The 5 Books to Fall Into Reading Right Now Part 1

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After having read 5 Perfect Reads Just in Time for Back to School, I moved on to a FREE copy of a recent YA novel on eBooks from my public library. Then, I also found myself reading books from brand new authors, as well as one from prior authors I read from before.

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My reading had picked up at the end of the summer. It slowed for a bit the past few weeks. But still, I split my list into two as I had too many for one update. This is the first five from my recent reads. Therefore, I thought it was time to update here on my Goodreads reading. Read on now for the books I read and my reviews for these five books for some fun fall reading options.

The 5 Books to Fall Into Reading Right Now Part 1

1. Top Ten, by Katie Cotugno

I had this one on my list for a while as this YA plotline seemed unique and novel to me.

See Gabby Hart and Ryan McCullough were the unlikeliest of friends. I mean Gabby is introverted, shy and dealing with the anxiety of the worst kind with panic attacks. Ryan is a favorite hockey star high school jock, who has tons of friends and could get any girls he wanted to date.

But as luck and fate would have these two meet and become the best of friends for most of their high school years. The book opens at the end of high school. The two have just graduated. They head off to a party and after it finally deals with their so-called romantic feelings for one another.

See it would appear through their four years of high school that their unlikely, but strong friendship also found the two secretly crushing on each other. But finally, the two decide to take their feelings to the next level. The morning after the two aren’t sure and get scared. What follows are their top 10 moments during their high school years. The aftermath finds us learning not only how they met and became fast friends. But also gives us a window into why they both chickened out on sharing their feelings with a few misses in the past. Plus, we see what it was like for the two of them when they also had a falling out. But they still managed to find their way back to each other.

After this trip down memory lane, we are finally given what seems to be the payoff. Only to have possibly be taken all away from us yet again. 

I will say, I liked the retelling of their friendship. But I questioned the timeline not being chronologically neat. I got why the author laid it out this way. However, I must admit I wasn’t a fan of how this one ended. I am a sucker for happy endings to be honest. Not to give it away, but still, I felt cheated with this ending when all was said and done.

My Good Reads Back to School Books Rating:

2. The Cutting Room Floor, by Dawn Klehr

Thanks to Bookbub for alerting me to a free copy of this book. 

The YA story of Riley, who has been outed for her first so-called gay encounter. She falls hard for Emma. But Emma seemingly is afraid to be known as gay. So somehow when their relationship gets outed and Emma heads for the hills. Riley is left to pick up the pieces of her heart. Plus, she is now a social outcast in her school that looks down on homosexuality thanks to the mayor and his teenage daughter.

So Riley turns to her next door neighbor and best friend, Dez. He seems to have Riley’s back. However, what Riley doesn’t know is that Dez is obsessed with her and has been manipulating her love life for years to try to get closer to her romantically himself.

Also, Riley has been reeling from the murder of her beloved teacher, Ms. Dunn. In her spare time, she tries to play super sleuth to find out who her killer is.

When Dez and Riley seem to be making romantic headway, Dez’s further obsession with Riley threatens their happiness. Plus, the true identity of the murderer leads to disastrous consequences for all in this YA suspense thriller.

My Good Reads Back to School Books Rating:

3. She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah by Ann Hood

Recently, my kids attended a special kids’ event at our local Barnes and Noble. During this event, they touted a few books. One of the others, I also actually read and thoroughly enjoyed. The other that caught my attention was “She Loves, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.” 

Why?

Because it was set in the turbulent 1960s decade that is one of my favorites. Plus, it also centered around the top-rated 1960s music group, The Beatles. Specifically my favorite from The Beatles, Paul McCartney. What can I say? But that I am a sucker for anything to do with this time in history, as well as The Beatles.

So, I bought a copy and couldn’t be happier that I did. While this is a middle-grade book, I still definitely found it worthy to read. See the story of The Beatles number one fan and middle school fan club was pure delight. As a former middle school teacher, middle school can be particularly rough time for many. Trudy is no exception to this. Her once highly attended Beatles Fan Club now only has three other members. All of these kids are a bit quirky and not popular. Her once best friend, Michelle dropped her for a group of favorite cheerleaders. Trudy’s dad is much too busy with work to enjoy their once shared love of The Beatles. And Trudy’s mom ends up taking a bit of a fall only to be left in a cast for the summer months due to a broken leg. Plus, all the kids at school started referring to her by Gertrude (her given name) instead of Trudy. 

Therefore what is Trudy to do? Well, she plans to go to the upcoming Beatles concert with her few remaining fan club members. Not only does she want to see The Beatles in concert sing, but she also wants to meet Paul McCartney in person. Her reasoning is simple. She feels that this meeting will fix all of her problems.

I honestly loved how persistent Trudy was in getting to meet Paul McCartney. Plus her admiration and love for The Beatles shined through even when they released their album, Revolver, which was dubbed by many at the time to be a flop. Plus, the big pay off was the ending. I don’t want to give it away. But let’s say Trudy gets more than she could have imagined and learned a lesson or two along the way.

My Good Reads Back to School Books Rating:

4. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Having read the earlier book, The Wife Between Us, by these two authors, I couldn’t resist the offer to read this latest novel when it, they offered it to me. See sometimes you just know that you need to read a book by the description, as well as the authors’ previous work, as well. This one definitely falls into that category.

The story opens with the main character, Jessica Farris doing what she does best with going beauty and makeup makeovers to two young clients. But her whole life is on a crazy course to change when she takes a chance on a message meant for her client to get involved with a psychology study with an acclaimed NYU professor.

At first, it all seems too perfect that Jessica is making quite a bit of money answering some questions on morality. But pretty soon, the professor running this study takes an unhealthy interest in Jessica and insinuates herself into Jessica whole life. The professor is using Jessica it seems to test her own husband’s fidelity. Somehow though Jessica gets involved with the professor’s husband all on her own. And from there the story takes on a crazy life of its own. 

All three characters (Jessica, the professor, and her husband) have their secrets, flaws and more. So, it is indeed a twisted tale from start to finish. As others have pointed out, there isn’t one big twist. But many smaller ones along the way. Each one from the first through the epilogue twist left me more shocked than the last. Plus, the reference to famous The Beatles song line from “The End” was the cherry on top for all Beatles fans.

My Good Reads Back to School Books Rating:

5. The Dinner List, by Rebecca Serle

This book was my August BOTM, which I couldn’t resist after reading the brief synopsis.

See the concept of making a list of all those that are both dead or alive that you would want to have one dinner with was more than intriguing. I mean who wouldn’t like to have the opportunity to dine with the most important people in one’s lives whether dead or alive.

Well, that is what happens to Sabrina, when she arrives to dine with her best friend for her 30th birthday dinner. See back when these two were in the early years of college, Sabrina compiled a list of 5 people she would love to have a birthday dinner with someday. Her list changed a bit from that initial writing. But here in the present day, her current list shows up to dine with her to celebrate her 30th birthday.

The dinner again occurs in present time. But through alternating chapters, we also learn about Sabrina’s younger days. It is through these flashback chapters that we also learn about Sabrina’s all-consuming, but the tragic love affair with her ex-boyfriend, Tobias. Sabrina is under the impression that this dinner may be what helps bring the two back together finally. However, there is a significant twist thrown at us to question if that can even happen. Trust me I didn’t see this one coming. Plus, this dinner is enlightening as far as helping Sabrina possibly come to terms with father, who left her and her mother when Sabrina was just a little girl. And also rounding out the dinner guest list, is Sabrina’s best friend, Jessica, her college professor and Audrey Hepburn.

Again, loved the idea of a dinner such as this. But will say as the book unfolded I was left hoping upon hope for a happy ending romantically speaking. But also quite aware why that may not be possible. That said, I was left feeling torn on the actual end. Still, this was a pretty quick read that most definitely pulled at my own heartstrings though.

My Good Reads Back to School Books Rating:

Well, that wraps up my books read since last time out. I hope out of The 5 Books to Fall Into Reading Right Now Part 1 I have given some great reading suggestions. Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon!

WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?

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