I find it really hard to find books that I love. You know the ones. They are so good you stay up at night trying to delve through the last few pages.
I read reviews on Goodreads, listen to Reese Witherspoon's picks, and follow blog and Instagram accounts that discuss books.
But I kept feeling like I couldn't find a group that was interested in the same ones I was interested in. But every time I posted on my Instagram story about the books I liked (or disliked), I found that WE felt so similarly. So I thought…. what if WE started a book club. That's a heavy emphasis on we. Because how cool would this be if we made it a collaborative effort.
I want this to be a place where we could not only discuss books but collectively pick what we read. This will be casual, informal, but hopefully a great place for us to connect and discuss books! I know there are other book clubs out there but I have never seen one where the group comes together to pick the book and discuss, so I thought this could be our opportunity!
Here's the schedule:
With all the unrest happening I think one of the best things we can do is turn to books, and discuss them together. I thought long and hard about what we should call the book club, y'all had such awesome suggestions on Insta Stories like “Helene Made Me Read It” or “Helene's Book Club”. But I wanted this to be for US, so it's just called “Reading In Between.” This is open to ANYONE! If you are a blog reader, friend, family member, or you just happened to find this page… great! Join in!
Sign up right here:
And now, for a book review of what I’ve been reading lately:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
One of the best books I’ve read in a while! The story follows Blue van Meer, a teenager going through her senior year of high school. She’s the daughter of an arrogant academic who hops from school to school every semester, dragging his daughter with him. But for her last year in high school they decide to stay in the town of Stockton, North Carolina so she can attend St. Gallway. She befriends a group of popular, wealthy students who spend an awful lot of time with the part-time film teacher. Then, a tragedy happens that leads Blue to solve the mystery. The book was incredibly witty (although a bit long) and kept me itching to keep reading.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
Never ever in my life have I read a book so quickly. If you’re working on writing a book, like I am, and you’re a bit stuck on the plot or the theme of your book READ THIS RIGHT NOW. It is helping me so much straighten out my story and make sure I’m hitting the right beats. It’s essentially a novel-writing guide but it really helped me structure and frame my book. This is a must read for anyone with even the faintest interest in writing.
Prairie Fires – The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser
I grew up reading the classic Laura Ingalls Wilder books “Little House on the Prairie.” They were kind of like my Harry Potter. Except very realistic. It took me a long time to get through this book but it was well worth it. The story is historical, true, and a biography of one of my favorite authors. If you were touched by these books I think this is the perfect book to read to really learn and understand more about her life.
Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
While well written, I kept getting lost in the story and finding myself just wanting the book to be over. The book’s heroine is January Scaller who is under care of a wealthy Mr. Locke while her father is away collecting treasures for Locke’s high society group. January finds a strange book that reveals hidden doors that lead to other worlds and it’s up to her to have the courage to discover more. It was a good story, just not particularly great.
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
I love psychological thrillers but it’s really hard to find anything as good as Gone Girl or Girl on the Train or even Woman in Cabin 10. This book read like a saga and I found most of the characters horribly unlikeable. I was listening to it on Audible and I actually increased the speed so I could get through it faster and just be done. Couples and friends from all different backgrounds head to Mitchell’s Inn nestled in the woods of the Catskills. A storm cuts off power leaving the group stranded in the hotel when one morning someone ends up dead. What at first seems like an accident clearly becomes a crime scene and things take a turn for the worst when another person gets killed. Sound interesting? It’s boring and predictable.
Dame Traveler: Live the Spirit of Adventure by Nastasia Yakoub
Lastly, had to congratulate my friend Nastasia on the release of her book, Dame Traveler: Live the Spirit of Adventure. The book is the perfect coffee table book to inspire your life and future travels. It features women from across the globe (me included) to share solo female travel as well as inspiring messages that are a testament to women everywhere. In a time of stress and unhappiness, this book is full of hope and light.
I’m really excited about this and hope you are too. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
