Promises to Keep by Jane Green

Jane Green books are usually light, easy reads. I thoroughly enjoyed Beach House, and was excited to find Promises to Keep at the thrift store. If you aren’t checking thrift stores for books, I don’t really know what you are doing for your life?? I paid $0.49 for this one!!! Ummm bargain, much?

From Goodreads

Callie Perry lights up every room she enters, and adores her settled family life in tiny Bedford, New York. Steffi is Callie’s younger sister. At thirty, she’s still a free spirit bouncing between jobs and boyfriends in Manhattan. Their long-divorced parents, Walter and Honor, share little besides their grown daughters. But when Callie receives a difficult diagnosis, the family will come together for one unforgettable and ultimately life-changing year.

This was an easy read with lovable characters and a great story line. I really liked the details of the homes that are provided. While there was some difficult topics discussed in the book, I didn’t find myself sobbing like a baby as I do with some books. Which is good, as I wasn’t really looking for a tear jerk-er or anything like that. While the book is not a recollection of Jane Green’s life, it is dedicated to her sister and that made me enjoy it even more. I feel like the sister roles and bond between Callie and Steffi are very relate-able to most people with a sister.

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed this book, but maybe not as much as The Beach House. I recommend it if you like Jane Green books, stories with lovable characters or are looking for an easy read.

Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse

This was another thrift store find! The book was described as the London version of Gone Girl. I have never read Gone Girl, so I cannot attest to that.

From Goodreads

Hannah, independent, headstrong, and determined not to follow in the footsteps of her bitterly divorced mother, has always avoided commitment. But one hot New York summer she meets Mark Reilly, a fellow Brit, and is swept up in a love affair that changes all her ideas about what marriage might mean.

Now, living in their elegant, expensive London townhouse and adored by her fantastically successful husband, she knows she was right to let down her guard. 

But when Mark does not return from a business trip to the U.S. and when the hours of waiting for him stretch into days, the foundations of Hannah’s certainty begin to crack. Why do Mark’s colleagues believe he has gone to Paris not America? Why is there no record of him at his hotel? And who is the mysterious woman who has been telephoning him over the last few weeks? 

Hannah begins to dig into her husband’s life, uncovering revelations that throw into doubt everything she has ever believed about him. As her investigation leads her away from their fairytale romance into a place of violence and fear she must decide whether the secrets Mark has been keeping are designed to protect him or protect her . . .

This book was a little slow going at the very beginning. I feel like maybe the characters aren’t super developed or complex. Once I got in to the juicy part, it started to pick up for me. The last 100 pages were impossible to put down, I had to know what was going to happen. I wont give away any spoilers, but I will say that this book sure does make you think. It makes you think how well do you really know anyone? What would you do if you realized your spouse was hiding a huge secret from you?

Bottom Line: I am glad I read this book and I did enjoy it. If you are looking for a bit of a thrill without being crazy or scary, then this is probably for you.

Yes, Please! by Amy Poehler

I listened to this book through Audible. It was my first audiobook, and as someone who was a skeptical about  listening to a book…this was a great place to start. Amy herself is the reader of the book. She is so hilarious and had me roped in just after a few sentences. I felt like Amy was a friend in my car telling me stories on my way to work.

From Goodreads

In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book is full of words to live by.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave little snippets of Amy’s life, both on and off camera. There were a lot of little life lessons thrown in too. I laughed out loud several times throughout the entire reading, which is a huge plus in my book. Some of my favorite quotes from the book is when Amy was talking about pregnancy and parenting and she said “Good for her, not for me.” I think that it is great to share your experiences and stuff with people, but the rude opinions and all the unsolicited advice that surrounds those topics can be summed up in her words!

She also said that instead of asking a twenty something what they want to do, why don’t we ask them what they don’t or won’t do instead. We spend so much of our twenties pondering this question, and did really anyone know exactly what they wanted? Doubtful!!!

She said that we gain super hero powers as we get older and are able to see through people. That is some serious truth right there!!! And in the last chapter she talks about how her cell phone is trying to kill her, and she is spot on! Basically this book makes me want Amy as my bff!

Bottom Line: You should absolutely read this book. Listening is even better!

Have you read any of these books? What are you reading? Right now I am reading Bittersweet. I will have a review of it up soon.

Linking up with Steph and Jana.