I hope you find a book (or two) to read after checking out my fall book reviews! The fall brought more time for reading than the summer did, and I read some really GREAT books and also a few I wouldn’t recommend. Romance, suspense, historical fiction, fantasy…this season I read books all across the genre board!

The Kitchen House (*****)

Author: Kathleen Grissom

The first book in my fall book reviews was one of my favorite books that I’ve read in a while! I loved that it was historical fiction, but that it related so well to the racial conflict we have heard about/seen so often in the past year. The story was heart-warming and heart-breaking all at the same time, and the concept of family was beautifully portrayed! I will say I didn’t like the ending, but I also know that’s largely because it wasn’t the fairytale ending I wanted to happen. I am so thankful my mom recommended this book to me, and I wholeheartedly pass that recommendation on to you!

 

Strangers on a Train

Author: Patricia Highsmith // Narrator: Bronson Pinchot

Strangers on a Train may be the only book I’ve read this year that I just did not enjoy. I considered putting it aside several times, but there was a small part of me that wanted to see how the story ended. It is an older book set back in the early 1900s that I found strange and at times annoying. I enjoyed one of the narrators but really didn’t like the other, or the character he read. All in all, maybe you will enjoy this book, but I did not.

 

Friend Request (*****)

Author: Laura Marshall // Narrator: Elaine Claxton

In contrast to my last book review, this book was one I had a hard time putting down…well figuratively, since it is an audio book. This book was a thriller, made even more thrilling when I listened to the conclusion while driving down a dark back road. I tried so hard to figure out the ending, but I was mistaken yet again! I love a thriller with a deeper message, and this book contained messages of teen bullying, comparison, guilt, and more! All in all, 5 stars to this British story!

 

It Ends With Us (*****)

Author: Colleen Hoover // Narrator: Olivia Song

This book! Wow! I finished this book in basically two days, and if I had had more free time it wouldn’t have taken me even that long. I loved this book from the very beginning, first because of the romance and second because of the raw truths it contained. What I thought was going to be a sweet and funny romance turned into something deeper and darker and thought-provoking. This book holds a message of being brave and bold, even in the hardest of circumstances! Thank you Colleen Hoover for sharing parts of your story and shedding light onto a side of abuse that most (including myself) don’t know anything about!

 

The Push

Author: Ashley Audrain // Narrator: Marin Ireland

Raw. Emotional. Heart-breaking. Intense.

This book had so many good reviews, and I finally took the chance to read it. It wasn’t what I expected, but it was a really good read. This writer told, what I imagine, was a very honest portrayal of some of the struggles of motherhood that aren’t always talked about. She captured deep emotions in a way that the reader felt what the mother felt. The fact that there was a “thriller side” of the story just added to the intensity! I think parents would relate best to this book, but as a non-parent I still really enjoyed it!

 

The Getaway

Author: Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen // Narrator: Kate Mara

This short thriller wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exactly good either. It was just meh…but to be fair many of the reviews said this so I somewhat knew what to expect. It has the potential to be better with more character development, but because of the length of the book that isn’t really possible. All in all, this book served its purpose in that it was a quick read that was interesting enough to keep me awake on my long drive.

 

Nothing Good Gets Away: Once & Future Book 4

Author: Meredith R. Stoddard

This is one of the fantasy series that I enjoy, and I think that is because it combines real with unreal. This book is the 4th in the Once & Future series, and it was another good read. It wasn’t my favorite book of the series, but it still ended with a cliffhanger that made me want to read more! Hopefully the next book is coming out soon!

Carve the Mark (*****)

Author: Veronica Roth // Narrator: Austin Butler, Emily Rankin

The last book in my fall book reviews, this was recommended to me by my boyfriend, and it did not disappoint! I love the Divergent series, written by the same author, so I was excited to read it! Similar to the Divergent series, it is science fiction along real life lines. The strongest themes are family and identity…and a budding forbidden romance! I loved this book so much that I immediately downloaded the next one in the series and started listening to it! 5 stars Veronica Roth!!!

 

If none of these books sound interesting to you, check out my Winter Book Reviews, Spring Book Reviews, and/or Summer Book Reviews!

And, as always, comment below with a favorite book you’ve read recently!