You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

  • Twitter summary: Naomi and Nicholas, engaged to be married in three months, are at odds and find a way to fall back in love.
  • The good: This book is exactly what I needed after the last book I read! Hogle delivers a fresh narrative on the usual chick-lit dramatics. Chapter 16 was perfect — tears (me) were even shed. I loved how Naomi and Nicholas slowly opened up to one another and became achingly vulnerable. My heart was bursting with love for this couple. This is not from Chapter 16 but is still pretty perfect:
    • “I tried to keep him at a safe distance where he could only see the decent parts of me and it made us both miserable. I inadvertently let him in to see the ugly parts but instead of running away like I’d counted on him to do, he wrapped his arms around all of that ugliness and didn’t let go.” — Chapter 17
  • The bad: Deborah, no further comment.
  • Favourite character: Naomi — I felt her vulnerability. I felt her fall in love again all while understanding herself better.
  • Recommendation: Yes, please fall in love all over again.
  • Overall rating: 5/5 falling-in-love-with-your-fiance opportunities
  • Goodreads link

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

  • Twitter summary: Clary, the teenaged girl, continues acting like a child while venturing to Idris against Jace’s wishes.
  • The good: I truly struggled to finish reading this book. I got to chapter 8 and that’s when I rapidly lost interest. Let me move onto the next point because I didn’t enjoy anything about the book. Too much irrelevant and annoying teenage angst.
  • The bad: Clary.
    • Exhibit A: “Of course you didn’t know. You don’t know anything about Idris. You were just upset about being left behind, like a child, and you had a tantrum. And now we’re here.” — Luke (Chapter 2)
    • Exhibit B: “Go ahead and do whatever you want, regardless of who it hurts. You always do anyway, don’t you?” — Isabelle (Chapter 5)
    • Exhibit C: Even Amatis, who basically meets Clary the day before, is done with her (Chapter 6)
  • Favourite character of the book: Max insert sad face emoji here
  • Recommendation: No and I will not be finishing the Mortal Instruments series.
  • Overall rating: 1/5 childish teens
  • Goodreads link

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

  • Twitter summary: While babysitting Briar, Emira is unjustly questioned by the store security guard about her relationship with Briar. A bystander films the encounter and the video threatens Briar’s family.
  • The good: I truly believe that the people you choose to spend your time with (i.e., friends) are family, no doubt that Emira’s friends have her back.
  • The bad: I am not a fan of Mrs. Chamberlain / Alix / Alex — and I know she has a significant role to play — but seriously, that’s how the video was leaked?! I kept wondering how the book was going to end but easy cop out to an initially fascinating plot.
  • Favourite character: Briar! I love this adorable toddler, her emotions (cue the sad face when Briar knew how her mom was treating her!) and personality.
  • Recommendation: Sure, easy read with some substance.
  • Overall rating: 3/5 babysitting nightmares
  • Goodreads link

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

  • Twitter summary: “I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus of Nazareth. I am a voice.”
  • The good: I am surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Set in a time when women are basically measured in worth as property, Sue Monk Kidd writes the story of Ana — the fictional wife of Jesus. The plot transcends religion and is truly the voice of a woman following her path to who she is and meant to be as a person.
  • The bad: I am not well versed in the Bible but I was hoping for an alternative ending for Judas.
  • Favourite character: Not even a competition, Ana. She is the voice of this book and story. She is strong and is not afraid to think beyond each current situation.
  • Recommendation: Yes
  • Overall rating: 4/5 incantation bowls
  • Goodreads link

In the FLO by Alisa Vitti

  • Twitter summary: Vitti introduces the Cycle Syncing Method, a biohacking program for women to reclaim and optimize all aspects of their life.
  • The good: Ever heard of the infradian rhythm? In addition to the 24-hour circadian rhythm, women have a second biological rhythm which generally lasts 28 days. I learned so much more than how my reproductive system works (hello, hormones and your impact on my nervous, immune and metabolic systems and stress response!) and I am constantly pinching myself that it has taken this long for me to appreciate what my wonderful body is capable of. Vitti carefully balanced scientific studies, summary charts and her own narrative to deliver a must-read book for all.
  • The bad: Practically speaking (which Vitti does acknowledge throughout the book), the Cycle Syncing Method is not a quick fix / do one act and ta-da, all is well. It is a life long practice and fairly so. I want to be able to apply all of Vitti’s recommendations but I’ll listen and follow what my body and intuition are telling me.
  • Favourite aspect of the book: The quotes — woman oh woman – each part and chapter of the book started with a powerful and thought-provoking quote. I highly recommend readers to reflect/journal/discuss each quote.
  • Recommendation: Yes, women, men and all need to read and learn.
  • Overall rating: 5/5 optimized cycles
  • Goodreads link

We Are Never Meeting In Real Life by Samantha Irby

  • Twitter summary: The comedic life experience essays of Samantha Irby
  • The good: Irby is refreshingly honest about her past and experiences while openly writing (speaking) her mind. All the power to you, girl!
  • The bad: I did not enjoy reading the essays but I think I would prefer listening to them via an audiobook. I felt as though I was missing the true essence of Irby’s emotions since the writing style is informal/conversational.
  • Favourite essays:
    • My bachelorette application — nicely summarizes my thoughts about the Bachelor and the Bachelorette TV shows
    • A case for remaining indoors — because I, too, prefer cooler temperatures except for 2 weeks of the year that I want to be on a beach
    • I’m in love and it’s boring — who says love has to be dramatic and all-consuming?
  • Recommendation: Listen to the audiobook if it is read by the author.
  • Overall rating: 2/5 Helen Keller cats
  • Goodreads link

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

  • Twitter summary: The every day musings of Olive, a woman in her later years of life, living in a small town in Maine.
  • The good: I did not read the first book* so I was introduced to Olive right from the get go with no background context. Each chapter has its own plot line that somehow intersects with Olive and highlights a realistic look into every day small town life. I struggled to understand Olive as I found her perspective obtuse and snobbish (her second husband also thought the same so all is well!). It wasn’t until the very end, the last chapter, that my heart felt for her and understood that we are all trying to figure out what is life and its meaning.
  • The bad: I did not care for some of the chapters.
  • Favourite character: Olive – now I find her lass obtuse and snobbish, it’s just who she is and she is unapologetic about it. Take it or leave it.
  • Recommendation: Only if you read to the end.
  • Overall rating: 3/5 small towns
  • Goodreads link

*I did not think it is essential to read the first book but now I might.

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

  • Twitter summary: BRB while I give myself the opportunity to sleep for 8 hours every single night.
  • The good: I’ve been on a brain kick lately as I want to improve my brain health and train my brain (click here for the review on Stress Less, Accomplish More by Emily Fletcher, creator of Ziva Meditation). I exercise to improve my body so why shouldn’t I improve my brain and mental capabilities? Factor in my fascination with dreams (more often than not, I can’t remember them) and my love for sleep, this book is right up my alley and it needs to be on yours too! Walker balances scientific fact and layman language wonderfully to detail what is sleep, how we sleep, why we sleep and how to sleep.
  • The bad The opportunity: I humbly say that I sleep relatively well and for about 7.5 hours a night but I still hope to improve my quality of sleep.
  • Favourite aspect of the book: Even though I recommend you read this book, here is a sneak peak that summarizes Walker’s ultimate goal, an excerpt from the Conclusion:
    • “This silent sleep loss epidemic is the greatest public health challenge we face in the twenty-first century in developed nations. If we wish to avoid the suffocating noose of sleep neglect, the premature death it inflicts and the sickening health it invites, a radical shift in our personal, cultural, professional and societal appreciation of sleep must occur.”
  • Recommendation: YES — everyone needs to read this book because we all need sleep! I am definitely going to reread again.
  • Overall rating: 5/5 deep and dream-filled sleeps
  • Goodreads link

Conviction by Denise Mina

  • Twitter summary: Anna’s life is turned upside down and thus, begins her obsession (or conviction, I should say) to solve the true crime podcast with a mysterious link to her past.
  • The good: I liked the storytelling of the podcast but unfortunately, not much else.
  • The bad: I’ll be brutally honest and say that I did not truly understand or enjoy this book. I didn’t trust Anna’s narrative and had a difficult time connecting with the plot lines.
  • Favourite character: Coin toss between Anna and Fin because I ultimately don’t have a preference.
  • Recommendation: No
  • Overall rating: 1/5 true crime podcasts
  • Goodreads link

Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli

  • Twitter summary: Anu has a quarter life crisis and wishes to discover that she’s more than just a mom and a wife.
  • The good: Imogen’s anger when telling Anu to wake up.
  • The bad: I kept waiting for the punch line, the big ah-ha moment, but it never came. The book was unfortunately predictable and I wasn’t able to connect with any of the characters…
  • Favourite character: I was disappointed that I did not have a care for what happened to Anu. I kept expecting more from her choices and experiences. I did not have a favourite character while reading this book – maybe it is Jenny, who kept having funny dating situations.
  • Recommendation: This book was not for me.
  • Overall rating: 1/5 yoga poses
  • Goodreads link