Read this with a book club and loved it. It’s full of what you would assume to be common sense reminders but with growing up, may be forgotten or undeRead this with a book club and loved it. It’s full of what you would assume to be common sense reminders but with growing up, may be forgotten or undervalued. Each lesson is also written in a fun tone with examples and perspectives that one may not have looked at these simple principles through.
This was a warm, inviting read that made me feel a little less ridiculous for having theme dedicated days of the week and more inspired to renew a sense of childlike confidence in my dreams. ...more
This story is unlike anything else I’ve read. I like that there’s answers left up to the reader to decide, like the time in which the story is4.5/5 ⭐️
This story is unlike anything else I’ve read. I like that there’s answers left up to the reader to decide, like the time in which the story is taking place in or the ending for some of the characters that are never confirmed.
It’s twisted, it’s intriguing and it’s somehow comforting despite the disturbing town mysteries that unfold.
My favourite part about the story is the metaphoric symbolism as the answers reveal themselves towards the end. I got the feeling as Ellerie was returning to the chaos of the town and battling her inner impulses to either do the right thing or just sit back and observe it as entertainment, that this could be said of the chaos we often see in todays world and our own inner decision to either sit by and watch or take action by doing what’s right, even if it’s only possible in our inner circles.
At times I found the story was a bit slow, hence the 4.5 instead of 5. ...more
Read this book with a group. This is one of those stories where you truly can’t predict the ending which leaves you turning the pages just to 3.5/5 ⭐️
Read this book with a group. This is one of those stories where you truly can’t predict the ending which leaves you turning the pages just to find answers. The only downfall was that the switching narratives and timelines sometimes got confusing with so many voices in the mix. Otherwise, it was a great read with just the right amount of spook and mystery. ...more
This story was very cute and an enjoyable, light read. I found the pace to be a little slow and think the characters could have had a bit more c3.5/5
This story was very cute and an enjoyable, light read. I found the pace to be a little slow and think the characters could have had a bit more complexity and personality but nevertheless it was an endearing read to start off the autumn with....more
This book was nothing like I anticipated and like nothing I’ve read before. At first I wondered if I was going to enjoy it as I found the start 4.5/5
This book was nothing like I anticipated and like nothing I’ve read before. At first I wondered if I was going to enjoy it as I found the start a little slow moving and the concept of the gods and their world/existence complicated to comprehend. (Spoiler) By the time Circe is whisked away to her isolated island for punishment and begins dappling in her witch powers I was completely hooked.
This book is both powerful and interesting. It cascades over decades which leaves room for the story to go in many directions while still remaining with the same theme and character development. I absolutely loved Circe, both the character and the book and can’t wait to read more of Miller’s work. ...more
This felt like an adult version of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'. That said, being that a great deal of the book was written in flashbacks of the main This felt like an adult version of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'. That said, being that a great deal of the book was written in flashbacks of the main characters teenage years, I feel like it still could be labeled that of a teen fiction. I loved the fact that this book takes place in places like Toronto, Kingston and the cottage country of Ontario. It's rare to read a book of places I intimately know and feel connected to, which was very fun.
There is definitely a lot of wholesome moments, chemistry, steamy scenes and warm connection between the main characters. Percy is likeable for the sake of her relatability; she isn't perfect but she also isn't entirely predictable in her development and choices from preteen to full adult. Sam is ultimately a hot, sweetheart nerd who says all the right things which makes him instantly likeable in my books. Charlie is a bit harder to pin down in terms of likability, and I found myself struggling with his decisions and reactions to situations in the book the most, but still enjoyed the bits and pieces given from him throughout the chapters.
I think ultimately, I would give this book a 3.8/5 - the first 2/3 of the book set the perfect energy and promise of a fun, lighthearted summer read. However, I found the last section of the book to be rushed and, despite the obvious foreshadowing at the beginning which made what was bound to happen quite obvious, the actual reasoning and details of the characters choices that created all the friction the book is based off of fell short.
Warning: spoilers. 1. I found it jarring how quickly Percy was able to reactively cheat on Sam, especially with someone so important, given that he was not only the love of her life but her best friend for many years. Also, during this encounter, she doesn't seem to think of Sam at all despite being completely sober, it seemingly being her 'first time' and having a moment between the kiss and moving upstairs to have had a reality check sink in. 2. I found it equally weird that Charlie was so willing to betray his brother as well, despite being the closest witness to the bond the other two shared and knowing how much his brother loved Percy. There was also not much character development for his character, especially in the aftermath of this decision. He seems like more of a plotline pin to keep the story together that I wished had been flushed out more. Also, other characters like Taylor felt super random and one dimensional as well. I think it would have given more to have made Taylor super sweet and likeable instead of the usual beautiful-yet-bitchy other woman trope. 3. The last few chapters went SO quick after so much build up to the big and yet obvious climax.
All in all, I did love reading this book and think it's a great read for enhancing the hot, summer months. ...more
This book was very cute, very light and fun to read. I loved that it was a summer book yet it didn't take place in typical summer book fashion, and inThis book was very cute, very light and fun to read. I loved that it was a summer book yet it didn't take place in typical summer book fashion, and instead, followed the main character to a setting that you wouldn't quite expect out of a beach read: Scotland.
It's full of funny moments, steamy chemistry, lots of wine (which made me excited to enjoy a glass again post-pregnancy) and a wholesome cottage country setting.
What was missing for me was more depth into a lot of the different characters and better development of the main character herself (at times, I found her consistent internal spiral of self-pity and self-imposed misery redundant and sort of annoying). By the end of the book, she hadn't quite seemed to learn or grow much and there were many loveable, charming, supporting characters I would have enjoyed more details about or getting to know more backstory to.
Nonetheless, it was an endearing summer read. ...more
I loved The Untethered Soul, so when I found out Michael A. Singer was releasing a new book, I immediately knew I wanted to rFull Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
I loved The Untethered Soul, so when I found out Michael A. Singer was releasing a new book, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. I love that the book itself still carried a lot of the same wisdom and spirituality but was written and implemented in an entirely different way from his other book.
From the first few chapters, I found myself completely submerged in his thinking and perspective and immediately began looking at life around me differently. When I was feeling stressed out, overly emotional, mindless or moving too quickly, I caught myself coming back to the analogy given in the book that life was coming into my senses and any friction or resistance to it was a samskara I could investigate.
There are certain times where I think the information and philosophy from this book can be powerful and valuable, and times when I think a different approach might also serve us. The only reason I would deduct half a star from this read is that for myself, I believe there does need to be some room for moments in life where we allow ourselves to ride the wave of emotions that can come from our experiences instead of just attempting to be mindful of and then non-reactive to them. This is where some of the greatest art, greatest soul evolution and greatest understandings of ourselves can come from. That said, this book is a helpful reminder of how not to get lost and powerless to the twists and turns of our inner and outer worlds and instead to find a deep sense of grounding and resilience that allows us to live in an essence that can be quite beautiful.
It's a deep invitation to greet the true roots of our soul, and that is an invitation I am always happy to have extended to me in such beautiful words, timeless inspiration and empowering knowledge. ...more
After reading the first chapter, I was a little concerned based on how hard I found it to read at first that I wouldn't be able to truly Rating 3.5/5
After reading the first chapter, I was a little concerned based on how hard I found it to read at first that I wouldn't be able to truly sink into this read - however, I was wrong. As the chapters progressed, I found myself feeling incredibly protective, compassionate and hopeful for Kya through all of her trials and tribulations and very excited pick it up first thing every morning (and then discuss it with a book club group). Jumpin' and Mabel quickly became favourite characters of the story along with Tate, despite a decent section of the book leaving me disappointed in his choices.
The book does a great job at bringing the setting to life, carving in the details of both beauty and pain and leaving the reader wondering whodunit. This was one of the few books where upon getting to the end, I was still unable to pin who I thought was guilty and ended up being totally wrong in all of my guesses.
The reason for the lower rating comes from two things: (Warning - soft spoilers) 1. I found the story did have some plot holes that nagged at me a bit. The first being how little emphasis there was on Chase Andrew's wife, epecially given the fact that the entire town seemed to have known not only that he was openly and repetitively unfaithful, but that he specifically had been unfaithful with Kya herself. It would have been nice to get a little bit of her character written into the book for some understanding of how and why he was able to be so careless and frivolous in his escapades. I also found the storyline of Kya's mother to be a bit confusing as well. Once getting to understand where she went to and how broken she was afterwards, it was easier to have a bit more empathy for her decision to leave her kids behind, but I still find it odd that her own family had not tried to reach out or go back to find her younger children that she left behind.
2. I did end up reading into the controversy behind the author and found myself feeling a little uneasy by the crossovers. Not because the storylines matched up in terms of details in any way, but mainly because it ended up being a creative story circulating a serious crime that in a sense is poetically justified by the author based on the symbolism of it just being a part of animal nature. When separating the story from the author, I would have likely rated it much higher, but life is a little more complicated and nuanced than that. ...more
I just love Brené Brown. Her style of writing is both educational and relatable with the perfect amount of empathy, grace and humour.
Daring Greatly iI just love Brené Brown. Her style of writing is both educational and relatable with the perfect amount of empathy, grace and humour.
Daring Greatly is not only filled with powerful inspiration and stories to set the advice and information from Brown's studies into reality, but it also encourages a lot of mindful self-reflection and inflicts a feeling of hope that through our vulnerability and openness to deep connection, we can not only lead happier, healthier lives but also create a happier and healthier world. ...more
Little Women was a comforting read with a little bit of something within each sister that made relating to them easy and wishing the best for them strLittle Women was a comforting read with a little bit of something within each sister that made relating to them easy and wishing the best for them strong. I would give the book a lot of grace in knowing it was written some time ago, but I did find certain sections of the book to be a little dry and dragged out, specifically those of the sisters putting on plays. I also would have loved to have more Meg in the second part of the storyline. However, by the time the book comes to a close, each character has taken on a significant character arc and closing the book left a warm, bittersweet feeling. ...more
This book was such a beautiful read. I swapped between both the physical copy and the audiobook while taking longer drives and found myself getting loThis book was such a beautiful read. I swapped between both the physical copy and the audiobook while taking longer drives and found myself getting lost in the stories, symbolisms, traditions and knowledge of Kimmerer's words. My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that at times I felt the flow from chapter to chapter could have been a bit smoother, and there were some chapters I found myself needing to push through more than others. That said, this book has left me with a lingering sense of curiosity about the environment and a more defined sense of connection to nature. It helped me be more confident in embracing an equally respectful and even more conscious relationship to the little bits of earth I come across or that surround my home. ...more
This book is great if you wish to understand why we set out determined for certain ideas, ambitions or dreams but catch ourselves acting out of accordThis book is great if you wish to understand why we set out determined for certain ideas, ambitions or dreams but catch ourselves acting out of accordance with them. It's a digestible book that gets straight to the point and does not beat around the bush in order to cushion the blow. It definitely invites the reader to take multiple moments of deep self-awareness and ownership. I was really happy to find it didn't veer into the lane of unhealthy positivity and instead encouraged accepting the hard work it takes to truly face what our deepest desires and inner narratives align with.
Read this with a book club. It created a lot of great topics of discussion, prompts to take away for solo-journalling and everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy. ...more
This book has been the best company over these past few weeks and such a welcomed escape from the day-to-day into a world full of passion, deep love, This book has been the best company over these past few weeks and such a welcomed escape from the day-to-day into a world full of passion, deep love, adventure and perseverance. I was already an Outlander fan from finding (and quickly falling in love) with the show in the depths of 2020. When I first saw the books, I was a bit intimidated by the size and quantity that I prolonged jumping in - but now I am so glad I did.
In typical cliché fashion, I have to say the book highly surpassed the show - which is seriously saying something, as I'm a big fan of the casting and on-screen chemistry of Claire and Jamie. The details of each scene are so exquisitely painted into focus that you can almost feel the warmth of the joyous moments and the pain of the more torturous ones. Gabaldon is such a beautiful writer and doesn't shy away from the true realities of what it would be to wake up in a completely different time, bound by two tides of the heart, outdated cultural ideals and historic accessibilities. Somehow, Claire does so while still remaining a inspiring and fiery heroine.
I am so glad this ended up being the read I picked up after discovering I was expecting. I took my time reading over the first few chapters so that I I am so glad this ended up being the read I picked up after discovering I was expecting. I took my time reading over the first few chapters so that I could follow along based on my pregnancy progress. Then, in the third trimester, I picked up the pace so I could prepare myself with knowledge of birth, breastfeeding and all the healing, connection and preparation that comes after.
Erica Cohen did a beautiful job at outline and empowering all possible choices, chances and possibilities when it comes to going about the pregnancy and birthing journey. The book is equipped with lots of information, recipes, tips, exercises and more. There is a lot about pregnancy and the birthing experience that I feel I would not have known had I not read this book, which allowed me to bring any questions or information I found new or unsure of to my midwife (specifically about the postpartum healing journey and my choice of birthing location and preferences).
Would highly recommend this book to anyone embarking on this transformative journey. ...more
Not only is this a lavish read, but it also tackles a wide range of social topics while giving each character true humility and personality that keepsNot only is this a lavish read, but it also tackles a wide range of social topics while giving each character true humility and personality that keeps you coming back for more. Evelyn Hugo is a total boss who shares her igniting and inspiring story while also showing that there is a side to her the world doesn't see - that we see only what we wish to see. ...more
What a warm and comforting read. I've heard about Hygge many times before but it took on a whole new meaning being able to really dive into the concepWhat a warm and comforting read. I've heard about Hygge many times before but it took on a whole new meaning being able to really dive into the concept and the lifestyle practices one can implement into their day-to-day life.
This book was read with a group and it was enjoyable to put the concepts into practice with trying out different Hygge recipes, making emergency Hygge kits and adding cozy lighting to our spaces.
A recommended read for anyone who wishes to learn more about the lifestyle along with a few studies behind the lifestyle. ...more
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