I have been so caught up on finishing my Christmas shopping and trying to finish my never ending to-do list that I completely forgot to post this month’s book club! I am still tearing through books. It is absolutely insane. Pregnant, sober life I guess! Ha! So this month’s book club is again a round up of 6 books I’ve read lately! Let’s get right into it.
The Expatriates
This book is so unique in some ways. It takes place in Hong Kong and follows a number of different Americans who find themselves living there. Their lives all intertwine in unexpected ways. It is look into the expat community in Hong Kong. The author has first hand experience with this and so it feels really authentic. It shows you a side of expat life that you wouldn’t know exists. You initially think this will be a light read. But it goes deep into emotions and ramifications of certain actions, etc. It is very entertaining and a pretty quick read.
Anne of Green Gables
I read this book a million years ago but got the random urge to reread it recently. I was not disappointed. It remains an absolute classic for a reason. I think it is considered a children’s book but it is definitely a great read as an adult too. If you don’t know, it takes place in Canada and follows a young orphan girl who is adopted by mistake. The Cuthberts thought they were adopting a boy to help on their farm but Anne (with an E!) shows up. Clearly adoption paperwork was really light back then. It follows Anne’s new life and all the little hijinks she gets into. The descriptions of the setting are so delightful and transport you right to Prince Edward Island while you are reading. I can’t recommend this one enough. Also gave me total wanderlust to travel to PEI some day!
The Nearness of You
If you are looking for something to really pull at the heartstrings, this book is it. A super successful surgeon and her husband always agreed to never have children when suddenly he changes his mind. Their lives immediately enter this crazy whirlwind. Emotional up and downs. Twists and turns. Shifting of perspectives from every characters point of view. This author is fabulous at describing emotions and making you feel them to as if they are your own real emotions. There are a few twists I did not see coming. I will say the ending was a little bit hard to believe but you got to wrap the story up somehow!
The Boy From the Woods
I accidentally stumbled upon this book at Costco and I am so glad I stopped to pick it up that day. The bright yellow font on the cover instantly attracted me. You guys know I love a good mystery and psychological thriller. This one hits all the marks! It is at its most basic level a missing persons story (yes persons, more than one!). But it is so much more than that. It is really a mystery layered upon a mystery layered upon another mystery. It is a complete page turner. I will admit I did not see the ending coming at all either. But I don’t want to say too much and give anything away. I would highly recommend this one if you are into the mystery/thriller genre.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
My nana lent me this book and told me I would like it. She was not wrong! I not sure I would have picked this book up on my own based on the description of the cover. But it is so deeply moving. I am so glad I read it. The book jumps between the 1980’s and 1940’s. I don’t know why but I always love a good time jump in a book. It follows a Chinese American boy in Seattle during World War II and then as a grown man grappling with the ramifications of everything that happened to him as boy. It delves into the complexities of father/son relationships and lost loves. The author goes into detail about Japanese internment, the camps, and the rippling effects of these actions. The title isn’t wrong, this book is bitter, it’s sweet, it’s poignant. This is another one that will pull at your heartstrings.
The Madwoman Upstairs
This book was the perfect light read I needed after a few heavier reads. This was another one I think I just picked because of the fun colorful cover. Yes, unfortunately I do sometimes judge a book by its cover! This book follows the last Brontë heir as she heads off to college and accidentally finds herself on a family inheritance treasure hunt. It is definitely a different type of story line. It sucks you in as there is a mystery aspect to it that you want to unravel. This makes for a quick read. It keeps you reading as you want to see what happens to the main character. And of course there is a little bit of a romance aspect as well. If you are looking for a charming story to delve into then this book is for you.
What have you guys been reading lately? What should I read next?
Also, don’t forget to check out older Book Club picks here, here and here!
