I quite liked this as a stand alone book. It's been maybe 10 years since I read The Giver. I assume this is the same universe, which is good for me. It was short and got to the point. I love Matt. Such a nice and thoughtful kid. I liked the ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

05.04.2025

"For Josh-
Because you would go Under the Mountain for me.
I love you."

My husband BETTER go Under the Mountain to save me. There's NO WAY I could solve any of those puzzles while under that sort of pressure.

#SundayFunday
@BookmarkTavern

This was the April Bookclub pick. This was not a winner among the group.
Once I hit 50%, I really wanted to DNF. But because it was for bookclub, I decided to try again. I skipped 2 chapters and then finished the rest of the book in one sitting.
Personally, I liked the ending, but also hated the ending. Idk. There are a few stories that I will be remembering for a long time, whether I want to or not... looking at you "Spider"

⭐️⭐️⭐️
04.24.2025

This book was so so so so cute.
I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. Belly is just so cool. And she spends so much time thinking she's not, but I really loved her. And just like the show, Team Jeremiah. Everyone can fight me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

04.15.2025

This was the March bookclub pick.
I don't really think it was for me.
It was quite uneventful in the beginning. Took a good 100 pages to get into it. Once the storm came through, it picked up. But was still just, meh.

Like I said, not for me. So I won't be rating this one.

03.28.2025

I don't know how Michael can deal with the immaturity. My goddddd.
"Sexy dance" was repeated so many times, it was reallystarting to hurt my eyes.
And Lilly just gets more and more selfish through each book. Please drop her Mia. I'm begging you.
I do enjoy JP's character. I hope he sticks around.

⭐️⭐️

04.06.2025

The more and more I think about this book. The more i like it.
I was very "meh" about it at first. Too predictable and all of the characters are very unlikeable. But McFadden really weaved some stuff in there that had me revisiting it for a couple days after finishing.
Not like her other books - it wasn't my favorite of hers, but it was certainly done quite well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
03.27.2025

This was tons of fun. Enemies to lovers was excellently done.

Some of the writing was a bit confusing so I had to reread some parts, but I loved both MC's and I really loved the ending. I recommend this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
03.15.2025

And in this month of Mia's life... she's really not ready to "do it".
But she might be able to crush running for student council president. Even if she doesn't want to do that either.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
03.05.2025

Another buddy read with @BookBabe2018 !!
This was good, but not as good as the first one.
I am really excited to read more in this series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

02.21.2025

Mia, it's just prom.
Lilly, wtf? But also, "you forgot to complain about your grandmother". Yes. Lilly does Tell it Like it is
Michael, ?
Mr. G is so cool and fun

This has been the most annoying so far. I couldn't wait for it to be over. But also, I loved it? WHO KNOWS!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

02.15.2025

Mia, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Parking meters, really?????

This was a bit whiny, so it is totally believable. Lilly saying that the made for TV movie made her look like a bad friend. LOOK IN THE MIRROR, SISTER.
But honestly, Lilly was much better and way more supportive. Especially when it came to her best friend and her brother. That was really nice.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

01.27.2025

Lilly still sucks. Tina should be her real best friend.

Mia's bodyguard, Lars is the only option I would accept if I were required a bodyguard.

All of the adults in Mia's life are fun, but in different ways. It seems like she has mostly good role models.
Her dad, Philippe again steals the show. He is so cool.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

01.19.2025

This book was pretty heartbreaking.
The animal abuse.
The human abuse.
It was hard to read at times. But I did enjoy the ending.

This had been on my TBR since seeing the movie in theatres.

01.15.2025

Well, I know what I need to do this year, 3/104

Bud not Buddy
The Giver
Bridge to Terabithia

Any recommendations for books I NEED to read?

#TLT
#ThreeListThursday
@dabbe

Why is Lilly such an awful friend? I know everyone is selfish at that age, but this is just unacceptable. Mia is doing her best. The negativity is unhelpful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

01.10.2025

1. My sister and I started walking with the Conqueror Challenge app and connecting a lot more (she's in AK, I'm in NC)
2. I have a new boss!
3. Just started watching Vampire Diaries for the first time!
4. The Freida McFadden bookclub at work is BACK AT IT!!
5. My husband is finally feeling healthy again 🩷

@DebinHawaii
#5JoysFriday

"Okay. So I was just in the kitchen, eating cereal, you know, the usual Monday morning routine, when my mom comes out of the bathroom with this funny look on her face."

Mia Thermopolis, I just gotta say it... You have my stupid heart.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

According to Mia, I have only 2 more years to reach self actualization.
No pressure. 🙃

50 books in 2024!
35 physical book
15 audiobooks
3 DNF's
7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In 2025, my reading goal is 50 books. And I want to clear out at least a quarter of my TBR bookshelf.

"The woman's apartment is never silent again"

My 50th book of 2024!

12.31.2024

I've done something dangerous. I've started a 12 book series that I will have to obsessively read.
Dare I say that this is my favorite read of 2024?

The characters and their personalities are so different from the movies, it was hard picturing Julie Andrew's. And I LOVED that. This book was so unexpected and funny.
I didn't know that I gave permission to Meg Cabot to read my own personal diary!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

12.31.2024

I hated this book so much.
4 ⭐️'s

12.28.2024

A Taylor Swift reading challenge? Obviously yes.
Found on Instagram!

#TaylorSwiftReadingChallenge

I kind of wish I looked into the genre of this one before reading it. But overall, it was sweet. The 2 love interests lacked chemistry, but I liked them both individually. It was 200 pages (4 hour audiobook), so I guess you can't ask for too much.
Everything turned out for the best. imo

⭐️⭐️⭐️
12.26.2024

There were parts of this book that I really liked. I love Violet as a character. I loved how Tairn would constantly tell her, "I chose you for a reason. Don't listen to those jerks. You're a badass."
Andarna was so funny! I think the dragons stole the show.
What was the point of Cat? An annoying subplot, imo.

I did not see that one twist coming.

It was okay. I see why people like it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

12.22.2024

I hit my reading goal!!

Cerulean Sea is my favorite book. So I was beyond excited to read this. Sadly, this wasn't quite the sequel I was hoping for. The magic and beauty that I loved about the first book, didn't really make it to this one.
The first half of the book was so funny and cute - the scene with Chauncey and Phee sitting on the stairs serving as lookout was so silly! Sal and Theodore - all the time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

12.11.2024

I laughed, I cried, and I laughed some more.
This series is truly something special. This is my least favorite of the series, but I still really really loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

12.01.2024

1. My husbad, he drove me almost 2 hours for Culvers.
2. Katie the Cat - A true beauty and LOML
3. Coffee has been something to look forward to. And Starbucks has their Sugar Cookie latte!
4 & 5. Family & friends - I married into an awesome family! Last Saturday, @BookBabe2018 had her baby shower. The whole room sang HBD to me. It was her day, and she still found a way to make me feel special (& embarrassed) ILY!!
#5JoysFriday
@DebinHawaii

This novella!!! AHHHHHH.
I laughed A LOT and had to face palm a couple times. When we find out what her Houseman did, I burst out laughing.
It's so ridiculous, I had no idea what was going to happen next. I loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
11.23.2024

I was riding this train so high... until the end.
4 ⭐️ for the first 92% but that last 8% knocked it down to 3 ⭐️
Another buddy read with my bestie @BookBabe2018

11.17.2024

Can I give this book 5 HUNDRED stars?
My favorite Freida McFadden book. This was a buddy read with @BookBabe2018 and we did not even come close to guessing the twist.
It was so good. An absolute ✨️chef's kiss✨️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

11.05.2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

08.10.2024

I really really enjoyed this.
I loved Luc and I grew to love Oliver.
There were so many sweet moments in this book that definitely gave me kicky feet.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

10.20.2024

Not the best book ever, but entertaining enough.
Really quick and interesting in the beginning and then slowed down.
I didn't care about it, but also was intrigued enough to keep going. I really liked the ending.

I did buy it off Amazon for like 99¢. If this ever comes along on Amazon Prime Reading or you find it at the library, it's worth it. But buying it? Maybe not.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

09.28.2024

THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE!!!!

Also, death to price stickers 😭

I really loved this book until the end.
Jack is an interesting character. I only wanted good things for her, but she kept making very questionable decisions.
It was fast paced and filled with mystery. But the ending was just blah. There is one specific theme in books that I don't like, sadly, this hit that particular theme.

This is a soft recommend.

Thank you @BookBabe2018 💜

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

08.17.2024

Is the writing great? No.
Has the writer ever watched a F1 race in their life? It doesn't appear so.
Did I eat this up? Heck yes. And I will read the next one... if there is one. Johannes maybe? There's still some mystery there!
There was some spice, but not a ton. I loved both characters. And it was just overall a fun read.

🏁🏁🏁🏁
08.17.2024

There is only one other book that I can think of that made me feel the way I was feeling while reading this book. I don't know if it was the writing or my headspace, but every time I read this, I was just annoyed. I hated actually reading it.

Because of how highly this book is rated, I'm nervous to give it a rating here. But I DNF'd at page 127.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It is my new favorite.
It was so funny, so sweet, and so wonderful to read. I highly recommend it... actually, this series has been awesome so far.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

07.11.2024

I honestly gave this book 50% before I DNF it. I love a multiple POV book, whice seems to be how Kubica writes all of her books. But this... nothing was happening. And if something was happening, I didn't really care.
This is the 5th book I've read of hers, and still nothing touches Local Woman Missing.

08.03.2024

This felt more like a cozy mystery. It was pretty muted. The characters feel mostly forgettable.
Reading it with my eyes was just okay. But the audiobook really pushed it to ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.
Not a bad book at all, just not for me.
Spoiler in comments.

07.19.2024

I am very aware that I am not the intended audience for this. I didn't read it as a kid, so there isn't that nostalgia for me. My older brother LOVES this series and I really just read it because I love him.

06.27.2024

I absolutely ADORED the Unhoneymooners. It actually was the first "romance" book I ever read, and it opened my world to a whole new genre.

This was just okay. It wasn't bad at all, but I didn't need an enemies to lovers when the first one was enemies to lovers...
Or maybe, I just like Olive and Ethan more?
Maybe enemies to lovers is my least favorite trope (okay fine, it's actually fake dating). I DON'T KNOW. Just read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
06.12.2024

The very last twist. WHAT?!?!
My least favorite of Freida McFaddens so far, but still worth the read. It does annoy me that she makes a reval and then just ends the book. I need more explanation please.
So far, I've read The Housemaid, The Inmate, Never Lie, and this one. I'm really on a Freida kick right now. Really enjoying her writing and story telling.

3.5 ⭐️

I'm really loving Freida McFadden. I haven't read a disappointing book yet!
You knew something was weird from the first page - there was such an eeriness to it. Definitely not a wake up in the middle of the night and try to read a book to pass the time until you fall asleep book.
Loved it!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
06.02.2024

I need to start off by saying that I LOVED this book & series. IMO, DR was better, but this was still a beautifully written story.
However, through the whole book I was just waiting for someone (other than the obvious) to be the villain.
Iris just s u d d e n l y had a bunch of great friends & nothing bad happened. There was no build up. More in comments ⬇️

Buddy read with @BookBabe2018

4⭐️
05.27.2024

This book was so sweet.
I couldn't put it down. I loved Emma and Justin.
I love how they both actually talked to each other. There wasn't that annoying feeling of me wanting to shake them and tell them to just talk.
I wasn't expecting that specific fallout.

I hadn't realized it was part of a series when I first picked it up. I'm so so so happy there is more to read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
05.27.2024

I started reading this in 2021. I only read a couple chapters, then lost interest. But because my MIL recommended it, I felt the need to give it another try. I recently got Audible and found the audiobook there.
It was pretty good, a solid 3 stars. I liked it enough to finish it, the reveals were unexpected. This is part of a series, but will not continue. 🐪👠

05.02.2024

Because this was an ARC from Netgalley, I gave it 50%
The first 50% was fine enough and did keep my interest a bit, but I didn't care about any of the characters and I couldn't keep any of them straight.

Around 80% it finally started picking up. But the twist... it was unpredictable, yes, but not at all satisfying.
The epilogue just shot through the story. I would have liked the author to take her time a bit more.

⭐️⭐️
04.26.2024