When Polly met Olly by Zoe May- Reshelved Books

Hi everyone

Summer is here and if we're looking for any good beach reads, you've come to the right place.

You guys, this year I'm feeling that romance books might make good beach reads. 

"When Polly Met Olly" was an ARC that I received from NetGalley.  Like all NetGalley reviews, books are approved to be read in return for an honest review!

I found “When Polly Met Olly” by Zoe May to be a cute book.

As a struggling photographer, Polly interviews and accepts a job as a matchmaker.  Just a change in her career is surprising to not only her friend, Gabe but to Polly herself.  Add in the fact that Polly has been down on her luck with dating for quite sometime. 

In a effort to keep the new job that she's grown attached to and to help her boss in business, Polly goes "undercover" to interview with the rival matchmaking service to be matched with a date.   During her "undercover operation", Polly mets Olly!  He conducts her interview for matchmaking.  There was a flash of chemistry between Polly and Olly in that moment. 

Even though I found this book to be cute, I can see where somethings in the story would frustrate people.  Though it did fall a little flat for me...I thought that there could have been a little more funny and a little more romance.
  
The book was lacking in a few things: the ending with Alicia was a little bit of a cop out and I felt that Gabe and Scarlett just kinda fell off the face of earth.  I think that it would be neat to see what was going on with Gabe and his relationship with Adam.  In a way, I was getting the vibe that there was trouble in that paradise. 

"When Polly Met Olly" is getting 3.5 coffee beans out of 5 from me.  I would still recommend it as a beach read- even though my overall and final feelings on it where a little impartial. 

- Jillian

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves- Reshelved Books

Hiya everyone,  

Once upon a time when I was a better blogger, I had signed the blog up for an account with NetGalley.  I didn't follow the recommendations for NetGalley and I requested far more than I realized than I should have. Not realizing that I would be approved for a decent amount of what I requested.  This caused me to become so overwhelmed with books that I just stopped reading all together.  I'm not talking about days here, either.  I'm talking months.

Cover art was copied from book listing on Amazon

Before I quit reading in the Fall, I was approved by NetGalley (in exchange for an honest review) to read this title: The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves. 

Safe to say that now I'm no longer overwhelmed with books and here I am reading this book months later.... 

The Girl He Used to Know is a book that I really enjoyed. I thought of this book as being a coming of age tale. Yes, I know, the main character, Annika is a 32 year old woman who's reflecting on her life 10 years ago.  When you think of a coming of age tale, you think of teenagers, not a woman who's in her early 20s but let me explain. 

Annika is a young woman, who may fall on to the Autism Spectrum.  She had to learn and train herself for social interactions, with her friends and with her boyfriend.  There's other stuff that took place in the book, that once you read it, it'll make sense as to why I say this. 

As I digress.

I really enjoyed this ARC.  It held my interest and I enjoyed seeing the progress that Annika was able to make. 

The ending of the book blew me away.  It wasn't something that I expected but given that the book took place in 2001 during August and September, I shouldn't have been that the events of September 11th were a part of this book.  Being brought to the time when individuals didn't know what was going with their loved ones who were working in the Twin Towers, near or in the City at that time, was very surreal. 

I'm giving The Girl He Used to Know 4 coffee beans out of 5 coffee beans.

Catch ya'll later!

~ Jillian 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Reshelved Books

This book, you guys. 

I was debating for WEEKS if I should put myself on the hold list for it (on the list with my home library and the list at my work library.  See where I'd get it first) OR if I was going to go out and buy the book.  

MB can totally vouch for this.  We went to Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago, so he could get Howard Stern's new book, Howard Stern Comes Again (for those of you who may have been wondering). 

The hold list for this book is HUGE! Jess said it was a few hundred people deep within my hometown library system and it was just about as big within my work library system (about 240 patrons!!)! CRAZY.  I even went as far as asking Jessica if she got as an ARC. (Sadly, she didn't get an ARC)

While I was debating, I made a trip to Target.  Good ol' Target... The place where you go to buy three things and end up spending $100 on stuff you don't really need.

Went in for diapers and wipes for C and came out with not that but this book and some various other things including a pack of fancy fine tip pens. #officesupplylove

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is one book that you should get yourself on the hold list for at your local library.  Why, you ask? Because it was just that amazing. 

After finishing the book, Jess had asked me if it was worth the hype.  I would have to say that yes, yes I believe that it is. 

(I couldn't find an article on Owen's inspiration for the book but I did find several video interviews on her inspiration.  I just didn't get the chance to sit down and watch any of them at the time of this review :(  )
The book starts in 1952, Kya is 6 years old and she is watching her mother leave.  Afraid and unsure from what's going on, Kya's older brother Jodie, tells her that her mother will come back; a mother fox doesn't leave her young behind because they won't survive without her.  Unfortunately, Jodie's words don't hold any truth to them and her mother doesn't come back.  
Soon after her mother leaves, Jodie has to leave.  The reader learns early on that Kya's father is abusive, over time he becomes increasing difficult to deal with.  Once Jodie and her mother leave, Kya (who is still 6) steps up to the plate. 

Owens flips between the past and then 10 years ahead.  10 years into the future, the reader sees that a local young man has fallen to death off of the fire tower.  There is an investigation into his death and Kya is looked at as the number 1 suspect.  Owens then tells the story of Kya raising herself alone in the marsh of North Carolina and the murder investigation of Chase Andrews. 

We learn of the few relationships that Kya has.  Growing up alone and living in the marsh is very much a taboo.  No one wants to associate with her much less speak with her.  She finds friends in Jumpin, his wife Mabel and a teenaged boy named Tate.  Tate actually helps bring Kya home after she takes her father's boat out when he left home for several days.  Tate is also the one who teaches Kya to read.  As time goes on, Kya becomes one with the marsh and all of it's living creatures.  She begins to know the water that surrounds her as well. 

The ending of this book is what got me.  I was rooting for Kya the entire time, I wanted to see her prevail and to show everyone wrong! 
Those last few chapters though, they knocked the wind outta me.  I was very much satisfied with the ending and I wouldn't have wished that it ended any other way. 

Owens wrote a powerful book that is as much beautiful as it is haunting. 

I give Where the Crawdads Sing 10 coffee beans out of 5. But seeing as how we like to stay on the side of realism here; I will give it 5 coffee beans out of 5. 

After Jess reads this book, maybe we'll bring back our Battle of the Book.  Comment down below on what you guys think about that. 

ALSO go visit our instagram! If you click on the picture up to the left of the one that's in this post, you will find a comment from Delia Owens herself! We love it when authors comment back!

~ Jillian

The Rift Between Us by Rebecca Marsh- Reshelved Books (ARC) *Updated 6/25/19*

I hope everyone had a lovely week(end) (depending on when this gets posted!)

https://www.rebeccalmarsh.com/

I would like to tell you about an ARC that I just read.  The book is called The Rift Between Us and it was sent over by the author, Rebecca Marsh for review.  Like always, any book we're sent is done in ex-change for an honest review. 

This might just be one of the best stories I've read all year.  I honestly mean that; I 110% mean that.  

I highly recommend this book.  I was told a few days ago that the book will be released July 8th 2019!! 

Hey guys! I wanted to let you all know that The Rift Behind Us is available for pre-order now on Amazon!! :) 


The Rift Between Us brings the reader into the rift between sisters Maria, Lauren, and Avery.  Long standing tensions and personal secrets are driving the sisters apart.  Unexpectedly, the girls lose their father, Arthur; Arthur who is the cornerstone of the Anderson family. 

In order to receive the inheritance from their father, the girls must spend two weeks with each other at a lake house.  The hope was that the girls would come together and sort their differences.  (We learn later on that one of their mother's wishes was that the girls would be there for each other- that they would never be there for one another).  In the process of sorting their differences, they have to tackle their own personal battles. 

Marsh didn't let it be known right away what their personal battles were right away.  Those were revealed in time.  I liked this!  In a way, as the reader you were piecing together the clues that were given to figure out what was going on.  I was able to figure out Lauren's battle first, Maria's came next and last was Avery.  


One of the big things I noticed in this book was that there was character development. (We should have caught on by now that I do enjoy a story where the characters grow over the course).  Which got me thinking... So I reached out to Rebecca Marsh and asked if she would be willing to answer a few short questions for this review. 


Rebecca was awesome for answering the three questions I had sent over.  

1. What was your inspiration for this book?

"If you asked me this question about anything else I've written, I would probably tell you that I really have no idea where it came from. However, In this case, I can tell you that the idea for this story stemmed from conversations with my mother. A few years ago she shared with me her concern that, one day when she was gone, her children would drift apart, and it was from those conversations that the idea for this story bloomed."

2. Did you find one character more enjoyable to write? If so, why?

"No, I really enjoyed all three of the sisters in this story. Someone I know once said that he likes being a writer because it gives you permission to talk about your imaginary friends. And he's right, as characters grow in your mind, they can begin to feel like people you really know."

3. There was a lot of character development, did you feel that one woman grew more so than the other two? 

"That's a though one. They all had to step out and grow in different ways. Avery may not have gone as far as the others, but I think her road, in some ways, was a bit harder."

As mentioned above, all three women have their own stories (battles, maybe?) and from this, they are able to grow with the help of each other. (I could tell you what their stories were but then I would ruin the book for you.  What's the fun in that? There isn't any!)

The story that Marsh wrote was beautiful and packed with emotion.  I was happy, sad, and hopeful. The ending of the story made sense.  It didn't feel incomplete; it wrapped up in a way so it was complete (on all fronts - the stories of the 3 women and the book in general).

I would give this 10 coffee beans out of 5, if I could!  Since that's not possible, I'm going to give it 5 coffee beans out of five.  I highly recommend it!

~ Jillian

Certain Genres for Certain Seasons? - For the Love of Dewey Thoughts

Tuesday morning

I found myself in the bookstore.  

I was on the quest! 

On the quest for a good romance novel!

I found what I was looking for.  I purchased two books that, for me at least, are not something I'd usually go for...

Romance!

Now, I'm not talking about YA romance.  No, no.  I'm talking about romance!  The genre were Debbie Macomber, RaeAnne Thayne, and Sarah Morgan inhabit the shelves.  Just to name a few authors. 

I bought 2 books from Susan Mallery: Secrets of the Tulip Sisters and Not Quite Over You.

I didn't realize that Not Quite Over You was the LAST book (to date?) in Mallery's Happily, Inc. series... I thought it was the first one.... Needless to say, I will be reading this series in the reverse order.... 

As I digress.

The question I present to you all is this: Do you have a certain genre that you favor during one time of the year? I.E. some times the best beach reads are mysteries! 

Let me know what you guys think below! You can also let us know on our IG. (Just click on the picture that matches this post up there to your left! Follow us there while you're at it!!)

Catch ya later with some new reviews!

~ Jillian

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Crazy Rich Asians) - Reshelved Books

What's that saying: April Showers bring book reviews??
No.  That's not the saying but it should be!

Behold: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan.

Also copied from Amazon

Copied from Amazon

Last weekend, me and MB got the chance to sit down and watch Crazy Rich Asians. At the time, he also pointed out that my blogger responsibilities have seriously been slacking (not in those words but you get the idea. He’s not wrong there, they have been slacking).

This was a movie that I knew I wanted to see, I just never got to it in the theater. I patiently waiting for it come out on DVD and for my library to acquire it. 

Shout out to MB for not only watching the movie with me BUT letting me break down the book and the movie. (I got to talk during the movie AND almost ruin it. haha)

I felt that in the beginning, the movie and the book almost mirrored each other. 
As time went on, they didn't mirror much anymore. Which makes sense, like with Ready Player One, if the movie was *exactly* like the book, it would be several hours long. 

Ready for this?  

I liked the movie so much more than I liked the book! Right before Araminta and Colin got married in the book, is where I stopped.  It became too confusing for me.  The perspectives from characters were changing, there were just too many characters to keep track of.  It wasn't neat and tidy, which for the most part is how I like the characters in a book to be.  Easy to follow always wins. 

I believe that this is why I liked the movie better!  The characters were easy to follow.  Every character from the book wasn't being represented in the movie.  I feel that characters from the book were merged together to create one character in the movie; combining traits from a lesser character in the book and adding them to a bigger character from the book for the movie. 

The ending of the book and the ending of the movie are SO DIFFERENT!!

I prefer the ending of the movie. I also think that movie Rachel and Nick are far less annoying than book Rachel and Nick.  I, however, find Astrid to be my favorite character and I'm rooting for her. 
I had major a love hate relationship with the book though. Let me tell you!  I stopped reading the book because I started to hate it (please refer to above for reasoning).  Having picked the book back up this week, the more I read, the more that I liked it again. 

Hands down, the movie gets 5 kernels out of 5. 
The book? Well, because I liked it enough to be sad it was over AND to want run out and get China Rich Girlfriend, I give the book 4 coffee beans out of 5.  

~ Jillian

One Day in December by Josie Silver- Reshelved Books

Back before I requested an INSANE amount of galleys from Netgalley and making myself so incredibly sick of reading and stripping away all of the enjoyment I found in reading- because I was BURIED under book after book after book; I found this book as an arc.  I thought of how cute it sounded and how I would very much like to review it.

Fast forward to the end of 2018.  That was months ago.  The book made Reese Witherspoon's Book Club.  I purchased One Day in December by Josie Silver to read it. 

Here we are in the beginnings of 2019 and I'm giving you the review!

Yes, my picture has tiny ornaments. Yes, the title says "December".  In my defense, the book does span 10 years and in that time, Laurie is always opening that new year with a list of her New Year's Resolutions.  Fact.

As noted by the red double Decker bus on the cover of this bus, we are yet again jumping across the pond! (If you can't tell, I would loooove to visit England.  Especially at Christmas time.  I think that it would be truly spectacular and beautiful)


I really really liked this book! It was a pleasure to read.  I didn't fit it to be dull or lukewarm (unlike my review from New Year's Day)

Laurie is riding the bus home from work, miserable.  When she finds that she has caught her eye on a mysterious man.  It was an instant connection! But like any good love story, the bus pulls away and Laurie spends the next year looking for this fellow. 

Again, like any other good love story, Sarah who is Laurie's best friend happens to be dating the guy from the bus- who has a name now.  He is Jack!

Obviously Laurie can't tell Sarah that Jack is the guy from the bus - that wouldn't be cool. Especially because of how happy Sarah and Jack make each other. 

There are a few moments that Jack and Laurie share; there are some major life events that Laurie goes through.  Jack even has a life altering experience himself but they're there for each other as friends. 

Over the course of the book, the reader does get to see how the dynamics of these relationships change.  I found that the book was realistic and relatable. (It was a love story that wasn't far fetched)

Silver wrote a story that left you rooting for Laurie and Jack, whatever their paths may have been.

My rating?  This book is an easy 4 coffee beans out of 5!

~ Jillian

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand- Battle of the Book

I would like to say that I am the world's worst blogger. 

I thought that having these themes would help me stay on top of the task at hand but I only lied to myself... (I watched a RawBeautyKristi video last week where she said that if you announce something before actually making the accomplishment, that you are less likely to complete the task.  Why you may ask? Well, it's because you've made the announcement out loud.  This is something that I'm wholeheartedly agreeing with!)

For the "holiday" theme that I had planned for this month, I read "Winter in Paradise" by Elin Hilderbrand.  It's no big secret, that I am a big fan of Elin Hilderbrand (I don't think it is anyway). 

I looooved loved loved "The Perfect Couple" which was released this summer.  (Jess and me both read and reviewed that book - those reviews can be found by clicking on our respected names)

I was super excited to learn that she was releasing another book this year!  Usually, Hilderbrand's books take place in Nantucket but this one is different in that it takes place in St. John, US Virgin Islands.  It's also takes a similar path to "The Perfect Couple" in that involves a death! 

What kind of death? You'll just have to go and read it for yourself.  I'm not going to ruin it for anyone.

My only issue with this book is the title. I don't get it. Yes, the book starts at the New Year. Yes, they're travelling to an idyllic place.  However, they didn't spend the entire winter there and, the stuff that the Steele family had to deal with, doesn't make me think of St. John's as being a "paradise" for them. 

Aside from the title, the stuff that made the book was good.  

Irene Steele was spending New Year's Eve at dinner with one of her best friends.  Irene is a married woman, in her late 50s with two grown sons (one is living in CO and the other is living in TX with his wife and young son).  Irene is under the impression that her husband of 35 (?) years is away on a business trip.


Little does Irene know, her life is going to change for forever.

One phone call changes everything that Irene believed and known.  Her entire world is turned upside down.

A phone call that leads Irene and her sons to go down to St. Johns in the Virgin Islands.  Where they discover secrets that have been hidden for 12 years. 

Not only is she dealing with the fact that her husband is dead but she is also dealing with the fact that her husband was hiding a HUGE secret. I must say, Irene's character handled everything with dignity and grace. 

In a bizarre twist of fate, Irene's sons Cash and Banker both fell for the same girl (who's name I don't remember).  This was probably the one thing that I didn't like about the book.  I thought that Banker was a jerk about the whole thing- I wasn't really feeling how he pushed his way into going out on a date with said girl.  (In my mind, I saw Cash as being the better fit.)

Hilderbrand pens a story is able to hold the reader's attention.  In many ways this book was like her others.  The relationship that characters have, the stories that they have to tell. 

I give this book 4 coffee beans out of 5.   

~ Jillian

Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle- Reshelved Book

'Tis the Holiday Season!

For December, I thought I would be basic and choose a holiday theme for the books I read. 

Kicking the theme off (for me) is Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle.  (This book would actually be a nice transition, IF I had watched the Hallmark Channel's movie.  Which I did not.  If anyone happened to be around Tuesday, December 4th, Hallmark did show the movie! Totally not a sponsored shoutout. The Hallmark Channel doesn’t know this blog exists. Haha)

I found out about this book when I was looking up holiday books.  Never heard of it until then.  I've never read anything by Nancy Naigle either before this book. 

This book did skew my schedule for December.  Mainly because it took forever and a day to read. 

I found this book to be one that was painfully boring.  There was nothing that grabbed at my attention and held it. Once I was done reading it, it promptly was donated to the book nook at work.

Christmas Joy is about a woman (who is around my age?) named Joy (shocker).  Joy is go-getter, hard working marketing research analyst.  She's always putting her job first before her family.  Joy's only surviving relative, her aunt Ruby falls and break her ankle.  An injury that requires surgery!  Due to the extent of Ruby's injury, Joy goes down to North Carolina to be with her. 

Like any good Christmas story, there is turmoil!  Ruby's injury happens weeks before the annual Cookie Crawl!! (Oh nooooo!) But it's a good thing that Joy will be coming down.  Ideally, she'll be able to help decorate Ruby's house and work with the handyman Ben.  

I think that this is the point in the book where I became TRULY annoyed with Joy and the entire scenario. 

Instead of accepting the help from someone who is aware of the efforts and the demands that are associated with decorating and prepping for the cookie crawl; Joy decides that she's able to do everything all on her own and that she doesn't any help from Ben. 

Of course, while she's struggling to deal with her past and what's going on in the now- she has several epiphanies! All of which Joy basically fights- she accepts them but then she fights Ben still.

The book was just boring (Ugh. It wasn't even boring because Ben was an accountant.)  There wasn't a spark between them.  There wasn't any development between Ben and Joy as characters.  Then out of nowhere, Joy's ex-boyfriend, Todd shows up!  The book also just abruptly ended. 

I am confidently going to give this book 2.5 coffee beans out of 5.  I feel like that rating is rather unfair but I just could NOT stand it.  I could not stand Joy.  She was self described as being stubborn.  I just don't feel like that was the best way to describe her?  That really would not be the adjective that I would choose to use. 


Joy's attitude really ruined the book for me.  As silly as that may sound. 

I wish everyone a Happy Holidays!

~ Jillian
 

The Adults By Caroline Hulse - Reshelved Books

Hello Dewey Readers!

It's time for another Holiday novel review!  The Adults by Caroline Hulse was in my TBR pile for quite a while when I received it as an ARC from Baker and Taylor over the summer and let me tell you this book is FABULOUS!!!

This novel is about four adults: Matt and Claire who are divorced, and Alex and Patrick the respective new girlfriend / boyfriend.   The  two new couples decide to go on a holiday together along with Matt and Calire's young daughter Scarlett and her imaginary friend who is a really tall rabbit named Posey.  Posey wears silver shoes.  With a setup like that, nothing can go wrong, right?  Well... the novel opens with a 911 call (999 because it's England) because someone has been shot with an archery arrow.  

This novel is an absolutely wonderful and captivating read.  It's also extremely funny, which I think is partially because some of the ridiculous moments in the novel could probably happen is real life... or at least the sitcom version of our lives.

While this novel takes place over the Christmas period, it's not primarily a Christmas novel, which is another thing that I love about it.  Quite frankly, I'm sick of reading the sappy, neat, and tidy holiday novels. This was just the book that I needed to read right now.

So Dewey Reader's I leave you with a rating of 5 out of 5 Coffee Beans.

Until the next read!
~Jessica   

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand- Battle of the Book

It's the start of the fourth week of July... 

Which means....

This Tuesday is when The Spine Breakers meet!

Which means... 

This post is for the monthly Battle of the Book!

*The crowd cheers* 

I’m going to start off this review by saying that this is the BEST Elin Hilderbrand book that I’ve ever read.  And I’m totally a fan of her.  When I met her at Bookcon in 2015, I totally had a fangirl moment.

Jess did a really great job at explaining how The Perfect Couple opened. You can read that here.

Just to rehash- Greer Garrison Winsbury is hosting her son, Benji’s marriage to Celeste. The morning of the wedding, Celeste, finds her best friend and maid of honor, Merritt dead! (Yes, you heard me correctly- dead!!). 

Will Celeste still marry Benji? What happened to Merritt?

But, the story isn't all about solving this murder. No no. There is more covered!

Celeste's mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and her prognosis isn't good.  The story looks at Linda's relationship with Bruce and how Celeste sees them as being the "perfect couple".  The story also looks at the relationship between Greer and Tag - do they fit the notion of being a "perfect couple"?

Heck, are even Celeste and Benji the perfect couple??

Hilderbrand tells the story of what happened and how everything came to be in past tense and present tense. She does so in such a way that it’s not confusing (which is *awesome*).

She also unravels all of these relationships to show what is beneath the surface and how everything isn't always as it seems. 

I'm with Jess on this one - 5 coffee beans out of 5!!

This is seriously an awesome beach (and you betcha I've been telling patrons who check out this book at the library the same thing!).

It's even a great rainy day read! Since that's what the weather will be like here for the next few days.

~ Jillian

The Wife by Alafair Burke- Battle of the Book

What's up everyone? 

I hope all is well!

The June book for The Spine Breakers was The Wife by Alafair Burke. 

Yes, another psychological thriller.  This book club group seems to be following the theme.
That being said The Wife was definitely the psychological thriller that I enjoyed the most. 

Angela (nee Mullen) Powell's husband, Jason is accused of rape and sexual misconduct toward two women.  
Burke's story follows Angela has she discovers his husband's infidelities and how her past that she worked so hard to keep buried in the past, might come to light. 

Is Jason innocent? Did he really do the things that he's being accused of? Will Angela always be faithfully by his side? 

In between character narratives and flashbacks, Burke weaves in emails and police reports to help tell this story. 

Burke made sure that the story wrapped up nicely at the end. (Which, is a big thing to me!).  I saw a few people on Goodreads had asked questions about if there would be a sequel.  I gotta be honest, I don't think that I would want there to be a sequel.  I liked it just the way it ended. 

Bookpage conducted an awesome interview with Alafair Burke.  You can check out the interview here. 

The Wife tackles topics that are very irrelevant for 2018.  Which, to me at least, kicks it up a notch. 

Jessica read the book before I did and I remember texting her being like "Colin did it, didn't he!?".  Followed up with "NO! It wasn't Colin.... It WAS Jason!"  I was all over the place with my guesses but that's what made it fun.  Trying to figure out what happened and the who done it.  I'm sure for some people, it's going to be totally obvious who did what - but for me, I had no idea. 

I definitely think that The Wife qualifies as a beach read. I give The Wife 4.5 coffee beans out of 5.  It was a definite page turner.  I liked how the ending played out and I thought it was well written and that it brought to light a topic that is very much real and happening in 2018. 

~JB

Recommended Reads: Dewey at the Shore 2018

Hey guys!

A small section of the ever growing to-read pile...

We asked and you answered!

Here is our list for Shore Reads.  

Keep in mind that these books are in no particular order. We'll be updating our list throughout the summer! Keep your eyes out for #deweyattheshore2018 on our posts! If YOU have a book you want to recommend then comment on this post OR tag us in a picture on IG. We're always looking for new books to read!

~ Jillian

Our Shore Reads for 2018:

• Nantucket Wedding by Nancy Thayer
• I'll be Yours by Jenny B. Jones
• The Season for You & Me by Robin Constantine
• The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot
• Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins
• The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand  
• I See Life Through Rose Colored Glasses by Lisa Scottoline  
•   and Francesca Serritella 
• The Beach House Reunion by Mary Alice Monroe 
• August & Everything After by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
• The Bookshop on the Water's Edge by Patti Callahan Henry 
• At the Wave's End by Patricia Donovan 
• Forever Summer by Alyson Noel
• Summer Sisters by Judy Blume 
• The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon 
• Leave Me by Gayle Forman 

The ones in pink Jessica as read, and the ones in blue have been read by Jillian.  How many more will we read from this list? How many more will we find?  There's only one way to find out! 

Happy reading!

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn - Battle of the Book

Hello everybody.

April's battle of the book is here!!

This month we're gonna be talking about The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn.

I'm hoping that this month, you guys will find this battle a little more interesting than last month's.

Jess's review can be found here.

I'm going to jump to my feelings on this book. 

(But for those who haven't read Jess's review yet; the book is about a woman who has PTSD induced acrophobia. Anna can't leave her house- so she watches her neighbors out of her window. With her Nikon camera. While she's drunk and high on her meds... Yeah.)

I give this book a 3.5 coffee beans out of 5.  (If you check out my account on Goodreads- you'll see I gave it a 4 because there are no halves there!)

Why?

I didn't like the story. 

I thought that it was VERY slow to start.  There were moments when my heart hurt for Anna. I found the story of what happened to be sad and I did hurt for her.  

But the rest of the book...? I didn't like it.  I didn't find it to psychological or to be a thriller.  It was just there.     

I was frustrated by Anna. A lot.  

I know that in order to accept help and move forward, you need to admit to yourself that you have a problem and want to make those changes.  I understand that her past was very big to her and that she wasn't able to move forward right away.  But her character did grow and I was proud of that.  Even if it was basically at the end of the story. 

I felt like the book did wrap up at the end though and that there weren't any loose ends.  

I was surprised by the character who committed the murder.  I wasn't expecting that to happen! 

The way that the murderer had approached Anna and, for lack a better word, "played" her - really WAS creepy! 


I will admit that the book was a page turner for me.  For most of the book, I kept turning the page for more.  It was just that that "more" wasn't really there. 

But it was such a short time frame for the psychological thriller part of the book.  It wasn't very satisfying, if you will.  There was such a slow and prolonged buildup to that WOAH moment in the story- that I felt like it fell short. 

If you're looking for a real thriller, I would recommend The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda.  I thought that was creepier and more twisted. 


~ Jillian

Now That You Mention It and On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins- Reshelved Books

Hip hip hooray for a new review from moi!

Jess reviewed a book by Kristin Hannah earlier this week and today, you guys are getting my reviews on Kristan Higgins.
(No, this was not planned but hey! at least it's following alphabetical order! :-P )

This month, I give you two back to back reviews on books by Kristan Higgins. 
1.) Now That You Mention It
2.) On Second Thought

Now That You Mention It:

Here at FortheLoveofDewey, as I am sure you have been able to see, we give out alot of 4 coffee bean(ed) reviews.

I would like to think, however; that our 5 coffee bean reviews are far and few between (?) At least speaking from my reviews.

Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins is my first 5 coffee bean review of 2018! (It is also my first kindle book on my iPad).

Why? You might ask... Because duh, it's just that good. Because, I bought the kindle book on a Saturday and I finished it at 1 am the following morning on a Sunday.  (Which says a lot when you spend your days running after a 13 month old!)

It. Was. Just. That. Good.

I'm going to say it now that there are going to be spoilers in my review.  

SO. This title came to me when I was unwrapping interlibrary transits. (You know... BEFORE the fall of the interlibrary loan transit system here in NJ) Because I am horrible book person, I judge my pickings on cover art.... As awful as it sounds, it hasn't let me down!

This book brought me the kind of joy that Meg Cabot books brought me.  
I laugh a little (a lot acutally), I cry a little, I got a little frustrated... You get the gist. There were scenes in the book that involved Nora's encounters with her mother's bird, Tweety.  Some of these encounters had me laughing so hard that tears were falling down my face. 

I really really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it. 

****--------------------- Full Spoilers Ahead!!! --------------------------****

First things first! 
You all thought that I would actually ruin this book?!

No way!

Go check it out for yourself!

Trust me, you won't be disappointed!!


On Second Thought:

Unfortunately for this Kristan Higgins book... I just couldn't like it as much as Now That You Mention It....

Why? I'm not quite sure.  I didn't find myself laughing out loud as much.  It was darker for sure, it didn't carry the same levity.  By all means, that's not a bad thing.  I mean the synopsis of the novel shows that it's subject matter is deeper and darker. 

Ainsley and Kate are half sisters, who are both encountering loss; Kate lost her husband and Ainsley lost her boyfriend. Nathan (Kate's husband) died when he hit his head; Eric (Ainsley's boyfriend) broke up with Ainsley after Nathan's untimely death. 

Both girls are learning how to move forward and live their lives by themselves again. 

I found Ainsley to be the comedic relief to Kate's sorrow.  I really really liked Ainsley, I can safely say that she was easily my favorite.  I liked how there was a happy ending for each girl at the end of the story.  It's always nice to read something that ends on a happy note!
I don't understand how Daniel the Hot Firefighter came into play... I was a little confused about where he came from.  I felt like he just appeared?  I wasn't impressed by him... But (I know you're not suppose to start a sentence with "but" :P ) poor Kate! Not only did she lose Nate but she had a few run-ins with his ex-wife, Madeline.  Who was not a nice person, at all.  

On a side note.... It seems like Kristan published a book before If you Only Knew that follows Jenny and Leo.  Jenny and Leo are two characters who come up in On Second Thought. 

In the way of coffee beans, I give this one a 3.5 coffee beans out of 5. 

Both books were easy reads and I would recommend both of them.  Just because I didn't like On Second Thought doesn't mean that someone else might not.  

~JB