Book #39

Pride Over Pity by Kailyn Lowry

198 pages

No one said I was reading 50 hard-hitting literary masterpieces!

OK, seriously, though. I love Teen Mom. (And Teen Mom 2, which is actually the show Kail is on.) It is, by far, my favorite show on television right now. I even once met Gary from Teen Mom out at a club when I was 21. That is some amazing celebrity culture here in Indianapolis, people.

Anyway. I've watched Teen Mom since before it was Teen Mom or Teen Mom 2 (when it was 16 and Pregnant). It grew from a show I watched online during my off-time at my on-campus job in college to a show I watch religiously every week, year in and year out.

Kail is not my favorite teen mom (Maci for life!), but she is one of my tops. I was pleasantly surprised with this book in the fact that I learned a lot about Kail I did not know from watching the show. I also enjoyed reading it knowing that she is admitting to having help writing it, and it's not written by an anonymous ghost writer like so many celebrity books (I'm looking at you, Jenner sisters!!!!!).

That being said, the editing was atrocious. Like, awful. Kail most definitely should have called me up to have me edit this thing before it went into publication.

But I do not regret for a hot second reading this book (it took me a total of 2 hours to read). I had to put this sucker on hold for weeks to get in line to read it (that is no joke!). I will be thinking of Kail's story as a whole next season on Teen Mom instead of just what I have seen of her on the show.

Next up: The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

Book #38

One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

220 pages

 

This book has been on my to-read list for many years! I was extremely happy once I read it that the wait was worth it.

One Amazing Thing is set in America, but it's set in a passport office, so you have many cultures and different kinds of characters in one setting. An earthquake traps nine people in this office and while passing the time for a hopeful rescue, each person takes a turn to tell a story about one amazing thing that has happened in their life.

I am a sucker for a good short story, and this book reads like nine great short stories. The abrupt ending, however, annoyed the crap out of me! Nothing bothers me more than reading a book then feeling cheated out of an ending!

Next up: Pride Over Pity by Kailyn Lowry (Teen Mom fan for LIFE)

Book #37

A Ticket to Ride by Paula McLain

254 pages

 

I started A Ticket to Ride without realizing I'd read something from the author before. The entire story is written in a lyrical, flowy way, and once I realized McLain was also the author of The Paris Wife (it is NOT written on the cover of my copy like it is here, by the way haha!), it made perfect sense.

The book is written partially in first person and partially in flashbacks. It centers around Jamie, a teenager who is getting use to living with her uncle after her grandma has a health set-back. Her cousin, Fawn, also comes to stay with them and with Fawn comes chaos. Fawn lives fast and Jamie is not used to this kind of life. She soon gets swept away in it as she sneaks out with Fawn regularly and finds herself in many dangerous situations.

This book kept me entertained the whole time. The main plot line would have been fine without the flashbacks to Jamie's mother and uncle when they were younger. It was good character development for the uncle, but those parts of the book were very slow-going for me.

Next up: One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakarum