February went by fast, didn’t it?! This month I listened to eight audiobooks. I’m giving you my thoughts and if you’ve read them, I’d love to hear your take on them. 

This month I’m separating “good” from “profound” because two books blew my mind so much that they deserve something higher than just getting labeled “good.” Another book was fun and light like a Netflix sitcom, and a couple were total sleepers. Take my opinions with a grain of salt, though; opinions are like noses, after all!

Lastly, the links to each book are live, in case you want to see more of it on Amazon.

Profound reads

The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris – This book was published in 2018. It’s historical fiction based on the real life stories of a Jewish couple – Lale Sokolov and Gita Furman – who met at a concentration camp during the Holocaust. I loved this book so much that I spent quite a bit of time online afterwards looking for pictures of this family. Keep in mind that this is not a history book but a novel based on what Mr. Sokolov told the writer in a span of three years. It’s a great read!

The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig – I appreciated this book while reading it, but even more for what it left in my mind afterwards. The story tells of a woman who commits suicide and “wakes up” in a library. The library is full of books, all of them being a different life that she could have lived if she had made different decisions, even tiny ones, throughout her life. When she picks a book, she gets to live that life for a while. I’ve thought about this so many times – that we’re like ping pong balls that affect one another’s paths every time we touch; that any little push has the potential to change our lives radically. This book gave me so much food for thought… It’s absolutely wonderful. 

Good reads

All Good People Here, by Ashley Flowers – This book is a bit scary because it’s about the abduction and death of young girls. The best of it is that it’s never predictable. One minute you think the criminal is a stranger, then you think it’s a family member, and it isn’t until the last minute that you realize who the monsters are. Another plus is that the ending allows your imagination to go crazy. 

Finding Me, by Viola Davis – This is a memoir by the famous actress of The Help and Fences. Honestly, the first half was my favorite as she describes her upbringing in Rhode Island in shockingly harsh conditions. I lost some interest during the second half, but hung on through the end. Overall, enjoyable. The audiobook is read by the actress herself so I’d recommend to listen to this one rather than reading it. 

Light reads

The Unhoneymooners, by Christina Lauren – This is a predictable, yet so fun to read, love story. It adds quite a bit of humor as a couple takes someone else’s place on a honeymoon trip. I know that you already know what happens at the end… but it’s about the journey… Easy reading, feels like watching TV. 

An “OK“ read

The Lies that Bind, by Emily Giffin – This book is set around 9/11, so there’s quite a bit of description of that terrible day. There’s also a fictional love story that ends with the falling of the towers and a number of secrets that start popping up afterwards. I found the plot hard to believe and while it’s not a terrible book, I wouldn’t buy it as a present for anyone.

Leave-them-on-the-shelf reads

The Light we Lost, by Jill Santopolo – I listened to ten chapters before I concluded that I had zero interest in continuing. 

Tell Me Lies, by Carola Lovering – This one took only four chapters. 

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That’s all folks! Have you read a book that you can recommend?

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