Leslie's 2017 Book Buddy Challenge

[Paula]

Ooh I forgot - The Hating Game was this challenge- a 4* for me - a slow start but soon picked up

[Leslie]

Paula, everyone seemed to go gaa-gaa over that one and I didnt find it anything special. :( I HATE when that happens. I don't know if its because I kept comparing it to Julie James or what!!!

[Paula]

Added that to my wish list Leslie as a bit pricey

[Leslie]

I get all my Julie James from my library. (Thats how I read The Hating Game). I refuse to spend that much on an ebook. With your speed-reading, you would go broke if you had to buy all those books. *smirks* 😉

[Paula]

😂 that's why I have my wish list - wait for them to be reduced in price! Also signed up for KU - so I am trying to be good

[Jan]

Glad to hear you weren't in love with The Hating Game Leslie, as you and I often have similar book opinions, and I too have decided not to buy this one as it's too pricy. Maybe my library will get it in one day, or there'll be a price drop. I'll try it then. But in the meantime I'll take comfort in the fact that maybe I wouldn't love it that much either so I'm not really missing out.

I liked Practice Makes Perfect too. One of those rare books books where I actually did laugh out loud - some very funny scenes in that book.

[Leslie]

I am starting one of Tasha's faves

[[deleted user]]

I was the putsider on that one. One of my least favorites last year.

[Leslie]

bev wrote: "I was the putsider on that one. One of my least favorites last year."

I swear thats always me. I go thru everyone's best of year list and I am all "hated it, yuck, would never read", etc.

[Grey]

But we love you guys anyway <3

[Jan]

Leslie wrote: "bev wrote: "I was the putsider on that one. One of my least favorites last year."

I swear thats always me. I go thru everyone's best of year list and I am all "hated it, yuck, would never read", etc."

Yep me too Leslie. So often I'm thinking, they five starred THAT?? Whoah. And then when I write a review and just 3 star something everyone else floved I feel like a party-pooper. But sometimes I do love what everyone else does e.g Gann, Lauren Gilley etc. See I'm not THAT uncool.

[[deleted user]]

Lol. I dont think 3 is bad. Just good middle of the road good.

Who do you think is the most picky?

Or the stingiest with a good review or thumbs up?

[Leslie]

I am very picky and feel like I am getting pickier every day. I almost never 5 star anymore.

I also think I may have od'ed on the college romance stories as is not holding my interest.

[Leslie]

I have made an executive decision to switch my "Tasha's fave" pick to After I do

[Robin]

I support this decision.

[[deleted user]]

Lol.

I havent had luck with this challenge yet either. Well except for cleaning out my tbr.
After my current read i am going on to Low my pick for Maryse.

[Leslie]

You know what I just realized? It is awesome to clear out TBR and I also I am able to eliminate the other books in series. So despite the book guilt, it IS some progress.

[Leslie]

Why, oh why can't I just LOVE all the books????

*exasperated sigh*

Well, I finished and I didn't love it. ☹

I didn't hate it AND I wasn't totally bored but it was missing "something". I didnt get swoony or have all feels like so many others had. My fave part was when (view spoiler)[she read ryans letter about the magic shrimp scampi.
That one tiny part gave me the feels and I needed more of that. (hide spoiler)]

Haven't decided on rating yet.

*goes in corner to hide in shame*

[Robin]

Off with your head!

Bummer! That sucks Leslie! I think we may be book opposites. IDK if you'd like her other stuff then. That book gave me ALL the swoony feels.

[Leslie]

I am going with 3.5 *** for as I did like it, just didn't love it. I am glad I read it and will still try others of TJR.

Next up is Love in English which so many of you loved. It's my pick for D.G. from this challenge AND also Fabi choose it for me in this months "pick for me". I love Karina Halle so fingers crossed this is epic.

[[deleted user]]

Just dnf'd Low which was my pick for Maryse.

Just parts were leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

[Leslie]

I had to re-work some of my books and replace some. See post #1 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Unfortunately I am not going to become a KA fan no matter how hard I try. So I had to get rid of Motorcycle Man.

But I added the following:





I am still undecided for Bev's.

[[deleted user]]

Lol!

What do you have in mind Leslie? Is it from books you already own?

[[deleted user]]

This is hard Leslie, because .....let's face it i rec indiscriminately I am probably not the best with matching readers to reads. And i honestly am not sure i have a clear idea of your taste yet.
I liked them all. Fabi hated Strawberries and i am not sure how your taste aligns with her.
The Sky is YA first of all. I thought it was quirky and sweet and liked the bit of sadness and angst and how music was used. I think Amy read it bit never saw her comment so it may have been underwhelming for her.
Going the Distance snuck up on me. These characters were very closed off from each other and to me the reader. I was a bit into it before I realized how into it I was. There was a bit that I thought could be plotted out better.

Honestly they are completely different in feel from each other.

[Leslie]

Well Bev, my thought is that I should already get credit for reading Dumplin' as one of your faves and I LOVED that one!! *smirks*

So even if the others end up not being my taste, at least I got one Bev-credit. ;)

[[deleted user]]

That is very true.

[Leslie]

So I am cleaning today and need an audiobook to keep me company. I am starting one of Maryse's faves,

[Robin]

I just sampled the audio for this one. IDK if I could do it, but I'm not a big audio fan to begin with. I think I do better with 3rd person audio because it's more like the book is being read to me. With 1st person, I'm trying to tie the voice to the character and I usually can't.

[Nay]

I've mentioned this before--I love listening to audiobooks, but I have a very hard time listening to romance audios unless there's a man doing ALL the male dialogue and a woman doing ALL the female, like in the Fever series. It just completely takes me out of it when each is trying to do the other voice in a sex scene!

[Nay]

Leslie wrote: "So I am cleaning today and need an audiobook to keep me company. I am starting one of Maryse's faves, "

That's my pick-for-me book this month, Leslie! Will hopefully start is later this week.

[Leslie]

Robin & Nay, I understand.....it took me FOREVER to get used to and start to like audiobooks. I don't have an issue with female doing male voice anymore. Its only a problem if the narrator sucks and that doesnt happen very often.

Robin, I think it would be better for you to try audios of books you havent read yet. That way the voice might fit the character better for you.

[Nay]

Leslie wrote: "Robin, I think it would be better for you to try audios of books you havent read yet. That way the voice might fit the character better for you. "

I agree!

[Robin]

I think so too. Especially for male voices. I like most female voices--except that MIAL one.

[Leslie]

I finished 4**** 🙂

NAY, DON'T LOOK AT THIS SPOILER TIL YOU HAVE FINISHED


(view spoiler)[I need someone to explain the end to me as I am totally not getting it. Sometimes I am slow on the uptake and maybe I missed something?Why in each ending did Gabby have same result but Hannah had diff husband and diff baby? Everything else was same for Hannah (becoming a nurse, not moving to London, etc). I guess I thought the point would be that no matter what path Hannah chose, it would lead her to same ending. Regardless of my ignorance in not "getting" it, it was an interesting story (although not my norm) and I gave it 4 **** because I loved the friendship of Hannah & Gabby (and Gabby's parents). Their relationship was my fave part. I haven't decided which ending I prefer as I like both Ethan & Henry. I love her history with Ethan but the way she met Henry & fell for him was pretty swoony. (hide spoiler)]

[Robin]

Leslie wrote: "I finished 4**** 🙂

NAY, DON'T LOOK AT THIS SPOILER TIL YOU HAVE FINISHED


[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It's been forever since I read it so I don't remember exactly, but I think because (in this book anyway) life isn't preordained and it was about choices Hannah made. It was giving the message that choices aren't necessarily right or wrong and that you can find happiness no matter what road you travel. IMO anyway. I didn't dig too deep. LOL Renee will probably have better insight since it's fresh. (hide spoiler)]

[Leslie]

Thanks Robin!

Nay, hurry up, I want to pick your brain. 😘

[Leslie]

I finished and I loved it!! I can see why it is a fave of many of you.

4.5****

[Paula]

Finished my pick for me book which is also on my Lesley challenge list - Jezebel. Purely 5* for the twist at the end - worked out a lot of what was going on but not that twist

[[deleted user]]

Finished Bad Romeo my pick for Nay.
I am not sure how I feel about it. I have the sequel and maybe I will read it.....I dont know.

At first I liked Cassie's voice and how she pursued him. She was forthright and upfront to him a about what she wanted.
However she lost me by the middle. All she focused on was sex, while having the hypocrisy to call another Slut Girl, I never felt like she knew Ethan beyond his looks and what he did to her hormones.
And she never listened. He told her he didnt want a relationship and if anybody says stop during sex? It means stop, not maybe. No does not mean yes ever.
Plus, in the present every time she got drunk. It comes across that she is using alcohol and sex as crutches and that she is an addict.
She is young, talented, beautiful, and finding success in New York as an actress. She did not show one moment of joy or self pride or being thankful.
I have a feeling the second book is her hurting herself and her friends in the past. And probably lots of drunk sex.
Ethan was very very emo. Im glad he got help.

[Leslie]

Jezebel was a crazy book! Paula, I am surprised you had not read that one til now.

Bev, sorry you didnt love Bad Romeo. I went crazy over that cliffy and had to immediately read next one. Honestly, if you weren't thrilled with it, why bother with sequel? I have read a lot of series where I stop after first book.

I have to pick next one from this list to tackle. *rubs hands together with anticipation *

[Lisa]

I didn't get my 5-star book buddy challenge done for July - so I will be doing:
Left Drowning (a Fabi 5 star) Left Drowning for July and
Neighbors (a Tessa 5 star) Neighbors for August

[[deleted user]]

Leslie wrote: "Jezebel was a crazy book! Paula, I am surprised you had not read that one til now.

Bev, sorry you didnt love Bad Romeo. I went crazy over that cliffy and had to immediately read next one. Honestly..."

I might not. But I spent money in it, lol. I may just toss it but .... *shrug*

[Leslie]

Lisa, I will read Neighbors with you. :)

Bev, it totally sucks when a book purchase is a flop. Lucky for me my library has decent selection. The majority of my book choices are based on fact that i got free or severely discounted....not necessarily on my taste.

[Lisa]

Awesome, Leslie. I looooove to have someone to read with. Just let me know when you want to start. We can do it later in the month if you want to get other challenge(s) out of the way!!!

[Leslie]

Yay Lisa! Doesn't matter to me...we can do it whenever. Let's maybe finish up our other loose ends first.

[Lisa]

Finally got my July 5 star pick - from Fabi read. I gave it 4.5 stars, because Sabin!!! Now on to my August 5 star pick, which is a Tessa pick. Leslie, I forgot you were going to read this with me....so if you're up to it, I've started it. I'll wait for you to catch up :) So far it's good and smutty!!

[Leslie]

Lisa, you dont have to wait for me..but super sweet to offer. 😘

I have been behind with my reading due to stupid real life. I want to live soley in my book world!!!

[Lisa]

My August pick for the 5 star challenge, Neighbors, was a Tessa pick. It earned 4.5 stars for me, and a definite dive into Book 2 to find out how this all resolves itself. That cliffy was AMAZING. And Liam is to die for...Wulf, yeah, not so much!!! He was an fantastic asshole though....like an asshole to beat all assholes!

[Tessa]

:D

[Leslie]

I finished Paula's 5 star Forget . I loved it! 4.5 ****

That cliffy sucked though AND this book made me cry. (view spoiler)[So sad about Millie *sniffles* and Brookes past was heartbreaking. I totally cried when Dylan painted pink polka dots on her! Gah! Talk about a swoon worthy hero. That meet-cute?! Freaking hilarious. I have so many questions. What is going on with Brooke & Jamie? What is Brooke's other secret....it is about Jamie? What does other envelope from Millie have in it? Is record contract negotiations w/Dylans band with Jamie's dad?? What does Dylan do when he realizes Brooke ditched him? (hide spoiler)]