Books I read in November

Ever since my Summer HP Re-read and the Summer Reading Challenge, I've kind of slacked in the reading department. It's not that I didn't have time, it's that I didn't make time. Oh yeah, and I was planning a wedding. So I wanted to ease back into the game and my goal for the month of November was to read two book, and I succeeded! I didn't want to have a goal of reading four or five because I didn't want to fail. Maybe next month my goal will be four.

So without any further adieu, here are two short reviews of the books I read in November.

Me Before You

Jojo Moyes

“The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life--or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else's life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window--is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are. Or how you might seem to other people.”

I read this book after reading Amber's review, and her insistence that I read it too. And read it, I did. I'm not even going to tell you the intricacies of the story. But it's a story about love. And loss. And happiness. And sadness. It's a story about a young woman, Lou, who is trying to figure out who she is and what her place is in the world. It's a story about a young man who has lost everything - not material possessions or money - he has plenty of that. He's lost something much more valuable (to him) that he can never get back.

After a certain series of events, Lou and Will's paths become entwined and take each of them on a roller coaster they (nor you) ever expected. They are able to teach each other things about themselves and the world that they never would have discovered without each other.

I read this book and it rocked my world in a way that I didn't know it could be rocked. Laughter was loud, tears were a plenty - happy ones and sad ones. To quote Amber, it was a happy ending, but not the happily-ever-after kind. If you're looking for a book to awaken your mind and soul, Me Before You is the one you need.

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart

"Be a little kinder than you have to."

"Always do the things you're afraid to do."

"Never accept an evil you can change."

"Never eat anything bigger than your ass."

Cadence is a Sinclair. Her grandfather, Harris Sinclair, is a wealthy New Englander with his own private island where he and his blonde, broad shouldered, beautiful daughters and their children spend their summers.

There are four Liars: Cadence (Cady), Mirren, Johnny, and Gat. They were called Liars because they were always getting into things on the island, ever since Summer Eight, when Gat came, they were the Liars. Before that, they were just cousins.

The story begins with Summer Fifteen: where there is love, mischief, questions, and the accident. Cady can't remember the accident itself or much of the events from Summer Fifteen. She can't understand why her mother doesn't want her to go back to the island or why the other Liars haven't replied to any of her emails.

 

Skip ahead to Summer Seventeen and Cady's first trip back to the island: everything is different. Even after two years, Cady can't remember The Accident or any of the events surrounding it. With the help of the other Liars, Cady is able to rediscover the horrible truth surrounding Summer Fifteen.

 

Throughout the whole book (which is relatively short, only two-hundred odd pages) I kept trying to guess how the book would end, and it most definitely kept me on my toes! The ending is not at all what I suspected or thought would happen, and it left my heart heavy. It was an interesting read and I definitely recommend it, but not if you are looking for a happy, uplifting ending.

 

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Have you read either of these? What were your thoughts?