Hello again! Happy Fall! How has everyone been? Just some updates. I have been looking for jobs so I can help my family out and I have ultimately decided that my only option is to start my own business. This has led to a lot of pressure I unknowingly put on myself and I have been feeling burnt out and stressed. As a result, I had planned to finish The Light After the War by Anita Abriel and then read one book for each letter in my name for August. However, it took me almost a month to finish the book. In the end, I decided to carry over what I didn’t read into September, which is why this blog is late. I also wasn’t in the mood to read the book I chose for “S,” Saving Zoë by Alyson Noël, so I moved on to the book for “A” instead. Let’s get into my reviews and let me know in the comments section what you’re reading or if you have read any of these books. Also, what are your favorite things about fall or what is on your fall TBR?

The Light After the War by Anita Abriel

Pages: 305

Published by ATRIA Books in November 2020

Genre(s): historical fiction, war story, fiction

star rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5 or 4.75)

I truly loved this book. In the book club version, one of the questions asks Anita Abriel about the characters and she mentions Ricardo and Anton are both fictionalized. I do feel that Ricardo didn’t have to be included as his jealousy was just too much for me, even though I know some men out there can be the same way. (possible spoiler) If Ricardo was fictionalized, then was the story with the scar on her mother’s neck true (i.e., was she really shot be someone in the same way or did the event happen differently)? I was very happy with how the ending turned out. The Light After the War tells a very moving story and highlights the value of friendship and family, and that no matter what happens, with time one can come back even stronger.

September

Leap Day by Wendy Mass

Pages: 212

Published by Little Brown and Company in September 2006 (Reader’s Guide Edition)

Genre(s): YA, fiction, realistic fiction

star rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 or 3.5 - still not sure)

This wasn’t a bad book. At first, I did not like the idea of having the chapters alternate between Josie’s POV and everyone else’s POV. After reading the back of the book and seeing that Josie often wonders what other people are thinking, the chapter POV’s changing makes sense. I felt that the idea of someone having a certain impression of someone else, whether it be right or wrong, made the story feel more real. Everyone always has a certain impression of someone they’ve never met or of someone they have known for years. I’ll admit with my anxiety, I tend to worry about what others think of me and my decisions and occasionally think people view me or my decisions in a negative way; it’s one of the reasons I went out of state for college right after I graduated high school. Surprisingly, I found this book to be eyeopening in the sense that in life it it better to worry your own thoughts, to not assume what others are thinking or doing, and to be open-minded - go with the flow of life.

I’ll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable

Pages: 461

Published by St. Martin’s Publishing Group in April 2017

Genre(s): historical fiction, fiction

star rating: ★★★★☆ (4.75)

This had me hooked right from the start. How often do you read a book that takes place in your home state (even if it’s for a few chapters or less)? The book opens with the main character, Annie, and her Fiancé, Eric, meeting with Annie’s mom, Laurel, to discuss Annie’s engagement with Eric. Laurel already seems hesitant as Eric is a marine who is about to be deployed following the events of 9/11. Annie soon discovers her mom has been hiding a secret - and I don’t just mean about Annie’s father (a tiny spoiler). Annie soon gets roped into the story of the missing Duchess of Marlborough, which leaves me wondering what big secret her mom is hiding that is related to a property “she inherited from relatives” in Banbury, England.

(a tiny spoiler ahead) I kind of figured out Laurel’s purpose for going to Banbury early on in the story, but Gus was not who I expected him to be. Overall, I was very intrigued with the story and I did find Laurel’s character angered me a little bit as I was raised by a single mom who made sure I knew the full story of my dad and their divorce. However, after hearing Laurel’s reasons, I can see why she made her decisions. There is a small, unexpected plot twist at the end that left me a little sad for Gus. But fate works in mysterious ways. This is told from two perspectives, Annie (2001) and Pru (1973).

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Pages: 530

Published by Scribner in April 2017

Genre(s): historical fiction

star rating: coming soon, possibly next month

This book reminds me of reading short stories in a high school English textbook. The difference is the stories connect. I told my mom it reminded me of how Dunkirk is laid out, where you get three points of view: Air, Sea, and Land. This story starts with telling you about the leaflets falling from the sky and then you meet Marie-Laure LeBlanc, who lives in Paris. The next heading is about Werner Pfennig, who is currently fighting for Germany at L’hôtel des Abeilles, the Hotel of Bees. The first section, zero, takes place in 1944 and I decided to stop my reading in the second section, one, which takes place in 1934.

As I mentioned previously, I am currently experiencing a lot of pressure and stress that I have unknowingly created for myself. As a result, I decided to give All the Light We Cannot See a break and start reading from my October TBR. I will more than likely pick it up in October seeing as the books on my TBR are relatively shorter compared to this one. I will not say I am in a slump nor will I say that I am marking this book as a DNF. I do want to give the book another shot when I have a clear mind. I have also decided to not read Saving Zoë as mentioned previously; I will be putting it up for sale as it does not sound like a book I would be interested in.

October TBR

I decided to pick two books from my shelves that start with the letter P in honor of my cats, Pumpkin and Prince. Pumpkin’s birthday and gotcha day are in October, which is why I chose to read books that start with the letter P. I have also decided to stick with two books and I can add others once those two are finished. All the Light We Cannot See will be added to the TBR, so technically there are three but my main focus are the ones that start with P.

I also want to read Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore, but I am not convinced to spend that much money for a paperback (I know amazon has it cheaper than Barnes & Noble and Target). One of the book-tubers I watch didn’t seem to like the book that much and even compared it to reading a fan-fiction about Gilmore Girls. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments if you think I should give the book a chance.

As per usual, feel free to send me book recs, ideas for reading challenges, and ideas for future reading blogs at blueoceans.sanddollar@gmail.com or comment down below.

See you next blog.