Wrap Up: January 2019 or I am bingereading.

2. February 20192. February 2019 ~ Hannah ~ 16 Comments

January was tough, work wise. I had a ridiculous amount of stuff to do – and I did not feel like reading anything that challenged me in my free time. What also suffered from my month of hell was blogging in general – I have neither written very many blog posts nor have I read very many of other people’s (which is something I am truly sorry for but which cannot be helped at the moment. I really am drowning in work.).

Books I read in January:

The Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy #3) by Katherine Arden: 5 out of 5 stars (Review)
Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling #2) by Nalini Singh: 2 out of 5 stars
Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling #3) by Nalini Singh: 3,5 out of 5 stars
Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling #4) by Nalini Singh: 3 out of 5 stars
Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling #5) by Nalini Singh: 2,5 out of 5 stars
Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling #6) by Nalini Singh: 4 out of 5 stars
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: 4 out of 5 stars (Review)
Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changeling #7) by Nalini Singh: 2 out of 5 stars
Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom: 4 out of 5 stars (Mini-Review)
300 Arguments by Sarah Manguso: 3 out of 5 stars (Mini-Review)
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: 4 out of 5 stars
Bonds of Justice (Psy-Changeling #8): 3 out of 5 stars
Play of Passion (Psy-Changeling #9): 4 out of 5 stars

Favourite of the Month:

The Winter of the Witch was an absolutely stunning conclusion to a series I have loved immensely. I cannot wait to read everything Katherine Arden comes up with next.

I also really enjoyed binge-reading the a large chunk of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. There is something about her writing and her world-building that I particularly enjoy. The whole is also better than the sum of its parts and I don’t see myself stopping reading this series anytime soon.

Continue reading “Wrap Up: January 2019 or I am bingereading.” →

Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

20. January 2019 ~ Hannah ~ 17 Comments

33160963 Verdict: Lovely and heartbreaking.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction

Published by Simon and Schuster UK, May 28th 2018

Find it on Goodreads.

Reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.

Determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career, Monique listens in fascination. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s – and, of course, the seven husbands along the way – Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. But as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

I feel like I was the last person on earth who hadn’t read this book and I am so glad I finally did. That said, it took me a while to finish this because there was a bit in the middle that dragged for me – however, man, does Taylor Jenkins Reid ever pull it back together after the 50% mark. From that point onwards, I was so very invested.

On the surface, this is the story of Evelyn Hugo’s seven marriages as told to Monique, a rather inexperienced journalist getting the chance of her lifetime to write a memoir to one of Hollywood’s greatest stars. But more than that, this book is the portrait of woman who honestly and gracefully bares her all to the world here. And I adored Evelyn so very much. She is by far my favourite part of this book; she is ruthless and ambitious but unflinchingly honest in her own portrayal. I could not help but root for her as she made her way in the minefield that is Hollywood. Whenever the storyline strayed from her, I was eager to get back to her and get to know her better. Monique on the other hand did not always work for me as the person through whose lens we are getting the story.

Told in effortless prose that compelled me to keep reading, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her story without unnecessary flourish in a way that let her main character shine and her side characters dazzle. I adored Harry beyond measure and thought Celia was wonderfully flawed but incredibly compelling. The ending ripped my heart out but I am so glad to have finally read this.

I received a drc courtesy of NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK in exchange for an honest review.

Wrap Up: December 2018 or there goes the year.

3. January 20193. January 2019 ~ Hannah ~ 12 Comments

I cannot believe the year is over. It feels like it went both super quick and super slow. My reading in December was a bit erratic because the first half I felt mega burned out (mostly due to work) and could not concentrate on anything difficult, then there was Christmas were I did not get any reading done – and then I had a few days to wrap up all the books written by men I was still reading.

Books I read in December:

Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko: 5 out of 5 stars
Dopesick by Beth Macy: 5 out of 5 stars
Angel’s Blood (Guild Hunter #1) by Nalini Singh: 3 out of 5 stars
Archangel’s Kiss (Guild Hunter #2) by Nalini Singh: 3 out of 5 stars
Archangel’s Consort (Guild Hunter #3) by Nalini Singh: 3 out of 5 stars
Archangel’s Blade (Guild Hunter #4) by Nalini Singh: 3 out of 5 stars
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou: 4,5 out of 5 stars
Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels #10) by Ilona Andrews: 4 out of 5 stars
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #1) by Theodora Goss: 3 out of 5 stars
Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling #1) by Nalini Singh: 3,5 out of 5 stars
New Suns ed. by Nisi Shawl: 2 out of 5 stars
Doggerland by Ben Smith: 3 out of 5 stars
Lies Sleeping (Rivers of London #7) by Ben Aaronovitch: 4 out of 5 stars
Heavy by Kiese Laymon: 4 out of 5 stars

Favourite of the Month:

I adored Vita Nostra – every single second of reading this was a pleasure. Dopesick was another book that I appreciated immensely – it is wonderfully researched and impeccably told. Both books made my best of the year lists.

Continue reading “Wrap Up: December 2018 or there goes the year.” →

Wrap Up: November 2018 or Genre Fiction is the best

30. November 20186. December 2018 ~ Hannah ~ 19 Comments

I had a pretty horrific month, personally. But my reading recovered from the abysmal month that was October, which is at least something; within 10 days I had read as much as I had read in the whole month before.