Well this was a month. Like much of the world the past two weeks have been spent mostly at home and I am not sure whether or not my reading has improved with it.
On one hand I am surrounded by all the books I picked up before the libraries closed all day and have tons more time to read, but on the other I used to do most of my reading on transit and on my breaks when I had nothing else to do. Now there are so many other things to occupy my time so I have had to make myself focus on all these books I now have time to read.
I have really found myself wanting to read light and happy books lately, ones that will bring me to a world that is more exciting than the one that I am currently living.
What have you found yourself reading in these times?
Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Jane was living a very normal, boring life when she is one day kidnapped and taken away from everything she has ever known. This book is divided into two sections, during and after when everyone is trying to put Jane’s life back together.
This book had a lot of emotions and questions, but it was told in such an engaging way. As the pieces of what happened start to fall into place you begin to question everything you were told at the beginning.
Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi
I read this play for the Book Riot Read Harder challenge just days before going to see the play and I found it such a delight. I love the TV show and this was such a great companion. It is interesting to see what was different and what stayed the same over time and through adaptations. The version of the book I had even had pictures and stories from the play.
The Giver of Stars Jojo Moyes
Librarians on horses delivering books? Sounds like a great premise to me and it really was. I loved the main character of Alice and all of the supporting characters around her.
This story was such a wonderful tale of female friendships, literacy, the great outdoors, and justice.
A Fire Story by Brian Fies
This true graphic memoir was definitely not a lighthearted read. It is a true story of a man whose family home was destroyed in the California wildfires.
This book is comforting in a time when everything seems to be upending, funny in times where it seems it is hard to laugh, and touching in the commonalities of humanity.
One Day in December by Josie Silver
This is my romance pick of the month. It all starts with a look. one person a bus, the other waiting at the stop with no idea who the other is. Then a year later they meet, but he is dating her best friend.
The story then continues over the next ten years of joy and sorrow. This was cute, sweet story that did manage to take my mind of things when that was all I really needed.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
When firefighter Cassie is forced to move from Texas to be with her estranged mother in Boston she is in for more than one culture shock.
Her new firehouse has never had a female firefighter and there are a lot of changes to be made, both at the firehall and her new home back living with her mother. Then in comes the new rookie and although she has been warned to never fall in love with someone else at the station, she can’t help her feelings here.
A Good Neighborhood by Anne Therese Fowler
The quiet neighborhood of Oak Knoll isn’t quiet anymore with the entrance of the Whitman family, building a new big home, and moving in causing all sorts of destruction.
Their next door neighbors, the Ashton-Holts are as different as can be and together their interactions hinge on race, class, and love.
One thing I loved about this book is that it is narrated by the neighborhood itself, a different choice but something that was very interesting.
That is a bit of a look into what I have been reading this month. Thankfully I stocked up on books so between my physical books and my electronic ARC’s I should be set for a while.
Let me know in the comments below what you have been reading and loving lately.
2020 Recap:
Numbers are for the full year, topics are for the challenges I completed this month.
Total 2020 Books: 61
Goodreads Choice Awards: 12/20
- YA Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Food and Cookbooks
- Poetry
- Romance
- Humor
- Historical Fiction
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: 6/24
- Retelling of a Classic Story by a Author of Color
- Book about a Natural Disaster
- Play by an Author of Color
ARCs: 16
fivestarredlife.ca 
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