Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault by Cathy Guisewite

Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault by Cathy Guisewite

I enjoyed this book immensely!

So many times while I was reading the book I'd want to say "I know, right?" or "Exactly!".  Sometimes you just don't realize what you have learned in life, until you read it somewhere and then just say "Oh, yeah, that's right!"

There were a few passages in the book that I was able to relate to and when I turn to my spouse and replay what I read, we'd just have a laugh over it because it's so true.  Like how it is with myself and my parents when we visit them.  Or how it is with my kids when we're trying to have a discussion, but some things get in the way.

It's poignant and insightful.  I'd say this is a keeper.

This book is a collection of essays by the author who gave us the "Cathy" comic strip.  

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

This is a story of Lily.  And of Atlas.  And of Ryle.  The emotional upheavals and dangers of growing  up in a violent house.  How does one get past all of one’s history and start a fresh life?  How does one  break a cycle or pattern that one is stuck in?

Here is a story of how one can make choices, learn from them, remake them again, and re learn from new ones.  How do you get yourself out of a bad situation

and pick yourself up over and over again?

It takes a lot of courage and self introspection.  But you do it.  For yourself and for the little ones that you are responsible for.

Great read and many lessons from this book.

Head over Heels by Jill Mansell

Head Over Heels by Jill Mansell

This book is about a town actually, with a lot of characters and their very different lives.  I loved that it wasn't so serious.  

It's about Jessie and Toby, with their lovely history and current relationships and complicated albeit strange families.  They try to do right by their families.  But it's so obvious what they should do.  

The other characters in the town are also fun to read.  There are the young lovers with their puppy crushes.  There are the kids that don't know what to do with themselves and need guidance.  There are the parents of these kids who try their best but also have problems of their own.

It's a great mix of funny and incredible and awe inspiring moments that make up our lives.

The Talon Saga by Julie Kagawa

The Talon Saga by Julie Kagawa

Talon (Book 1)
Rogue (Book 2)
Soldier (Book 3)
Legion (Book 4)
Inferno (Book 5)

What can I say, I am a fan of Julie Kagawa. 

Ember's story pulls you in.  She is a dragon, she wants to use her skills to do good things.  I loved that she is not a wishy-washy girl.  She makes her decisions and sticks with them.  atta girl!

Of course there is Garrett who is always watching out for her.  And there is Riley, who is also very much a part of her life.  Not to mention her twin Dante whom she loves very much and who loves her in return.

Must remember this book series for later :)

The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

Books
The Iron King (Book 1)
The Iron Daughter (Book 2)
The Iron Queen (Book 3)
The Iron Knight (Book 4)
The Lost Prince (Book 5)
The Iron Traitor (Book 6)
The Iron Warrior (Book 7)

Novellas
Winter's Passage (Book 1.5)
Summer's Crossing (Book 3.5)
Iron's Prophecy (Book 4.5)

Loved this series!  Meghan's story at first, and then her brother's and her son's stories as well.  It's a great read on a girl trying to rise up to her potential.  Strange characters about, but there is also that love angle that makes it so emotional.

I especially like the spotlight on Kali.  Filipino martial arts rule!  Loved reading Filipino words like manghuhula, anting-anting, and Guro. 

Actually, Books 5 to 7 are spinoffs to the first four books, but who cares?  Meghan, Ash, and Puck are still in those spinoff books. 

Very cool.

If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins

If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins

I liked that this story is about sisters.  It reminded me at times, of the relationship between my sisters and myself. 

This is what a family is about.  There are ups and downs but in the end you all stick together.

I'll definitely be reading this book again.

Flat by Catherine Guthrie

Flat by Catherine Guthrie

I rarely read nonfiction.  But thought this might help me given that There were similarities between her life and mine.

 It did give me an idea of what would have happened had my diagnosis been worse than what it was. 

The book detailed how it was, how painful, how many tiny adjustments needed to be made, how many insecurities surfaced, how difficult it was to lift out of the funk.  No sugarcoating.  Just the way I wanted to read it.

 Very good read