YEAR AT A GLANCE 2020

2020: YEAR AT A GLANCE

As 2020 comes to a close, I look back at what worked for me and what didn't last year. I read the most books that I've ever read in a year (at least since tracking) but I feel like the quality has gone down and I have less A reads than ever.

My 2020 Top 10 Countdown

10. ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware - 4 stars (B)
9. THE LAST FLIGHT by Julie Clark - 4 stars (B)
8. THE SUN DOWN MOTEL by Simone St.James (B)
7. HOME BEFORE DARK by Riley Sager - 4 stars (B)
6. ATHENA'S CHOICE by Adam Boostrom - 4 stars (B+)
5. HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi - 4 Stars (B+)
4. THE TESTAMENT'S by Margaret Atwood - 4 stars (B+)
3. THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Alexis Henderson - 4 Stars (A-)
2. The Shining by Stephen King - 5 Stars (A)

... And my FAVORITE book of 2020 was ....

1. The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup - 5 stars (A+)

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR !

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE by Jeneva Rose

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book on Audio from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

I love twists and turns but I also love likeable characters in a book. I didn't really like any of the characters in this story- and maybe that was by design, but I need that in order to love a book, I need someone to root for. Adam was sex crazed and immature (Mama's boy) and hearing his inner thoughts was frustrating - he deserves everything that he is getting in my opinion. I also am not a huge fan of the F word for the sake of using the F word... when other words will do.

What I did really like about this book were what I would consider a well deserved ending and the different Points of View in the book.

I will read more by Jeneva Rose.

#DreamscapeMedia #NetGalley

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LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by Rumaan Alam

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book.... This very very frustrating book - where do we go from here.

This book has helped me understand that I need a book with a plot. I know there are people who LOVE character stories and I don't want to take this book away from them, but this did not work for me. The beginning of the book took off in the wrong way for me with the use of words that I had to look up in the dictionary. I can appreciate when an author has a wide vocabulary but I felt this one was going a bit overboard. Once I got used to that, I was able to really get into the story and turn after turn I kept waiting for something real to happen - and for the most part - nothing happened. A few strange things occurred that were never explained but for the most part not much even happened to be explained. I read some reviews and thought i would be ok with an Open Ending - but this was more than that. I know that many people loved this book but it reminded me of M. Night Shamalan's THE HAPPENING (i didn't love that either) but at least in the end something happened.

I needed much more from this book and it just didn't deliver. This book has made me take stock in the choices I make next year, this book just wasn't worth all the hype to me. I was so looking forward to reading it and was very disappointed.

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THE RESIDENCE by Andrew Pyper

The Residence by Andrew Pyper
My GoodReads rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an Advanced Readers Copy e-book from Net Galley for a fair and honest review.

I really get upset when I get an ARC and I don't like a book. I am sad to say that I did not enjoy this book much. The Premise of a white house haunting based on some true historical facts made me excited to jump in but it didn't hold my attention very long There were a few creepy, haunting moments that made me hold on. But in the end I just couldn't hold my attention and I kept thinking about what I could be reading. I didn't care much for the characters in the story either - which I think makes a big difference. I love the elements of true story in here, but the horror/haunting pieces didn't work for me.

I see so many good reviews for this book and I'm glad that those folks found this book. Not every book is for everyone - is something that I feel like I'm saying a lot these days... on to the next.

#NetGalley #TheResidence

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THE CUCKOO'S CRY by Caroline Overington

The Cuckoo's Cry by Caroline Overington
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: C, Average

Interesting take on "What would you do if a long lost or unknown family members come into your life during the COVID pandemic?" Would you let them in? Would you share your space if they had no where else to go? Would you question their motives?

It's super short listen and I didn't dislike the story but it was just Average, as the story goes.

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AGENT 355 by Marie Benedict

Agent 355 by Marie Benedict
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: C+, Above Average

I enjoyed the main character in this one and the link to historical truths. I think this would have made a really good full size novel. The main character was well written, she was strong and independent and I wanted more details. It was a nice short Audible Original that I wanted more of when it ended. I will check out some of the authors other reads. I also very much enjoyed the Narrator (Emily Rankin).

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ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Fredrik Backman

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: C+, Above Average

I know many people ADORED this book, I was not one of those people. My first impression of this book was that the title was appropriate because reading the book was making me feel anxious. I couldn't get where Backman was going with the story and right when I wanted to know more about a character - he switched gears to a character or story line that I didn't care about. I enjoyed Zara's character very much and would read another book with her as the main character. But the rest of the book, I just didn't get. I wanted to love this book - I loved A MAN CALLED OVE. This one fell a bit flat for me, but my book club loved it... so there is truly something for everyone.

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THE NESTING by C.J. Cooke

The Nesting by C.J. Cooke
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 4/10 (C)

I recieved this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

This book took off to a very good start, it had all the right makings of a Psychological Thriller but in the end it took a turn into more of a Gothic Thriller and just didn't land where I was looking to go.

Lexi's character was sufficiently flawed and there were some good creepy elements, which i love. The author is a great writer and you really felt that gothic atmosphere feeling in the writing but pulling it together in the end - fell short for me.

I do think I would try another by C.J. Cooke.

#TheNesting #NetGalley

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KNOW MY NAME by Chanel Miller

Know My Name by Chanel Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: C, Average

My view of this book is not a popular one. I wanted to give my self some time to sit with it and see if my feelings have changed. While I do believe that Chanel Miller should absolutely be able to tell her story, and what happened to her is tragic and should happen to no one. I didn't feel that the quality of the story/writing or the inspirational value of the book itself was a 5 star experience. I felt it to be repetitive and not as inspirational as I had read in so many reviews. I also understand that this could be a generational thing, I know that many millenials found this to be very inspirational.

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THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E.Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
My GoodReads rating: 3 of 5 stars
(rounded down from 3.5)
My Personal rating: 7/10 (B) Enjoyable

I picked this up as a buddy read with a friend and had VERY high expectations. I had just come off of reading THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Alexis Henderson (if you haven't read it - you should!). I really did want more of the same eerie feeling from this book that was in THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING but it wasn't there. This book was definitely more contemporary, which is fine and it was a very good book - if maybe just a bit predictable in the end.

I do see what all the hype is about. I love the imagination of this story and the way it was written. It just fell a little short in what I needed in the moment - by no fault of the author. All in all - i enjoyed the story and will look to read more by V.E. Schwab. Nicely Done.

Can't wait to discuss with it with my buddy.

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NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER by Kevin Barry

Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars

My Personal rating: 4/10 C (Average)

I had no real preconceived ideas about this book when I started it. This book was chosen by my work book club and although I knew it was more of a character study, which is not my go to, I didn't know much else going in. The first 100 pages were very hard for me to read. The writing style is very different than anything i'd ever read before. There are no quotations to let you know when someone is speaking versus simply thinking or acting. I later learned that this was intentional and that it was meant to be read more like a poem. After the 100 pages though, i did start to get into the groove and was geniunely curious about the characters.

I don't want to give away the ending so I will just say that this book wasn't written for me - and that's ok. I don't regret reading it - i definitely appreciated pieces of this story and seeing another writing style but I don't think I will be picking up another book by Kevin Barry. It's just not for everyone, and it's not for me. I see how much people loved this writing style, but I'm just more of a plot driven reader. Not every book needs to be for everyone.

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THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Alexis Henderson

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
My goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 8/10 (B+) GREAT!

This was the book that was exactly what I needed just at the right time. I love spooky reads and I love October spooky feelings and this one just hit it right where I needed it to. Although it may be technically YA - I would not hold it against this book.

Immanuelle was a strong independent female character who held the story completely on her own. I would love to see a map of Bethel because the author described it so vividly that I felt I could see it for myself and would love a comparison. This was a really well done book with great character development and a good amount of spookiness and witchcraft.

I hope that this becomes a series because I would immediately pick it up to see the future of Immauelle and Bethel.

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THE TESTAMENTS by Margaret Atwood (THE HANDMAID'S TALE, #2)

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
My Goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 8/10 (B+) Great

Ahhh -this book was EVERYTHING that I wanted THE HANDMAID's TALE to be and more. Everything that I felt was missing in THE HANDMAID'S TALE was represented in this book - so thank you Margaret Atwood! So glad I ready THE HANDMAID'S TALE after THE TESTAMENTS came out so I didn't have to wait so long as others did to have this book in my hands. There were moments where I thought I might not want to ready this book, because of I didn't want more of the same. But I am so very happy that my friend and I chose this as our buddy read for October.

So many questions were answered and so much was information was provided in the background that I feel content now. I honestly could have used this being broken into two books - One the Background and one the future state of Gilead... But I will not complain about what we were given as a gift in this story.

I was not a fan of the ending, the wrap-up, but it did not ruin the story for me one bit. Very Enjoyables.

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ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware

One by One by Ruth Ware
My GoodReads rating: 4 of 5 stars
(Rounded up from 3.5)
My Personal Rating: 7/10 (B) Enjoyable

This is my first book by Ruth Ware and I'll be sure to read more by her in the coming days/years. I definitely see the inspiration from Agatha Christie in this book. I enjoyed every page of this book (well maybe until the end). It is VERY hard to write about this book without spoilers. Let's just say that I was disappointed in the resolution or the "Whodunnit" but enjoyed ever second of the ride - so it still gets a very high rating for me. Sometimes it can be about the journey instead of the destination and this is one of those books. I kept track of each clue in a notebook and kept track of my guesses and just really enjoyed the reading experience of this book.

I will pick of more of Ware's Books.

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ATHENA'S CHOICE by Adam Boostrom

Athena's Choice by Adam Boostrom
My Goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 8/10 Great!

I received an ARC on audio from NetGalley to provide an honest review.

What would the world look like 50 years in the future after a virus wiped out all of the men on earth? Pretty darn awesome. This was such an enjoyable and super fun read - I loved every minute of this book. I do think it would be better reading than listening but I was fully engaged and had no issues stretching my imagination to fit in this dystopian world that Athena lives in. I would love to continue books in this world and learn more about the how the past 50 years developed and what happens next as time goes on. Lots of great imagination in this one and a suprise that a world full of women was written so well by a man.

I will look forward to reading more from Adam Boostrom - Please do so soon Adam!

#NetGalley, #AthenasChoice View all my reviews

IN THE QUICK by Kate Hope Day

In the Quick by Kate Hope Day
My Goodreads Rating: 1 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: 2/10 (D)... Disappointing.

I received this book as an Advance Readers Copy for an honest review.

This storyline had me so intrigued from the start. Written with an alternate future - a brilliant and troubled young girl enters an astronaut training program in the hopes of one day becoming an Astraunat. She is haunted by an event that happens when she is twelve years old.

I wanted to love this book - I dove right in with hope and excitement but June got the best of me. She was not a likeable character at all. She was a very difficult girl who followed no rules but her own - there are rule breakers and rebels, but she was beyond belief in her ability to just do whatever she wanted to do with minimum consequence. The book required the reader to suspend more belief than I was confortable or able to do. I love books that stretch our minds with alternative futures and ideas, but this was too much for me.

I hate writing bad reviews because I know the author put time and effort into this story and I can appreciate what Kate Hope Day is trying to do here because it's a great premise. I wanted more excitement in space re: Saving Inquiry and less of June's troubles.

I am not clear if this is YA or not - it read very much like a YA book but there was at least one sex scene that to me was not YA considerate (or maybe I am prudish!).

#NetGalley #InTheQuick

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The Switch by Beth O'Leary

The Switch by Beth O'Leary
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars
Personal rating: 4/10 - C (Average)

I received this Advanced Readers Copy on audio for a fair and honest review.

Eileen Cotton and her namesake granddaughter Leena have decided to switch lives for a short period. Eileen has always wanted to experience London but gave it up to raise a family and Leena is on a much needed forced break from work, so has decided to go back to her home town.

In this swap, they both learn much about their own selves lives and the lives of those around them that they would have otherwise taken for granted.

This was a cute story of a grandmother living out dreams of living uninhibited and a young woman finding her happiness and it often reminded me of a Hallmark Movie, which I do enjoy. But these characters and their stories just didn't pull me in, they fell a little flat for me. It was a nice break from my normal, heavier, type reads so I don't regret reading it. However, I won't be pressing this one into anyone's hands. #NetGalley #TheSwitch

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HOME BEFORE DARK by Riley Sager

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
My goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars
My Personal rating: 3.5 Stars - 7/10 (B) ENJOYABLE

This is my introduction to Riley Sager as an Author. I had heard so many good things about his writing and they are all true. He is an excellent writer - What I will say is that I adored this book until the ending. The ending just fell flat for me. There were too many red herrings that just made things confusing and then truth was disappointing. It was just not what I was hoping for in an ending but can appreciate what this book had to offer. I thought it was eerie and spooky and held my interest, wanting to know more. The story gives the right amount of intertwining of the scenes out of the book in the story along with the current timeline. It was engaging and exciting to read and unveil.

I still very much enjoyed the ride and will definitely read more of Riley Sager.


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The Love Poems of Rumi: Translated by Nader Khalili

The Love Poems of Rumi: Translated by Nader Khalili by Rumi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Rumi ever since I was introduced to his work 6 years ago when I was planning my wedding. I was researching quotes and poems and came across Rumi's work over and over again, consistently wonderful quotes and poems. So when I saw this available as an ARC, i jumped at the chance to get my hands on it.

The pages themselves are simply beautiful and are worthy of being framed. It is a gorgeous book - however, the poems were not what I was expecting of Rumi's work as I know it. I know not every work a Poet writes is going to be for everyone - so there is probably something in here for everyone.

My favorite of this group of poems is "If you seek eternity". I still adore Rumi - this book doesn't change that.


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Malorie by Josh Malerman

Malorie by Josh Malerman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

6/10 (B-) Good

I wanted the same creepy and exciting feelings I had during Bird Box to be present here, and they just weren’t there. I enjoyed the continued story and learning about Malorie, it was unique and held my interest but BiRD BOX was so much better. There was only one moment in the story where I felt creeps - this is what I want from a horror novel throughout.

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