A list of all the books I am reading this year. Trying to get to 50 but with 3 small kids, I'm just happy if I get a book a month.

The Secret Ingredient

A quick fluff read but not one that will stick in the memory bank.

Go Ask Alice

I really enjoyed this book.

Second Chance

True Colors

Loved this book. Not as good as Firefly Lane but definitely a great book!

The Glass Castle A Memoir

The Pilot's Wife

Didn't see what all the hype was about this book.

My Sister's Keeper

Great book! Now I want to see the movie.

The Lucky One

Not one of his best works but a decent read. It took me a little while to get into it but I really enjoyed My Sister's Keeper and probably started it a little too quickly.

The Wednesday Letters

Quick read and heartwarming story with a wonderful message.

The Penny A Novel

Very poorly written with just the message in mind -- the author didn't care about the actual story. This could have been MUCH better.

Mandy Sue wrote: " The Glass Castle A Memoir"

Did you like this one, Mandy Sue? Not as in like her life, of course, but I'm glad it got written and that I was able to read it.

You know you just made me realize I never reviewed it. I know it caught a lot of slack because people couldn't believe that she had such a vivid memory of her childhood but I understand it. My husband had a very rough childhood, and he remembers things from when he was 2 years old in perfect details. It was a really good book. Knowing my husbands past it kept me doing a comparing of his story and he has been wanting to write a memoir for some time so I really read it thinking that he could definitely do it. It's nice to read a memoir of an average person rather than a perfect celebrity. KWIM?
What did you think of it, Elizabeth?

I was so glad she triumphed over such adversity. Not everyone does. I was glad the book was written because the abuse and neglect that happens to children, not just in third world countries, but in the US where we think we're so much better than everyone else, is a story that needs telling. But it is a story that needs telling because it is also in the US where it is possible for every child raised in such circumstances to prevail. I am astonished when I read that others feel so ho-hum about this one, too bad so sad.

Hi Mandy Sue! I think if you manage a book month - hats off to you! And if you can reach 50 for the year - awesome! Either way, happy reading! By the by, what did you think of Jane Green's book, Second Chance?

Mandy, this book also rang very true to me because of my ex husband's life and what he went through. I thought this was a pretty powerful memoir!

Nadia ~ Can I tell you for the life of me I can't remember what the book was about. I know I was disappointed with Second Chance and her previous book Swapping Lives. She used to be my favorite writer and these two were disappointments. But I honestly have no memory of the actual story. I must not have liked it very much. LOL

Holli ~ It was powerful! And I completely agree with everything Elizabeth stated.

11. Change of Heart

This book definitely wasn't for everybody but I loved it!

Good list Mandy. I like how you are listing them. I read Go Ask Alice several times when I was in Middle and High school and I think it always helped me to never even take that first drug. I loved it.

I can't wait to read Change of Heart now!!

Shelby ~ I wish I read it when I was in high school. Maybe it would have changed the way I acted out. LOL

Holli ~ Definitely pick it up. It's a great read. =)

12. The Wedding

A wonderful love story and follow up book to The Notebook. <3

Good list, Mandy Sue! I LOVE anything Nicholas Sparks. I'm reading The Glass Castle right now, and although it's pretty disturbing...I'm still intrigued. Change of Heart is definitely not for everyone...I had a hard time reading that one. But I've enjoyed most of Picoults other books.

I've only read two Picoult books and I enjoyed them both. I like her writing style and I like the subject matters I picked up so far. Change of Heart was right up my ally but I know it's not for most.

I love Nicholas Sparks and try to pick one up every once in a while. They just make me smile and giddy when I am reading them. So romantical without all the corniness of romance novels.

I really enjoyed The Glass Castle. It was disturbing but I know it's hard to put down. I hated the mother. I know that a lot of people hated the father but I honestly felt that he did love his kids. The mother on the other hand.....*insert curse words here*

Lol! I agree! I think the father does honestly love his kids, and I'm finding that I dislike the mother alot, too!

I totally agree about Sparks. He is my favorite author of all time, and I haven't really read a book by him I didn't love. My top favorite of his is The Guardian. LOVE that book.

The most recent Picoult book I've read that I really liked was The Pact. I also enjoyed Vanishing Acts. I have a few more at home to read - but sometimes I need to take a break from her stuff. She's so intense.

Yeah, definitely hated the mother. LOL

I haven't read The Guardian yet. It's on my TBR shelf and I have a copy. Maybe I will read that one next. My favorite writer of the moment is Kristen Hannah but I have always loved Nicholas Sparks. I have three favorites, The Notebook, Dear John and A Walk to Remember. I just adored those books and the characters!

I just started with Picoult this month. I will pick up Vanishing Acts and The Pact. Thanks for the recommendations.

I love Kristen Hannah. One of my favorite books that I read last year was Firefly Lane. I love that book. And I really liked True Colors.

The Notebook ranks high for me too. Did you hear they are making a movie for Dear John? I'm excited for that.

The next Picoult book I'm really wanting to read is Perfect Match. I'm looking for it at every used bookstore I stop at!

The Guardian is really good Mandy, I think you'll love it!!

It took me two boxes of tissues to get through Firefly Lane and then my husband laughed at me while I sat in the corner of my couch sobbing when it was over. What a powerful book. I recommend that book to everyone I talk too. I read it last year too and it is still my favorite book.

I didn't know they were coming out with a movie for Dear John. I love the Sparks movies but they always alter something that I found meaningful and then I get upset. Then I watch the movie so many times that I forget the actual book. *sigh* What the love of books can do to a person. LOL

I have Perfect Match on my wishlist. My mom usually goes and picks up books once a month and I told her I wanted it. Hopefully I get it soon.

Holli ~ I'm going to grab it next. It's at my parents house. Now I really want to read it.

I know exactly what you mean about Firefly Lane! It was one of the only books that have brought me to tears lately!

Can't wait to hear what you think of The Guardian. This one made me cry, too :) But it's worth it!

I'm a cry baby. I cry over every book at least a little. A bit too sensitive I guess. I'm sure The Guardian will break me down if it made you cry.

The Guardian made me cry too!! You're going to love it Mandy :)

Alright you girls convinced me to grab it tomorrow at my Mom's house. I should be done with this book by then. =)

13. Say When

I don't know if it was Elizabeth Berg's writing style (childish) or the book itself, but i really did not like this book. I'm happy to put it behind me. BLEH!

Well, that is kinda disappointing! I'm nervous about reading one of her books now. I'll most likely feel the same way...

I tried to like it, I really did. But I had too many eye roll moments and I disliked the whiny characters. UGH!

I probably won't be too quick to pick up another one of hers. I might out of error but I probably won't read another one on purpose. LOL

This doesn't bode well for me. I've only read one by her and I didn't really like it.

yeah...now i'm worried i won't either. i have one on order from the library. i'll give it a whirl, but i don't have very high hopes now.

Holli ~ It's good to know I'm not alone.

Brandie ~ Good luck, let me know what you think.

14. The Guardian

This was such a good book. Different than his other books and I think he should do more like this!!

I'm so happy you liked it!

Me too! It's one of my all time favs...so I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you, both of you! I really am glad you two recommended it or else it would have probably sat at my parents unread for a while. Now I'm on a Sparks kick. LOL

15. Sundays at Tiffany's

I absolutely loved this book. I just forgot that I read it in January. I thought I read it last year but clicked on it and yeah, I read it this year. Woo Hoo!

I haven't read that one yet. I want to though!

I loved Sundays at Tiffany's, great book!

16. Free-Range Kids Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry

This is the mother to all parenting books. No one wants to put their child in danger or be judged by the better than thou parents and Skenazy does an amazing (and humorous) job at showing us how ridiculous some of our fears really are.

Oh I wish they would have had this for me when my kids were little. I'll bet my kids wish so, too!

17. Summer Island A Novel

Truths hidden behind masks; love lost yet still yearned for. Pain from being apart from family; and resentment for losing so much time.

This one sounds really good :)

Holli ~ It was really good. Actually, I have yet to be disappointed in a Kristin Hannah book. I read it in two sittings.