“You go after one, you go after all. You know the rules.” – 4.5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: fights, sharp knives, angry teachers, spy cameras, guns, overdoses, sleeping in closets, friendship, leadership, loyalty, “normal” people, tons of blood, beer, a lot of secrets, and… crew business.
To survive where I live, you have two options.
You can be a Normal–a cheerleader, jock, member of the debate team, or on the yearbook committee. You pretend everything is normal.
Or you can be crew. You insult us? We hurt you. You hurt us? We really hurt you. And if you screw with us, we will end you.
My name is Bren. I’m the only female in the Wolf Crew–the best, fiercest, and most dangerous crew there is–and we have a rule: There’s no falling in love.
Well… too late.
Such a badass book! When I started reading it I immediately thought to myself “yeah, this is not my cup of tea” – and I was right. But with that said… I absolutely loved it! I found the crew concept very interesting and unique. It’s not a very common concept to find in YA books, especially romances.
I’ve heard a lot about Tijan’s books and I know they’re popular, so I decided to give it a try. I loved Tijan’s writing style and all the characters in the book, especially our main character, Bren. What a badass girl! She experienced a lot in her life and it made her such a strong young woman. It was great to see someone like her in a book, so fierce. I also thought her friendship with Taz was very sweet since she wasn’t a crew member like her.
Also, the romance was super cute! Cross was a perfect love interest – at least for me! If you’re looking for a slow-burning romance, this is absolutely perfect for it.
“Maybe it fixes itself. Or maybe it doesn’t. And we make peace with some things that are broken.” – 4.25/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: Italian weddings, the meaning of love, new stepmothers, cool Launts, and a lot of traveling.
Patrick O’Hara is called back to his guncle duties… This time for a big family wedding in Italy.
Patrick O’Hara is back. It’s been five years since his summer as his niece Maisie and nephew Grant’s caretaker after their mother’s passing. The kids are back in Connecticut with their dad, and Patrick has relocated to New York to remain close by and relaunch his dormant acting career. After the run of his second successful sit-com comes to a close, Patrick feels on top of the world… professionally. But some things have had to take a back seat. Looking down both barrels at fifty, Patrick is single again after breaking things off with Emory. But at least he has a family to lean on. Until that family needs to again lean on him.
When Patrick’s brother, Greg, announces he’s getting remarried in Italy, Maisie and Grant are not thrilled. Patrick feels drawn to take the two back under his wing. As they travel through Europe on their way to the wedding, Patrick tries his best to help them understand love, much as he once helped them comprehend grief. But when they arrive in Italy, Patrick is overextended managing a groom with cold feet; his sister, Clara, flirting with guests left and right; a growing rivalry with the kids’ charming soon-to-be-launt (lesbian aunt), and two moody young teens trying to adjust to a new normal, all culminating in a disastrous rehearsal dinner.
Can Patrick save the day? Will teaching the kids about love help him repair his own love life? Can the change of scenery help Patrick come to terms with finally growing up?
Gracing the work with his signature blend of humor and heart, Steven Rowley charms with a beloved story about the complicated bonds of family, love, and what it takes to rediscover yourself, even at the ripe age of fifty.
Once again, I loved reading about Patrick’s adventures with Maisie and Grant! I assure you if these Guncle books keep coming, I will always make time to read them. This time, our favorite Guncle is helping his nephews deal with their father’s engagement and wedding to an Italian woman they don’t know very well. So he decides to take the kids on a trip throughout Europe on their way to the wedding in Italy, to teach them about love and help them cope with the situation. There are so many things about this book I love! This was a really fun read and I loved the European background for the story – and I like the loving message behind the book. I also love how the all characters are multi-layered and have depth. Patrick is a very fun character and has a very distinct personality, and to me, this character is a big reason why these books are so fun to read. I also love how sweet the kids are and how much they love and listen to their Guncle. Another thing I thought was fun about this book was Patrick’s rivalry and jealousy with the kids’ new Launt (lesbian aunt) Palmina. It was interesting to see him feeling like his connection with the kids was in jeopardy because of this new, cool person who was introduced into their lives and that is getting their attention. That showed how much he cares about the kids and how he wants to protect the special relationship he has with them. I truly enjoyed this book! I always love these Guncle books because they are super heartwarming and funny, and I always have a good time reading them. This is really good option to read for the Summer, but my advice is for you to read the first book first because you won’t understand most of what they’re talking about. But it’s very worth it, I promise!
“It’s one of those special places where you feel like time doesn’t exist. Where it will always be summer, where I’ll always wake up with you.” – 3/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: wedding festivities, meditation sessions, old videos, donuts, Instagram posts, #HoorayShesADupree hashtags, delicious pies, assassins, trophies, and plenty of Taylor Swift references.
Meredith Fox has been going to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer as long as she can remember. But this summer is the first one back since the death of Meredith’s sister. It will all be overwhelming, but even more since since the entire extended family will be together for her cousin’s big wedding.
Unfortunately, Meredith’s longtime boyfriend unexpectedly dumped her two weeks before the wedding, leaving her dateless. Luckily, she has the perfect distraction. Her family has a tradition of playing the ultimate game of Assassin every summer, and this year it will take place during the week of wedding festivities.
But her target just happens to be a very cute groomsman. She’s determined to not let herself get distracted, not let herself be lost in another doomed relationship. But as the week progresses, she can’t help falling for him, which may cost her not only the game, but also her heart.
Meredith’s family’s annual game of assassin at Martha’s Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. But when she forms an alliance with a cute groomsman, she’s at risk of losing both the game… and her heart.
Oh boy, this was… an interesting reading experience. I was a little conflicted with my feelings on this book, but now that I gathered my thoughts, let me tell you all about them! Let’s start with the big romance in this book. Well, it was not my favorite because it was too “insta lovey” for my standards. The entire book happens in one week, and the main character Meredith spends most of the nights in the bed of someone she met at the beginning of the week. Yup, they lived a full-on deep romance… in a week. Call me old-fashioned, but this kind of romance is not my cup of tea. (Spoiler alert) Oh, and did I mention that after that single week, she decided to go to New Zealand with him? I wish I was joking! (end of spoiler) With that said, I did like Wit as a character and love interest – probably a little more than the main character Meredith if I’m being honest. Now we have to talk about that silly game they played. What I think it’s the most unbelievable thing about it is that if this had happened in real life, I’m sure almost no adult would play. I’m sure that some cool uncle would still want to play with the kids, but all the adults want to play an assassin game? For a whole week? 24/7? That to me is too unbelievable – or maybe I come from a family that is not fun, idk. 🙂 Meredith wanted to play it and win it for her sister, and that I understand – but having every single person of the family being so into it and making such a big deal out of it… I thought it was silly. What I did like about this book, is in regards to the family dynamics. Having everyone gathered to spend a summer week together and celebrate a wedding was one of the best parts of this book for me. I love to read about big families and everybody getting along and spending time together, so this was a treat! I just wish the focus wasn’t so much on the game, but more on things like meals together and group activities. I was conflicted with my rating because I was unsure about what I felt about this book. I’m not a fan of “insta love” romances or the game they played in the book, and since those are the biggest parts of the book, that would mean this was mostly a negative experience, right? But at the same time, I liked the sibling story and how their entire family was gathered for a wedding week and spent time together. Ultimately, I decided I would give this a 3 out of 5 star rating instead of a negative rating. With that said, I’m not sure I would recommend this book because I feel like the book’s focus on the game the characters were playing is something that some people may not enjoy in a beach read. But to each their own!
I hope you’re all doing well! Today I’m sharing with you all the books I read in September – but have no fear, it’s a small list today. In September I took a longer vacation for a couple of weeks, so I almost didn’t read during that time. I don’t know why, but I rarely read when I have time off – how weird is that? Well, actually I do know why: I read all year round, but when I’m on vacation I want to spend my time doing things I usually don’t do… so in reality there’s little time for reading!
So in conclusion, that’s why I read so little in the past month! Should we let’s take a look at the books? Let’s go!
This is the list I have to share with you today! Yup, pretty short as you can see. Let’s take a closer look:
1. Death Note, Vol. 6 by Tsugumi Ohba: 3.5/5⭐
I’m officially half way through the series! So far I’m enjoying it a lot. This manga has a really interesting dynamic between the two main characters: it’s like you’re watching a game of ping pong – always looking back and forth at the oponents and how they respond to each strike! It’s been very entertaining and I’m curious to see what’s next!
Synopsis
“Although they’ve collected plenty of evidence tying the seven Yotsuba members to the newest Kira, Light, L and the rest of the task force are no closer to discovering which one actually possesses the Death Note. Desperate for some headway, L recruits Misa to infiltrate the group and feed them information calculated to bring Kira into the open. But the Shinigami Rem reveals to Misa who the Kiras really are, and, armed with this knowledge, Misa will do anything to help Light. But what will that mean for L…?”
2. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther: 3/5⭐
Yeah, I don’t know about this one? I was expecting this to be less boring if I’m being honest. I also didn’t care about the game the family was playing because it felt a little silly and out of place. At the end of the day, I didn’t love it but it’s not the worst book ever. I personally wouldn’t recommend it because there are better books out there that are more entertaining and engaging.
Synopsis
“Meredith Fox has been going to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer as long as she can remember. But this summer is the first one back since the death of Meredith’s sister. It will all be overwhelming, but even more since since the entire extended family will be together for her cousin’s big wedding. Unfortunately, Meredith’s longtime boyfriend unexpectedly dumped her two weeks before the wedding, leaving her dateless. Luckily, she has the perfect distraction. Her family has a tradition of playing the ultimate game of Assassin every summer, and this year it will take place during the week of wedding festivities. But her target just happens to be a very cute groomsman. She’s determined to not let herself get distracted, not let herself be lost in another doomed relationship. But as the week progresses, she can’t help falling for him, which may cost her not only the game, but also her heart. Meredith’s family’s annual game of assassin at Martha’s Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. But when she forms an alliance with a cute groomsman, she’s at risk of losing both the game… and her heart.”
As usual, I’ll be posting the reviews for these books soon.
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!
I hope you are doing well! Another month asks for a brand new TBR list, so that’s exactly what I’m bringing you today: October’s TBR!
It’s funny how my reading mood changes so much and so drastically! In August I read a ton of books, but that was far from what happened in September – I was really into reading in the past months… but in September I almost didn’t read! It’s fun for me to put these lists together and picking up books from my TBR, but this month I decided to add some of the books I added previously that I never finished to my October TBR – meaning, you’ll see a few repeated books!
So without further ado, here are the books I’m planning on reading and why I’m reading them:
Yup, this is the list I have to share with you today! Let’s take a closer look:
1. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
Fun fact, this book was recommended to me by a friend, because, according to her: “he reminded her a lot of me”. So of course I was very curious by this! I immediately added it to my TBR, and now I’m planning on reading it in October. I admit I don’t know a lot about David Goggins, but the book seems very interesting and right up my alley. I’m curious to see what my friend means!
Synopsis
“For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare — poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him “The Fittest (Real) Man in America.”In Can’t Hurt Me, he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.”
2. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté
One of the books I planned on reading last month, but it didn’t happen! As you know, I loved “The Myth of Normal” by Gabor Maté, and from that moment on I knew I wanted to read more from this author! This book in particular caught my eye because it focuses on addition and its physical manifestations. This is a subject that I’m curious about, so I decided to add this book to my October TBR! I just know this is going to be very interesting.
Synopsis
“He would probably dispute it, but Gabor Maté is something of a compassion machine. Diligently treating the drug addicts of Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside with sympathy in his heart and legislative reform in mind can’t be easy. But Maté never judges. His book is a powerful call-to-arms, both for the decriminalization of drugs and for a more sympathetic and informed view of addiction. As Maté observes, “Those whom we dismiss as ‘junkies’ are not creatures from a different world, only men and women mired at the extreme end of a continuum on which, here or there, all of us might well locate ourselves.” In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts begins by introducing us to many of Dr. Maté’s most dire patients who steal, cheat, sell sex, and otherwise harm themselves for their next hit. Maté looks to the root causes of addiction, applying a clinical and psychological view to the physical manifestation and offering some enlightening answers for why people inflict such catastrophe on themselves. Finally, he takes aim at the hugely ineffectual, largely U.S.-led War on Drugs (and its worldwide followers), challenging the wisdom of fighting drugs instead of aiding the addicts, and showing how controversial measures such as safe injection sites are measurably more successful at reducing drug-related crime and the spread of disease than anything most major governments have going. It’s not easy reading, but we ignore his arguments at our peril. When it comes to combating the drug trade and the ravages of addiction, society can use all the help it can get. –Kim Hughes”
3. Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires #3) by Lauren Asher
One more repeated TBR book! But this time I’m concluding the “Dreamland Billionaires” trilogy in October (hopefully)! I had fun reading the two first books so far, and I’m curious about the last brother’s story. It seems like this is a second-chance romance – which to be honest, it’s not my favorite trope -, so I’m a little apprehensive. I can only hope it’s good, fingers crossed!
Synopsis
“Callahan I’m the Kane brother everyone gossips about behind closed doors. Trust fund brat. Washed-up athlete. High-functioning alcoholic. No one knows the real me but her. Lana Castillo—my childhood best friend and the only woman I ever loved. When I broke her heart six years ago, I promised to never return to Lake Wisteria. I kept my word until my grandfather’s will changed everything. To receive my inheritance, I was tasked with spending a summer at the family lake house before selling it. The request was simple in theory until my entire plan blew up on the very first day. Turns out Lana doesn’t just live at the house, but she claims to own it, too Alana Falling in love with Callahan Kane was a mistake. He told me so before destroying my heart and our friendship six summers ago. When he promised never to come back, I foolishly believed him. But then Cal showed up again, intending to sell his grandfather’s lake house. The biggest flaw in his plan? My name is on the deed.“
4. Death Note, Vol. 7 by Tsugumi Ohba
I’m sure you’re not surprised to see one more “Death Note” volume here! As you probably know by now, this is the manga series I’m currently reading, so I’m adding the next volume to my TBR for October!
Synopsis
“After a high-speed chase, Light and the task force apprehend the newest Kira. Light regains his Death Note and his memories, and the depths of his cunning are revealed as the plans he carefully put in place before going into confinement are slowly unveiled. His masterful manipulation of both humans and Shinigami lead him to the strongest position he’s yet enjoyed. But the glow of his victory is marred when a new threat appears. Can Light withstand a surprise attack on two fronts?”
5. Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons #4)by Julia Quinn
One more repeated book – but one of the most awaited book for me! I’m a huge Polin fan, so I’m very excited to finally get into their story! My hope for this book is that it will be better than their Netflix series – for which I had some mixed feelings. I hope the story is good – but I’ll find out when I finally finish it in October!
Synopsis
“Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London. Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for…well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret…and fears she doesn’t know him at all. Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone’s preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same – especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide…is she his biggest threat – or his promise of a happy ending?“
6. More Than We Can Tell (Letters to the Lost #2) by Brigid Kemmerer
I added this to my September TBR, but I didn’t even started it, so I’m adding it to October. I’ve been wanting to read this book for so many years now! I read “Letters to the Lost” – the first book in this duology – as a standalone about (I’m guessing) 6 or 7 years ago! Some time later I found out this book existed and I immediately added it to my TBR List! As you know, I finished rereading the first book recently because I wanted to have the story fresh in my mind before reading this book. This is one of the oldest books on my TBR (probably top 3), so I’m excited to finally read it!
Synopsis
“Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay…until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back. Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid. When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.”
Aaaand there you have it friends, my TBR list! As usual, I hope you liked this post! Let me know if you have any recommendations for me. You know I’m always grateful for those!
“I’ll give you anything you want—anything at all—so long as you give me a chance to make you as happy as you make me. A dog. A family. A home. I want it all. These are my terms and conditions, take it or leave it because I’m not open to negotiations.” – 4/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: fake weddings, big fluffy dogs, dyslexia, mountains of work, restaurant reservations, auctions, words with no direct translation, and of course, terms and conditions.
Declan I’m destined to become the next CEO of my family’s media empire. The only problem? My grandfather’s inheritance clause. Fulfilling his dying wish of getting married and having an heir seemed impossible until my assistant volunteers for the job. Our marriage was supposed to be the perfect solution to my biggest problem. But the more we act in love for the public, the more unsure I feel about our contract. Caring about Iris was never part of the deal. Especially not when breaking her heart is inevitable.
Iris My plan to marry Declan was simple in theory. Move in together. Throw a wedding. Have a baby. We set rules to prevent any kind of issues. Ones that were never meant to be broken, no matter how much Declan tempts me. But what happens when our fake relationship bleeds into our real one? Falling in love was never an option. At least not for me.
When I started this book, I was 100% convinced it would top the first book: I personally love the fake dating trope and the boss/secretary trope, so I was expecting it to be better than the first book in the series. And even though I liked it, that didn’t happen.
The beginning was okay and I was engaged and interested, but I wasn’t too fond of the last third of the book for a few different reasons – the main one being how the pace slowed down considerably.I liked the romance for the most part! I liked how they were so important to one another before the romance even started. They knew very well the value of the other person and there was a lot of respect and subtle admiration. As a side note, their relationship reminded me a lot of Harvey and Donna (they’re from a TV show named Suits) – well, this is for sure a darker version, but if you’ve watched the show I’m sure you know what I’m talking about! They have the same fun and flirty dynamic.
At the end of the day, I had fun reading this. At this point, the books are practically in the same tier, rating-wise. There’s only one book left, but I’m not sure what to expect because Cal (the remaining brother) seems a little different from his brothers. We’ll see!
“It suddenly made sense. Only twice in his life had he felt this inexplicable, almost mystical attraction to a woman. He’d thought it remarkable, to have found two, when in his heart he’d always believed there was only one perfect woman out there for him. His heart had been right. There was only one.” – 4.25/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: masquerade balls, gloves, fever, housemaids, earls, dowries, drawings, evil stepmothers, and mistresses.
Sophie Beckett never dreamed she’d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s famed masquerade ball—or that “Prince Charming” would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.
Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid’s garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?
I had no idea Benedict and Sophie’s story was a Cinderella retelling! It ended up being a really fun, swoony, and unexpected book.
As the characters go, I really liked both Benedict and Sophie as main characters. I felt really bad for Sophie for being put to the side for being a bastard child and for being mistreated for her whole life by her stepmother and stepsisters – and by the way, I still disliked Posy until the very end, you can’t change my mind on her. And Benedict is used to always being overlooked as “the second Bridgerton”, without people seeing him for who he is. And when they met for the first time… sparks flew! The masquerade chapters were some of my favorites from the entire book. It had such a magical feel to it! Sophie’s servants helped her dress up so she could attend the ball and have the best night of her life… right next to Benedict. Also, this is more of a side note, but I loved Violet’s interactions in this book. No one knows her kids like she does, and she always tries to parent them with kindness and help them navigate through life at all times. She’s one of my favorite characters from the entire series!
I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I kind of wished their relationship developed a little more. I don’t think it was necessarily superficial, but I would love to see them grow a more stable relationship before concluding the story I’m not sure what my favorite Bridgerton book is so far! After reading this book, I think it’s a tie between Anthony’s book and Benedict’s book – I thought Daphne’s book was a little boring in comparison to the next two books. Let’s see if Colin’s book changes my mind!
Now I’m very excited about the Netflix adaptation for Benedict’s story! As I’m writing this, they just announced Sophie Beckett is going to be portrayed by Yerin Ha. I’m very curious to see what they do with the “lady in silver”. I beg you Netflix, please don’t ruin the story!
“Now pay careful attention to this next sentence. If you don’t pay attention, it will be really, really hard to change your habits. If you pay attention, your habits will change for good. And this might be easier than you think.” – 4.5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: hungry ghosts, feeling hunger, paying attention, food jail, mindfulness, RAIN exercises, meditation, cravings, and feeding emotions.
A program proven to heal our relationship with food and our bodies from New York Times bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety.
Sometimes it feels as if there are as many ways to struggle with food as there are foods to eat. Craving, habit, emotions, boredom, stress, anxiety, or just the simple fact that a box of donuts seems to be omnipresent in the breakroom (free food!) can lead to feeling out of control around food. While anxiety feels like something that happens to us, the pull of food feels like something we should be able to handle. After all, we have to eat! But it’s not that simple. The result of this constant struggle—and then giving in or giving up—is a toxic cocktail of shame and self-judgment that makes it feel like it is impossible to change our behavior. The Hunger Habit is based on Judson Brewer’s deeply researched plan proven to help us understand what is going on in our brains so that we can heal the guilt and frustration we experience around eating. This is not a diet book pretending not to be a diet book. The step-by-step program focuses on the training out brains to tap into awareness to change our relationship with food and eating—shifting it from fighting with ourselves to befriending our minds and bodies. There is no willpower, calorie-counting, or restricted eating. Setbacks are a good thing! The key is to learn how to work with our brains rather than resisting our impulses, and to adopt an attitude of self-kindness rather than self-judgment. Grounded in cutting-edge neuroscience and several decades of clinical practice as a psychiatrist, The Hunger Habit is both accessible and compassionate. It will finally help you break out of food jail and reclaim your life.
Wow, this book is great! I didn’t think I was going to like this book as much as I did but I ended up taking a lot from it. In this book, the author Dr. Jud shares his plan to help us heal from the guilt of overeating and give in to our cravings by helping us understand what is going on with our brains when it happens. With that information, we can take back our power to make changes and start the healing journey. This is not the type of book where you’ll get dietary tips or anything of the sort, so keep that in mind if you’re considering reading this. This book is focused on helping to change our behavior and relationship with food, with compassion and kindness, by working with our brains instead of against them. So who are the people this book is appropriate for? I would say people struggling with binge eating disorder and/or people feeling that they have no control over food. There are a lot of people who have cravings and have the need to eat to feed emotions (boredom, stress, anxiety) – not necessarily because they’re hungry -, and end up feeling ashamed and angry with themselves. If you’re struggling with eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa, this is NOT the book for you. The author makes this very clear! The idea behind the book is very interesting because I don’t think I ever read about this kind of approach for an issue like this. I think my big take from the book is in essence to be mindful about food and start paying more attention to body cues. This way it is possible to make long-lasting changes to our binging and eating habits. The book includes practice sections divided into days, so the goal is for you to read a section per day for 21 days. The author also makes available free resources for those who are interested in the hands-on approach! I’ve started to practice what is preached, and I started noticing a few new things while I’m eating or thinking about food. It’s a work in progress, but I’m determined to persist to see a different outcome one day. There were some moments in the book that were starting to get a little repetitive, and for that reason only, I didn’t rate this higher. With that said, I truly think this is a great book with a different perspective from other books with the same hot topic.
“I’ve traveled around the world, and there’s never been a country that I’ve been in where somebody doesn’t say to me The Big Bang Theory was important to them. They shared it with their parents, it got them through something, it always made them laugh.” – 5/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: casting the perfect actors, two pilots, sequel shows, celebrity guests, memorizing lines, incredible props, fun costumes, easter eggs, creativity, behind the scenes secrets, and a lot of science talk.
The definitive, behind-the-scenes look at the most popular sitcom of the last decade, The Big Bang Theory, packed with all-new, exclusive interviews with the producers and the entire cast.
The Big Bang Theory is a television phenomenon. To the casual viewer, it’s a seemingly effortless comedy, with relatable characters tackling real-life issues, offering a kind of visual comfort food to its millions of dedicated fans. But the behind-the-scenes journey of the show from a failed pilot to a global sensation is a fascinating story that even the most die-hard fans don’t know in its entirety.
The Big Bang The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series is a riveting, entertaining look at the sitcom sensation, with the blessing and participation of co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, executive producers Steve Molaro and Steve Holland, as well as Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik, and more. Glamour senior editor Jessica Radloff, who has written over 150 articles on the series (and even had a cameo in the finale!), gives readers an all-access pass to its intrepid producing and writing team and beloved cast. It’s a story of on-and-off screen romance told in hilarious and emotional detail, of casting choices that nearly changed everything (which even some of the actors didn’t know until now), of cast members bravely powering through personal tragedies, and when it came time to announce the 12th season would be its last, the complicated reasons why it was more difficult than anyone ever led on. Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the sitcom’s major players, Radloff dives into all this and much more. The book is the ultimate celebration of this once-in-a-generation show and a must-have for all fans.
“Talking with Jessica, I realized how easy it had been for me to kind of put all 12 years of my time on Big Bang Theory under one general umbrella, as it were. The questions she asked and the information she’d reveal to me from someone else she’d interviewed forced me into a frame of mind where each season – and sometimes each episode – became it’s own, separate entity again. . . Frankly, it turned into a version of therapy I hadn’t realized I’d needed and couldn’t have known how much I’d enjoy.” —Jim Parsons
I was always a huge “The Big Bang Theory” fan, so of course I had to read this book. Now that I read it, I have to say this is without a question one of the best books I read in 2024! I picked this book thinking this would be just another book with a compilation of random information that everyone already knows… but I was very surprised to see it wasn’t the case. This is a very complete piece of work that allows us to take a peak behind the scenes from the time the show was only an idea to the creation of the prequel show, “Young Sheldon”! I consider myself a big fan of the show, so I knew about a few random things that happened behind the scenes – like for example how Johnny and Kaley dated for a bit, or that Melissa changed her voice to perform as Bernadette, or even how the building steps lead to nowhere -, but there are so many things that happened that the viewers can only find out by reading this book, me included. What really amazed me was the amount of information the author was able to put together and then create a very well-structured, entertaining, and informative book! It was mentioned that it took hours and hours of interviews with the cast, producers, directors, prop people, and even costume designers to put this book together, and the effort shows because this is wonderfully done! Everyone who participated in creating this book opened up and talked about all aspects of the show, including what they were going through on a personal level – and even more surprising was how vulnerable and honest they were, even talking about personal relationships on set and conflicts. I remember thinking to myself before starting it “Why is this book so long? Can there really be that much to say?” Long story short, the answer is a resounding: yes! There is no other way to describe this book other than a “The Big Bang Theory” bible. It uncovers an incredible array of behind-the-scenes details that most viewers never dreamt about. Needless to say, I came away with a much deeper appreciation for the show and its production. I truly learned a lot! This is absolutely a must-read for all lovers of “The Big Bang Theory” like myself.
“Maybe we were our truest selves as children, before we let the expectations of everyone else dictate who we should be.” – 3.25/5 stars!
Attention! This book contains: road trips, secrets, friendship, flora and fauna, college interviews, RVs, Instagram posts, and drawing skills that never fade.
A contemporary Young Adult novel about a cross-country family road trip that puts one girl and her childhood best friend on an unexpected road to romance!
Norah hasn’t seen her childhood best friend, Skyler, in years. When he first moved away, they’d talk all the time, but lately their relationship has been reduced to liking each other’s Instagram posts. That’s why Norah can’t wait for the joint RV road trip their families have planned for the summer.
But when Skyler finally arrives, he seems…like he’d rather be anywhere else. Hurt and confused, Norah reacts in kind. Suddenly, her oldest friendship is on the rocks.
A summer spent driving across the country leads both Norah and Skyler down new roads and to new discoveries. Before long, they are, once again, seeing each other in a different light. Can their friendship-turned-rivalry turn into something more?
It’s no secret I’m a huge Kasie West fan, so I was really excited when this book came out. I don’t read that many YA books anymore, but Kasie’s books have a special place in my heart so I’ll always read what she writes.
It ended up being an okay read for me. It is not my favorite book from this author, but it also wasn’t bad as well. This book is about Norah and Skylar, childhood best friends that drifted apart, and are now “stuck” in a road trip together with their families. So the story is about them getting close again and fixing what made them drift apart – but there’s also more than the romance! There’s also a subplot that is developed at the same time, and this secret is the reason why the road trip happened at all. This made the story even more interesting because you kept thinking about what it could be! It was a good addition to make the story more interesting.
As far as the romance goes, it was okay – but I feel like something was missing? I can’t point out exactly what it was though. I liked the characters and their dynamics, especially between siblings! I like to read stories with big families, and even though it was not one but two families together, they all acted like a big unit and it was a delight to read!
I loved the setting! It was very cozy, and I believe this is a great option to read in the Fall. The writing was also good because it was descriptive, easy to keep up with, and very sweet.
Kasie West writes amazing sweet books, and this book was no exception! Even though it’s far from being my favorite, I still plan on reading all of her books! Yup, that’s how much I love them.
Sprayed Edges 