I Read a Book Once

The Five Books I Read After My Concussion

I've finally caught myself up to my concussion wrap up episode. It only took me two months to get there. In this episode, I provide brief overviews and opinions on five of the seven books I read during my concussion hiatus. The books include The Final Gambit, Sign Here, Beach Read, For Butter or Worse, and The Rose Code.

Secrets Are Revealed, But I Still Have Questions (Kingdom of the Feared - Kerri Maniscalco)

I finally finished the third and final book in Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked series. Kingdom of the Feared follows Emilia and Wrath as they navigate their betrothal, Vittoria's betrayal, and the disappearance of Greed's general. I discuss the secrets that were revealed and my questions that remain, explain my feelings on Vittoria's actions, and predict what future books may look like.

2022 Wrap Up

It's time for my favorite episode of the year! I review my reading year looking at how many books I read, the genre breakdown, and a few other fun statistics. I also discuss my favorite and least favorite books of 2022. 

Giraffes Are Their Own Kind of Magic (West With Giraffes - Lynda Rutledge)

I return to historical fiction with a book lent to me by my aunt. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge tells the story of two giraffes who survived a hurricane in 1938 and were then driven across the U.S. to become the first giraffes at the San Diego Zoo and touch the hearts and lives of all who come in contact with them. I parse out fact from fiction, ponder the quiet tragedy of this book, and explain the appeal of this historical fiction novel.

A Christmas Romance Novel That Finally Works (Kiss Her Once For Me - Alison Cochrun)

Happy Holidays everyone! This year I tried Book of the Month's Christmas romance selection for the third time, and for the first time it actually hit! Alison Cochrun's Kiss Her Once For Me follows Ellie a broke bisexual who agrees to marry her landlord only to find out that his sister's is the woman she had a one night stand with last Christmas. I fangirl over the amount of Taylor Swift references in this book, explain the messy drama that I was living for, and break down the fabulous representation in this book.

Was This the Same Exact Book as The Love Hypothesis? (Love on the Brain - Ali Hazelwood)

I couldn't help myself. I had to read the much anticipated follow up to The Love Hypothesis. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood is a steminist enemies to lovers romance following Bee and Levi as they try to build a neural helmet for astronauts. I discuss whether Hazelwood's two books use the same plot and tropes, express my enjoyment of the full circle nature of the epilogue, and explain my minor gripes about some convenient plot points.

No Plot Just Vibes (Other Birds - Sarah Addison Allen)

If you love character driven stories, then this is one for you. Sarah Addison Allen's Other Birds follows the residents (both human and ghost) of an apartment complex following the death of one of the residents. I discuss how there's not a lot of plot, ask if you believe in ghosts, and spend a good deal of time talking about my family's ghost encounters.

This Book Tricked Me Twice!! (Kingdom of the Cursed - Kerri Maniscalco)

After a few weeks off, I'm back with the second installment in Kerri Maniscalco's new "YA" fantasy series. In Kingdom of the Cursed, Emilia arrives in hell to marry Pride but must battle her conflicting feelings for Wrath as she tries to solve her sister's murder. I explain the two different ways I was tricked by this book, discuss second book syndrome and whether this book falls into it, and ask a whole bunch of questions about where things are going.

Joy and Color Theory (What You Wish For - Katherine Center)

I loved Katherine Center's newest book so much that I picked up one of her previous releases: What You Wish For. This book follows elementary school librarian Sam as she butts heads with her former crush and new principal Duncan due to their opposing views on how to run their school. I spend a lot of time discussing the benefits of joy and color theory, reveal my own opinions on uniforms, and act as a mediator between Sam and Duncan's school safety arguments.

I Finished This Book and Then Immediately Read It Again (When We Were Bright and Beautiful - Jillian Medoff)

Like the title says I literally read this book TWICE in a row despite my initial hesitation to even pick it up. Jillian Medoff's novel When We Were Briefly Bright and Beautiful has the sister of an accused rapist tell the story of his trial but something darker lurks under the surface. I discuss my initial hesitation and the MANY content warnings for this book, express my surprise at the plot twist despite the majority of Goodreads figuring it out themselves, and question which characters knew which secrets.