Happy (Almost) Summer

Today and tomorrow we're taking finals and then we're officially done! I'm very excited if you can't tell because it's been a very long year. First, all the COVID restrictions and then we moved mid-semester so to say I'm ready for a break is a bit of an understatement. But I've got some minor bumps in the road this summer because I'm having surgery in two weeks. It's nothing major but not how I'd want to spend the majority of my month. They're replacing my pump which I've already had done once and then they're also going to be doing a muscle release on my left arm at the same time. There are two major muscles in your arms and one of mine happens to be very tight, so they're going to detach it from its original spot on my radius and then move it to relieve the tension and give my arm the ability to turn. So there's that to look forward to.
Luckily, I'm right handed so I'll still be able to type and do things like that which is good since I will have an infinite amount of time on my hands and lots of things to update you on. My schedule's been erratic these last couple months, I know but soon that won't be an issue and you will get sick of how much I pop in here, I promise. Honestly, it'll probably be at odd times too because whenever I'm recovering from surgery, I become an insomniac. It's terrible. Before I leave you, there was a purpose to this post besides me rambling. I believe it's been a while since my last book club post and I've got a list where some titles I finished last summer so with that, here's some of my recent favorites!

#1: Verity by Colleen Hoover
This book brings twisted to new levels. ​Verity is one of those novels that switches perspectives every few chapters. One perspective is the main character, a writer named Lowen. The other perspective is through Verity (or more accurately, Verity's autobiography) manuscript), an author who was in a bad accident that left her in a catatonic state. Verity's husband Jeremy hires Lowen to finish the book series she had been writing. Lowen finds the manuscript while she was going through Verity's notes and believes it to be something Verity was doing for fun until she starts reading it. Throughout the novel, creepy things happen around the house and Lowen becomes determined to find the truth out about what's really going on with Verity. All the pieces start to come together at the end but even at that point, you won't be sure what the actual truth is.

#2: The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
This novel follows the events of The Royal We, a book I reviewed last October. All the characters from the original novel return and you get to see what happens after the wedding. I will say the first chapter or so is slightly boring but by chapter three, things pick up and get interesting. I've read it multiple times and have never gotten bored through any repeat page turning. It's fun, light-hearted, gossipy, but still maintains realistic problems that people face in life and marriage. Also, the Queen becomes a Cubs fan and that in itself is a reason to pick this one up. 

#3: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
This book is one I dub a "gore-less thriller". It follows the disappearence of a man named Owen following the FBI raid on his company. Owen leaves a note for his wife that relates to his daughter and the two of them follow their own leads to find Owen. However, digging into the past proves difficult when they find out that Owen has only existed for a few years. This story is fast and anything that involves the mafia and witness protection promises to be anything but boring.

#4: A Promised Land by Barack Obama
I don't care what anyone's political opinions are, I found this book very enjoyable. It follows President Obama's campaign and his first term in office. He talks about major events like the 2008 housing crisis and other issues that went on behind the scenes as well as what goes into passing legislation in Congress. The book is over 700 pages so it's not a task to take lightly but if you dive in, you won't regret it.

#5: Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
I hope you're all familiar with Twilight and if by some insane reason you're not, go google. If you answered "yes" to the aforementioned question, you'll know this book even if you haven't picked it up. In a nutshell, it's all the events from Twilight but from Edward's perspective instead of Bella's which I found a little more enjoyable in some places and less enjoyable in others. Again, another long one but I really put effort into it starting last Friday night and I finished yesterday. A very productive Memorial Day in my opinion. At some times, I wondered when it was going to end but at other times I found it action packed and fast paced. Whether you get this or not is really just a matter of your likes.