The first book I finished in the month of February, was Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline. This story was focused on a man working overseas as an Army doctor. After the death of his wife, he has to come back home to figure out what he's going to do with the rest of his life, now that it's taken a twist. He must learn to be a father to his newborn daughter, whom he barely knows, secure a job for when he returns permanently from Afghanistan, and where his daughter will stay while he's away or if he wants to go away at all. He endures a series of unfortunate events; unraveling a secret that his wife kept, and eventually finding himself in a custody battle for his daughter who more often than not, resents him.
Lisa Scottoline did an amazing job at sparking emotions almost instantly, and quite frequently throughout the book. She left me feeling sad (in tears at some points), frustrated, thrilled, and heart-warmed. Scottoline carefully picked a tragedy and made it into somewhat of an emotional and personal mystery. She made sure you developed a love-hate relationship with all of the characters, not sure if they're good or bad until the very end of the book. These things are what made the book an amazing experience from the first page to the last.
What I didn't like about the book, is how it ended. Lisa Scottoline is a very talented writer, and I have to say that it did end alright, but I didn't want it to end. I wasn't okay with leaving the characters there and not knowing how the rest of their lives play out. That, however, is how most people feel at the end of the book, and by no means takes away from the author's writing abilities.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good drama/mystery/thriller. When I first picked up with book, I had the impression that it would be equivalent to a Hallmark movie. Boy, was I wrong. There was much more thrill to it than I was lead on. Looking for a good page-turner? This one you'll be sure to blow through in anticipation to get to the end, without wanting it to officially end.
Lisa Scottoline did an amazing job at sparking emotions almost instantly, and quite frequently throughout the book. She left me feeling sad (in tears at some points), frustrated, thrilled, and heart-warmed. Scottoline carefully picked a tragedy and made it into somewhat of an emotional and personal mystery. She made sure you developed a love-hate relationship with all of the characters, not sure if they're good or bad until the very end of the book. These things are what made the book an amazing experience from the first page to the last.
What I didn't like about the book, is how it ended. Lisa Scottoline is a very talented writer, and I have to say that it did end alright, but I didn't want it to end. I wasn't okay with leaving the characters there and not knowing how the rest of their lives play out. That, however, is how most people feel at the end of the book, and by no means takes away from the author's writing abilities.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good drama/mystery/thriller. When I first picked up with book, I had the impression that it would be equivalent to a Hallmark movie. Boy, was I wrong. There was much more thrill to it than I was lead on. Looking for a good page-turner? This one you'll be sure to blow through in anticipation to get to the end, without wanting it to officially end.
The second book I seemed to speed through, was Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. In this book, a New Yorker, Rachel Chu, is invited to visit her boyfriend's (Nick) family in Singapore. At this point, Rachel has no idea what she flew into, nor did Nick feel the need to prepare her. Rachel never knew that Nick grew up in one of Asia's "richer than God" families. In fact, she expected to walk into a small home of a poor Chinese family. Nick never flaunted his family's money in New York, as he made a decent living for himself as a professor. Rachel came unarmed into the battle field of snooty, gossiping women, and Nick's unapproving mother. The pressure is increased when Rachel finds out that she is about to attend the wedding of the year while Nick is the groom's best man, making him the next most eligible bachelor in Asia. All the ladies want him and his money, while Rachel questions whether or not she could pretend to fit in his life or not at all. In a novel that jumps from cousin to mother, and to friend, etc. in each chapter, everyone's individual stories prove that no one is as perfect as they seem with their money.
WOW! This book wasn't what I expected at all. It is really something you have to read to be able to understand any summary written about it. I love the set-up of the book. Instead of just following one or two characters through the entire book, you get to go inside everyone's lives. You pretty much have to, to pull the entire story together. Secrets and rumors are spread (moral of the story, of course, is rumors lie). Emotions are picked at more toward the end of the book. I found that it took the first half of the book to build an opinion about every character in the book, and once you're emotionally attached, the rest starts to crumble in a climax that seems to last through the last half of the book.
I'm not used to writing book reviews, but I can't seem to do this book any justice. The ending of course, didn't make me happy again because I wanted to know what happened next, but that's just something I'll have to deal with in almost any book. I absolutely loved Crazy Rich Asians. It's a drama that you really get drawn into whether you like it or not. This book reminded me of a more grown-up version of Gossip Girl and another review said "A Pride and Prejudice-like send-up" which I totally agree with. If you like a good lip-biter and teeth-clencher, please, pick up this book. Kwan did an awesome job, although I wouldn't have complained if he followed up with an epilogue. Happy Reading! ;)
WOW! This book wasn't what I expected at all. It is really something you have to read to be able to understand any summary written about it. I love the set-up of the book. Instead of just following one or two characters through the entire book, you get to go inside everyone's lives. You pretty much have to, to pull the entire story together. Secrets and rumors are spread (moral of the story, of course, is rumors lie). Emotions are picked at more toward the end of the book. I found that it took the first half of the book to build an opinion about every character in the book, and once you're emotionally attached, the rest starts to crumble in a climax that seems to last through the last half of the book.
I'm not used to writing book reviews, but I can't seem to do this book any justice. The ending of course, didn't make me happy again because I wanted to know what happened next, but that's just something I'll have to deal with in almost any book. I absolutely loved Crazy Rich Asians. It's a drama that you really get drawn into whether you like it or not. This book reminded me of a more grown-up version of Gossip Girl and another review said "A Pride and Prejudice-like send-up" which I totally agree with. If you like a good lip-biter and teeth-clencher, please, pick up this book. Kwan did an awesome job, although I wouldn't have complained if he followed up with an epilogue. Happy Reading! ;)