Between breastfeeding and pumping all day every day I have had a lot of extra time to read. Unfortunately, I feel like I’m in a bit of a reading slump. A few of the books I’ve read lately have been so slow moving I find myself choosing to scroll through social media instead of reading (what?!!). Hopefully, my upcoming reads will hold my interest more. Luckily, for the reviews and recommendations this month I included a four-star review and an easy, cute romance pick.

   

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Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating

I needed this easy-breezy cute romance book after a couple of let downs.  In Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating the reader definitely knows how the story is going to end but every once in a while you need a book that is just simple and light-hearted.

An elementary teacher finds out that her best friend’s brother is her huge crush from college who she embarrassed herself in front of many times. Clearly, they can only be friends despite how hot he is. When she has to move out of her apartment for a few weeks they move in together and starting setting each other up on dates. Their double dates don’t go well.

This romance features a man who follows the rules and a woman who is a bit of a disaster (but in a cute way). Even though the entire plotline is very predictable I enjoyed this easy read.

   

The Knockout Queen

To be honest, I regret wasting so much time reading The Knockout Queen. The book is depressing, sad, and I’m not sure what the whole point was supposed to be. 

Two high school neighbors find friendship in each other.  One is a gay male who isn’t really out yet and the other is a girl who is growing at a fast rate and already much taller than the males in her grade.  Both have messed up family situations.  A terrible, violent incident changes their relationship forever. 

Themes of homophobia, loyalty, prison, and dysfunctional family relationships are included.  There are basically no happy parts. The story just keeps getting more and more depressing.

   

The Book of Lost Names

Will I ever run out of WWII books to read, probably not? But there are so many different viewpoints a story can provide from this tragic historical time.

The Book of Lost Names is about a female forger. She is a young woman who narrowly escapes Paris as Jews were being rounded up.  Ending up in a small village she finds she has a talent for forging documents.  Her talent helps save countless lives but will she make it through the war without being caught?

Unlike many WWII books, this story has very little violence. It won’t make you lose your lunch. There is a small romance intertwined throughout the book. The author definitely did research about forgers and included some real-life details. It is always fascinating to read how people risk and sacrifice their lives for strangers.

   

Anxious People

Anxious People is super slow. The book is written in the author’s typical manner which I haven’t been a huge fan of in the past so I wasn’t expecting to love this popular book. I never got into it and it took me a long time to read solely because I found it boring.

A bank robber is unsuccessful in attempts to rob a bank and ends up holding an apartment full of prospective buyers hostage. The back story of how the robber got to this point in life is explained as well as a little history on each person in the apartment. The story also focuses on the father-son pair of cops trying to get the hostages released.

I enjoy how many of the characters’ stories are connected and I thought the ending was great. I only wish the pace was a little faster. It is not scary or suspenseful at all. If you are looking for a book to read before bed this might be a good one to fall asleep to.

   

Need more book recommendations? Take a look at my November Book Reviews and Recommendations!