Releases March 10th

Listed by: Jay

As of this moment, I cannot find a Goodreads page for this book to link for you, but I promise this beauty exists! Denise talks about it every week in her newsletter. Just beware though, there is no way to pre-order this on Amazon. We’ll have to just watch for it.

I LOVED the first installment of the Carly Moore series and I truly can not wait to see what kind of trouble comes up next.

Darling Rose Gold - Stephanie Wrobel

Releases March 17th

Listed by: Jay

Honestly, I didn’t know what this book was about until prepping, but I had heard amazing things and this cover is gorgeous. Now that I’ve read the Goodreads blurb...WOW! I’m pumped!

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies - Tara Schuster

Releases March 18th

Listed by: Jay

From Goodreads: This is the book Tara wished someone had given her and it is the book many of us desperately need: a candid, funny, practical guide to growing up and learning to love yourself in a non-throw-up-in-your-mouth-it's-so-cheesy way.

Need I say more? (Also, I just got an ARC of this and I'm super excited!)

The Sun Down Motel - Simone St. James

Releases March 18th

Listed by: Jay & Meg

I seriously feel like this book is all anyone has been talking about since last summer. I have no clue what it’s about, but I chose it for my January Book of the Month box, so I’ll let you know. - Jay

For me, the name conjures up more than one country song that I love - Papa Loved Mama by Garth Brooks and The No-Tell Motel by Aaron Watson. I'll be interested to see if it's anything like either of these songs. - Meg

You Are Not Alone - Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Releases April 3rd

Listed by: Jay

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkannen have become one of the duos I purposely look for when I look for new releases. I love their previous novels and I’m excited to see that we get a new one this year!

Whiskey - Molly McAdams

Releases April 6th

Listed by: Meg

The first book of this series, Fix, is my favorite Molly McAdams book to date.  I love Molly because not only are her books relatable, but she’s always so accessible to her readers and I love it. 

Something She's Not Telling Us - Darcey Bell

Releases April 7th

Listed by: Jay

I’m pretty sure I just saw this on a list somewhere, but it sounds good!

Always Enough - Kelly Elliott

Releases April 7th

Listed by: Meg

Never Enough, the first book in this series which came out late 2019 pulled at my heartstrings and featured a bullrider *swoon* I’m excited to see who from Never Enough is the focus of Always Enough.  Can’t wait to read this one! 

When The Bough Breaks - Denise Grover Swank

Releases May 21st

Listed by: Jay

We’ve been reading the Rose Gardner series ever since Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes. We can’t wait to see what comes up in this one!

One Foot in the Grave - Denise Grover Swank

Releases June 2nd

Listed by: Jay

This is the third installment of the Carly Moore series. The first one was awesome. The second one comes out in March (see above) and I’m already excited for the third!

What You Wish For - Katherine Center

Releases August 11th

Listed by: Jay

Katherine Center stole my heart with How to Walk Away and then again with Things You Save in a Fire, so when I heard about What You Wish For, I was already hooked. I also need to start looking into her backlist!

Untitled - Paula Hawkins

Releases October 3rd

Listed by: Jay

I don’t know what this book is about, nor does it matter because Paula Hawkins blew me away with The Girl on the Train and Into the Water. 

The Wrong Family - Tarryn Fisher

Releases December 29th

Listed by: Jay & Meg

We have literally NO IDEA what this one is about, but Tarryn hinted to its release during her Tuesdays with Tarryn on Instagram and to be frank, we will read anything this crazy villain chooses to publish.

We will read anything the TaCo friendship puts out, enough said. 

Untitled - Colleen Hoover

Releases December 31st

Listed by: Jay & Meg

Y’know how we said we will read anything Tarryn publishes? Ditto here. Colleen Hoover could re-write the phone book and we would have pre-ordered both the ebook and the physical copy just to sit down at midnight on release day to read it. No shame y’all. No shame.

There you have it - 20 books that we are super excited for this coming year! Special shoutout to a book we *think* is coming out this year, but we haven't gotten confirmation yet.

2019 In Review

With the new year bringing new reading, we thought we would give you a little bit of a review of 2019. Let's start with Jay -- 

Favorite Book of 2019: Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline

Short Synopsis: Twenty years ago, a group of friends got together to play what they thought was a harmless prank. But what really happens will guilt and shame them the rest of their lives. Everyone has their own version of events of what happens but only one person really knows the truth. 

Why I loved it: Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors. She captures all the different characters’ thoughts and emotions so beautifully in this story. Unlike a lot of other mystery/thriller type books, I definitely did NOT see the twist coming at the end. Hands down, my favorite book of 2019. 

5 Star Reads of 2019:

The Marriage Lie - Kimberly Belle

Nine Perfect Strangers - Liane Moriarty

On the Come Up - Angie Thomas

The Weight of a Thousand Feathers - Brian Conaghan

Internment - Samira Ahmed

In High Cotton - Denise Grover Swank

Secrets - Aleatha Romig

Miracle Creek - Angie Kim

Keep Quiet - Lisa Scottoline

Come Rain or Shine - Denise Grover Swank

Other Words for Home - Jasmine Warga

F*ck Marriage - Tarryn Fisher

For Better and Worse - Margot Hunt

Dirty Money - Denise Grover Swank

The Kiss Quotient - Helen Hoang

The Rest of the Story - Sarah Dessen

Chosen - Denise Grover Swank

An Anonymous Girl - Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

The Escape Room - Megan Goldin

Hunted - Denise Grover Swank

Deadly Summer - Denise Grover Swank

Sacrifice - Denise Grover Swank

Blazing Summer - Denise Grover Swank

Past Perfect Life - Elizabeth Eulberg

Redemption - Denise Grover Swank

How to Walk Away - Katherine Center

Magnolia Steele Box Set - Denise Grover Swank

The Bride Test - Helen Hoang

Someone Knows - Lisa Scottoline

A Cry in the Dark - Denise Grover Swank

Things You Save in a Fire - Katherine Center

The Curse Keepers - Denise Grover Swank

The Chain - Adrian McKinty

Most Wanted - Lisa Scottoline

Regretting You - Colleen Hoover

Furiously Happy - Jenny Lawson

DNF’d in 2019: 

Where’d You Go Bernadette - Maria Semple (I do want to revisit this book in the future.)

Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan

Least Favorite Book of 2019: American Sniper - Chris Kyle

Short Synopsis: This book was the autobiography of Chris Kyle, one of America’s most famous snipers in the army. It’s his autobiography of his time in the military.
Why we did not love it: Honestly, part of the reason I didn’t love it was just the military stuff. I definitely don’t have anything against the military, but I just don’t really understand a lot of what he was talking about. I don’t have a connection with anyone who’s been part of the military so any technical terms were lost on me. The same goes for every time he was talking about what gun he was using, etc. I just don’t get it. 

2019 Goal: 100 books

Total books read in 2019: 108 books

Challenges completed in 2019:

Book Challenge by Erin 10.0

Book Challenge by Erin 11.0 (Started, not completed)

Next up, Meg's thoughts...

Favorite Book of 2019: Regretting You

Short Synopsis: Colleen Hoover comes through yet again with a poignant novel about family, first love, grief, and betrayal that will touch the hearts of both mothers and daughters.

Why I loved it: Two words. Colleen Hoover.  Okay, I suppose I should give you a few more than two.  CoHo writes books that I LOVE but don’t necessarily know why.  This book hit me hard, but in a different way than It Ends With Us hit me.  I totally shipped Miller and Clara, but would have liked to see Jenny and Chris have to atone for their actions. I enjoyed the balance that CoHo was able to achieve with Morgan, there was a great mix of a wife scorned, a teenage love that wasn’t able to be brought to fruition until 20 years later and a mother who had to help her daughter navigate it all.  Mothers and daughters alike will love this book. 

5 Star Reads of 2019:

The Terminal List - Jack Carr

Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult

Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

Becoming - Michelle Obama

Too Late - Colleen Hoover

Breakthrough - Joyce Smith

Dump & Chase - Toni Aleo

Thirty and a Half Excuses - Denise Grover Swank

Thirty-One and a Half Regrets - Denise Grover Swank

Thirty-Two and a Half Complications - Denise Grover Swank

Thirty-Five and a Half Conspiracies - Denise Grover Swank

The Rest of the Story - Sarah Dessen

I Can Be a Better You - Tarryn Fisher

Sins of the Father - Denise Grover Swank

Love at First Sight - Kelly Elliott

Family Jewels - Denise Grover Swank 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone - J. K. Rowling

Chasing You - Kelly Elliott

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - Ree Drummond

Regretting You - Colleen Hoover

Trailer Trash by Denise Grover Swank

The Driven Series Boxed Set by K. Bromberg

DNF’d in 2019: Little Women. 

Least Favorite Book: Eat. Pray. Love. 

Short Synopsis: One woman has an early mid-life crisis and decides to go on a three country months long sabbatical vacation, through Rome, India and Bali.
Why I did not love it: This book was so hyped for SO long and I’ve had it on my TBR list for SO long that I was hoping for more.  It just fell flat for me.  

2019 Goal: 100 books

Total books read in 2019: 87 books

Challenges completed in 2019:
Attempted both of Erin’s challenges, but did not complete

Attempted the Unread Shelf Project
Completed the 2019 Book Hoarders Reading Challenge.