Not that anyone cares, but I changed my rating system from out of 10 to out of five. I just feel like it makes more sense.
Title: The Banker’s Wife
Author: Cristina Alger
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Totally digging this author! I read Girls Like Us over the winter and I really appreciate her writing style. Although I didn’t love this one as much as the last, it is still really good. Her writing is pretty much fluff-less and keeps you intrigued the entire time. I wish there was a little more explanation at the end but regardless it was shocking yet very satisfying.
Title: You Are Not Alone (RRN!)
Authors: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Rating: 4/5
Comments: I started this 340 page book on a Thursday afternoon and I finished it by Friday night. Soooo intriguing. Clearly I could not put it down. I was able to spot a major plot twist early in the novel, but another one really got me! It provides a unique example of how psychology relates to behavior. It’s perfectly methodical in the most maniacal way. These two authors also wrote The Wife Between Us, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Title: The Guardian
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 3.5/5
Comments: I cannot remember the last time I read a Sparks novel. He has a reputation for being corny but this… this is not. Yes it’s kind of a cheesy love story. Actually, it’s not really cheesy. It’s just a love story! And a thriller. I’ve only been reading thrillers lately so this was a nice mix of romance and suspense. It has his typical small-town setting and happy ending but the ending isn’t all happy. I shed more than a few tears. This has inspired me to not avoid Sparks all the time.
Title: One of Us is Next
Author: Karen M. McManus
Rating: 4/5
Comments: I absolutely loved it. I loved the prequel, One of Us Is Lying, when a friend gave it to me in the summer of 2018 and thoroughly enjoyed it. As soon as I heard about a sequel, I ordered it! I was just so excited to revisit these characters and it did not disappoint. It is just as awesome as the first one. I just love McManus’ writing style; it’s not too fluffy and it has a lightness to it even though the story is serious. HIGHLY recommend. I will be purchasing her third novel, Two Can Keep a Secret, ASAP.
Title: Final Girls
Author: Riley Sager
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Once again, Sager does not disappoint. I was obsessed with Sager’s The Last Time I Lied, which I read in the fall of 2018, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on another one of his novels. I read this in like 36 hours. It’s that good. I could not put it down. It’s terrifying yet intriguing. The idea of these “final girls” is so unique. I enjoyed the suspense and the suspense is ultimately what led to me finish the book so quickly.
Title: The Girl Beneath the Sea
Author: Andrew Mayne
Rating: 2.7/5
Comments: I barely got through it. It could be because diving terms and pirate terms and investigative terms are way over my head but I never enjoy a book when I feel like I don’t understand the basics. The main character is definitely enjoyable as is her career. But the entire novel is not at all what I expected. And the ending? Horrible. Unless a sequel comes out and ties it all together. But I don’t even know if I would read it.
I want to quickly touch on the Hulu series adaptation of Little Fires Everywhere, which I read back in the summer of 2018. I remember not loving the book at all. According to my review, it was very difficult to finish. However, seeing it come to life was an entirely different experience. Reese Witherspoon is phenomenal. Kerry Washington is phenomenal. The two of them together? One insane experience. Wow. I highly recommend this show whether you have read the Celeste Ng novel or not.
For those avid readers out there, I highly recommend using the Goodreads app! Gone are the days of making lists of books you want to read and trying to remember if you “read it or not.” Goodreads keeps track of all of that for you. It allows you to make a list of books you want to read, books you’re reading, and books you’ve read. While you’re reading a book, you can update which page you left off on just in case you lost your bookmark or want to see what percentage of the book you’ve already indulged in. You can also follow your friends/family members to check out what they’ve been reading lately. I’ve had it for the last year and I absolutely love it. As soon as I come across a book on Instagram or Good Morning America that seems interesting, I add it to my “want to read” shelf in Goodreads. You could always use the website instead of the app if you prefer to keep track on a computer!
*RRN: Read Right Now!
Sarcastically Callie 
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