After We Break by Katy Regnery- Reshelved Books

Hellooooooo!!

Sorry, I've been MIA for a while.  Life sort of has a way of sneaking in on us when we least expect it. Plus most titles I had read of late, didn't do anything for me.  I thought that most of them were blah. 


Have no fear though as I have found books that I liked and those are the ones that I have been reading. 

Case and point: After We Break by Katy Regnery.

It's no secret that I enjoy the books that Regnery writes. 
I snagged a copy of this read in hopes of reviewing it. 

I found this book to be a quick read.  Now, this might be because I read it as an E-book.

This story was a complicated one.  Violet and Zach are now in their late 20s.  They graduated from college, Violet went to Yale and Zach went to Julliard.  
Violet on to write a popular novel and Zach is writing chart topping hits for bands.  
In a bizarre turn of events, Violet and Zach find themselves with each other. 

As the reader, we get to see how Violet and Z (or Vile and Z) heal and move forward. 

There was certainly a fair share of drama in this book.  There was a lot that was going on, not necessarily just between the two.  Zach's life was very involved, we got to see how his career played out (more so than Violet's career as an author). 

What was cool, was that the reader got to see how the two of them worked together to write a few songs. 

This book for me was blah.  Which is hard for me to say given that I really like Katy Regnery's books! 

I found Violet to be a bit difficult and not so easy to forgive Zach.  It wasn't like he cheated on her or anything.  He just didn't handle the situation well and really, you can't fault a 18-19 year old guy for that.  
Even after she learned of his background story, she was still a little hesitant to forgive.

For me, After We Break was a kind of a dud...

I sadly am giving it 3.5 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