The first half of February was amazing. My schedule was full of date nights, parties, and special events. The last half was awful. Basically, I’ve been coughing up a lung for over a week now. When I’m sick I tend to disregard all of my normal responsibilities but I am able to get in more reading than normal (bonus!). Below are the reviews of a few of the books I read this month.

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Empire of Pain

Non-fiction isn’t my typical genre but I heard this was good so I thought I would give it a shot. I enjoyed the first quarter of the book because it read like a story. The reader learns the history of the three Sackler brothers growing up in New York City during the Depression. Arthur leads the brothers in finding brilliant ways to make money while still in high school.

All three brothers go on to become doctors and eventually, all began research on how drugs could alter mental disorders. For example, how could a medicine treat schizophrenia better than a lobotomy? But they didn’t stop there. Businesses upon businesses were started or purchased that were interconnected (drug companies, medical journals, advertising agencies, medical conferences, etc). The brothers made sure that the connections were not well known or very secretive. Even a competing company might be owned by one or all of the brothers.

The brothers each had their own strengths and interests. The reader learns about the numerous wives, homes, and children. Philanthropy is a large part of the book. The brothers wanted the Sackler name on everything.

Then, of course, the family’s true riches come from OxyContin. The remainder of the book is about how the Sackler family brought OxyContin to the masses. How the company pushed sales with top sellers getting massive incentives. The company looked the other way as pharmacies and doctors were filling/writing enormous amounts of scripts even though they were easily tracking that information. The marketing of the drug was very deceptive. The family felt zero responsibility for the opioid epidemic.

Then came ALL the lawsuits. That’s when the book felt endless to me, reading about lawsuit after lawsuit. You know what happens. This book felt incredibly long. It’s an important story but the last third of the book felt never ending.

Bride

I couldn’t put this down! For a fantasy, it’s a fast and easy-to-follow story. There’s no world-building and not too many characters that it’s hard to keep track of. I was invested in the romantic relationship immediately.

Humans, Weres, and Vampyres exist together but mostly separate. As new leaders step forward arrangements are made to ensure war does not break out. Misery, the daughter of a head Vampyre, is to marry an alpha Werewolf named Lowe.

She’s used to being sacrificed for the good of the Vampyres because as a child she was used as collateral in the human world for many years in a previous alliance. Her only true friend is a human who was her companion growing up. Recently they had a big fight and her friend has been missing for weeks. Misery is worried about her and she thinks Lowe might be able to help her find out what happened to her friend.

This book is more than a hot love story (though it’s that too – with just a touch of gross because of werewolf anatomy). The alliances, backstabbing, families, and friendship make it a really enjoyable read. I hope Ali writes more fantasy!

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice

I’m going to start by saying that if you haven’t read Daisy Jones & The Six, read that instead.

This romance is good but a disservice was done to the story by having two different marriage pacts – ridiculous. One woman making an agreement with two men at different times in her life to marry at the age of 35 if they aren’t married yet is silly. If the book had just stuck with the one storyline from beginning to end it would have been that much better.

Maggie is a singer/songwriter at a crossroads in her life. She’s loved Garrett for 12 years but the timing has never worked out for them. Now he’s engaged and she’s running out of time.

Her teenage love from summer camp, Asher, is a famous actor and is now coming back into her life with a professional opportunity. Does she have the talent to see it through? Will their love rekindle where they left off so long ago?

Other elements of the book are great -infertility, why she hasn’t made it in the industry yet, jumping back and forth between timelines. Just get rid of Garrett’s marriage pact and current obsession and you have a much better story. Plus, I get frustrated with a book about music when I just see or hear the lyrics but I have no idea what the music sounds like.

Everybody’s Favorite

This collection of somewhat humorous essays I thought would be more relatable from the title. Though I did go to church camp (for many years) unlike the author I didn’t experience any religious trauma. I also was never part of a sorority, I don’t rescue sad animals, and I don’t suffer from actual OCD or ticks.

Honestly, most of this book made me feel bad for the author instead of making me laugh. Throughout the book Lillian is always trying to fit in or change herself as she’s growing up, feeling pressure to conform – which we all can relate to but her feelings seem to be so extreme and last a long time.

Some parts are funny but I also don’t love bathroom humor and there is a fraction of that. Overall, not for me. Short, easy read. I did finish it but not one I would say you have to read but maybe if you felt like an outcast growing up or have OCD.

For more book reviews check out my January book reviews!