👶👶👶👶👶: Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus

Although I'd heard SO MUCH about this book published last year, and I knew it got all the accolades, it still took me FOREVER to get to! When I finally got around to reading it, I just couldn't put it down!

It was 100% buzzworthy! What a fabulous book with amazing characters and the sweetest story. How I adored Elizabeth and Calvin's love story. How I relished their view of the world.

It was also completely unpredictable, which always makes for an excellent read! As I heard many a time, pick this one up, it is so worth your time. And the AppleTV series is excellent as well, even though the storyline was changed around a bit🤷🏻‍♀️.

Read 10/30/23

👶👶: Distant Shores, by Kristin Hannah

Is this really a book by Kristin Hannah, one of my favorite authors of all time? I am just baffled. The novel was frustrating, the characters underdeveloped and oh so clichéd, and the storyline wholly predictable and elementary at best.

I know, super harsh, right? Honestly, if it had been her debut novel, or even one of her earliest novels, I could understand, but she had begun writing novels 11 years prior to this one. Clearly, it took a long time to hone her craft.

I will admit, one of my least favorite topics in a novel is infidelity, and my second least favorite is ingratitude. So, I'm certain that had a lot to do with my assessment of this novel, as it was laden with both. But honestly, there were few redemptive elements to this story, even aside from those personal hot-button topics.

So if, like me, Kristin Hannah is an auto-buy author for you, I'd definitely recommend you skip this one!

Read 10/30/22