Between the Lines – June Book Review

After a somewhat slow spring my reading picked back up in June and I’m excited to share what I’ve been reading and loving.  My list of books just continues to grow and I have already exceeded the number of books I read in all of 2016!  I love all the reviews I find through other readers and hope by sharing my reviews it will help you find a book too.

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The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty

Amazon:  Ellen O’Farrell is a professional hypnotherapist who works out of the eccentric beachfront home she inherited from her grandparents. It’s a nice life, except for her tumultuous relationship history. She’s stoic about it, but at this point, Ellen wouldn’t mind a lasting one. When she meets Patrick, she’s optimistic. He’s attractive, single, employed, and best of all, he seems to like her back. Then comes that dreaded moment: He thinks they should have a talk.  Braced for the worst, Ellen is pleasantly surprised. It turns out that Patrick’s ex-girlfriend is stalking him. Ellen thinks, Actually, that’s kind of interesting. She’s dating someone worth stalking. She’s intrigued by the woman’s motives. In fact, she’d even love to meet her.  Ellen doesn’t know it, but she already has.

My thoughts:  A love story is always a favorite of mine and this was an easy read but at the same time it kept me guessing.  Liane always has a way of divulging something in the middle of a book I would have expected to be the ending which then leaves you guessing how the real ending will play out.  After reading Truly, Madly Guilty in March and not loving it, I’m glad this book kept my interest as her books are some of my favorites.

November 9 by Colleen Hoover

Amazon:  Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.  Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

My thoughts:  I could not stop turning the pages!  I loved this book and would have never guessed the ending.  Even though there was some drama, it was an easy read and a sweet love story.

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Amazon:  With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the uber-talented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say NO when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.  And there was the side-benefit of saying No for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.  Then Shonda’s sister laid down a challenge: just for one year, try to say YES to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed―and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life―and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.

My thoughts:  Y’all, I am not even a dedicated watcher of Shondaland Thursday night TV and this book spoke to me over and over!  If you struggle with stepping outside of your comfort zone even when you know it’s what you need to grow, this book is for you! This book will encourage you to embrace all that is great about yourself and live your dream not someone elses.   My book is full of highlights and I even made a page in my journal for Shonda wisdom to live by.  Here are just a few quotes I loved which will hopefully speak to some of you.

“The very act of saying yes is lifesaving – saying no is an easy withdrawal from the world.  It’s a way to disappear”

“Happiness comes from living as  you need to, as you want to.  Happiness comes from being who you actually are instead of who you think you are supposed to be.”

“No one who succeeds is merely lucky.  Lucky implies I didn’t do anything.  Lucky implies something was given to me.  Lucky implies I was handed something I did not earn and I did not work hard for.  I am smart, I am talented and I take advantage of opportunities that come my way.  I work really, really hard.  I am not lucky, call me a badass.”

Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham

Amazon: In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and, years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, “Did you, um, make it?” She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood (“Strangers were worried about me; that’s how long I was single!”), the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge on Project Runway (“It’s like I had a fashion-induced blackout”).  In “What It Was Like, Part One,” Graham sits down for an epic Gilmore Girls marathon and reflects on being cast as the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore. The essay “What It Was Like, Part Two” reveals how it felt to pick up the role again nine years later, and what doing so has meant to her.

My thoughts:  If you love Gilmore Girls or Parenthood you will adore this book!  It’s like sitting down and learning more about someone you already feel a connection to.  Lauren Graham may just be the actress I would want to play me in a movie, if only to make me so much more interesting!  But seriously, just read the book!

How’s your reading coming along in 2017?  And what should I be adding to my list?

Between the Lines February

Between the Lines April 

2016 Book Review 

Visit the linkup love in the navigation bar to see where I may be linking this week!

Book Linkups

What We’re Reading Wednesday The Sirois Family , Wife Mommy Me,  My Glittery Heart   and others

Carpool Bookclub

39 Comments

  2. I’m adding these to my reading wishlist. Glad you liked the Colleen Hoover book, I read “It Ends With Us” and have been wondering if I’d like more from her, I’ll give it a try! Hope you have a wonderful Thursday!
    xo,
    Kellyann

    Reply

  5. I can not for the friggin’ love of me finish THE HYPNOTIST’S LOVE STORY. I am halfway through… it’s my goal to finish it this month. I started in it April.
    I like all Colleen Hoover’s books. But November 9 … amazing.

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  8. SOOO excited to read November 9th. I have it in my Kindle ready to go this month and cannot wait. I have heard such great things about this book. I love a good love story as well. The Hypnotist’s Love Theory was not my favorite book for some reason, I felt like it was a little predictable and couldn’t get into it. So weird of me, because I love her books and I also love the setting of that book. I cannot wait to pick up the Shonda Rhimes book, I will have to check it out. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    1. Cant’ wait to hear what you think about November 9!! I wouldn’t say The Hypnotist Love Story was my favorite but I didn’t struggle with it the way I did with Truly, Madly, Guilty. If you have never read What Alice Forgot….that was one of my faves of hers.

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  9. Oh how I wish I was more of a reader. You’ve peaked my interest with several of these. I’ll have to note the titles so next time I need a good read I have some suggestions.

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  10. I am thinking I may need to add “A Year of Yes” to my reading list. I am so tired of saying Yes to all the wrong invites and No to all the fun ones but man it gets overwhelming sometimes! We have so many obligations that will be coming up in the Fall! Might need to add November 9 too! I read the Lauren Graham one too and loved it! Have a great rest of your week my friend! I am STILL at the beach and Tony is heading home today. I will head home Saturday. But then we are back over again on July 15! I have loved this month here!

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  12. OMG I am so excited I read this before heading to the library!! I am going to check these books out!! You’ve really got me interested in November 9…I have not read Colleen Hoover before!

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  14. I’ve heard mixed reviews of the Hypnotist’s Love Story. I listened to The Husband’s Secret and enjoyed it and then watched the HBO Big Little Lies series and loved that I couldn’t figure out how it would end at all. It’s kind of funny that you’re reading about saying yes more. I’m actually too much of a pleaser and say yes to too much and to too many people, so it’s been recommended to me that I start living a life of more no!

    Reply

    1. Ahh…..but that’s the secret to this book Allie…it’s all about saying yes to things that bring you joy. I loved the Husbands Secret and would say this one was not as good as that one but still a decent read. My favorite of hers is What Alice Forgot.

      Reply

  16. I have November 9 on my to read list. I need to add Lauren Graham’s book to my list!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    Reply

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