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Being back at work this week means that I’m finally on some sort of regular schedule. I’m not claiming to be anywhere close to normal, but I’m trying to get up at the same time and go to bed at a reasonable hour and eat actual meals and read and blog and… you get the picture. Yesterday’s return to work was surprisingly uneventful and I spent some much needed time snuggling Polly as soon as I walked in the door. Today’s post isn’t exactly on time, but it is published, so I’m going to call that a win.
As always, head over to read Rachel’s post today, because she reads more than two books a month and has really great things to say. Thank goodness she’s kept this link up afloat while I napped with Polly for the last eight weeks!
38. I FOUND YOU by Lisa Jewell
★★★☆☆ | Thriller
In the windswept British seaside town of Ridinghouse Bay, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on a beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside. Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, newlywed Lily Monrose grows anxious when her husband fails to return home from work one night. Soon, she receives even worse news: according to the police, the man she married never even existed. Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty Ross are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. The annual trip to Ridinghouse Bay is uneventful, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just because he’s a protective older brother.
I’m honestly not sure if I loved this one because it was really good or if I was just so excited to be reading for pleasure again, that I flew through it. I have read several of Jewell’s novels and while some have been misses for me, the last few have been really good. This one isn’t completely unpredictable, but there was plenty of suspense and several twists that I didn’t see coming. Grab this one if you need a solid thriller that will keep you turning the page.
39. THE LIES WE TOLD by Camilla Way
★★★★☆ | Thriller
A daughter: Beth has always known there was something strange about her daughter, Hannah. The lack of emotion, the disturbing behavior, the apparent delight in hurting others…Sometimes Beth is scared of her and what she could be capable of. A son: Luke comes from the perfect family, with the perfect parents. But one day, he disappears without a trace, and his girlfriend, Clara, is desperate to discover what has happened to him. A life built on lies: As Clara digs into the past, she realizes that no family is truly perfect, and uncovers a link between Luke’s long-lost sister and a strange girl named Hannah. Now Luke’s life is in danger because of the lies once told and the secrets once kept. Can Clara find him before it’s too late?
If my first novel of October was good, then this one was great. This was my first time reading anything by Camilla Way and I loved the way she developed the story. It alternates between timelines, but not in a way that makes it difficult to follow or understand. The characters were all really interesting and I even loved the ones you were supposed to hate. This was last month’s Book of the Month selection, so if you didn’t grab it the first time around, be sure to make it your extra this month!
You know I didn’t set any numerical reading goals for this year, but I still plan to track my numbers, much like I did in 2017.
Total number of books in October: two
Number of fiction books in October: two
Number of nonfiction books in October: none
Number of Audible books in October: none
Total number of books this year: thirty-nine
Favorite book of 2018: An American Marriage
Currently reading/listening to: Crazy Rich Asians
Rachel and I are so excited for you to join us this month, for the Book by Book Link Party! The first week of each month, we’ll share our reading recap from the previous month, along with a linky widget where you can share your own post(s). The widget will be open for the entire month, so feel free to add as many posts as you’d like until the next round begins. Share your reviews, reading roundup posts, gift guides for readers, or anything else book related. Share with your friends and tag us on Instagram — let’s grow another link up together this year.
Want bonus points for reading something outside of your comfort zone? Here is a list of Collaboreads-style reading prompts, just for you!
