Ashlee’s Comments (group member since May 10, 2016)

Ashlee’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

When will they spin for our new word? Just wondering about planning time for the tags.

Discussion Questions Day 2: Parts 2 - 4

5. We get more flashbacks to Charlotte's early life in Paris, and start to get an understanding of why her family isn't close or communicative - she herself was brought up to repress feelings. Will her current crush on Paros blossom into a full relationship? How will her fascination with Paros help or hinder her main aim of this holiday - to reconnect her children?

I don't think that she and Paros will be kindling any flame. Thus far, it seems as though he may just feel bad for her and her loneliness. She doesn't come across as the best mother. Although her intention was to bring her children together, I think they they will be left to figure that out on their own.

6. Cord: he jettisons a year and a half of sobriety very easily, though I did enjoy how the author then used his drunken ramble through the ship to show off some of the glorious absurdities of massive cruise ships. Will Cord be able to pull himself together over the cruise or is he going to self-sabotage any happiness he might have had? Do you think Charlotte would react badly to his coming out of the closet? Any guesses on how he gets outed?

I think the availabilty of alcohol on the ship is going to cause Cord to self-sabbotage. As far as being outed, I don't think that Charlotte is going to take it well. She strives for everything to look perfect in her family, and she is going to perceive this as a flaw. I'm sure that we will find Cord in a compromising situation with another man on the ship.

7. Lee: We get confirmation that Winston did commit suicide, and chose to do it in her bathroom (what a $*!@$!). Why would Charlotte make her lie to her siblings about how he died? And why does noone call her out about her lies about her career?

I can't imagine Lee living her entire life with this secret (lie) hanging over her everytime she sees her siblings or hears her father's name. Each member of this family is self-absorbed. They don't care where she stands in her career because it doesn't affect their day-today.

8. Regan: plotting murder! The plot thickens! What do you think the private detective has turned up? I assume it must be worse that infidelity, because you don't hire a PI unless you suspect infidelity, right? ('cos of course we have all thought about having our partners trailed rather than just, y'know, communicating with them!) Do you find the flashbacks to Matt rescuing Regan from the artist teacher (shades of Charlotte again!) make him more likeable?

I'm sure there is plenty of infidelity on Matt's end. Although, I'm sure if Regan approached him about it, he wouldn't admit to anything (even if he did, he wouldn't find it as a big deal.) I find his flashbacks make him to be Regan's hero, but what's a hero if he is going to disregard your feelings down the road.

Discussion Questions Day 1

1) This is not a book I would’ve picked up on my own, and from the beginning I felt very strongly that I’m not the target (age) group, so I’m extra curious how I’m going to feel about this. Had you heard about this book before it was chosen as BOM? What were your expectations going in?

I had heard about this book when it was a Reese's Book Club pick. Although I have enjoyed most of the picks from Reese, this one didn't immediately catch my attention. With that in mind, I didn't have very high expectations going in.

2) I was surprised to see that the POVs rotates. Somehow the blurb made me think the whole book would be from Charlotte’s POV. Whose POV are you enjoying the most so far? Who is your favorite character?

I actually kind of enjoy that the POV rotates. I am finding each character interesting for different reasons. I am curious to see how each of their secrets unfolds through the trip.

3) While Charlotte is supposedly the closest to Regan out of all her kids, their POVs show that they actually resent each other the most out of any of our four main characters. I can understand where Regan’s coming from, but Charlotte’s dislike of Regan so far is quite a mystery to me. What do you think is at the core here?

I think that Charlotte's resentment for Regan lies in the fact that Regan distanced herself from her family. She chose to stay loyal to her household over her mother. Charlotte seems to be a very needy woman and wants the undivided attention (on her terms) from each of her children.

4) What do you think will happen on the trip? Will they even do the whole thing? Who will be the first to pack their bags and run back home? Which secrets will come out first?

I think they will make it through the whole trip, but I'm not sure they will do the "family thing." I do think that Lee's feelings for Matt are going to come out early on. Eventually, I think that Cord's secret will unravel, and I'm not sure that his current relationship will be there when he returns.

Susan wrote: "Here are some of my recommendations.

I'm currently reading this but should finish today. I'm loving it so much

[bookcover:The Si..."

Thanks for the recommendations! I just added a few to my ever-growing tbr.

I am so excited to get started today. I want to start every book at one time. LOL

Only 8.5 hours to go. ;)

Susan wrote: "I copied and pasted this that I sent the MOD

I had 3 wisdom teeth pulled 2 weeks ago and got something they call dry socket but I didn't realize that's what I had. I've lived in so much pain for t..."

Hi Susan. Welcome to the team!
I'm sorry that you are having some rough days. I hope there are some brighter ones ahead.

I'm about an hour east of Pgh. Our library is open for pick-up, but also quarantines books for 2 weeks once returned. I ordered a few from other branches, but they haven't arrived yet. Luckily, I have a large library at home; a bit of an addiction actually. :)

Donna wrote: "For the BOMs

I will read Five Feet Apart but I am experiencing issues getting a copy of The Jetsetters so I won't be reading it. The wait time is astronomical. The ..."

Carnegie Library? It seems as though we are "neighbors." (As in Western Pennsylvania girls.) :)

Tammie wrote: "Keli wrote: "Tammie wrote: "Ashlee wrote: "

Could we consider this Task 52, "Text only on cover"?"

Yeah Ashlee...thank you for breaking ..."

Thanks, everyone. I'll just choose something else so there won't be any confusion.

Could we consider this Task 52, "Text only on cover"?

My recommendations...

The Help
The Shack
Something in the Water
Faceless
The President Is Missing
All Fall Down

Wheel V

Hello! I am Ashlee. This will be my third Wheelathon with NBRC. I love how each team member can complete each of the tasks on this year's challenge.

My top genres are mystery, romance, and YA. Lately, I have been on a James Patterson kick. I'm not a fan of non-fiction, but I did just purchase , so I will hold out to see if it will be useful for our team.

I plan to start by reading the BOTM, .

By: Richard Paul Evans
273 pages
Read: 11/17/19
Sloth: Blue Cover
Vanity: Contemporary Genre

By: Debbie Macomber
270 pages
Read 11/10/19
Sloth: Blue cover

By: Jenny Hale
305 Pages
Read: 11/3/19
Criteria: (mini) title contains all of the letters in 'wrath'
or(main) it fits the Contemporary genre.

I have started reading . It works for the wrath challenge (criteria: title contains all of the letters in 'wrath') or it fits the Contemporary genre.

By:Abigail Keam
224 pages
Read 10/27/19
Honeybee

I think I can read , but wanted to check. Honeybee is technically 1 word, but in the list they have it separated. Just want to make sure it doesn't have to be exactly as written.

By: Naoki Higashida
Read: 10/19/19
Pages:135
Sin: Sloth
Criteria: Blue