“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis
Author: Neide
Hi there, I’m Neide!
I spend way too much time on Youtube, I dance my little heart out way too often and, of course, I like to read really cool books. I read mostly YA, romances, non-fiction and thrillers. Also, I’m a professional cat lover and a Slytherin by heart.
Feel free to follow me on Goodreads. Let’s be book buddies!
“I take pride in playing immigrant characters. I’ve come across people who had a negative opinion about playing Asian characters that have an accent. I’ve even met Asian actors who won’t audition for a role that has an Asian accent. They believe these accented characters reinforce the stereotype of an Asian being the constant foreigner. Frankly, I can’t relate. I was an immigrant. And no matter how Americanized I become, no matter how much Jay-Z I listen to, I’ll always be an immigrant. Just because I don’t speak English with an accent anymore doesn’t mean that I’m better than the people who do. My job as an actor is not to judge anyone and to portray a character with humanity. There are real people with real Asian accents in the real world. I used to be one of them. And I’m damn proud of it.” – 4/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: music production, acting gigs, stand up comedy, college days, new friends, a new language and new opportunities.
Standup comic, actor and fan favorite from HBO’s Silicon Valley and the film Crazy Rich Asians shares his memoir of growing up as a Chinese immigrant in California and making it in Hollywood.
“I turned down a job in finance to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. My dad thought I was crazy. But I figured it was better to disappoint my parents for a few years than to disappoint myself for the rest of my life. I had to disappoint them in order to pursue what I loved. That was the only way to have my Chinese turnip cake and eat an American apple pie too.”
Jimmy O. Yang is a standup comedian, film and TV actor and fan favorite as the character Jian Yang from the popular HBO series Silicon Valley. In How to American, he shares his story of growing up as a Chinese immigrant who pursued a Hollywood career against the wishes of his parents: Yang arrived in Los Angeles from Hong Kong at age 13, learned English by watching BET RapCity for three hours a day, and worked as a strip club DJ while pursuing his comedy career. He chronicles a near deportation episode during a college trip Tijuana to finally becoming a proud US citizen ten years later. Featuring those and many other hilarious stories, while sharing some hard-earned lessons, How to American mocks stereotypes while offering tongue in cheek advice on pursuing the American dreams of fame, fortune, and strippers.
This was surprisingly nice! I went into this book blindly since I haven’t watched “Silicon Valley” and I wasn’t familiar with Jimmy O. Yang and his work as a comedian/actor, so I went into this book without knowing anything about the author. And now I’m glad to say I’ve become a fan!
Jimmy is a very funny and positive guy, and it shows throughout the book. I listened to this as an audiobook and he was the one narrating it, and I just laughed the entire time! I promise, you will have a great time reading this.
What I liked so much about this book was how he shared his struggles as an immigrant from China to the USA. It was not easy for him to fit in and constantly being mocked for his accent and not understanding English, and yet, he was able to overcome his struggles and became very successful as an actor and comedian.
And I really liked the ending of the book! It was the cherry on top.
I was very inspired not only by his story but also for his positive attitude towards life. It’s an inspiring and funny book that I will always recommend to others!
Do you enjoy reading celebrity books? Personally I’m a little skeptical when it comes to picking up books like these. I know most of them have people helping them write their stories, but I still keep my expectations low when I decide to pick them. I think it’s because most of the time I’m left disappointed… but other times I’m impressed.
I really like reading about other people’s lives because there is so much we can learn from each other. People can be very inspiring when they tell their own stories and send a message with their words. And that is why today I’m bringing you five recommendations of memoirs from famous people that I actually enjoyed and took something from.
So let’s get into these book recommendations! Here are some of my favorites and why I loved them so much:
1. Becoming by Michelle Obama
Starting out strong with Becoming by Michelle Obama! I read this a few years ago and I was a big fan of the book.
It doesn’t matter what your political views are – this is not a political book. It’s a book about a woman, her childhood, her education, her family, growing up and helping others – becoming. I respect Michelle Obama very much! This is a very honest and inspirational biography in my opinion. I listened to the audiobook version and I’m glad Michelle is the narrator of her own story!
Not gonna lie, I was a little intimidated by how bulky the book is. But I still decided to read it and I’m very glad I did. Don’t be intimidated by the book’s size, it’s definitely worth checking out!
Synopsis:
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
2. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Another book I picked randomly but ended up loving was “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah. Just like what happened with Jimmy O. Yang’s book (you’ll see below), I didn’t know a lot about Trevor so I also went blindly into his book.
What made me really like this book was what he shared about his youth in South Africa and his mother. The experiences he had while growing up were very interesting and I learned a lot about appartheids and what is like living in South Africa. Also, his mom is a badass, but you definitely need to read it to know what I’m talking about!
I also highly recommend the audiobook version.Trevor is the narrator and he added a very personal touch to the story. Definitely worth your time!
Synopsis:
The memoir of one man’s coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
3. Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey
The reason why I decided to pick up this book was a weird one. I was never a big fan of Mariah Carey (for different reasons), but my mother is a huge fan of hers. So when I saw she had a memoir I decided to read it, just to understand her life a little better. It’s funny to see how it became one of my favorite memoirs I’ve read!
She had a rough upbringing and she had a very hard time dealing with racism. Her relationship with her family was very bad and to top it all off: she was in an abusive and manipulative marriage. Needless to say that she went through a lot!
I wouldn’t say her story is the most inspiring story ever, but I really liked to read about her life experiences and it made me understand her better. I would say to give this one a try!
Synopsis:
It took me a lifetime to have the courage and the clarity to write my memoir. I want to tell the story of the moments – the ups and downs, the triumphs and traumas, the debacles and the dreams, that contributed to the person I am today. Though there have been countless stories about me throughout my career and very public personal life, it’s been impossible to communicate the complexities and depths of my experience in any single magazine article or a ten-minute television interview. And even then, my words were filtered through someone else’s lens, largely satisfying someone else’s assignment to define me.
This book is composed of my memories, my mishaps, my struggles, my survival and my songs. Unfiltered. I went deep into my childhood and gave the scared little girl inside of me a big voice. I let the abandoned and ambitious adolescent have her say, and the betrayed and triumphant woman I became tell her side.
Writing this memoir was incredibly hard, humbling and healing. My sincere hope is that you are moved to a new understanding, not only about me, but also about the resilience of the human spirit.
Love, Mariah
4. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
This was a very pleasant surprise as well, and one I would definitely recommend to other memoir lovers! It’s one of the best books I’ve read in 2022 – so that’s saying a lot! Like everyone else who came across this book, I was hooked by the title. “I’m Glad My Mom Died”? That sounds very scandalous… and intriguing!This is Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, and trust me: it’s a good one. I watched iCarly occasionally (not religiously), so I was already familiar with Jennette’s work as an actress, but I would have never in a million years guessed what was behind her success. This is a very personal memoir, but mostly – it’s an important one. This is just a real life example of what so many child actors go through growing up. They frequently are abused and exploited by parents and people in the business, and they’re scarred for life – just like Jennette was. I highly recommend this, it’s a very impactful and tough book to read.
Synopsis:
A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.
Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.
In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.
Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.
5. How to American by Jimmy O. Yang
This was my most recent memoir read and it was very surprising. I haven’t watched “Silicon Valley” and I wasn’t familiar with Jimmy O. Yang and his work as a comedian/actor, so I went into this book without knowing anything about the author. And now I’m glad to say I’ve become a fan!
What I liked so much about this book was how he shared his struggles as an immigrant from China to the USA. It was not easy for him to fit in and constantly being mocked for his accent and not understanding English, and yet, he was able to overcome his struggles and became very successful as an actor and comedian.
I was very inspired not only by his story but also for his positive attitude towards life. It’s an inspiring book that I will always recommend to others. Oh, and the best part? He’s very funny and has great comedic timing!
Synopsis:
Standup comic, actor and fan favorite from HBO’s Silicon Valley and the film Crazy Rich Asians shares his memoir of growing up as a Chinese immigrant in California and making it in Hollywood.
“I turned down a job in finance to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. My dad thought I was crazy. But I figured it was better to disappoint my parents for a few years than to disappoint myself for the rest of my life. I had to disappoint them in order to pursue what I loved. That was the only way to have my Chinese turnip cake and eat an American apple pie too.”
Jimmy O. Yang is a standup comedian, film and TV actor and fan favorite as the character Jian Yang from the popular HBO series Silicon Valley. In How to American, he shares his story of growing up as a Chinese immigrant who pursued a Hollywood career against the wishes of his parents: Yang arrived in Los Angeles from Hong Kong at age 13, learned English by watching BET RapCity for three hours a day, and worked as a strip club DJ while pursuing his comedy career. He chronicles a near deportation episode during a college trip Tijuana to finally becoming a proud US citizen ten years later. Featuring those and many other hilarious stories, while sharing some hard-earned lessons, How to American mocks stereotypes while offering tongue in cheek advice on pursuing the American dreams of fame, fortune, and strippers.
And there you have it: five of my favorite memoirs of all time! I found every single one of these very inspirational and I always recommend them to every reader I know. Every celebrity featured in this post had (very different) struggles that they were able to overcome, and I think that’s why their books were so inspiring and impactful to me.
Let me know if you have read any of these and what were your thoughts on them. If you have any recs for me, let me know in the comments – I would appreciate it very much!
Once again, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope you liked what I had to share with you today. I’ll see you in the next one!
“Being with you is as good as being alone.” – 3.75/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: festivals, movie tickets, curious facts, heritages, quizzes, lost relatives and a lot of books.
The author of Other People’s Houses and The Garden of Small Beginnings delivers a quirky and charming novel chronicling the life of confirmed introvert Nina Hill as she does her best to fly under everyone’s radar.
Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own…shell.
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.
When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re all–or mostly all–excited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?
Nina considers her options. 1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.) 2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee). 3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)
It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
I enjoyed this a lot! I think the only thing I didn’t love about this book was the “perfect” ending. It’s not that it was bad, but it felt a little cliché the way things turned out so perfectly. Not that that’s out of the way, let me tell you all about what I loved!
The characters were sweet and quirky, and I loved their interactions. Nina was a likable character, but sometimes I was annoyed at how she kept pushing Tom away for the worst reasons. With that said, I understand her upbringing was very unique and she spent a lot of time alone, so I’ll give her that! I adored Tom and how sweet and supportive he was. He balanced Nina perfectly and their chemistry was cute. I also liked all the other characters, including the girls from the bookstore and Nina’s “new” family members. I even liked Lydia (well, mostly by the end of the story).
But by far, my favorite thing about this book was the writing and humor! It’s a very charming and wholesome book, and there are so many funny references and dialogs that will make you giggle. The start is a little slow, but once you get the hang of it, the book flows and you get into the story way easier.
I would recommend it for a fun read full of great characters and humor!
“…I’m your friend. And friends don’t let friends live small lives.” – 4.5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: missions, pies, memorable last work days, succotash, trains, corn mazes, a snack thief, fall food, an angry goat and a lot of pumpkins.
In Pumpkinheads, beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell and Eisner Award–winning artist Faith Erin Hicks have teamed up to create this tender and hilarious story about two irresistible teens discovering what it means to leave behind a place―and a person―with no regrets.
Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.
Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.
But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.
Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years…
What if their last shift was an adventure?
This was soooooo cute, I loved it! I wish I’d read this in the fall, it would be perfect.
The story is so incredibly cute and the friendship made me feel warm and fuzzy. I loved the whole “mission” thing where they seek Marcy while grabbing snacks along the way.
And can we talk about Marcy’s nicknames for a second? Vanessa Fudgens? Fudge Judy? I burst out laughing every time Deja gave her a different nickname.
The illustrations are by far the best thing about this book. The art is soooo beautiful and rich and atmospheric… The illustrator described the fall feeling perfectly with the colors and details.
And now I’m having pumpkin pie cravings… I wonder why.
“It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living.” – 4/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: clock time, pain, ego, overthinking, fear, love and the power of now.
To make the journey into the Now we will need to leave our analytical mind and its false created self, the ego, behind. From the very first page of Eckhart Tolle’s extraordinary book, we move rapidly into a significantly higher altitude where we breathe a lighter air. We become connected to the indestructible essence of our Being, “The eternal, ever present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death.” Although the journey is challenging, Eckhart Tolle uses simple language and an easy question-and-answer format to guide us.
A word-of-mouth phenomenon since its first publication, The Power of Now is one of those rare books with the power to create an experience in readers, one that can radically change their lives for the better.
So I finally read “The Power of Now”. Overall, my opinion of this book is positive, but I still a little conflicted with what I’ve read and I can’t fully accept the premise… but I’ll get to that in a second!
The book talks about how we should be living in the present and to not overthink, because when we do that we get stuck in the past and in the present. It’s important to focus on our emotions in the “Now” and accept what we are feeling, whether it’s pain or happiness. That way, we’ll finally be able to connect to our true essence – our “Being”.
It was a very interesting read! I believe this book has a very interesting point of view on the “Now”, overthinking and how pain controls our lives. It made me reflect on my own thoughts and how overthinking the past or the future is pushing me away from inner peace.
One thing I found interesting was what he said about how people try to have a relationship with themselves (by using phrases like “I want to love myself” or “I’m my own best friend”) instead of just being themselves. By using this internal dialogue we are separating ourselves into two different entities, when we should just be ourselves fully. That was a very interesting point of view!
Another point of view I found interesting was when the author talked about modern art. He says artists nowadays are not truly connected to their inner “Being”, and their art reflects that – it has no heart. To be honest that made a lot of sense to me! Obviously there are exceptions out there, but I feel the same way about most modern art.
So why didn’t I love this book? Even though I agree with most of what was shared by the author, I was sometimes confused and I didn’t agree fully with the teachings. I think the “problems” I had with this book were the inflexibility of the points of view and the attitude behind them. For example, the author says to live in the present at all times and that we should forget the past and the future fully. And when the questions are made, like “but I have to pay rent, how can I do that by living in the present?”, the author responds with the same sentences over and over again “just live in the present”. This didn’t sit very well with me. I wish these responses were more specific.
I understand the point is to not question what the main message is and just accept what is being said as it being the ultimate truth. And part of me couldn’t do that. It just feels unrealistic to constantly live in the now – I’m pretty sure not even monks can do that at all times. And sure, the past is in the past and the future is not here yet, but I believe it’s important to know where you came from and where you’re going. Thoughts can save us from a lot of trouble in my humble opinion! In the book he mentions this as well, but it is quickly brushed off.
The writing was okay considering how complex the topic is. I liked the answer/question format a lot, and I believe it helped a lot to get the messages across in a simpler way.
You can read this book if you’re not religious, but keep in mind that there are plenty of references to various religions. With that said, he only uses examples of teachings, the book is not religious in nature.
I liked the book, but I wasn’t super impressed. It is not a perfect book by any means, but I still took some interesting points of view from it.
“For the first time in my life, I actually felt like a princess. And it had nothing to do with the tiara. Or even the boy. It was all me.” – 4.75/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: homecoming court, chalices, baking, wasps, trust falls, cute dresses, practice time, Disney princesses, school dances, rom coms, SJM books and prom queens.
I know what you’re thinking.
You’re thinking this will be just one more story of the ignored, “big-boned ” girl, who sheds her glasses and a few extra pounds and finally attracts the notice of the most popular guy in school.
Except it isn’t. Because I’m not unpopular. Not all that ignored. And I love the way I look―just as I am.
Then someone puts my name in for Homecoming Court.
The bigger surprise?
People actually vote for me!
Now, I’m a “princess”―whether I like it or not―but the guy I’m paired with isn’t exactly Prince Charming.
Rhys Castle is the strong, silent type who always wears a frown―he’s certainly never smiled at me. I’m 99.9% sure he hates being on Court and being my partner, but surprisingly…he doesn’t switch when he gets the chance.
Turns out Rhys has a secret―something that makes him run hot and cold throughout the entire three weeks of Homecoming festivities. Whether he’s stepping on my feet during dance lessons or gallantly escorting me through the Homecoming parade, I can’t get a read on this guy, and for the first time, I find my confidence wavering.
But there’s more to Rhys than meets the eye. And the more the spotlight shines on me, I realize there’s more to me, too.
This book was super cute and sweet! Not gonna lie, this one is probably one of my favorites from Cookie O’Gorman. I think the main reason for that is our main character, Ariel! She is a really sweet girl who loves to bake and share with other people her baked goods. She was very surprised when she got nominated for homecoming court, because she feels like she doesn’t fit with the rest of the court for being a plus-size girl.
Enter the charming prince, Rhys. He is the school’s star quarterback and Ariel’s pair for homecoming court! At first he seems a little distant, mysterious and cold, but quickly his sweet personality shines through! I honestly loved seeing them together during the homecoming activities and how their romance developed day by day.
I can understand how this book may not be for everyone since it’s a “too perfect” kind of story, but I personally love reading books like these. Sometimes you just need a fluffy, cute story to boost your happiness levels!
I personally think this is a good, entertaining story about how everyone deserves love at every size. And not only that, but we should all strive for our own happiness and love ourselves.
I loved it so much, I actually read it in one day! Being a “big” girl myself, this book definitely hit different. Loved it and recommend it!
“I can treat this trip like an actual vacation on a tropical island. Yes, it’s with my nemesis, but still, I’ll take it.” – 3.75/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: cheese curds, a seafood buffet, “free” everything, airplane turbulence, a lucky penny, Skittle-bright-green dresses, trust, identical twins, mai tais, lasagna, great massages, scuba diving, tropical weather, cheating, mango tattoos, red bikinis, pharmaceutical companies, job hunting, very small bathrooms and bad luck.
Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.
Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.
Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of… lucky.
This was super fun and summery! I don’t usually read adult fiction and chick lists, but I really liked the main plot and the romance. Also, the cover is absolutely beautiful! My only complaint is that I wished this was a longer slow-burn romance. When I first picked this up I also thought this would be a steamy read, but it’s overall a clean book. Still, I’m a sucker for hate-to-love romances so this was definitely a treat. The book definitely slowed down on the romantic aspect when they came back from the fake honeymoon, but the authors did a great job keeping the story interesting with the secondary plot. Not the best romance I’ve ever read, but it was still a very good one. Without a doubt, this is a perfect summer book! Nothing says “Summer” like a trip to Hawaii. I highly recommend it for a beach read.
“Divorce is a terrible thing, but sometimes to stay married is even more terrible.” – 4/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: missing children, old photographs, new babies, manipulation and a strong maternal bond.
Read the chilling and completely heartwrenching story of a mother’s worst nightmare: her child being stolen—and what happens when he returns. Six years ago
Megan waits at the school gates for her six-year-old son, Daniel. As the playground empties, panic bubbles inside her. Daniel is nowhere to be found. Her darling son is missing.
Six years later
After years of sleepless nights and endless days of missing her son, Megan finally gets the call she has been dreaming about. Daniel has walked into a police station in a remote town just a few miles away.
Megan is overjoyed—her son is finally coming home. She has kept Daniel’s room, with his Cookie Monster poster on the wall and a stack of Lego under the bed, in perfect shape to welcome him back. But when he returns, there is something different about Daniel…
According to the police, Daniel was kidnapped by his father. After his dad died in a fire, Daniel was finally able to escape. Desperate to find out the truth, Megan tries to talk to her little boy—but he barely answers her questions. Longing to help him heal, Megan tries everything—his favourite chocolate milkshake, a reunion with his best friend, a present for every birthday missed—but still, Daniel is distant.
And as they struggle to connect, Megan begins to suspect that there is more to the story. Soon, she fears that her son is hiding a secret. A secret that could destroy her family…
This book was so crazy!
In this story we follow a family of three: the mother Megan, the father Greg and the 6 year-old son Daniel. Megan was physically and mentally abused for years by her husband, so they got a divorce to live their separate lives. A few months after their separation, Megan goes to pick Daniel from school but soon finds out that Greg picked him up without permission first and they’re gone without a trace. Yes, Greg abducted his son! So for 6 years Daniel was missing… until one day he returned out of nowhere. His mother is thrilled he is back to her, and she tries to reconnect with him and integrate him in her new family. The weird thing is Daniel is not the same… and I’ll leave it at that!
I felt so sorry for the mother! I just can’t imagine what it was like to go through a grief process, wondering where your kid is or even if he is alive. Oh and the guilt she must have felt! And then trying to deal with his behavior after coming back and trying your best to make things work for everyone. Not an easy scenario, but she definitely had my sympathy.
I personally had no idea of what was going to happen by the end of the story, but I was pleased with how it turned out. It was insane, but well done!
This is a disturbing story about the maternal bond, manipulation and toxic parents. It was heartbreaking, but very entertaining. I highly recommend it!
Attention! This book contains: bullies, orphans, The Secret Garden, loneliness, trashed rooms, ruined homework, lost keys, handmade dolls, care givers, beautiful gardens, bacon sandwiches, thumps, a black raven, a single friend and a silent girl.
Parallel plotlines, one told in text and one in art, inform each other as a young girl unravels the mystery of a ghost next door. Mary is an orphan at the Thornhill Institute for Children at the very moment that it’s closing down for good. But when a bully goes too far, Mary’s revenge will have a lasting effect on the bully, on Mary, and on Thornhill itself.
Years later, Ella moves to a new town where she has a perfect view of the dilapidated, abandoned Thornhill Institute. Determined to befriend the mysterious, evasive girl she sees there, Ella resolves to unravel Thornhill’s history and uncover its secrets.
Ella’s story is told through striking, bold art; Mary’s is told through diary entries. Each informs the other until the two eventually intersect to reveal the truth behind Thornhill’s shadowy past, once and for all. Strikingly told and masterfully illustrated, Pam Smy bends genres and expectations alike.
This was absolutely creepy and sad. And I loved it.
I absolutely loved how this book was presented. It was very different from what I’m used to reading without a doubt. I loved the illustrations (beautiful!), I loved how the story was told in a diary format, I loved the creepiness and gothic nature of it all!
But also, the whole story made me very sad. She was just a normal girl trying to survive there, trying to make friends. She just wanted someone to care, someone to understand her.
I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked this up, since I knew nothing about it. But I’m so glad I did. This was creepy and disturbing and chilling and atmospheric and sad and haunting… in the best way possible. This is a unique book, one I will never forget.
Another month, another Wrap Up – you know the drill! As usual, today I’m sharing with you what I have read in the month of August.
And by the way, I’m sorry this Wrap Up is coming a little late. I just had surgery, so I had to take care of some things before it happened and now I’m still taking it easy with my recovery. I haven’t been able to do a lot here on the blog other than posting my usual reviews. But I’m coming back slowly and I’m starting with this overdue Wrap Up! 🙂
August was a great reading month, knowing how low my book count has been in the last few months. I’ve read a grand total of 8 books, which was pretty good! I missed reading this much. Ready to check what I’ve read this past month? Here we go!
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy: 5/5⭐
How to American by Jimmy O. Yang: 4.25/5⭐
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle: 4/5⭐
Everything is OK by Debbie Tung: 4.25/5⭐
The Blouse by Bastien Vivès: 1/5⭐
The Power is Within You by Louise Hay: 5/5⭐
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket #1) by Roald Dahl: 5/5⭐
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (Charlie Bucket #2) by Roald Dahl: 2.5/5⭐
Interesting list, right? I’ve picked some great non-fiction books that are most of my highest ratings! Jennette McCurdy’s book was incredible and honestly one of the best memoirs I have ever read – if you haven’t read that one, I highly recommend it! Other than the non-fiction books, I have also picked an arc named “The Blouse” (which was terrible, in my humble opinion) and the very well-known duology “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” from Roald Dahl! I loved the first book of the duology, but I didn’t love the second book and I ended up giving it a negative rating! I’ll be posting the reviews for these books soon.
August was a better month than I was expecting! I’m surprised with the amount of books I was able to read knowing I haven’t read that much in the last few months.
Knowing we’re already in the middle of September, I don’t think I’ll be able to read much more this month. As of today, I am currently reading three books… but I don’t think I’ll be picking any more books soon. My focus right now is on my health and well-being, and I don’t feel like reading at the moment. We’ll see how the month goes, but I’m sure I’ll read at least one book in September!
What about you guys? How was your reading month? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading friends, I’ll catch you guys later!
Sprayed Edges 